Quitting smoking

Bifta · 02-07-2005, 14:34

I've finally decided to have a good crack at quitting smoking, I could do with the extra Ã‚Â£150+ a month to spend on other things, it'd be nice to be able to exercise without getting out of breath and I don't like redecorating the house every 6 months to get rid of the nicotine coloured paint.

I've tried the inhalators, they didn't work, I've tried Allen Carr's "Easy Way to stop smoking" which frankly was a load of rubbish and I'm now on the patches (Niquitin CQ, the 21mg ones).

Has anyone got any tips for me? I'm not especially craving a cigarette but my body feels like it's buzzing, not sure if it's to do with the patches or not.

Lastly, any anti-smokers who think adding stupid advice like "just quit, be a man" etc, don't bother, I'll ask for it to be removed if you do post it.

I've started a blog to keep track of how I'm getting on but I'm not going to post it here yet, I'll wait a couple of weeks so it's actually got some useful information (hopefully some of which gather from ex-smokers on here) for people wanting to give up in the future.

TIA

Gareth · 02-07-2005, 14:40

Been there, done that, mate. Patches work best, but the hardest thing is changing your routine. Find a substitute for the smoke you had after your meal, or with your morning coffee. Just be careful for what you choose - I went for mints, but ended up putting on weight cause of all the Softmints I was chucking down my throat.

Nicotine is addictive, but can be overcome easily. Smoking - the concept - is habitual, and that's a lot more difficult to change.

Bifta · 02-07-2005, 14:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gareth

Been there, done that, mate. Patches work best, but the hardest thing is changing your routine. Find a substitute for the smoke you had after your meal, or with your morning coffee. Just be careful for what you choose - I went for mints, but ended up putting on weight cause of all the Softmints I was chucking down my throat.

Nicotine is addictive, but can be overcome easily. Smoking - the concept - is habitual, and that's a lot more difficult to change.

My theory is that not smoking will increase my energy levels, so I might end up substituting food for the habitual side of it but I'll have enough get up and go to actually exercise to keep the weight off. It'll probably be mints for me too, and not sugar free ones either, can't stick the taste.

Paul · 02-07-2005, 14:45

I'm not an anti-smoker (both parents smoked for the majority of their life before quitting, dad smoked for the better part of 60 years and never thought he could quit) but to be honest the biggest influence in your ability to quit smoking will be you. If you really want to quit and are prepared to put a lot of effort into it then I for one have no reason to doubt that you will fail this time.
You may find that changing things within your daily routine will help, keeping yourself away from situations that normally would lead you to light up, keeping yourself busy, even keeping a diary/ blog to remind yourself why you want to quit and to report your progress will all help.
Some find the gum helps, some use the patches but neither route will work unless you want it to. Some even succeed via hypnotic suggestion lol.
I for one will be happy to be amongst the many here that will be glad to support your efforts in quitting, it takes a lot of effort and a lot of commitment but I'm sure you are up to the task.
Good luck with it Bifta

Gareth · 02-07-2005, 15:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bifta

My theory is that not smoking will increase my energy levels, so I might end up substituting food for the habitual side of it but I'll have enough get up and go to actually exercise to keep the weight off.

Yep, I found that exercise helped a lot, although it was damned tough to start with. I joined a gym at the same time I stopped smoking, that worked for me. My missus found starting a diet at the same time helped her stop smoking, cause she was so missing decent food she didn't mind not smoking... but she is French and they, as a nation, enjoy good food and smoking cigarettes pretty much from birth.

Bifta · 02-07-2005, 15:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gareth

Yep, I found that exercise helped a lot, although it was damned tough to start with. I joined a gym at the same time I stopped smoking, that worked for me. My missus found starting a diet at the same time helped her stop smoking, cause she was so missing decent food she didn't mind not smoking... but she is French and they, as a nation, enjoy good food and smoking cigarettes pretty much from birth.

I love my food too but I also (at least used to) enjoy being active, it'd be nice to be able to smell and taste what I cook in future (or maybe not). I did just get a queer look asking for 20 packets of Extra Strong Mints, I was tempted to mention "I've just given up smoking" but I know the woman in the shop also gave up 5 years ago and I wasn't in the mood for a whole lecture on how easy she found it.

**Matt D** · 02-07-2005, 15:21

The cravings don't last for very long, & I think it only takes a few days (?) for the nicotine to leave your body. What I found the hardest was breaking the habit... fag while waiting for the bus, fag at break & lunch at work, fag on the way home, etc. Especially hard getting out of the habit of smoking while out at the pub.

I found gum (just normal gum) helped...gave my mouth something to do! Also, as others have said, exercise definitely helps.

I also found that there were certain "triggers" which initially would quite easily set me off again & make me light up. Took a while, but I've managed to control most of them now. Had a bit of a relapse recently though

Bifta · 02-07-2005, 15:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

The cravings don't last for very long, & I think it only takes a few days (?) for the nicotine to leave your body. What I found the hardest was breaking the habit... fag while waiting for the bus, fag at break & lunch at work, fag on the way home, etc. Especially hard getting out of the habit of smoking while out at the pub.

I found gum (just normal gum) helped...gave my mouth something to do! Also, as others have said, exercise definitely helps.

I also found that there were certain "triggers" which initially would quite easily set me off again & make me light up. Took a while, but I've managed to control most of them now. Had a bit of a relapse recently though

Apparently it's 3 months for all the nicotine to leave your body

(according to this crappy book)

**Matt D** · 02-07-2005, 15:28

Three months?! Guess I was told wrong. Arse.

Bifta · 02-07-2005, 15:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

Three months?! Guess I was told wrong. Arse.

NHS say's a couple of day's, maybe this blokes referring to the cravings for nicotine.

Marge · 02-07-2005, 15:35

Not quite the same as smoking but I used to bite my nails for years and years, I'd wanted to stop but couldn't. However one day I just decided, right, that's it, no more !!! I think it's getting your head sorted about it and half the battle is wanting to do it rather than thinking you should do it. I'm sure you can do it Bifta cos you sound detemined and I wish you all the luck in the world.

Paul · 02-07-2005, 15:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bifta

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

Three months?! Guess I was told wrong. Arse.

NHS say's a couple of day's, maybe this blokes referring to the cravings for nicotine.

Think it's the cravings as the body needs a period of time to recover from it's dependance on nicotine stimualtion.
I've seen a quote elsewhere that states that after 72 hours the main nicotine cravings should be over but that you will need 2-3 months for your body to completely forget its need for nicotine.

Bifta · 02-07-2005, 15:42

I think what tipped me over the edge was wanting to buy an expensive camera lens this month then thinking "but I have to keep back a couple of hundred for fags" then though, a couple of hundred quid for something that's not really benefitting me? Balls to that, so I've just spent the guts of 500 quid on something far more useful

Paul · 02-07-2005, 15:45

Best reason to quit is so that you can afford to buy something that will actually be of use to you and that you will enjoy

homealone · 02-07-2005, 16:32

It will be a year this August, since I gave up. I did it 'cold turkey', but i was lucky that I chose to give up as we set off for a 10 day cruise in Alaska. I say lucky because I found it was the combination of a complete change of routine, along with the compete ban on smoking in airports, on planes & on the ship, that really helped - plus 24 hours day food on the ship, too.

Craving wise I think the 'addiction' to nicotine went in less than a week, but the truth in what Matt D said about 'triggers' became obvious once I got home & really missed the 1st fag with a cup of tea in the morning, at breaks in work, etc - and worst of all in a room with smokers after a few drinks. I still 'die' for a fag, sometimes, for no apparent reason - it would be so easy to start again, but I feel so much better for stopping, now, it has become easier to resist

Good luck Bifta, you have to find the way that works for you, but you sound well motivated & wanting to stop is the main thing.