There seems to be quite a few posts popping up at the moment with members sort of screaming that they're gagging for a ciggie or even that they've had a little slip but they're back on course, phew..!
Everyone on this forum is (I assume) at some stage of a quit and is using whatever method seems to be working (or not) for them.
If you look to the "older" members of the forum you will see the success stories and therefore be able to see a method that works. The problem is that even the successful quitters all seem to have adopted their own system for cessation and applied it in a way that works for them.
The following is MY opinion. Don’t flame me for it, it’s working for me and if it prevents someone having a little slip today then all the better.
Well today's thought for the day is this, "Smoking is all in the head"
We’re all pretty much similar as human beings so why do some of us need drugs to quit? Why can some heavy smokers quit “cold-turkey†overnight and some very casual smokers never seem to break the habit? I’d say it’s because physical nicotine addiction is just pants. Cut off the supply and the body has a slight moan and then forgets about it.
The brain on the other hand goes absolutely mental and demands its fix! Your body has now gone off playing tennis with a friend, ok, it’s got a slight cough and feels under the weather but generally it’s cool with it and is giving the brain no support at all.
Now the brain goes into battle, and it fights for its fix like getting an eel into a jam jar. It will try anything to get you to smoke again (ever had that feeling where you HOPE there’s bad news because it’s an excuse to smoke.?) or even get you to the point where your family shout, “for god’s sake have a cigarette, you’re driving us mad!â€
I think the way to have an easy quit is to have a desire to stop greater than your ability to think yourself back onto the fags.
Don’t “plan†to quit. Don’t quit at the end of a packet, or a week or a year.
Stop the moment you realise the need to be a non-smoker.
Throw 19 fags away if you have to.
Laugh in the face of tobacco, drop ice cubes down the vest of nicotine.
Remember you can sleep 8 hours without a smoke. Your body works fine without it when your brain’s nodded off.
Once you’ve passed 72 hours and there’s no nicotine in your system why smoke.? Your brain would hug you for sure if you did. All those nicotine receptors popping back to life but what for? Your body wouldn’t appreciate it, only your brain.
We need to continually remind ourselves that we’re not giving anything up, we’re not depriving ourselves of anything so what on earth would a smoke do for us.?
The cravings stop when you stop them. They’re in your head. If you’re strong that’s today.
Written by
austinlegro
11 Years Smoke Free
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i quit roll-ups this Monday 10th december, and really feeling crap today, i decided to look up any help on the internet and found your thought for the day.
by the time i'd finished reading it the cravings had gone. really well said.
and i agree reading about people "screaming that they're gagging for a ciggie" is really off putting. it makes you want one even more!
my boyfriend (non-smoker) said i could have a puppy if i stopped smoking, but now a couple of days in, i'm not sure i even want the dog, but amazingly i really want to quit for good. i've smoked since i was about 14, so thats about 12 years - scary.
i quit roll-ups this Monday 10th december, and really feeling crap today, i decided to look up any help on the internet and found your thought for the day.
by the time i'd finished reading it the cravings had gone. really well said.
and i agree reading about people "screaming that they're gagging for a ciggie" is really off putting. it makes you want one even more!
my boyfriend (non-smoker) said i could have a puppy if i stopped smoking, but now a couple of days in, i'm not sure i even want the dog, but amazingly i really want to quit for good. i've smoked since i was about 14, so thats about 12 years - scary.
but hey thanks for the help!!
Welcome to the forum Liath.
Remember, no matter how weird the posts get in here, the only purpose is to get off and keep off the fags. Everyone is trying to do the right thing and help those who are not as far down the road as they are. No one gives up nicotine lightly and it always helps to have a cupboard full of ammunition.
You're at that crucial 72 hour stage now so you're over the physical worst. Now you just need to fight your own brain's demands and cope with your body getting accustomed to life without nicotine. Ease off of the coffee too it confuses things a bit..!
Throw away the rose-tinted smoking goggles and just take it one day at a time.
If it's of any use, my wife's current assessment of my quit is, "You were a bit of a tw*t that first weekend but you've been ever so good since."
i think my boyfriend would definetly have thrown me out if i hadn't improved this last day. i just felt really tearful and like a stroppy teenager "you don't understand me" crap!
i really do feel loads better in myself. but do you have any tips on keeping the weight down as this was one of the reasons i never really wanted to try??
To be honest Liath weight control is a simple thing.
Burn more calories than you consume.
I eat what I want when I want and always have, I can do this not becuase I have a fast metabolism or because I'm genetically gifted its becuase I ensure I burn more calories than I eat.
I cycle for an hour a day (8 miles to work and 8 miles home) that is around 800-900 calories per day dependant on speed and wind.
I then work out in the gym 3-5 times a week depending on other commitments.
You can do it too it just takes a little bit of juggling of your other commitments, I have 4 kids and a full time job also but still manage to fit in exercise.
Keep focused on what you eat and it can be controlled easily but never forget the best thing you can do for your health is stopping smoking.
just to reinforce what Dazlittle so nicely said....
at this point in your quit don't even think about it. You've plenty of smoke free time in the future to address your weight. If you have the munchies graze on the lower fat / heathy option snack rather than biccies.
Everyone who cares about you will prefer you chubbier and smoke free. :rolleyes:
Just don't let Mr Nic sway you that following his path will get you back into that skimpy little outfit. He speaks with a forked tongue.
To be honest Liath weight control is a simple thing.
Burn more calories than you consume.
I eat what I want when I want and always have, I can do this not becuase I have a fast metabolism or because I'm genetically gifted its becuase I ensure I burn more calories than I eat.
I cycle for an hour a day (8 miles to work and 8 miles home) that is around 800-900 calories per day dependant on speed and wind.
I then work out in the gym 3-5 times a week depending on other commitments.
You can do it too it just takes a little bit of juggling of your other commitments, I have 4 kids and a full time job also but still manage to fit in exercise.
Keep focused on what you eat and it can be controlled easily but never forget the best thing you can do for your health is stopping smoking.
you are a very busy bee!!
i do salsa dancing and JKD twice a week but at the moment i just feel bloated did you or anyone else have this problem??
that is why my boyfriend bribed me with a puppy because then i wont get fat if i have to walk it every day!!lol
I think when quitting smoking one tends to focus a lot more on every aspect of health including weight issues, so this would lead to you thinking you are bloated.
I'm sure you are much more attractive without that cancer stick hanging out of your mouth even if you are a couple of pounds heavier.
I think a lot more about my appearance now I've quit, I think its just a knock on effect of feeling physically healthier.
To be fair there does seem to be an anti allan carr feeling on this forum, don't know why, whatever works surely. I know he is anti nrt, but if you are strong enough to quit without any form of nicotine, good on all of you who do.
To be fair there does seem to be an anti allan carr feeling on this forum, don't know why, whatever works surely. I know he is anti nrt, but if you are strong enough to quit without any form of nicotine, good on all of you who do.
Judging by the "stopping smoking guide" on this site's home page I guess it's because we must be funded partially by the pharmaceutical companies.
"Strong enough" suggests angst, hardship, turmoil and grief. In reality, the "lightbulb over the head moment" that Allen Carr suggests is simple and pain free. I'll say it again, I haven't read his stop smoking book, only his NRT scandal book but that was enough to switch the bulb on.
I've read some very old posts on here today and I've read about the hardship some have gone through to stay off the fags in those important early days, surely we just need a simple way of switching that bulb on for everyone..?
Why can't the NHS produce it as a factsheet, all my GP ever said to me was, "you know it'll catch up with you in the end..!"
Not what I would call sympathetic cessation advice. :confused:
The following is MY opinion. Don’t flame me for it, it’s working for me and if it prevents someone having a little slip today then all the better.
Well today's thought for the day is this, "Smoking is all in the head"
We’re all pretty much similar as human beings so why do some of us need drugs to quit? Why can some heavy smokers quit “cold-turkey†overnight and some very casual smokers never seem to break the habit? I’d say it’s because physical nicotine addiction is just pants. Cut off the supply and the body has a slight moan and then forgets about it.
The brain on the other hand goes absolutely mental and demands its fix! Your body has now gone off playing tennis with a friend, ok, it’s got a slight cough and feels under the weather but generally it’s cool with it and is giving the brain no support at all.
Now the brain goes into battle, and it fights for its fix like getting an eel into a jam jar. It will try anything to get you to smoke again (ever had that feeling where you HOPE there’s bad news because it’s an excuse to smoke.?) or even get you to the point where your family shout, “for god’s sake have a cigarette, you’re driving us mad!â€
Very well said. Havent heard it put in such a way like that before, but it sums up my feelings completely.
NRT is unfortunately a necessary evil for many people though, and I dont blame them. Whatever gets you off the fags in the end. Whatever it takes for you to BELIEVE that you will do it. But, I wish every one of them could have the 'lightbulb' moment, but its not going to happen unless the authorities and powers that be everywhere really let people know what they can do by themselves, without chemical help.
Very well said. Havent heard it put in such a way like that before, but it sums up my feelings completely.
NRT is unfortunately a necessary evil for many people though, and I dont blame them. Whatever gets you off the fags in the end. Whatever it takes for you to BELIEVE that you will do it. But, I wish every one of them could have the 'lightbulb' moment, but its not going to happen unless the authorities and powers that be everywhere really let people know what they can do by themselves, without chemical help.
Can't you just let it go?:rolleyes:
Lets keep this forum to helping and supporting each other no matter how we have chosen to quit because there is no right or wrong way to do this.
Lets keep this forum to helping and supporting each other no matter how we have chosen to quit because there is no right or wrong way to do this.
Can we at least agree on that?
Well, I do believe I mentioned that whatever gets people off the fags in the end is the most important thing. And I believe that strongly.
But obviously i'm not alone in my feelings toward NRT, I and obviously others agree with the original posters sentiments. As well as being supportive this is a discussion forum at the end of the day, and surely we can voice our opinions.
Well, I do believe I mentioned that whatever gets people off the fags in the end is the most important thing. And I believe that strongly.
But obviously i'm not alone in my feelings toward NRT, I and obviously others agree with the original posters sentiments. As well as being supportive this is a discussion forum at the end of the day, and surely we can voice our opinions.
I agree that everyone has the right to voice their opinion, and I find it admiral and congratulate you for being able to 'kick the habit' without using any kind of help but your veiws about it can sound a tad patronising.
I have had a 'lightbulb' moment but unfortunatley after my course of patches and even though I agree that 'It could be all in my mind' I won't go preaching it as 'the only way people should quit' It sounds so arrogant.
Us weak minded people using NRT, Champix, and Zyban haven't been enlightened yet:rolleyes:.
People using aids in their quit have worked hard to get as far as they have and become more confident that they can beat this. For people to come on here and say that the only way to quit is coldturkey 'it's all in your mind' can deflate peoples self esteem and possibly make them return to smoking.
What I am trying to say is, It is not a competition to see who can quit with the least help successfully. We are all part of the same team all helping people achieve a common goal not matter how we get there.
Please respect other people methods. Just because it's different to your own doesn't make it the wrong choice. I respect your choice, can't you respect mine?
There are a few people on this forum like myself who have successfully quit with quitting aids and some of us are about to pass the 6 months mark. Your comments about NRT makes us feel that we have cheated to get where we are and don't deserve to celebrate how far we've come.
The following is MY opinion. Don’t flame me for it, it’s working for me and if it prevents someone having a little slip today then all the better.
Hey, if y'all gonna hi-jack my post then please play nicely.
After all, we're MEANT to be playing for the same team here..!
As the "original poster" I can say this was NOT an invite for a nrt debate.
For all I care you can gargle unleaded if it helps you to stop smoking, (I wouldn't recommend it though) I've had uncomfortable quits, a hellish quit and currently an easy quit. Fingers crossed this'll be my last one.
Hey, if y'all gonna hi-jack my post then please play nicely.
After all, we're MEANT to be playing for the same team here..!
As the "original poster" I can say this was NOT an invite for a nrt debate.
For all I care you can gargle unleaded if it helps you to stop smoking, (I wouldn't recommend it though) I've had uncomfortable quits, a hellish quit and currently an easy quit. Fingers crossed this'll be my last one.
Just sharing my experiences :rolleyes:
I don't want to debate either.
Its just that recently alot of people are coming on here preaching that the only true way you can quit is cold turkey.
It makes the people on quitting aids feel like they're being called cheaters.
Thank you for being sensitive on behalf of all of us but we can cope! Keep on expressing those opinions and opening up debate. It's allowed. This forum can be what it wants to be can't it, I didn't know it was run by a few old timers who've given up smoking months and months ago (well done for that tho!) who are using the forum to make excluding in-jokes amongst themselves as well as giving much needed supportive comments to newbies to be fair.
We have all thought long and hard about how to stop smoking, we are not going to be put off by those who don't approve of NRT for themselves. It's fascinating to read the different angles. 16 days later personally I am grateful for the bit of nicotine I'm getting through patches and inhalator, it's still a hell of lot better than smoking, no tar, chemicals, smoke in lungs.
The cold turkeyers and allan carr fans tend to be the more macho types who don't like getting help from professionals, well so what? They are on this forum for support same as the rest of us, just expressing it in a different way, read between the lines.
Keep going everyone however you do it and tell us all about it whichever way you like.
I didn't know it was run by a few old timers who've given up smoking months and months ago (well done for that tho!) who are using the forum to make excluding in-jokes amongst themselves as well as giving much needed supportive comments to newbies to be fair..
IMHO, we need differing opinions, we need the freedom to express our views and we also need the possibility to challenge and debate. What we don't need, I suggest, is pompous self-righteousness or ranting beratement (not saying we've had it, only that we don't need it).
After all, if someone doesn't agree with something we have the choice to ignore or reply. So as far as I'm concerned, bring it on but keep it in the spirit of the forum. todojuegos.com/modules/Foru...
Not really sure what to make of some of the replies to be honest.
Maybe I should have chosen a different screen name or something as i'm not actually a villain:rolleyes:
I dont think I have once called or even implied that anyone using NRT are 'weak minded people' and I take offense at being accused of being small minded. Perhaps wishing people could have the lightbulb moment was a little patronising and I apologise for wording it in such a fashion.
As I have repeated, whatever gets you off the fags is the most important thing. My feelings for NRT dont change that, and I wont ever say cold turkey is the 'only' way to truly quit either. Please do not put words in my mouth.
Many of us here have used different methods and a lot of us are doing very well months down the line. That just shows you.
I've read through al these posts and I got to admit that some people seem to be taking this forum far too seriously . There is NO one wayTO quit smoking. Yes , I used champix ( a'drug' yes but non nicotine!), some folk use patches or gum, so what?DOES IT REALLY MATTER! As for the remark pertaining to 'old timers' using 'in jokes' - Grow up people. we are not in the school playground now!
Stand corrected must not take the forum seriously, it's for lighthearted people only.
Remember you have done 73 days(well done), me just 16. It's still quite serious for me.
Sorry, have upset you all it seems. If you read my posts thoroughly I have agreed that it does not matter how you do it. The important bit is to help those just starting out. I got that response when I became a member and it really boosted me. We are encouraged to rant and rave whilst going through this process are we not.
The only nerve you grazed NOT hit was the fact that I have been trying to quit for many years but never seemed to quite manage it. Oh I've tried everything -
patches,gum.CT,zyban and hypnotherapy but champix has finaly done the trick.
Although Its ony been 21/2 mths since I quit ,I've been a member of this forum since march(9mths) The folk on here have seen me try and fail in that time. Now I feel I am winning this battle and it is truly a heartwarming thing to know people whom you have got to know over the last few months are so supportive in your quit.
Maybe you are feeling a little left out or (dare I say it Jeaous?)
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