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Original poster

How did you give up smoking?

49 replies

TonkaTruckduck · 17/03/2022 20:28

I really enjoy smoking. I don't really want to give up, but know I must.
If you were in a similar position how did you do it, any tips?

OP posts:
RestingMurderousFace · 17/03/2022 20:33

I went straight for the drugs, knew I wouldn't be able to do it cold turkey.

www.chantix.com/

Gave up 11 years ago, haven't been so much as tempted since.

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 17/03/2022 20:35

The Allen Carr book. It's witchcraft.

travellingturtle · 17/03/2022 20:36

I started to really pay attention to every cigarette I smoked. Didn't do anything else while I smoked, just noticed the flavour and the feeling and the dryness in my mouth and the smell...

Honest to goodness after a few days of that I felt so gross that I just didn't want them anymore.

Tried a couple since because I missed the habit but I couldn't take more than a drag.

FrenchApple · 17/03/2022 20:36

Allen carr book here too

Also chewing gum, the normal type, every time I felt like one. The feeling passes.

FrenchApple · 17/03/2022 20:37

And I smoked 20 a day at least. Thought I could never give up. I never even think about them now. 10 years quit

GrannyBloomers · 17/03/2022 20:38

Cold Turkey overnight.

Cofefefe · 17/03/2022 20:38

I had to just do it cold turkey. Had tried every single other option over the past 15 years. Champix, gum, patches, losenges etc. None worked long term. Vaping was the worst as I got even more addicted to that. Stopped cold turkey in January 2021. Still miss it but not as much as I thought I would.

TomAllenWife · 17/03/2022 20:39

Paul McKenna book & audio hypnosis

jesusmaryjosephandtheweedonkey · 17/03/2022 20:41

I vaped and then gradually reduced down to zero nicotine.
I was a 20 a day smoker for 30 years. Haven't had a cigarette in 7 years.

BlueFlavour · 17/03/2022 20:41

I vape instead

broccolibush · 17/03/2022 20:43

I quit with a friend who is very competitive and a really bad winner. It made it a contest and I didn’t want him crowing about beating me forever if I smoked. It kept me going through the cravings and I haven’t smoked in over 19 years now.

SleepyRoo · 17/03/2022 20:44

Allen Carr book. It just makes sense

gamerchick · 17/03/2022 20:44

I used the spray. Scared to smoke while using that bugger.

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 17/03/2022 20:47

@TonkaTruckduck

I really enjoy smoking. I don't really want to give up, but know I must. If you were in a similar position how did you do it, any tips?
Yes, don't bother wasting your time trying to quit until you actually do want to give up.

I stopped cold turkey after 25 years of puffing, and I didn't waver because I was utterly sick of smoking, despised it, and couldn't wait to put my last one out. I don't know a single person who has successfully quit while they still wanted to smoke. It's really simple. If your desire to smoke outweighs your desire to quit, you're really just a smoker who is making a pretence of quitting, and you'll cave in eventually.

If you want to stop, dispense with absolutely every piece of smoking paraphernalia you own the instant you put your last one out, so all ashtrays, lighters, matches, etc etc, get yourself something to occupy the habitual part of your smoker brain, I chewed softmints non-stop for about a week (it's still far less unhealthy than smoking), and constantly remind yourself that you are an ex-smoker, not a smoker trying to quit, and get bloody minded about not pointlessly throwing away all the hours/days/weeks you've been a former smoker for the sake of one fag. It gets far easier after about two weeks when the cravings start to fade away.

Seriously, if you're still in the mindset of "I enjoy smoking, I know I should quit" rather than 'I want to quit and I am quitting" then you are just setting yourself up to fail.

SparkleSpangle · 17/03/2022 20:48

My mum and sister gave up with Champix they claim it is a wonder drug.

Unfortunately when DH tried to use it to give up several months ago he started the course and then it became impossible to get hold of. Still is as far as i'm aware.

If you want to take the medication route I would recommend Champix but you would have to wait until it becomes available again.

Hummingbirdcake · 17/03/2022 20:51

I started with nicotine patches but also very helpful is reading a Timeline of Benefits of Stopping Smoking. It tells you how your body is recovering, how your risk of heart disease and cancer are falling, even from 20 minutes after your last cigarette. I read it over and over again and it helped me stick with it. And I used to love smoking.

Gemzee · 17/03/2022 20:51

Allen Carr book but I also felt ready/wanted to give up. Smoked over 15 years heavily - now at 8.5 years smoke free cold turkey and so happy. Would never go back (& I loved smoking too by the way, just decided I hated how it controlled me!).

Wrinklepicker · 17/03/2022 20:56

I switched to vaping three months ago. I’ve never looked back. I discussed it with the cessation nurse and she thought it was a good idea.

I may try and quit the vapes at some point but not now - I love it! Smoking seems old fashioned and smelly to me, and I’ve saved an absolute fortune.

Nillynally · 17/03/2022 20:56

Tobacco flavoured vape, then fruity vape then I got pregnant and just quit. I realised though it was linked to drinking. When I couldn't do that anymore I didn't want to vape. You need to change and form new habits

Original poster
TonkaTruckduck · 18/03/2022 07:44

Thank you all so much for your replies.

Champix scares me to death, I should have mentioned that. I know a friend of a friend who had a hugely adverse reaction to it and became psychotic and ended up getting sectioned, and when I looked into it it's a documented side effect Sad.

@xdownwiththissortofthingX I think most people who quit still enjoy smoking on some level, otherwise they wouldn't smoke, they'd just have stopped. I hate the way hair and clothes smell, I hate the power it has over me, I'm always wondering how and when I'll fit a smoke in. I hate the fact I can barely run 5k cos of the fags. But the moment I light up I'm in heaven, but feel shitty afterwards. So whilst I love smoking I hate being a smoker if that makes sense.

OP posts:
LizzieSiddal · 18/03/2022 07:48

Not me but Dh, was hospitalised with pneumonia. He spent 3 nights on a ward of mostly 50-60 year olds struggling to breathe, all on oxygen, all smokers. He gave up there and then, had smoked for 24 years.

If your mind wants to, you can do it.

GeodesicDome · 18/03/2022 07:51

I stubbed out a fag then suddenly thought: 'I wonder how long I can wait before I light another one?'

That was in 2001. Still waiting.

Els1e · 18/03/2022 08:01

I did it by cutting gradually, telling myself I needed to save money (which I did). I started by not smoking before 10 am, then it was before 12, then 3pm and so on. I then noticed the couple I was having in the evening, were more just burning in the ashtray rather than being smoked. I might as well have lit a joss stick. So I stopped. That was over 30 years ago and haven’t bothered since.

FrenchApple · 18/03/2022 08:23

I remember thinking I could never do it because it was part of who I was. I too hated the power it had over me, like I'd be standing in the rain outside in my own at a party thinking WTF?? This is so sad. When I first gave up I had a few blips and would be secretly smoking in the shed and also thinking wow this is such a powerful addiction. That is all it is, an addiction, you don't enjoy it, you just enjoy satisfying the craving.

YOU CAN DO IT IF I DID!!!!!

MrsLargeEmbodied · 18/03/2022 08:23

tobacco vape