These Damned Fags

[Mortime Business Software]

I am going to make yet another attempt to pack these damned fags in (that's the nicotine type - I'm not a homosexual)!

Does anyone have any tips on how to make the journey less painful? I smoke about 13 or 14 per day.

This morning I took a nicotinell chewy gum, and it nearly made me vomit. However, it did alleviate the craving dramatically. I'm going to cut each chewy gum in half from now on so the initial hit will not be as bad.

The NHS website reckons it should only take about two weeks, but the last time I tried I was still craving after three.

If you are a smoker or ex-smoker, please tell me about your experiences. Cheers.

Dave

 

[Dawg]

It's really different strokes for different folks, but the core is that you, not your family, not your Doc., you really really want to give up.
I used the Allen Carr video. It was given to me by Mrs Dawg and I didn't watch it for two years: one day, without telling her, I watched it and gave up.
It's not easy. She says I went loopy for a month, (how could she tell?), and I did feel very weird for the first 10 days as my body flushed the nicotine out. I drank more for at least three months, partly becoming obsessive about stuff other than fags.
But it worked. 40 Malboro' reds to nil, 15 years ago.
Good luck, or as the French say, "courage mon brave!"

 

[Gillie]

Dont smoke, never have, but good luck Dave, just keep remembering that for everyone you dont smoke, you add minutes to your life and improve your quality of life.

 

[Arhiann]

Dawg has it. The key is whether you really want to quit.

A little tip that may help though is to avoid situations where you normally smoke. For me a beer/whisky and cigar were good friends, so I drank wine instead with which I didn't have the association (it sounds daft, but for me it worked). I also liked to spark up after a meal, so I made a point of washing up or tidying the kitchen then. Other weak points were long car journeys (bought an MP3 player for the car and lots of language CDs), and waiting at the airport, the doctor, or anywhere that I was sat stationary (take a book).

I also avoided smoking relatives for a couple of months.

It's also not a bad idea to reward yourself with the money saved. From your perspective I think thats about £2.50 per day or about £75 a month. In two months you would have enough for a weekend break to somewhere like Prague I would think, though I've not actually checked. In context though you can get a week away for £300 quite easily, so go on holiday every three months; thats quite an incentive.

 

[Ender]

I've heard great things about the Allen Carr courses too.

I did it and I'm no superman. Keep focussing again and again on why you stopped smoking; health, money, smell and watch out for your brain trying to play tricks and remember those awful cravings pass after a few minutes.

 

[GreatSEO]

All i can say is just stick at it and dont or at least try not to put yourself in too many stressful situations it only makes the cravings worse.

Easy to say i know......

Regards and good luck

Dave

 

[Mortime Business Software]

Thanks for the encouragement guys.

I'm sat here smoking my 4th fag for today after just spitting out my 3rd chewy. By this time I would normally be up to about 8 or 9, so at the moment I'm kickin' ass!

Arhiann wrote:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For me a beer/whisky and cigar were good friends, so I drank wine instead with which I didn't have the association (it sounds daft, but for me it worked). I also liked to spark up after a meal, so I made a point of washing up or tidying the kitchen then...

...It's also not a bad idea to reward yourself with the money saved.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arhiann. "Association" certainly doesn't sound daft to me. It is actually a well trodden area in psychology. I associate having a fag with alcohol and tea, so I'm going to give up drinking my two bottles of wine per week completely, until I've packed the fags in, and cut down on the cups of tea. However, I feel that washing up after a meal is taking things a little too far, so I will continue licking the plates clean and placing them directly back into the cupboard for now!

My health is the only reason I want to do this. I am so weak-willed that the price of a packet of fags would probably have to be increased to about £100 for my wealth to be an incentive!

Dave

 

[estwig]

Patches work for me Dave, definately help after you get used to them. You can be addicted to fags and nicotine patches, at the same time They do help to cut down on the fags.
NHS direct website has some very good advice.

Good luck, your a stronger man than me if you succeed.

 

[Dawg]

A bit more: the first time I "gave up" I used all the available crutches I thought might help: patches/aversion/hypno etc. They worked. For 3 years. First serious bit of stress/need for an excuse and out came the fags.
You really have to want to give up, otherwise it won't work, so why go thro' the whole pain in the arse stuff, and it is pain in the arse; withdrawal, fidgets etc; why go thro' all that unless you really really want to give up. If you aren't ready to give up: have another fag, have a beer, a cough, some fun and wait 'till you are ready to give up.

 

[No-Posh-Bag]

Hi Dave. I have quit for nearly two weeks now and have used the patches - I think they work brilliantly ! I have tried the gum alone before and failed - I too wanted to vomit, horrid stuff.

I think a bit differently when it comes to avoiding and think it's better to face it head on than "avoid" situations. You can't avoid things all the time and whilst the first couple of weeks it's probably a good idea to stay away from smokers, carry on as normal. When you have a craving don't necessarily try and distract yourself - face it - tell yourself you know what's happening, your craving a fag BUT you are not going to have one. I actually thought of it like a gremlin wanting to be fed and I was in no way shape or form going to give in to the little sucker ! It worked for me ! Good luck with it - cutting down doesn't wash either, you've just got to go for it.

 

[gary]

Dave, have you tried hypnosis? I've used it to help a number of people stop smoking (I am a man of many talents! ) and it's very effective, especially on the 20 a day type habit. I usually advise using the gum or patches as well, as well as using distraction techniques in situations where you would normally smoke.

 

[easyasit]

ok Dave

i have been quit over a year now

and i will be honest there are times i do gett he craving. Then i was smoking for some ten years!

i remember i decided to quit on and off. Week here i fell.
Three months
Then one week i decided enough, i got the no smoking aids (useless)

so here is how i did it,
smoked a last cuban cigar, shucked it. That was my lot

Al
ps, getting completely bladdered helps as well!

 

[Jayne]

Well i've been a none smoker for a whole year now Dave, I used to smoke 20-30 a day. I used patches and the UKBF to stop. When I got really bad cravings, I chatted on here with M&S chocolate raisins, much nicer than nasty chewing gum and yes I put weight on, but it's better than smelling like an ash tray..lol I'm on a no chocolate diet this year and that's nearly as bad as stopping smoking.

Good luck Dave, you'll feel tones better and save loads of money up.

Jayne

 

[mike.young467]

Firstly well done to all those that give up, it's a really hard thing to do.
When i give up for 4 years, i spent 3 months before i give up sucking a strong mint after a fag, then when i give up, everytime i wanted a fag, i just sucked a mint and it fooled my brain into thinking it had completed the cycle of craving, fag, mint, done for 45 minutes.
I ended up on 40 mints a day, so be careful not to use the ones with the laxative effect.
It is surprising how short the temper gets, but it pass's quickly.
Unhappily i started smoking again when two weeks after my boy was born (First, and last) the company i worked for went bust owing me a shed load of money, time to reach for the fags!
I now know at some point, i need to go through it all again.
I never lost the weight gained from the last time i give up!

 

[Mac Yeti]

I gave up about five years ago now and still often really want to start again - especially when in stressful situations or when I see people smoking on tv. However, it passes and I think that's the way it will always be.

My problem was I really enjoyed smoking. I didn't use anything to give up, I just made the decision to stop really and that worked for me.

 

[peterjhale]

Well done on your first steps.

My advice:

- plan a date in advance to give up and stick to it
- get rid of all smokes, ashtrays etc around you (bin it all)
- take it one day at a time and mark each day without a smoke on a calendar
- force your way through the cravings (they only last 10 or so seconds)
- find some snacks to eat that are healthyish
- drink plenty of water
- save the money for a reward
- join a gym to get healthy

Good luck

 

[Robert Bone]

I quit just over a year ago. I found the best way was to use the chewing gum stuff. It tastes foul (but so do cigarettes!). I used to chew one of the chewing gums until it tasted foul, then rest it between my upper teeth and gum so the nicotene gets absorbed into the body through the gum. After 5 minutes I'd take the gum out and stick it back into the little square blister pack. When I had the craving again (maybe half hour later) I'd take the same bit and chew it again until the flavour got strong, then leave it against my gum for another five minutes.

This way worked for me as I got lots of small nicotene hits through-out the day. It sounds disgusting at first, but it's not like your sharing the same bit of gum with other people. It also means that you don't use so many bits of gum so saves a bit of money too!!!

Patches didn't really do it for me as I wanted to physically do something to alleviate the craving (like you would when having a cigarette). Everyone is different, try all the methods and techniques until you find one that fits.

The first week is the worst, and I found out afterwards from colleagues that I was a bit mental during that time! Once you body recovers from the shock and starts expelling all the horrible stuff from your insides you realise how nice it is to breathe properly, and that for me was a big motivation.

 

[Rob Holmes]

A guy who does hypnosis and NLP and that sort of thing told me something interesting once..

(I gave up 10 years ago BTW)

Apparently when people are 'gasping' literally for a fag - it's because of a lack of oxygen. The reason (he told me) is that people tend to breathe deeper when they smoke and so the body gets more oxygen. Hence when they stop smoking they stop breathing so deeply and don't take as much oxygen in.

He said that half of getting people to give up was just getting them to get used to breathing deeper without cigarettes.

Rob

 

[Mortime Business Software]

Thank you all very much for posting. Every message is very encouraging. I promise all of you that you have not wasted your time.

And for those of you who have relapsed or have half given up - Keith and Mike - then c'mon, do it with me and dramatically increase your chances of a longer life, whilst dramatically decreasing your chances of a horrible death.

I find walking and watching movies and TV helps me to forget about the fags, so there will be plenty of these on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

And a huge well-done to those who have already kicked the habit. I admire you so much.

Dave

 

[Mortime Business Software]

Robert. I am doing nearly exactly the same as you with the chewing gum so I can spread the nicotine hits, only I'm chopping each one in half because a full one makes me feel somewhat nauseous.

A friend gave me a packet the other day. He says they are being doled out for free at the local clinic, so I'll be off up there tomorrow to get some free supplies!

So if anyone else is currently trying to give up, check your local clinic to see if you can get some free chewies or patches.

Dave

 

[GreatSEO]

Dave

A challenge i see one before me that i cannot refuse. Being in marketing it is always better to have someone i suppose to compete against (to a degree)

I will lay my cards on the table then, i have been considering giving up for quite some time (even have the gum in the house 6 weeks worth) i just havent done it yet. I have 3 cigarettes left in my pack and would be quite happy to join in on your adventure so we can both morally support one another???

So the rules if we are going to do this it has to be done properly cut throat style we have till the end of today then no more smokes whatsoever.

Maybe even a success story for UKBF as well live on air ish

Hows that sound

Regards

Dave

 

[Mortime Business Software]

David Smith wrote:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have 3 cigarettes left in my pack and would be quite happy to join in on your adventure so we can both morally support one another???

So the rules if we are going to do this it has to be done properly cut throat style we have till the end of today then no more smokes whatsoever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You're on!

I bought a 20-pack yesterday morning and smoked 7 throughout yesterday, so I have 13 left. I don't want to smoke more than 7 today, so whatever I have left I will throw away tonight.

I have been thinking about what No-Posh-Bag said about going cold turkey, and I think she's right.

I have just set one of the following cancerous lung images as my desktop background:

http://www.mediscan.co.uk/cfm/resultssearch.cfm?box=lung cancer

Tomorrow morning it is then! I think this is going to be a long thread because I may take Jane's advice and do some yakking!

All the best with it Dave,

Dave

 

[GreatSEO]

The two daves quit live on UKBF - i can see it now OZZY

Dave good luck to you to mate my old man will be doing it with me as well so maybe good to find someone close by to help you with it.

A friend of mine when they quit brought a pack of ten and covered the pack in parcel tape so that if he got the urge he woul have to open the pack but because there was so much tape he would give up and try something else. Weird how some people do it.

Wish us luck guys

Regards

Dave 2

 

[Arhiann]

I have been thinking about what No-Posh-Bag said about going cold turkey, and I think she's right.

I think she's spot on there. Cold turkey is the only way. The nicontine is gone in 48hrs, and some improvements are quite dramatic after that. Taste and breathing easier were very noticeable.

http://www.ash.org.uk/html/factsheets/html/fact11.html

I don't advocate facing your demons early on though. I would avoid temptation at all costs. It may have worked for No-Posh-Bag, but most addicts wouldn't recommend this course of action. Obviously you can't avoid it forever, but for the first month or two it's probably recommended.

I bought a 20-pack yesterday morning and smoked 7 throughout yesterday, so I have 13 left. I don't want to smoke more than 7 today, so whatever I have left I will throw away tonight..

Soak them in water, or cold tea or something before you throw them away. Make them unpalatable.

The lung cancer pictures are quite grim. I wished I had looked at something like that years ago.

 

[bubblerock]

Good luck with quitting! I quit on New Years Eve 2 years ago using patches on prescription. It only worked because I wanted to quit and I was ready, there's no point in keep having half hearted attempts as it serves no purpose just makes you more stressed. I hope you manage it, I still have pangs every now and then but when I see someone smoking I actually feel sorry for them and glad that my life doesn't revolve around my next fag!

 

[An Oasis]

Good luck boys

I'll cough and spit for you both, shouldn't be too difficult as I have a virus at the mo.

 

[JustOneUK]

22 years a smoker

I gave up last year for two months (the only break i ever had) using the skin coloured patches + lozenges.
After 1 week you notice how much smokers STINK :redface: You can smell ciggy smoke in the air from 1/2 mile away. If you are walking to the shops behind a smoker, cross over the road. You will find that you want to wash ALL your clothes because they stink too, and you will notice how stale the rooms in your house smell.

Right now I smoke and use lozenges it has helped me cut right down (on the days i actually use them) The chewing gum was crap for me because you never know when the nicotine has run out, however the lozenge dissolves so you know when it is finished so you can go for a smoke

Good luck. Don't quit quitting.

James.

 

[Robert Bone]

Richard, I started to quit when I had a virus a few years back and couldn't smoke as my throat was so sore. After a few days I realised my body had gone without nicotene for 48 hours so it seemed like nature had got me past the tough bit!

Oh, and avoid pubs and other places where people smoke for the first couple of weeks. That way you not only avoid temptation whilst out, but also save money on buying drinks too!

 

[Mortime Business Software]

James. You should know that I am a proper bully when it comes to me doing something which I think everybody else should also be doing.

So c'mon, join Dave S and I tomorrow morning and dramatically reduce your chances of an early and miserable, horrible death!

And I've noticed that Keith has skulked off to hide. C'mon, out you come you dirty little smokers you. Let's all get stressed and bad tempered for a good cause!

Dave

 

[GreatSEO]

Dave fully agree it all happens in less than 6 hours (il be sleeping) but serious the more of us the better it is for morale

Regards

Dave

 

[estwig]

 

[Mortime Business Software]

Keith. LOL - you weakling!

Dave S. Apparently our local clinic only hands out free chewies and patches on Fridays, so I have an appointment for this coming Friday. I will spend a fiver on some full-strengthers at the chemist shop tomorrow. Since I have a couple for tomorrow morning, I'm ready to go at exactly midnight tonight.

You are definitely not going to beat me! The best you can possibly do is draw with me, which means we WILL both be successful! Right?

Dave
(An upcoming BA(Hons). First Class. Fag-quitter)!

 

[estwig]

Sorry Dave + Dave, not ready to give up just yet.

Wishing you all the success in the world, and am looking forward to hearing all about it.
After we have all avoided you for the first few days

 

[GreatSEO]

right thats it )(*&&^$$)( *&T^W&^% @:>@>@>?@

Sorry got carried away

Hoping for a draw dave that would be the best out come

Regards

Dave

 

Good Luck, I hope you do it.

Smoking is an absolutely disgusting habit, and I can't wait until the smoking ban comes into force!

 

[seabro]

Dawg has it. The key is whether you really want to quit.

I also avoided smoking relatives for a couple of months.

Gee, you used to smoke relatives - would you kill them first or smoke um alive?

Sorry..

 

[Dawg]

Here is another incentive for giving up the gaspers:

"Here's some good news for those of you who made a new year's resolution to give up smoking - giving up isn't just good for your health, it's good for your bank balance too.
This study found that people who have given up smoking earn 3.5% an hour more than people who never smoked. Smokers, by contrast, earn 3.1% less.
This implies that stopping smoking raises pay by over 6%. "Quitting smoking is associated with a substantial wage gain" the authors conclude.
This might be because the determination you need to give up smoking can also help you concentrate more or work harder, and so get a pay rise."

(link)

 

[GreatSEO]

Lovely bit of news

So far so good Dave (peeps) would nomally be on the second by now

Speak later

Regards

Dave

 

[Robert Bone]

So are we a forum of non-smoker's today? Have the challengers going through cold turkey, or secretly puffing away on a sneaky Benson?

 

[Zenicman]

First day make or break lads.

I think you should both have a jar in your house. For every fag you smoke you insert the amount of money it costs to buy a 20 deck then give all the money that is in the jar from smoking to charity. Or even to the cancer Research