Stopping Smoking

[hectic]

Anybody else giving up today?  I have and its killing me already!

[morg_monster]

well done hectic keep it up. Hope you aren't just using willpower though take all the extra help you can get, nicotine replacement therapy etc.

I'm doing some work at the moment in my MSc on all the bad things smoking does to your body... what can I say you are def doing the right thing.  Well done and I really hope it works out for you. (not going to say anything else as I've never smoked so won't pretend to know what you're going through!)

[hectic]

Thanks for that morg_monster, I have been and got some patches to help me but the cravings are still very strong, fingers crossed x

[FastBarry]

What's all the fuss about, how badly do you want to give up.  It's not like you were ill and it's not killing you. Your'e 40 a day habit is though.

I gave up 6 weeks ago and it's great and that's without any props, patches or gum.

Make your mind up and do it.

[blueeyedlass]

i have to say i dont think that you should use any thing other than willpower i gave up using nothing and ive now been off it for 4 half years best thing i ever done and i have to say it wasnt as hard as i thought it would be and i was on about 30 a day.my friend tryed to quit using the patches and found it terrible i told her to cut out the patches and she found it easier without them.

[smudge]

hectic - well done for trying to give up smoking, I really admire you!

My sister has tried & tried with patches, etc., but all to no avail, so she's back to puffing!

However, our daughter gave up smoking a few weeks ago, via patches. She had a couple of little lapses at first, but has persevered. Her first carbon monoxide test was sky high & she was warned of the risks of heart problems & strokes, etc. She went for another carbon monoxide test again yesterday & it was as low as it gets! She's chuffed to bits, as we all are. So, good luck!

[CarolG]

It can be very hard but i would suggest you get a copy of the book Allen Carr's Easyway to Stop Smoking it removes the brain washing behind smoking and you can give up without patches or any alternatives. It really works wonders, & i'd highly recommend it.

[hectic]

Thanks for ur answer smudge, I had one of those carbon tests this morning and it really shocked me to know that I had the highest level in my system, thanks for the support people x

[morg_monster]

wow some of you are pretty sniffy about patches and the like!  I think it is a bit pointless - who cares how you give up - as long as you do!  I'm sure that some lucky people can give up with willpower alone but the stats are that 1 year after giving up on willpower alone, 98% of people are smoking again.  Some people just need a bit more help in whatever form.

[Gibbo]

Hey hectic! Well done for giving up, I can think of a few things to help take your mind off it.... ;o)

[magicdice]

well, friday's my last day with cigarettes. we'll see what happens. not sure how it's gonna go though, i enjoy smoking & don't really want to give up, but i know i should...

[Philtaz]

Keep it going hectic, it's all a matter of the right attitude.  Try counting hours at first(if it helps!) i.e. make it to 10, then 15 etc, then do it with days.  Get to five, then 7, then 10. 

Just say to yourself that's 10 hours now or that's a whole week, I'm sure you get the gist. Just keep reminding yourself how far you've got as a non smoker.

Remove all traces of smoke and smoking items in the house, all the ashtrays, lighters etc. and if you've got a pack of 10 somewhere 'just in case' put them under the water tap!

Remind yourself that you no longer smoke and practice saying "No thanks, I don't smoke".

Try to keep occupied for the first few days as well. Keep a few sugar free mints dotted around the house as well. At the end of the first week, treat yourself to something nice with all the money you've saved by not smoking.

All/some of the above worked for me and that was 13 years ago.

Best of luck, you CAN do it!

[CarolG]

i think that if patches work for you its fine. the Allen Carr book explains that if you give up using patches you give up in spite of them, not because of them - you're still going to suffer nicotine withdrawl eventually. Will Power can be tough because most people still feel deprived and go for years thinking that they have given something pleasurable up, ie, going out drinking can be hard or after a meal etc. Once the brainwashing has been taken away you realised that you are not missing out on anything and don't feel deprived.

[natalie_1982]

I'm trying again today, I gave up at New Year but relapsed and have been smoking again for a week (only one-two a day instead of my old 10 a day) but I intend to stop again.

I haven't used anything apart from will power, but I personally think that as long as you are giving up then you're doing the right thing!

[hectic]

Hi Gibbo, just sent u an email.  Thanks for all ur answers so far people, I'm still goin, been counting the minutes rather than hours thou, getting there slowly x 

[smudge]

That's okay hectic.

My daughter said the first carbon monoxide results scared the ling daylights out of her - but the last one was worth giving up for!

She carries a 'pull up top' bottle of water around with her & takes a swig every now & then - something to do with the hand to mouth movement that smokers do!

Also, she keeps reminding herself of how much money she is saving, which is being tucked away in a little cash box for a rainy day! Good luck again.

Good luck.

[smudge]

*living

[Gibbo]

so hectic, you need to keep your hands and your mouth busy as per smudge!! This post is getting very suggestive! ;o)

[MargeB]

60 percent willpower, 40 percent belief that you can pull it off.
Oh yes, and 100 percent avoiding pubs for a while. Actually, stop drinking altogether for a few months.

[Gibbo]

I'm sure hectic will laugh at that MargeB! No offence or anything but stopping drinking means to stop partying for us young ones! And that we cannot do I'm afraid!!

[hectic]

Thanks for the advice MargeB but I think if I was to give up drinking as well as smoking I would be checked into a mental hospital before long as I live on an Island that measures 17 miles wide and 36 long so my options of activities are limited.