These Damned Fags

[Mortime Business Software]

Hi Dave. I would normally have smoked three by now. I threw away two fags last night (smoked 11 yesterday ).

I remember the last time I tried packing in, the first day or two wasn't too bad. It started to get to me on the third day, but I wasn't using any nicotine replacements then, so I think it should be better this time. Keep it up.

Dave

 

[GreatSEO]

KJA - Good idea

To the lung cancer charities etc

Still no smokes

Regards

Dave

 

[Arhiann]

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

//Quote//
In the UK, the tobacco industry generated over £10bn in tax revenue in 1998, enough to pay for three quarters of the Education and Employment Budget.
//Unquote//

//Quote//
Treating smoking-related diseases costs the NHS £1.7bn a year, according to the Department of Health.
//Unquote//

If the UK government actually used some of the funds raised by tobacco sales to combat treating the diseases caused by tobacco, and also used it for more "in your face" awareness campaigns (Dave's pictures of cancerous lungs were quiet an incentive), then people would be healthier.

The truth is, tobacco is a big generator of revenue for the government, and equally it's quite a handy way of avoiding paying pensions.

The quotes are both from the BBC website BTW.

It's a real shame that charities have to take over that which the govenment is unwilling to fund, but it's clearly a financial decision.

 

[Zenicman]

So i say go with the charity idea

 

[Arhiann]

Absolutely.

If you aren't going to reward yourself, then a smoking charity is probably the next best thing.

It makes you wonder whether a charity that dealt solely in increasing awareness of the risks would be of any benefit. Does one exist? I'm not sure. Prevention is better than cure anyhow.

 

[Mortime Business Software]

Okay Dave S. Time for you to report in I reckon!

How's it going?

I am finding it unbelievably easy at the moment. Being without the fags hasn't bothered me at all since 06:30. These chewies are absolutely marvellous. I'm on my fourth one of the day.

When I went to bed last night, I was dreading the morning because I thought I would be gasping for my usual post-breakfast fag. But instead I chomped into a chewy-gum, and all my fear was proved completely unfounded.

Of course I don't expect it to remain as easy as this over the coming weeks, but at the moment I feel very confident that I will crack this.

Many of the tips that people have posted in this thread are very much appreciated. They sound simple enough when I read them, but their true value is felt when the time comes to put them into practice.

Dave

 

[GreatSEO]

Dave

So far so good mate first thing this morning was the worst bit but as the day has progressed things have become a little easier.

Glad to say that i now have some of the lozenges as the gum tastes so filthy. Its so horrible i felt nauseous all morning

Anways another report at the same time tommorow

Keeping all parts of body crossed

Regards

Dave

 

[Mortime Business Software]

Arhiann wrote:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It makes you wonder whether a charity that dealt solely in increasing awareness of the risks would be of any benefit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I would say so. The constant nagging by street posters, TV advertisments, etc. certainly played a major part in my decision. It took them a long time to get through to me, but it finally penetrated.

And don't forget that Dave S also finally took the plunge because of this thread - so there's two of us. How many others around the UK made the same decision on the 16th January because of the advertising? Hundreds? Thousands?

By the way, I was only going to cut down on the fags until Dave S suggested we cut them completely, so I really have to say a huge thanks to him for that.

I would also like to wish No-Posh-Bag all the best after her first two weeks of freedom, and remind her that we can all come here and chat if ever we feel tempted back to the dark side.

Dave

 

[easyasit]

yes to be honest i can see the case for no smoking in public places.
as year after quitting, and now i go into pubs, cannot stand the smell. its awful

Al

 

[GreatSEO]

Just reporting in.

It has been 5 days now and i have to admit i have had one in that time (a very stressful time).

But the chewing gum and lozenges have helped immensely and i think apart from feeling a little more stressed i feel a hell of a lot better from it, just seem to be eating more at the minute.

How about you Dave

Regards

Me

 

[Mortime Business Software]

I'm still finding it remarkably easy. I haven't had any fags at all since we started, but then I haven't been under any sort of pressure.

These nicotine chewies are absolutely amazing and marvellous. My opinion of them may sound a little exaggerated, but I assure you it is not because I remember the trouble I had previously in trying to quit that aweful habit.

Dave. If you ever feel like having a smoke again, write a message here in this thread, or PM me before you light up. You will probably have got over the craving before you even click the send button!

Stick at it mate.

Dave

 

[Arhiann]

So Daves, how is it going?

 

[Mortime Business Software]

Very well thanks Arhiann. See the two progress reports for the first six days above.

I don't know if we are getting on anyone's nerves, but I thought that perhaps weekly reports by D&D would make other smokers jealous of all the extra life that Dave and I will receive, and thus encourage them to quit too!

Dave

 

[Dawg]

For Dave the Maths



where h = health, fns= fags not smoked, dgu = days given up,
rp = robust physique, og = old gittishness, s = smug ex smokerness

Keep it up

 

[Mortime Business Software]

If I have interpreted the formula correctly, then my h = 2.64.

I used
fns = 86
dgu = 6

I scored rp and s each out of 10, and used my age for og.

I'll leave you to guess about my age, smugness and physique!

Dave

 

[GreatSEO]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6290291.stm

Very relevant if you ask me

Regards

Dave

 

[Robert Bone]

If the article doesn't sway you to quit (and stay a non-smoker) then some of the comments added afterwards should do!

Glad it's all going well for everyone though. No-one seems to have gone completely mental. After a week your lungs are going to start clearing themselves, that's when you really realise how much damage smoking does to you!

It was at that stage that I really decided that I wasn't going to start again.

Just make sure you don't get addicted to the chewing gum instead! (I have heard of people that have quit smoking but still use the chewies for years after.) Don't start cutting done on the chewies (ie the physical addiction) until you have got used to the idea off not smoking (the psychological addiction). It's a step-by-step process so don't rush it and fall off.

On a positive note though, keep up the good work, it's hard at times but you seem to be coping well. You've got my respect as a fellow ex-smoker!

 

[GreatSEO]

Time for a report Dave

Hows it going??

Im still there hacking away at each hr but real cravings have kicked in now

Regards

Dave

 

[Mortime Business Software]

Very sorry to hear your cravings are getting stronger Dave. But just stick with it for a few more days or weeks. Think about how you would feel if, one day, your doctor told you that you have a terminal illness due to smoking, and gave you a few months to live. The chances of this happening are dramatically increased for smokers. Surely you would think "why oh why did I start bloody well smoking again".

Try a different nicotine replacement method. I'm having no trouble with these chewies. There is also a hotline for quitters which may help.

Dave

 

[Robert Bone]

The pangs will fade after a few days. After a while your body will just start accepting them and ignoring them, and then you start getting over the actually addiction.

Imagine a car alarm goes off at night-time down your road. At first it is very annoying and occupies the fore-front of your mind (like the cravings), but after a while the mind gets used to it and starts moving it back. Granted, it's there for what feels like ages, but eventually your mind wanders, you fall asleep, and when you wake in the morning the car alarm has stopped.

Ok, it's not exactly the same, and the nicotene withdrawal takes longer, but hopefully you and see the parallels.

Keep it up!