I HAVE given up smoking

[mcmich]

Excellent dede, great decision. I've never smoked so can't give you any advice but can tell you some horror stories if you start to loose motivation. I wonder if you will get cranky? When my dad gave up after 55yrs he was unbearable mum nearly stuck a cigarette back in his mouth. Sadly he passed away 2yrs ago from a smoking related cancer.

[dede]

My Cranky, No way

[mcmich]

 

[Amy :-)]

LOL

[astarra]

 

[Wonder]

You can do it mandi. I've never even smoke a single cigarette but drink plenty, I've always hated smoking and fortunately for us none of our friends smoke. I can't imagine spending that sort of money on something that's doing you such harm?? Imagine how different your lives will be and how much more money you will have for enjoyable things. Start planning your holiday now!!

[meganjane]

  Wonder, I drink plenty too!

I gave up some 30 odd years ago. My father died of lung cancer due to smoking. He was a pilot in the Air Force during the war and they actually gave them cigarettes to keep them calm!

The hardest time was 'break time'. Sitting down with a cuppa or a glass of wine. You need to do something with your hands. I suggest getting some worry beads.

Ouch cookie, its shocking when they show those ads too of people who are dying of cancer and yet they have a hole put in their throat just so they can poke a ciggie in and puff on. Even when you smoke yourself you just tend to ignore these graphic images in the hope that its not going to happen to you. There is a ciggie pack with a pic of a little girl lying in a hospital bed (passive smoker) that is the spitting image of my DD2 when she was that age and I always used to try and ignore it. Smokers are treated like lepers nowadays.

I think it's ridiculous, the idea of plain packaging for cigarettes. Smokers ignore them! In fact, people are just buying little cases to put their packets in. I wish the government would put the excise money into health care for those who do smoke and will need the care later. Would make more sense.

Good lock Mandi!

[dede]

Wonder, I drink plenty too!

I gave up some 30 odd years ago. My father died of lung cancer due to smoking. He was a pilot in the Air Force during the war and they actually gave them cigarettes to keep them calm!

The hardest time was 'break time'. Sitting down with a cuppa or a glass of wine. You need to do something with your hands. I suggest getting some worry beads.

Ouch cookie, its shocking when they show those ads too of people who are dying of cancer and yet they have a hole put in their throat just so they can poke a ciggie in and puff on. Even when you smoke yourself you just tend to ignore these graphic images in the hope that its not going to happen to you. There is a ciggie pack with a pic of a little girl lying in a hospital bed (passive smoker) that is the spitting image of my DD2 when she was that age and I always used to try and ignore it. Smokers are treated like lepers nowadays.

I think it's ridiculous, the idea of plain packaging for cigarettes. Smokers ignore them! In fact, people are just buying little cases to put their packets in. I wish the government would put the excise money into health care for those who do smoke and will need the care later. Would make more sense.

Good lock Mandi!

From a smokers point of view the plain packaging is a total waist of tax payers dollars, as it really makes no difference to a smoker. Although I have heard of a few people who are turned off by the pics and are talking about quitting. But time will tell I guess.

And as for the cases that are available I recently brought a packet of cigarettes that come in a reusable tin with no pics on it, just warnings. The cigarette company got away with doing that ready for the plain packaging lol. .

[dede]

After quiet a bit of research I have decided to go to my GP and get some nicotine patches, as it will give me a better chance of kicking this habit for good.
I read that going cold turkey only has a 5% success rate, where using medical aids like the patches gives me a 25% success rate. So the 25% with patches and the 50% with positive thinking should give me a 75% chance of being smoke free
( sounds good to me anyway)

[astarra]

Do whatever it takes, you'll thank yourself I'm sure! 
Your positive thinking and all the forum vibes - you'll be good! 

[Amy :-)]

Plus the 100% support from all your forum friends... = 175%! LOL

But seriously, great idea Mandi

[dede]

Yep I'm giving it my best shot.

[kt2]

Hi  Mandi, I thoroughly recommend the patches, I used them when I gave up years ago. They take away the "edginess" of having to have a cigarette and then you can concentrate more on breaking/changing your habits of when you use to have a cigarette. Great to hear you have decided to quit. 

[Jude59]

All the best with giving up.  I gave up 34 years ago cold turkey and I often remind myself  how strong I am to succeed in this.  It's  something you can definitely do.  You just have to tell yourself you will never smoke again and move on.  It's a tough addiction to break but very satisfying to beat it. I hated the control it had over me.... Always thinking about the next smoke. Great to be free.

[dede]

Well today I made an appointment to see my GP to get a script for Patches (not till 17th December) and have talked to a lovely lady on the quit line who has talked me through some hints and tips on the best way to use the patches.
She has recommended that I stick a patch on and continue smoking while cutting back, while doing this I can focus more on the things that trigger me to smoke (like with a cuppa, after a meal, while on the phone or with friends) etc.
so I'm starting the patches as of tomorrow as I have enough her to keep me going until I get to the doctor, and focus on cutting back to a point where I can stop all together.

I'm still uncertain if this is the best method, but I will give it my best shot and see how I go. The lady is ringing me back next week to see how I'm going