Ex-Smokers

[SNSUN]

How did you quit? After years of threatening to give it up, I'm more determined that ever to give it up once and for all. Should I be buying up all that Nicorette stuff? e-Fags? Replacing fags with sweets? What works? I have tried cold turkey before - nigh on impossible!

[Rattlehead]

As a non-smoker I can't really say with any authority but one mate reckons electronic cigarettes were the solution, and actually pretty damn good at getting the kick whilst getting the 'smoking experience'.

[SNSUN]

As a non-smoker I can't really say with any authority but one mate reckons electronic cigarettes were the solution, and actually pretty damn good at getting the kick whilst getting the 'smoking experience'.

 

A couple of people at work suggested them too. I saw basic ones on sale at the pharmacy, but I see some sites on line that sell them too. I might have to have a try on those.

[Gingeletiss]

Clean for 3 years now. Getting past the pysical urge to smoke, is fairly easy, but the mental urge, less so. I still have the occasional wish for a smoke, but that is where the will power kicks in.

 

Anyway, how I done it. I used the patches, but also lit up! I took a couple of drags, then dogged it. next time I felt the urge to smoke, I put this dead Cigarette into my mouth had a few disgusting drags....yuk! I cut down to 3-4 cigarettes a day, and within a couple of weeks, had kicked it, patches and all.

[Saint in Paradise]

Go into hospital for a major operation, have a chest infection that they treat by making you

inhale some really awful smelly stuff. This will make you cough, coughing will hurt sooo much

you will give up smoking in case you need another op.

 

True story as it was the reason I managed to give up, However even after almost 30 years

I still daren't smoke a pipe two or three times as I know I would be straight back burning money again.

 

Once you have given up your are like a recovering alcoholic in so much as one cig will be too much and

30 not enough.

 

GOOD LUCK

Edited 6 April, 2012 by Saint in Paradise

[saintscottofthenortham]

I have quit for over five months, last night the missus was a complete c*nt so I went over the pub, had a few beers and had a few smokes. Regretting the smokes now because guess what... I really want one now.

[sfcsfcsfc]

Two weeks stopped at the moment, got some pills off the doc called champix and am finding it 100% easier than i thought it would be, no cravings at all after 40 years on the weed.

good luck whatever you try

[solentstars]

How did you quit? After years of threatening to give it up, I'm more determined that ever to give it up once and for all. Should I be buying up all that Nicorette stuff? e-Fags? Replacing fags with sweets? What works? I have tried cold turkey before - nigh on impossible!

my girlfriend finally decided to really give up and had the will power to do it after years of failed atemptsand half hearted attempts and her mum did the same and that was 8 years ago.now she gives smokers a hard time like most exsmokers shes hates the fact that she went out reeking of the foul odour on her clothes that smokers carry and could not smell it but i suppose its different for other people..good luck on finding what will work for you .

[Toomer]

I had a heart attack nearly five years ago, four weeks before that I had a tracky under a local with 30 mins to live you don't need much more of a warning than that to make you give up.

[Huffton]

I set a date on my calender three months in advance, the day we got back from holiday. Smoked myself senseless in the buildup then just stopped on that day. That was 13 years ago and other than one drunken slip up just after losing my mum I haven't touched one since.

[Saint-scooby]

You do become rightious after you quit, but life is better.

[Chez]

Long term smoker that fancied giving up, but never had enough desire to do so, so patches weren't an option. I was really ill with a sore throat/cold one Xmas and couldn't face a fag for a few days so took the opportunity to give up. I went to Makro and bought a huge box of lollys. These became my fag substitute. Worked a treat although it has taken years to get that desire out of your head. Even now I still fancy one but its much much easier to have a word with yourself. Best of luck.

[Hunty]

haven't smoked for over 4 years, 35-40 a day before that and had tried to give up on numerous occasions. I never actually packed up for a year in my mind, didn't think of myself as a non-smoker, just that every time I was desperate for a smoke, I just thought, I can have one, but I'll wait 5 minutes. Within those five minutes the craving had gone and my mind had moved to other things. On this basis, and knowing I could if I REALLY wanted have a smoke, I found it surprisingly easy to stop

[georgeweahscousin]

I quit on the day I landed in Bosnia in September 2006.

 

The key does not lie in patches/gum or any sort of aid. If you really WANT to give up, you will.

 

It's all in the desire.

[bridge too far]

Two weeks stopped at the moment, got some pills off the doc called champix and am finding it 100% easier than i thought it would be, no cravings at all after 40 years on the weed.

good luck whatever you try

 

Oh god - I tried these and they made me hallucinate! I haven't stopped but I've cut down drastically by never smoking in the house and not smoking at all on the days I look after my grandchildren.

 

Mind you, when I get back after looking after them I practically chain smoke for about 3 hours!

[Massimo Osti]

Yep that sums it up its all about wanting to do it, your fooling yourself with electronic gizzmo's etc

 

I gave up 13 years ago, I had been thinking about for a while when on a holiday in Cuba I saw this bloke with his two young kids taking a sailing dingy out. I remember thinking the guy must be a heavy smoker as he had wrapped his fags in a plastic bag so he could have a puff on his half hour sailing session.

Two days later we were confronted by the sight of the chaps distraught wife crying hysterically at the reps desk, The bloke had had a heart attack and died instantly.

That did it for me and I quit as soon as I got home, half a pack of the terrible gum was my only aid.

Go up to the general and look at the pillocks with limbs missing still sat outside breathing the evil weed if you need and encouragement.

 

 

I quit on the day I landed in Bosnia in September 2006.

 

The key does not lie in patches/gum or any sort of aid. If you really WANT to give up, you will.

 

It's all in the desire.

[vince]

I smoked for 16 years, gave up 12 years ago after several failed attempts. We went to Vancouver a couple of months after they brought in their smoking ban, so I got some patches and had them on for two weeks, then carried it on after that for a while. As others have said, you've got to want to give up - think of it as a 3K pay rise a year if that helps!!

 

All the best with it though. There will be some tough times, but I rarely think about it these days.

[johnnyboy]

Smoker for 30 years , gave up on new years day and with the aid of champix found it very painless no nasty side effects , you do need to want to quit though , get yourself to the quacks and talk to him and good luck but to be fair saying you want to give up you are part of the way there .

[jjsaint]

My mother, a lifelong smoker, has been doing very well with electronic cigarettes. I never ever thought I'd see the day when she even cut down, much less quit.

 

I quit cold turkey due to a perfect storm of a pregnant wife, an especially nasty chest infection, and the looming smoking ban. I've had about 10 since then, so a few moments of weakness

[Stubby]

Everybody's different. What works for one person doesn't work for another.

 

For me, the way that worked was to cut down slowly. 20 a day for a week, then 18 a day for a week, then 16 a day for a week...

 

I know people who just put a fag packet on the mantlepiece and just stopped, and never smoked again.

 

Find out what works for you - by trial and error if need be.

[St Marco]

For me it was just will power, just quit at once rather then prolong it. Don't believe in those gimmicks. I tried the patches and gum and just thought it was a waste of money. Just take it each day as it comes. The first week is hell but after that it gets better and easier. What I found the hardest part was being around people who smoke. If you see or smell them while trying to quit makes it really hard! Quit 5 years ago in may, I would say its great having more money but in truth it now goes on beer!

[scotty]

My mrs quit by default. She had a really bad chest infection and wound up coughing so hard she cracked a rib. Well that was so painful she had trouble inhaling at all, let alone drawing on a fag. Six weeks later she had recovered, but decided against going back on the nails again.

[Whitey Grandad]

I've never smoked but I know plenty of smokers who've given up through hypnosis, or even hypnotherapy. The cost is guaranteed. I've also seen two very close colleagues & friends die from lung cancer. It was awful to watch and extremely painful for them. Good luck to you mate, if you really want to you can!

[Verbal]

I wonder why dune isn't posting on this thread.

[buctootim]

Beforehand I thought I smoked just because I liked it - I only wanted to give up for health reasons but the idea of never being able to smoke again was a big mental hurdle. Once I put the patches on nearly all the desire for a fag just disappeared, was amazing and made me realise just how much of the desire was a physical addiction.

 

The nicorette patches only come in three strengths 5,10 and 20mg. Dont start on the 20s unless you are a really heavy smoker as you'll end up putting more nicotine into your system than through fags, and make giving up a bit harder. I smoked about 15 a day and started on 10mg and reduced gradually - slower than they said by creating a 7.5mg stage and a 2.5mg stage by cutting the patches in half. They tell you not to do this but it worked for me by making the weaning off period longer and more gentle. As a result had much much less craving than I expected and needed less willpower than expected (always a problem for me).

Edited 6 April, 2012 by buctootim

[Lord Duckhunter]

I gave up ciggies some 23 years ago. Was finding it harder and harder to get round the football pitch so just gave up. Was never too much of a problem until I had a pint. I then started to smoke cigars,Hamlet's or Slim Panatella's that they used to sel in pubs,lovely.I ended up smoking one per pint, and it was getting out of hand. Had a real real job giving them up. Used to suck and bite straws, but it was really reall hard. Still struggle even after 15 years, particulary at Weddings or special occasions. I really miss a cigar with a pint, but I guess the smoking ban has helped because you dont get the smell of someone elses now. I also dont really want the kids smoking, so that keeps me going.

[dune]

Be a man and go cold turkey. It only takes 48 hours of will power to beat the craving. If you go on patches you've still got to come off them. And they cost a stupid amount.

Edited 6 April, 2012 by dune

[The Majestic Channon]

As a non-smoker I can't really say with any authority but one mate reckons electronic cigarettes were the solution, and actually pretty damn good at getting the kick whilst getting the 'smoking experience'.

 

I would need a 10 mile long cable for when i'm at work though

 

**** that

[Verbal]

Be a man and go cold turkey. It only takes 48 hours of will power to beat the craving. If you go on patches you've still got to come off them. And they cost a stupid amount.

 

So cigarettes are not that addictive then?

[mcjwills]

Gave up cold turkey style 17 years ago after the doctor told me bluntly that if I did not give up I would die. I had severe chest problems and struggling to breath at the time. Went from 40 a day to zero over night, tried patches and found out I was alergic to them, so cold turkey it was. 17 years later I still have an urge for a ciggy but as previously said its like a recovering alcoholic, just one quick ciggy and it would be on to the second, so the trick is once you give up dont have the first ciggy.

[Glasgow_Saint]

Worked for me >>>> http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/014103940X/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1/278-0760569-3198907?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_r=1MB0ZPGNCVX7019184B2&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_i=0140277633

[ThreeSixty]

Cold turkey for me too. Fancied using the money for other things.

 

Though even now when im stressed out my first idea is having a fag.

[aintforever]

I found doing it in steps helped.

 

First of all, don't even try to give up. Just set yourself a limit, if you currently do 20 a day set yourself a strict limit of 10. Then once that becomes normal go down to a few a day. Then once you decide to give up make sure you have nothing whatsoever, no patches, no gum and definitely no sneaky fags when you're ****ed.

[dune]

So cigarettes are not that addictive then?

 

Where did I say they weren't? But the nicotine dependency (the craving) subsides after 48 hours of detoxification. Then it's just down to will power to stop doing something that has been habitual for many years. If you don't have the will power you'll never stop and that's why I say go cold Turkey and don't faff about with patches/nicotine replacement because you've still got to ween yourself off them.

Edited 6 April, 2012 by dune

[The Kraken]

Where did I say they weren't? But the nicotine dependency (the craving) subsides after 48 hours of detoxification. Then it's just down to will power to stop doing something that has been habitual for many years. If you don't have the will power you'll never stop and that's why I say go cold Turkey and don't faff about with patches/nicotine replacement because you've still got to ween yourself off them.

 

Correct. Around 70% of the nicotine "withdrawal" effect has gone after 48 hours without smoking. 100% has gone after one week off cigarettes. Most people struggle to give up due to the habit-forming nature of smoking, not the actual physical addicition.

 

This book got me to quit (and millions others too). Changes the entire way you look at smoking.

 

[CB Saint]

You got to really want to give up, otherwise don't bother. Tried many times because I was nagged about it, failed every time.

 

One day woke and thought that hacking up your lungs every morning cannot be too good for you, and decided there and then to quit. Cold turkey and positive mental attitude.

[shirleysfc]

Correct. Around 70% of the nicotine "withdrawal" effect has gone after 48 hours without smoking. 100% has gone after one week off cigarettes. Most people struggle to give up due to the habit-forming nature of smoking, not the actual physical addicition.

 

This book got me to quit (and millions others too). Changes the entire way you look at smoking.

 

 

Me as well, much easier than I was expecting too.

[CityRanger]

Correct. Around 70% of the nicotine "withdrawal" effect has gone after 48 hours without smoking. 100% has gone after one week off cigarettes. Most people struggle to give up due to the habit-forming nature of smoking, not the actual physical addicition.

 

This book got me to quit (and millions others too). Changes the entire way you look at smoking.

 

 

This book did the trick for me and my wife a year ago after we had both smoked for 20 years.

Don't be scared! It doesn't tell you horrible things about your body, it just educates you as the previous posters have said.

My doctor said well done when i saw him recently and told him i'd given up. When he asked how, I was stunned when he didn't know about this book.

I told him I'd been to Quitters (NHS help/patches) twice and they didn't know what they were on about. Very surprised that NHS don't give this book out to people who want to quit.

Cost us £4.99 + postage and packaging lol.

[hamster]

Smoking is the main cause of bladder cancer, check out the removal procedure on YouTube, hurts.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=867bznm9WXw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

And all that crap comes out the same way that the big fat camera goes in, Ie through your urethra/Iapetus (sorry ladies for being graphic). Add to that the investigative procedure prior which is generally done under a local.

[Fan The Flames]

We are all different, I tackled it fag by fag, by that I mean I stopped the fag in the car in the morning, the post dinner fag, the lunch time fag etc. I then gave up smoking at work and then dropped the evening fag and I was left with smoking in the pub and on holiday and I was like that for years; after whiting out in a pub garden the Christmas before last I dropped the pub ones and on our holiday last year I just didn't want one. So I reckon it took me about six years to go from smoker to non via part time.

 

After a while you do realise the complete lunacy of smoking.

[sotonswan]

I've been fag free for 5 years. Was on 30+ roll-ups without filters per day.

 

I had given up a couple of times before with patches, but they just prolong the agony really - and they fall off leaving you all moody at work.

 

As others have said, to truly give up for good treat it like alcoholism. Just one cigarette will undo everything.

 

I finally gave up via cold turkey having read that you are mostly over the chemical addiction within 3 days. I took a few days off work for the suffering. It really was agony. You DO NEED TO REDUCE CAFFEINE INTAKE during this period as well. Apparently nicoteine masks caffeine effects. No need to give yourself the caffeine shakes at the same time!

 

Then it's down to dealing with the psychological addiction - or strong habits.

I bought a load of mints. For the next month I kept to all my old smoking rituals (going outside during the adverts on TV etc), but had a mint instead of a cigarrete. I did this at work too. I even allowed myself to enjoy passive smoking on my 'mint breaks' with the smokers.

 

After a month I would only have a mint break when my mind turned to cigarretes, which wasn't that often.

That's what worked for me.

[Cincy USA]

When I moved to the States my intake went up from 20 smokes a day to almost 60. The reason? A carton of cigs cost just $20.

 

I knew I had to do something.

 

I picked a day at random, giving myself just 24 hours notice. I went out on the the porch and smoked one last ciggie then flicked the butt onto the lawn and told myself "no more"

 

I didn't tell the wife I'd quit until the next morning. I used a patch on Day 1 but on Day 2 forgot to put one on. Didn't make a difference to me at all. Realised that after almost 20 years of smoking my habit wasn't the nicotine, but the very habit itself. I couldn't do anything or go anywhere without lighting up.

 

I used lollies (like someone else mentioned earlier) - Chupa Chups - and they helped the oral fixation.

 

The 'need' passed after about 5 days. Now, some nine years later, I could not even entertain the idea of smoking, almost as if I have forgotten how to (does that makes sense?)

 

Whenever we're out and about I reassure myself that I made the right decision by watching people who smoke and realising just how effing stupid they look. I also grimace at the smell everytime I walk past those 'smoking outside of the building' in downtown Cincinnati and can't get away from people who smell of cigarette smoke quickly enough if I have to stand next to them at the supermarket etc

 

It's an utterly ludicrous habit. I can't believe that I ever started, regret the massive amounts of quids and bucks I sp*nked away but very happy I was able to quit as easily as I did. My health has certainly been compromised by my 20+ year addiction and often feel as if I am still paying the price for my stupidity.

 

Good luck to ANYone trying to quit - your body and wallet will thank you for it!

[mack rill]

I gave up between fags for three years, then woke up one morning had a smoke n felt sick, Left them alone till midday and was alright, This happened for three days on the trot decided there and then body telling me (thats it!) Went cold Turkey, just chewing Air waves gum, Avoid the sweety route at all cost, seen to many mates end up a big-un. its been six years now some of the mates i work with smoke the same backy but luckily it don't affect me. Good luck Mate!

[SNSUN]

Thanks for all your positivity guys, here's a quick update.

 

So I haven't smoked since last Wednesday, so I'm doing well. Very few cravings too, which is surprising, because I've tried giving it up before and have had big ones. I have temporarily replaced smokes with Drumstick sweets, but, after extensive research online into the world of e-cigarettes, I've decided to buy a Liberro Realis e-cig. I ordered it on Friday but because of Easter, I'm hoping it comes tomorrow. I figure this will be the best way for me to give up the fags - get the nicotine hit and still hold something that resembles a cigarette but without the nastiness. It's refillable too, unlike some on the market, which will be much cheaper in the long run.

 

There's a whole world of e-cigaretting I never knew about either - but that's for another thread! (Perhaps on another forum!)

[hamster]

Well done buddy. Food starting to taste mmmmmm yet? You'll start to sniff out smokers soon too, I found that bit weird.

[SNSUN]

Well done buddy. Food starting to taste mmmmmm yet? You'll start to sniff out smokers soon too, I found that bit weird.

 

I've not noticed the difference in food (yet) but I definitely notice smokers more, especially if they've just had one. One thing I have noticed is in the porch to my house, where all my coats are hung up, just how much they stink of smoke. It's not something I've noticed before! I'm quite surprised my missus has never said anything.

[bridge too far]

I am one! Go me! (or, rather, go us as Mr TF has given up too)

 

My SiL gave up quite easily with SkyCig electronic cigarettes so we decided to give them a go - and it worked. I'd recommend them.

[View From The Top]

I went the cold turkey route, from around 20+ a day to nowt.

 

I stayed out of pubs etc to avoid the urge to smoke.

 

Once I'd got through the 1st few weeks it was OK. That said, if I drink coffee I get a real urge to spark up a B&H and I stopped smoking nearly 20 years ago.

[Dr Who?]

I set a date about a month in advance, this date was after my honeymoon had finished. I gave up and a month later my dad died at the age of 62. He smoked about 50 a day and had smoked since 14. He was very over weight, and I was 16.9 at the time as well as smoking about 20 a day.

 

I think at this point I could have started again and used the excuse that my dad had died of a heart attack, but I went the other way and it made me more determined to give up, and to lose weight as well. This was 7 years ago on July 18th. I did lose 4 stone as well, but I am back at 15.2 at the moment.

 

I tried to give up for years on Health grounds, but never really wanted to, and I think this is the main point, you need to really want to give up. I was 30 and smoking, as well as over eating, and also had a young daughter who I wanted to give the best chance possible of me seeing my daughter (now daughters and son) grown up, and so they had a father for as long as possible.

[Dr Who?]

Oh and I used the chewing gum, and it seemed to work for me. Took about 3 years to lose the urge for a cigarette completely. The urge at first is with the routine, but later on they just come out of the blue with no connection to routine.

 

I am glad I gave up, and do not miss them at all now.