Smokeaholics (Not so) Anonymous

[BREWSTERS]

Or just quit booze I suppose. Think I've got too much partying left in me to consider that just yet though.

Sounds like you're more looking for reassurance to keep smoking than quit.

 

[AssetDomains]

Just came across this story I'm sure this would help a few see the light if brought in here and enough controls at the border
http://www.lovemoney.com/news/household-bills/tax/15503/cigarettes-smoking-tax?source=1000557

 

[Aaron Clifford]

Have I mentioned how much money you can save by not drinking?

I don't drink, but still go out to the pub. A pint if coke is only £0.80 cheaper than a pint of lager, so I don't save that much!

 

[accelerator]

When you put it like that it does bring it home. Along with the short breath at the gym and risk of terminal illness, I do wonder what I'm doing. The quitting thing would be so much easier if I didnt lose all self control when I drink!

Why not give up drinking as well then?

I think if you're a heavy smoker, you need to visualise being in hospital, extremely ill with a terrible lung condition, in the situation where you are so feeble that you can hardly get up a few stairs without wheezing badly and needing oxygen. This is what can eventually happen to you. Picture yourself in that situation, and how ill, helpless and close to death you are, and you'll be wishing hard that you weren't such a fool to keep smoking. Fortunately, you DO have the opportunity to do something about it TODAY, so MAKE SURE you do something about it. If you have good willpower, then you can go cold turkey and say at time X you are simply never allowed to touch a cigarette again, i.e. you are never allowed to pick up one with your fingers. Remember, you're never allowed to put one in your hands. It's one simple rule that could save you from terminal cancer. Does that help?

Rgds

 

[monaghan]

You need to want to give up, if you give up for someone else or for a reason you don't believe in it just doesn't work.

I've not had a cig for almost 20 years, BUT I was ready to give up, it was my decision and I stopped over night, I told my girlfriend (now wife) I was finishing this packet then giving up (can't waste what you've paid for!), I've not had one since.

I did used to have the occasional cigar with the mates in the pub, but now when I see people standing outside the pub doors, shop doors, office doors and so on, I'd hate to be reduced to that, we used to smoke in the office, fill large ashtrays in the pub and enjoy our smokes!

 

[retired_member21]

I am now on the wagon from smoking (2 weeks) and also from booze - sick and tired of them both to be honest cost, health, think I need an internal spring clean!

 

[murph]

I am now on the wagon from smoking (2 weeks) and also from booze - sick and tired of them both to be honest cost, health, think I need an internal spring clean!

If you don't already, get yourself regularly down the gym... improve your health faster and the improved body will help cement the new healthy outlook and prevent you going back

 

[Marcoose]

Thanks for all the feedback peeps. I think I've come to the conclusion that I'm just not ready yet. I think when I've finished travelling and am more settled, I'll be in more of a position to break the habit. Hopefully I've still got time on my side!

 

[retired_member33]

Been smoking since I was sixteen, 28 now and have given up smoking since Last Sunday, been without smokes for exactly one week now.

This is my 4th attempt, tried laser therapy and Nicorette crap such as gum, fake cigarettes and patches but decided to go Cold turkey this time.

All the other attempts failed because I started smoking while being at my local in Holland (still allowed to smoke in the pub *heaven*) so I have decided to do it now as I am currently in Belfast and won't be going home for a few weeks.

In order to make it work this time I have given up my social life and spend my days in the office and at home (rather sad, I know) to avoid any temptation.

My first week has been ok, been having some really bad cravings but I try to focus on the good things of giving up smoking, I notice that I perform much better when I go for my bike rides and even between the sheets there is an increase in performance

I also seem to sleep better and enjoy my food much better, all just after one week.

Hope I can keep it up, will be flying home in 3 weeks time for a stag weekend and a few other parties so that will be my first real test.

 

[Marcoose]

Been smoking since I was sixteen, 28 now and have given up smoking since Last Sunday, been without smokes for exactly one week now.

This is my 4th attempt, tried laser therapy and Nicorette crap such as gum, fake cigarettes and patches but decided to go Cold turkey this time.

All the other attempts failed because I started smoking while being at my local in Holland (still allowed to smoke in the pub *heaven*) so I have decided to do it now as I am currently in Belfast and won't be going home for a few weeks.

In order to make it work this time I have given up my social life and spend my days in the office and at home (rather sad, I know) to avoid any temptation.

My first week has been ok, been having some really bad cravings but I try to focus on the good things of giving up smoking, I notice that I perform much better when I go for my bike rides and even between the sheets there is an increase in performance

I also seem to sleep better and enjoy my food much better, all just after one week.

Hope I can keep it up, will be flying home in 3 weeks time for a stag weekend and a few other parties so that will be my first real test.

Genuinely I wish you the very best of luck.

 

[BREWSTERS]

Hope I can keep it up, will be flying home in 3 weeks time for a stag weekend and a few other parties so that will be my first real test.

Just start picturing yourself at the stag-do without wanting a cigarette, and being happy about it. Re-train your subconscious from believing you are a smoker, to believing you're an ex-smoker.

 

[retired_member33]

Exactly what I am doing atm, some of the guys there have also given up smoking when I first started but they actually did.


Should be a good party full of beers, good friends, drugs and strippers.. So no need to have a smoke haha.

Just start picturing yourself at the stag-do without wanting a cigarette, and being happy about it. Re-train your subconscious from believing you are a smoker, to believing you're an ex-smoker.

 

[expertc]

Smoker for xx years... Tried ecig - yuck

Had a non-smoking 2 years, was doing my first to third dans in martial arts. From my experience only competitive sport can help. Not fitness, but competitive only.

 

[newguy]

I think the trouble is that people fail to make a link between what they are doing and the damage it's causing. I guess that's in part due to the addiction and also the culture. We are all well aware of the damage that illegal drugs cause (in fact, so aware that in some cases likely overplay the damage certain drugs can cause) but with smoking there's the thought that it's all just a bit or a laugh, and anything bad that can happen will happen to someone else.

I can say from experience, being that on my mothers and fathers side there are tonnes of smokers, that it will catch up with you eventually. Sure we all have to go sometime but preferably not in our 50's and 60's due to something that is totally avoidable. The amount of family deaths, and chronic illnesses from smoking I'll seen over the last few years would be enough to make anyone quit. They all did quit eventually, not because of will power, but because they destroyed their health to the point where it wasn't even possible to smoke .

I appreciate how addictive smoking is for some people though, so can understand why it can seem like an impossible task to quit.

 

[Edwin]

I'm guessing - and it is only a guess - that as a smoker you will tend to have more smoking friends than non-smokers would (perhaps even by a wide margin?) As such you will be constantly surrounded by temptation, especially if there's drink involved too (as several comments have already attested)

As such, while it probably needs to be a slow evolutionary process (can't throw away your mates like you can a carton of cigarettes) it might be worth trying to hang out a little more with the non-smokers in your circle of friends and less with the heaviest smokers?

 

[Retired_member41]

I'm guessing - and it is only a guess - that as a smoker you will tend to have more smoking friends than non-smokers would (perhaps even by a wide margin?) As such you will be constantly surrounded by temptation, especially if there's drink involved too (as several comments have already attested)

As such, while it probably needs to be a slow evolutionary process (can't throw away your mates like you can a carton of cigarettes) it might be worth trying to hang out a little more with the non-smokers in your circle of friends and less with the heaviest smokers?

What a brilliant post.

 

[rob]

Probably just who I hang out with , but it's wierd seeing people smoke to me as it seems so oldskool / dirty / idiotic.

It's like seeing an old car without seatbelts , I think wow... Thats how it used to be!

 

[rob]

Have I mentioned how much money you can save by not drinking?

I have a system to solve that problem ! Currently i buy nice whisky ideally in pairs. Likewise I own part of a cask as a long term investment.

I have a few classic 'Thomas hardy' ale cases, and if you get to know the market there is £ to be had.

Stick that in your pipe and er, smoke it !

 

[Ashton]

Probably just who I hang out with , but it's wierd seeing people smoke to me as it seems so oldskool / dirty / idiotic.

This. I understand anyone that has smoked for xx being quite strongly addicted, but anyone my age who has been brought up in an anti smoking world who still continues to do so... well I can't say I would want to be friends with someone who is destroying themself and is too weak to quit!

It's strange how (at least in my social group) going out to smoke makes you the loner outside, whereas before it used to be the social thing to do.

Asked around, and the best response was "I realised the fags had a hold on me after I didn't quit for the 5th time, I hated the idea that anything could control my life - It pissed me off so much that I stopped straight away"

 

[retired_member33]

Genuinely I wish you the very best of luck.

Thanks! Your in Thailand, right? Friend of mine living there and planning to visit him soon, fancy a meet up? You can bring your lady(boy) no worries, should be good fun.