Stopping smoking - yes again!

RichyRich

HeadInSand wrote:

Maybe, I know it's the classic cliched argument - but as a non smoker what about my choice to go out and not breathe in second hand smoke? Don't say I can choose to go to a non-smoking pub/club because that's not realistic (yet) unless I want to go out alone. Smokers can now choose to go outside and light up...or not. I can also choose to start smoking again or remain a non-smoker. This is the best thing the Govt. has done in a long time, although I do wonder why they're so keen to do it, especially as they make so much money from cigarettes.

If enough people want smoke free pubs/clubs the market will sort it out itself. Just think, there is no law that says you are not allowed to smoke in a cinema, restaurant, bus, train carriage, transport interchange or shop, but how many of those places allow smoking? Very few, because people don't like smokey cinemas or buses.

After banning smoking, the government will only move onto the next, slightly less controvertial thing to ban - nobody will have an argument against it because they have already assented to the general principle. It's not the content of the ban I am against, it's the fact that the government dictating to everyone how to live their lives. I would love to go to non-smokey pubs, but I don't think legislation is the way to do it.

Rich

RichyRich

cantcope wrote:

Can i join this thread please? I have tried and tried to give up and am now on my umpteenth attempt.

Today is my 18th day as a non smoker and i still get cravings, sometimes really strong ones. I am using the patches ( i had some left from my last attempt).

I am also going to get a latch hook rug kit to keep my hands busy in the evenings. Any other tips from people who have been quit longer?

I just feel like i need to be doing something all of the time as when i sit down i want a cigarette.

Welcome to the thread! Well done on getting this far - too late to throw it all away now?

I have "replaced" cigarettes with coffee. Even thoughI agree with all the principles in the A. Carr/N. Casey books, and most of the time I don't think about it, I am a very lazy person. When I smoked I would say "I'll do x just after I have a cig", and use it as an excuse to sit down for 5 mins. Afraid of becoming hyper-efficient after stopping smoking and just doing whatever it was I was planning on doing after my cigarette, I invested in a coffee machine. Now I can still waste time just as efficiently as before but do so without a cigarette.

As a Casey devotee, my advice would be read his book (or Allen Carr's) and ditch the patches, but that doesn't work for everyone I know. However I have a "cut down" version of Allen Carr's book in PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format and if you want I will email it to you - just PM me with your email address.

Good luck - you can do it!

Rich

Hello

cantcope wrote:

Can i join this thread please? I have tried and tried to give up and am now on my umpteenth attempt.

Today is my 18th day as a non smoker and i still get cravings, sometimes really strong ones. I am using the patches ( i had some left from my last attempt).

I am also going to get a latch hook rug kit to keep my hands busy in the evenings. Any other tips from people who have been quit longer?

I just feel like i need to be doing something all of the time as when i sit down i want a cigarette.

Welcome and well done for being smoke free!! :T

Have you used patches or stopped smoking before? I used the Alan Carr method successfully so far with minimum cravings.

Keep it up!!

Hello

squirreltufty

Hello wrote:

Welcome and well done for being smoke free!! :T

Have you used patches or stopped smoking before? I used the Alan Carr method successfully so far with minimum cravings.

Keep it up!!

Hello

hello Hello - delighted to see you're still smoke free!:j:j:j

Hello

Indeedy. Been suffering from a cold this week, I was hoping that not smoking would make the cold easier to bear but not so!

H

cantcope

I have read the allen carr book before and even went to the allen carr clinic in london. I lasted a week. Obviously not for me.

Still smoke free. And fat now too!

RichyRich

Congratulations, take each day as it comes. I remember seeing somewhere in someone's signature,

Forever is a long time. But I can say this: I won't have a cigarette today, and I probably won't have one tomorrow

Or words to that effect. A good philosophy.

Just think of all the money you're saving (it is mse after all!) and remember the cravings will reduce over time. I still dream that I have smoked now, but in my dreams I'm so upset that I had a cigarette that I know I don't want one in real life.

Now if you'll excuse me I'm off to boil the kettle.

mishmash

Hi,
I'm getting closer to joining you as a non smoker. Found out my Sister in law has the Allen Carr book and is posting this to me. How Money saving is that:money:

I have been cutting down from 20 now 10ish, I have been really noticing how other smokers smell ( Yuk) and have started running again. Good free exercise, which reminds me (with every wheez) that I need to give up.

If there are places left, I am going to enter for the Manchester half marathon. I had to wait til payday for the registration fee. I know this is spending, but it is a spend to save investment. I have cancelled my Gym membership and am in need of motivation.

I think the thought of doing the run will put the fear of god into me, especially as my brother is running with me ( he just did the Las Vegas marathon jetlagged in just over 3 hours:eek: :eek: ) and my partner who is a very experienced runner.

So it's goodbye ciggies, goodbye mummy tummy and hello the open road.

Ragtimeplayer

Hi, just wanted to join in and let you all know how great I am feeling as a non smoker

I stopped smoking over 4 weeks ago via the Allen Carr book and it was my first time trying, I previously smoked 40+ a day.

I found it very easy to do. I am still amazed how easy it was and so are my family as we have all been taught how hard it will be, total lies!



It really came home to me today what a wonderful thing being a non smoker is when I went to the airport for the first time since stopping smoking.

There was no smoking allowed inside the airport and we were 2 hours early for our flight, I have no idea what state I would have been in if I had still been smoking!

It was so nice to sit in the airport and watch the planes go by, drink coffee and chat and not be thinking the whole time about where I could go to have a cigarette!

There were a couple of people there who smoked (I could smell them) and they looked really stressed out.

Its like Allen carr said in his book, you originally wanted to be a smoker but after you stop you end up feeling sorry for smokers, that is so true and I thank the stars for whoever introduced me to his book in the first place.

4 weeks on and I am still amazed at how easy it has been for me, there was never a time when I thought I HAD to have a cigarette and I haven't climbed the walls even once

Everything tastes better, my sense of smell which has always been excellent has increased tenfold and it is such a marvellous feeling to not feel trapped by the nicotine anymore, I wish everyone who is a smoker at the moment could feel the way I feel and you would stop today as I am 100% certain it is all in the mind.

When you have your mind set correctly, its very very easy.

RichyRich

Splendid, Ragtimeplayer! I'm really made up for you that you feel so confident and happy about being a non smoker. Well bloody done! I could have had one today (I know, I know...) because I got myself a bit upset, then realised that that would have been a stupid thing to do - it wouldn't have made me any less upset would it?

Am a bit worried because I'm going out on Thursday night with a load of smokers; I know I shouldn't be; I've not had a cigarette since October, but I'll be very very careful

Rich