Giving up smokes

GT290 · 24-03-2007, 10:13 AM

Peopl, Today I am going to go out and buy a packet of patches. I have one pack of wini blue 25s and will smokes these today. The last week I have been waking up crap and sick of smokes.
I gave up for six years, how did I di this you ask. I just got sick of it and wacked the patch on one day and never went back.
Why can't I do that this time round, It seems harder to do for some reason even though I have wanted to do it. I guess the want has not been strong enough but seems to be increasingly stronger these days.

My question is there is a lot og people with strong wills wnd determination and those with less, either way they manage to give up. Tell me your story of how you made that first step. Sound like a silly question comming from some one whe reckons he quit for six years, maybe but not to me as its now been three years and for somoe reason giving up this time is harder. Even trying to have reasons and telling my self does not seem to convince my mind to quit. I started when I split up from my wife, crazy but when you have worked hard for properties and lose them all it take some time to come to terms with it. Life is always good and its getting better, all ways the positives.

So just let out your fellings and stories about giving up, even if a little from each one has some mark on my effort towards this very difficult task will be so much apreciated. I know there is quit line, never used it before and hypnotist, don't think that will work on me. I am going to go it with patches and straight up on sunday morning (tomorrow)

blueline · 24-03-2007, 10:38 AM

good luck mate, it isnt easy but its definitely worth it. i set a date to quit, then spent the day before smoking my lungs out. wheni woke up the day i quit, i felt like crap,my lungs felt full of tar and i reckon it definitely helped. i used patches as well, they are good when it comes down to it, but in the end you just gotta be strong and not give in to the cravings. once again good luck mate, i reckon you can do it...

lavenlaar · 24-03-2007, 10:43 AM

Firstly well done on taking the first step.

I still smoke, but have quit cold turkey 3 times each lasted about 6months. But each time i was in hospital for 2 weeks (nothing related) and the drugs they used to flush my system made me not want a smoke at all after the 1st day. So, short of going into hospital, i wouldve tried to give up without patches 1st. You will eat a lot more, but clean your fridge out of junk food and snacks and ONLY have fresh fruit and vegetables. Meat & fish. Dont drink alcohol for a while (hard for me - i run a bottlo) And sure enough after about 3 or 4 days you'll feel better.

Just get some masking tape and put that on your arm rather than letting more nicotine into your system. All psychological.

Best of luck

**GasoLane** · 24-03-2007, 10:45 AM

I'm going to give Zyban a try. After reading the (possible) side effects they seem like a much more fun way than patches.

302XLS · 24-03-2007, 10:48 AM

Well mate you've made a good choice to quit. With me I had no choice, i had to quit. Went to the docs one day to find out i had cancer (hodgkins) and that was it. used the patch and the chewies when the cravings got real tough. You can use them together, that made a big difference. I'm over the cancer now, luckily, but can't smoke anymore either as the chemo they were giving me apparently changed some molecules in my lungs and smoking would surely give me lung cancer within a year if i did. I suppose the moral of what I'm saying is that while you are not forced to make that decision, it's the right one to make. way to go.

Quasi · 24-03-2007, 10:53 AM

Good luck to ya mate, I've given up a couple of times, but only lasted 3 months at a time.

Mind you I haven't smoked in the house since 1992, so that's something I guess.....and NEVER smoked in my Ghia the 4 years I've had her.

GK351 · 24-03-2007, 11:39 AM

i have quit quiting.

Good luck with it anyway.

PHATXR8 · 24-03-2007, 11:48 AM

After smoking for 14 years of smoking about a pack a day of B&H Extra Mild I decided to give up one morning after waking up with a hangover and my clothes reeking of cigarettes. My wife also was a smoker and we were thinking about starting a family. She had tried many times earlier to give up but always failed, mostly because I was still smoking

So I decided that I was going to set an example. I ordered her not to let me have any smokes, and I told all of my smoking friends and workmates that I wanted them to support me by refusing to give me any cigarettes if I asked for one....THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!

I didn't go into a pub for 3 months. No patches, pills or gum. Just cold turkey.

That was almost 4 years ago now. My wife gave up about 4 months after me and soon after that she was pregnant with our daughter. Neither of us have looked back.

The best thing that we both found was how much fresher you feel when you wake in the morning.

I also don't wake up after a session on the drink with BAD hangovers anymore. After all those years of thinking it was the grog that was making we feel crook. I can safely say that the major cause of my hangovers were the smokes.

My life insurance and income protection premiums were then also halved after 12 months of not smoking.

Overall it saves our household about $10k a year. We have been putting that money into buying shares. With a good stockbroker, a margin loan and a healthy share market we are now up by about $70k. Beats the crap out of smoking and looking at an early grave!!!!

Good luck and be strong!

GT290 · 24-03-2007, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

I'm going to give Zyban a try. After reading the (possible) side effects they seem like a much more fun way than patches.

May work for some but I did try that and it turned me into a real mean bad temperd *****. Serious side effects on that stuff, I stopped using it.

nitroman · 24-03-2007, 03:53 PM

I used my ego to give up! I was working for a company that was putting a lot of pressure on employees to give up smoking to promote their healthy image (ski resort), anyway my manager at the time went on the zyban and kept smoking! I thought "You weak *****! You have the most expensive highest technology anti smoking cure and you still steal my durries! I'm better than you and I'm gonna prove it by giving up cold turkey." So in the next couple of weeks i cut down one a day till it was none a day and stayed off it! It was satisfying when he (the manager) was searching through my bag at morning tea looking for my smokes and I said "sorry pete, I gave up." Just getting that satisfaction has kept me off them four years later.

PDIDDY · 24-03-2007, 04:29 PM

I bought a big Rapid thing that looks like a XR6 Turbo sedan. It was a relatively easy decision: the smokes or the car. Had to find the extra $100 per week, and that was the obvious solution.
Haven't looked back and has been nearly a year.

ernie21 · 24-03-2007, 10:12 PM

I gave up just under a month ago so i could start playing tennis and be able to breathe. I tried before with patches but they didn't do anything for me so i went cold turkey. Every time i felt like a smoke i would just drink some water or suck on a barley sugar.

Its good now i've finally stopped thinking about smoking and cant remember the last time i had a craving for one. I'd say its the best thing ive done yet (also started eating healthy when i gave up and gave up maccas to).

Good Luck

fiery · 24-03-2007, 10:23 PM

I have been cig free now for over 12 months (gave up 1st Feb 2006).

Basically smoked between 30 to 50 cigs a day and enjoyed every single one, never got sick of it.. Sometimes felt a bit yuck but then would be fine again.
I had been smoking for approximately 22 years and just woke up one day and decided that it was time to give up.

Haven't looked back but I won't lie either and say that I don't crave every now and then, but most the time its only a very short craving.

I don't know if its will power or just giving yourself a great reason and keeping hold of that reason, whatever it is

Good luck and hope it goes well for you.

LUXO_8 · 24-03-2007, 10:29 PM

i was lucky, i was able to quit cold turkey and havent looked back....

just whenever i felt the need for a smoke i chewed on some chewing gum..... it did help, and i havent smoked for 6 years......although i did have 1 or 2 smokes at new years for some wierd reason lol!
the main point is i dont need them.... and the money ive saved has gone directly into the mod kitty

**Mechan1k** · 24-03-2007, 10:29 PM

I started off using patches ... but the dreams I used to get freaked me out while I was on the patches .... so chucked the patches after a week ... and stayed off them from then on.

Mind you I didn't really get out with mates during that time .... so it made it easier to stay away.

Although at work ... I used to go out for a break ... which others used to go on ciggie breaks ... and I'd watch them smoke and force myself not to have one. It worked for me ... and after everyone else noticed it and asked what it was like to give up ... literally all of them on my floor at work have given up as well.

After giving up though ... food tasted so much better ... was easy to breathe ... exercise wasn't so hard ... and I felt a hell of a lot better.

Oh ... getting a new vehicle also helped give up the durries as well.

The G6ET Spot · 24-03-2007, 11:01 PM

As Simon said all your food tastes a lot better and you can exercise a lot more wthout getting as puffed out.I have been off the ciggies now for a bit over 9 years. While driving trucks interstate I used to smokes 2 or more packets a day.(crazy I know) I gave up cold turkey but I had a bit of a objective to do so.As at the age off 38 and having a masssive heart attack and clinically dead,and being revived.The doctor told after finding a blockage in one of my artories and putting in a stent, that if I wanted to go through the same thing again,then just keep on smoking.That was my wake up call and haven't looked back since.I wont say for one minute that it is easy to give up. but the first 6 or so weeks are the hardest.Then it gets easier from then on.set yourself a goal that you want to achieve with the money saved and you will find that you strive for it harder still.The money that I save by giving up has bought my ute.

GCFordChic · 24-03-2007, 11:34 PM

I have never smoked, so I cannot give you a personal account, but hopefully I can still help in some way.

I work in a pharmacy and talk to people all the time about quitting with patches/gum/lozenges etc and the one thing that I must stress to you is that you cannot rely on the patches to quit. I liken smokers who see them as the wonderful carefree solution to the people that come in looking for the weight loss solutions and don't plan to eat well and exercise, just to keep doing what they are doing and expect to lose weight.

From what I have gathered from customers who talk to me about it after it doesn't work and the couple that have come in to help their friends pick the right product for them is, if you view yourself as the solution and the patch as an aide, you are more likely to succeed.

Take active steps to help yourself, like getting a stress ball or something to play with in your hands if you get cravings (to stop yourself eating more aswell) as suggested earlier, tell your friends you need their support and tell them not to offer smokes to you and to refuse if you ever ask. Write down the reasons you want to quit and put them next to your mirror etc or carry them with you to look at when you feel like a smoke. Plan encouragement awards for milestones you reach. eg at 1 week go to the movies, 1 month buy yourself a small gift, 3 months something for the car, 6 months...

Most of all, if you do give in do not feel guilty, it is a chemical addiction and you are in constant battle with your body. Re-visit why you quit and ask yourself if you are committed to giving it another go. When you are ready, try again, but re-adjust your plan of attack.

I know I have said a lot for a person who doesn't personally know and I am only a pharmacy assistant, but I have seen a number of people in your position and I really hope you are successful in your efforts!

**GasoLane** · 24-03-2007, 11:41 PM

I give up smoking 25 times a day

honer · 24-03-2007, 11:57 PM

Good luck mate. I've tried but can't seem to shake it.

**Mechan1k** · 25-03-2007, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GCFordChic

if you view yourself as the solution and the patch as an aide, you are more likely to succeed.

This is the key indeed.

MITCHAY · 25-03-2007, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

I give up smoking 25 times a day

LMAO! Yep the only way I will give up is they price them out so much I can't afford them. Since I don't owe any money and clear a decent amount of money to spend at my discretion I can't see it happening soon!

GT290 · 25-03-2007, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GCFordChic

I have never smoked, so I cannot give you a personal account, but hopefully I can still help in some way.

I work in a pharmacy and talk to people all the time about quitting with patches/gum/lozenges etc and the one thing that I must stress to you is that you cannot rely on the patches to quit. I liken smokers who see them as the wonderful carefree solution to the people that come in looking for the weight loss solutions and don't plan to eat well and exercise, just to keep doing what they are doing and expect to lose weight.

From what I have gathered from customers who talk to me about it after it doesn't work and the couple that have come in to help their friends pick the right product for them is, if you view yourself as the solution and the patch as an aide, you are more likely to succeed.

Take active steps to help yourself, like getting a stress ball or something to play with in your hands if you get cravings (to stop yourself eating more aswell) as suggested earlier, tell your friends you need their support and tell them not to offer smokes to you and to refuse if you ever ask. Write down the reasons you want to quit and put them next to your mirror etc or carry them with you to look at when you feel like a smoke. Plan encouragement awards for milestones you reach. eg at 1 week go to the movies, 1 month buy yourself a small gift, 3 months something for the car, 6 months...

Most of all, if you do give in do not feel guilty, it is a chemical addiction and you are in constant battle with your body. Re-visit why you quit and ask yourself if you are committed to giving it another go. When you are ready, try again, but re-adjust your plan of attack.

I know I have said a lot for a person who doesn't personally know and I am only a pharmacy assistant, but I have seen a number of people in your position and I really hope you are successful in your efforts!

your comments are not wasted and are going to be used in my recipe to quit. A lot of what you say is very true and good commen sence.

The first time I gave up I developed some pretty powerfull reasons for giving up some of which included being around to see my grand kids, the fact that it was a fithy habbit but the most powerfull reason at that time was when I watched how my Father was in the hospitalfor a few days and then pass away. He had a couple of by passes and continuing problems there until eventualy the big one and he had died and was revived after 12 minutes. He brain dead on a machine to breath then when taken off suprised all by continuing to breath but with great dificulty and pain. There is more to this story that I cannot tell but he was never going to make it and was given the morph and then passed. It was had such an impact that I maaged to quit for 6 years until I split up with the war office. I am only a fool to my self for allowing it to effect me in a way that I needed to smoke but its done and I now need to find the strength and will to do it again.

Thanks to all the responses received its great and will add to the motivation. I hope that it might jog a few of you who still do smoke to maybe join me, Your chioce of course as I intend to do this regardless, Suprising I am still quite a fit person but its only a matter of time and it will catch me.

Thanks again and will open and honestly keep you inform of my commitment over the next few weeks.
Chow
Kevin

This time round its the smell and the social impact that has made it such a hastle and that I want to be healthy.

Ives · 25-03-2007, 05:40 AM

Look at it on the financial side of things. By quitting smoking, see how much extra money you can get in a week.

DJR David · 25-03-2007, 06:20 AM

I went from a pack to a day for 18 years, to being a non-smoker for the last 3 years. FORGET patches and all that crap. Buy "Only Way to Stop Smoking Permanently" by
Allen Carr. Available here http://www.dymocks.com.au/ProductDet...x?R=0140244751

This is the only way to stop. Guaranteed

Good luck!!!!!!!!!1

David

XR Van · 25-03-2007, 07:16 AM

i smoked a pack a day for ten years, and i was sitting outside with with the bloke i was living with at the time having a smoke and i said to him " we should really think about quitting". he agreed and we both stopped the next day. two days later he was back on them and that gave me more of a reason to stay off them as i thought wow you really look pretty hopeless if you let something that is about 8cm long with no brain control your life. i have not had a smoke for two years last week.

the first month was the hardest, you think about em all the time and you find yourself with so much free time on your hands. i didn;t realise how much time in a day i actually spend smoking. you either have to block these moment out or find something else to do to keep you busy.

it does get easier as time goes on and the cravings will subside but you will still get one every now and again for example i always get one after smoko at work as there will always be someone on a site lighting on up just as i finish my last bit of food.

my best tip for you is if you can convince yourself that even one smoke with bring you weeks or months closer to death and cost you more that the money you have spent on it you should actually be able to scare yourself out of them and by the time you have thought about all of this the craving is gone. plus the extra cash is the best part. you can build that car you have always wanted with that extra 5k a year.

cheers

dell

Interceptor · 25-03-2007, 01:22 PM

good luck mate!

bonspeed · 26-03-2007, 06:35 PM

I have never smoked, But i did give up alcohol, I was lucky to have a supportive family and some pretty good will power, some days were terrible, Others not so bad, one thing i found helpful was looking at other people in the mornings seeing that they felt like crap and generally taking pleasure at knowing i was fresh and felt good, You will feel much better for it I'm sure and you will be surprised at the extra cash you will have. The cravings will disperse and eventually you will look at other people and think yuck i used to do that and its disgusting. Good luck mate.
Oh yeah its been thirteen months for me, Ive lost 12 kg, and go mountain biking for fun! I wake up in the mornings and can't wait to get started, I spend more time with the kids and the wife gives me heaps more loving if you know what i mean.
Goodluck and be strong.
Kris

Hitman · 23-04-2007, 02:17 PM

I gave up cold turkey a week ago, and the wife gave up at the same time, although she is using patches. neither of us have slipped up, and I don't expect to now after a week. My cravings are pretty much gone, but I still 'feel' like a smoke, I think it's just boredom though. I found the first 2 days the hardest, on the 3rd day I knew I had suceeded, it's just a matter of will power now.

TheSneakiness · 23-04-2007, 02:51 PM

My folks gave up around 2 months ago now using a product they got from a pharmacy (I can't remember what its called)

My step dad was a pack a day smoker and then some, but he told me he hasn't had one since they stopped, so I think he's done a bloody marvellous job.

Just gotta get my two brothers to stop now...

FRDPWR · 23-04-2007, 04:56 PM

last week i woke up from a big nite out, smoked a pack of 25's. I felt like crap and i told my self that was it i was gona quit. So fare its been 29 days and i havnt had a single drag.
I still get the cravins but i know as soon as i have that first drag in gona be back on them. No patches no losenges just pure determination!