Sandie Seward
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Why is it So Difficult? Just why is giving up Smoking so dammed hard? I think for me, the hardest thing is not having something to do with my hands, because I do not smoke when I'm actually driving, or doing a task that requires my total concentration. I am managing to cut down quite a lot, however, and I feel that this is the best way for me to go about it. What methods do you find works for you?
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Ken R
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This is a question I have often pondered over myself Admin, and to be honest, I have not found a satisfactory explanation yet !
I must confess to a slight relapse myself today. I got a bit stressed out Sunday afternoon and ended up smoking 2 ciggies on the trot to try and calm down. It seemed to have the desired affect but I'm a bit ashamed that I gave in so easily to the craving 
Still, I will persevere, I really do want to give up, both for health and financial reasons.
I'll root for you admin if you'll root for me, between us, we will lick this once and for all 
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Sandie Seward
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 There was an ad on ITV tonight advertising Nicotinell, and they do claim to reduce your're consumption by 50%. They certainly have helped me do just that, so for once, an ad is not making any wild claims, but actually telling the complete truth.
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Sandie Seward
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 Well, it's over two weeks since trying to cut down on the roll-ups, but I've run out of nicotinell and the damn stuff is more expensive than a 25g. pack of Drum. So, guess what? I'm back up to where I was when I first started 
I think, to really give up, I'd need something drastic, ....like hypnotherapy!
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Ken R
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Well, I'm ashamed to say that I've joined the re-starters club today Admin Somebody has been doing their level best to wind me up for a while now and today I finally came close to actually wacking them. Intstead, I took myself off to the local newsagents and bought 10 fags, to date, I have smoked 6 of them ! I am as annoyed with myself as I am with the moron who is winding me up, it was either buy some fags or do something really evil to this person. Once I have calmed down, I will endeavour to kick the weed again and then wack the annoying moron as well probably !
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Sandie Seward
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 Please, Ken, don't feel bad about it, it's much preferable to have a smoke than a 'punch-up' and to risk being done for assault.
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Ken R
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There speaks the voice of reason again, how do you fancy a full time job as my concience Admin ? I'm afraid to say that I am still having the odd crafty drag and still beating myself up over it, what i can't get my head around is how I can get so determined and pig headed over some jobs and see them through to the bitter end regardless of personal cost etc. but can't manage to give up smoking ? It drives me crazy, good job there's no one else around to see me rant and rave in private !
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Sandie Seward
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How's the smoking going, Ken? Have you managed to cut down, or (shock! horror!) give it up yet?
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Ken R
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The smoking, or rather lack of it, was going great until the night the burglar struck I kinda went over the top a bit that nite and havn't quite recovered yet ! I still intend to kick the weed but if things keep going the way they have done the last few weeks, it will be an uphill struggle !
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brian.b
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why is it so difficult?hello admin, hello ken,
you both have my sympathy in your battle to give up the weed. i gave up almost 4 years ago in an instant, but it took a mini-stroke to do it. i had had a fag, walked into the kitchen, stood there for ten minutes, turned and walked back into our living room, when wallop, i was going down into a chair when i had a mini-stroke. within an hour i was in a&e at the nearest hospital 15 miles away and this is the conversation that took place as near as i can recall it and i was laying on a hospital trolley at this time.
doctor. do you smoke?
me. yes 20 a day.
doctor. i would give up if i was you.
me. give up what?
doctor. the cigarettes.
me. i don't smoke.
doctor. you said you are on 20 a day.
me. not any more i'm not.
i gave up there and then, but will admit, i do still get the pang for one and would be a liar if i said otherwise, so good luck to you both.
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Ken R
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Well done Brian, you have my admiration, as does anybody who manages to give up just like that. I am determined to get there myself and hopefully, soon 
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brian.b
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smoking | Ken R wrote: | | Well done Brian, you have my admiration, as does anybody who manages to give up just like that. I am determined to get there myself and hopefully, soon |
good luck, because without the stroke, i think i would have found it hard as well.
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Sandie Seward
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Trying yet another gadget in my feeble attempts to cut out my tobacco habit. This time it's an imitation ciggarette, that's 'supposed' to taste just like the real thing. Believe me, it doesn't, and you feel a complete plonker trying to 'draw' on this cold, unfriendly piece of plastic tubing, that allegedly has 'nicotine flavouring'. All it feels and tastes like to me is a small piece of plastic tubing made to look like a ciggy, but has no flavour of the real thing whatsoever.
I'm afraid I've wasted £1.99 on this useless gimick. It most certainly won't help me!
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Ken R
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Please don't despair Admin, it will come eventually ! I hit the weed again in Feb this year after my burglary and I am still trying to wean myself off them again ! I have re-stocked with the dreaded gum and will try again this coming weekend, it may be gradual but I'm determined to get off the damn things again !
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marieann
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Stopping smoking is one of the hardest things I ever had to do. After trying chewing gum, hypnosis and will power over the years I finally stopped six years ago with 24 hour patches. I must have really wanted to stop this time I didn't slip up once.
I hope you both manage it painlessly it is a wonderful feeling when you succeed.
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Sandie Seward
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Marieann, I'm not 100% sure I even want to give up. I enjoy my tobacco, (I roll my own), and it helps to keep me reletively sane in a mad world!
I'd probably eat a lot more if I didn't smoke, so I wouldn't save any money as all the tobacco money would go on choccies and biccies!!!
Then I'd become obese and have worse problems to deal with.
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maggie59
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I gave up smoking 4 years ago ,i had a bad cough and in the end i couldn't breathe,(very scary it was )So by the time i was admitted to hostipal i had stopped smoking.I did have a little craving after but not anymore.
Now im getting podgy
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Ken R
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I've got the podgy bit already, so I guess I can bypass the giving up smoking bit completely
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Maywalk
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Well if I can do it after smoking for 51 years then you can do it too.
I had nothing to help me even though patches had come out then and the chewing gum.
I did it by telling myself each night before going to sleep that I HATED the smell and the taste of tobacco. This went on for about six months and one day I had two left in a packet.
My hubby knew I was trying to stop and he used to say that I would never give it up.
He watched in amazement as I threw the two remaining cigarettes in the bin saying that I will never be smoking again.
He scoffed at me and said I would be smoking again the next day.
I made a bet with him that if I had not smoked for at least a month from that time he owed me £50.
He had too pay up and I have NEVER smoked since.
I was 68 when I stopped smoking and I will be 76 next week. 
It can be done IF you WANT to do it.
Try brain washing yourselves like I did.
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Dee
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This is the first thread I have visited since joining because I stopped smoking in November, had tried cutting down, it really does not work. Had been having terrible Asthma, loads of colds which took forever to get over, you know the things, I stunk, the TV screen, walls, curtains had a permanent dark yellow haze. I did not take a substitute, just went cold turkey and it was very difficult. Plus, my husband smokes and he still does, roll-up's. He did try to get me back on the fags because he could not go more than a day, this despite the fact I had told him not to stop because I was. Think it was a man thing!
I still do not smoke, swear I never will again. BUT I have a lousy cold at the moment, my tum is getting too large. OH! Hell!! 
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Maywalk
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Hi there Dee. Lovely to see you here and joining in.
I have not greeted you on the newcomers thread because I wanted others to see that they had a new member.
Glad to hear that you too have stopped smoking.
Dont give up because things do get better after a while. I might even ask someone to nominate me for a medal for not smoking again.
Would you like your name putting forward as well.
Cheers Maisie.
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Dee
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OF COURSE, deserve one, it is not easy. One big advantage is the money I save, £20.00 per week. Treat myself and do not feel so guilty. Nearly £500 now!!
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maggie59
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Well done,Dee to giving up smoking.
For me it was easy to give up as i had a awful cough,then ended up in hostipal.
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cinderella
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When i was about 17 i tried my 1st ciggy,i didnt know whether to blow or what,and too me it was horrid so never took it up,i rather drink than smoke,but i have a daughter who smokes and i really wished she didnt as she has a bad cough.
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Dee
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Yes! I think it was the cough that got to me, then I started getting Asthma too, trouble is now my sense of smell is acute and realise how much I used to smell of the stuff, can now understand how my family felt when giving me a cuddle. Hope now to get more cuddles!
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Maywalk
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You have put it in a nutshell Dee about having a cuddle.
It must have been revolting for my family to give me one in the past.
That explains WHY I get so many now.
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Ken R
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Ahhhh....haaa ! The Smell & Cuddles theory explains a lot, it is all beginning to make sense now, Thank you Maywalk
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marieann
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Thank you Ken you have just made me laugh until the tears ran down my face.
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Dee
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What's that old quotation? ..................but the coffin they carry you off in.
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caroljoyce
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Congratulations to all those who've managed to stop smoking.
I know how hard it is.
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brian.b
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Friends I have kept out of this thread because I felt it better to wait and read all opinions. As a now ex-choker, I know how hard it is to give up. Like most of you, I enjoyed a puff, but having suffered the mini-stroke three years ago, it frightened me BIG time and so gave up there and then. I will admit, it IS hard until you have fright and then it can be easy. Yes I put some two and half stone on, but please believe me, it wasn't too long before I lost it again and now enjoy my food more.
IF you can't do it, you DO have my sympathy. I will admit, I do still get the odd craving, but most of the time, I simply forget about them.
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Sylvia
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My late parents were both smokers and as a child they would beckon me to climb upon their lap for a cuddle. I loved cuddles, doesn't everybody, but I disliked the smell of stale tobacco on their clothing.
Now Mum was a scrupulous woman and always kept the house shining like a new pin, but there was no escaping that tobacco smell, it seemed to linger in the textiles of the room. I guess you could say, that is the reason I have never smoked at all, neither did my brother or two sisters.
My ex husband of 24 years was a heavy smoker and he no sooner put one out, then he would fumble with the packet and start to light up again. I didn't understand why he couldn't give up the weed, but he seemed at a loss of what to do with his hands if he didn't have a cigarette on the go.
I like a glass of white wine with a meal, particularly on Sunday, but a phrase I heard a long time ago is but a reminder:
Take hold of the glass of wine
but don't let the glass of wine take hold of you! and I don't!
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Mike.S
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Falling off the wagonNot doing too badly at kicking the weed,and managed to go without for almost a week at a time, but come the weekend, im suffering from acute boredom and had a puff over the weekend,but managed to reduce this by half as well, so i'm getting there. Perhaps this next week will be a turning point, I hope so. The gum definately works for me.
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Dee
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Hi! Mike good to hear you are persevering, my husband still smokes and at times I find it hard not to give in, trouble is I would let down, not only myself but my family who are all proud of me. All you can do is your best, it has got to be better than doing nothing. Pleased to hear the gum works for you. You will beat it you know, and you will have good reason to be proud.
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Sylvia
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Hi Mike, so glad that you are trying to kick the habit, please don't give up hope. You're doing great and I'm very proud of you.
One day Mike, you will look back on this and you'll be proud of yourself too! Furthermore, I can guarantee, that once you join the ranks of the 'Non Smokers' you will realise just how horrible it is to get close to people who are 'Smokers' and the smell on their clothes and on their breath, will make you want to puke.
I've never smoked Mike, but I was married to a chain smoker, I hated getting close to him and I wonder, how we ever managed two children together. Both my parents were smokers, I hated that as well! Maybe growing up with parents who thought they were both chimneys, is why I made a decision not to smoke myself.
Good Luck Mike, you're doing really well!
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marieann
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Best of luck Mike it's a lovely feeling when you finally know you have stopped.
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