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Smoking
or not
In 50 minutes or at 11AM SAST I would not have had a cigarette in a little more than 36 Hours So far so good. Although I have to say that I have done this before and stopped for about 3 years if you have the will power to do it then it makes life a lot easier. the problem is trying to stop when you really don't want to. For about the last 2 weeks or so I have been toying with the idea and then I woke up yesterday morning and at about 3PM i realized I had not had a smoke and did not feel like one so I figured lets see if we can do this, again... |
As someone that has struggled all their life with smoking.... its GREAT not be be a smoker... I love not even considering it as an option, not craving a smoke when I get out of bed, or after a cup of tea....
not having to spend my hard earned money on something that slowly kills you, makes you smell, knackers your teath and skin...... etc... is great I gave up using 'Zyban', a prescription drug that makes it very, very easy to give up smoking. I have been off the smokes for 3 years now... Look in to Zyban... it REALLY is a wonder drug Only problems is..... if smoking was good for you everyone would do it..... but If I did what I wanted all the time..... I would drink Jack Daniels for breakfast, smoke Lucky Strikes, never work, walk round naked and spend the rest of my life snowboarding (not naked)... NON of which are options for me :( :eek: :D edit.... its tuff though... I know how cheap smokes are in SA.... |
They are getting up there in price now but im sure still nothing like in the US or the UK
its about $2 USD for a box of 20 Camel Lights if course thats about R17 ZAR or a little more that 2 and a half liters of petrol (i drive a 4.7 liter Jeep) I guess that should be motivation stop smoking and you can fill up. You guys are the first to know though I have not told anyone else Which is pretty easy since I only have about 1 or 2 at home at night and most my smoking is at the office. Anyway I will let you guys know if I fail miserably :) |
While studies have shown smoking to be highly addictive, I'm convinced that some people just don't suffer from that strong addiction as smokers.... Why? There are those who can quit without too much effort. I was one. I'd smoked for over twenty years, but never more than a pack a day.... that would happen out drinking, partying etc.....
After my mom died I just quit. I smoked a cigarette, and never had another one. And I don't miss it. Some people crave them years later.... I wonder about the science of that.... I confess: I enjoy a good cigar now and then with a Guinness or a good Port. But I don't inhale.... does anyone really inhale cigars?... |
Beer is one of the things I will be staying away from for at least a month I think beer and cigarettes have always gone together for me, so I will have to cut my beer supply for a while
No I have never inhaled a Cigar it always seemed like a really bad idea, come to think of it I don't know anyone who does inhale. Regarding ease of stopping. The first time I quit it was easy and so far this time it has been easy. but I have never been a heavy smoker a box of 20's lasts me 2 sometimes 2 and a half days and a carton will last me about 4 weeks. |
I am sure you know what to do and what not to do if your giving up.... but..
I found it helpful to stay away from booze, from pubs or from coffee breaks... any where where a smoke would be had!.... just be a hermit for a month or two. :D |
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Try again. You're just different. Nicotine is generally very addictive, so says science. |
very often != generally
It's different for lots of people, and depends on a lot of factors. Personally, I think each case needs to be taken on it's individual merits. |
I've tried a million different "fad" things to try quitting.
And then, one day, after 20 years of smoking, I quit cold turkey. That was October 27th, 2005. I haven't had a cigarette since. I finally got my wife to quit about 13 days ago. She's found that reading this book has helped her greatly: well, because Lotus Notes SUCKS SO BADLY, I cannot find the email and cannot search for it. FSCK I hate Lotus Notes! |
Let me know when you find that book yellow.
I hate smoking. I also hate quitting. It's a real dilemma or is it dillemma? |
Found it.
Here's the author's website: http://www.theeasywaytostopsmoking.com/ Here's an Amazon (US) link to the book: The Easy Way to Quit Smoking, By Allen Carr It reads a but like an infomercial, which I dislike, but the points the guy hammers into your head all make sense, and they're all true(ish). My wife would/could NEVER be the "quit cold turkey" type without this guy's book, so I automatically have to give it thumbs up, despite finding the format a bit distasteful. It works so well that my wife survived a trip to DC this weekend and bar-hopping in Dupont Circle without a cigarette. EDIT: And it's only been since July 19th. I should also note, no bitching, no whining, no moodiness. All absent, and this is at least the 5 or 6th time she's tried to quit smoking (using various methods). Please let me know how/if it works for you (plural and non-specific) if you decide to give it a shot. |
Thanks yellow.
The book was recommened to me a couple of years ago. I think I smoked while reading it. I know, not good. I've vowed not to smoke in the apartment I just moved into this weekend and am hoping that will lead me on the way. |
Actually the author RECOMMENDS that you smoke while reading it!
I think his 'schtick', if you will, is to sour your mind on cigarettes a little at a time while you keep smoking, so you get to the point where you realize what a complete ****ing waste of time and money smoking is... Something all smokers know, but most are unwilling to seriously admit to themseleves. I think of the money we've blown on gum& patches & prescription fills for both of us.. and this book was $15.. |
Ah. Maybe I will pick up the book again!
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Hey Lyndon, good luck with it. I think it just happens when you're ready for it. I tried a few times and each time I took it up again only heavier. Then finally something just switched and I stopped for good.
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Nicotine is nicotine no matter how you get it. I started smoking in the spring term of my sophomore year in college. Got a summer job in the town my Grandmother lived in and stayed with her. She said: don't smoke those filthy things - if you must smoke, smoke your Grandfather's pipes. He had died the year before and she still had them. That was almost exactly 50 years ago. At this point in my life, I despair of ever quitting although my wife did 4 months ago. Now, I never smoke in the car or in my home or in front of her, but step out on the porch, rear deck, or into the garage if its pouring rain. Someday, I'll martial the strength..... :o
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I've smoked exactly 4 cigarettes in my lifetime. Can't stand smoking, but figured I might as well try it to see what the big addiction to it is. Someone offered me a cig at a party, so I smoked it.
I can understand why people smoke, but I personally find it disgusting. My best mate is an asthmatic (he tried smoking once, nearly ended up in hospital, frigging idiot!) and so we love non-smoking pubs. Can't wait for the law to come in summer '07 to ban smoking in UK pubs at least. Hmm, not sure where this is going or why I'm now talking to myself, but yeah, smoking isn't for me, and I go out of my way to avoid it. A quote from someone I met tonight about smoking in pubs: Quote:
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Because I'm a pipe smoker, there have always been a lot of places I couldn't smoke - airplanes, restaurants, some bars (No cigars or pipes, please!). There is actually a benefit to that: I never formed the attachments of smoking to drinking or eating that many smokers have. I smoke to fulfill a powerful addiction, not at any particular time or place or activity, and unlike many cigarette smokers, can go for six or eight hours without a smoke or a spasm to have one.
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Well so far so good.
Hey NovaScotian I know what you mean not that I was ever a pipe smoker I always had strict rules. I have never smoked in my house I would always go outside, also I always went to a non smoking area in a restaurant . I don't often frequent Bars or Clubs so most of the drinking that gets done is on a social level either at our place or friends houses. Luckily I know a few people that don;t smoke but do drink ;) And as its been said a few times already no one is going to stop doing anything if they don't want to. Anyone who is toying with the idea of quitting don't even bother unless you want to, and I do mean YOU no one else |
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See, I won't buy into that too far.
As a smoker I was far more psychologically addicted to cigs than physically addicted. After all.. why could I go 8+ hours sleeping with no cigarette and suffer no ill effects, and yet.. the first thing I wanted after a 2 hour movie in a theater was a smoke? If I had a cold and found smoking distatesful and nasty so I would stop for 24 or 48 hours with no problems, why couldn't I drive my car (1-hour) home from work without a smoke? Why did I think that smoking would relax me, when it's definitely NOT a sedative? Etc etc blah blah soapbox. The fact remains that smokers have to work really hard to remain smokers, they ALL know the risks, but continue to do so anyway. The more you give addictions credence, the more power they have over you. Addictions can be kicked. |
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She should read that book.
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I don't find coffee addictive either heh. My mate is quite bad without coffee, starts shaking after 48 hours with no caffeine.
Now a cup of Twinings chai tea or Fish and Chips from the North East coast of UK, there are things that I understand addiction to ;) |
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It's true.. though that will go away in a few days.
Over the counter migraine meds contain caffine. |
well 5 going on 6 days so far all is fine
Yellow has some valid points about the physical vs psychological needs of a cigarette. I am sure that it changes from person to person, but in most case people smoke when they are bored or if they have programmed themselves to smoke at certain time. After the morning coffee or after dinner or lunch etc. I know a few people who wake up in th middle of the night some times 2 or 3 times to have a smoke. I never did but I also smoked a hell of a lot less than they did. I think if you smoke between 10 and 20 a day quitting is a lot easier than people who smoke 60 a day I mean if you sleep 8 hours a day (without waking up to smoke you are sucking back 1 every 15 minutes or so) under those circumstances Im guessing that the Physical and Psychological needs are way more than me at 1 box every 2 to 2 and a half days. |
Congrats, and don't forget to congratulate yourself for being an Ex-Smoker everytime you think about a cigarette!
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I get headaches after driving for 2 hours or more on motorways it seems (drove 215 miles on one yesterday for the first time heh.)
I understand what lyndonl is saying about being programmed into the routine of doing something and then you find it very hard to get out of that routine (addicted even.) I was like that with snacking, used to not eat a meal, just go grab something small out the fridge and stuff. Realised at 17 stone that I needed to do something about it, so now I'm eating proper meals (and changed what I eat, no processed food) and stuff, and even though it feels like I'm eating more, my weight is coming down. I still get the urges to go and grab something out of the fridge though, even when I know I've just eaten a decent meal and shouldn't eat for another few hours. So I tend to either go make a cup of tea, or lose myself in reading a php tutorial eBook that I've gotten hold of. So far it all seems to be working quite well :) |
Update?
So, how are you doing then?
I stopped a 60-a-day Marlboro habit about 8 years ago. New Years Day. No resolution/similar, just woke up and told myself I didn't smoke anymore and haven't had one since. Interestingly, I can't remember exactly which NYD it was, so my brain has done quite a good job of expunging the whole thing. I kinda remember being "over it" after about 3 weeks, which is surprising at that level of tobacco usage and several failed attempts to "quit". I suppose that it comes from inside oneself - no amount of spousal nagging will do it. Being a consumer of beer in Industrial Quantities, I decided to go and stare down the barrel of the gun and actually upped my not-inconsiderable consumption. Not surprisingly, this caused weight gain that me and Dr Atkins are working at losing even now, but better than smoking, methinks. Beating that link made life easier. Just remember Pavlov's dogs. A conditioned reaction can be undone. All the best with it mate. Gavin |
Well its been just over a week and no big deal
had a few beers over the weekend, was with people I know who don't smoke so that made its easy. Still no urge to have one, I'm just not interested. It seriously looks like everyone here who kicked the habit just did it, it was just a case of woke up had enough and thats that. I don't really see much mention of people using patches and gum and whatever else as an aid, just good old cold turkey :D |
You might find this interesting: all cigarette packs sold in Thailand now have these hideous medical photos affixed to the front of the packs. It really deglamorizes cigarettes. I wouldn't want to smoke one based on how the pack looks. |
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All the same, I'm glad I never got hooked. I do like my beer though.... :confused: |
Ever see that movie "The Insider"? |
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To lyndonl: best wishes to you in your quest to stop smoking |
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Yeah, but I would rather die young, fat, and happy than old, skinny, and miserable. |
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:-) Gavin |
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:D |
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Well....if Er Indoors finds out about the Mia Noi in Songkhla, I probably won't be posting again.... :D |
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