Back on the fags - how to quit?

[Billy Dean]

Read the book Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking.

Was a 20 a day smoker, read that and quit instantly and never re-started (except for the odd one here and there when ludicrously drunk)

 

[Bazlar]

Got an appointment tomorrow at the Stop Smoking clinic. Two young grandchildren are the motivation

 

[Tommy.]

Probably depends if it's a mental or physical addiction, I've never really smoked properly but I think nicotine can be either. If it is a mental addiction I'd probably just go with what you say, maybe just try and phase it out by one less or so each time

If it's a physical addiction it's probably not as easy and patches are probably the way forward

Obviously the worst option is to inhale some blue unicorn bubblegum flavoured liquid made by a factory with no licence which has twice the nicotine in that is advertised

I've smoked for nearly 20 years and I think you're spot on with that.

I quit for 6 months 'cold turkey' and was fine with it once I cut back on my booze intake which was easy as I was in a gym mindset then.
Alas, one heavy night and despite them tasting like warmed up poop, I persisted through and was back on them.

If I'm somewhere I know I can't smoke (like an airport) then it doesn't even cross my mind.
The association is the hardest part, booze and smokes, getting away from the desk for 15 minutes, not having one after a meal.

Crack them and you'll be sound.

 

[Tommy.]

Read the book Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking.

Was a 20 a day smoker, read that and quit instantly and never re-started (except for the odd one here and there when ludicrously drunk)

Heard quite a few mention this book
I appreciate you can't summarise in a quick post but what exactly is it which gives it it's mythical status mate?

 

[Billy Dean]

Heard quite a few mention this book
I appreciate you can't summarise in a quick post but what exactly is it which gives it it's mythical status mate?

Others might describe it differently than me, but I would say the crux of it is that people generally smoke because they feel they’re getting some kind of benefit from it. He then goes through all the typical reasons why people think they get a benefit from smoking and dispels them all so that you’re left feeling smoking does nothing for you which should then make it easy to stop.

I did read it 20 years ago so my memory might be a bit sketchy.

Worked for me. Found it easy to quit after reading it

 

[Kurt.]

I stopped about 12 or so weeks ago …. Had been smoking for 2 years. Prior to that I’d stopped for 12 years after smoking for 20. Both times I went the smoking cessation clinic and hit patches, I don’t like the inhalator things they give you. Anyhow, second week in I caught a bug so didn’t put a patch on as I was in bed… never used one again after that either. I’ve had 1 or 2 fags when I’ve been out but last one was about 4 weeks ago and I decided I really don’t like or need them. Can’t see me ever smoking again tbh

 

[Runub]

I stopped during Covid lockdowns. I couldn’t go to Europe to buy duty free and there is no way I would pay the outrageous price in the UK. So if you want to quit hope for a pandemic and be tight fisted

 

[duncs pigeon]

Stopped 30 yrs ago after smoking 20/30 a day. Used patches at the time and also was training for a marathon. Let myself down once on a night out and had a cple and have never been so sick afterwards. The smell of smoke makes me ill now, so @LocalNative think what the smell is like for your family, it's awful. Also, the money you spend on them you can use to a better purpose. Good luck matey, go for it, its a disgusting habit.

 

[Kurt.]

I stopped during Covid lockdowns. I couldn’t go to Europe to buy duty free and there is no way I would pay the outrageous price in the UK. So if you want to quit hope for a pandemic and be tight fisted

I can the next Trump slogan up in lights

“Covid cures cancer”

 

[Infernus]

After 6 months of quitting - despite how pony the footy was I managed to stop - back on the puffs.

The sun has got me back on them, had a couple last week and Jesus lad do they feel good

 

[Mo' Better Blues]

Just leaving this link here https://whyquit.com/ffn/ it’s a free book called Freedom From Nicotine - The Journey Home, I found it incredibly helpful and alongside the SmokeFree app a huge encouragement to quit and stay off the smokes (I just used the free version of the app, the ‘your health improvements’ section is in the free version and is brilliant encouragement in the crucial first month). The guy who wrote the book never monetised it like Allen Carr, he passionately hates the smoking industry and the harm it has done to so many of us, I also thought his insights into the brain dopamine/reward loop and the psychology of addiction resonated with me more than the Allen Carr book (Which didn’t convince me at all but I know has helped millions so not knocking it).

Absolute best of luck to everyone trying to knock this smelly, expensive and life shortening habit.

 

[sdk]

I quit smoking after 28 years in order to focus more on my drinking problem. That was 14 years ago and now my hands shake so much that I couldn’t light up if I wanted to. Good luck!

 

[NorthernBlue]

Quit New Year’s Day 2018. New Year’s Eve was one of them nights where you smash through two 20 decks and feel disgusting in the morning. Just decided that was it. Was brutal for a week with the cravings but then that was it. For a while I got a little urge when walking behind someone smoking but even that’s passed now.

 

[coollino]

Others might describe it differently than me, but I would say the crux of it is that people generally smoke because they feel they’re getting some kind of benefit from it. He then goes through all the typical reasons why people think they get a benefit from smoking and dispels them all so that you’re left feeling smoking does nothing for you which should then make it easy to stop.

I did read it 20 years ago so my memory might be a bit sketchy.

Worked for me. Found it easy to quit after reading it

Thats kind of the reason I never really got into smoking, you don't really get an immediate high from it first time, and you may not really until you 'rely' on them. Whereas with the majority of other drugs you get the high much soonee

 

[Swartzy]

Managed it a couple of times, but never what you would class as long periods of time. I found It's Drinking down the pub with your mates, it will always suck you back in when you wake up to find tobacco in you're home..

It's a bloody nightmare, all the effort you put in to stop and it's blown as easy as that..