Attn ex-smokers

[Slipper1]

I'm dragging this out again.

Well done anyone who stuck at it last year,well done.

To those that made it some of the way, but slipped, give it another go, you will have better luck this time around.

This is what worked for me.....

1) when. They say "1 day at a time" they're right. Don't smoke today & you're one day better off. I could never get over the feeling of never smoking again and always went back for one last pack, but when I started thinking of days, things became much better.

2) for the first two weeks or so, try to avoid the situations where you know you will smoke. Pubs, coffee breaks, glass of wine after work; they don't have to go forever, just until you feel you can control the situation.

3) the craving will pass, I always had a bottle of water with me and a couple of swigs out of it when I wanted a smoke took my mind away from the smoke.

Best of luck!

[John23]

I'm dragging this out again.

Well done anyone who stuck at it last year,well done.

To those that made it some of the way, but slipped, give it another go, you will have better luck this time around.

This is what worked for me.....

1) when. They say "1 day at a time" they're right. Don't smoke today & you're one day better off. I could never get over the feeling of never smoking again and always went back for one last pack, but when I started thinking of days, things became much better.

2) for the first two weeks or so, try to avoid the situations where you know you will smoke. Pubs, coffee breaks, glass of wine after work; they don't have to go forever, just until you feel you can control the situation.

3) the craving will pass, I always had a bottle of water with me and a couple of swigs out of it when I wanted a smoke took my mind away from the smoke.

Best of luck!

Agree with 1,2 & 3. Off the fags 8 years today. From 40 a day to zero. The pros of stopping far outweigh the cons. Reading Allan Carr's "Easy Way to Give Up Smoking" worked for me.

Best of Luck and hang in there to anyone attempting to stop smoking today.

[johng]

Agree with 1,2 & 3. Off the fags 8 years today. From 40 a day to zero. The pros of stopping far outweigh the cons. Reading Allan Carr's "Easy Way to Give Up Smoking" worked for me.

Best of Luck and hang in there to anyone attempting to stop smoking today.

Echo those sentiments. I never felt a single urge since reading that book. After I read it I did not believe it would work. I spent the first month waiting for it to go wrong.

1 You must want to give up obviously. Not for your kids, not for your mate, for yourself.

2 Read that book and do what it says.

That's it. You don't have to "believe" it. You don't need willpower.

The book re programs your subconscious.

[Oldschool]

Have never smoked and consider myself just very, very lucky, that I didn't.
The three best reasons to give it would be, I think. (no particular order)
1. Money and they say you should save this money separately, in a jar, so it is well identified what the saving is and where it comes from.
You should use this money to reward yourself - You deserve to reward yourself, you're trying to give up a very addictive substance.
2. Health - you've heard and probably read all the bumph and it's true.
eg I was doing mouth to mouth training on a doll (not that kind of doll).
The instructor remarked to me that it was obvious I was not a smoker and I asked him how he know?
His said a lot of smokers struggle to inflate the doll properly.
(This could go anywhere so stop laughing and pay attention, you down at the back there. )
3. Life expectancy increases - This means you get to see more Leinster games, another reward, so you'll need those savings for the season ticket.

I would make one final comment and I apologise in advance, but lung related deaths in the late stages (and I don't mean cancer)
are extremely unpleasent for the person and their close family, so if that is any incentive, it's a huge thing.

Above is carrot and stick - Enjoy the carrots and don't be afraid of a bit of self flagelation, if you think it'll help, but use the guilt positively.

AND I REALLY REALLY WISH YOU GOOD LUCK WITH IT.

[Logorrhea]

Again, I mentioned it previously. If your reading this and the Alan Carr thing doesnt work for you, do look up Champix.

Alan Carr just didnt work for me but I never really thought it would (thats probably why it didnt). Champix did.

[johng]

Again, I mentioned it previously. If your reading this and the Alan Carr thing doesnt work for you, do look up Champix.

Alan Carr just didnt work for me but I never really thought it would (thats probably why it didnt). Champix did.

I never thought it would work either. But I followed what it said anyway. (Probably because I really did want to give up) And it worked.

Personally (and it's only my opinion remember) I reckon that substitutes only prolong the agony, and that you give up in spite of them rather than because of them.

If you do go down that road, remember that they are just substitutes, and that you have to give them up too. Don't stay on them too long.

Having said that, all addictions are predominantly psychological from fags to heroin and gambling. That is where the problem lies, and where it is solved.

Physical addiction (even to something like heroin) is only the lesser part of the issue. Otherwise you could just kidnap a junkie and dose them down (or make them go cold turkey) and the problem would be solved. As anyone who has ever tried this will tell you, they just go straight back out and shoot up again.

[T.C.B.]

Again, I mentioned it previously. If your reading this and the Alan Carr thing doesnt work for you, do look up Champix.

Alan Carr just didnt work for me but I never really thought it would (thats probably why it didnt). Champix did.

I never thought it would work either. But I followed what it said anyway. (Probably because I really did want to give up) And it worked.

Personally (and it's only my opinion remember) I reckon that substitutes only prolong the agony, and that you give up in spite of them rather than because of them.

If you do go down that road, remember that they are just substitutes, and that you have to give them up too. Don't stay on them too long.

Having said that, all addictions are predominantly psychological from fags to heroin and gambling. That is where the problem lies, and where it is solved.

Physical addiction (even to something like heroin) is only the lesser part of the issue. Otherwise you could just kidnap a junkie and dose them down (or make them go cold turkey) and the problem would be solved. As anyone who has ever tried this will tell you, they just go straight back out and shoot up again.

Champix isn't a nicotine-substitute. It's blocks the nicotine-receptors in the brain so smoking stops having any effect. You basically stop getting any kind of buzz/high off them and as it builds up in your system, you stop craving cigarettes completely. It allows you to deal with the psychological habit while it breaks the physical addiction for you.

[Logorrhea]

Champix isn't a nicotine-substitute. It's blocks the nicotine-receptors in the brain so smoking stops having any effect. You basically stop getting any kind of buzz/high off them and as it builds up in your system, you stop craving cigarettes completely. It allows you to deal with the psychological habit while it breaks the physical addiction for you.

+1

I hear what your saying John (about substitutes) but your missinformed about Champix, its not a substitute. I smoked for over half my life and was floating between 20-30 a day. I tried Alan Carrs book, the one-day event, substitutes, cold-turkey etc They just didnt work for me. I never thought I would give em up.

I wouldnt have if someone didnt recommend Champix to me so I'm just maing sure that it remains part of the conversation. I'm not saying its better, I'm just saying its a totally different approach and it made giving up a complete doddle for me. Its worth considering for anyone struggling to give them up using the traditional approaches.

[Slipper1]

Welcome back TCB!

On a separate point...

Everyones experience is different, for me, I found differences between Nicorette patches and their "clear" variants. I got no benefit from the originals, but felt the clear ones worked.

I'm sure it was all psychological, but to e, I was getting more support from those than others and I would credit them in helping me kick the smokes.

[Sea_point]

I always enjoyed smoking (and did so for over twenty years), just not what I knew it did to me physically. I've managed to stay off the smokes about seven years now, and for me there was no miracle cure. Psychologically I just made my mind up that I was tired of having much worse and more regular colds than non-smokers, and sick of waking in the morning up feeling like I had a hangover after a going for just two pints (and about ten smokes )...

The real driver for me to stay off was that I looked at each day I stayed off as being in the bank, and knew exactly how tough each day had been to complete. Each day down the road of non-smoking meant I had more to lose if I went back on them...

Basically regardless if you use any chemical assistance you have to really be honest with yourself and know that you truly want to give up, I made a few half hearted attempts years back and always went back on them (usually after a night on the lash)....

It's not easy, there's no way around that. But well worth the pain...

[Leinsterman]

For those of you who are looking to give them up ...... just fukkin' grow a pair.
I made a few half-arsed attempts to give up but you'll never break the habit until you really want to. After that, it's easy.
Couple of weeks craving the bloody things and after that you'll be fine.
I'm off them nearly 5 years now and find it hard to believe that I ever smoked.
Once you can admit to yourself that you really want to give them up, you will be able to break the habit.
Have some willpower and believe in yourself.

[Peg Leg]

For those of you who are looking to give them up ...... just fukkin' grow a pair.
I made a few half-arsed attempts to give up but you'll never break the habit until you really want to. After that, it's easy.
Couple of weeks craving the bloody things and after that you'll be fine.
I'm off them nearly 5 years now and find it hard to believe that I ever smoked.
Once you can admit to yourself that you really want to give them up, you will be able to break the habit.
Have some willpower and believe in yourself.

I used the Leinsterman method myself, I am happy with my new found ability to last 60mins of kickyball and my fukkin' newly grown pair!!
Stop date 26/12/09 (couldn't allow myself to believe it was a new yrs resolution.... just resolve)

[ruck]

After over 2 years off them, I ended up back on them in 2010 (i blame the new bird!).
Off them again now for 5 days and going well so far. Not using anything, but will be trying that Champix stuff if it all gets too much for me.

[Peg Leg]

After over 2 years off them, I ended up back on them in 2010 (i blame the new bird!).
Off them again now for 5 days and going well so far. Not using anything, but will be trying that Champix stuff if it all gets too much for me.

If your new bird is Natalie Portman- I wouldn't blame her for anything!!

[ruck]

After over 2 years off them, I ended up back on them in 2010 (i blame the new bird!).
Off them again now for 5 days and going well so far. Not using anything, but will be trying that Champix stuff if it all gets too much for me.

If your new bird is Natalie Portman- I wouldn't blame her for anything!!

I'd forgive Natalie Portman for murdering my family.

Speaking of which, I watched "Black Swan" the other day.
Herself and Mila Kunis get it on.
It's a shoe in for an Oscar for Most Awesomest Awesomeness ever.

[Scott]

I'd forgive Natalie Portman for murdering my family.

Speaking of which, I watched "Black Swan" the other day.
Herself and Mila Kunis get it on.
It's a shoe in for an Oscar for Most Awesomest Awesomeness ever.

I watched it on fastforward until a certain scene which was a colossal disappointment

remember Butters if they start lezzing out just roll with it

[ruck]

I'd forgive Natalie Portman for murdering my family.

Speaking of which, I watched "Black Swan" the other day.
Herself and Mila Kunis get it on.
It's a shoe in for an Oscar for Most Awesomest Awesomeness ever.

I watched it on fastforward until a certain scene which was a colossal disappointment

remember Butters if they start lezzing out just roll with it

The scene isn't quite what I'd pictured, but then again, it wasn't a porno.

[Scott]

The scene isn't quite what I'd pictured, but then again, it wasn't a porno.

Ye it’s my own fault, when I heard words like ‘disgusting’ & ‘explicit’ I just got super excited!!! In fact I had about 3 smokes after reading one review

[Logorrhea]

haha

[johng]

haha

I think he meant 3 strokes