Was always into my 4th packet a day when in Saudi (Cheapest ***s at £6 for 200!) and enjoyed every tab I ever had, until I ended up in A&E, unable to breathe and that wakes you up!! Believe you me! Quit (at 56 years of age) that April day in 2004....cold turkey and for the first time, I went 24 hours without a tab and it felt like I'd won the world cup. The amazing thing was that I'd been terrified of trying to quit someday but when push came to shove it was a lot easier than I imagined. Still a bit tough, though. Still get a crave occasionally but say out loud " Could really do with a *** but I don't smoke anymore!" I have 3 grandkids and I doubt if I would be around to be able to enjoy them growing up if I'd continued smoking. Best thing I've done in my entire..... My quitting has inspired others to do so, too...nice.
OT - Quitting...
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Whilst I haven't smoked myself, my Dad quit about 3 years ago - he has tried loads of times and kept losing his rag with my Mam so took it up again. Used to "slyly" smoke in the bathroom. The only thing that made him give up was a heart attack - 3 arteries clogged due to smoking and a triple bypass - he then quit...
Heart disease is the only thing that made my Dad stop!
Heart disease is the only thing that made my Dad stop!
Try these electric cigarettes i was on 40 a day till bought 1, I havent touched a *** for 4 months.I bought the Tornado Tank but be careful you might get addicted to the flavours.
http://www.totallywicked-eliquid.co.uk/
http://www.totallywicked-eliquid.co.uk/
Try having a small stroke like I did and spending 12 weeks in hospital learning to walk again. It sure stops you
Nicotine patches did the trick for me.
Smoked for 30 odd years before that. Off the tabs for 4 years now.
Smoked for 30 odd years before that. Off the tabs for 4 years now.
Absolute nightmare this. I had 6 weeks of sleepless nights and nightmares when I gave it up cold turkey. I was not fun to be around. There is no magic wand really but the best tip as I was given is that every time you think about having one, put £1 in a jar (to oneside when you're out and about). When you see the pounds piling up you do feel better about it.
I also used to have something whenever I thought about it. Just try anything, have a cup of tea, a beer (not greatest though cause it makes you want one!), a biscuit, a banana, anything at all. Its all about breaking your habits as much as the craving for the nicotine. I went to the docs after about 4 weeks of nightmares. He just said "they'll be gone soon". At the time I walked out and thought "I'd like to ring his ****ing neck" (I wanted to ring everyones neck to be honest) But two weeks later he was right. It was just the poison working its way out.
I also used to have something whenever I thought about it. Just try anything, have a cup of tea, a beer (not greatest though cause it makes you want one!), a biscuit, a banana, anything at all. Its all about breaking your habits as much as the craving for the nicotine. I went to the docs after about 4 weeks of nightmares. He just said "they'll be gone soon". At the time I walked out and thought "I'd like to ring his ****ing neck" (I wanted to ring everyones neck to be honest) But two weeks later he was right. It was just the poison working its way out.
OI honestly think that you should look at this and all posts like it disco - these are the ones that make you think about why you want to quit - not just for the money but health! Heart attacks, Strokes and Cancer! It's easy for me to say but I nearly lost my dad due to smoking and the near death thing was all that made him stop
I would suggest that if you are serious about giving them up then you have to get it into your head why this is.
For example, I gave them up in 1998 because I didn't want my 3 year old son, as he was then, picking up on my bad habit.
I packed them in directly following the Charlton play off game, so I can always say something good came from that day!
Good luck with this mate: it will be the best thing you will ever do for your health and life-chances..
For example, I gave them up in 1998 because I didn't want my 3 year old son, as he was then, picking up on my bad habit.
I packed them in directly following the Charlton play off game, so I can always say something good came from that day!
Good luck with this mate: it will be the best thing you will ever do for your health and life-chances..
I have never smoked and have always hated it. My parents smoked a lot. even in the car, and I used to get travelsick, so I always associate the smell of cigarettes with being sick. It certainly worked for me! Even worse my mum died aged 51 from lung cancer and my dad at 42 from a blocked coronary artery. Yet more reasons not to smoke. Young people think they are invincible and may joke about it, but watch someone you love struggle to breathe as they die slowly and painfully from lung cancer and you realise it is not worth it for your health, your family and your pocket. Give it up!!
My understanding is that smoking Cigarettes is a significant factor in cancer, premature ageing, saggy skin, breathing problems, smelly breathe unpleasant ordours on clothes/car/ house. I also understand it is also quite expensive and clogs up the health service! Mmm given all that I cannot understand why people still smoke, they must be really really stupid or perhaps no consideration about others who may love them, as it is a bit like committing suicide a generally selfish act (unless say you have a terminal or very dehabilitating illness caused by smoking)
Whilst I understand all of that, I saw my grandad live to a ripe old 84, he smoked 60 a day for 70 years.
He fell ill, and was gone in 2 weeks (not smoking or respiratory related), but he was a handsome, dashing man till his death.
I know smoking is bad for me, I really do, it's not as simple as just saying 'right, i'm not smoking'.
It's impossible to explain, like many say, it's the habit breaking.
You actually gauge things by a tab 'quick tab, into meeting, quick tab before the drive...'
It's part of your life, like eating and drinking and ****ting, it's a big deal.
Like any addiction, those who are addicted can always make excuses for why they cannot quit. As has been said by a number of people on this thread, they were heavy smokers who decided to quit for health and/or financial reasons, and generally they have succeeded, using a strategy that worked for them. However it is recognised that some people are more seriously affected by the physical addiction to nicotine than others, which makes it harder to quit. However most smokers also have a psychological addiction to the 'act' of smoking (which sadly MONSMush sounds like you!) which makes it a double whammy when trying to pack in. The trouble is by the time it is harming your health, it is too late to think 'crap, wish I had taken notice of all that nagging!'
I've never tried, or said I was gonna quit mate, you misunderstand me!
I'm just saying I understand, and can appreciate why it's a daunting task for some who are trying.
I'm pretty sure if I was looking to quit, the habitual side would be tough, and the fact that EVERY person I deal with and socialize with smokes.
Smoking's a very emotive issue, but one that comes down to personal choice. There'll be plenty on here who say smoking's bad for your health, but some of them will drink too much or will be obese - both things are as likely to kill you. If you want to smoke, you should be allowed to.
For the OP, I gave up after one Christmas where I'd smoked so many the taste of it was making me feel sick. I never told myself I'd quit, I just never bought another pack. Never really missed it. I still think of myself as a smoker. In a strange way, this may have helped
For the OP, I gave up after one Christmas where I'd smoked so many the taste of it was making me feel sick. I never told myself I'd quit, I just never bought another pack. Never really missed it. I still think of myself as a smoker. In a strange way, this may have helped
Very fair mate, indeed , we all love a drink, and it's the biggest killer around!
Two tips.
First one - get somebody really close to you to ask you to stop smoking for them, after that, every cigarette you have will make you think of that person and when you've established a feeling of guilt with each ciggy, it makes the experience less pleasurable.
Second one - the one that worked for me on New Years Day 2012 - not even had an urge to buy one since. Get absolutely battered on Jack Daniels, to the point where you're alive, but only just...only joking, just make sure you don't eat carbs before hand, just make sure you get a killer hangover, and whilst drinking the Jack, try having about 20-30 cigs during the night. The next day, the smell of a cigarette should make you want to vom, and in my case, this applied to the following 2 days also. When you're 3 days without a cig, you're half way there. Every time you want a cig, have a brew, a strong (two teabags if necessary) brew should subside the craving for an hour or so, and keep yourself busy. Do this, it might feel like torture, for another 3 days. After 6 days you're home and dry almost, but there's one last thing that I did, that helped a lot and I know a lot of people couldn't make this sacrifice, I didn't drink for 2 months (when I drank I always used to smoke more), but after 3/4 weeks the cravings completely subsided altogether and I was just not drinking because I had no reason to. I have had a few sessions since and not even contemplated stepping outside for a quick smoke.
Another way to get over that initial 7 day period without smoking is to get a wisdom tooth pulled, and when you think of going for a cig during any of the proceeding 7 days, just before you reach for your lighter - go onto google and type in "dry socket", which is apparently one of the worst pains known to man, if you proceed to light up, you're a nutter. Although I started again after 10 days which was stupid of me, but I guess you have to want to stop for any of the methods to work.
First one - get somebody really close to you to ask you to stop smoking for them, after that, every cigarette you have will make you think of that person and when you've established a feeling of guilt with each ciggy, it makes the experience less pleasurable.
Second one - the one that worked for me on New Years Day 2012 - not even had an urge to buy one since. Get absolutely battered on Jack Daniels, to the point where you're alive, but only just...only joking, just make sure you don't eat carbs before hand, just make sure you get a killer hangover, and whilst drinking the Jack, try having about 20-30 cigs during the night. The next day, the smell of a cigarette should make you want to vom, and in my case, this applied to the following 2 days also. When you're 3 days without a cig, you're half way there. Every time you want a cig, have a brew, a strong (two teabags if necessary) brew should subside the craving for an hour or so, and keep yourself busy. Do this, it might feel like torture, for another 3 days. After 6 days you're home and dry almost, but there's one last thing that I did, that helped a lot and I know a lot of people couldn't make this sacrifice, I didn't drink for 2 months (when I drank I always used to smoke more), but after 3/4 weeks the cravings completely subsided altogether and I was just not drinking because I had no reason to. I have had a few sessions since and not even contemplated stepping outside for a quick smoke.
Another way to get over that initial 7 day period without smoking is to get a wisdom tooth pulled, and when you think of going for a cig during any of the proceeding 7 days, just before you reach for your lighter - go onto google and type in "dry socket", which is apparently one of the worst pains known to man, if you proceed to light up, you're a nutter. Although I started again after 10 days which was stupid of me, but I guess you have to want to stop for any of the methods to work.
Sorry mate, I did understand, but maybe my post didn't make it clear. I know how difficult it is, and I was trying to explain why some people do find it harder than others. Apologies if I seemed to be getting at you personally.
Anyway I'm off to Spain on Wednesday - just for a week to get some sun hopefully. Can't avoid flippin' smokers there!