Do you smoke too much, want to cut down, but now actually quit ???? (sorry this is not a "quitting" thread)..

[FAQ]

Come and join me please. I don't want to quit, I just want to cut down (dramatically) , so please don't come and tell me "well just quit" - thank you

I smoke roll-ups now, and as I roll them as I want one my smoking has got totally ott. Unlike a packet - where you can see how many you've got/had I only have the evidence in the ash tray at the end of the day - and it's not good (I think I must be smoking close to 40 some days if not more )

Last night I sat down before I went to bed and pre-rolled 20 and put them in my cigarette tin. I've figured that 1 per hour during the day (if the DS's will let me escape long enough) and then I@ve got a few extra for after they've gone to bed).

It's been tough going so far, the amount of times I've reached over to roll one........then realised I have them ready rolled and that actually it hadn't been long since my last one is quite shocking. However the one per hour is working so far (I'm currently trying to kill time to leave my one for this hour 11-12 as late as possible).

So - do any other smokers (who don't want to quit -but just cut down like to join me?

duh - of course the thread title SHOULD read but NOT actually quit

while you are thinking about cutting back, read whyquit.com

Before I stopped I was having a fag about once every 24 mins or so

whyquit and the support of other Mnetters got me off them, even tho you dont want to stop, you might understand the nature of the beast and want to walk away anway

undercover - I don't want to quit now - I'm not quitting now, I'm just trying to cut back to the levels I used to smoke instead of stupid amounts (and yes I know what it does to me)

FAQ, I could have written your post. I need to cut down as well. Well, I really need to stop but I'm supposed to be going to Amsterdam for my birthday in December and I just know I'll be tempted to smoke there.

I think your idea of rolling beforehand is a good one. I'll do the same and try not to go past 20 a day.

Do you also tell yourself that your rollies are smaller than regular cigarettes and therefore you allow yourself to smoke more? I do.

I don't think I think that - but I find they're easier to smoke than the cigarettes I used to smoke. So all to easy to just roll another one without thinking about it, and sneak outside for one.

I'm really quite shocked by how many times I've reached for one without evening thinking about what I'm doing.

still got up at 8 this morning and so far have had 3 (I think usually I would have had about 6/7 by now)

I have to go now as some inconsiderate children are wanting my attention .

I'm going to wait another 45 mins before my next one.

Keep up your good work, FAQ.

thanks you too - think I'm going to have my next one now - it's been an hour since my last - and have to go and get DS2 from school soon.

Good luck

Yes yes, I hear you But knowledge is power and may put you back to your less smoking days

ill join you. i actually started doing this last night. how im doing it is everytime i feel like one im making myself wait at least half an hour before having one.

i have no intentions of quitting. i enjoy smoking. i know its bad for me, but living with my children and dh is even worse for you without a release

undercover - I will get back to my less smoking days (already doing it now ).

End of the day I enjoy my rollies - but think I'd enjoy them more if I didn't smoke so many of the darned things LOL (they'd be more of a "woohooo I've got 5 minutes to get outside for a fag - let me go and enjoy it" rather than "omg a I want another cigarette - quick rush outside as the kids are being a PITA because I went out just 20 minutes ago" )

faq -why don't you want to quit?

this actually fascinates me as a non smoker.

how can you actually WANT to do something so dangerous?

seriously?
do you not lie awake at night tormented by worries of what you are doing to your body?

SeaShells - I did that with this one - about 10.45 I thought "ooo I want my next fag" - but knew I had to wait until at least 11.then I've killed some time posting this thread and playing a game - while sitting looking at my fag tin out of the corner of my eye" .

Once upon a time I used to have one as soon as I got up with my coffee, one just after lunch, one when dinner was cooking, another just after we'd had dinner, one straight after the DS's had gone to bed and then a few in the evening (quantity depended on whether I'd had a drink in the evening or not )

Then when things were crap at work before I had DS3 I started smoking a bit more, then earlier this year when I was really low I smoke LOADS, and even though I'm much happier now I've stuck with it.......

we WILL cut down (but not quit as we enjoy it)

"how can you actually WANT to do something so dangerous?"

Surely the same could be said of many things. I enjoy a drink - but try not to drink on my own now after I got myself into a mess earlier this year - at least if I have a cigarette (or two) I'm still in a fit state to look after myself and my children

I don't want to quit as I enjoy it

right i'm a smoker, i would end up divorced and locked in a mental institute if i was made to give up BUT i have cut down, i don't take fags out of the house with me unless i know i'm going to be ages- i can't stand seeing people pushing a pram having a fag so i make sure i can't

Problem is then when i get home i make up for all the 'lost' smoking time- also i chain smoke in the eve once kids have all gone to bed and i'm in the garden- but am conciously trying to stop that

well i decided that i wanted one a few minutes ago so im going to wait untill 12. then my mum phoned to see if ill babysit nephew in the morning

god-i don't know if the same could be siad of many things!

alcohol-yes is bad if you drink excessively.

but apart from the social aspect[ie if you are drunk all the time it's really bad for your family] then drinking isn't dnagerous like smoking is it? it doesn't give your kids health problems and i don't THINK it cuts your life expectancy as much as smoking.

how do smokers do it then? do you just close your minmd to the health risks? or is it a case of it being 'worth it?'

don't pre roll, i think that's worse.

i smoke about 10 a day, and always only smoke half (rollies here too).

Same as pirate-about 10 rollies a day here (more if a few glasses of wine have been slurped though) and I make 'prison' rollies-about 4 strands of tobacco,never pre roll or take tobacco out unless I'm going to be out for hours.

pirate - I'm finidng the pre-rolled better - as I can see how the amount in my tin is going down. - whereas I have been rolling without really thinking about how many I've had.

I can see how many I've got left in my tin - and I know that if I've finished them all by 5pm I'm stuffed - so making conscious effort not to pick on out.

Last one was about 1/2hr ago - but I'm going to try and see if I can leave it until around 1ish before I have my next - get DS3 down for nap and make some lunch, then enjoy one with my coffee (usually having just picked DS2 up I'd have a fag, get DS3 milk and put him for nap, have another fag, make lunch for DS2, have a fag, make myself lunch, gave a fag etc etc)..........

FAQ I am an ex smoker and I can really sympathise with you. Cutting down is better than carrying on. You may quit one day, but if cutting down is all you can do at the moment then that is fine. Unfortunately non smokers do not understand the addiction/craving of smoking and never will. Pre rolling may help, but perhaps you could give the rest of the tobacco to your DP/DH or a relative so that you are not tempted to roll extra ones. Keep busy it will take your mind off it. Next time you go to light one, think, I will just do that first or this first then I will light it. You may get rid of another half an hour without realising it.

Good luck.

no DP/DH or relative close by to give the baccy to - also I rolled these ones for today about 1.30am this morning - not sure any of my friends would be happy about me knocking on their door at that sort of time in the morning asking for my baccy so I can pre-roll the next days lot lol.

LOL, Sorry wasn't presuming that you had a DH/DP Perhaps put the tin out of sight. What am I saying! I know what it is like and come hell or high water you will roll one if you want one. Keep trying you will save money after all. We've all been there, so desperate, lighting up dog ends etc. You could try having some early nights too that may help, that's if you can sleep without thinking of them......sorry I'm not helping am I

I won't roll one - I had ran out of tobacco on Saturday night around 10pm, it was early enough to ring a friend that lives round the corner to get me some (and I have done that in the past ) - but I didn't.......and I also didn't resort to the dog ends (though was tempted).

Early nights???? You must be joking - if I go to bed early - I'll be up early - and I don't get out of bed before I have to

lol faq me and my friend live just around the corner from each other and she is always msn'ing me to ask if i will send dh to the shop for her or if she is skint will i send dh to her with a few of mine. i often do the same to her too. if all the shops have closed and im out ill msn her and tell her im sending dh around.

i want another one now. so im going to wash the pans and sort the litter tray and try and wait untill half past. which will make it 90 mins since my last one.

that's good if it works for you faq. My mum rolls in advance and smokes too many. I suggested it becuase my mum actualy said once, she couldn't be bothered to have a fag as she couldn't be bothered to roll one!!

I get my tobacco very cheap now as have relatives in spain.