The Giving Up Smoking Thread!!

JoeHel

nykmedia wrote: »

Hi JoeHel - funny thing is, I don't always buy cigs and if they aren't here, I don't miss them. I quit for a couple of years when I err, accidentally bought a racehorse - YES! I am prone to some really spectacular impulse buys, but it seemed like such a bargain at the time! Anyway, I quit smoking and had 2 extra PT jobs to pay the training fees - the horse was rubbish, but the fun was well worth it!
So, I know I can stop when I want, but don't know anyone else who is stopping. Then I found this wonderful MSE thread where you are all quitting for various reasons. This time around, my savings are going towards a house... But I MUST spell it correctly and not make the same mistake twice!
H - O - R - S - E

Oops, I mean H - O - U - S - E

Oh you'll find it an absolute breeze nykmedia! If you're not addicted, don't miss them and can stop when you want all you have to do is not actually buy any and you are sorted! :j There are lots of us on here in various stages of quitting and using various methods too. A few of us have done the cold turkey route and just stopped altogether. It only takes 3 days to get all nicotine out of your system and I think you'll find that a lot easier than some of us have done - although I have to say it was a lot less hard than I thought it would be! Let us know how you get on mate. Always good to have another "quitter" on board!

tattycath

Hi everyone. I'm in total agreement with JoeHel, I found it was much easier than I thought it would be. I am on my 26th day without smoking and I feel fine. No cravings, I still think it stinks when my OH lights up a cig. I smile to myself when OH goes outside to have a smoke-he's very considerate when kids are around, but when they aren't, He's not quite so considerate for me!!! So it's very amusing when he goes outside and freezes his rocks off just for the sake of a smoke!!! :-)

melbury

I was told by a heart surgeon that in his opinion nicotine patches are just a racket for drug companies to make a lot of money. Your body is completely clear of nicotine in just a few days, (or if you believe this link 48 hours http://www.quit-smoking-stop.com/quit-smoking-benefits.html ), so what is the point of sticking on endless patches that are just keeping nicotine in your system. I think the hardest thing to cope with when giving up is the actual ritual of smoking - the holding of the cigarette and puffing it.

Believe me I am no saint, I had intended to give up in the New Year, but was struck down with a flu type bug on Boxing Day and thought it made sense to give stopping a go. I don't know if I will succeed, but will certainly give it a go.

Any other time when I have a bug (sore throat, cough etc) I just keep right on smoking away, even though they taste absolutely foul and obviously make the cough worse, but after 36 years of smoking perhaps I have at last come to my senses.

Lots of experts say that you really have to want to stop for yourself and get it right in your head to achieve it. No matter how many people say you should, ultimately it is completely down to you.

[EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com?subject=Reporting post http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=7482691"][/EMAIL]

BrickingIt

I've been smoking for 15 years and i'm going to give a go (again) on News Years Day.

I've stopped 3 times before, once for 6 months.

Frugaldom

Hi BrickingIt, fancy meeting you here! Isn't it fun being an MSE addict? I'm on my last 20 pack and aim to be nicotine free by week one of January because I really, really want to be a homeowner and completely debtfree. I'm burning at least 22p every time I light up!

Nice to see you here and congratulations to everyone who is doing really well. I agree with the OP about nicotine patches etc... just another money grabbing chemically enhanced 'fix' that costs money we could be saving.

BrickingIt

nykmedia wrote: »

Hi BrickingIt, fancy meeting you here! Isn't it fun being an MSE addict? I'm on my last 20 pack and aim to be nicotine free by week one of January because I really, really want to be a homeowner and completely debtfree. I'm burning at least 22p every time I light up!

Nice to see you here and congratulations to everyone who is doing really well. I agree with the OP about nicotine patches etc... just another money grabbing chemically enhanced 'fix' that costs money we could be saving.

:hello:

Right i'm off out to get a pack of 20 and once there gone, there gone.

Having given up for 6 months heres my advice.

1. Forget fags ever existed.

2. Forgot alternatives. Even gum.

3. Don't go to the local papershop - EVER!.

4. Go to bed early everynight for the first month.

5. Drink lots of water.

6. No matter how long you stop smoking, you will always be a smoker.

Frugaldom

Have you ever tried grapefruit or pineapple juice before lighting up? EUGH!!! It can put you off! Might help delay that first one of the day and makes it much easier to cut down, if that's what anyone is doing. You simply delay the 'first one of the day', which is the single most important factor in my book.... It's simple - as soon as you have given up your first smoke of the day, you have virtually become an ex-smoker! LOL

yellowmonkey

Hey more people are seeing the light. Good luck to you all and I expect more will come along on new years day. The more the merrier I say.
It is really the best thing you can do for yourself and It may be difficult(Or like me) it may be relativly easy but the important thing is at least to Try. You never know you may enjoy it.

Good luck to you all and hello :hello: melbury and BrickingIt


ym

JoeHel

BrickingIt wrote: »

:hello:

Right i'm off out to get a pack of 20 and once there gone, there gone.

Having given up for 6 months heres my advice.

1. Forget fags ever existed.

2. Forgot alternatives. Even gum.

3. Don't go to the local papershop - EVER!.

4. Go to bed early everynight for the first month.

5. Drink lots of water.

6. No matter how long you stop smoking, you will always be a smoker.

Good advice BrickingIt. The only one I disagree with slightly is No. 6. The second you extinguish your last ciggie you become an ex-smoker or non-smoker. You will always be an ADDICT. That is, if you light up another ciggie six months later you will be back at your old level of use within days (as you found out!!!) It's exactly the same as being an alcoholic. An alcoholic might not have had a drink for several years and they are no longer a DRINKER, but they will always be an alcoholic. They know that they can never drink alcohol casually, just as I now accept I would never be able to have the odd ciggie here and there. It would be like quitting constantly!

So the one piece of extra advice I would add to your list is accept that you will NEVER take another puff. It's the only way to quit for life.

I also haven't found that I've needed to change my routine - I just do everything without a ciggie now instead. You only have to do it 2 or 3 times for it to feel "normal". And you go to bed earlier because you are actually TIRED for a change! No chemicals stimulating your brain and keeping you awake. It's bliss...!! :j

deb76

I have given up lots of times in the past (longest for 1 year) but i always go back to it. The thing is - i really like smoking.