Stopping smoking - yes again!

cantcope

Good luck to everyone. I'm 3 weeks off a ciggie now, using patches and gum from the doctor. Still want one but not as often as i thought i would. Eating loads tho. Any tips so that i'm not the size of house by Christmas?

Talheedin

Hi everyone and congratulations on giving up.

Just remember (and I'll probably get a lot of hate mail for this) GIVING UP IS EASY! It's only hard because everyone tells you it's hard and this gives you an excuse to start again and plays right into the tobacco company's hands.

I stopped five years ago after smoking 30 a day for about 18 years (I was 13 when I started) and I did it in 5 hours! I went along to an Allan Carr seminar and a lady talked to us for five hours with many cig breaks (she even had a big box of cigarettes in case we ran out) and at the end of it I though "That'll never work." But it did and I haven't had a cig since and, most importantly, IT WAS EASY!

Now these seminars are quite pricey (I think they're priced at the cost of 20 a day for three months) but they are well worth it if you quit and you can get your money back if you don't. Alternatively you could get his book out of the Local Library (hopefully costing nothing) and try that, I know lots of people who've quit that way.

The seminars and book are all about positive brain washing (which is probably why I still rave on about it after 5 years) but it's only a cure for the brain washing that the tobacco companies have been doing on you for years.

Best of luck to all of you although you don't need it because you can ALL do it!

Talheedin

TNG

Talheedin wrote:

Just remember (and I'll probably get a lot of hate mail for this) GIVING UP IS EASY!

Thanks for saying this. I would have but was somewhat apprehensive about the backlash.

However, Talheedin is right! The actual PHYSICAL reaction is almost imperceptible. It's what that feeling triggers off in your mind that is the hard bit. If you can retrain your mind, the rest is, as DS1 would say, pips! Read the book (I would also recommend 'The Nicotine Trick' by Neil Casey. It reaffirms everything Allen Carr says, but gives you a technique to retrain your brain). Both books together will cost less than a packet of patches and you may just find it easy too. Nothing to lose, everything to gain.....

Well done to everyone who has stopped! :T :T :T :T :T :T

rog2

I honestly wish you well, even though I won't be joining you.
I have given up smoking several times, with mixed results:
First Time - 1976 - just stopped, no wish or craving for cigs, even when out at pub. Lasted nearly 3 years - don't know why I took it up again.
Second Time - 1984 - we both gave up, started chewing Liquorice Sticks - perhaps this was making me more conscious of smoking - anyway - lasted about one month.
Tried this several times since but never for more than a few weeks.
1998 - Decided to give up seriously - went on patches - worked whilst on patches, but as soon as I stopped the patches I got irritable and started smoking again:mad:
2004 Dr China opened a brnch near us. I went for the Acupuncture - which worked from day 1. Had to go for 6 visits (one a week0 No probs till last visit, when one of needles, in ear, hurt me. Went straight out and smoked a cigarette:mad: :mad:
Not much encouragement to you all, am I?
I know that smoking is bad for you, and would never defend it. I would never smoke if it offended others in my company, and certainly never in a confined space.
I do, however, enjoy a cigarette - I smoke abut a quarter now as compared to 5 years ago, when I was, comfortably doing 40 - 50 a day (cheap fags from abroad!!).
Of course I wish I'd never started - there wasn't the Social Stigma with Smoking then - Neither, I agree, were we aware of the health risks.
I don't stand in judgement, nor do I ask to be judged for my own stance.
I do, however, wish you every success in giving up - it is very difficult.

Little_Miss_Winner

wheres youngandreckless? how are you coping?

youngandreckless

Sorry peeps work has been TERRIBLE! Or did ciggies just mask it? I'm ok, slightly ratty but I didn't sleep well. Look how well we're all doing! Yipee! xx

freeloader

Well done all who've stopped, but I definitely go along with TNG and Talheedin as regards Allen Carr. I read it the weekend before last, smoked throughout the book, ran out of fags just before the end... nothing... just a sense of freedom and a weirdly pleasant sensation for a week while the nicotine left my body, but certainly no cravings, no need for nicotine replacement therapy, no pain.
All I can say is get straight on Amazon and buy the book (I used the women's version)... JUST DO IT! All you need is an open mind and to really pay attention to what Carr says (re-read it if it doesn't work first time). Also get it out of your head that it's hard to stop, and don't call it "giving up".
As I've said on another thread (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=236587), it's the best £6.99 spent in my life.
I've saved about £80 (and rising) since I stopped... yippee!

Give it a go - you may be amazed!

Redrose

Day 4

Come on everyone Shout how you are doing......and what if any problems you are having...

I am doing ok at the moment - just but my first "non - Smokes " money away £30.00 in the pot... I used to buy my on the "cheap" about £30 for 200 each Thurdsay - just looking at it makes me feel good....

Di
Starting day 4

Merlin139

I am now at 182 hours at 09.05 this morning. No aids just will power. Finding it quite easy as long as I keep mysel occupied. Work helps as we are not allowed to take any form of smoking materials on site so for nearly 9 hours a day I could not smoke if I wanted too.

Finding it hard not to eat for England. Trying to take a few sips of water when I get the craving.

8578 hours to go then it will be a year without the weed. :j

FrugalJo

Well Done to you all, going to join you.
I have to get back on the wagon, I gave up in April Allen Carr method (same experience as freeloader, felt freedom and lightheaded for the first week and then found it easy) unfortunately a weak moment started again in August and am very cross with myself, so ordering Allen Carr the womens version right now.
Jo