Thread: Giving up the Fags?

I smoked for 40 years,25-40 a day good old Wingfield reds,gave up cold turkey, last cigarette I had I was walking down the front steps of my daughter's place to get into the ambulance, whilst having a heart attack in 2000,stabilised,and then in 2001 needed and had a quad by-pass, yes, it was hard giving up cold turkey,and the family was understanding, as they wanted me around for a few more years,(I have just turned 70) don't wait until you get like I was,kick it now,one benefit I have is no more asthma and I sleep better,my wife smoked on for a few years and eventually quit,3 tries with patches,but got there,5 years later she had a heart attack same causes.

I would suggest the pipe first, then the ciggies.


Best of Luck.

Mate, I think everyone will have a different answer for you. In my case, I tried to stop plenty of times but just couldn't. I finally stopped cold turkey when my then four year old daughter looked up at me and said "please Daddy don't smoke, I don't want you to get sick." I've never even had a drag since and that was five years ago and I don't miss them at all. I would have to say that the first three months were the hardest and it got easier after that to the point where I truly don't even think about them anymore and haven't for a long time. I was also one of those that didn't think they had any affect on the way I felt - until six months after I'd stopped and I realized just how much better I felt. Breathing is easier, I can do a lot more physical excercise without getting puffed and I just generally feel a lot better. I really wish you the very best of luck mate, I didn't find it easy but I'm so glad I've done it, I'm sure you'll feel much better too.
Cheers,
Dave.

Never smoked a day in my life, I'm a bit younger than Uncle Ho, so I can't really give advice on giving up, except to say, do it mate and you will find the air smells fresher, food tastes better and you have less chance of dying of lung cancer.


Good luck to you and I hope you have the strength and determination to carry it out as I understand that giving up the ciggies is one of the hardest things you can do.

Similar story for me, 20 a day for 20 years, had my first heart attack in 1985 aged 35. Doctor told me then he was wasting his time if I didn't give up smoking in fact made it very plain I shouldn't waste his time. Due to complications I stayed in hospital for 3 weeks, this helped tremendously to get over initial cravings. Not a recommended method but it worked for me.
Happily neither my wife, family or friends smoke. To be honest as I look back at my smoking (had to have one with a cuppa, during a meal, drinking, first thing in the morning In bed etc.) I look back in amazement that I was so stupid to smoke as I did. I cannot apologize to my wife enough regards what I must have put her and the children through. The sheer stench of smoking in the house, through my clothes the car would have been enough of an excuse for her to divorce me years ago.
Thankfully I saw the light. (I'll get off my hobby horse now, nothing worse than a reformed smoker) take my advise (for what it's worth) and try your hardest to give it up. Good luck.

A couple of friends had success with "hypnosis"

Just think!
If you give them up you will have more gold to spend on the Landy!
Good Luck!

Cheers, Mick.

Started at 14 & stopped cold at age 54 when a 60 Y.O. co-worker, who was also a mate & top bloke, died from lung cancer caused by durries.
To be honest, I did it relatively easily by going through the above but also by using the theory that, when I felt like a ciggie, it was because of the situation & circumstances not the addiction.
I was amazed when I considered it that, if I had a lull at work, I'd light up, not that I needed a fix, just that It was what I did in that situation. Have a good think about "when" you do smoke & see if it is really for the "Nic Fix" or a Pavlovian response.
I also used to look at other people puffing away & talk myself into thinking how stupid it looks.
Putting your aim up here is a big plus & I, for one, will offer to be a sounding board if needed.
Good Luck with it & "Yes" food does taste better but beer & wine tastes better again.
Steve

how I gave up 30 years ago, what I did I made a note of when I had a cigarette during the day so I started out by not having the first one I keep this up for 2 weeks then I gave up the second one on the list also for 2 weeks then the third then the forth then I just didn't feel like smoking for the rest of the day because I found that the taste of the cigarette tasted flaming awful, every now and then I will light one up take one puff and just about throw up never had an inkling to take it up again

Stopped early 30's and was smoking 40+ per day, 1 pouch of pipe tobacco and 5 to 6 wine-flavoured mini- "cigars" per week.
For me, who'd given up a couple of times, it was everything to do with how I saw myself at the moment when I stopped.
A subtle but vital differance.

Situation was, waiting to cross the road, leaned against the traffic light ple....and snapped the pipe in my pocket. My near-new, $$$ English-made pipe... Then I snapped, totally fed-up and cheesed off etc, and said to myself. Oh bother.... Ok, maybe not those precise words...

The pipe and baccy went into the bin on that side of the road...and ciggies plus lighter went into the one on the other side... did'nt even slow down.
Took a few days before anyone at work asked...and got told that "I don't smoke".
I did'nt say, as I'd done before... "I don't smoke anymore ". Just left the last word off. On purpose.

To my way of thinking, the 'anymore' left the door open, it was an element of doubt.
I reckon I was at that stage where my own wants/desires/needs/ RAGE overcame the insecurities which had previously driven me to start...and maintain the habit. As well as the chemical dependance.

I've never looked back despite the recovery time.

Interestingly, I've applied the same - and obviously matured - philosophy and direction to seeing myself as a white haired version of normal size & weight. - A 'non-fatty'. Over 25kg of FAT has gone in 12 months, and there is no way I'd ever 'be' a fat person....

Worked for me.