I was never a heavy smoker so maybe wasn't so hard but just told myself that "I don't smoke" and that was it. Not that "I'm giving it up" or "I'm an ex-smoker" just "I don't smoke"
[cite]Posted By: cunningstunt87[/cite]With the smoking ban coming in, is anyone else trying to give up? Or given up in the past successfully?
Didn't realise how hard it is to stop. Going for the cold turkey approach, no patches, gum etc. Any tips or advice would be much appreciated.
Good luck!
Not always entirely practical but a friend went to see an addiction specialist for help with giving up smoking after a heart attack and she recommended squeezing an ice cube whenever you have the urge for a fag. Starts to retrain the brain by punishing it with a bit of discomfort when it strays and also distracts your mind from your craving.
Appreciate that this is only of any help at home or if you order a pint of ice cubes in the pub though!
Patches, gums etc are all small helps, but nothing will ever come above actually wanting to give up. About 80% of it is a mental thing.
All i would advise is getting the Alan Carr book and giving it a read. I've started it 3 times in the last six years, and never got close to finishing it as i knew i would have to give up....
[cite]Posted By: AFKA Bartram[/cite]Patches, gums etc are all small helps, but nothing will ever come above actually wanting to give up. About 80% of it is a mental thing.
All i would advise is getting the Alan Carr book and giving it a read. I've started it 3 times in the last six years, and never got close to finishing it as i knew i would have to give up....
I've got about a third of the AC book to read - normally finish a book in a week but this has taken me three weeks so far!! Next Monday is D Day as I'm fed up with it and want to read something more interesting!
I took the Ben Hayes approach and rung everyone I knew to say that I would never smoke again, and I knew that I wouldn't.
Tried to "give up" a couple of times before that but knew deep down that I would smoke again.
I think I now have to go cold turkey on the passive smoking - after years of passive smoking my body missed it last night in the pub and I left with a small nicotine craving - strange!!
I gave up yesterday as well. Managed to get out last night and was OK. Couple more days and the nicotines out of the system anyway. Then it's just getting rid of the little habits!
ive been on zyban for four weeks and stopped taking them on friday still havent had a fag and wont either , they have banned smoking in all pubs and clubs here in new south wales as on 2nd july, so i will not be able to smoke when i am out anyway. i gave up about 7 years ago then started again just before christmas(i balme dowie andreed for that) but it is seems harde to give up this time then last time but good luck to all that are trying
The Camden garden was extremely busy last night, with the smokers wading through about 2 foot of fag butts. Cant wait to see if such smoking enthusiam still exists come November...............
i gave up for 18 months then started again socially around xmas time too. have given up for good this time, after last weeks failed attemp t at the charlton life drink up thing.
I know i can do it, its just getting through 2 weeks of temptation, then its fine. chewing gum is good to take your mind off it, or having a bag of apples/bananas close so you can eat one to take your mind off it. and healthier than eating biscuits/chocolate to get rid of the craving.
A bit of self hypnosis worked for me. Was fed up of 90% of the cigs that i didn't really enjoy, discoloured teeth, chest pains and the wasted money. Went cold turkey and because i'd really convinced myself that i didn't want them and was happy to walk away i never had a single pang. Oh yeah i also used to smoke a few joints and they had to go at the same time, bribed myself with the promise of the occasional pure tug on a bong which is about 1 lungful a week now. Good luck.
[cite]Posted By: cunningstunt87[/cite]16 days for me so far. Feel better for doing it.
Dunno bout you but I am missing it big time..!
Me too! Seven days so far - physically okay but mentally keep thinking about having a smoke. Have taken up the habit of walking around the building looking for smokers I can stand near!!
I get the odd craving, when people go outside for ciggies at work, pubs etc. Then I get the desire to follow them out and spark one up. But its getting to the stage where if I did it, I would feel gutted that I had given up so cheaply.
I enjoy smoking too much still to quit, the day I don't enjoy picking up a fag i'll quit. That will probably be the day my Thai cigs run out as i'm not paying the prices they are now on a daily basis.
Comments
Good luck!
Not always entirely practical but a friend went to see an addiction specialist for help with giving up smoking after a heart attack and she recommended squeezing an ice cube whenever you have the urge for a fag. Starts to retrain the brain by punishing it with a bit of discomfort when it strays and also distracts your mind from your craving.
Appreciate that this is only of any help at home or if you order a pint of ice cubes in the pub though!
I'll probably do the same no gum or patches.
All i would advise is getting the Alan Carr book and giving it a read. I've started it 3 times in the last six years, and never got close to finishing it as i knew i would have to give up....
I've got about a third of the AC book to read - normally finish a book in a week but this has taken me three weeks so far!! Next Monday is D Day as I'm fed up with it and want to read something more interesting!
Tried to "give up" a couple of times before that but knew deep down that I would smoke again.
I think I now have to go cold turkey on the passive smoking - after years of passive smoking my body missed it last night in the pub and I left with a small nicotine craving - strange!!
Never smoked myself
they have banned smoking in all pubs and clubs here in new south wales as on 2nd july,
so i will not be able to smoke when i am out anyway.
i gave up about 7 years ago then started again just before christmas(i balme dowie andreed for that)
but it is seems harde to give up this time then last time
but good luck to all that are trying
I know i can do it, its just getting through 2 weeks of temptation, then its fine. chewing gum is good to take your mind off it, or having a bag of apples/bananas close so you can eat one to take your mind off it. and healthier than eating biscuits/chocolate to get rid of the craving.
The more people tell me I shouldn't be smoking the more I'm likely to smoke.
Random "So Dan. When are you gonna give up? Is so bad for you"
Dan "When you stop asking stupid f**king questions. I'm off for a fag OUTSIDE"
Pisses me off that everyone seems to be seeing smokers as not far that different to nonces these days.
I know its bad for me, but as long as I don't sit there blowing smoke in your face, then whats it got to do with you?
Rant Over....Off for a smoke OUTSIDE ;-)
Dunno bout you but I am missing it big time..!
S.
Me too! Seven days so far - physically okay but mentally keep thinking about having a smoke. Have taken up the habit of walking around the building looking for smokers I can stand near!!
I keep telling myself the exact same thing.
Monty's MiniBus Tours this season will be NON_SMOKING Stu :-)
How you getting on mate ?