Strategies for stopping social smoking

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I smoke a few cigarettes a couple of times a month and want to stop. I always have the best intentions which tend to go out of the window when I go out. I am generally a very fit and healthy person who exercises and eats well but am annoyed at myself for this vice. Any tips gratefully received.

Sorry meant to put this in general health and have asked MN to move it.

done for you, best of luck with kicking the habit

I stopped drinking coffee and alcohol for two months when I quit smoking.

I'm in the same situation - I smoke a few cigarettes (always other people's, to make it more annoying) whenever I'm drunk and with smokers, or with certain friends.

It doesn't overly bother me but, like you, I'm fit and healthy and it just seems so stupid and pointless. I dislike people smoking when I'm sober and always have to wash my hands/ have chewing gum after my first few.

When I have stopped doing it for months, it helped if I viewed myself as a smoker who had given up, rather than a social smoker, IYSWIM. Then I felt really smug proud whenever I didn't smoke on a night out.

Plus, your hangovers are much worse after you've been smoking!

Sorry, I haven't really been much help, have I? Interested to see what others say.

AVFTF - That's exactly my situation. Never with DH but def if I'm out with the girls.

Cote - That's a good idea but I don't think I could bear it! Ah does that mean I now have 2 problems ;-)

This might sound like a stupid suggestion, but given that we have the cold weather season approaching and you can't smoke inside anywhere, would it be easier to just not go outside with the smokers when is is freezing cold/windy/raining? Would that not be enough to put you off?

Not stupid at all, that's a good suggestion Bunbaker.

The NHS run a wonderful, free course to stop smoking, over a few weeks, which is full of ideas to help people stop, plus opportunity to try every aid, I can really recommend it.

Thanks showtime