My dp would like me to help him give up smoking :o) - your suggestions much appreciated

[heymissytoe]

Hello All

Maybe your other halves have helped you do this or maybe you helped them or others. My dp sheepishly said yesterday 'I'd like to give up smoking and I'd like you to help me'. I am delighted, I no longer smoke and it was not hard for me because I was a plastic social smoker anyway. Before and since having dd I have not smoked and have not stocked up on my once regular cheap L&Ms from Spain. There is no smoking in the house - dp has to freeze outside with a cuppa if he smokes and he does not smoke in his car either - his choice. He plays footie regularly as a past time and wants to be even fitter. I couldn't even say how many he smokes a day but all I have thought of in the way of help is to slowly ration cigs and buy those nicotine thingeys - can you guys suggest anything else. Thank you and Merry Christmas

Heymissytoe what lovely news! Can you get him this book for Christmas: \link{http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140277633/026-6550938-7862869\Allen Carr's Easy Way To Stop Smoking}

Also, get him a new toothbrush and tube of toothpaste and tell him every time he fancies a cigarette to brush his teeth.

And get him to try arguing with the cigarette - like this:

'No, I don't want you actually, you're just a stupid white stick and you're not better than me nor more powerful.'

Makes you stop and think about what you're doing and chances are when you've brushed your teeth and argued with your cigarette, you'll be laughing too mintily to want to smoke

Good luck to MrHeyMissyToe!

PS - I gave up smoking after ten years doing it (pretty heavily - 20 a day or more), so I'm not just being flippant. I haven't smoked since I decided to stop - nearly seven years ago. I did start when I was 12 though

does he love the kids enough to want to be around for them? thats a good one for me- also children of smokers are more likely to smoke- get him to do it for the kids.
emotional blackmail.
hypnosis is good
rationing not so good- always an excuse not to stop.
wish my h would stop
big hugs and positive vibes for your dp to stop

Also don't think of it as stopping smoking, think of it as starting to be a non-smoker. That's a positive thing, whereas giving up is seen as stopping doing something you enjoy (like steadily killing yourself is a fun thing to do - wtf?!)

xmas - thank you, thank you - brilliant, the book can go in dp christmas stocking!!

pixiefish - thank you, yes I wondered if the rationing was more unhelpful than helpful. The emotional side I mentioned ONCE to him when dd was maybe a month old and we were all home properly as a family from Neonatal unit. DD's weight had finally risen to 4lbs (born 7 weeks early due only to my high bp) He had thoroughly proved himself as an absolute rock and I snuck an emotional please stop smoking we need you plea. I left it there to fester. Marvellous

p.s. dd is teething again - she's up, so I'm up and she's quiet as a mouse if we sit downstairs - so I'm letting dp get sleep for work - promise

Hi there... I have just given up the 20 a day habit myself, and all i can reccomend is the nicotinell patches. They are brilliant, no cravings and after only 5 days dont even feel as if i need the patches anymore! Well worth it. HTH

Thanks Peebles - yes that does help

When I gave up DP and the DD's had a calender in the kitchen that they used to put a star on if I went all day without a fag (not sure that your DD is big enough to do this if she's teething)
DP also made me a pad for my desk and at the end of each week I was allowed to tear off the top sheet and it said "Congratulations thats another week without a fag"
They also sent me a card after the 1st week telling me how proud they were of me.
Oh and I used the patches - which worked really well (I was on between 30-40 a day)
HTH

I'd be interested to know if anyone has tried the Paul McKenna Stop Smoking thing and if so how effective they found it

\link{www.whyquit.com\This} is a good site and I second Allen Carr. If he finds stopping dead too hard then the lozengers are good.
I wish him luck!
I am 2/3 weeks free at the moment, but I am a serial stopper/starter and can only hope this will be my last stopping attempt!

One way that is helping me, (i haven't smoked for 7 months now as am pregnant), is thinking that i'll start again when the baby is in it's own room.
I really don't know if i will or not but it helps me to think i will. SO he could try to quit for a few months and then have the odd one???
(Chances are that by then he won't as he'll be used to not smoking) Have to admit, it's still hard and gets me down!!!

Thanks Momof2 - the note pad is a nice idea

Festivepussy - lol what a name!! could you post the link again maybe it's just me but I think it's not working and I'd love to see the page

Snowmangeliz - this may have some effect - dp gave up once for three weeks - just didn't fancy it?

Sorry \link{http://whyquit.com\Does this work?}
I was charliecat....and I wanted to go christmassy...christmascat was gone so I ended up with this made me laugh though!!

Marvellous Festivepussy (he he) this works a treat - thank you.

Does anyone have an experience of the Paul Mekenna thing spacemonkey asked about below?