Alan Carr - Does it work?

[nsd_user663_2624]

Was wondering if this book works? has anyone used it?

[nsd_user663_2595]

Hello Stressed_mum,

And welcome :). I used Alan Carr and a bit of cold turkey technique. The thing I liked about Alan Carr is the way he first explains to you about the chemical addiction that we are all stuck with as smokers, as a apposed to the fire and brimstone approach of "All smokers are gonna die a horrible death" LOL which if worked would have stopped us all a long long time ago when we read the side the packet of cigarettes. He helps put you in the mental attitude to fight that addiction and then ultimately the pre-programmed brainwashing habit of beer means fag in the other hand. Or the debatable social side, if I don't smoke I'm gonna lose out with all that chin-wagging with my cool addict buddies when on fag break!!!

If you have the book, have a read Alan Carr actually encourages you to smoke when reading the book if you have not already quit. In which case he believes you are gonna pay more attention to what he has written. But don't find yourself reading a page a day just to delay quitting LOL!!!

You will get lots and lots of support here as we are all traveling down the same road

Best of luck with quitting.

[nsd_user663_2176]

Personally I found the book really helpful. It helped me to get things in perspective and realise that I wasn't giving anything up, that I wasn't missing out on anything and that sitting around moping and waiting to feel better wouldn't help. It made me feel more positive about the many benefits of stopping and I've found it useful to have around for another read through at difficult moments.

I'd say it's certainly worth trying - it costs less than two packets of cigs so you might as well give it a go. It works for some, other people find the firm 'no NRT' rules aren't for them. If you read it and it doesn't help you haven't lost anything.

[nsd_user663_1920]

Awsome book helped my loads.

[nsd_user663_2291]

I have the book and althouth it never made me quit it does put a lot of negitive thoughtss about smoking into your head.

I work with a women who read it and quit after 20 years s it does work for some.

I have 2 books here if anyone wants a read pm me your address and i will post it on.

[nsd_user663_1704]

Different strokes for different folks!

I read it and found it encouraging at the time. You can't go wrong with a book!

Worth a read for extra back up! Take flippy up on her very generous offer

~Buffy x x

[nsd_user663_2624]

Thanks for your replies i have taken flippy up on her offer so hopefully that helps,my daughter is staying at my mother in laws tonight so tonight will be a test as i dont smoke round her but if she's not here can i resist. Thanks again flippy

[nsd_user663_2291]

Your welcome I will get it off to you as soon as possible just stay with us and stay strong. You can do it.

[nsd_user663_1744]

You can't go wrong with a book!

Buffy x x

Unless you work with them!:rolleyes:

[nsd_user663_1704]

Unless you work with them!:rolleyes:

hehe ahh you love a book though

[nsd_user663_1744]

hehe ahh you love a book though

True - especially all the chick lit stuff. Check out the shopoholic series by Sophie Kinsella (plot outlines on Amazon). you'll LOVE them E.

[nsd_user663_1704]

Yup i am wanting those! my bookclub is calling for crap might have to ditch 'em and please meself lol

[nsd_user663_1744]

Yup i am wanting those! my bookclub is calling for crap might have to ditch 'em and please meself lol

They are fab. Such easy reading. Well I take one to read at the appt cos they're not books you really have to 'think about' plus theyare soooooooooooo

funny and modern. The lead,Becky, is like like every young girl in London who wants to make it.She keeps spending money like water on ly shes quite poor really - just a bit dilusional.lThe letters from her BankManager are hilarious!

[nsd_user663_1704]

started getting a bit more chic lit given my quality reading time!!

I used to be stephen king, thomas harris etc etc still am but need a real moment i like free n easy chic lit these days lol

Becky sounds like many peeps i know :rolleyes: hehe lucky i learned hard way and dont do plastic now hehe

[nsd_user663_1744]

Exactly! I really 'got' the character and thought 'God,that was me 20 yrs ago!

[nsd_user663_1704]

Me mother in law is going to start on those so waste not want not i'll read 'em after tee hee

[nsd_user663_2739]

I read Allen Carr's Easyway book this time last year, and I felt really positive about giving up. A lot of what he says makes sense, and I especially liked the way he allows you to continue smoking while reading the book. I probably should have re-read it 2 months later when I started having "the occasional cigar". :eek: We all know where that road leads.

You can actually download them from the web:

opposingdigits.com/ebooks/E...

Trev

Not giving up, but escaping

I have been quit for 1 Week, 6 Days and 10 minutes (13 days). I have saved £67.49 by not smoking 260 cigarettes. I have saved 21 hours and 40 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 04/01/2008 11:45

[nsd_user663_2739]

I know what you're saying, and I agree with you in part. I think what helped me when I read the Carr book was the change in mindset from "giving up" something, to "escaping" something. My previous attempts to quit, which obviously were all failures ultimately, were mostly blighted by the ever-present thought that by not smoking I was missing out on something. I felt deprived and miserable. I think Allen Carr gave me the perspective that smoking actually does nothing for us at all, there is nothing to miss.

After a few weeks off the nicotine, it's all in the mind anyway, so anything that helps you stay quit is OK in my book. Get the help where you can.

[nsd_user663_2497]

I read Allen Carr's Easyway book this time last year, and I felt really positive about giving up. A lot of what he says makes sense, and I especially liked the way he allows you to continue smoking while reading the book. I probably should have re-read it 2 months later when I started having "the occasional cigar". :eek: We all know where that road leads.

You can actually download them from the web:

opposingdigits.com/ebooks/E...

Trev

Not giving up, but escaping

I have been quit for 1 Week, 6 Days and 10 minutes (13 days). I have saved £67.49 by not smoking 260 cigarettes. I have saved 21 hours and 40 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 04/01/2008 11:45

Aah thanks Trev, have been meaning to read Allen Carr for a while now, that link is great. Can read the book while surfing!

[nsd_user663_2497]

Well, I read the book over the last three days. Have to say its not what I expected at all. I'm not quite sure what I expected really. I think perhaps as this is accepted as the de-facto book on quitting and has become so popular, and with purportedly a high success rate, I was maybe expecting to notice something in it that made me think "aaaah thats it!, thats the way it works so well.."

But I never got that feeling. :confused: It was an enjoyable read, and I, obviously, agreed with a lot if it, but not all. It isnt really all that similar to Neil Caseys book (which worked for me) and I would recommend that before 'Easyway' to be honest.

For other members here or those 'lurkers' that we all were at one time, who read the forums but never post, I would try it. Hell, try both books. Odds are at least one will help you in some fashion. That cant be a bad thing, and you've got nothing to lose. Except for a few quid

Supes.

[nsd_user663_1733]

Hi Sullivan

I have read Neal Caseys A good read in some parts. I think I have read every book I can on smoking. Still fined it hard HEHE. xxxx

[nsd_user663_2512]

Listeed to a few Alan Carr tapes which I found quite motivational at the time

His books just send me to sleep ...

nosmokingday.org.uk/forum/i...

[nsd_user663_2176]

The thing I found with the Allen Carr book was that when I read it I didn't think it made much difference to how I saw things - but I've noticed over time that my attitude towards smoking and stopping has changed and that (at least in part) I think is due to the book.

It helped me get things in perspective and see more clearly - especially with regards to feeling positive and excited about stopping, rather than feeling like I was missing out.

Horses for courses and all that - but anything's worth a try. If just one thought or sentence of a book sticks with you then it's not been wasted.

[nsd_user663_2497]

It helped me get things in perspective and see more clearly - especially with regards to feeling positive and excited about stopping, rather than feeling like I was missing out.

Yeah, thats basically the crux of the Easyway technique. Be positive. Your not missing out.

And to be honest, with all the hoo haa over Easyway, I was kind of expecting something more really. Its very motivational, absolutely, but many smokers need more than motivation to quit, which is obvious. In the end, its worth a read to get you in the right frame of mind I believe.

[nsd_user663_2176]

Absolutely, it (like any other method really) wouldn't be enough on it's own. But it's great as a helpful kick up the backside to stop moping which I think was where I was going wrong previously.

[nsd_user663_2162]

The book has helped me in more ways that I can count - but if I had to pick just one thing from it, it'd be the sentence "make your quit the most important thing in your life". God knows I have clinged onto it every time I have felt weak and it has always saved my a$$ big time

[nsd_user663_1988]

I have just finished reading 'Easyway to stop smoking'!

I don't feel any different to before I read it.

Most of the stuff that made sense to me, I had already read in his Autobiography ('Packing it in the easyway') and his online book 'Scandal'

It took me a week to read it with the odd chapter here and there when I had the time, so I don't know if I might of missed something new:confused:

I still don't know if it would of worked for me if I had used it at the start of my quit! and I suppose I won't know now.

The Allen Carr stuff I have learnt over the last few months is valueble and his little snippets of advice float around in my mind ready for when 'old nic' tries to trick his way in'. It has cetainly made me think differently about this quit even though I didn't use him from the start. I would recommend that someone tries it.

[nsd_user663_2737]

Ive skimmed through his book, but I dont think I, personally, could do it with words alone. I'm sorry but I need NRT to help me. I think some of his words are very true and I will definatley read it proper when I get the chance as a few quotes he wrote do ring true. Just seen the post above, so just want to reenforce, ive not read it all the way through.

He is very positive about quitting and I am sure most people would find it usefull to use as a guide to help them.

I enjoy reading and so find it relaxing to read so maybe thats why it helps me.

[nsd_user663_1733]

Well done Ann

Day 6 is great all nicoteen is out of the body now if your going cold turkey. keep posting it helps to know others are doing the same. Linda xxxxxxx

[nsd_user663_2892]

Good for you, Annie Day 6 is brilliant! Almost a week! :cool:

I've read the book(s), they didn't make me stop at the time, but I quite liked where he said at the end, "If you're not ready to stop now, have another fag and read the book again :D"

However, I find now that I am really ready to chuck the fags ( Day 9 folks!) I am reflecting back on what I read, and I believe it is helping me now.

In fact, I may just read it again!

[nsd_user663_1978]

Allen Carr worked for me, 100%.

The best £5 I've ever spent, a fascinating read which gave me a whole new lease of life.

[nsd_user663_1733]

Hi Mannion

Lovely to hear from you hows things going. Must be well hover the quit by now well done. Linda xxxxxxxxxxxx

[nsd_user663_1978]

Hey Linda! How are you hun?!?

I'm good thanks! The quit is going well, no mishaps to report! Just really stressed with university stuff at the moment. No time to smoke a bloody cigarette, even if i wanted to LOL.

How are things your end?! x

[nsd_user663_2826]

Although I 100% put my success (so far) firmly at the door of Champix - I did read Alan Carr last year and found he provided useful tools.

I have used the "Nicotine Monster" trick quite successfully as in "it's not me that wants a fag -it's the little monster inside."

The one thing that turned me off Mr Carr was the interactive PC programme he released. You had to answer honestly a set of questions, one being "do you like the smell of smoke". I thought about it and clicked "Yes". I got a condesending voice booming out of the computer saying "Come on!!!! Nobody likes the smell of smoke"

Erm, sorry but yes they do Mr Carr!!!

As I couldn't get past this section without renouncing my affection for the smell of a freshly lit cig - the cd got binned and I fell out with him for a while....

On my first quit day however, I downloaded the audio book and had it on all day at work to get me through that first tough period.

[Tomatpots 10 Years Smoke Free]

Allen Carr does it work?

Yes it does