MarkO

It's not so much will power, it's a desire to stop. If you really want to stop, you will. If not, it's not worth attempting to stop.Not a good way to stop. 2 weeks after you've spent the money, you'll figure that it doesn't make much difference and continue smoking again. Lots of people try to stop smoking 'cos of the money, etc., but that's not the answer. The best reasons for stopping smoking are

a) smoking makes you smell. You don't realise whilst you do it, but once you give up you'll notice that even going to a smoky pub makes your clothes smell revolting.

b) smoking makes you feel like sh*t. 2 months after you give up (assuming you're smoking 10-20 a day like I was) you'll feel fitter, healthier, less lethargic, and much better. You'll also know deep down that you're less likely to die 'cos of the cancer-sticks.

c) the best reason of all - once you've given up, you can take great pleasure & delight in being a smug, pious b*stard to all the other people who've not given up yet. In which case, don't bother, 'cos you'll fail. Having a pack in the house 'just in case' is the most sure-fire way to continue smoking. If you really want to give up, get rid of all the cigarettes in your house and car, and also throw away ashtrays, lighters, etc - that way if you feel tempted you'll not have any **** to smoke, and none of the associated equipment either. You'll have to go out and buy it all, which will give you enough time to think about it and regain control.

Edited to add that we gave up when we moved house, which made it loads easier. My wife & I both decided that we would not smoke in the new house, even if we didn't manage to give up (e.g., we'd smoke in the garden or garage). It meant that in the new place smoking felt totally alien, and made it significantly easier to just stop.

[Edited by MarkO - 10/8/2002 10:03:14 AM]

Magic Boot

My top tips for quitting.

1. Meet fantastic girl in Oct. 2001.

2. Find out to my amazement that she thinks i'm also fantastic.

3. Start going out and both realise "This is THE one!!"

4. Discover that she hates the fact that i smoke.

5. Quit on 31/12/01

6. Not touched a *** since. (although still have weak moments)

7. Feel much healthier albeit a little heavier!

8. Don't seem to get colds as often.

9. I'm a grand better off already.

10. Getting married next year and couldn't be happier!!

Now i'm not saying you need to follow the above to quit, just that the complete change in my life at that time gave me the motive.

I had been smoking for 15 years (20 Day) and had tried to give up numerous times and failed during holidays etc.

However, if some bright spark were ever to develop a healthy ciggarette then i would be one of the first to buy. There is no substitute as a comforter in my eyes.


[Edited by Magic Boot - 10/8/2002 11:02:43 AM]

Sideways

Can anyone offer me any handy hints about giving up smoking.
I'm cold turkey at the moment, but the sweats, runny nose and other unpleasant things are on the way.
Its been 36hrs since my last one.

Jas

Katana

I'm quitting tommorrow so I'll tell you then..

The Zohan

I am now @4 weeks, my other half @ 6 weeks!

I have less cravings than i did, just keep remembering the reasions yoyu haven goven up.

Call the NHS quit line, they call you up every so often and discuss hows it going, issues, problems, etc. This helps my other half.

Good luck giving up

MarkO

Basically, it's pretty easy. What you do is you get any cigarettes you currently own, and you bin 'em. Then you just make sure you don't buy, beg, steal or borrow any more ****.

The above solution worked a treat for me - I've not had a smoke in almost 3 years, and have no urge to either.

beemerboy

wish i had your will power MarkO

you should be proud of yourself...

apart from the obviius, here goes my solution...

work out how much money you'd spend on the weed over, say a 6 month period.

then go out and treat yourself to something with that money.

now stop smoking and enjoy your lates purchase...!!!

you can then but something else in 6 mths time (something to look forward to)

you have to be STRONG though!!!

PS (Claudius - "Shut your noise, i know your thinking of some witty retort!!)

Good luck

BB;-)

Sideways

Thanx guys.
Mark I seem to find it easier if I have a pack around the house I don't seem to panic then and think if I'm desperate I'll have one in a min and it eventually goes away.
Having said that I have only managed to give up for 6 weeks before.
Jas

Mr evolution

I got a pack of ten benson yesterday for the first time in over a year smoking is like smack addiction you are always recovering never recoverd. I think the best way to stop is set a time each day that you have to reach without a *** and just make this time later and later each day almost worked for me and even though I still have one every now and then. Its worth the effort you will feel lots better if you can go from twenty a day to to or three aweek like I did.

TomM

I went for 3 1/2 months at the beginning of this year, went for a curry with some friends and I was smoking again - pissed off wasnt the word!! - its bloody drink, without it I could stop smoking tomorrow!!!

Mr evolution

In fact **** it I'm going to smoke a benson right now to reward my self for not finishing the ten pack from yesterday.
mmmmmmmmmmmmm nice

Sideways

I'll chuck it all then Mark I see your point. I don't smoke in the house anyway cause it smells ruins things etc. I want to give up so I can start running again. Last time (about 18 mths ago)I could manage about 4 miles now I can manage about 40 yards lol.
I know I will feel fitter it makes loads of difference but its still difficult.

Jas

Sideways

Mr. Evo your supposed to be helping me

Never give up giving up. If you have one with beer give up again the next day. Thats my downfall also alcohol.

Jas

Marc W

Go down to the Body Works exhibition in Brick Lane EC1 which has a load of opened up real dead bodies for you to take a good look at and check out the lungs of the people that smoked during their lives - they look like dirty, black, used hoover bags. That should help you to stop sharpish

BoxerFlat4

I'm going through this hell as well - been stopping and starting again for the last 2 months, and it's driving me crazy ! Finished last pack last night, trying to resist going out to buy some more.

Saddens me to think my will power is so weak that I can't give up properly something I know:-

A) Will probably kill me.
B) Costs a ridiculous amount in money.
C) Harms those around me.
D) And makes my Scooby smell like an ashtray !

Perhaps we should have a ScoobyNet forum area, like a support group ! But what would we call it ?

Sideways

Anyone got any piccies of those lungs ??

MarkO

You want piccies? Here you go: http://medicolegal.tripod.com/preventlungcancer.htm

Don't look if you've just eaten, though, or are about to.

MarkO

Funny, most people I know took up smoking as a direct result of their women.

Magic Boot

Mark O,

My woman is Sccchhhhhhhmokin enough thanks.

I just pick up the bottle now in times of need!!

Alchoholics forum anyone? LOL

red_dog104

When I gave up smoking, I carried round a pack of open **** for about 6 weeks. Trick is not to feel deprived and to tell yourself that you can have one if you want but you aren't going to on this occasion. Sounds mad but does work!! Good luck!

DavidRB

If you do fall off the wagon (by smoking a cigarette), tell yourself you won't do it again and get back on. Lots of people have a "moment of weakness", smoke one cigarette and then think, "what the hell" and go back to smoking again.

Rob Walker

I gave up 2 years ago using Zyban and plenty of willpower. Zyban has horrible side effects. The thought of going through that again is enough to stop me smoking.

For the first few months when I was out drinking I just used to puff on an unlit ***. Worked for me.

jamin

Chewing gum helped me as I needed something "to do" as it were

Scoobychick

iTrader: (1)

I gave up using just willpower and a huge desire to stop eighteen months ago and haven't touched one since. I found it suprisingly easy, especially as I'd been on 20 a day for over 20 years!

Once I'd given up I couldn't believe how disgusting I found the smell of ****, especially on people's breath and clothes and realised how rank I must have smelt all those years That alone is enough to keep me from smoking ever again and so far I haven't craved it at all, in fact I enjoy being a non-smoker and feel very sorry for those still addicted (and incredibly smug ).

I really try to be sympathetic to smokers now but I really do hate it and would be more than happy to see smoke free pubs and restaurants as there's nothing worse than coming in after an evening out reeking of someone elses stale ****.

Sal

muppet paster

36hrs chap, in my experience the 4th day is by far the worst. No way around it you've got a couple of days hell to go! But stick with it 'cause it gets much easier after the first 4/5 days.


I've never had a problem with wanting a smoke when i'm drinking, but had more problems with habits. i.e. i used to get to work and the first thing i'd do was spark up wilst unlocking everywhere and when there is something you don't want to do, never realised how much i used to put thng off by saying to myself "I'll just have a *** and then do it."etc


Stick with it, the first few days are tough, but it will get easier.

Sideways

Well still haven't cracked.
Thanks for all the advice I'll try and stick at it. Just been for a walk after lunch instead of sitting down outside for a ***.

Jas

Sideways

Thanks for the pictures Mark. Ugh

johneturbo

My fiancee gave up 18 days ago, and has her own support group on Yahoo if anyone is interested. Its called "stop smoking for good".
Here is the link - http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/stopsmokingforgood/?yguid=110761303

STi-Frenchie

Echo MarkO's post with the (a)(b) and (c) reason for giving up. I've been on the nicopatches for 7 weeks - last week for me and the missus this week and since the first few days I haven't looked back. No way I was gonna do it cold turkey after 22 years on the death sticks, so me and the missus decided to give them up at the same time, do the patch gig and those have really helped a lot.

I've felt confident enough to stop using the patches for a few weeks now but have decided to follow the "treatment" through to the end. Hardest part of all this? The first few days - getting rid of the habits - when you have a smoke and where. For me, I'd get up first thing in the morning and have 3 smokes whilst surfing the net (no breakfast of course) - then have a couple on the way to work in the car - always at the same place. Soon as I arrive in work - have a coffee, have a smoke. I was doing a couple of packs a day. The patches plus a different route to work and changing my habits just a little, helped crack that psychological barrier. Patches might not work for everyone but I thought that I'd never stop smoking - and I'm REALLY glad I did. If I get the urge (even with the low nicotine dose of the last step of the patch treatment) I just drink a glass of water and the urge goes away.

As MarkO said, when you are a smoker, you don't notice how bad you reek - your clothes, your breath...now I've stopped, I'm trying not to be a pious *****, but by God, I sometimes find myself judging smokers by their smell...and I can smell one a mile away. The olfactory factor has returned, so have my taste buds.

The cost of the patches might be almost the same as a carton of smokes but I won't be on the patches for ever...so the money I look forward to saving can be spent modding my scoob. Do you need more incentive?

You KNOW it makes sense ! Good luck Sideways, keep at it ! Proud of you !

Sue

Hey Jas....keep going....become a chocoholic instead!!!
*Starts fantasising about Wispa bars! mmmm*
seriously..you WILL do it this time,Im sure you will (think I said this last time lol...but Im ever the optomist!)
Take care x