Tom Posted February 21, 2008 Report Posted February 21, 2008 How King hard!?!?! I got back off of my hols on sunday and gave up tuesday - 3 days without a cigarette and i'm a right grump c**t. I've got patches (to put over my eyes so i can't find my smokes ) and they're helping but its getting over the habit of going out for a smoke after a meal, with a beer, when i'm bored, traffic etc anyone got any good tips or is it a case of pure will power?
sambo Posted February 21, 2008 Report Posted February 21, 2008 Good luck mate. I have a pouch of baccy left and then once it's gone, i'm gonna give up.......... i am gonna be a right bastard to live with! 3 days though mate, keep it up!
Tom Posted February 21, 2008 Author Report Posted February 21, 2008 the bit that makes me proud of myself is i've had a nearly full pack in my pocket for 3 days and haven't touched them! *all this talking about it just isn't helping though*
m1c Posted February 21, 2008 Report Posted February 21, 2008 ive always said its the reason for why you want to stop that will give the willpower to do it. i tried many times over the years just for the sake of it but never lasted a week. when we found out the wife was pregnant (also a smoker) we made it a new years resolution as we only found out just before christmas, so spent the last week cutting back and that was it. havent had a puff of a ciggy since newyears day 2007. stick with it.... for the first few days i wanted to kill someone and found it very hard, i didnt even bother with patches i went cold turkey. but its worth it. good luck
Savvi Posted February 21, 2008 Report Posted February 21, 2008 Keep up the good work mate ................. I was lucky when my old man caught me nicking his smokes when i was 6, he made me smoke the whole pack then took me to buy another and made me smoke them til i was sick !!!! I never smoked again. He wasn't so fortunate he only gave up when he had lung cancer and really it was too late .................. he had one lung removed and was fine for a couple of years but it came back ................. belive me if you'd have seen him go through what i did the last year of his life you wouldn't want another fag !!! He was given a weird video from the doctor which he had to watch if he wanted to smoke, i think the idea is find something else to do when your wanting or needing a smoke.
Tom Posted February 21, 2008 Author Report Posted February 21, 2008 I tell you what made my mind up (sort of) is going to Oz and Thailand. Their cig packets have got some nasty, nasty hard hitting pictures on them, dead babies, blackened lungs, holes in throats etc it was King rough to the point i was refusing to buy them or trying to find a shop where the picture wasn't bad on the brand i wanted - sad huh
Anglia68 Posted February 21, 2008 Report Posted February 21, 2008 I gave up buying ciggies because they were too dear.If I wanted a fake I had to scrounge one.It doesn't take long for all your mates to get p*ssed off with this so in the end you just end up not smoking. I smoked for 12 years and successfully gave up 16 years ago.
Tom Posted February 21, 2008 Author Report Posted February 21, 2008 nice mate, i'd been smoking for about 12-13 years - it doesn't seem that long tho. I gave up once before for over a year when i was 19-20 but slowly started again when i got into the motor trade.
Wessie Posted February 21, 2008 Report Posted February 21, 2008 changing subject - you get that mag ok m8?
Tom Posted February 21, 2008 Author Report Posted February 21, 2008 Yeah mate i text you the other day, you not get it? Cheers again now stop hijacking you post whore!!!!
antz Posted February 21, 2008 Report Posted February 21, 2008 all the money you save from not smoking whack in a penny jar and go out and blow the lot on something you REALLY WANT! it worked for my mum
Tom Posted February 21, 2008 Author Report Posted February 21, 2008 Yeah . . . .at the minute i REALLY WANT a smoke
Wessie Posted February 21, 2008 Report Posted February 21, 2008 Yeah mate i text you the other day, you not get it? Cheers again now stop hijacking you post whore!!!! my phone shit itself and died on me ! i'll pm you my new number
jimbo Posted February 21, 2008 Report Posted February 21, 2008 It's a great sign that you obviously want to give up, which is main thing! The thing to remember is that nicotine is an incredibly addictive drug, and you have to get your head round how your body (at first) then your mind (after nicotine has cleared your system = 10 days-ish) is constantly telling you that you need a fag, for whatever reason fits the occasion. This is apparent in the way that smokers always have contradictory excuses. For example: - I need one to help me concentrate vs. It helps me relax. - I can have one if I'm not going to get chance to eat vs. I like a cigarette after a meal. A cigarette can't physically make you concentrate and relax better or act as a food substitute and final course all at the same time. Sounds like irrational behaviour of addiction to me It's that smoking has made you think you need a cigarette to do all the things that non-smokers can do perfectly well without a cigarette. And in fact as time goes on, and you stay without nicotine, you get better at doing things because your not suffering nicotine withdrawl. Bear in mind smokers are continually living with withdrawl. Once they stub out a fag, their body/mind is preparing for its next hit, counting down the minutes/hours until they top themselves up with a bit more..... Think about when you've run out of fags.....The longer you have to wait the better it feels, the more you feel rewarded......But for what, you're just back to feeling normal. Nicotine's power is in it's subtlety. Basically, Allen Carr's book is what I used to stop smoking. The only problem is that the book is meant to be read whilst you are still smoking. It says what I have said above, but so much better. If you go back on the evil weed, or feel that you can read it without needing to light up, then I'll post you my copy. Every single healthcare professional will tell you the best thing you can do for your health is give up tobacco. When I'm feeling weak, I just think of all the old wheezers and coughers that were on the ward when my dad was in hospital with pneumonia. Whilst in hospital they diagnosed him with pulmonary fibrosis (your lung tissue stiffens up, so you can't breath). Having watched him deteriorate over a year, it made me realise just how important those bellows inside you are. If you need any more convincing, consciously take a few breaths in to your lungs and think how shit life would be if you couldn't do that most basic of things that is breathing. And if you're prone to feeling weak in the face of nicotine, have some people you can ring up. Support is key!! Good luck mate. Only you have the power to do this.....But you do have the power
Jimbob-Squarepants © Posted February 21, 2008 Report Posted February 21, 2008 I find a chewing gum helps mate. When you fancy one, bust a move with the wrigleys
Haynesmanual Posted February 21, 2008 Report Posted February 21, 2008 I,ve not had a fag since 3rd of jan , Been chewing loads of gum and moaning my head off . Its really hard not to as my girlfriend smokes (in front of me!) but i've got this far and dont want to let myself down . Good luck with it.
surfingturnip Posted February 21, 2008 Report Posted February 21, 2008 tubes of sherbert perhaps? the sugar takes ur mind off the nicotine a bit and the tube gives your hands something to do
m1c Posted February 21, 2008 Report Posted February 21, 2008 A cigarette can't physically make you concentrate and relax better or act as a food substitute and final course all at the same time. Sounds like irrational behaviour of addiction to me actually, thats not quite correct it does help to relax and calm the nerves as in effect with the actions of taking draws off a fag, you are actually hyperventalating (spelling ) which is why many people have a quick smoke before events - even sports! - if they 'need' one. its not the nicotine they crave, its the calming effect on these occasions. i dont know how many non-smokers are replying to this thread but honestly, its not as easy as you might think!
jimbo Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 actually, thats not quite correct it does help to relax and calm the nerves as in effect with the actions of taking draws off a fag, you are actually hyperventalating (spelling ) which is why many people have a quick smoke before events - even sports! - if they 'need' one. its not the nicotine they crave, its the calming effect on these occasions. Hyperventilation is rapid or deep breathing, usually caused by anxiety or panic, not a as a result of smoking a cigarette. In fact replacing oxygen with smoke is more like suffocation. How do non-smokers prepare for a big game or presenting a speech, etc? Preparation and focus.....Both of which are best done when your not on a cycle of nicotine withdrawl, which as I said above is what being a smoker is. Having a cigarette only gives you the perception of relaxing. The same as it gives you nothing more than the perception of concentration and focus. All of which you can do without fags....That's what I was taliking about when I said nicotine's power is in its subtlety. A cigarette for every occasion if you will. i dont know how many non-smokers are replying to this thread but honestly, its not as easy as you might think! Neither do I.....Whats my qualification to talk about this???? - Started smoking at 14. - Smoked for 14 years, finishing up on at least 20 rollies/joints a day. - Gave up nearly four years ago (having read Allen Carr's Easyway) - Haven't gone back since (I even carry a little pipe with me for those occasions where joints are offfered around - so rather than dance with the tobacco devil, I just have a little toot on my pipe.) And as to whether it's easy. I tried gum, patches and will-power before reading the book. Yes, having read the book, you still need will power, but the thing with gum/patches is that you're still not saying goodbye to the addictive part (nicotine). As you wean off those, then will-power still comes into play. What the book does is help you understand why you are tricked into thinking you need a cigarette, and when you understand that you develop the power to stop. The hardest part is staying stopped. Generally I live without it being an issue but, like having talked about it here, something fires up inside that makes me think about cigarettes, and almost feel like wanting one. I don't think that feeling ever goes away. I just have to work against that little devil inside that makes me think this might be a great occasion to go out for my first fag break in 4 years. But to have that one starts you back on the cycle of nicotine withdrawl....... Think I better get on and do some work......That'll take my mind off it
Twinkle Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 Hyperventilation is rapid or deep breathing, usually caused by anxiety or panic, not a as a result of smoking a cigarette. In fact replacing oxygen with smoke is more like suffocation. spot on, hyperventilation is the result of too muvch oxygen in your system caused by rapid, deep breathing. smoking a cigarette can help to control a hyperventilation attack as it reduces the amount of o2 being inhaled by replacing it with co2 and other gases, it also helps to slow the breathing down as the person who is notmally panicing and anxious subconciously regulates their breathing back to a sensible rate to inhale the cigarette! it works i have used it several times on patients where the traditional methods just arent getting anywhere and tom good luck m8 hope you stick with it bud keep it up and i will buy you a pint and fook your liver instaed of your lungs
32 HI-BOY Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 hers an idea every time u smoke u will be sent to a layers of hell when you die 1- is ok 90- is a nightmare bad
Tom Posted February 22, 2008 Author Report Posted February 22, 2008 4th day now and its getting easier - barely thought about it at all today. evenings are the worst. Going to the pub for dinner and a pint now so i'll see how that goes. Cheers for your support guys
surfingturnip Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 suppose this time of year with all the crap weather it gives you a bit more of an incentive, you dont need to freeze your arse off to go and have a fag now
ilovegrannys Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 Stopped one month ago this Sunday. Mega hard work, i put on near on a stone. The upside is on the ship is a free gym and a PTI that does circuits twice a day. Mind you i am in Norway at the moment and shorts & t-shirt is not a good call!!!
geoffersmasher Posted February 23, 2008 Report Posted February 23, 2008 keep up the good work tom i smoked for a good 4 years, told the missus i quit then when she smmelt it on me i caved in haha , i aint smoked for 4 years now and have never had an urge youll do it easy
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