If you are an ex smoker, how did you go about quitting the habit?
- Thread starter Manonabike
- Start date
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Mushroomgodmat
Über Member
- Location
- Norwich
Everyone's different but for me it went like this...
Tried quiting about 3 times, my heart was not in it and I managed a smoke free day or two. Then, after a night out, smoked myself silly (30-40cigs) got drunk, got very drunk. Woke up next morning feeling crap, not wanting a cigarette, threw what cigerettes I had left down the toilet, never smoked again.
Once I had decided that I was going to quit, I committed fully and never looked back. It took me about 10 years, but once I decided I found quiting very easy. I didn't cut down, I didn't use patches...I just woke up one day and stopped.
Then many years later, bought a bike, now fitter than iv ever been
Tried quiting about 3 times, my heart was not in it and I managed a smoke free day or two. Then, after a night out, smoked myself silly (30-40cigs) got drunk, got very drunk. Woke up next morning feeling crap, not wanting a cigarette, threw what cigerettes I had left down the toilet, never smoked again.
Once I had decided that I was going to quit, I committed fully and never looked back. It took me about 10 years, but once I decided I found quiting very easy. I didn't cut down, I didn't use patches...I just woke up one day and stopped.
Then many years later, bought a bike, now fitter than iv ever been
I gave up a good few years back but remember it being v.tough. Finally cracked it when we had a health roadshow at work with a counsellor on helping folk quit. On hearing about my several failed attempts she suggested giving up gradually. I started with losing the first smoke of the day, none before lunch etc. until I was down to when I went out for a drink. That was the toughest nut to crack with a few lapses but I slowly got there in the end. The difficulty in giving up showed me how addictive it is. Listening to my dad trying to breathe reminds me of the alternative!
Boris Bajic
Guest
I gave up about 20 years ago, because we were expecting our first child.
It was a little hard, but nothing like the dramas you hear people talking about.
There were no patches, no substitutes in those days.
I was advised that when offered a smoke I should say "No thanks, I don't smoke". Every time you say that, it sounds more credible.
I was also told not to speak or think of 'giving up'. On reflection, it is an unusual verb to use for something positive.
The truth is that you will find yourself wanting a smoke. Ignore the desire. It will diminish.
I know many people who've told me three days into stopping that their system is 100% unbeatable. The next time I see them, they're smoking.
Similarly, patches and the like have their proponents but I don't see the point or the need.
Accept that it won't be easy and make up your mind to do it. Every day after about day four is easier.
I know nobody who regrets stopping being a smoker.
I do not know an elderly or middle-aged smoker who is pleased to be one.
It was a little hard, but nothing like the dramas you hear people talking about.
There were no patches, no substitutes in those days.
I was advised that when offered a smoke I should say "No thanks, I don't smoke". Every time you say that, it sounds more credible.
I was also told not to speak or think of 'giving up'. On reflection, it is an unusual verb to use for something positive.
The truth is that you will find yourself wanting a smoke. Ignore the desire. It will diminish.
I know many people who've told me three days into stopping that their system is 100% unbeatable. The next time I see them, they're smoking.
Similarly, patches and the like have their proponents but I don't see the point or the need.
Accept that it won't be easy and make up your mind to do it. Every day after about day four is easier.
I know nobody who regrets stopping being a smoker.
I do not know an elderly or middle-aged smoker who is pleased to be one.
Peteaud
Veteran
- Location
- South Somerset
[QUOTE 1868883, member: 9609"]If you stop smoking when you are healthy, how long is it until the risks of heart desease and cancer fall to the same levels of someone who has never smoked?
The only couple of articles that I have managed to find sort of suggest 10 - 15 years - which is quite good as I have now been stopped 16½ years. (smoked 30 a day for 17 years)
Another interesting stat on smoking came from some heart specialist being interviewed on the radio, who suggests, as a rule smokers run into major health problems after about 250,000 cigarettes. That does sound a lot, however my habit of 30 a day for 17 years adds up to a colossal 186,000. (so hopefully I stopped in time)[/quote]
Most aticles i found mentioned 15 years
The only couple of articles that I have managed to find sort of suggest 10 - 15 years - which is quite good as I have now been stopped 16½ years. (smoked 30 a day for 17 years)
Another interesting stat on smoking came from some heart specialist being interviewed on the radio, who suggests, as a rule smokers run into major health problems after about 250,000 cigarettes. That does sound a lot, however my habit of 30 a day for 17 years adds up to a colossal 186,000. (so hopefully I stopped in time)[/quote]
Most aticles i found mentioned 15 years
That's how I did it. It took a long time, didn't stick completely at first, but subsequently if I fell off the wagon it was pretty easy to get back on as the habit was weakened a fair bit. That method just suited me somehow.
e-rider
Banned member
- Location
- South West
I tried loads of times before I managed to do it for good - it's been 7 years now and no looking back. All the hard work is done in the first 2 weeks. After that it's just a case of never trying it again - ever!!!
I am fairly fat now though whereas before I quit I was skinny, so try not to replace smoking with more food right from the start as this is a bad habit to develop.
I am fairly fat now though whereas before I quit I was skinny, so try not to replace smoking with more food right from the start as this is a bad habit to develop.
The Brewer
Shed Dweller
- Location
- Wrexham
Could I have a little vent of my spleen 
Works crap, Mrs B is ill and isn't getting better, the kids want stuff I've never heard of never mind could afford and I past the newsagents and thought about stopping and buying just ten fags
I was good but have had a similar thoughts too frequently recently.
Great Manchester ride is next week and is keeping me going, just having a bad spell and all will be good soon
Works crap, Mrs B is ill and isn't getting better, the kids want stuff I've never heard of never mind could afford and I past the newsagents and thought about stopping and buying just ten fags
I was good but have had a similar thoughts too frequently recently.
Great Manchester ride is next week and is keeping me going, just having a bad spell and all will be good soon
paulw1969
Ridley rider
- Location
- Long Eaton, Notts.
Could I have a little vent of my spleen
Works crap, Mrs B is ill and isn't getting better, the kids want stuff I've never heard of never mind could afford and I past the newsagents and thought about stopping and buying just ten fags
I was good but have had a similar thoughts too frequently recently.
Great Manchester ride is next week and is keeping me going, just having a bad spell and all will be good soon
nowt wrong with a little venting
hang in there.....things will get better and having a fag wont help anything
Sara_H
Guru
I've never smoked, but used the Alan Carr book to give up drinking - about half way through I absolutely didn't want to drink ever again. Haven't touched a drop in five months and don't want to.
D
Deleted member 1258
Guest
I quit in 1977, I was having a lot of problems with coughs and colds at the time, I had a bad cold and didn't smoke for several days, when I was feeling better and wanted a fag I decided that as I hadn't smoked for days I wouldn't start again and that was that, I put my baccy tin on the mantle piece and left it there, it was still there a few years later when I moved out so I took it with me and put it in a cupboard, I've still got the tin in a cupboard somewhere.
Broughtonblue
Guru
- Location
- Norfolk
when i met my girlfriend (now my wife) 28 years ago, she gave me the choice of her or the fags. i looked at her body and the size of her parents house and realised it was an easy choice. not touched one since!!
