Quitting smoking, any advice?

deamonds · Post by **deamonds** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 2:29 pm

since yesterday i have been trying to give up smoking cigarettes, iv only smoked 1 2day, that was about 5 mins ago, has anybody got any tips on giving up, APART from patches, gum blah blah

(ps im NOT giving up the skunk.....dont b so silly, as if)

elgato · Post by **elgato** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 2:41 pm

my tips (it worked for me after 7 years or so of 20ish a day average):

dont cut down, stop completely

dont have the odd draw on someone elses

dont have a spliff when you want a tab

if its hard to be around smokers, then just allow them for a bit, say im sorry ive got to go i cant hack it... its worth it

most importantly:

make sure that you really really deep down inside want to stop. you're never not gonna want one, but you need complete dedication to ending it, or it wont happen

i never bothered with nicotine replacement, i tried it but it just made me want one more

deamonds · Post by **deamonds** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 2:44 pm

elgato wrote:my tips (it worked for me after 7 years or so of 20ish a day average):

dont cut down, stop completely

dont have the odd draw on someone elses

dont have a spliff when you want a tab

if its hard to be around smokers, then just allow them for a bit, say im sorry ive got to go i cant hack it... its worth it

most importantly:

make sure that you really really deep down inside want to stop. you're never not gonna want one, but you need complete dedication to ending it, or it wont happen

i never bothered with nicotine replacement, i tried it but it just made me want one more

sweet for that man, thanks for the encouragement, i really appreciate it mate

im also going 2 roll pure spliffs from now on, and its NO MORE cigarettes!!

elgato · Post by **elgato** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 2:52 pm

do it!

it feels impossible for a long while, but then before you know it the urge will be gone

and then you'll feel fucking great, free'd at last

joseph-j · Post by **joseph-j** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 3:29 pm

Get a girlfriend who despises smoking and every time you spark up she should punch you.

You'll soon realise its bad for your health.

elgato · Post by **elgato** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 3:48 pm

did that one

didnt work

we broke up and i sparked up without thinking twice

i reckon its got to be for yourself (well for me it had to be anyways)

mos dan · Post by **mos dan** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 3:58 pm

elgato wrote:did that one

didnt work

we broke up and i sparked up without thinking twice

me too. didn't work either!

i978 · Post by **i978** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:37 pm

Got this stuff from the NHS quit smoking website. I found it useful to know what was going on when you stop. Also - think that a 20 a day habit costs about £140 a month. Use the money you save to do something constructive - like buy some records or get a dub cut

Day 1:
Well done, the start of a better life! By the end of today, your blood pressure will have returned to normal and the carbon monoxide will have been eliminated from your body. Remember to breathe deeply through a craving and drink lots of water.
Day 2:
After two days nicotine is no longer detectable in the body. Withdrawal symptoms are likely to peak today and tomorrow so keep really focused and determined. Remind yourself that your skin is getting warmer and that your sense of taste and smell are improving.
Day 3:
You may go through the worst period of withdrawal today but be strong and remind yourself that once this is over, symptoms gradually decrease and fade away. In three weeks time, physical withdrawal should be a thing of the past. Keep busy, keep focused.
Day 4:
You may be feeling restless and empty. This is your body craving nicotine and it is easy to confuse with physical hunger. Drink as much water as you can and keep healthy snacks to hand. Try going for a quiet walk in the park or going to the gym for a workout.
Day 5:
By now, your breathing will be easier, your skin and eyes should be clearer and you should already feel your energy levels improving. Try and get into the habit of relaxing, morning and night, using a relaxation technique.
1 week:
Sleeping patterns should return to normal. You may find you have a sore throat and are coughing more than usual as your lungs do their job and reject the tar and debris that has accumulated over the years.
2 weeks:
Blood vessels all over your body are beginning to open up again and your circulation is starting to improve. It will continue to do so for the next few months and your energies will quickly rise.

little boh peep · Post by **little boh peep** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:35 pm

Make sure you really want to stop and fully commit to it.

Expect to gain a little weight. The reason is twofold - one, you might eat out of boredom where you'd normally have a cigarette, and two, your metabolic rate drops something like 5-10% in the short term when you give up nicotine. Excercising will remedy this of course, and working up a good sweat will help to speed the detoxification process.

If you're averse to going on the patch (which IMHO is just delaying the inevitable - so good for you!), B vitamins are a holistic alternative. Niacin, Inositol, and and Choline Bitartrate are similar chemically to nicotine, minus the addictive properties, and will help to take away cravings. (Choline and Inositol are also very good for reducing panic attacks/anxiety disorders FYI.) Be careful taking large doses of rapid-release Niacin though - and you should assume all Niacin is rapid-release unless it specifically says "slow release" on the bottle - because too much Niacin at once will make you very flushed and uncomfortable, like a sunburn all over your body. (The Niacin flush is well-documented as being great for cardiovascular health however.) Avoid taking Choline and Inositol too close to bedtime, as they can keep you awake.

Good luck!

tronman · Post by **tronman** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 6:14 pm

giving up is for quitters maaan

parson · Post by **parson** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 6:18 pm

the cool thing about quitting smoking is it gives you the opportunity to work on will power

its like a muscle and you must flex it to make it stronger

parson · Post by **parson** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 6:18 pm

oh yeah and i smoked for 10 years and quit about 5 years ago

cold turkey

pk- · Post by **pk-** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:03 pm

APART from patches, gum blah blah

have you tried them yet?

i didn't realise how they worked til recently, they make you feel like you've already smoked 20 cigarettes so as soon as you spark up you feel sick as a dog.

not that i use them, cigarettes make me look really cool.

good luck

shonky · Post by **shonky** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:13 pm

Been smoking for 18 years - gave up through willpower for 3 months and then stupidly had the occassional puff on a joint, started to smoke the occassional one down the pub and then gradually went back to it.

Really is fucking stupid to even start to be honest. Will try again soonish (I think) so that I can feel a bit healthier and not wake up feeling poisoned and wheezy, but it just punctuates every waking moment for me.

Prepare for every little thing to become ridiculously annoying and wanting to punch people that say hello. I seemed to babble bollocks to an even greater degree than I do now, so much so that I had people leave as I was getting too manic.

Could try Zyban - it's an anti-depressant, but they found that it stops the receptors in the brain getting a hit from cigarettes so makes the whole thing pointless. You start it whilst you're smoking and as it gradually does less for you, the idea is that you gradually see less and less point in it.

Might be worth googling though to check if there's any side-effects though. Willpower's probably the best one, but considering how many people continue to smoke after heart attacks, strokes, tracheotomys, etc, you should never underestimate the strength of the addiction.

If they were £50 a pack I doubt many people would continue

diablo · Post by **diablo** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:26 pm

Take up smoking crack and then you will not be able to afford cigarettes

product · Post by **product** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:33 am

Diablo wrote:Take up smoking crack and then you will not be able to afford cigarettes

hahahahaha

jack sparrow1 · Post by **jack sparrow1** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:49 am

shonky · Post by **shonky** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 1:20 am

jack sparrow1 wrote:

I pity the poor non-smoker that's had his lungs removed - bet he's furious

parson · Post by **parson** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 1:52 am

i wonder how bad the ganj is fuckin our lungs up

Quitting smoking, any advice?

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