To think that 5 fags a day is not that bad?

[Banjax]

I've quit and it was easy.

I am thinking now I didn't actually smoke that much - it only went up to 10 if I was really pissed. We share a bottle of wine on a friday and apart from that I dont really drink much.

I know that no fags are obviously better - but when I reflect - maybe it was easy to quit because I was actually quite a light smoker?

How much did you used to smoke?

Alan Carr did die of lung cancer, but he was many years an ex smoker before that.

His theory on casual / social smoking is actually very interesting and he says that you are just as addicted whether it be 3 fags a day or 60 fags a day!!

Smokers who "only" smoke a small amount are just as addicted because:

• They enjoy each and every fag they smoke
• They plan their lives around these fags ("yay it's Friday, I am off to the pub.... and I can have a few fags")

He actually said these smokers are less inclined to fully stop as they are of the mindset that just a few fags won't hurt and psychologically they don't think they fall in to the same category as a proper smoker..... It's a delusion. They don't think they are addicted but they are. They have a habit as well as someone who smokes a carton a day.

Full time smokers have fags they don't enjoy, thus making them question why they do it (and maybe decide to stop) casual smokers don't have that. Which is dangerous.

I'm 7 and half years a non smoker after reading Allen Carr (sorry spelt his name wrong in my previous post)

I was on 10 a day (20 if at the pub or drinking) for 15 years. Never had so much as had a craving since I finished the book.

Also it's a psychological addiction. Nicotine dissipates very quickly so if it's not replaced the body doesn't crave it.... the mind does.

It must be a psychological addiction. I gave up after 15 years or so, I'd quit while pregnant and started again 3 times. I quit last January and took up running, which is pretty much what stops me starting again I think (I know running = weight controlled, if I smoke I won't run, and I'll put all the weight back on) but I think about smoking at least several times a week even after a year. I even think 'I'd love a cigarette' while running. I don't think I'll ever go back to smoking, I have lost the urgency, the desperate need, but I haven't lost the psychological dependency and it's my first thought when I'm tired or stressed or emotional.

I swapped out 10-15 a day for a Vaporiser - I vaped for probably 2-3 years on quite strong liquid and realised I was vaping WAY more than I used to smoke. I was crazy addicted to the Nicotine to the point I got jittery and withdrawal in a very short space of time.

I quit Vaping cold turkey 2 years ago and it was so much harder than when I quit smoking a few times before. No idea why - I think the fact you can (or rather could) vape just about anywhere makes kicking the habit more difficult.

I was on 10 a day (20 if at the pub or drinking) for 15 years. Never had so much as had a craving since I finished the book.

Now, this is purely based on anecdotal evidence, but I find it really interesting that all the people I know who have given up smoking using 'the book', myself included, didn't go through any so called nicotine withdrawal symptoms (sweating, anxiety, insomnia, irritability etc) and those that believe nicotine is highly addictive are nervous wrecks with patches, gum, biting nails, etc.

I mean absolutely no disrespect to anyone and I hope everyone manages to give up by any means possible. From a science point of view, I'm just very interested in whether Allen Carr's claims are true. It certainly worked for me. My personal belief is that nicotine is probably about as addictive as work or exercise could be for some people.

I quit a 30 a day habit (smokes from age 12 to 31) with vaping

I quit 4 years ago.

I've had a couple when I'd had a drink but I couldn't finish it. It was awful. I never thought that would happen to me.