A (non) smoker's tale

taplady

My OH has now made another appointment for the smoking clinic in his battle to give up.He is 43 and has had a triple heart byepass after 2 heart attacks and the hold that cigarettes has over him is so strong that he cant give up even with his history!
he has given up many times but as soon as he is under stress its the first thing he reaches for.I do hope he is successful this time as I can see me being a widow very soon!:(

Another story to try and persuade you smokers to give up is that my shift partner from work died at 40 from lung cancer! he couldn't give up and he had asthma as well!

The money side of it means nothing to me.I just want my hubby alive!

GreyPilgrim

Tr&#64 wrote: »

So what do you do when you actually enjoy a fag but realise how expensive it
is ? Ive smoked for 40 years no health problems also most people ive spoke to who quit put loads of weight on in a very short time, i think a lot of young girls start smoking for this reason-it helps them contol their weight although i wouldn't condone it.

I bet everyone who has read the book started out with exactly this viewpoint. Smoking doesn't control weight. Eating healthily and exercising controls weight - it a simple balance between calories in and calories out. Cigs don't contain calories, and anyway, you don't eat them.

It's a myth.

Read the book.

I dare you.

funkymonkey

hi guys - keep reading the allan carr book - it worked for me - i went from forty aday to 0 over night - and that was 2 months ago. i cant believe it! i dont even think about smoking now. i havnt put on a pound either! i am so proud of myself and have saved loads im sure. It took me three atempts to quit through reading this book. but having read it cover to cover three times it is totally in my head! the best book i have ever bought!

keep trying! because when you finally do it its an amazing feeling!

if i can beat the fags i can beat the debt!

youngandreckless

There is a thread on the moneysavers arms thats really good, there is a link there too which means you can download a little device that tots up how long you've quit for, how much you've saved and how much life you've gained back. At this moment I've saved £28.50. not smoked 98 cigs, quit for 5 days, 18 hours and 47 minutes!!!!

moggins

I will keep trying, I must!! I've even tried with the patches and failed with those too, I even smoked with them on!

The stupid thing is that I am not even what I would consider a heavy smoker. I smoke between 10 and 15 a day. I have read the Allen Carr book 3 times and I get everything he says. I agree with everything he says but I still cannot quit. I managed to go 23 hours after reading the book the last time and then caved in. I don't agree with what he says about the cravings being minimal though.

Ali-OK

Allen Carr's book didn't work for me, but I stopped on 1st April and continue to be a non-smoker. How? I joined forces with another MSEr on the same smoke-free journey and we pm each other to keep our support going.

I enjoyed smoking for over 20 years, but knew that the £100 a month I was spending was totally wasted and could be paid towards my debt.

I've tried lozenges, but they gave me a sore throat, so I've stuck with cold turkey. I was a size 8 when I smoked (can hear the groans!!) and am still a size 8!! I believe it's about the portion sizes in the main, followed by healthy eating - though I'll happily admit to eating crisps, choccie biscuits and cake - but in moderation. (I was a size 18 when I was a young teenager and I did diet and exercise properly to get to this size and stay there).

I never thought I'd say this cliche as I always hated hearing it (and thinking, yeah it's alright for you as you've done it), but if I can stop smoking, anyone really can. Having someone to stop with has been the key for me - it's finding what works for you combined with the willpower that's the hard bit in my experience.

Good luck - the book is a good read and I did keep referring to "ignore the nicotine dragon" to keep me going! And if you feel you want to stop smoking whilst reading the book, then do it! That's where I failed on that attempt.

In_Search_Of_Me

Ohh let us know how you get on! I MUST give up...managing not to smoke in the day but still have at least 3 in the night (trying not to smoke until 9) so should be able to crack this final bit. Would be really interested to know if it works! Do keep us posted!! Good luck!

moggins

Ali, that is a good point. I always reach a point in the books where I get it and I really think I don't need another cigarette ever but then he says keep going until he says so and when I've got to that point that quitting moment has gone and I reach for the fags again.

MinnieSpender

I gave up a few months ago. I just went cold turkey and it was actually really easy to do.

I spent a couple of months paying the amount I'd usually spend on fags on my debt. I'd log on every night and pay the £5 and whatever pence into my credit card debt by online bank. I wonder what Barclaycard thought of my bizarre but regular payments? But, hey! who cares? It reduced my debt no end!

I've had to stop this for a while as I'm putting the money aside into my college fund instead but still make regular payments on my credit card debt.

Quitting will be the best decision you've ever made.

Good luck.

beanielou

I gave up in March & its been ok.
The big downside for me is the amount of weight that Ive put on
Think will have to tackle that next-sigh