Thread: how?

how do you do it? i hate smoking, (i type with fag in hand) it stinks, its expensive, i cant breath properly, cant walk upstairs, it leaves me depressed that it controls me.

what do you do, im highly addicted, you know the type, i need a tab, tea and a cough for breakfast .

Hi Jack

I'm on day 5 of not smoking so feeling very pleased with myself

I've tried just about everything there is out there including champix, zyban etc etc but in the end it boiled down to:

got emphysema and breathing getting worse
got no money to buy cigs (although always managed to 'find' the money)
got a nagging 18yr old son!!

I truly believe that no matter what you try, nothing will work until you are ready.

My oh and me were smoking about 60/day between us and in that new NHS Quit Kit, you get a dial thing which shows the cost over a period of time. I was utterly gob-smacked to see that in 20yrs we would be spending £85,000 just on cigs & thats at todays prices. If we compare todays prices with 5yrs ago, a pack of 20 in 10yrs time will be £10 at least so that £85ooo is grossly underestimated.

I wouldn't be able to be with smoking friends yet so we've not been out for the last 5 days lol

One thing I did notice at the weekend was when I opened a bag of cheese and onion crisps - they stank!!! Obviously they have always smelt but I had never noticed it so my sense of smell is returning very quickly.

You will get there but it's not easy and I wish you loads of luck. If you need to sound off about it all, let me know!

First of all...WELL DONE Mkb That is fantastic.

Have you tried giving up before Jack?

MKB, seriously well done, thats fantastic, brilliant well done for your achievments.

ive tried before miserably, and i understand finding money when got nowt, i only once managed more than a few hours, but with champix, i managed a month for the first time in 25 years, but doctors wont give me it again even after i begged and said i would pay, ( id rather be in debt for something that may save me). if i could find someone who would give me champix id pay, sad isnt it.

i dont want to smoke no more, but i also understand willpower, and ive not much -

i need to reprogramme my thoughts, did anyone do this ? and how ?

I will be 12 years this Sunday.

I used the Alan Car book. (not the comedian ) It was like my bible for a few weeks. I know loads of people who used it, some read it to help with other methods.

2 of my sisters gave up recently using the patches. And I have a few friends who used Champix, but if you do decide to Champix it, go to your doctor who will prescribe them.

What ever way you decide you sound determined, and on here we will be here for you to sound off with.

Around 12 months for me.

I just shifted my focus from wanting a cigarette to doing something else instead, like making a cup of tea.

It is hard but you just need to stay resolute and pride yourself on getting through another day without smoking.

Originally Posted by sea-sidelady

I will be 12 years this Sunday.

Hahaha - 12yrs puts my 5 days into perspective

Jack - it really sounds as though you want to do it. Does your Dr's surgery run a stop smoking clinic? The one at our surgery is run by a nurse and we went there and got patches as well as an inhalator which are good.

I'm guessing champix are expensive & that Dr might want to be convinced of your commitment before prescribing them but that would be very short-sighted IMO. You can get them over the counter in some countries but not here.

Trust me I know about will-power and mine would have been sorely tested if I had any cigs or were with friends that smoke but I have kept away from them for the last week because I dont think I could have said no!!

I think the main way of doing it, is one day at a time. Try not to think long term.

Hi Jack,

I followed Alan Carr and it seems to have worked (touch wood). Five weeks without smoking and feeling better. The book helped me to think differently about smoking, and as you mentioned re-programming your thoughts it may work for you too.

And when I do get the occasional craving I imagine wrapping my lips around a car exhaust and inhaling - that usually does the trick.

i went to the stop smoking clinic today, im getting my champix tommorrow, im so looking forward to it because i know that it will work and i will be smoke free very soon.

Good for you. Keep us updated every step of the way. We will be here to kick your...ahem I mean help you along the way

Seriously though, good luck

Good luck with it, you can do it

good luck x