just smoked my last I hope

Dead Man Walking · 30-06-2012 3:18am

The best thing to do is not drive yourself mad by fantasizing what it would be like to have a smoke. Just try nip the thought in the bud when it arises each time and say, it's not an option to have one so I won't start imagining what it's like again. 20 seconds into fantasizing about having a smoke and it becomes a lot harder to break the thought. Just nip it in the bud each time and say, it's not an option.

Best of luck tomorrow

B0 SELECTRA · 30-06-2012 3:29am

e cigs the best way to give up smoking

cordangan · 03-07-2012 12:37am

sevg wrote: »

Am giving up the fags myself tomorrow. Hadn't realised how much I was spending on them a week over here until I came back from a holiday with duty free ones. They kept me goin for the past 2 months and I was surprised bout how much of my wages I had left at the end of the week. Finished the last box tonight so when I wake up there'll b no fag with my coffee. Worried though about how I'll cope with the cravings especially seeing as my partner smokes and we have always smoked in our house. Dreading it but also am looking forward to it aswell.

Did you give in and have a cig?

Honest opinion · 11-07-2012 4:48pm

Vizzy wrote: »

cordangan,firstly well done.
I would agree 100% with username though.You are probably only one smoke away from being back on them( I was off them for 18 months and then one night I tried one cigarette,was back to 20 the following day:mad:)
This time around I actually want to give them up and I promised myself that if I gave up that I wouldn't put any other pressure on myself by staying away from the pub,or worrying about weight etc.
I had my first night out after 3 days off the fags with no problems.However I would never suggest that approach to anyone else cos I know the pressure that people are under when they have a few drinks and "the guard is down".
But whatever works,eh?
I'm glad to hear that you are beginning to feel a bit more positive about yourself and that will also increase your chances of staying off them.

Keep with it.

Thats a realy good point the exact same thing happened to me i was off them for a year without fail and then when i was out one night i was offered a smoke.

In my inebreited state i accepted and became a full time smoker again for almost a year

although ive quit again and been good for sixth months so im quite confident!

Duck's hoop · 11-07-2012 8:53pm

But surely right, if you slip up on a night out, pi55ed up, you don't HAVE to go out and buy 20 the next day?

If I slip in those circumstances, there's no way in hell I'm buying fags. I'll just put up with whatever cravings for a few days and back on track.

If I've broken the habit, and psychologically I'm fairly free of it, there's not a chance I'm going to relearn all that just because I had an error of judgement while under the influence.

Why throw it all away?

''Ah sure, that's it now, I smoked, might as well go back to them full time''.

No, fucking, way.

christmas2012 · 11-07-2012 8:55pm

The worst thing about giving up the fags is the amount of depression and weight gain afterwards,i find after a fag im happy,im relaxed and chilled out,if i dont have one i get agitated and depressed.
Im kind of on them now at the moment because i like how skinny i am now..

BunShopVoyeur · 11-07-2012 8:57pm

Weren't you the person having a go at youths of today and their drug use in another thread?

christmas2012 · 11-07-2012 9:01pm

No i wasnt having a go,im saying that the drugs and the choices of drugs have changed dramatically,which would explain the random aggressive outbursts and so on..When i was younger all we could hope for was getting a fake id and having a few jars a bit of hash and an e in a pub that,and be happy out that was our scene,now its fits and fights is what i was saying that they get cheap beers and alcopops and some crazy head shop gear thats being illegally sold on the markets..I wasnt having a go,i was merely explaining why there could be such aggressive outbursts,obviously im not saying leave donnan off the hook either..

Honest opinion · 11-07-2012 9:21pm

Duck's hoop wrote: »

But surely right, if you slip up on a night out, pi55ed up, you don't HAVE to go out and buy 20 the next day?

If I slip in those circumstances, there's no way in hell I'm buying fags. I'll just put up with whatever cravings for a few days and back on track.

If I've broken the habit, and psychologically I'm fairly free of it, there's not a chance I'm going to relearn all that just because I had an error of judgement while under the influence.

Why throw it all away?

''Ah sure, that's it now, I smoked, might as well go back to them full time''.

No, fucking, way.

Its a slippery slope how do you think people who quit and go back on them slip up? do you think people just decide to buckle and then go buy a 20 pack?

No it stems from one moment of weakness where you accept one or ask for one and it snowballs from there. I don't appreciate your attitude all i can say is good luck and i hope you cop on.

Duck's hoop · 11-07-2012 11:52pm

My attitude? Not appreciated? You're easily offended.

My opinion is if you're off fags 12 weeks, 18 months, whatever, and you smoke while drunk, leave it there.

People are always saying "I just had one, was drinking etc". It you do, then leave it. Don't smoke when sober. Don't relearn all the habits you've fought hard to unlearn.

If you don't agree that's cool. No need to get snarky.

username123 · 12-07-2012 10:50am

Duck's hoop wrote: »

My attitude? Not appreciated? You're easily offended.

My opinion is if you're off fags 12 weeks, 18 months, whatever, and you smoke while drunk, leave it there.

People are always saying "I just had one, was drinking etc". It you do, then leave it. Don't smoke when sober. Don't relearn all the habits you've fought hard to unlearn.

If you don't agree that's cool. No need to get snarky.

I think you are missing the point entirely.

Smoking is an addiction. There is no rational thought involved. If there was we'd all just have a smoke when drunk and never otherwise! Or we'd all just quit with ease when we felt like it.

There are endless stories about how someone who was off them for weeks, months, years etc went back on them full time after one slip. If you choose not to believe those stories, or think that its somehow different for you then thats fine, but the truth is that its happened to many many people and its proof of the strength of the addiction.

IMO its better to have the mindset that I will not risk one smoke, one drag, never never never, than to think that itd be grand cos Id just stop the next day - that way lies failure!!

Duck's hoop · 12-07-2012 11:10am

Nah, you're missing my point.

There is room for rational thought. That thought being the same which motivated you to quit in the first place i.e. I smoked, it's disgusting, dumb and will wreak havoc with my health, I am not smoking any more cigarettes.

You're also twisting my post into something it's not.

I'm all for never etc but IF you slip, get back on the wagon immediately. Don't simply use it as an excuse to smoke again. For in my opinion it is just that. An excuse.

elites · 18-07-2012 11:50am

Hi !
Good to know that you have decided to quit smoking. My all well wishes is with you. Wanna tell you something, i hope you won't mind.
During the quitting process people should consider the following physical symptoms of withdrawal as they were recuperating from a disease and treat them accordingly as they would any physical symptoms:
Tingling in the hands and feet
Sweating
Intestinal disorders (cramps, nausea)
Headache
Cold symptoms as the lungs begin to clear (sore throats, coughing, and other signs of colds and respiratory problem)
But there is no need to worry about all these, these are common phenomenon after you quit smoking.
Congrats on you quitting and become a "NON" smoker...

michelmo · 18-07-2012 7:13pm

Hi, just found this thread, 6 days without a smoke and it seems to be getting worse instead of better, tempers short and I keep bursting into tears for no reason at all. I read the Allen Carr book also have an ecig but all I can think about is smoking. The rational part of my brain knows that I'll probably feel worse if I do smoke, I really don't like to fail, but don't think I can stick it much longer. Help!

bhovaspack · 18-07-2012 7:28pm

michelmo wrote: »

Hi, just found this thread, 6 days without a smoke and it seems to be getting worse instead of better, tempers short and I keep bursting into tears for no reason at all. I read the Allen Carr book also have an ecig but all I can think about is smoking. The rational part of my brain knows that I'll probably feel worse if I do smoke, I really don't like to fail, but don't think I can stick it much longer. Help!

Hi Michelmo, congratulations on giving up, I'm in the same boat myself these days, and like you am emotionally all over the place. I just keep telling myself it is temporary, like a short illness that I can eliminate from my system in just a short while.

A poster on another thread gave what I think is really good advice in relation to these overwhelming urges: hold off till tomorrow before giving in. Keep occupied. Hopefully you will wake feeling glad you didn't give in, and with fresh resolve.

michelmo · 18-07-2012 10:56pm

Thanks, OH went off them last year he had no mood swings or strange emotional outbursts, seemed to have no problems at all other than the occasional craving and they only lasted a few weeks. Was really starting to think I was going mad, i was expecting being short tempered but not the tears, dropped my key earlier and it set me off again.

Chucken · 18-07-2012 11:02pm

24 hours without a smoke after 38 years smoking

Ive a whopping head ache and I'm very cranky...I'm going to say its old age :pac:

username123 · 19-07-2012 10:25am

michelmo wrote: »

Hi, just found this thread, 6 days without a smoke and it seems to be getting worse instead of better, tempers short and I keep bursting into tears for no reason at all. I read the Allen Carr book also have an ecig but all I can think about is smoking. The rational part of my brain knows that I'll probably feel worse if I do smoke, I really don't like to fail, but don't think I can stick it much longer. Help!

Yeah, I remember that stage. I went to the chemist to buy fishermans friends during it and they had none and I could have cheerfully stabbed the sales assistant!

On the 'all I can think about is smoking' - that passes. Your brain simply gets sick of just obsessing over the same thing. One day soon you will think about smoking then realise its the first time youve thought of it that day and youve been up for a while. So dont worry. Just roll with it.

I got dizzy spells as well for a while. Just go with whatever you are experiencing. It ALL passes.

michelmo · 19-07-2012 1:25pm

Made it through yesterday! Stood outside the shop for 20 mins last night debating whether or not to buy a pack (sad I know!) but didn't give in feeling a lot better today!

tipi · 19-07-2012 1:28pm

l stopped smoking almost 5 months ago. l was using champix...l have tried everything for years and years and years. champix takes the edge off and you honestly dont remember indusing the day that you should smoke. only the familiar situations...breaks times getting aout od the shop door and drinking...pat that craving passes with 5 sec...lm so happy lm not a smoker anymore.
good luck

sunflower27 · 19-07-2012 5:57pm

Am at almost 7 weeks off them now

Cant really believe I am doing it

michelmo · 25-07-2012 5:10pm

Still off them! Managed a night on the beer and everything 1st time I ever had a pint without a fag!

cordangan · 07-08-2012 10:56pm

3 months off the smokes now. Gained 1stone. Next project is to lose weight. Seems endless:(

saiint · 08-08-2012 3:14pm

cordangan wrote: »

3 months off the smokes now. Gained 1stone. Next project is to lose weight. Seems endless:(

well i need to gain a few pounds so can you put on weight if you give up smoking ?

i eat like a horse and cant put on weight and i think its the smoking, either that or my metabolism is really high

ChippingSodbury · 20-08-2012 11:32pm

cordangan wrote: »

3 months off the smokes now. Gained 1stone. Next project is to lose weight. Seems endless:(

Don't worry about the weight yet. Make sure you fix the smoking issue first: for good. Don't be hard on yourself, giving up is really difficult and you've done a great job so far.

If you're not already an "exerciser", the best thing to do is to join something regular, like a class or something that's on at the same time every week rather than relying on your own willpower to get up and go (the willpower should still be focussed on the fags!)

Don't forget, losing weight is easier than giving up cigs...

username123 · 21-08-2012 9:03am

ChippingSodbury wrote: »

Don't forget, losing weight is easier than giving up cigs...

I hear this bandied about a lot and tbh, I think giving up the smokes was much much easier than losing weight ever is!

Stopping smoking is a one off, torturous few days with lots of fast benefits to encourage you, like teeth being whiter, food tasting better etc...

Losing weight - whenever I take up a new exercise I get so hungry that I end up eating more than I burn and gaining weight!!!

My entire life is a constant of wishing to lose a few lb, and I do, but they come back on, then Ive got to do it again, etc...

You only have to stop smoking once.

Maybe its easier for people with a lot of weight to lose but I have a constant battle with 10+ lb going on over years, compared to a wimpy few day battle with the smokes!!!!

cordangan · 22-08-2012 10:48pm

Would you believe that I tore a hamstring at the weekend playing football. That shags my exercise plan. it could take months to come right. Will be too heavy by then to exercise

saiint · 23-08-2012 12:16pm

cordangan wrote: »

Would you believe that I tore a hamstring at the weekend playing football. That shags my exercise plan. it could take months to come right. Will be too heavy by then to exercise

tearing your hamstring you could recover from that within 3 weeks
you'll be able to jog then but if i was you i wouldnt play football for a good 2-3 months
if it happens again while injured you wont be able to walk at all for months without very harsh pain on your hamstring

samething happened to me was out of the football season over it was the last 4 months
but i felt normal after a few weeks

remember to stretch !!!

cordangan · 23-08-2012 9:54pm

saiint wrote: »

cordangan wrote: »

Would you believe that I tore a hamstring at the weekend playing football. That shags my exercise plan. it could take months to come right. Will be too heavy by then to exercise

tearing your hamstring you could recover from that within 3 weeks
you'll be able to jog then but if i was you i wouldnt play football for a good 2-3 months
if it happens again while injured you wont be able to walk at all for months without very harsh pain on your hamstring

samething happened to me was out of the football season over it was the last 4 months
but i felt normal after a few weeks

remember to stretch !!!

Something not quite right since last February as I could not stand for long without severe lower back pain. I visited the physio and got lots of exercises and told to walk a lot. Was coming right and I was tackled from behind and stretched awkwardly to break my fall. Felt something snap. Had to drive home using the right foot to clutch .....not recommended. Just about walking now after 5 days. Very sore and tender still.

cordangan · 24-12-2012 11:31am

what is it about Xmas that lowers the resolve. if I was offered a fag last night I might just have taken it. Nearly 8 months now since the last smoke.

Dead Man Walking · 10-01-2013 5:45am

gave them up on this thread about 6 months ago and failed miserably after a few days. using gum.

Two days off them now using an e-cig kit I got in the shopping centre. so far so good, but tobacco it ain't

cordangan · 10-01-2013 11:30pm

Don't know what to say really. I stopped so now it sounds like i am lecturing you and found the ideal solution. You have choices. you choose to try to stop. you failed.so what. is that it?why are you even trying again? I told you you will not save money. you will feel sh1te. you will smoke till you die probably. That is your first choice. Now you tell me you stopped again...for how long? Day 3 is the worst I promise you that. stop the gum and all those crutches after a week , you know you cannot continue forever. So what if you fail again.you will stop because you keep trying. now start logging in here every day and tell me / us what you are going through. do not stop writing even if you fail...shur hey we do not even know you so tell us what you are going through all the way. that is your other choice. I tried 100 times or more ......this time it has worked so far...but who knows?

Dead Man Walking · 11-01-2013 1:51am

Nah I don't think you're lecturing me man, but as they say, there's nothing worse than an ex smoker :P

Three full days now off them. I'm gonna stick with the e-cig thing for now as I haven't really been climbing the walls like the last time. I'm on the strongest nicotine dose so haven't had to deal with withdrawal as such. Again, I'll stick with these for now and reduce strength as I go. Anyway fair play on staying off them cordangan and thanks for the encouragement.

cordangan · 07-07-2013 10:08am

Did ye succeed now that it is over a year later?

cordangan · 24-08-2013 8:45am

I know 2 people on those electronic nicotine gadgets and neither can kick this habit. are they successful at all?

Orlaw3136 · 24-08-2013 9:22pm

I was using one before I quit - they made me feel ridiculous and very much like a hopelessly weak addict, which is not how I choose to see myself, or to be.

I'm smoke free 2 weeks on Champix - zero cravings.

I have prior experience with Champix when I had cravings while using it. This time around is very different - due to my mental situation I believe.

cordangan · 24-04-2014 10:31pm

2 years ago I stopped smoking cold turkey style. I am convinced that it is the only way to stop. I see the smoking shed full of e cig smokers now and they are not giving up or cutting down on nicotine. I know 5 different people that have tried e cigs and failed. I know nobody that succeeded with e cigs. Are all the hopefuls been conned?

opo · 24-04-2014 10:46pm

cordangan wrote: »

2 years ago I stopped smoking cold turkey style. I am convinced that it is the only way to stop. I see the smoking shed full of e cig smokers now and they are not giving up or cutting down on nicotine. I know 5 different people that have tried e cigs and failed. I know nobody that succeeded with e cigs. Are all the hopefuls been conned?

I think so.

Having tried the ecigs and loads of different NRT, I never found a good substitute.

I am of the (personal) belief that nicotine is just one of the addictive components of tobacco. Others are either added or inherent in tobacco. I suspect the former.

I am 50 days off today

and still convinced that cold turkey is the most effective path to success. (A nod to Allen Carr TBF)

JWRyan · 24-04-2014 11:03pm

cordangan wrote: »

2 years ago I stopped smoking cold turkey style. I am convinced that it is the only way to stop. I see the smoking shed full of e cig smokers now and they are not giving up or cutting down on nicotine. I know 5 different people that have tried e cigs and failed. I know nobody that succeeded with e cigs. Are all the hopefuls been conned?

No we are not be conned. Different things work for different people.

I have previously tried gum, patches, allen carrs the easy way, cold turkey, hypnosis, nicoret inhaler and some of them multie times nothing worked for longer than a few days. Always really struglled.

Now off them eight weeks and for once in fifteen years have no desire for them. I am vaping though. When i started vaping had no intention of quitting, only wanted to try them to see what they would be like. I now have more energy than ever, great sense of smell and taste and all the other benefits of quitting. I know I will never go back unless this new trend of bashing e cigs continues and they are eventually banned or regulated to death.

They may not work for everyone but no method does, cold turkey least of all and that is proven. Just because they don't work for all does not mean anyone is being conned, it just puts a bad attitude out there which isn't needed.

Thats my rant, sorry. Just feel I owe so much to them.

cordangan · 25-04-2014 5:14am

JWRyan wrote: »

No we are not be conned. Different things work for different people.

I have previously tried gum, patches, allen carrs the easy way, cold turkey, hypnosis, nicoret inhaler and some of them multie times nothing worked for longer than a few days. Always really struglled.

Now off them eight weeks and for once in fifteen years have no desire for them. I am vaping though. When i started vaping had no intention of quitting, only wanted to try them to see what they would be like. I now have more energy than ever, great sense of smell and taste and all the other benefits of quitting. I know I will never go back unless this new trend of bashing e cigs continues and they are eventually banned or regulated to death.

They may not work for everyone but no method does, cold turkey least of all and that is proven. Just because they don't work for all does not mean anyone is being conned, it just puts a bad attitude out there which isn't needed.

Thats my rant, sorry. Just feel I owe so much to them.

You owe those e cigs nothing. You have found a nicotine replacement therapy that works for you and you have almost all the benefits of giving up. Will you go all the way and give up the nicotine is the question? Tha is the hardest part and I am concerned that the substitute is only a stop gap for eventually returning to smoking as the addiction is never conquered. The fact you have made a decision to quit which is YOUR choice is brilliant but will you go the extra mile? All I am saying is that I know nobody that has stopped with e cigs. Are they better than smoking , definitely but will you give up nicotine, well I am not so sure. Hope you write back soon and prove me wrong.

desbrook · 25-04-2014 6:17am

JWRyan wrote: »

No we are not be conned. Different things work for different people.

I have previously tried gum, patches, allen carrs the easy way, cold turkey, hypnosis, nicoret inhaler and some of them multie times nothing worked for longer than a few days. Always really struglled.

Now off them eight weeks and for once in fifteen years have no desire for them. I am vaping though. When i started vaping had no intention of quitting, only wanted to try them to see what they would be like. I now have more energy than ever, great sense of smell and taste and all the other benefits of quitting. I know I will never go back unless this new trend of bashing e cigs continues and they are eventually banned or regulated to death.

They may not work for everyone but no method does, cold turkey least of all and that is proven. Just because they don't work for all does not mean anyone is being conned, it just puts a bad attitude out there which isn't needed.

Thats my rant, sorry. Just feel I owe so much to them.

You owe nothing to them!

Really sorry to burst your bubble but they may be making your addiction worse for all you know. This is because you really don't know just how much nicotine they are releasing into your body. My guess is far more - the fact you have no desire to smoke cigarettes is a clue. You are probably full to the brim of the stuff.
Usually with nicotine replacement therapy at least you are breaking habits like "topping up" your levels twenty times a day and basically planning your day around your addition. There's also the hand to mouth action that they break. With ecigs you break none of those habits. You are still essentially a smoker because you are doings all the things that smokers do bar ingesting tar and actually setting fire to the thing you suck in for a large part of every day. You are even believing the ads just like you did with cigarettes years ago.

Look I know it's not easy - I was you four years ago and loads of times before that. Thankfully ecigs weren't out then so I had some chance. My advice - start breaking the habits first that go with smoking by using lozenges. A limited amount for a limited time, say a month. Then patches so you only " top up " once a day. Gradually start buying the weaker patches, rroughly giving each strength two weeks. By the time you are on the weakest patch it is much easier to just not wear it one morning.

Then the HARDEST PART. Staying off is the hardest part but it does get easier . You only need to tell your self one thing when tempted (and you will be tempted) - that one cigarette will not help you, it's all or nothing . The one cigarette will lead to another as you'll tell yourself you can handle it - you can't.

I have to accept that I cannot smoke one pull of a cigarette - ever. I am still an addict just one that isn't smoking.

spitfireIRL · 25-04-2014 12:46pm

desbrook wrote: »

I have to accept that I cannot smoke one pull of a cigarette - ever. I am still an addict just one that isn't smoking.

That's it isn't it? Off them four months on Sunday and I get tempted regularly when I'm on the sauce, but I know myself, one drag and it's all over for me..

desbrook · 25-04-2014 8:40pm

spitfireIRL wrote: »

That's it isn't it? Off them four months on Sunday and I get tempted regularly when I'm on the sauce, but I know myself, one drag and it's all over for me..

Before I was sucessful this time I managed four months. Had a few jars one night and had three fags. Woke up the next morning horrified thinking I'd go straight back. Therein lies the problem - I didn't. However three weeks later temptation struck again and guess what? I said "ah sure I'll be grand " . Thus four months became three weeks... And three weeks became one week and so on until I was back smoking as before. What a waste!
It took me 18 months to get into the right frame of mind to quit again . That was almost four years ago and I haven't touched one since and won't!

desbrook · 25-04-2014 8:42pm

spitfireIRL wrote: »

That's it isn't it? Off them four months on Sunday and I get tempted regularly when I'm on the sauce, but I know myself, one drag and it's all over for me..

Before I was sucessful this time I managed four months. Had a few jars one night and had three fags. Woke up the next morning horrified thinking I'd go straight back. Therein lies the problem - I didn't. However three weeks later temptation struck again and guess what? I said "ah sure I'll be grand " . Thus four months became three weeks... And three weeks became one week and so on until I was back smoking as before. What a waste!
It took me 18 months to get into the right frame of mind to quit again . That was almost four years ago and I haven't touched one since and won't!

cordangan · 18-10-2014 7:29am

2 and a half years off them this month. Finally I have no yearnings to smoke anymore.

rarefind0220 · 21-12-2014 2:25am

you guys can do it..dont give up

spitfireIRL · 21-12-2014 2:56pm

A year for me on the 27th.. hiyoooooo:D

Spearsharp · 29-12-2014 7:41am

This is stupid, I think. Sorry for my rudeness, but if you have already recognised "action speaks louder than words", do not give it only a try and never say "last" kinda words, just do it as a routine. Hope you will success!

del88 · 29-12-2014 7:59am

12 years off this year..I was a 40 a Day man..I used the gum for 3 weeks ...it helps if your stubborn..
Write down all the things you'll gain and print it off (money you'll save,better health ect...)
You can do it ..don't let a little white stick control you..

cordangan · 03-01-2015 1:51am

Anyone that gave up on Jan 1st 2015 is about to have the worst cravings today. If you resist on the third day you will succeed.

just smoked my last I hope

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