The Giving Up Smoking Thread!!

JoeHel

melbury wrote: »

Thanks JoeHel, have now read that. I still don't think it really applies to me though because I always made my roll ups in a rolling machine with a filter put in. I couldn't smoke a cigarette without a filter, so what are they talking about in that article? I know lots of people on roll ups, but they always use filters.

I think they mean the many more people who smoke roll ups without filters. There are lots of them! And when you roll your own there is obviously some tiny space between the paper and the filter and that's enough for carbon monoxide to get through.

All it says in that article is that smokers using rollups have a higher chance of getting some of the cancers because of the nature of the tobacco. It's not any safer, it's just more chance of getting some diseases and less chance of getting others.

I guess the phrase that springs to mind is ..... "well, do you feel lucky...?"

ZTD

melbury wrote: »

Well cut my legs and call me shorty!!! I am totally gobsmacked, I was 110% sure he was an American - just the way the book reads I suppose, it sounds so American.

This is wikipedia's entry for him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Carr

rizla01

For those that want to give up, realise that there are other habits in your life that have been there longer than fags, I.E. Sugar in tea/coffee, salt on the dinner, Etc.

Give ALL of these things up at the same time as you quit and your body will crave these things MORE than a fag. Believe me, I KNOW it works.

When you are really craving a fag have either a GLASS OF FREEZING COLD WATER or if that is already part of your diet then have a GLASS OF PLAIN HOT WATER.

All good for your health.

And avoid social drinking for 3 months!!



And you will not lose out in giving up salt OR sugar from your diet so, all in all, you will benefit AND end up a non-smoker.

melbury

JoeHel wrote: »

I think they mean the many more people who smoke roll ups without filters. There are lots of them! And when you roll your own there is obviously some tiny space between the paper and the filter and that's enough for carbon monoxide to get through.

All it says in that article is that smokers using rollups have a higher chance of getting some of the cancers because of the nature of the tobacco. It's not any safer, it's just more chance of getting some diseases and less chance of getting others.

I guess the phrase that springs to mind is ..... "well, do you feel lucky...?"

JoeHel,

You weren't supposed to say that. You were supposed to say that of course roll ups with filters are totally fine to smoke and will do you no harm at all. Go straight to your tin Melbury and light up without delay! I wish!!!!! No only kidding, think I am getting a bit hysterical this afternoon, that's what booze without smoke does to you.:eek:

oops_a_daisy

Im sure I read somewhere that Allen Carr died of lung cancer

edited to add a linky http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6194670.stm


Hey fellow quitters that packed in on New Years Day - its 2 weeks tomorrow :j and I have only put on 5lbs I really am going to have to stop eating so much :rotfl:

melbury

oops_a_daisy wrote: »

Im sure I read somewhere that Allen Carr died of lung cancer

edited to add a linky http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6194670.stm


Hey fellow quitters that packed in on New Years Day - its 2 weeks tomorrow :j and I have only put on 5lbs I really am going to have to stop eating so much :rotfl:

See, it says he was a millionaire!!! Not that I begrudge him that.

JoeHel

oops_a_daisy wrote: »

Im sure I read somewhere that Allen Carr died of lung cancer

edited to add a linky http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6194670.stm


Hey fellow quitters that packed in on New Years Day - its 2 weeks tomorrow :j and I have only put on 5lbs I really am going to have to stop eating so much :rotfl:

You are absolutely right oops, Allen Carr did die of lung cancer. A good few years after he undoubtedly would have died of a heart attack or stroke had he carried on smoking.

I did read that he would have been affected by all the passive smoking at his quitting clinics but I don't know whether that's true or not. There still aren't enough proper studies on passive smoking. But I'm sure I read that that's what they blamed for Roy Castle's cancer too - working in the clubs and pubs all those years.

Thing is, when you smoke your lungs produce this mucus to try and protect you from the tar and stuff. If you are a non-smoker you don't have that protection so second-hand smoke can be pretty damaging. Undoubtely why the smoking ban in pubs and clubs was so popular!

Sorry Melbury ... I am guaranteed to annoy the hell out of anyone who thinks they can come up with a good enough excuse to justify smoking. The fact is, if you really wanted to smoke you wouldn't be here - you'd be diving in that tin and not caring what any of us said or thought!!

It's been said that quitters go through the same 5 stages as the grieving process. I think it's fair to say you've reached the "bargaining/despondency" stage Melbury... The good news is, there's only "acceptance" left :j

basilcat7

JoeHel wrote: »

It's been said that quitters go through the same 5 stages as the grieving process. I think it's fair to say you've reached the "bargaining/despondency" stage Melbury... The good news is, there's only "acceptance" left :j

what are the 5 stages JoeHel- do you have a link anywhere??

Ths thread has been mighty busy today !! can't keep up although have been in and out. I finished my last cigarette at 11.58 !!! on new years eve so didn't think it was 2 weeks until tomorrow night- but looking forward to it.

Hi :hello:to all the new people posting today.

Rizla- I know what you mean- I have given up alcohol for the month (apart from last Friday ) and I think I probably missed that more in the beginning.... or thought about it more.

JoeHel

The article about the five stages is paraphrased here. It's not too difficult to run through the previous few pages and easily spot what stage several people are at...


"In her 1969 book, On Death and Dying, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross identified five distinct phases which a dying person encounters. These stages are "denial," "anger," "bargaining," "depression," and finally, "acceptance." These are the exact same stages that are felt by those mourning the loss of a loved one as well.

What does all this have to do with why people don't quit smoking? People who attempt to give up smoking go through these five stages. They must successfully overcome each specific phase to deal with the next. Some people have particular difficulty conquering a specific phase, causing them to relapse back to smoking. Let's analyze these specific phases as encountered by the abstaining smoker.

The first question asked of the group during the smoking clinic was, "How many of you feel that you will never smoke again?" Do you remember the underwhelming response to that question? It is remarkable for even one or two people to raise their hands. For the most part the entire group is in a state of denial - they will not quit smoking. Other prevalent manifestations of denial are: "I don't want to quit smoking," or "I am perfectly healthy while smoking, so why should I stop," or "I am different, I can control my smoking at one or two a day." These people, through their denial, set up obstacles to even attempt quitting and hence have very little chance of success.

Those who successfully overcome denial progress to anger. We hear so many stories of how difficult it is to live with a recovering smoker. Your friends avoid you, your employer sends you home, sometimes permanently, and you are generally no fun to be with. Most smokers do successfully beat this stage.

Bargaining is probably the most dangerous stage in the effort to stop smoking. "Oh boy, I could sneak this one and nobody will ever know it." "Things are really tough today, I will just have one to help me over this problem, no more after that." "Maybe I'll just smoke today, and quit again tomorrow." It may be months before these people even attempt to quit again.

Depression usually follows once you successfully overcome bargaining without taking that first drag. For the first time you start to believe you may actually quit smoking. But instead of being overjoyed, you start to feel like you are giving up your best friend. You remember the good times with cigarettes and disregard the detrimental effects of this dangerous and dirty habit and addiction. At this point more than ever "one day at a time" becomes a life saver. Because tomorrow may bring acceptance.

Once you reach the stage of acceptance, you get a true perspective of what smoking was doing to you and what not smoking can do for you. Within two weeks the addiction is broken and, hopefully, the stages are successfully overcome and, finally, life goes on.

Life becomes much simpler, happier and more manageable as an ex-smoker. Your self esteem is greatly boosted. Your physical state is much better than it would ever have been if you continued to smoke. It is a marvelous state of freedom. Anyone can break the addiction and beat the stages. Then all you must do to maintain this freedom is simply remember - NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF!

basilcat7

it's funny but the other day I was thinking it was a bit like bereavement- albeit no way near as bad....... it IS like grieving a 'friend' isn't it !!

seems like everyone are saying the bad things about giving up- how about us all thinking about the good things- I have loads more money for example !!!