Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => The Knowledge => Health & Fitness => Topic started by: Sergeant Pluck on 14 July, 2008, 10:13:10 pm

Title: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 14 July, 2008, 10:13:10 pm
I think I am at the stage where I can either stop soon or I might as well carry on for the rest of my days.

I keep hoping for some stand-out date but they all pass by in a haze of Marlboro smoke.

How did the ex-smokers among you pick a date for an attempt?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: pcolbeck on 14 July, 2008, 10:16:05 pm
It was going to be the next weekday morning for about three years and then one day it just was. I would pick a Tuesday of a week you know you are going to be really busy (so as to have distractions) and go for it.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: woollypigs on 14 July, 2008, 10:17:08 pm
What about just now, just stop, never light up again, easy and simple, no stress about "I gotta stop buy this date", yup just stop.

My old man just stopped, ran out of smokes, couldn't be arsed to go and get some more, and then just stopped.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 14 July, 2008, 10:18:05 pm
I get anxious if I even think I might run out, even though I live about 2 minutes from a baccy shop.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: eck on 14 July, 2008, 10:18:58 pm
After 23 years as a member of the Scottish Pro Smoking Team, I decided that I wanted not to smoke any more. I read Allen Carr's "Easy Way to Stop Smoking": his advice was to choose a date about six weeks away that had some significance for you, and look forward to that being the date on which you would become an ex-smoker.  Don't try to cut down before then, just smoke "normally", and look forward to the date. I know a lot of it is cod-psychology, but it worked for me.
I chose my son's third birthday. He's 18 now.  :thumbsup:

Quote
a haze of Marlboro smoke.

Edit: funnily enough, my last ever fag was a Marlboro. 10.12pm, 30 November 1992.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: peliroja on 14 July, 2008, 10:20:18 pm
I don't have any good advice, but I hate to think how bloody fast you'd be if you stopped smoking.  :o :o :o

 ;)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: bobajobrob on 14 July, 2008, 10:21:32 pm
I gave up for 8 months in 2005, it was just a case of not wanting to smoke. Tried to give up 10 days ago but failed miserably after 5 days and an incident with some cider in Somerset (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=5387.0). Don't give up giving up :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Adrian on 14 July, 2008, 10:27:51 pm
Wot Wooly said, just stop. You know it makes sense.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: FatBloke on 14 July, 2008, 10:35:26 pm
I just stopped. From smoking 25-30 a day!

The price of a packet of 20 Rothmans King Size had just reached £1.25!   :o

I had a mortgage that was costing me £130 per month. I was skint.

The date? October 29th 1984.

Never looked back!  Where's that smug bastard smiley?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Greenbank on 14 July, 2008, 10:43:42 pm
How did the ex-smokers among you pick a date for an attempt?

(I read Allen Carr, it worked for me for 6 months but I started again. Still, enough of it remained in my brain and...)

I'd always said I'd never smoke in my thirties (I started at 18) so I had many years leading up to that date to prepare. I had a (surprise) thirtieth birthday party the day before my 30th birthday and got absolutely shitfaced. I was so hungover the next day I couldn't even face smoking even if I did want one. Haven't had one since and it's been pretty easy (compared with the other attempts).
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: marna on 14 July, 2008, 10:44:11 pm
I think I am at the stage where I can either stop soon or I might as well carry on for the rest of my days.

I keep hoping for some stand-out date but they all pass by in a haze of Marlboro smoke.

How did the ex-smokers among you pick a date for an attempt?

I didn't stop. I just ran out of cigarettes one day and was lazy/busy enough that I didn't get any more for a day. At which point I decided to see what would happen if I didn't get any the *next* day either. And so on. I wasn't *quitting* - I was just experimenting - so I didn't get as anxious, and if I had bought cigarettes I wouldn't have felt a failure for doing so. So there wasn't the pressure of quitting, I suppose.

It's only been a few months, mind. It might not stick.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Torslanda on 14 July, 2008, 10:52:39 pm
Once upon a time there was a weak man called Torslanda. He smoked. He smoked because he was unhappy, he smoked because he felt he was under pressure. It was a habit and he had done it for 26 years. He scored a new job with the prospect of less pressure, less stress and more free time and began to think more about stopping.

One day he was invited to UK Biobank and while he was there he spoke to a nuse from the British Heart Foundation. The conversation went along these lines.

'So, Mr Torslanda, do you have a pension?'
'Yes I'm saving for my children's future and my retirement'
'Why bother? You're not going to live to collect it!'

At first Mr T was affronted, then frightened and then he realised he was being given a not-so-gentle prod in the right direction.

He quit.

That was in March this year. In April he suffered anxiety/panic attacks but still kept off the fags. In May he was made redundant from his new job but despite being sorely tempted he still kept off the fags.

20 weeks after packing in smoking he now goes out to ride his bike for pleasure. Admittedly not as often as he would like but you can't have everything. He got a new job fairly quickly and doesn't miss the fags too much.

Sarge, you can do this. Don't look for some appointed day of significance.

JUST STOP!

Stop now. For the rest of tonight try not to have a fag. If you succeed then do it again tomorrow. Do it  for an hour at a time. Say to yourself not 'Can I do this?' but 'I CAN DO THIS!'

This is VITAL. DON'T TELL ANYONE THAT YOU ARE/HAVE GIVEN UP SMOKING. What I mean is; let them find out. Be proud of yourself.

Trust me. If you can stop for an hour, then you can do two. If you can do two you can go from lunch to teatime. Then it's a hop- skip & jump to the next morning.
Update yourself, there's a whole thread somewhere about Mr Torslanda's attempts.

The only significant date is the one marked on your calender in big red letters

'THE DAY I GAVE UP SMOKING'
Mr Torslanda managed it and he's a weak-willed wanker!
luv'n'stuff

J
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: marna on 14 July, 2008, 10:58:26 pm
Oh, I might have been omitting things there. I had spent at least a year *contemplating* quitting, and trying to get rid of as many habitual cigarette things as possible, before that. So I'd managed to stop having cigarettes for the sake of them when I got off a bus, or whatever. I think that helped a lot, because there were fewer times when I'd reach for a cigarette out of habit.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 14 July, 2008, 11:00:59 pm
Great stuff and very thought provoking replies, everyone.

*Chain smokes furiously at the thought of stopping now*

No, not now, dammit, I want to talk theoretically about future dates, especially future dates, way way in the future, when stopping smoking will be so effortless that I don't even notice. That's the kind of date I'm after.  ;D

Anyway in the meantime tell me good things about not smoking. Will I get a girlfriend?
Hmm? OK, get laid even?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: woollypigs on 14 July, 2008, 11:01:57 pm

This is VITAL. DON'T TELL ANYONE THAT YOU ARE/HAVE GIVEN UP SMOKING. What I mean is; let them find out. Be proud of yourself.


As a none smoker, that just make so much sense. How great that would feel when your friends after a while go erm Sergent you smoked didn't you and you can then say nope not since x date. That would just make me feel so great if I could say that :)

So then how long since your last smoke ?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 14 July, 2008, 11:05:21 pm
Yes, I agree I made an error last time by talking about it and putting myself under pressure in advance.

Won't do that again.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Torslanda on 14 July, 2008, 11:08:05 pm
Me? Mr Torslanda hasn't smoked since March 13th.

This is deliberate BTW. Mr Torslanda has given up fags. It feels more detached yetr more secure, somehow.

J
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: woollypigs on 14 July, 2008, 11:09:27 pm
Good news Mr T though the question was aimed at Mr Pluck :)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Adrian on 14 July, 2008, 11:09:39 pm


Anyway in the meantime tell me good things about not smoking. Will I get a girlfriend?
Hmm? OK, get laid even?

Yes obviously and Yes lots





Opinions expressed may contain truths or traces of truths
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 14 July, 2008, 11:12:18 pm
I think the fact that I've been able to shed some excess weight over the past several months has encouraged me to look at stopping smoking as an interesting exercise e exercise in control, rather than something to be done for any particular health related reason.

I'm not sure if that is a good way to think about it.

The promble is that to succeed I think I need short term rewards. And I think stopping smoking is more about long term rewards, but I am not good at those.

[Edit: Ta Adrian  ;D ]
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Fab Foodie on 14 July, 2008, 11:18:41 pm
I think I am at the stage where I can either stop soon or I might as well carry on for the rest of my days.

I keep hoping for some stand-out date but they all pass by in a haze of Marlboro smoke.

How did the ex-smokers among you pick a date for an attempt?

I gave it serious consideration when I was in the Ambulance connected to Oxygen and the Cardiac monitor.  I finally quit when the Cardiologist said If I carried on I'd not see 50 (I was 42).  Now 45 and not smoked since.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: redshift on 14 July, 2008, 11:22:11 pm
I took a slightly different approach.  Early in 1998, I did a long stint at work, by which I mean I worked 10 14-hour days without a break (It's TV, that's only slightly worse than normal).  At the end of that, I came down with Something Nasty.  Something Nasty made a jolly nice home for itself in my chest and sinuses, and I went to bed for a couple of days, being tired and shagged out after a long squawk.  I awoke one morning, to find myself feeling a bit icky, and realised that Something Nasty had left me a present in the back of my throat.  *jump the spoiler if you are squeamish*
(click to show/hide)

I stopped that day, never smoked again so far, and never minded going into pubs, or sitting with people who smoked.  I just stopped wanting to do it there and then.
After 6 months, I bought a new camera and lens, and three years later I bought Speedy, neither of which would have happened without giving up smoking.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: marna on 14 July, 2008, 11:27:00 pm
The promble is that to succeed I think I need short term rewards. And I think stopping smoking is more about long term rewards, but I am not good at those.

Save your cigarette pennies for a month and put them towards something (some piece of shiny bike kit?) you want but do not need, and can't really otherwise justify getting? Or towards a posh and frivolous meal?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Valiant on 14 July, 2008, 11:37:32 pm
I'm contemplating the same thing at the moment. Good luck Simon, I two am scared to think of how fast you'll be when you do stop. Eeek.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Rapples on 15 July, 2008, 07:36:07 am
The promble is that to succeed I think I need short term rewards. And I think stopping smoking is more about long term rewards, but I am not good at those.

Save your cigarette pennies for a month and put them towards something (some piece of shiny bike kit?) you want but do not need, and can't really otherwise justify getting? Or towards a posh and frivolous meal?

I did that over 20 years ago, I put the £1.00 per day :o in a draw at work.  I wanted to buy bits to "do up" my old Claud Butler 10 speed bike, and was skint.

A good piece of advice I was given FWIW

"The first few days are the worst, you will probably be proud of yourself Well done.  Promise yourself you do not want to go through that again.  the next days will become easier but the temptation to have just one becomes greater because you "have beaten it."  You are only kidding yourself. If you have just one puff after a few days you will be back smoking more than you were before.   Each day remind yourself how many days you have managed, and that if you smoke today you will have to go through it all again."

Watch out for other smokers!!!!  They secretly want you to fail it makes them feel better.  they will keep offering you cigarettes!  Avoid them if possible in the begining and situations where habit will remind you of your desire to smoke.

Good Luck

Personally I would just start today no big song and dance, just stop.  The more people who know you have stopped (you are not giving up!)the more you need to prove to them and yourself that you can do it.

Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world, I should know I've done it hundred of times - Mark Twain
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 15 July, 2008, 08:13:08 am
In common with others here, I "just stopped" - in my case, after smoking for 25 years, latterly two packs a day. That was over six years ago.

I didn't tell anyone I'd stopped either. Nor did I think I had "stopped forever" for that's too big a concept. In fact, it was a dare to myself. I'd run out of smokes, couldn't be arsed to go to the shop so thought "I'll string out 'til lunchtime then go and get some."
When lunchtime came I thought "I wonder whether I can make it to teatime without smoking?", then "I wonder if I can do all day without?". From there it just escalated.

It was really tough - but what developed was a realisation that I wanted to not smoke more than I wanted to smoke, and for me, that was a BIG motivator.

Breaking the habit was the hard part. It's not about the addiction - it's all about little rituals you've built up over the years, reinforced day after day after day. All that needs to be broken down, and either replaced or discarded.

In effect what you end up doing is reinventing yourself. It was the best thing I could ever have done for myself, and those around me. I've never regretted stopping - though I hated it at times during the first six months. And now that I've done the hard work - it's a great feeling of freedom when I see snoutcasts standing in the rain outside a pub. YES!! I'm free of all that.

JFDI. For six months you'll hate yourself. Thereafter you'll be thankful.

I had a mantra that helped:

"I'd rather be 45 and wishing I could smoke, than 65 and wishing I hadn't."

I also had an image in my head, of me being about 65 and in my docs surgery getting some Really Bad News, then looking back to the person I am now and thinking "You bastard, you did this to me."

You might think you've damaged your body now, so there's no point stopping. That's not true - your body (mostly) heals itself. Depending on you, and how much you've smoked ("Pack Years" they call them), your lungs will probably never be as good as they would have been had you not smoked - but that's just tough - and you can be sure they'd get worse if you carried on smoking.

I used to use that excuse. Then someone said to me "If you want a tree, it's true that the best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is right now."
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: numbnuts on 15 July, 2008, 08:23:30 am
I stopped 3 weeks before I was diagnosed with emphysema and now I'm paying the real price of smoking :'(
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Rapples on 15 July, 2008, 08:25:01 am

It was really tough - but what developed was a realisation that I wanted to not smoke more than I wanted to smoke, and for me, that was a BIG motivator.

Breaking the habit was the hard part. It's not about the addiction - it's all about little rituals you've built up over the years, reinforced day after day after day. All that needs to be broken down, and either replaced or discarded.


+1

I wish I'd said that, good advice
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: BornAgainCyclist on 15 July, 2008, 10:23:31 am
When I used to smoke, I never fancied a fag when I had a bad cold, so I choose this time to pack up.  I had a few abortive attempts (one lasted a year, until I decided that it would be OK to have a fag with a pint - BIG MISTAKE!).
In the end it worked for me (I packed up over 30 years ago).  Good luck :)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: mr magnolia on 15 July, 2008, 10:48:16 am
When I used to smoke, I never fancied a fag when I had a bad cold, so I choose this time to pack up. 

I did that too, in 1988.   Then I met the now mrs m.

I'd pretend I had a cold now if I were you and wanted to stop now.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: FatBloke on 15 July, 2008, 11:31:26 am
This is VITAL. DON'T TELL ANYONE THAT YOU ARE/HAVE GIVEN UP SMOKING. What I mean is; let them find out. Be proud of yourself.
It took my then live-in girlfriend now the current Mrs FB 4 days to notice I'd stopped, my best friends didn't notice for 3 weeks.

I am now disgusted that I regularly used to light up in my best friends' house when they were both non-smokers.   :(
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Notsototalnewbie on 15 July, 2008, 11:45:15 am


Anyway in the meantime tell me good things about not smoking. Will I get a girlfriend?
Hmm? OK, get laid even?

Yes obviously and Yes lots


Opinions expressed may contain truths or traces of truths

Seriously though...I don't have any advice on stopping but if it helps then I can honestly say I really do find smoking an unattractive habit, even if it's a really gorgeous man doing it...it's kind of a deal breaker for me.

I'm sorry if that sounds a bit harsh, I have particular issues with it because my dad has always chain smoked, so the house and everything in it stank when I was a kid, there was a continual haze of smoke over everything, and I was very glad to escape that...but I do have friends who feel similarly about the whole 'kissing an ashtray' thing.

Good luck!

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 15 July, 2008, 11:56:48 am
Lots of useful thoughts there - will peruse them properly this evening when I have time.

Good luck!

With the smoking or the getting laid?  :P

Luck needed with both I think.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Notsototalnewbie on 15 July, 2008, 03:09:34 pm
Well I did mean the smoking but the best of luck in all your endeavours!!

My boss sets great store in his white plastic fake cigarette nicotine thing, he used to smoke heavily when stressed a few years ago, but now he just wonders around with this tampon thing in his mouth at bad points. This is how I know when to give him a wide berth. Handy really.

I don't think he knows we all call it his tampon though...
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: onb on 15 July, 2008, 03:57:57 pm
I gave up almost exactly 27 years ago ,the reason the test was positive and eight months later a beautiful baby daughter arrived .I gave up as the 1st mrs onb was advised to .She started up again soom after she got out of the hospital and I didnt.Early doors I told everyone I had given up  to much derision and you will never do it types of comment ,I can be a stubborn sod and comments like this only fuelled my will to stop.Dont consider yourself as someone who has given up more a non smoker.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pete on 15 July, 2008, 08:28:29 pm
I've never smoked, so I'm not much help on the how-to-give-up stuff.

I can post a dire warning, though.

Elsewhere (astronomy forum), one of the most active, helpful, popular (and funny) forummers, posted late last year that he'd had a bit of bad news.  He, a lifelong smoker in his late 40s, had been ordered to give up, a year or two previous, with good reason.  Now, he'd had a letter from his consultant vascular surgeon telling him that he had a complete occlusion of all the arteries in his lower leg and the prospects were dire.  He actually published his letter in facsimile on the forum, as a warning to others.

Early this year they decided that his leg was past saving and he had it amputated.  He spent three months in hospital.

Early in June he was fitted with an artificial leg and was thrilled to be able to get about again with no more than a stick, to move into a bungalow, to re-start his hobby which was running a sort of used astronomy kit exchange.  All through his illness he continued to post on the forum and his optimism and cheery disposition was a pleasure to read.  I never met him but, like all of us, counted him a friend.  He was a passionate Wales supporter.

It wasn't enough.   :'(  On 13th June he collapsed and died of a pulmonary embolism, almost certainly smoking-related.  His loss was a tremendous blow to the forum, felt keenly by many fellow-astronomers.

Please, please, don't let this happen to anyone on this forum, ever!  Or any other!

Enough.  I felt, I really needed to post this, get it off my chest.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 15 July, 2008, 08:57:14 pm
That is really sad Pete  :(.

Amputation is not uncommon in smokers - as with diabetics. Stopping smoking and getting regularly active in a properly cardiovascular sense (weeding window boxes won't cut it) is the only sensible thing to do before the problems start.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: hellymedic on 16 July, 2008, 02:57:11 pm
I made a definite decision not to start smoking at 12 or 13.
My first clinical attachment as a medical student was with a vascular surgeon (an ex-smoker).
Watching young men's legs getting whittled into stumps reinforced my earlier decision. Finding out they'd lost their sex lives earlier was a revelation.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: peliroja on 16 July, 2008, 03:01:20 pm
Just stop, Simon. Stop stop stop. Do it NOW.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 16 July, 2008, 04:25:09 pm
Finding out they'd lost their sex lives earlier was a revelation.

Now we're talking. More gore please.

Just stop, Simon. Stop stop stop. Do it NOW.

Why what's happened?  ;D It's that bit about the sex life isn't it?  :P
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: clarion on 16 July, 2008, 04:27:00 pm
If you're not smoking now, you've stopped.

Now just forget to start again.

HTH
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: mike on 16 July, 2008, 04:32:32 pm
I stopped when my rowing coach [Eric Halliday, RIP] told me to either stop smoking or drinking or I would never be any good at sport.

So Simon - which is it to be?  Beer or tabs?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 16 July, 2008, 04:35:11 pm
I don't drink, Mike, haven't done for two years.

Not smoking or drinking just seems too much.  :(
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Julian on 16 July, 2008, 04:36:09 pm
You obviously need a new bad habit to replace the smoking.

Go wild!  Don't eat five portions of fruit and veg a day! 

That'll do the trick.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: mike on 16 July, 2008, 04:38:18 pm
that's just crazy talk Liz. 

the gubmnt would catch you for that, 4 sure.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 16 July, 2008, 04:38:34 pm
You obviously need a new bad habit to replace the smoking.

You are even more right than you could have imagined.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: clarion on 16 July, 2008, 04:41:57 pm
Not smoking or drinking just seems too much.  :(

Whaddyamean?  I don't smoke or drink, and my life is one neverending riotous delight of...

Well, OK, maybe that wasn't a good example.

But I can report, over twenty years into my sobriety and not having smoked (well, barely) for at least eighteen years, that there is life beyond...
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: hellymedic on 16 July, 2008, 04:51:34 pm
Finding out they'd lost their sex lives earlier was a revelation.

Now we're talking. More gore please.

Just stop, Simon. Stop stop stop. Do it NOW.

Why what's happened?  ;D It's that bit about the sex life isn't it?  :P

The sex life business is not gory any more than my 'dead' computer mouse is gory. Normal, appropriate stimuli elicit no response.
Hydraulic failure in the case of vascular disease, presumed electric failure for my dead mouse.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: peliroja on 16 July, 2008, 04:59:25 pm
Finding out they'd lost their sex lives earlier was a revelation.

Now we're talking. More gore please.

Just stop, Simon. Stop stop stop. Do it NOW.

Why what's happened?  ;D It's that bit about the sex life isn't it?  :P
Nope, it's not, actually.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Valiant on 16 July, 2008, 05:02:10 pm
Simon, we should have a chat. Think of me as the short, fat Hitch.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Tiger on 16 July, 2008, 05:51:59 pm
It was only when I stopped that I realised that smokers smell. They smell of old fags, and their clothes smell, their hair smells, and their breath smells. 

If you smoke you decide not to bother about being smelly.  I could not smoke now because I never want to be smelly like that again - it is thoughtless and lacks dignity - like failing to wash.

To be a smoker is also increasingly to signal oneself as the impressionable dupe of the tobacco marketing companies, and not in control of ones life. It is no coincidence that smokers are disproportionately boozers, criminals, poorly educated, or just poor. Is that the profile you want to signal?

When you stop you will take control of another aspect of your life and gain a bit more self respect. That alone is reason enough to do it.

 
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 16 July, 2008, 06:09:17 pm
Lets face it - one never tires of the Nelson Munce moment whenever one passes a group of damp, sad faced smokers coughing their way through a couple of tabs outside a pub  ;D. God I'm glad I stopped before all that kicked off...
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: CathH on 16 July, 2008, 07:08:11 pm
I wonder if there are any "shock" programmes out there?  You're asking for the gore, Sarge, and I can remember why you want that.  (I quit only 4 years ago.)  We don't get confronted with the hideous results of smoking-related diseases. do we?  It would help if we could be.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: hellymedic on 16 July, 2008, 07:22:15 pm
Losing your sex life isn't dramatic; it's just tragic in a quiet, personal way.
Imagine the scene: you are in a quiet room, having had a lovely meal earlier with the partner of your dreams. You are happy and relaxed but a bit nervous.
Small amounts of wine flow freely and the conversation becomes more intimate.
Kissing commences and becomes passionate.
Some groping starts under the clothes, which seem to disappear.

Then there is the realisation that things have not risen to the occasion.
Disappointment turns into frustration.

The matter is not discussed again...
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Greenbank on 16 July, 2008, 07:33:12 pm
Losing your sex life isn't dramatic; it's just tragic in a quiet, personal way.

For a minute I thought we were talking about marriage not impotence.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: goatpebble on 16 July, 2008, 07:37:36 pm
Before I say anything, I will admit to occasionally lapsing, AND LAPSING IS DANGEROUS!

However, the lapses are getting less frequent. A packet of ten when smoking company is expected.

Here are some thoughts. No great wisdom, because I don't have that sort of brain.

A previous post suggested you look at any unhappiness. I strongly agree.

Cultivate the most important non-smoking friendships you have, and any shared activities that rule out smoking. For me it's long Alpine treks with my best mate, who gave up 5 years ago, and has not once been tempted. He was an all day smoker, so this was quite something. Think of climbing Ben Nevis everyday for three weeks, with 15kgs on your back, and then think of altitudes more than twice as high. That's a great incentive.

I have chosen my most feared hills as an hour ride before and after work. I am still very slow, but it sure reduces the temptation, and makes me feel that not smoking means new freedom.

I think that's the best point I can make. To be free of smoking means possibilities. Health means freedom, and smoking means exactly the opposite.

ps.  my dear helly, yes, my sex life is quietly and tragically non-existent. Maybe I need more mountain walks...

 ::-)



Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 16 July, 2008, 07:48:30 pm
Normal, appropriate stimuli elicit no response.

*Gulp*

The reality is as a nurse who has mainly worked in cardiac / thoracic surgery and cardiology, I have had more than enough evidence of the possible consequences. That's the astonishing thing about it.

When you stop you will take control of another aspect of your life and gain a bit more self respect. That alone is reason enough to do it.

I think that (and other not dissimilar thoughts above) is getting uncomfortably close to the mark. [Edit: in that self-esteem has a big part to play in this]
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: hellymedic on 16 July, 2008, 08:31:36 pm
Normal, appropriate stimuli elicit no response.

*Gulp*



This issue is seldom discussed, for no good reason.
<rantlet>
There is no shortage of sex in The Meeja but little discussion of impotence and its relation to smoking. If boys knew at 15 that smoking could kill their sex life by 40, they might take heed.
<rantlet>
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Regulator on 17 July, 2008, 08:52:45 am
Shall we give up together?

We could be 'giving up buddies'.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris N on 17 July, 2008, 08:58:36 am
Good luck Sarge.

However, the lapses are getting less frequent. A packet of ten when smoking company is expected.

This is what I've done too - a pack of tobacco when on hoilday, or when out for the night.  But why?  What is it about company and drinking that makes you want a cigarette?  I used to think that I liked cigarettes, but I've now realised that I don't.  There's nothing cool, or sexy, or fun about killing yourself.  So I'm quitting again - as of yesterday.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Frenchie on 17 July, 2008, 08:59:40 am
Now, he'd had a letter from his consultant vascular surgeon telling him that he had a complete occlusion

My grand dad had this, but in the chest I believe; it caused three heart failures in close succession over the years, before it was properly diagnosed and he then had a massive surgery. He survived, packed smoking and lived happily for another 20 years. He put a bit on weight, but kept things balanced through a lot of walking when he could.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 17 July, 2008, 09:05:57 am
I am having trouble conceiving of myself as someone who doesn't smoke. I see my life as being rather empty without the pleasure of a few fags during the day.
Shall we give up together?

We could be 'giving up buddies'.  :thumbsup:

Might be an idea Greg.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Charlotte on 17 July, 2008, 09:24:30 am
Cigarettes are the most evil, pernicious, nasty little bastards to give up.  Quite how a small paper tube containing some shredded leaves can have quite such a hold over us, I never did work out.

It's not a physical thing, that's for sure.  I mean; within 48 hours or so, you're through the physical cravings and withdrawl.  And that's only if you're a heavy smoker.  If you're just the kind who smokes a few in the evenings, you could stop with hardly any physical cravings at all.

So if it's not the biological stuff that's causing dependence, what in the hell is it?  I reckon it was because I needed it for other reasons and I think you've hit it on the head, Pluck:

I am having trouble conceiving of myself as someone who doesn't smoke.

Y'see, us smokey people (I quit five years ago) are rebels, aren't we?  Bugger what people say, we like a crafty ciggie and it's not really going to harm us, is it?

We're part of a subculture.  We're a bit dangerous.  We're people who don't give a fuck.  Smoking says something about how we wish others to see us.  It helps us define who we are.

James Dean in his leather Jacket. 

(http://www.jusonline.nl/smokers/james_dean.jpg)

Marlene Dietrich, looking elegant.

(http://bp1.blogger.com/_xq-QIslj1uI/RvZI0gZXW6I/AAAAAAAAAnU/7czsJstKOhY/s400/dietrich-marlene-photo-xxl-marlene-dietrich-6220459.jpg)

Then there's Bogey.  He's The Man, right?

(http://bp1.blogger.com/_EHsBiFWrihM/RwGDRhWgEuI/AAAAAAAAAuY/tkX69EDoBbc/s400/clips_smoking.jpg)

Then you see something like this:

(http://www.debutaunt.com/archives/36-smoking%2520thru%2520trach.jpg)


My advice:  Redefine who you are.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Jurek on 17 July, 2008, 10:22:10 am
Mate, buddy, there’s some really good advice being offered on this thread.
I can especially identify with the words of Tiger and Charlotte.
Smokers stink. They pollute my space. I deeply resent the fact that the lass upstairs from me has started smoking and I can smell it in my bedroom.

FWIW here’s my 2p’s worth.
I stopped because I found it to be incompatible with another activity I’d recently taken up – cycling.
Alan Carr’s book helped – I liked the idea of smoking myself stupid while I gave up.
It wasn’t plain sailing.
I didn’t tell anyone I was stopping.
There were moments when I crumbled and HAD TO GO OUT AND GET SOME BACCY RIGHT NOW.
Smoked the lot and then hated myself for my weakness.
From buying the bike to my last tab was about two and a half months.
I’d had tried and failed to stop many, many times before – this time it worked, I can’t pinpoint the reason why.
Haven’t had the slightest urge to have one since.
The only thing which continues to puzzle me is why in god’s name I hadn’t done this sooner.

Once you have stopped, the improvements you will find in your health and performance, will astonish you.
And you’ll notice those changes fairly quickly – not so much the long term reward you mentioned.
You ride regularly and have the all kit to monitor where you are and tell you how quickly you got there – you’ll soon see the difference. Promise.

Now I’m worried that I’ll be really struggling to keep up with you

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: alexb on 17 July, 2008, 10:29:14 am
I read up a lot about this in an attempt to understand what my wife was going through when she tried to quit.

There's about a 48hour peak when you crave nicotine, that's for sure, but there's another evil one about 3 weeks later that also hits and I can't for the life of me remember where I read this and what it concerns, but essentially, that's when the peak cravings hit and this is when most people tryingto give up fail.

I think that the best advice I can give is to take someone who knows you well and get them to tell you when you tend to reach for a cigarette. for my wife it was when she was on the phone. she could go all day without smoking, then smoke 5 over the course of a long phone call. That's not a need, that's a habit. Since she used to smoke outdoors, the answer was to take the calls indoors.... It's little things like that that can make a big difference over time.

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 17 July, 2008, 10:38:11 am
Something else I found strangely liberating. I realised it's not our god given right to be happy all the time. Maybe I needed to grow up a bit to realise that. Once I faced up to the fact I was going to be miserable for a while, I was able to face up to it more easily.

We joke about it in the family now. I was a miserable fucker for months while I was being reborn as an ex-smoker. The kids would whisper amongst themselves - "FFS keep clear of Dad - he's got a major cob on today...".

But now I'm happy and jolly, as well as sweet smelling  :thumbsup:.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 17 July, 2008, 10:52:41 am
This is a great thread.

Thinking on, I think smoking is but one of many things I need to sort out in my life.

Quote
Redefine who you are

I think that is just what would be needed, Charlotte.

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: woollypigs on 17 July, 2008, 05:11:59 pm
Wen a mate of mine stopped, he started to drink faster and more when in the pub and and at home he was eating more, like snacks etc. He told me the reason for this was not the craving/addiction but something to do with his hands.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Valiant on 17 July, 2008, 05:15:13 pm
Aye you need to substitute it for something. Any projects need doing around the house? Any hobbies besides cycling?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Tiger on 17 July, 2008, 05:24:57 pm
Just typed this and deleted - bah.

I once did research on what actually makes smoking so addictive.

Start with the action - power of fire, plus controlled inhalation (taking something deep inside), and chemical hit. Add imagery of admired confident people, and seduction of packs/marketing legitimisation.

Powerful mix.

A fag functions as an ignition/reinforcement of identity and being. Through the dauy a punctuation point, restarting the sense of self in ones desired identity (as opposed to the imposed external reality). Fag break at work = ready to tackle the task, re-invigorated in self etc.

Many smokers don't feel alive at all until after the first fag of the day.  Until then they are in limbo. A smoker 'waiting' will feel 'active/alive' if tehy can smoke and 'passive/reduced' if they can't.

In a social context - when you need to be yourself to teh max - a fag really helps to 'centre/establish' yourself - even moreso if combined with drink = powerful sense of self validation.

The fag works like a little man on your shoulder whispering in your ear - 'you are OK, you exist, you are active, alive, attractive etc etc'. A sort of magic mirror.  For the downtrodden, the insecure, the suggestible, the hopeless, the fearful it is a powerful magic.






In return however the little man steals your life.

To escape you need to see a new you. One that does not need or believe the little man.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Jurek on 17 July, 2008, 08:16:08 pm
Read this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ again S.
It's true.

Move on.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Maladict on 17 July, 2008, 08:20:08 pm
Can I give up being untidy?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 17 July, 2008, 08:26:27 pm
Read this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ again S.
It's true.

Move on.

I'm reading it.

Is all true.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Rapples on 17 July, 2008, 08:32:25 pm
Wen a mate of mine stopped, he started to drink faster and more when in the pub and and at home he was eating more, like snacks etc. He told me the reason for this was not the craving/addiction but something to do with his hands.

This is so true!!

I used to play snooker once a week when I gave up.  It took me 3 weeks to work out why I was getting so pissed every time I played snooker.

Take shot miss - drag on fag

Take shot miss - big gulp of beer :o
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 17 July, 2008, 08:33:18 pm
Jurek, was just thinkin', could you declare an amnesty on the topic for the night of the Dunwich?  :P

I promise to smoke downwind.  
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Jurek on 17 July, 2008, 08:35:57 pm
Read this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ again S.
It's true.

Move on.

I'm reading it.

Is all true.


In my experience?
Yes

Amnesty agreed - I'm not that uptight about it - you would've heard about it if I was.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 17 July, 2008, 08:46:16 pm
Read this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ again S.
It's true.

Move on.

I'm reading it.

Is all true.


In my experience?
Yes

I know - I was saying that I agreed with it.

Quote
Amnesty agreed - I'm not that uptight about it - you would've heard about it if I was.

I know  ;D


Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pete on 18 July, 2008, 12:14:46 am
I think, my inner resentment of the ongoing existence of the smoking shelter at the workplace, may boil down to sanctimoniousness.  Be that as it may.  Others resent the fact that the smokers take extra breaks to go out for a fag.  It has been 'mentioned', I believe.  Memos have issued from the Management...

Enough of that.  In my part of the business (the R&D bit), the last guy in our office who smoked (another Pete as it happens) gave up about six months ago.  Before that his clothes used to really stink.  I didn't like to get too close to him because of the smell.  Now that smell has gone and I can communicate with him just like any of the others.  Perhaps I ought to tell him, straight, how much better it is without the smell, but I haven't the guts.

Hope he doesn't lapse.  His missus gave up some time before he did, it was probably because they were expecting their first child.  That's a great incentive for both parents!
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Maladict on 18 July, 2008, 12:17:48 am
The only guy in my part of the office who smokes sits next to me.  It's fine when he's not just had his fag break but when he comes inside again after a fag he reeks.  I can't believe how badly.  It's actually a health hazard too - that smell is carcinogens.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: hellymedic on 18 July, 2008, 01:30:18 am
Jurek, was just thinkin', could you declare an amnesty on the topic for the night of the Dunwich?  :P

I promise to smoke downwind. 

The whole world is always downwind of smokers. Don't kid yourself; your pong hangs as a cloud of miasma in all directions. Effectively, smokers are always upwind, sorry.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Charlotte on 18 July, 2008, 08:45:15 am
Jurek, was just thinkin', could you declare an amnesty on the topic for the night of the Dunwich?  :P

I promise to smoke downwind. 

The decision to smoke is yours alone.  I'm not one of these uptight, creepy people who seem to think that just because they're a non-smoker, it's okay for them to suck their teeth and look daggers at people who light up near them.  If you're in an area where it's legal to smoke, then smoke.

I won't give you any grief, I promise.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 18 July, 2008, 08:59:49 am
:) Ta Charlotte.

The downwind thing was directed at Jurek really, in jest, as the poor man is likely to have to put up with me for the duration of the Dunwich.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: peliroja on 18 July, 2008, 12:21:25 pm
Jurek, was just thinkin', could you declare an amnesty on the topic for the night of the Dunwich?  :P

I promise to smoke downwind. 

I'm not one of these uptight, creepy people who seem to think that just because they're a non-smoker, it's okay for them to suck their teeth and look daggers at people who light up near them.
I definitely am.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Greenbank on 18 July, 2008, 12:31:15 pm
The decision to smoke is yours alone.  I'm not one of these uptight, creepy people who seem to think that just because they're a non-smoker, it's okay for them to suck their teeth and look daggers at people who light up near them.  If you're in an area where it's legal to smoke, then smoke.

+1

The vehement anti-smokers (especially the ex-smokers) are almost as bad as the mandatory-h*lm*t loons.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: JohnP on 18 July, 2008, 12:40:02 pm
The decision to smoke is yours alone.  I'm not one of these uptight, creepy people who seem to think that just because they're a non-smoker, it's okay for them to suck their teeth and look daggers at people who light up near them.  If you're in an area where it's legal to smoke, then smoke.

I won't give you any grief, I promise.

^  +2
When I stopped smoking, I got my wife to promise to slap me with a rolling pin if I turned evangelical about non-smoking.  So far (5 years) I haven't been slapped.

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: alan on 18 July, 2008, 12:42:06 pm
I simply choose to avoid the immediate proximity of a smoker by maintaining a pong-free distance.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: peliroja on 18 July, 2008, 12:49:59 pm
The decision to smoke is yours alone.  I'm not one of these uptight, creepy people who seem to think that just because they're a non-smoker, it's okay for them to suck their teeth and look daggers at people who light up near them.  If you're in an area where it's legal to smoke, then smoke.

+1

The vehement anti-smokers (especially the ex-smokers) are almost as bad as the mandatory-h*lm*t loons.
If someone lights up next to me I either move away or if I can't, I ask them to stop or move away.

I have bad asthma. Sorry about that. I like to be able to breathe.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Greenbank on 18 July, 2008, 12:51:03 pm
If someone lights up next to me I either move away or if I can't, I ask them to stop or move away.

I have bad asthma. Sorry about that. I like to be able to breathe.

That's not what I meant by "vehement anti-smoker".
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: peliroja on 18 July, 2008, 12:56:13 pm
True, I find it hard to get vehement when I can't breathe.  ;)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: little miss mac on 18 July, 2008, 01:00:54 pm
I had a very good reason to give up: finding out I was pregnant. It was still hard to do, and I had one cigarette a day for a few days after the positive test. But I told myself that every day I did that was one more day no closer to having given up, and that was enough to get through the awful first few days smoke-free. I did it even though Mr Mac has carried on smoking (though not around minimac).

(I found it astonishing that the midwives were so impressed and surprised that I had given up, by the way. Obviously unusual in these parts, which says something.)

I could have happily sparked up after the little one arrived, but the one thing that keeps putting me off starting again is the monumental pain in the ass that is giving up. I just don't want to ever have to do it again. And it is a lovely freedom not to have the constant nagging sensation that you might fancy another fag in a minute.

Good luck giving up.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: clarion on 18 July, 2008, 01:17:04 pm
The decision to smoke is yours alone.  I'm not one of these uptight, creepy people who seem to think that just because they're a non-smoker, it's okay for them to suck their teeth and look daggers at people who light up near them.  If you're in an area where it's legal to smoke, then smoke.

+1

The vehement anti-smokers (especially the ex-smokers) are almost as bad as the mandatory-h*lm*t loons.
If someone lights up next to me I either move away or if I can't, I ask them to stop or move away.

I have bad asthma. Sorry about that. I like to be able to breathe.

+1
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 18 July, 2008, 01:31:57 pm
I am considerate of others when I do feel the need to light up.

Anyhoo... enough of that.


There may be a plan afoot.

Tiger, in the course of your studies on the subject, do you have any useful references / thoughts on strategies to deal with the "powerful magic"?

I guess I just need a mental rebuild  :(

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: peliroja on 18 July, 2008, 01:33:12 pm
I am considerate of others when I do feel the need to light up.

Agreed, you are.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 18 July, 2008, 01:36:54 pm

Seriously though...I don't have any advice on stopping but if it helps then I can honestly say I really do find smoking an unattractive habit, even if it's a really gorgeous man doing it...it's kind of a deal breaker for me.

Same here. What's the point of going out with a bloke you can't bear to kiss because he stinks? Smokers = double-baggers.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Tiger on 18 July, 2008, 02:23:19 pm
I am considerate of others when I do feel the need to light up.

Anyhoo... enough of that.


There may be a plan afoot.

Tiger, in the course of your studies on the subject, do you have any useful references / thoughts on strategies to deal with the "powerful magic"?

I guess I just need a mental rebuild  :(



I have to admit my work was for the other side.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Che on 18 July, 2008, 02:35:51 pm
I used turning 30 as an excuse. That was after failing to use finishing being a student (twice) and getting a real job. (What!? A postdoc is a real job!) Figured if the 30 thing didn't work, I'd pretty much run out of 'event' reasons, and it would be that much harder. That was November, and I haven't slipped yet.

Didn't want to quit on my actual birthdy, as I was to be getting pissed, so quit three days before. Got to make it as easy as possible on yourself.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Wascally Weasel on 18 July, 2008, 02:56:13 pm
Have a think about how you have tackled any other big issues in your life and apply the same logic and methods.  You’ll look back on this and draw strength from it and realise that you can achieve almost anything.

I stopped nearly four years ago following the unpleasant results of a very scary chest x-ray amongst other things (if you want any further incentive ammunition have a chest x-ray).  It wasn’t easy but simply stopping worked best for me (I had previously tried patches and gum but they didn’t help in my case).

It helps to want to genuinely want to stop, rather than stopping for other reasons (still a good idea but it makes it harder).  When you really do want to stop, you’ll find it easier than you think.

I found the first few weeks pretty easy and each milestone passed without too much difficulty – losing my persistent cough was a blessed release as well.  Remembering each morning just how badly I used to cough on getting up is a great daily reminder that helps keep me off the fags.

The  only really difficult bit is the dreams – I sometimes have  dreams about smoking, as if I have restarted.  Then I wake up and have to remember that I don’t smoke.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pete on 18 July, 2008, 04:26:57 pm
The decision to smoke is yours alone.  I'm not one of these uptight, creepy people who seem to think that just because they're a non-smoker, it's okay for them to suck their teeth and look daggers at people who light up near them.  If you're in an area where it's legal to smoke, then smoke.
Too true.  I feel a bit sad, though, that we non-smokers have lost a bit of the great outdoors in consequence of the Act.  I love eating at the garden table outdoors if the weather suits - at home of course it's not an issue, but at pubs and restaurants, the outdoor tables are now the places to keep away from.  I just feel I've been forced to give ground, when I feel it's the smokers - especially those who refuse to even try giving up - who ought to be making the concessions. And it is unpleasant to be in the vicinity of a lot of smokers, even outdoors.

And as for the patio heaters outside pubs - OK I know the pubs are trying to claw back the trade they've lost - I know it's a winter issue and we're now in mid-summer - but really!
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: woollypigs on 18 July, 2008, 06:06:52 pm
And as for the patio heaters outside pubs - OK I know the pubs are trying to claw back the trade they've lost - I know it's a winter issue and we're now in mid-summer - but really!
Well have you ever seen a smoker dress sensibly ? I mean every pub/bar/resto/work place I have gone by since the ban, in the winter, had a pack of smokers standing outside in short skirts, t-shirts or just one layer shaking as a shaking thing :) :) :)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Torslanda on 05 August, 2008, 08:23:26 pm
Today marks approx 6 months IIRC since I packed in the fags. I'm still the wrong side of 2cwt, but now I don't stink.

I think fairly constantly about cigarettes and cigars but have managed to not smoke any and can even stand to be near someone else who is having a smoke.

I feel sorry for colleagues and cow-orkers whose lunchbreak (30mins) consists of four or five cigarettes chain-smoked in almost a frenzy.

There but for the grace of dog!

J
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 05 August, 2008, 08:27:48 pm
I feel sorry for colleagues and cow-orkers whose lunchbreak (30mins) consists of four or five cigarettes chain-smoked in almost a frenzy.

Damn right. Mrs S manages to get four or five in (instead of breakfast) before the morning commute. Of course, she smokes in the car (I can't use her car - the smell makes me want to gag) so gets a few more in before work. Sigh.

She says she enjoys smoking. Yeah - right. We all get to listen to her coughing her lungs inside out every morning. What can you do?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 05 August, 2008, 08:30:26 pm
Thanks for the added food for thought.

I have a plan but I'd rather not talk about it. It does involve taking Champix.

Today marks approx 6 months IIRC since I packed in the fags.

Well done.


I think fairly constantly about cigarettes and cigars

That's what I'm not looking forward to.

I am totally as a loss as to what I am going to do with myself when I am not smoking. At present I feel a mild anxiety even if I am down to 2 cigs in the packet.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Regulator on 05 August, 2008, 08:35:58 pm
Thanks for the added food for thought.

I have a plan but I'd rather not talk about it. It does involve taking Champix.

Today marks approx 6 months IIRC since I packed in the fags.

Well done.


I think fairly constantly about cigarettes and cigars

That's what I'm not looking forward to.

I am totally as a loss as to what I am going to do with myself when I am not smoking. At present I feel a mild anxiety even if I am down to 2 cigs in the packet.


Have more sex... it has (almost) worked for me!   :thumbsup:


'Cept there's nothing better than a fag after coitus... :-\


...or in my case, a fag during coitus and a cigarette afterwards....  Boom tish!
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 05 August, 2008, 08:38:47 pm

That's what I'm not looking forward to.


Yes, I found that particularly tough. That incessant voice in your head

"iwannasmokeiwannasmokeiwannasmokeiwannasmokeiwannasmokeiwannasmokeiwannasmoke"

Sounds like you're ready for it - just put up with it, it will go away eventually.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Basil on 06 August, 2008, 09:04:49 am


I have a plan but I'd rather not talk about it. It does involve taking Champix.


YHPM
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Jacomus on 07 August, 2008, 12:18:00 pm
Try the Lance Armstrong method of deciding whether you are actually hungry, or just thinking about food.

When you get the thought "I want a cigarette" look at the time, and wait 15 minutes - If you really do want it, you will still want it.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Adrian on 08 August, 2008, 02:14:16 pm
Try the Lance Armstrong method of deciding whether you are actually hungry, or just thinking about food.

When you get the thought "I want a cigarette" look at the time, and wait 15 minutes - If you really do want it, you will still want it.

All very laudable, if you want to be a driven obsessive.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Von Broad on 08 August, 2008, 09:27:05 pm
Try the Lance Armstrong method of deciding whether you are actually hungry, or just thinking about food.

When you get the thought "I want a cigarette" look at the time, and wait 15 minutes - If you really do want it, you will still want it.

All very laudable, if you want to be a driven obsessive.

and especially laudable if it helps anybody in any small way whatsoever who wants to pack up smoking, and actually does so.

a bit of awareness into ones own thought patterns and habitual behaviour can be enlightening & liberating sometimes, for some people, in freeing themselves from a sense of being a slave to destructive ways of doing things - at least it was for me when I packed up some 9 yrs ago.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Jurek on 08 August, 2008, 09:47:31 pm

a bit of awareness into ones own thought patterns and habitual behaviour can be enlightening & liberating sometimes, for some people, in freeing themselves from a sense of being a slave to destructive ways of doing things - at least it was for me when I packed up some 9 yrs ago.

Yep!
It was exactly that kind of rationale that got me off smoking, after years of it, relatively quickly and easily.
Now, if only I could apply the same to the sauce . . . .
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 08 August, 2008, 10:01:45 pm

a bit of awareness into ones own thought patterns and habitual behaviour can be enlightening & liberating sometimes, for some people, in freeing themselves from a sense of being a slave to destructive ways of doing things - at least it was for me when I packed up some 9 yrs ago.

Yep!
It was exactly that kind of rationale that got me off smoking, after years of it, relatively quickly and easily.
Now, if only I could apply the same to the sauce . . . .

I've tried. It doesn't work  ::-)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 08 August, 2008, 10:03:07 pm
Well, this is probably at the heart of my mixed feelings about giving up: it's not just about smoking. It's about making some fundamental changes in my life and I am perhaps not ready for all of them.

Or is this just the nicotine talking, making the matter more complicated than it needs to be.

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 08 August, 2008, 10:13:22 pm
Well, this is probably at the heart of my mixed feelings about giving up: it's not just about smoking. It's about making some fundamental changes in my life and I am perhaps not ready for all of them.

So don't do all of them at once.

Or is this just the nicotine talking, making the matter more complicated than it needs to be.

Mmmm... junkie thoughts. If you find yourself justifying your habit/addiction - pounce on that and reason it out. There will always be factors that make lifestyle changes hard - there's always stuff going on in one's life, and the addict in you will always try and justify his existence based on shit that's going on or coming up.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Von Broad on 08 August, 2008, 10:36:52 pm
Well, this is probably at the heart of my mixed feelings about giving up: it's not just about smoking. It's about making some fundamental changes in my life and I am perhaps not ready for all of them.

Or is this just the nicotine talking, making the matter more complicated than it needs to be.

When it comes right down to it, the bottom line is: regardless of how much advice, help, support, information from the internet, nicotine replacement products, etc, if you don't really want to stop, if your mind's not really made up, then you just never will. Period. Or at least I never could. I probably went through about a dozen half-hearted attempts. 'I really must give up, I know I should'. But I was never anywhere near doing it. Some attempts lasted a day, others lasted 2 weeks, but I always went back. It was a bit like standing with your back up against a broken door, trying to keep at bay an almighty storm from raging inside your home. A futile taste. Then, one day, eventually, I suddenly knew I was there mentally, and although I still obsessed about being quit for about a year, I always knew deep down that the party was over. The beauty of that was, I never had to pretend to hate cigarettes to pack up, and still don't hate them. It just felt like the end of a relationship, like an overwhelming realization that the whole thing had just run its course. Not all relationships end acrimoniously do they?

How you get to that point, I have absolutely no idea. Why the hell should you get there anyway? Same old story, it's different for everybody. It never mattered how many damaged lungs I saw, or how many horrible deaths I heard about, how many Government health warnings I watched, it never made a blind bit of difference to me succeeding to pack up smoking. Putting it like this just sounds plain idiocy really. Was it the nicotine? Was it habit? Or was it just good old-fashioned self-denial? Search me. That's just the way it was. And nothing changed until it changed in me.



Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Adrian on 08 August, 2008, 11:18:42 pm
Try the Lance Armstrong method of deciding whether you are actually hungry, or just thinking about food.

When you get the thought "I want a cigarette" look at the time, and wait 15 minutes - If you really do want it, you will still want it.

All very laudable, if you want to be a driven obsessive.

and especially laudable if it helps anybody in any small way whatsoever who wants to pack up smoking, and actually does so.

a bit of awareness into ones own thought patterns and habitual behaviour can be enlightening & liberating sometimes, for some people, in freeing themselves from a sense of being a slave to destructive ways of doing things - at least it was for me when I packed up some 9 yrs ago.

In the short term you are right. However Lance Armstrong knew that throughout his racing season and for the duration of his racing career, how ever long he felt that to be at any given tme, he neded to control his weight to be competitive in the mountains. It was a finite thing though and I don't suppose that he does so to the same extent now unless it is for a special event.

The result that is needed here is to get beyond this state and to be free of the slavery to tobacco no longer needing any conscious controlling process.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pedaldog. on 15 August, 2008, 11:12:56 am
I, as many people that know me from other places will know, have been a smoker for 38 years now. I have tried stopping many, many times using every possible aid. Hypno' patches, Gum, inhaler etc and nore of them worked for me. I am sure that my addiction is "In the head" based and I punctuate every action i make in life with a cigarette. Since starting to read this thread I have smoked two already and am reaching for the third now.  I am asthmatic, my Mother died through Emphysema and my father died in June this year from Lung Cancer. You would expect me to see the clue there wouldn't you? Still smoke and, sadly, even had a nip out for one at my Dads funeral!
I have stopped many times and some have been for weeks, others for hours and it always comes back to the "Not now" excuse.
I always plan a date ahead and my brother says it is a way of still smoking whilst I am giving up. All excuses!
TODAY 15TH AUGUST 2008 AT 12-00 NOON PRECISELY I will light a cigarette. When I put that out I will put the little Black Demon out as well and stop smoking.
I WILL tell people that I have stopped as the people I know are not the sort to try and weaken me, rather they are supportive. I will write tonight and say how I coped and I hope you can too Sarge. It might be a temporary hell but it has to be better than the real Hell I'm likely to be seeing soon if I don't stop!
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Greenbank on 15 August, 2008, 11:14:11 am
Good luck PD.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pedaldog. on 15 August, 2008, 12:09:40 pm
 :hand:
Just extinguished the most prolific and expensive thing in my life!
I feel really scared about it and I know it's all that I'll think of for some time to come but it has been done!
Sergeant Pluck? External distractions aside are you going to join me?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 15 August, 2008, 12:19:30 pm
Good luck PD. If you look at the NHS stop smoking websites there is a lot of useful stuff on there.

I have a plan and it is drawing closer. I am not intending to make the timing "public" on the forum this time round though, as I am not sure if this is helpful for me. Like you all my friends and colleagues will be supportive but I want to get things underway before mentioning it.

All the very best with it.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pedaldog. on 15 August, 2008, 12:47:27 pm
Thanks,
Hope it goes positive for you. I am actually starting to feel a slight sense of freedom, kind of good?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 15 August, 2008, 03:18:41 pm
I feel slightly embarrassed some of the time when I smoke now. Or just slightly stupid. I tend to smoke where no-one can see me, sneaking off furtively away from the people I'm with unless I'm with people who already know I smoke.

When I walk past the smoking refugees at work I find myself pitying them slightly (while well aware that I am indeed still one of them).

I'm attempting to re-think my attitude to the whole thing. This is involving a change of attitude to a lot of other things in my life. I no longer want to be someone who lets himself down.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 15 August, 2008, 03:28:56 pm
When I walk past the smoking refugees at work I find myself pitying them slightly (while well aware that I am indeed still one of them).

I believe the technical term is Snoutcasts  :).
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 15 August, 2008, 03:29:33 pm
 ;D
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: bobajobrob on 15 August, 2008, 11:46:13 pm
Have you read Easy way to stop smoking (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Allen-Carrs-Easy-Stop-Smoking/dp/0141026898/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218840173&sr=8-1)? Read some of the comments. It's got to be worth a go for the price of a pack of fags. The book is supposed to remove the desire to smoke so that quitting becomes easy, even enjoyable. If you have no desire to smoke, then you don't need NRT or drugs.

I've bought it but I haven't read it yet. I'm reading author's book about drinking at the moment. Bloody good book.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Rapples on 16 August, 2008, 05:05:05 pm
I feel slightly embarrassed some of the time when I smoke now. Or just slightly stupid. I tend to smoke where no-one can see me, sneaking off furtively away from the people I'm with unless I'm with people who already know I smoke.

When I walk past the smoking refugees at work I find myself pitying them slightly (while well aware that I am indeed still one of them).

I'm attempting to re-think my attitude to the whole thing. This is involving a change of attitude to a lot of other things in my life. I no longer want to be someone who lets himself down.

Accepting that it is a stupid thing to do is, I would have thought, a very positive thing.  The more you can associate it with stupidity the more likely you are to stop.
If you feel stupid when smoking don't finish it!  Now that's clever because you are beating it!

How about "I no longer want to be someone who is controlled by a stupid addiction?"  Feeling guilty is more likely to you feeling you are failing.

I haven't followed this thread apart from contributing early on, but it sounds to me like you are on the verge of being able to stop completely :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 16 August, 2008, 05:49:58 pm
Thanks Rapples.

I'm trying to get everything in place to give it a good go and have a date in mind.

Have you read Easy way to stop smoking (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Allen-Carrs-Easy-Stop-Smoking/dp/0141026898/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218840173&sr=8-1)?

I'm reading it at the moment. I'm not as impressed with it as I thought I would be based on the popularity of the book. It does seem to be getting better as the book progresses, however.

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 18 October, 2008, 10:53:48 pm
I'm making myself read this thread again.

 :(
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 19 October, 2008, 09:02:57 am
I'm making myself read this thread again.

 :(

Stopping smoking is a process, not an event. I probably had five years of fits and starts, cutting down, stopping, starting again and feeling like I'd let everyone down.

You'll get there when you're ready.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 19 October, 2008, 09:25:42 am
For whatever reason, no matter how much I think about it and plan to try, I have still never made an attempt. Deadlines pass by. At those times I simply avoid thinking about it at all.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 19 October, 2008, 10:13:59 am
That's because you want to smoke more than you want to not smoke.

A period of introspection and self evaluation might let you know whether that's what you really want. Realisation that I actually didn't want to smoke that much after all, was absolutely key.

Be honest with yourself. No, I mean properly honest.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: oncemore on 19 October, 2008, 11:09:03 am
"Stopped smoking....." c.1965 for a whole YEAR. Not since.
I shall give up my right to smoke when they prise the last butt from my cold dead fingers.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Torslanda on 19 October, 2008, 11:18:08 am
I shall give up my right to smoke when they prise the last butt from my cold dead fingers.

<MIB> Your proposal is accepted! </MIB>  ;D

J
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: LEE on 19 October, 2008, 11:19:08 am
"Stopped smoking....." c.1965 for a whole YEAR. Not since.
I shall give up my right to smoke when they prise the last butt from my cold dead fingers.

You're not giving up your right to smoke by quitting, you're choosing not to exercise your right.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 19 October, 2008, 12:55:00 pm
"Stopped smoking....." c.1965 for a whole YEAR. Not since.
I shall give up my right to smoke when they prise the last butt from my cold dead fingers.

That reminds me of something Richard Harris said on a chat show once. Something about how he gave up drinking for a year so he could take up drugs, but he wasn't very good at it so went back to drinking.

Rather miraculously, he was 71 when he died.

<soapbox>
I have no argument with anyone who wants to smoke, and would never challenge their right to - Mrs S smokes like a docker, and coughs like a coal miner in the mornings; we all make choices in our lives. Anyway, smokers more than pay for their clean up - unlike boozers and junkies.
</soapbox>
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: scottlington on 20 October, 2008, 12:56:31 pm
It's been 7 weeks now since I last lit up. As per Chris S, I have spent the last 5 years kinda giving up for a bit, starting again, giving up, starting again. I'm under no illusion that this process could indeed continue (once a smoker, always a smoker - wether you've 'given up' or not).

However, this time something 'feels' different - I no longer find myself 'wanting' a cigarette and then not having one cos I've given up. I now think I actually REALLY don't want to smoke anymore. I think maybe that's what Chris S was alluding to in earier posts - to really give up, you have to really want to give up...
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 20 October, 2008, 01:09:53 pm
I do want to give up. But obviously not enough.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 20 October, 2008, 01:14:44 pm
Then there's no point beating yourself up about it, because making yourself feel bad about your failed attempts isn't going to make you want to try again. Focus on what you did achieve, feel good about that and know that one day you'll manage it.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Greenbank on 20 October, 2008, 01:29:51 pm
I'm a big believer in the "you'll only succeed in giving up when you really want to" maxim. What gets you to that point is different for everyone, but at some point something just clicks.

I do want to give up. But obviously not enough.

Don't worry, you will get there eventually.

I had 4 or 5 failed attempts, one lasting a whole 6 months, at giving up. Now at 2 and a half years and I am well and truly over it.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 20 October, 2008, 02:05:16 pm
This whole "wanting" thing. It's an equilibrium equation:

I want to Smoke     ⇌   I want to Not Smoke1

The concept of stopping smoking only becomes tenable at all once the equation gets pushed well over to the "Not Smoke" side. Whilst there is only small inclination, or indeed if the equation is canted the other way, then it will be very much harder to drive yourself through the tough times.

The introspection I mentioned earlier in the thread is important in helping to diminish the LHS of the equation. As you work through it in your head, you'll realise that although you thought, perhaps even was convinced, that you wanted to smoke - in fact you don't want to that much. A good example is the "I enjoy it" argument. I'd bet that most smokers don't in fact enjoy it - what they enjoy is the temporary suppression of the feelings of loss you get as time passes since the last smoke, and that actually, even dyed-in-the-wool career smokers like Mrs S, if they are really honest, don't enjoy a lot of it.

When you stop, the junkie that lives inside you (there's one in each of us - including those of us who've not smoked for years) will crash about like a 15 year old with the worst possible case of hormone driven ADHD who's unable to get their way. That person will try desperately to convince you of arguments that will drive the equilibrium back to the left. Your job as sane quitter will be to keep the equation well to the right.

Even now, after over six years, I have one of these equilibriums. It's pushed waaaaay over to the right now because of years of reinforcement and hard work. It would not be out of the question for circumstances to succeed in pushing it far enough back to the left for me to start smoking again. You can never let your guard down!

I'm waffling now. Shut up Chris.

----------------------------
1There's an equilibrium sign in chemistry that I'd love to put here, if only I knew how. Thanks GB  :thumbsup:.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Greenbank on 20 October, 2008, 02:19:20 pm
This one? (just use cut and paste, it is a character not a picture)

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 30 January, 2011, 02:00:32 pm
Jeez.

I think I am sick of smoking. I'm not enjoying my cigarettes: I wolf them down. I smoke as soon as I wake in the morning. Even that first one is not doing much for me, it's just staving off a future lack of nicotine. Cigarettes are a waste of time for me as far as relaxation goes: the underlying knowledge of the actual and potential harm causes more stress than the cigarette can relieve. I am tired of "needing" cigarettes, and the "dependence", the need to ensure a constant supply.

I am starting my first dose of Champix today. I don't want to reveal my proposed quit date - it's not a special day, it is simply (as recommended) between a week and 2 weeks of starting the Champix.

Encouragement appreciated. I've smoked since I was 16. I've never tried to stop before and I doubt if more than a single day (that being when I was having back surgery - I recall getting my best friend to bring me fags into the hospital) has passed without having a cigarette since then.

I want the freedom of not feeling the need to smoke.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Wowbagger on 30 January, 2011, 02:05:39 pm
Good luck with that, SP.

My quitting fags occurred within a year of quitting teaching. I'm 100% convinced that the two events were closely linked. I would imagine that your job is fairly stressful and it would probably help if you can find some other stress-relieving pastime to replace smoking.

Once I'd given up fags, I found it easy to keep off them because I was no longer a regular attender at the pub which is where all my pals used to hand round the fags. I find it immeasurably harder to restrict my calorie intake.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: bobb on 30 January, 2011, 02:26:47 pm
Quitting smoking, stopping drinking, eating less to lose weight. They're all the same. You try but very often fail. I will quit the fags one day, but I've got other more pressing matters to worry about. Once that's done with, the fags will go too.

I hate the fact that I smoke, but no matter how many times I've tried, I can't give them up.

I always smoke outside - wherever I am which does reduce the "stinks of fags" factor (and chew gum) but I always remember being sent to the staff room at school and opening the door to a massive haze of smoke. Did all teachers smoke in the 70s and 80s?!!
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Notsototalnewbie on 30 January, 2011, 02:32:05 pm
Jeez.

I am starting my first dose of Champix today.

My friend at work quit successfully using this, and he was quite a hardcore smoker. He hasn't smoked for two years now, although he does admit to still enjoying the smoky smell in the stairwells at work (smoke drifts up from the smokers outside).

Good luck!
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: jogler on 30 January, 2011, 02:33:29 pm
Giving up the coffin nails is a very personal thing*.Each of us has our own reasons which sometimes needs several attempts to find that incentive which works.However,will-power is a universal requirement: without it you will continue to accellerate the arrival of the grim reaper.
Never give up giving up.
I hope you find your own  personal spell to exorcise the 'baccy demon

* I'll not bore the forum with my own history but if you wish, I'll PM it to you.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: eck on 30 January, 2011, 02:41:19 pm
Don't think of it in the negative terms of "giving up" something, think of it positively as being a non-smoker.

* I'll not bore the forum with my own history but if you wish, I'll PM it to you.
+1^  I stopped 18 years ago, and I was a member of the Scottish International Pro Smoking Team.  ::-)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 30 January, 2011, 02:43:30 pm
Fags in batter?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: jogler on 30 January, 2011, 02:49:23 pm
I would have preferred breadcrumbs :)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Canardly on 30 January, 2011, 02:51:55 pm
If you can get past a week of no fags then you have cracked it and whats more you will be loaded!
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: itsbruce on 30 January, 2011, 02:58:44 pm
Encouragement appreciated. I've smoked since I was 16. I've never tried to stop before and I doubt if more than a single day (that being when I was having back surgery - I recall getting my best friend to bring me fags into the hospital) has passed without having a cigarette since then.

I started when I was 14, stopped for good at 30.  The motivation was seeing white spots on the back of my hands and realising it was hurting my circulation and threatening to turn me into an old man before my time.

Quote
I want the freedom of not feeling the need to smoke.

That takes a while after you've quit.  Coffee, tea and booze all seem too dry without a cigarette for a long time after.  All kinds of things that you used to accompany with a fag (reading the paper, waiting for the bus) remind you of what you're missing.  It probably took about 3 years for that to subside completely;  after that, it was as if I had never smoked at all.

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: bobb on 30 January, 2011, 03:03:45 pm
Maybe going a bit OT, but I would never smoke in someone's house (unless they were smokers too) and it really annoys me when somebody lights up and casually says "Don't mind if I smoke do you?" I will also not smoke anywhere where it is explicitly stated that I can't ie a pub or somewhere. But if I can and it's not stated that I can't, I will. And if anyone has a go at me for smoking where they feel I shouldn't be - they will get my gob. And it can get pretty fucking potty....
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 30 January, 2011, 03:27:40 pm
I am certain that if I was still a drinker I'd have no chance of stopping smoking. One thing at a time bobb - in your situation, you can worry about the cigs some other time.

I can't recall the last time I smoked indoors. Back when I was still a drinker - the smoking ban came after I'd stopped. I don't smoke in my own flat and stand outside the back door. It's a measure of the power of the habit that when choosing a flat one of the factors in my choice was that it had a good smoking location  ::-)

I've swallowed today's Champix now.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Basil on 30 January, 2011, 04:01:38 pm
I've swallowed today's Champix now.

Good luck.

I hope you've bought a packet of ginger nut biscuits.
If you don't understand that, you soon will.


Seriously, best of luck matey.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 30 January, 2011, 06:11:32 pm
Reading back through this from the start, there are so many good replies. A most excellent thread.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Clandy on 30 January, 2011, 06:15:49 pm
I just sat down one day (May 20th 2000), figured out how much I was spending on smoking per month (£175 approx.), thought about all those mega-rich tobacco company owners living a life of luxury while I was voluntarily killing myself with their product, and stopped. Haven't smoked since. It was doubly hard because I also stopped a twenty year dope habit at the same time.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: itsbruce on 31 January, 2011, 09:05:31 am
It was doubly hard because I also stopped a twenty year dope habit at the same time.

Hookahs can be your friend ;)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: peliroja on 31 January, 2011, 06:57:59 pm
Good luck Pluck! You can do it.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Clandy on 31 January, 2011, 07:00:01 pm
It was doubly hard because I also stopped a twenty year dope habit at the same time.

Hookahs can be your friend ;)


Only if you put nothing in the bowl.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: toontra on 31 January, 2011, 07:22:50 pm

I think I am sick of smoking. I'm not enjoying my cigarettes: I wolf them down. I smoke as soon as I wake in the morning. Even that first one is not doing much for me, it's just staving off a future lack of nicotine. Cigarettes are a waste of time for me as far as relaxation goes: the underlying knowledge of the actual and potential harm causes more stress than the cigarette can relieve. I am tired of "needing" cigarettes, and the "dependence", the need to ensure a constant supply.

I am starting my first dose of Champix today. I don't want to reveal my proposed quit date - it's not a special day, it is simply (as recommended) between a week and 2 weeks of starting the Champix.

This sounds like someone who's time to give up fags has come.  Keep these things to the front of your mind for the next few days/weeks and develop a bloody-minded stubbornness and you have every chance of success.  Remember, smoking has NO benefits - it's all bad.

I used to buy myself treats at the end of each week with the money I'd saved.  I also got through an enormous amount of boiled sweets!  Whatever it takes to get you through the initial period.

This could change your life, so it's worth giving it a serious go.  Good luck!
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 16 February, 2011, 09:41:47 pm
I don't have any cigarettes.

It is very very odd and I am not sure if I like it. I don't feel any physical need for a cigarette, but... hard to explain the feeling. Hole-like.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Clandy on 16 February, 2011, 09:45:12 pm
I don't have any cigarettes.

It is very very odd and I am not sure if I like it. I don't feel any physical need for a cigarette, but... hard to explain the feeling. Hole-like.

Find something to occupy your hands. Much of what you're missing is the ritual.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: jogler on 16 February, 2011, 09:46:45 pm
 Clandy is correct
Fill that hole with saying to yourself
" I am not a smoker"
whilst fettling a bike/a woman or whatever
JFDI :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: itsbruce on 16 February, 2011, 10:03:40 pm
Try not to fill the gap with food.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 18 February, 2011, 05:00:25 pm
None yesterday, none today. Can't remember if I had one on Wednesday, if so it was only one in the morning.

I can't say that I am noticing very much at all physically (although the Champix may be a factor there). As mentioned above, it's the routine, the ritual, the habit that I am missing.

This really would be much easier if I somehow felt better.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 18 February, 2011, 05:01:17 pm
Having said that, this (at 44) is the longest I have gone without a smoke for since I was 16 / 17.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Greenbank on 18 February, 2011, 05:02:54 pm
This really would be much easier if I somehow felt better.

It'll come, took me about two weeks before I really noticed how much better (or less shit) I was feeling.

Some bits of the routine never leave you. On getting on to a platform at a train station I'll sometimes instinctively pat my trouser pockets to see which one I'd put my ciggies in, despite it being more than 4 years since I last smoked.

Keep up the good work.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: jogler on 18 February, 2011, 05:11:40 pm
Keep on with the keeping on :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: peliroja on 18 February, 2011, 10:16:37 pm
Go Pluck, go Pluck, go Pluck!  :thumbsup:

It was very nice to see you this evening, and for you not to bring a smell of fags in with you.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 18 February, 2011, 10:19:00 pm
Keep reading the threads here that have made a difference to you. Keep it going!
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 21 February, 2011, 06:42:59 pm
Lapsed after 4 days. Arse.

Another try tomorrow.

I guess it served a purpose. One reason for the lapse is that I "forgot" why I'd stopped. Another is that I somehow felt that I should just check again to see if I liked smoking. I'll put the first reason down to the tricky ways of Nick O'Teen. The second was useful in that it showed me that I just wasn't getting anything out of it any more.

Bah.

F**king arse.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 21 February, 2011, 06:47:32 pm
Lapsed after 4 days. Arse.

Another try tomorrow.

I guess it served a purpose. One reason for the lapse is that I "forgot" why I'd stopped. Another is that I somehow felt that I should just check again to see if I liked smoking. I'll put the first reason down to the tricky ways of Nick O'Teen. The second was useful in that it showed me that I just wasn't getting anything out of it any more.

Bah.

Fucking arse.

It's a process - not an event. Pick yourself up - watch out for that trap next time, and carry on with the process.

I went through lots of different phases before I found the right combination of magic spells to make it stick.

Keep at it - you WILL get there.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Clandy on 21 February, 2011, 06:53:02 pm
Lapsed after 4 days. Arse.

Another try tomorrow.

I guess it served a purpose. One reason for the lapse is that I "forgot" why I'd stopped. Another is that I somehow felt that I should just check again to see if I liked smoking. I'll put the first reason down to the tricky ways of Nick O'Teen. The second was useful in that it showed me that I just wasn't getting anything out of it any more.

Bah.

Fucking arse.

Look on it as a matter of personal pride. Every time you decide not to light up you are saying 'Fuck you!' to those stinking rich tobacco company owners as they lounge on their mansion sundecks in absolute luxury, knowing it was all paid for from the money of millions of people killing themselves with their product.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: jogler on 21 February, 2011, 07:03:13 pm
As you say it's a lapse,not the end  result.
You may have lost one battle but keep on persevering:that is the way to win a war.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Palinurus on 21 February, 2011, 07:29:31 pm
I wouldn't worry too much about lapsing. I did that too, but in between I was learning to go 2, 3, 9 etc. days without one, breaking up the routine. After a while it stuck.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Von Broad on 21 February, 2011, 11:34:36 pm
It's a process - not an event. Pick yourself up - watch out for that trap next time, and carry on with the process.

I went through lots of different phases before I found the right combination of magic spells to make it stick.

Yes, I think I saw it the same way - a process rather than an event. Took me a while to get there. It's been over 10 yrs now.

I had some bizzare attempts. I remember one such occasion where I ceremoniously chucked all my fags in a public litter bin, walked about a mile to the pub, got pretty spannered, vaunted all night how virtuous I was to have finally packed up, walked home, walked up to the litter bin, rummaged through the junk, found my fags, went home and smoked them! Just crazy.

I am a firm believer that regardless of how you get help - patchs, support groups, pills, hypnosis or whatever - at the end of the day you really have to want to pack up at a deep level in your mind to succeed. At least that's what I found. You really have to get to the point where you know the game's up. The party's over.  And it has to be genuine. Unfortunately finding that place of finality in your mentality can be a bit allusive sometimes.

All the best.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: jogler on 22 February, 2011, 12:01:38 am
at the end of the day you really have to want to pack up at a deep level in your mind to succeed. At least that's what I found. You really have to get to the point where you know the game's up. The party's over.  And it has to be genuine. Unfortunately finding that place of finality in your mentality can be a bit allusive sometimes.



I'd agree with all that:plus you need an incentive.
A cancer diagnosis on your partner is a powerfull motivator
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: fred the great on 22 February, 2011, 03:00:05 am
Seeing a close relative die of cancer didn't work for me but when I started to feel unusual pains in my chest I stopped rather quickly and bought a new bike with my savings :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: toontra on 22 February, 2011, 08:25:59 am
at the end of the day you really have to want to pack up at a deep level in your mind to succeed. At least that's what I found. You really have to get to the point where you know the game's up. The party's over.

It is that simple finally.  If you don't have that deep "need" to give up then you won't succeed, so there's no real point in "trying".  You'll just put yourself (and others) through a lot of hardship during the on/off process to no end.  Remember, it's within your power to control this, but you need to be tough mentally.  The "just have one fag every few days" for whatever reason definitely won't work though. :hand:

The physical effects aren't particularly bad (at least they weren't for me - 40 a day for 30 years) - in fact giving up caffeine was more unpleasant!
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Tail End Charlie on 22 February, 2011, 08:34:26 am
I have a son (18) who smokes. Any ideas how to stop him doing it?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 22 February, 2011, 08:39:42 am
I have a son (18) who smokes. Any ideas how to stop him doing it?

Wait until he decides to stop, then support him when he does. It's the waiting that's hard. Mrs S still smokes, shows no sign of stopping, and I've been waiting 9 years for her to stop now (I didn't qualify for an opinion before that because I smoked too) and it's tough.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: itsbruce on 22 February, 2011, 11:45:32 am
I have a son (18) who smokes. Any ideas how to stop him doing it?

Take an active interest in smoking.  Subscribe to smoking magazines, eulogise about the coolness of it, smoke trendy cigars and cigarette brands yourself, invest in a Shisha pipe.  When he has his friends round and they go out for a smoke, go with them and join in; offer them some of your Ducados (Spanish black tobacco, makes your mouth go numb and your breath smell of manure).  You'll probably put them all off and their grateful parents can help you with your own recovery process.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pancho on 22 February, 2011, 05:13:39 pm
I've been off the fags for a while now. Hate it, to be honest.

I don't remember much in the way of physical withdrawal symptoms - or even psychological symptoms. Just don't like being a non-smoker - bunch of killjoy goody-goodies. I've always been very suspicious of clean living types; I imagine them watching homo erotic Nazi fitness propaganda films in the evenings.

OTOH, I do appreciate not having to skulk around the bins and the tax-avoidance aspect of giving up is heartwarming so it's not entirely bad, I suppose.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 23 February, 2011, 08:21:05 pm
It is that simple finally.  If you don't have that deep "need" to give up then you won't succeed, so there's no real point in "trying".  You'll just put yourself (and others) through a lot of hardship during the on/off process to no end.  Remember, it's within your power to control this, but you need to be tough mentally

I think I am ambivalent about stopping. But I've realised that there will never be a time when I am not at least slightly ambivalent - there is no point in waiting for that to happen.

I've been off the fags for a while now. Hate it, to be honest.

I don't remember much in the way of physical withdrawal symptoms - or even psychological symptoms. Just don't like being a non-smoker - bunch of killjoy goody-goodies. I've always been very suspicious of clean living types; I imagine them watching homo erotic Nazi fitness propaganda films in the evenings

your thinking is very close to mine. Part of my ambivalence comes from this natural dislike of being a "killjoy goody-goody", and a disbelief that I could be turning out to be not only a non-drinker but a non-smoker too  :-\ 
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: CrinklyLion on 23 February, 2011, 08:28:14 pm
Part of my ambivalence comes from this natural dislike of being a "killjoy goody-goody", and a disbelief that I could be turning out to be not only a non-drinker but a non-smoker too  :-\  

Don't worry - we'd still like you even in the extremely unlikely event that you did turn out to be a 'killjoy goody-goody'  :)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: toontra on 23 February, 2011, 08:29:36 pm
if you're ambivalent I can absolutely guarantee you won't be able to give up so I'm not exactly sure why you are giving yourself a hard time by "trying".

The consistent message from this thread that you will only give up when the time is right for you.  From your last couple of posts it's pretty clear that you aren't at that stage yet so why not just enjoy the tabs until/if you reach the given time.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 23 February, 2011, 08:35:57 pm
if you're ambivalent I can guarantee you won't be able to give up so I'm not exactly sure why you are giving yourself a hard time in "trying".

I don't completely agree with that.

It depends on how you think of it. If you need to do the whole "I'll never smoke EVER again!" then yes, that leaves little room for ambivalence. But stopping incrementally like I did, half a day, then a day, then a week at a time, there's more room for ambivalence - there's more slack in the regime.

It's a process, during which you gradually convince yourself that the change you are asking for, is possible.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pancho on 23 February, 2011, 08:38:44 pm
if you're ambivalent I can absolutely guarantee you won't be able to give up so I'm not exactly sure why you are giving yourself a hard time by "trying".

I was (and am) ambivalent about quitting but I haven't lit up for some time - I am continually surprised that I'm not smoking.

But even when I smoked heavily, I always used to give up once a year (choose religious fast of your preference) - just to prove to myself that I wasn't totally enslaved.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Deano on 23 February, 2011, 08:38:57 pm
I haven't turned into a killjoy goody-goody - I might have been a bit of a git when I was trying to quit, but a couple of years later, I don't evangelise about stopping smoking, or lecture people who smoke around me.  Well, except when smokers block pub doorways.

I figured it was about freedom of choice - I (eventually) quit when I wanted to, but that didn't mean everyone else had to.  
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 23 February, 2011, 08:41:42 pm
I haven't turned into a killjoy goody-goody

Me neither. But not a day goes by when I don't thank myself for going through the pain to get where I am now. March 26th will be 9 years  :thumbsup:.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: L CC on 23 February, 2011, 09:40:14 pm
I work on the principle that if the world is divided into smokers and non-smokers, I'd fall into the smoking half.

I'm just not doing it at the moment. And haven't for the last 3 years. And have no plans to, for the foreseeable.

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Butterfly on 23 February, 2011, 10:42:17 pm
I was fairly ambivalent about giving up when I did - it took a few years for me to be definite about it.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Greenbank on 23 February, 2011, 10:50:53 pm
I work on the principle that if the world is divided into smokers and non-smokers, I'd fall into the smoking half.

I'm just not doing it at the moment. And haven't for the last 3 years. And have no plans to, for the foreseeable.

Exactly. I hated the Allen Carr crap about "You're already a non-smoker!". No, I'm (currently) an ex-smoker. I can't ever be a non-smoker again.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: itsbruce on 23 February, 2011, 11:30:18 pm

I've been off the fags for a while now. Hate it, to be honest.

I don't remember much in the way of physical withdrawal symptoms - or even psychological symptoms. Just don't like being a non-smoker - bunch of killjoy goody-goodies. I've always been very suspicious of clean living types; I imagine them watching homo erotic Nazi fitness propaganda films in the evenings

IIRC, J. G. Ballard once wrote a short satire to that effect for the Guardian (or possibly the Observer, can't remember).  The idea was that one year, when there was a particularly long summer in the Mediterranean, the bronzed and toned masses of tourists decided not to go home.  They ended up as an anarcho-fascist society, bullying and plundering the working population of southern Europe.


your thinking is very close to mine. Part of my ambivalence comes from this natural dislike of being a "killjoy goody-goody", and a disbelief that I could be turning out to be not only a non-drinker but a non-smoker too  :-\ 

Nah!  You can take all the money you save from not smoking and spend it on even more booze and even looser women.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Von Broad on 23 February, 2011, 11:56:30 pm
It's been over 10 yrs now for me, but the last couple of years I've been flirting with the idea of starting again - not serious flirtation but thoughts that come from negative thinking borne out of some really bleak darkness that has descended over the psyche during that time. I'm no stranger to a blackness of the soul but when it bites really hard the negativity really gets ramped up and all the self-destructive thoughts comes cascading into the mind seemingly without end, and mixed in with all those are thoughts relating to smoking. It's been kind of interesting to watch it happen actually. Kind of amusing almost. Certainly not threatening.

But I'm comfortable with those thoughts. No problem. We ride with them. Just like a crave - we go with the discomfort. Just place yourself right there in the middle of it and be with it. How bad can it really be? My experience is, unpleasant as it may be, if you can do that, sit right in the middle of it, embracing without fighting, it often changes. They come and they go.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Titan yer Tummy on 25 February, 2011, 08:58:48 pm
This is a very interesting thread.

There are some tales of incredible bravery in the face of the ghastly weed. Each success is offset by a story of those who fight and lose but live to fight another day.

Nobody wants to smoke and anyone who says they do is either raving mad or a barefaced liar. Many people here and elsewhere tell of trying to give up; I have yet to hear of a case of someone trying to take the habit up without success.

Those of you who still smoke should take heart from those who have written about their triumphs. Many of you who have yet to succeed will do so and then realise what a true achievement quitting is.

I note this thread has been going a long time. I found this the other day which wasn't published when the topic was started. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8246569/The-year-smoking-will-die-out-around-the-world-table.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8246569/The-year-smoking-will-die-out-around-the-world-table.html)

Finally, just remember for those of you who have given up you have a claim to something which no non- smoker can ever lay claim to. You took on the beast and you WON.

TyT (2352 hrs Saturday 29/9/1979 and I was as pissed as a handcart)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 25 February, 2011, 09:04:00 pm
Threads that involve folks overcoming adversity will always look amazing, especially to those who have never had to do it.

A "How I beat Cancer" thread (apt though it may be) would probably blow this thread away in terms of impact.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: nicknack on 25 February, 2011, 09:07:23 pm
(2352 hrs Saturday 29/9/1979 and I was as pissed as a handcart)

Saturday in 1979? I would have been pissed too.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: MSeries on 25 February, 2011, 09:10:03 pm

Finally, just remember for those of you who have given up you have a claim to something which no non- smoker can ever lay claim to. You took on the beast and you WON.


You make it sound like you had no choice in starting to smoke.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Titan yer Tummy on 25 February, 2011, 10:28:25 pm
Don't you think you are kind of missing the point??

Tyt
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Auntie Helen on 25 February, 2011, 10:48:46 pm
A "How I beat Cancer" thread (apt though it may be) would probably blow this thread away in terms of impact.
I'm not sure of that actually; I think some of these stories in this thread have been very admirable and impressive.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Clandy on 25 February, 2011, 11:48:36 pm

Finally, just remember for those of you who have given up you have a claim to something which no non- smoker can ever lay claim to. You took on the beast and you WON.


You make it sound like you had no choice in starting to smoke.

This is true. The thing is I was a smoker for twenty one years, and now ten years after stopping I'm a smoker who doesn't smoke. Kicking the habit is probably one of my proudest achievements. Why? Because nicotine is more addictive than heroin, and I beat it.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pancho on 26 February, 2011, 11:46:54 am
You make it sound like you had no choice in starting to smoke.

Well, certainly not an informed choice. There's nothing that can convey the bliss and the horror of an addiction other than having an addiction.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 26 February, 2011, 08:12:43 pm
A "How I beat Cancer" thread (apt though it may be) would probably blow this thread away in terms of impact.
I'm not sure of that actually; I think some of these stories in this thread have been very admirable and impressive.
I'm not sure either. People don't "beat" cancer because of willpower and determination - it's down to medical treatment and the progress of the disease. Beating an addiction is about willpower and strength and I have every respect for the people who manage it.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Auntie Helen on 26 February, 2011, 08:40:29 pm
A "How I beat Cancer" thread (apt though it may be) would probably blow this thread away in terms of impact.
I'm not sure of that actually; I think some of these stories in this thread have been very admirable and impressive.
I'm not sure either. People don't "beat" cancer because of willpower and determination - it's down to medical treatment and the progress of the disease. Beating an addiction is about willpower and strength and I have every respect for the people who manage it.
Well I'm not sure that's 100% true, I think that willpower and determination can make a difference to cancer outcomes, perhaps in resuming normal life sooner and being less invalidish. But I still think that the willpower involved in stopping smoking is very notable.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Regulator on 15 August, 2012, 05:01:59 pm
I've given up smoking (again).  My last fag was 11.05 p.m. on Tuesday 7 August.

I had hypnotherapy on Wednesday 8 August and so far I'm doing fine.  No cravings or urges - and no patches or gum either.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: clarion on 15 August, 2012, 05:25:52 pm
Well done! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: John Henry on 15 August, 2012, 05:28:16 pm
No cravings or urges

What, none at all, or just none for cigs?

Well done and good luck.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: clarion on 15 August, 2012, 05:31:31 pm
If you keep it up till Mildenhall, I promise not to take the piss out of your palanquin! ;)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Basil on 15 August, 2012, 05:38:28 pm
Will Kirst be showing you her tits?  :-\

Well done, matey.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Regulator on 15 August, 2012, 08:17:31 pm
No cravings or urges

What, none at all, or just none for cigs?

Well done and good luck.

Mr R's a little pissed off....  ;) ;D


If you keep it up till Mildenhall, I promise not to take the piss out of your palanquin! ;)

Priscilla will not be joining us, as I shall be off on tour from Mildenhall.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: clarion on 15 August, 2012, 08:57:05 pm
Priscilla's lack of presence would not inhibit my outpouring of ridicule ;D
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: fred the great on 16 August, 2012, 12:41:41 pm
I decided to give up smoking when my father, a spritely old man died from cancer due to smoking 20  Capstan full strength cigs every day and latterly Senior Service when they stopped selling Capstan. During chemotherapy treatment, his appearance changed from being an active smart guy to a total physical wreck which made me very sad and near to tears. After his funeral I continued to smoke until I started to have regular chest pains. That was the incentive I needed. I switched to pipe smoking (no inhaling) for perhaps two years and finally stopped when I had a lousy cold. I don't miss the fags one little bit and do get rather annoyed if someone is smoking near to me making me appreciate how other people felt when I was a smoker.

Give up Sarge - you will never regret it but you will if you don't :smug:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 24 September, 2012, 03:44:36 pm
I think I am at the stage where I can either stop soon or I might as well carry on for the rest of my days.

So, fast forward 4 years  ::-)

I am now smoking e-cigs (just the Matchless disposables) with Drum rollies on standby (I've always preferred rollies anyway. Drum's new additive-free stuff is very nice indeed). I've made a decision not to buy any more "normal" fags, as a possible prelude to a give-up attempt.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: fred the great on 24 September, 2012, 06:12:43 pm
If you're ever tempted to smoke again, please re-read my earlier post
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pedaldog. on 26 September, 2012, 10:58:27 pm
Nice one Sarge! 
Are you happy with the disposables? They do seem a bit of an expense still so how about looking at a basic refillable kit?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 27 September, 2012, 08:46:43 pm
Hi PD

I'm not all that keen on the e-cig. The one I tried is the Matchless, which seems pretty well reviewed. I have a few issues:

1. the ethylene glycol content. From my brief reading of the subject, the long term effects of inhaling this are unknown. Ever since I read that this is one of the ingredients, I have had a faint smell/taste of antifreeze or similar when using the e-cig. I appreciate that the possible harmful effect of the e-cig is much much less than that of cigarettes but nevertheless I am not sure that inhaling this stuff is the way I want to go.

2. Using the e-cig makes me feel just very very mildly ill, with a slight sense of some physiological effect that is different from the effect of smoking cigarettes. I don't really like that.

3. I am not convinced that it is delivering an effective dose of nicotine. I noted some research that showed that the nicotine levels in users' blood was often negligible, so the value of the e-cig lies elsewhere (the act of inhaling, "throat hit", etc).

4. Using the e-cig has made me realise that I do not actually have a strong need to inhale smoke, or to be doing something with my hands, so those benefits of the e-cig don't apply to me.

Overall, I don't think this is for me. I need to stop them entirely.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Regulator on 08 October, 2012, 10:57:34 pm
Two months fag free today.   :smug:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 08 October, 2012, 10:59:32 pm
Good man Greg!

I'm failing to feel the motivation :-(
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: clarion on 09 October, 2012, 06:47:07 am
Well done, Regulator!
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 09 October, 2012, 10:36:27 am
Two months fag free today.   :smug:

Tremendous  :)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: walterrichmand on 03 March, 2013, 12:02:18 pm
If you have approach to the tip where you completed a cognizant decision to finally give up smoking, you will get it hard at first. You should set a date in the near future when you will stop otherwise eat your favorite food when you think about smoking.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 26 June, 2013, 05:24:05 pm
Finally going to give it a crack. Chucked the fags, lighter, etc. in a bin earlier. A bin outside Charing Cross Hospital, in fact.

Nicorette lozenges on stand-by.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 26 June, 2013, 05:30:00 pm
Finally going to give it a crack. Chucked the fags, lighter, etc. in a bin earlier. A bin outside Charing Cross Hospital, in fact.

Nicorette lozenges on stand-by.

 :thumbsup:.

One day at a time - it's a process, not an event.

Have some diversions ready for when the cravings come. I had lots - mouthwash, go for a walk, have a shower - generally things I didn't associate with smoking.

You'll be fine.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 26 June, 2013, 05:36:25 pm
Feels very weird. But there'll never be a better time and I'm sick of it. Don't want to be a slave to it any more.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Lady Cavendish on 26 June, 2013, 05:45:22 pm
Good luck. I swapped to diet coke as my substitute. Never kicked that habit but I think its the lesser of 2 evils.

The first week is the worst. Just do it, you'll be fine.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: L CC on 26 June, 2013, 06:07:01 pm
+1 to the first week thing. You only have to distract yourself for about 10 minutes each time, it mostly goes after that.
And stop hanging about with smokers, with their tempting packets.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: jogler on 26 June, 2013, 06:49:36 pm

This

And stop hanging about with smokers,

is IMO the best advice you can get.

I stopped going to the pub for a while* & moved into a no-smoking office** untill the cravings ceased.
If I felt the need for a fag I wondered into the smokers office,took a deep breath,thought " worra stinky habit" & retreated to the smoke-free zone

* I now do most of my drinking at home.No drink-driving issues :thumbsup:
** I subsequently moved into an office where I was the sole occupier.

Good luck with your attempt to exclude Nick O'teen from your social circle.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris N on 26 June, 2013, 07:23:40 pm
Finally going to give it a crack. Chucked the fags, lighter, etc. in a bin earlier. A bin outside Charing Cross Hospital, in fact.

Nicorette lozenges on stand-by.

 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 26 June, 2013, 09:31:47 pm
I still don't have any fags. You'd have to have known me for a long time to appreciate just how remarkable that is.

Point of info: the 4 mg nicorette mints are seriously strong, unpleasantly so. I really should have gone with the 2 mg.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Basil on 26 June, 2013, 11:28:34 pm
Don't know which size you're using, Sarge, but the little tic tac sized 4mg are good.  Just pop one up between your cheek and gum and you're good for the whole afternoon.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Greenbank on 27 June, 2013, 08:36:28 am
Good work Pluck, keep it up!
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 27 June, 2013, 12:03:18 pm
Don't know which size you're using, Sarge, but the little tic tac sized 4mg are good.  Just pop one up between your cheek and gum and you're good for the whole afternoon.

They are the 4 mg Nicorette Cools - like big tic-tacs. I've now learned not to suck them like mints, otherwise I get horrible oesophageal spasms and ferocious belching. They definitely do take away that indefinable "lack" that is presumably my body asking for nicotine. But it's the behavioural side of it that is the problem. Re-read this thread last night - lots of wisdom in it, including perceptive stuff from Tigerrr and Chris S among others.

Onwards. Begone, cigarette-y thoughts  :(

I chose yesterday as, for one reason and another, I'm having a lot of stressful stuff to deal with and I proceeded on the basis that it's not a bad idea to choose to stop at the worst possible time...

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: fred the great on 27 June, 2013, 12:35:13 pm
As I stated earlier you will never regret stopping.

You will then hate the smell of other smokers' smoke :sick:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: jogler on 27 June, 2013, 07:37:27 pm
But it's the behavioural side of it that is the problem.


I got one of those plastic cigarettes into which is inserted a nicotene "pill".I dispensed with the "pill" but found the plastic ciggy,held in my fingers & passed to & fro like a real cancer stick,a tremendous physcological prop.In fact I'm convinced it was the thing which allowed me to succeed after very many previous failures.

I suppose you could use the barrel of a biro :-\
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 28 June, 2013, 10:37:50 pm
Struggling a tad. Had a Jurek-style "crumble" earlier on: bought a pack of 10, smoked 2, felt like shit, didn't get any hit as I am already nicotine to the eyeballs due to the aforementioned Nicorette Cools, binned the rest. This evening, watching a bit of Glastonbury on TV has given me a sense of loss. Anyway, I still don't have any fags.

I can't find the post now, but somewhere in this thread someone pointed out how, since the banning of smoking in pubs etc., one now has to be inside to get fresh air, while outside is a fug of manky exhaled smoke. Really noticed that walking down Chiswick High Rd earlier.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 01 July, 2013, 08:11:47 pm
Has anyone using nicotine gum or lozenges noted any unintentional weight loss?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Jurek on 01 July, 2013, 08:21:46 pm
Blather..... Anyway, I still don't have any fags...... more blather

Keep up the good work, my friend. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 01 July, 2013, 08:36:27 pm
A lesson from a couple of days ago. I had a couple of very expensive cigarettes during the first few days: pack of 10 at £4.30 odd + box of matches, smoked one, threw the rest away. That's about a fiver a cig, so I thought the thing to do might be do have an Emergency Packet. Bad idea for someone with my mentality; a remarkable number of emergencies arose. Emergency Packet binned after about 3 cigarettes. Still, it served a purpose in a way: I just don't like smoking cigarettes any more.

Going OK now, bar the nicotine replacement lozenges. I was off work last week, so today was the first day at work (ever) without cigarettes. Very weird.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Canardly on 01 July, 2013, 09:24:01 pm
Anyone packing the fags in has my highest regard as an ex smoker. Stick with it guys its worth it.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Jurek on 01 July, 2013, 11:08:11 pm
A lesson from a couple of days ago. I had a couple of very expensive cigarettes during the first few days: pack of 10 at £4.30 odd + box of matches, smoked one, threw the rest away. That's about a fiver a cig, so I thought the thing to do might be do have an Emergency Packet. Bad idea for someone with my mentality; a remarkable number of emergencies arose. Emergency Packet binned after about 3 cigarettes. Still, it served a purpose in a way: I just don't like smoking cigarettes any more.

Going OK now, bar the nicotine replacement lozenges. I was off work last week, so today was the first day at work (ever) without cigarettes. Very weird.
Emergency pack = Fail. Avoid.
i sense you have learned this, yourself.
You don't need that 'luxury'.
Emergency pack is very different from Got-to-have-some-nicotine-right-now scenario - as I think you know.
G'luck.
JB
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: fred the great on 02 July, 2013, 03:36:34 am
This thread is now two years old!

And with very little progress to stop smoking - need to be more committed. And yes, we all know it's very difficult to achieve.

But, if I did it, so can you :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Butterfly on 02 July, 2013, 06:54:30 am
My approach to 'having one for emergencies' was to give up with one left in the packet. Because there was only one, it was never enough of an emergency. I finally threw it away after about 5 years. I had had occasionally had one of someone else's when I was drinking in the first few years (after the first 6 months or so) but I didn't buy another packet. It helped that I used to smoke menthol cigarettes and my friends didn't mostly, so I never wanted to go and buy them after the odd drunken one. Good luck Sergeant Pluck.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: L CC on 02 July, 2013, 07:49:23 am
This thread is now two years old!

And with very little progress to stop smoking
I'd disagree. Pluck had initially asked when was a good time. Now he's doing without, at least some of the time.
Seems a lot like progress.

'I can do it, so anyone can' has always sounded ridiculous to me. I can win track gold can I? But VP did it, so anyone can.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: urban_biker on 02 July, 2013, 07:58:40 am
It seems like you've made huge progress. It wasn't until I hit this stage:

 
Quote
I just don't like smoking cigarettes any more.

that I was really ready to give up.

Sometimes you have to give up a few times and then fail before you are able to kick-it for good.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 08 July, 2013, 10:03:27 pm
Onwards. Not doing too badly considering that it's something I've punctuated my days with for the best part of 3 decades. Crazy really.

Some random observations / thoughts.

- A caveat to precede all of the following: I'm using nicotine lozenges.
 
- I'm not showing any tendency to eat more than I did before, so hopefully I won't get lardy.

- A lot of the time, when I think I need a cigarette, it's just a general neediness that I'm feeling. A drink of something or a bit of fruit seems to do just as well. It makes me think that a lot of the cigarettes I smoked, particularly those many cigarettes that made me think "why am I doing this, I don't even need a fag" as soon as I lit them, were smoked because I was a little bit tired, thirsty, hungry, or just needed to go for a short wander about.

- To repeat an earlier observation, having an emergency packet of fags is a very bad idea, for me at any rate.

- In some ways, not smoking is less stressful. Examples: 1. I don't have the conflict between what I do for a living (I'm a nurse, in a setting where smoking is a major contributor to the health problems of the people I deal with. Taking away that conflict is a big relief in many ways 2. Recently, almost all of the fags that I have smoked have been marred to some degree by thoughts along the lines of "this is a form of self-harm".

- I'm not noticing any immediate health benefits whatsoever - I've never been one to have a smoker's cough really, unless I've been on the rollies. IT would be helpful if I was noticing some positive change. As it is, I'm noticing things like the lack of ponginess of my clothes.

- Although I wan't a heavy smoker, I'm noticing a financial benefit. I think this is because I don't need to have that £5 odd in casg every day, so if I bring a packed lunch etc. I can go for much longer between visits to the cashpoint. I think that leads to less other spending.

- The biggest change to my daily habits has been at work. My day is no longer punctuated, and dare I say governed by, breaks that are based around fags to some extent.

- One of the big things that could trip me up here is the "but it's too late now, you've smoked so long you're probably going to get cancer anyway". OK, I know that it's not logical to add to the damage, but in weaker moments that's a dangerous way of thinking about it.

- I'm a bit worried about how much of this relative lack of difficulty in stopping (relative to how hard I thought it would be) is down to regularly sucking on nicotine lozenges.

So, onwards. It's very early days. Sometimes I do think "fuck it, I'm happy to take my chances, we all die of something" etc. But so far, so good.

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Jurek on 08 July, 2013, 10:10:11 pm
Onwards, Mate.
There's no other way....
JB
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: contango on 08 July, 2013, 10:29:45 pm
Years ago my then boss wanted to quit smoking so he made a bet with a couple of the guys in the team (me and one other), whereby if he made it to the end of the year without smoking we'd owe him a bottle of champagne each but if he smoked during the year he'd owe each of us a case of champagne.

There were a few team evenings out where he was trying to negotiate with us to "buy out" of his bet for a lesser sum (his original offer was three bottles, subsequently raised to six bottles) but we both rejected his offers and said if he lit up we'd hold him to the full twelve bottles each. He was obviously desperate for a fag but the thought of the price of two cases of champagne put him off. In the end he made it to the end of the year and collected his two bottles. I don't know if he stayed off the cigarettes, but it certainly kept him off them for several months.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pedaldog. on 08 July, 2013, 11:47:37 pm
- I'm a bit worried about how much of this relative lack of difficulty in stopping (relative to how hard I thought it would be) is down to regularly sucking on nicotine lozenges.

Don't sell yourself short there Pluckski! The NRT stuff has around a 4 to 5% success rate so you're doing pretty bloody well despite the lozenges!
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 15 July, 2013, 01:18:05 pm
I'm still carrying on carrying on.

I'm a right arsey miserable bastard these days. This might be nothing to do with stopping smoking though and may well have been the case for some decades :) I have a feeling it is slightly worse though.

Also not sleeping well at all, consistently waking up Far Too Fucking Early. That's definitely worse recently although, again, there could be other reasons for that.

I've switched to 2 mg nicotine tabs - although this time I went for nicorette microtabs, which are slightly bitter, chalky, and altogether quite unpleasant. The minty Kools were better.

Next up, when I can be arsed, is to make an accurate count of the number of tabs I'm using, with a view to reducing them. I'm actually not too sure if they are doing much for me one way or the other and I'm just taking them to reduce any urge to run to the nearest tobacconist.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Jurek on 15 July, 2013, 01:23:06 pm
Thanks for the update :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: L CC on 15 July, 2013, 01:41:11 pm
I'm still carrying on carrying on.
:thumbsup:

Everything else is details. This is the important thing.

Seriously:
I'm a right arsey miserable bastard these days.
Me too, and it's years since I last smoked.
See also Mr Smith, upthread. He's almost cheerful sometimes, these days.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Basil on 15 July, 2013, 05:26:42 pm
I wouldn't worry about being arsey and a miserable bastard.  I'm that and I still smoke.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 15 July, 2013, 05:33:02 pm
Arsey goes with the territory.

My young ones used to ask their mother's permission to talk to me, I was that scary.

They gave me a lot of slack over that time, to help me through it. If you have the help of those around you - that really helps, even if you only appreciate it much later. Probably when someone says something like "Fucking hell Pa, you were a miserable sod. And Scary. We thought you might kill us all in our beds, actually."
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 15 July, 2013, 09:39:46 pm
On the not sleeping front, when my colleague gave up earlier this year she used patches. She had to stop wearing one overnight because they were giving her really horrible dreams.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 15 July, 2013, 11:23:50 pm
Thanks for the ongoing encouragement, all :)

On the not sleeping front, when my colleague gave up earlier this year she used patches. She had to stop wearing one overnight because they were giving her really horrible dreams.

That may be pertinent - I have been wondering if I am taking the last of my nicotine tabs too close to bedtime. Mind you, tobacco before bedtime didn't seem to cause problems. Hopefully the sleep thing will settle the f* down soon as I am getting seriously sleep deprived. Going to bed earlier doesn't help as that just means I wake up even earlier.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: fred the great on 16 July, 2013, 08:46:23 am
Is there any way you could avoid addiction to the nicotine tabs by reducing their intake progressively? Myself, I turned to pipe smoking at first which became very enjoyable (no inhaling) and breaking that habit was relatively easy compared to the cigs. It also improves your health risks :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 16 July, 2013, 11:16:15 am
Is there any way you could avoid addiction to the nicotine tabs by reducing their intake progressively? Myself, I turned to pipe smoking at first which became very enjoyable (no inhaling) and breaking that habit was relatively easy compared to the cigs. It also improves your health risks :thumbsup:

Next up, when I can be arsed, is to make an accurate count of the number of tabs I'm using, with a view to reducing them.

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 15 August, 2013, 11:21:33 pm
Struggling a little bit... This week I have, twice, bought a pack of 10, smoked one, and chucked / given the rest away. I didn't get any real pleasure out of it, didn't for a moment feel that this is something I want to do again, but it's worrying that at this stage I'm occasionally failing to resist the urge.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pedaldog. on 15 August, 2013, 11:59:19 pm
It's a Big thing to do so a bit of a struggle shows you're still beating it!
I used the Vaping and after twenty odd years of 60 a day made a definite on the 21st October 2012.
Since then I've bought 3 packs of 24 cigarettes, a little over what I would normally have smoked in a day!
Remember the ones you Don't smoke rather than the odd few you do smoke.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: fred the great on 16 August, 2013, 07:17:17 am
Well, breaking the habit, which I tried many times during 50 years smoking the weed (about 25 each day) was a total failure for me. Even watching my 40 a day father die didn't shock me sufficiently enough to stop smoking.

I then read on the Internet that a gradual switch to pipe smoking was the easiest way by far (no inhaling) and less harmful. I  tried a few pleasant tobaccos and found one that suited me.

Whilst returning from some overseas Consultancy work I developed the biggest cold and flu ever. No, not caused by the pipe smoking, but my Clients offices which were freezing. After five days or so I felt a lot better, but then questioned myself, why smoke again? and yes that is what resulted. It was so easy to stop, I could hardly believe it myself.

Here ended  a lifetime, about 60 years in total, of smoking. I still keep my pipes and the partly filled pouch of tobacco to remind me what I achieved on that day ;D

Please try it, have a lousy cold and "flu and just stop for ever :P

                                                                 
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 16 August, 2013, 10:18:22 am
That's interesting (what you say about pipe smoking). I'm trying to get my son to stop (he has damaged lungs). He won't try vaping, says it isn't the same.

He's into his 'cool'; I can see him getting into pipe smoking.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pedaldog. on 17 August, 2013, 12:13:55 am
E-Pipe perhaps and vape that?  Just tempt him with the 1000s of flavours he can play with in there :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: fred the great on 17 August, 2013, 04:02:13 am
I think people should try real tobacco smoking  not imitation stuff. The hardest part is making the change from the fags to the pipe which I achieved over 6 months or more. Gradually I found the pipe more enjoyable and the weeds were sent packing :thumbsup:

I never had any plans to stop the pipe smoking, it is enjoyable, tastes nice, very relaxing and may even help one to live longer.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 17 August, 2013, 01:49:11 pm
As non smoker, I don't understand how you dont' inhale when pipe smoking - how does that work?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Marmitegeoff on 17 August, 2013, 04:04:27 pm
As non smoker, I don't understand how you dont' inhale when pipe smoking - how does that work?

When smoking I smoked a pipe as well as fags, but did not get enough of a kick from the pipe so inhaled that as well.

Nearly 40 years out of that game.

Geoff
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: fred the great on 17 August, 2013, 05:13:32 pm
Pipe smoking for me was all about the taste. I made sure I didn't inhale and probably this helped me to kick the habit. The most important point for me was that I succeeded. I just hope my story will help others to stop also. When my father was diagnosed with chest cancer I  asked my big Sister to fly from the USA where she lives and help me in discussions with the Doctors. We were informed the cancer was pretty severe and they insisted on giving him chemotherapy, instead, we requested pain killers for him and to let him die naturally - the Doctors refused. When he returned after that horrible treatment, his hair had fallen out and his face no longer looked like our dear old dad. He died very soon afterwards. 
Since then I have also lost another good friend to chest cancer. His poison  was to smoke less than 20 Marlborough per day.

I hope my story helps
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Charlotte on 19 August, 2013, 03:57:28 pm
I never had any plans to stop the pipe smoking, it is enjoyable, tastes nice, very relaxing and may even help one to live longer.

[citation needed]

Yeah - and so does having someone repeatedly strike your face against a selection of solid objects  ::-)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: fred the great on 19 August, 2013, 04:52:51 pm
Try reading my Thread again to understand it properly ::-)
Try also, your favourite googling because it is a  known fact except by you apparently. But then your Googling conclusions are often quite wrong  including certain well known facts about how badly Thais treat elephants especially - total garbage as usual.

Also, You posted at 15.37 hours which suggests during your Office hours when most people are supposed to be working?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Regulator on 20 August, 2013, 08:43:26 am
I forgot to mark it but on 9 August I passed the milestone of a year smoke free.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 20 August, 2013, 08:48:10 am
I assumed that marbeaux meant that not inhaling isn't as bad as inhaling, and since he enjoyed the pipe smoking, he was able to give up the (more evil) ciggies.

It's something that possibly could help my son, since he seems to be incapable of stopping smoking (despite having serious health reasons for doing so).
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Butterfly on 20 August, 2013, 09:05:02 am
Congratulations Reg! Well done.  :)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Regulator on 20 August, 2013, 10:25:01 am
I assumed that marbeaux meant that not inhaling isn't as bad as inhaling, and since he enjoyed the pipe smoking, he was able to give up the (more evil) ciggies.

It's something that possibly could help my son, since he seems to be incapable of stopping smoking (despite having serious health reasons for doing so).

There is evidence of a significant increase in risk of oral cancers in pipe smokers.

I try not to be one of those obnoxious rabid anti-smokers, but giving up really is the only option to decrease risk of adverse effects.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: fred the great on 20 August, 2013, 06:59:52 pm
It is accepted that there may be some oral risk in pipe smoking but in my lifetime of knowing some committed pipe smokers, I have never heard of any one of them getting oral cancer. My B.I.L now over 85 years has more trouble with his eyes, my Uncle didn't die of oral cancer but also had a problem with his vision. I don't think pipe smoking causes vision problems? and have never seen any such reports.
Smoking a pipe of your favourite tobacco is indeed very enjoyable and relaxing especially if you ever feel stressed for some reason. If one can stop using the weeds, there is still the risk of breathing problems later on and possibly a cancer free ending.
Nothing in life is sure but you can, at least,  limit the risks a little.           
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Regulator on 20 August, 2013, 07:16:17 pm
It is accepted that there may be some oral risk in pipe smoking but in my lifetime of knowing some committed pipe smokers, I have never heard of any one of them getting oral cancer. My B.I.L now over 85 years has more trouble with his eyes, my Uncle didn't die of oral cancer but also had a problem with his vision. I don't think pipe smoking causes vision problems? and have never seen any such reports.
Smoking a pipe of your favourite tobacco is indeed very enjoyable and relaxing especially if you ever feel stressed for some reason. If one can stop using the weeds, there is still the risk of breathing problems later on and possibly a cancer free ending.
Nothing in life is sure but you can, at least,  limit the risks a little.           

You do come out with some shit at times.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 20 August, 2013, 07:54:48 pm
Well done Regulator, on completing a year!

I'm not doing too bad, though it's fair to say I do get more urges to grab a cig than I'd like at this point. Reassuringly, the few occasions when I've "slipped" have not been enjoyable.

Thanks for the thoughts, Marbeaux, but the pipe not a route I intend to go down for various reasons right now, mainly because I need to get away from the whole business of smoking anything

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Jurek on 20 August, 2013, 07:56:50 pm
It is accepted that there may be some oral risk in pipe smoking but in my lifetime of knowing some committed pipe smokers, I have never heard of any one of them getting oral cancer. My B.I.L now over 85 years has more trouble with his eyes, my Uncle didn't die of oral cancer but also had a problem with his vision. I don't think pipe smoking causes vision problems? and have never seen any such reports.
Smoking a pipe of your favourite tobacco is indeed very enjoyable and relaxing especially if you ever feel stressed for some reason. If one can stop using the weeds, there is still the risk of breathing problems later on and possibly a cancer free ending.
Nothing in life is sure but you can, at least,  limit the risks a little.           

You do come out with some shit at times.
;D

Well done Greg (as a giver-upper-and-not-had-one-since, myself - well, I have. But I hated myself for it)

@Plucky
Reassuringly, the few occasions when I've "slipped" have not been enjoyable.

Nowt other than good news, that.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 20 August, 2013, 09:23:51 pm
Well done Regulator, on completing a year!

I'm not doing too bad, though it's fair to say I do get more urges to grab a cig than I'd like at this point. Reassuringly, the few occasions when I've "slipped" have not been enjoyable.

Thanks for the thoughts, Marbeaux, but the pipe not a route I intend to go down for various reasons right now, mainly because I need to get away from the whole business of smoking anything.
You could get Riggers to 'shop a photo of you with a pipe and see if it suits you.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Jurek on 20 August, 2013, 09:37:00 pm
Well done Regulator, on completing a year!

I'm not doing too bad, though it's fair to say I do get more urges to grab a cig than I'd like at this point. Reassuringly, the few occasions when I've "slipped" have not been enjoyable.

Thanks for the thoughts, Marbeaux, but the pipe not a route I intend to go down for various reasons right now, mainly because I need to get away from the whole business of smoking anything.
You could get Riggers to 'shop a photo of you with a pipe and see if it suits you.
Suits you, Sir!  :P
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: fred the great on 21 August, 2013, 03:57:17 am
The other road is  too hilly for most people to take. I tried it for 50 years and made no progress except to increase the associated health risks. Some have already come home to roost which annoys me that I didn't succeed in my earlier attempts to kick the weeds out.

Best of luck for you a.s.a.p.










Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 21 August, 2013, 11:56:01 am
I forgot to mark it but on 9 August I passed the milestone of a year smoke free.
Congratulations, Regulator, here's to many more!
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: fred the great on 22 August, 2013, 06:16:31 pm
Yes indeed Regulator, that is wonderful news. I don't remember if you told us how you did it? Any special involved? Please tell.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Valiant on 30 August, 2013, 04:34:48 am
Nicely done sir :)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 19 September, 2013, 03:42:47 pm
Lapsed while moving house last week / over the weekend  >:( Bah.

Back on track now.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pedaldog. on 20 September, 2013, 12:28:15 am
Count the ones you DON'T SMOKE, not the few you do :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris N on 20 September, 2013, 06:30:04 am
No big deal. Move on, forget about it.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: L CC on 20 September, 2013, 09:13:09 am
Back on track now.
One day at a time.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: tiermat on 02 January, 2014, 12:09:28 pm
Giving this thread a bit of CPR. I have, so far, managed a week and a half without cigs, and 3 days without any NRT.

I feel like shit, right now, but can feel the benefits to come.

Hope I can keep it up once I am back at work .
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: RichForrest on 02 January, 2014, 12:47:27 pm
Good luck TM  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pedaldog. on 02 January, 2014, 07:23:35 pm
Go for it Tiermat. I wish you well in your task :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Canardly on 08 January, 2014, 09:32:39 pm
Go for it TM you can do it.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: matthew on 08 January, 2014, 10:15:52 pm
stick at Tiermat, I hope the recent car crash hasn't caused you to regress to smoking. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: tiermat on 09 January, 2014, 08:50:11 am
Funny you should mention that, matthew, as, yes, I have fallen off the wagon again and am desperately trying to grab a rope to climb back on.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 09 January, 2014, 09:00:06 am
gave up 20 + years ago, was 20-30 a day, mostly social.  Didn't want to 'run out ' and then want one more, so I bought a packet of 20, had about 3, then went round the pub and handed the rest out to folks,telling them I'd just quit, so they were all gone. That way I had ' given away' my fags, not run out, and it was MY choice to do so. That was it, never smoked again, not even 'puff'
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: matthew on 09 January, 2014, 09:15:57 am
Funny you should mention that, matthew, as, yes, I have fallen off the wagon again and am desperately trying to grab a rope to climb back on.

Understandable, however you had made a decission based on your own good reasons don't let the stupidity and inattentiveness of the idiot driver cause you to forget those. I can't see a personal injury claim for lung cancer due to restarting smoking after the accident getting much credence in court.  :demon:

Good luck with stopping again.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Si_Co on 30 September, 2014, 10:31:02 am
Threadromancy!

Well now is the answer, its been over a week since my last one and only 2 days where I've smoked in the last 2 weeks.

So using lozenges as NRT (one a day) and its not been too bad this time, but I want this now.

Pro's:

Waking up in the morning not feeling like there's a baby elephant sat on my chest who has taken a dump in my mouth is the best bit I think
I'm faster , much faster, averages are back over 30kph and Strava says I'm 3rd fastest out of nearly 3000 on one segment to work  :o  (there may have been drafting here  ;) )
Energy levels are way up.

Cons:

Insomnia - I'm a natural insomniac but need this to ease off, its only possible to survive on 2 to 3 hrs per night for so long
Hunger - god I'm hungry, going to take some effort to figure out how much is due to the lack of smoking and how much is due to the increased output. Just have to see how this goes.

On the whole it's going well this time.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Peter on 30 September, 2014, 10:34:49 am
Good luck, Si!
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 30 September, 2014, 10:54:43 am
 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Canardly on 30 September, 2014, 11:19:07 am
Get that first month out of the way and you have cracked it.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pedaldog. on 30 September, 2014, 11:28:02 pm
Good Luck Si_co, N+ 1, or more, likes you Not Smoking!
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: nextSibling on 01 October, 2014, 12:48:37 am
Congratulations and well dones to all that have successfully quit. Good luck and keep trying to all that wish to. It's so very worth it.

Six years ago today, in my early 40s, I had a stroke. Lots of contributing factors, but smoking was definitely one of them. I'd been meaning, half-heartedly trying, to quit for ages, of course. As I lay in a hospital bed, a neurologist told me to quit smoking or I would likely have more strokes, worse, or die. I never smoked again. I was very lucky, recovered well, and now only have slight loss of sensation in my right extremities. If you want to quit, please don't be me - quit now.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Si_Co on 19 October, 2014, 09:37:09 pm
So giving up makes your legs hurt, previously climbing was limited by oxygen access.
 
Didn't get dropped on the climbs by my younger fitter mate today :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: tiermat on 06 April, 2015, 11:04:14 am
Back to this.

Whilst working away, this time, I was the only smoker in the team.

This removed one temptation.

The hotel I was staying in, the smoking area was open to the elements and a long way from the rooms.

I got a new car, which I didn't want to end up smelling like, as John Cooper Clarke would put it, "a night club in the morning, .... the bitter end"

Lastly, and by no means least, I got a stern telling off by a really really good friend.

So I had my last cig about 3 weeks ago and feel much much better for it, barring the minor chest infection I got last week! I hope that this time it will stick.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Valiant on 06 April, 2015, 11:09:08 am
 :smug: top job!
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Jacomus on 09 April, 2015, 10:35:12 am
Top job :)

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pedaldog. on 09 April, 2015, 12:30:57 pm
Nice one. Good luck :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Canardly on 09 April, 2015, 12:39:01 pm
Well thats your body clear of poison, now all down to the Brain!. (Well done btw, the first two weeks are murder).
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Torslanda on 01 March, 2016, 09:39:31 am
The carousel comes full circle again . . .

This morning I'm starting with patches (which hopefully won't end up in the minestrone) and the spray.  Specific instructions fron teh quack to not go cold turkey, he wants to see me again next week and realistically wants me to halve consumption by then.

I've done this twice before through willpower and lasted 5 years both times. Here's hoping...
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: matthew on 01 March, 2016, 11:34:14 am
Good Luck, just remember to put the money you would have spent aside so that the N+1 fund is  established.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: tiermat on 01 March, 2016, 11:38:43 am
Keep it up, Tors, good luck.

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Si S on 01 March, 2016, 11:46:53 am
Good luck John, I keep falling off that particular wagon....usually when I get p155ed.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: tiermat on 01 March, 2016, 11:50:00 am
One thing I have found has helped, this time, is being on Methatrexate.  Even just smelling cigarette smoke makes me feel like puking now.

Not that there are any other redeeming features of that particular medication, in fact, other than the fact it really helps manage my Crohn's there is none.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 01 March, 2016, 02:06:09 pm
Hope this goes well for you.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 01 March, 2016, 06:11:28 pm
Good luck
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pedaldog. on 01 March, 2016, 11:01:49 pm
Good luck Tors'.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: barakta on 02 March, 2016, 03:05:33 pm
Good luck Torslanda. GP sounds wise, a step at a time rather than trying to rush it.  Hope this time works well.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Basil on 02 March, 2016, 05:24:09 pm
Good luck, matey.
Best wishes.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Paul on 02 March, 2016, 11:20:44 pm
7 weeks ago yesterday. Cold turkey. Nth attempt. This time easier than any previous one: not sure why except that, as I get older, I think the risks loom larger and the 'joy' (there is none really) diminishes.

Good luck to you Torslanda (and continued strength to you tiermat) and anyone else trying to beat this shit.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: MagnusOpus on 03 March, 2016, 02:37:57 pm
Just read this entire thread....

Some inspiring stories of success, and some great tips, and a few failures which tells me my struggle isn't just me being pathetic and weak willed

I've been off and on stopping for a few years, sometimes for months, but didn't beat it yet....Last few months I've been trying to get my head around it again.....Had an aborted attempt a couple of weeks ago that lasted nearly a week....I had been pretty down on not making it stick once more....but I think one of the things I've taken from this is that really doesn't help.....

Anyway....pretty sure I'll be giving it another go soon...let's hope this time is the time
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pedaldog. on 03 June, 2016, 01:15:03 am
http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2016/05/17/10-common-questions-about-e-cigarettes-answered/
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Paul on 03 June, 2016, 01:07:14 pm
I had about 20 cigarettes in May. My trigger was a specific piece of work which required me to be out and about for the day. I do it once a year and I've always, previously, smoked while doing so. I know that this is illogical, but that's what addiction does. so after 4 fag free months I bought 10 for the day.

Then I bought 10 more and then another 10. That's how it gets you.

 :(

It's now been a week since my last one.

Failure: it's not the falling down, it's the not getting back up.

 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Paul on 04 June, 2016, 10:49:03 am
(Btw, I know that 10+10+10=30. I didn't finish any of the 10s I bought, each time deciding to chuck the remainder and then cracking a day or two later any buying more.)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pedaldog. on 04 June, 2016, 01:37:16 pm
I "Dual Fueled" for around a year. Replaced some of the smokes with vaping and, eventually, realised I was Enjoying the Baggage and flavours of vaping more.
I haven't smoked for over 2 years now but still enjoy vaping. I can now leave the flat without vapestuff and not get a Panic.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Valiant on 07 June, 2016, 12:13:29 am
Good stuff matey :) glad to see you're still going strong!
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pedaldog. on 07 June, 2016, 08:43:31 pm
Good stuff matey :) glad to see you're still going strong!

Thanks to you, Sam. Ifyou hadn't put me on to Jason at VE I'd probably tried corner shop crap and gone back to  Smerkin'.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Paul on 06 March, 2017, 09:24:48 pm
After stopping in June I fell off the wagon again. However, I haven't had a fag since August - a full 6 months.

That means I stopped 3 times last year - but only started twice.

Result:  ;D.

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Si S on 15 March, 2017, 09:31:29 am
12 months tobacco free, whoop  :thumbsup:

I've still got my e-cig for when stressed or out for a beer but it's just a comfort blanket these days and usually has no charge  ::-) , never say never, but I don't think I'll go back now, got to the stage where the smell and second hand smoke is vile.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: clarion on 15 March, 2017, 10:36:09 am
Well done!  You only need to stop as many times as you started overall :)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 16 March, 2017, 10:03:56 pm
Just looking back at this. In 2 weeks I will have been completely off cigarettes for a year. Vaping was the answer for me, although I am tailing off on that too - gradually.

It only took me another 8 years to get around to it.

I think I am at the stage where I can either stop soon or I might as well carry on for the rest of my days.

I keep hoping for some stand-out date but they all pass by in a haze of Marlboro smoke.

How did the ex-smokers among you pick a date for an attempt?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 16 March, 2017, 11:30:05 pm
Good for both of you :)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: toontra on 17 March, 2017, 08:13:48 am
Fantastic stuff both of you!  My starting cycling coincided with stopping smoking nearly 20 years ago and I can honestly say I feel fitter now aged 61 than I did when I was 21 and smoking.  The benefits are unquantifiable.  Enjoy the smoke-free years to come  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 17 March, 2017, 09:00:27 am
It'll be my 15 year quit-anniversary on the 26th of this month. Don't miss it one bit.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 26 July, 2017, 01:01:40 pm
Now then, vapers. If any? I think I need to think about stopping the vaping. I have been cautious about this as I do not want any risk of feeling an urge to return to cigarettes. However, I think I am now about a 7/10 and rising on the hatred of cigarette smoke scale and I feel that it would take something quite major to encourage me to restart. 

A few months ago, I did try reducing the strength of the e-juice to 3 from 12 which was fine, but I definitely vaped more to compensate. I think this will be a cold turkey job. Has anyone else switched to e-cigarettes then stopped completely?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Jacomus on 30 July, 2017, 05:25:06 pm
Now then, vapers. If any? I think I need to think about stopping the vaping. I have been cautious about this as I do not want any risk of feeling an urge to return to cigarettes. However, I think I am now about a 7/10 and rising on the hatred of cigarette smoke scale and I feel that it would take something quite major to encourage me to restart. 

A few months ago, I did try reducing the strength of the e-juice to 3 from 12 which was fine, but I definitely vaped more to compensate. I think this will be a cold turkey job. Has anyone else switched to e-cigarettes then stopped completely?

Be careful! Within about a month of stopping vaping I was, mysteriously, back on a pack a day in short order. Now I'm trying again.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 30 July, 2017, 07:05:38 pm
Hi Jacomus

That I do not want. While my inner anti-smoker seems to be coming on well, I have read too many tales of people who have stopped for considerable periods of time going back to cigarettes to take any chances. I think I’ll just sit tight for the time being. Hopefully I’ll just get bored with it.

I hope you have success this time around.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Valiant on 07 August, 2017, 07:04:28 pm
Gradual steps is what you want. 12-6-3-0 with about 3-4 weeks in between. Then I'd recommend having a 20mg or something like our Phix on standby so that if you have the urge after not vaping it'll be like smoking a Marlboro red with no filter.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 08 August, 2017, 08:13:52 pm
Gradual steps is what you want. 12-6-3-0 with about 3-4 weeks in between. Then I'd recommend having a 20mg or something like our Phix on standby so that if you have the urge after not vaping it'll be like smoking a Marlboro red with no filter.

I prefer mouth to lung (I do have a sub-ohm tank but I prefer MTL). Currently using 12. I did try a gradual reduction in strength but I found that I just vaped more to compensate. I think I’ll try again though.

To some extent I suspect this is only partly to do with nicotine anyway. It’s a habit that is as much to do with breathing stuff in as nicotine addiction. I keep hoping I’ll just get bored with it and chuck it all in the bin but I am wary of sudden urges that might lead to the odd sneaky fag if I did that. That would quickly see me back to my customary 12 a day, I’m sure.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Valiant on 08 August, 2017, 10:46:38 pm
Thats why I like the phix, a full charge lasts a me a full day, it takes about 45 minutes for a full charge and each pod lasts me upto 10 days. I keep one in my backpage for when I need something higher than 3mg.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Paul on 09 August, 2017, 12:51:21 pm
I think that you have to keep trying to give up. Even if you fail, as long as you keep trying. I didn't intentionally adopt that philosophy but looking back that seems to have been my approach. I kept trying to quit and now I think I have (12 months). 
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: pucklie24 on 21 September, 2017, 09:58:05 am
Just looking back at this. In 2 weeks I will have been completely off cigarettes for a year. Vaping was the answer for me, although I am tailing off on that too - gradually.

It only took me another 8 years to get around to it.

I think I am at the stage where I can either stop soon or I might as well carry on for the rest of my days.

I keep hoping for some stand-out date but they all pass by in a haze of Marlboro smoke.

How did the ex-smokers among you pick a date for an attempt?

Yes, I'm also planning o stop smoking and also thinking of vaping.. any cons about vaping?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 21 September, 2017, 10:50:09 am
Yes, I'm also planning o stop smoking and also thinking of vaping.. any cons about vaping?

Nobody really yet knows the health consequences - if any.

Also - you may look a bit of a twat. Having been a smoker in the past, but long before vaping was a thing, part of the smoking "thing" was that you looked cool - like a film star; we reckoned we looked "hard" - especially if you held your smoke back to front, with all fingers, live end facing your palm. Vaping on the other hand looks altogether more - "industrial".

Also - I noticed Deano's contraption makes distressing crackling noises - not unlike the sound that popping candy makes, from the inside.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Paul on 21 September, 2017, 12:20:40 pm
Yes, I'm also planning o stop smoking and also thinking of vaping.. any cons about vaping?
I'm not militantly anti-vaping, but:

1. you can't do it in the workplace, so weather.
2. cost.
3. pockets.
4. unknown consequences.
5. it's still smoking, really.
6. addiction.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 21 September, 2017, 11:35:02 pm
Yes, I'm also planning o stop smoking and also thinking of vaping.. any cons about vaping?

You’ll find, as you approach the idea of stopping smoking, that the addiction works in strange ways, such as considering the possible downsides of things that you do not actually yet do  ;)

On the subject of health consequences of vaping, I think it is much too early to say. Consider how long it would take, if tobacco smoking was invented today, for the effects to express themselves. However, on balance, I think it is reasonable to believe that if all else fails vaping for a period of time offers a valid method to allow yourself time to leave the various habit-forming aspects of cigarette smoking behind. My own view is that the risks can be kept as low as possible by reducing the amount of material vaped by 1) sticking to mouth-to-lung vaping and 2) minimising the intake of the substances most likely to eventually be shown to be harmful - the flavourings - by using unflavoured e-liquid. The evidence seems to indicate that vaping nicotine itself and the PG or VG base are unlikely to be harmful. So that’s what I do most of the time.

Hopefully I’ll knock it on the head in the fullness of time. For now I am just glad to be not smoking tobacco.

My approach to Paul’s list of cons:

1. Don’t want to vape in the workplace any more than I wanted to smoke fags in work.
2. Costs, even including set-up costs, are minimal compared to smoking cigarettes.
3. Pockets: OK a vape is heavier than a packet of cigs, but it’s just not an issue. We all happily carry mobile phones, keys and what not.
4. See above - vaping is a means to an end and I like to think of it as a temporary measure.
5. It’s not still smoking.
6. Agree that it does not resolve the issue of nicotine addiction - but nicotine itself is the least of a smoker’s worries.

Good luck with your eventual attempt. When I see people smoking now, I feel no envy, only relief that I don’t “have to” do that anymore.

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: bobb on 22 September, 2017, 08:50:38 pm
I haven't smoked a cigarette for over a year now. I vape to get my nicotine fix, as it's probably the lesser of the two evils. I really dislike the smell of fags now, so can completely understand why non-smokers always moan about it.

Also - you may look a bit of a twat.

Do you honestly think I give any kinds of fucks about what people think about me as I pass them in the street as I'm vaping it up?!  :P
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: rafletcher on 22 September, 2017, 09:27:15 pm
Smoking and vaping have the same end - a nicotine fix. Just stop.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Paul on 23 September, 2017, 05:23:30 pm
My approach to Paul’s list of cons:
Just to be clear, mine was a list of cons for vaping, not pros for smoking. I would agree that vaping is probably better all around than smoking.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 23 September, 2017, 05:32:11 pm
As a lucky non-smoker may I just say how much nicer the vape vapour is than tobacco smoke.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: pucklie24 on 25 September, 2017, 09:28:39 am
Yes, I'm also planning o stop smoking and also thinking of vaping.. any cons about vaping?

You’ll find, as you approach the idea of stopping smoking, that the addiction works in strange ways, such as considering the possible downsides of things that you do not actually yet do  ;)

On the subject of health consequences of vaping, I think it is much too early to say. Consider how long it would take, if tobacco smoking was invented today, for the effects to express themselves. However, on balance, I think it is reasonable to believe that if all else fails vaping for a period of time offers a valid method to allow yourself time to leave the various habit-forming aspects of cigarette smoking behind. My own view is that the risks can be kept as low as possible by reducing the amount of material vaped by 1) sticking to mouth-to-lung vaping and 2) minimising the intake of the substances most likely to eventually be shown to be harmful - the flavourings - by using unflavoured e-liquid. The evidence seems to indicate that vaping nicotine itself and the PG or VG base are unlikely to be harmful. So that’s what I do most of the time.

Hopefully I’ll knock it on the head in the fullness of time. For now I am just glad to be not smoking tobacco.

My approach to Paul’s list of cons:

1. Don’t want to vape in the workplace any more than I wanted to smoke fags in work.
2. Costs, even including set-up costs, are minimal compared to smoking cigarettes.
3. Pockets: OK a vape is heavier than a packet of cigs, but it’s just not an issue. We all happily carry mobile phones, keys and what not.
4. See above - vaping is a means to an end and I like to think of it as a temporary measure.
5. It’s not still smoking.
6. Agree that it does not resolve the issue of nicotine addiction - but nicotine itself is the least of a smoker’s worries.

Good luck with your eventual attempt. When I see people smoking now, I feel no envy, only relief that I don’t “have to” do that anymore.

Well, I still think it's better compared to smoking. The only concern now are videos of vapes exploding. Any recommendations of brands that is safe enough?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: pucklie24 on 25 September, 2017, 12:03:52 pm
As a lucky non-smoker may I just say how much nicer the vape vapour is than tobacco smoke.

Yes, there's a lot of flavors to choose from. And I think it will not stick to your shirt.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: pcolbeck on 14 October, 2017, 08:20:19 pm
Bugger just cracked and had a rolly after a week of cold turkey. Didn't really enjoy it so hopefully it's a one off.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Paul on 15 October, 2017, 12:05:44 pm
It's a stumble, not a crack.

 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Von Broad on 15 October, 2017, 05:20:44 pm
vaping: had to laugh the other day, was driving along and saw this bus shelter on fire - at least I thought it was - got a bit closer and saw a bloke standing inside...vaping  ;D

smoking: it's been about 17 odd years for me now. Nicotine gum [only available on prescription then]helped me a lot - it was life a raft when drinking. I went through all kinds of attempts before I finally packed up. The whole thing started to feel a bit more serious when I stopped playing football at 40 and after about 19 months started feel slightly breathless walking up hills. Havng been blessed with pretty good physical health, I thought, 'fuck this, if I'm like this now, what am I going to be like at 60?'. It was then I started cycling, which helped an awful lot as a motivator. One mile, then two....then some more! [addiction replacements!]

I think in the end, I just got so sick and tired of the unsuccessful attempts, the whole subject was becoming such a bore internally. Either I smoke and be done with it, or go the other side of the fence and get rid for good. It got so draining being on the fence. One thing became blatantly obvious though: after these attempts to stop, I could never be a contented smoker anymore.

Another thing that really helped me was a change in attitude. I'd always seen quitting as a kind battle, something to over come, a kind of war against the inner surges of craving and the temptations of being out drinking. It was always a battle, but after a while this kind of mentality was doomed to failure for me. The reality was, regardless of all the negatives [and they should be enough], I actually loved the whole thing about it - the roll ups, the tin, the zippo lighter, the Spanish dark mud they called Ducados, a fag with a cup of tea, fags at work, fags down the pub, fags when you're driving, but at the end of the day....the party was over. It was like saying goodbye. And it was time to say goodbye. Something had run it's course. And this felt much softer. Much easier to bear. There was almost a kind of loss. It didn't take away the craving or the obsessions about talking about stopping, it just didn't seem such a mentally stressful experience. It's like the further you try and push something away, the closer it gets. This helped me a lot actually.

It's difficult. Whatever gets you through the night to pack up is very valuable, but at the end of the day, there has to be something inside of you that knows it's for real, and regardless of who bad you may or may not feel, there is no going back.

To whoever is looking to step on the path: good luck.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Valiant on 10 November, 2017, 02:40:12 am
Yes, I'm also planning o stop smoking and also thinking of vaping.. any cons about vaping?

You’ll find, as you approach the idea of stopping smoking, that the addiction works in strange ways, such as considering the possible downsides of things that you do not actually yet do  ;)

On the subject of health consequences of vaping, I think it is much too early to say. Consider how long it would take, if tobacco smoking was invented today, for the effects to express themselves. However, on balance, I think it is reasonable to believe that if all else fails vaping for a period of time offers a valid method to allow yourself time to leave the various habit-forming aspects of cigarette smoking behind. My own view is that the risks can be kept as low as possible by reducing the amount of material vaped by 1) sticking to mouth-to-lung vaping and 2) minimising the intake of the substances most likely to eventually be shown to be harmful - the flavourings - by using unflavoured e-liquid. The evidence seems to indicate that vaping nicotine itself and the PG or VG base are unlikely to be harmful. So that’s what I do most of the time.

Hopefully I’ll knock it on the head in the fullness of time. For now I am just glad to be not smoking tobacco.

My approach to Paul’s list of cons:

1. Don’t want to vape in the workplace any more than I wanted to smoke fags in work.
2. Costs, even including set-up costs, are minimal compared to smoking cigarettes.
3. Pockets: OK a vape is heavier than a packet of cigs, but it’s just not an issue. We all happily carry mobile phones, keys and what not.
4. See above - vaping is a means to an end and I like to think of it as a temporary measure.
5. It’s not still smoking.
6. Agree that it does not resolve the issue of nicotine addiction - but nicotine itself is the least of a smoker’s worries.

Good luck with your eventual attempt. When I see people smoking now, I feel no envy, only relief that I don’t “have to” do that anymore.

Well, I still think it's better compared to smoking. The only concern now are videos of vapes exploding. Any recommendations of brands that is safe enough?


Most of the stories you see/hear are about people using mechanical mods unsafely. Most regulated devices (with electronics) are as safe as anything providing you turn them off when in your pocket etc, have some juice in the tank to prevent dry hits and keep any batteries not in use safely in cases designed for them. The electronics in them these days have reverse polarity, short circuit, over temp, over current, minimum resistance protection and usually 10 second cut offs. So yeah if you're gonna buy go visit a reputable shop and get a decent brand ie Smok/Aspire/Asmodus/Pioneer4You/Sigelei/Eleaf and number of others. If you're in London come visit my shop and I can explain the pros and cons of each type of device/tank/batteries/juice etc.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Torslanda on 14 January, 2018, 09:44:54 pm
I couldn't get down to see you, Sam. So I went to Tesco instead and got set up for 20 quid.

Nothing adventurous and it's very early days but I haven't smoked a fag in 30+ hours. I've stopped coughing. We'll see how it goes.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Butterfly on 14 January, 2018, 09:45:55 pm
I couldn't get down to see you, Sam. So I went to Tesco instead and got set up for 20 quid.

Nothing adventurous and it's very early days but I haven't smoked a fag in 30+ hours. I've stopped coughing. We'll see how it goes.

Good luck Torslanda!
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Torslanda on 17 January, 2018, 10:49:53 pm
A full 5 days without a cigarette.

Vaping seems to be working - although a spare battery for the vaporiser might be a good idea. An hour on charge yesterday afternoon and I was close to chewing on a tyre . . .
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: TigaSefi on 18 January, 2018, 04:00:14 pm
Make sure you replenish all stocks in decent time or you’ll be scrambling to find a shop that supplies your vaping setup otherwise you’ll be chewing more than a tyre.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Jakob on 19 January, 2018, 12:33:08 am
I was on 20-a-day from 17 to 34-ish. (I'm now 47 and a half) I had 2 previous attempts at stopping, one semi-successful. First time was with nicotine patches, but they did nothing to the actual physical habit.
Second time, I used gum and it actually worked. There was a physical action associated with it and that helped a lot of with the fidgeting. I quickly fell back in with social smoking, which worked for a while, until it didn't.
Third and final time had a lot more hiccups in the early stages, but then smoking was banned in the pubs and that made it an awful lot easier.
My social circle had changed somewhat too and smokers were in a minority, which was probably the biggest factor.
I would get the odd graving for the following 4-5 years, but now I think it's absolutely disgusting.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 22 January, 2018, 08:20:01 pm
A full 5 days without a cigarette.

Vaping seems to be working - although a spare battery for the vaporiser might be a good idea. An hour on charge yesterday afternoon and I was close to chewing on a tyre . . .

How is it going?

Yes, definitely avoid letting yourself run out of e-liquid or power (and don’t forget coils) in the early stages.

When I meet people who have quickly rejected vaping as a way of helping them leave cigarettes behind, invariably it is because of some issue with the kit or ending up with some disgusting e-juice flavour, of which there are many. Most of what is available in the corner shop setting is vile, and it is definitely worth spending a little time at the beginning in a proper shop identifying a couple of flavours that are liveable with.

I will have been vaping for 2 years in April and I am now beginning to feel that I could safely do without it. I plan to give this a go in early April on my 2nd “anniversary”.

The only occasions when I feel a slight craving are when I see someone making themselves a rollie. But I know* that after a couple of drags I’d find it disgusting.

*as I tried this when I had one or two one-cigarette lapses in the first few weeks of quitting.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Torslanda on 22 January, 2018, 11:57:06 pm
Going well, thanks. Well into the second week.

Still get a bit antsy in the morning and want a fag with the first brew in the shop but it's diminishing gradually.

Haven't chewed a tyre. Yet . . .
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Jakob on 23 January, 2018, 02:09:42 am
Keep going!. It's very easy to say from here, but it's the best decision you've ever made and it will totally be worth the struggle.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: loadsabikes on 23 January, 2018, 08:50:52 am
Well done John, keep at it.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Torslanda on 08 March, 2018, 09:56:01 pm
Still not had a fag. Don't want one either.

2 months tonight since I got a vape-thing, I now seem to have settled on mint flavours. Specifically, i-Fresh doublemint and Edge cherry menthol.

FFS! I was up to around 80 quid a week on fags...
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: tonyh on 09 March, 2018, 06:21:00 am
 :)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 14 March, 2018, 07:47:58 pm
FFS! I was up to around 80 quid a week on fags...

Holy shit! N+20?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Pedaldog. on 14 March, 2018, 11:07:08 pm
Nearly four years since I last Smerked a Tab!
Back in 2014 I was spending Over £80.00 a week, it'd be near to £120.00 a week now.
I never bothered with things like Electricity bills, arrears of £1100.00 still, or pretty much anything. I was, because of smoking, registered Bankrupt and am not long out of the fall out from that.
Smoking Kills. It can also make you wish you were dead!
Vaping helped me beat a 44 year addiction that averaged 60 a day from the mid 1980's onward.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Chris S on 14 March, 2018, 11:13:12 pm
March is "That month" for me. On the 26th this year, it'll be 16 years.

There are still plenty of occasions when I'll salute and thank the person I was then, for going through the mess of quitting. At the time, that was one of my mantras; "I'd rather be 45 and wishing I could smoke, than 65 and wishing I hadn't"

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Si S on 15 March, 2018, 09:14:17 am
I fell off this wagon when everything went tits-up at work towards the end of last year. I'm currently on 2 a day 5 days a week. I'll let you guess which days.

I'm a mixture of  :-[ and  >:( at myself. What can I say, I'm an addict, I reckon this will be what kills me.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Ben T on 15 March, 2018, 09:58:55 am
As an ex smoker (13 years) you can say all you like about nicotine, ritual, force of habit, etc. but there's no getting away from the fact that cigs are really nice. That's the only reason why it's so many times better to have never smoked, because you don't know how nice they are.
I couldn't stand filters during my latter years of smoking but a roll up is lovely.
I think I'd probably still smoke occasionally if it wasn't for sport. My mum smokes and I wish she wouldn't but in a way I don't blame her cos I probably would if I were her.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Si S on 15 March, 2018, 10:12:23 am
As an ex smoker (13 years) you can say all you like about nicotine, ritual, force of habit, etc. but there's no getting away from the fact that cigs are really nice.

I dunno about that, I don't actually enjoy the taste anymore and despise the smell but do like the hit. I will say that nicotine helps prevent me inflicting ritualistic force on a certain exec.

Vaping is no longer a solution since I've become sensitised to something in it.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Greenbank on 15 March, 2018, 10:20:21 am
As an ex smoker (13 years) you can say all you like about nicotine, ritual, force of habit, etc. but there's no getting away from the fact that cigs are really nice.

This is why I never liked some of the anti-smoking stuff (i.e. Allen Carr, etc) when I was trying to give up (coming up 12 years soon) but eventually the negative aspects grew enough against the positive aspects and, at that point, I found giving up (from 30+ a day to zero) borderline trivial.

Nowadays I hate the smell and there's no chance I'll be tempted back into it but there are aspects to it I do miss although with today's prices I just couldn't imagine spending £500 a month on something like this.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: pcolbeck on 16 March, 2018, 03:10:23 pm
As an ex smoker (13 years) you can say all you like about nicotine, ritual, force of habit, etc. but there's no getting away from the fact that cigs are really nice. That's the only reason why it's so many times better to have never smoked, because you don't know how nice they are.
I couldn't stand filters during my latter years of smoking but a roll up is lovely.

This is spades. I really liked smoking, not all the cigs every day but in general. I miss it.
Also I have put on two stone since October when I gave up :(
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Canardly on 27 March, 2018, 09:01:54 am
Ex smoker 10 years or thereabouts. I think you know when you have finally given up when the smell becomes obnoxious and offensive rather than sweet, seductive and alluring.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: handcyclist on 27 March, 2018, 09:27:13 am
Ex-smoker of 14 years - the decision on timing was rather made for me when I was stuck in a hospital bed for a couple of months. One clear indicator of the power of nicotine is the rather pathetic sight of patients trudging to the exit, with their dripstand attached, to have an oily.

I knew I was 'cured' a few years ago when I had a dream in which I smoked, and woke up with an overwhelming feeling of disappointment. The relief when I was awake enough to realise that it was a dream ciggy was immense.

Analogy to keep you on the straight and narrow/encourage you to give up - smoking is like being on an escalator of health risk and declining lung function. It only goes up. You want to get off at the lowest floor possible. There is no way back down .......
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Torslanda on 12 April, 2018, 12:32:55 pm
Si S. That's a bit of a doofus, have you looked into any alternative vaping stuff? Could Sam Valiant possibly help? He seems to have a vast knowledge of the liquids available.

Three whole months* for me without a cigarette, spanking the vape thobut.

*By the eco-gnomics of tobacco I should by now have my electric bike but it seems not to be.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Si S on 12 April, 2018, 01:05:00 pm
I'm off the baccy again, which is evident from my strava times, a situation that will probably persist until the auditors come to visit again,  I see a pattern here  ::-) This is going to be a lifetime battle.

I have fired up the e-cig again with a new liquid and my lips have failed to either bleed or swell, so it may have just been a bad batch, it's not the most regulated of industries.

That said it might well be me, one consequence of my career is the massive amounts of chemical exposures I've had over the years, the more exposures you have the more likely you are to get sensitised. I once spent 6 months making α-bromo-α-phenylacetonitriles in a facility where the extract was knackered, I can't even go in a building where these things have been now without weeks of swelling and dermatitis. I've also managed to become allergic to 'food-safe' sanitisers, which rules out eating ready meals, silver linings and all that.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Paul on 12 April, 2018, 01:49:20 pm
I'm off the baccy again, which is evident from my strava times, a situation that will probably persist until the auditors come to visit again,  I see a pattern here  ::-) This is going to be a lifetime battle.
It took me more than 20 years (I don't know how many attempts) to give up. I made regular attempts. Keep at it. If my experience is anything to go by (20 months clean and not missing it a bit), it will eventually stick.

Good luck.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Basil on 22 April, 2018, 09:38:00 pm
Fuck.  Accepted and smoked two fags in outside the pub tonight.

Start again.
Start again.

Fuck.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 22 April, 2018, 09:51:46 pm
It's done now.  Onwards & upwards.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Basil on 22 April, 2018, 09:57:25 pm
Thanks Mrs P.  Back home now with cheese and onion crisps and home brew picked eggs.

#morehardcorethanfags
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: pcolbeck on 23 April, 2018, 05:50:41 pm
Fuck.  Accepted and smoked two fags in outside the pub tonight.

Dont stress. I did that about four months in when I had had one too many in the pub. Just think of all the ones you haven't smoked not those two you did.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Torslanda on 10 September, 2018, 12:26:47 pm
Quite pleased (Show off? Moi?) to say that I still have not had a fag since January. Pretty much got the hang of the vape-thing too, so don't need to chew tyres ...
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 10 September, 2018, 07:35:07 pm
Good for you :)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 27 January, 2019, 06:11:34 pm
Ten days into nicotine patches; reached the "coughing myself inside-out" stage.  Cravings nothing like as bad as giving up booze.

(Makes noise like punctured walrus)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 27 January, 2019, 06:19:21 pm
Keep on keeping on :)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: tonyh on 27 January, 2019, 06:31:38 pm
Bonne Route Mr L!
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 27 January, 2019, 09:58:24 pm
All the best Mr Larrington.

Keep on not buying cigarettes.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Basil on 27 January, 2019, 10:10:18 pm
Best wishes and good luck from Basil. 




Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 28 January, 2019, 04:44:06 pm
Spent yesterday evening coughing.  Spent the night not sleeping and aching all over.  Having a clod in the middle of this is Not Fair.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 28 January, 2019, 06:33:29 pm
Is that not SOP for giving up the fags? Or did I get that the wrong way round?
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 12 November, 2019, 06:34:41 pm
Now 7 weeks off vaping, after doing that since stopping smoking 3 years 7 months ago.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 12 November, 2019, 09:20:51 pm
Well done :)
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 02 March, 2020, 10:46:02 pm
Now 7 weeks off vaping, after doing that since stopping smoking 3 years 7 months ago.

So after about 3 months off vaping I experienced strange cigarette-lovin’ thoughts and strong urges to smoke. Resumed vaping  :-[

I’m sick of it again and my plan is to stop between now and my 4th anniversary of giving up smoking at the end of the month.

Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 03 March, 2020, 06:41:51 am
Good luck.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Paul on 03 March, 2020, 07:33:46 am
Ditto. You just have to keep trying to quit. I must have tried a dozen times, some attempts lasting almost 12 months, until it finally worked.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Regulator on 03 March, 2020, 08:08:03 am
I’d recommend trying hypnosis (if you haven’t already).   I gave up *like that* and no real cravings since. 

Works for some people but not for others.  It’s not cheap (around £200-£300) but, in my case, worth it. 
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 16 March, 2020, 05:32:58 pm
Right. The vape is going in the bin now.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 16 March, 2020, 05:41:14 pm
I’m an ex-vaper.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: matthew on 16 March, 2020, 06:11:01 pm
Good luck Sergeant.
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 16 March, 2020, 06:14:13 pm
Congratulations!
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Hot Flatus on 16 March, 2020, 06:22:30 pm
Stopping smoking???

Fuck me, I'm thinking of starting
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: Jurek on 29 July, 2020, 03:52:02 pm
not worth smoking. this is the most ungrateful thing you can do with yourself. more problems but no use. to quit I advise you the book of Allan Carr. how to quit smoking quickly. he writes well and intelligibly. should help you
All of the red lights on the wall behind me have started flashing.
And a number of buzzers have gone off.
I could be wrong.
Jus' sayin'.

All I hear is this (https://bigsoundbank.com/detail-0451-iphone-ringtone-alarm.html).
Title: Re: Stopping smoking: when?
Post by: nobby on 29 July, 2020, 04:13:29 pm
I think I am at the stage where I can either stop soon or I might as well carry on for the rest of my days.

I keep hoping for some stand-out date but they all pass by in a haze of Marlboro smoke.

How did the ex-smokers among you pick a date for an attempt?

Mid 1970's and Denis Healey was Chancellor and he put cigarettes up to 10/- for 20. My gross earnings were £100 a week and it was obvious I couldn't afford to smoke.
I worked in a large workshop and about a dozen of us were smokers and you passed your packet of cigarettes around about once a day. I stopped buying them and it took a couple of weeks before anybody realised I wasn't passing any cigs around. When challenged I told them I had given up smoking. There was a heated discussion about definitions of giving up but I was smoking half of what I had been and not smoking before or after work. I'd also got out the habit of buying them. That day I stopped completely because the tight sods left me out of the passing the fags around  :) I haven't smoked since.