jackiepoppies Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 Hi SarahB. Thanks for your kind comments. Seagazer....hard?.....it was!. I have been told by heroin addicts its more difficult to give up the ciggies..and I believe them. When I did that trip to the UK, I had to change trains in Paris with a 2 hour wait. I was so tempted to buy a packet but didn't want 10 or 20, then I thought of 'begging' or offering to buy one from another smoker at the station, but didn't have the nerve. then as a last resort, I went outside where the majority of the smokers congregated for a bit of 'passive smoking' I watched a very chic Parisian lady take a few puffs of her superking size ciggie and DUMP the rest of it in the ashtray WHOLE and still alight!!! I thought 'oh no, I can't sink this low' I cannot describe how it felt to turn my back on it and get on the train to Kent. I KNOW what it feels like to need/want a fix....but I also know the good feeling of turning it down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 that's made me laugh ... you really wanted to pick that ciggie up, didn't you! I am lucky, it's always been a social thing with me - a couple on a Saturday night, and then I could go without for a week, so it wasn't too hard, but I haven't had one since last September when I embarked on a very expensive dental implant. The chances of success are much lower if you smoke, and I just can't risk losing all that money! It was a shock to me to discover just how bad smoking is for your teeth and gums, though. It's a major cause of gum disease, which I'd never realised before. good luck to all of you trying to give up, everyone has different things that will motivate them, guess it's a case of finding the one that works for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 Me. I'm an ex- smoker. I gave up when I was pregant each time and then started again when I stopped breastfeeding. I say I gave up but the problem was I was still really a smoker at heart I just wasnt smoking for my children. When I realised that Nia would be my last I made a consious decision not to start again which I think was by far the easiest way of doing it as I had already cracked the main part by not smoking during the pregnancy. I do have to admit though I occasionly have one. Its very rare though. 5 a year maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiepoppies Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 Hi Olly! Wanted to pick it up?????? I'd Have danced naked on the platform for it, but not a pretty sight.....and didn't want to get arrested ..have you seen the French prisons?!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 You do really well to give up smoking in France jackiepoppies, last time I was there it seemed like everybody smoked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiepoppies Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 Hi Seagazer, you're right and our friends always forget that I am choosing not to smoke and keep offering me one...even after a year..and a bit! P.S. Hope you enjoyed your day out in Kent! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 I stopped smoking about 9 years ago, having smoked anything up to 30 a day for 10 years or so. The best piece of advice I was given was when you are offered a cigarette, say "No thanks, I don't smoke" rather than "No thanks, I'm giving up/given up/stopping/stopped". Smokers seem to get a bit put out by ex-smokers and are more likely to try to push one on you to get you back in their club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 I couldn't afford to smoke even if I wanted to. I really hope that you manage to stop smoking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 I gave up in 2003, after many false starts. It was seeing my 4 year old daughter pretending to smoke that finally did it for me. I'm not going to pretend it was easy, it wasn't. Nicotine addiction is a serious addiction. I used nicotine lozenges at first but they gave me toothache si i switched to aniseed balls, the strong taste really worked. I also found something to occupy my hands, i took up knitting. I wasn't any good so i just started on a scarf and kept going. That scarf ended up about 50 feet long! Finally, i'm quite a materialistic person so OH paid me the amount of money each week that i would have spent on ciggies. I then used this money to treat myself, to things i wouldn't normally buy as they just weren't sensible. It really worked, i haven't smoked since. I won't pretend i don't sometimes want one, but its not a normal type of want, i know i wouldn't give in to it. Find something to occupy your mind, your mouth and your fingers. Avoid places you would normally smoke, or avoid the routines where you would normally light up. Find what works for you. But stick to it, you'll never regret getting your life back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 I do have to admit though I occasionly have one. Its very rare though. 5 a year maybe?You are so lucky to be have beaten it to the extent that you have so much control over it. I started with half a Capstan when I was 10 and stopped for good about 28 years later by which time I was on 40 a day. It was lying on the consultant's couch wired up to an ECG that gave me the motivation to stop. As a reasonably intelligent/educated woman, it was just sooooo embarrassing to be undergoing tests for a heart problem and to admit that I smoked so I found it easier to say that I used to smoke but had stopped. It was difficult but I have to admit that passive smoking did help (in the late 80s that was quite easy and there wasn't anything else on offer). I also became more active and was able to run without getting out of puff so quickly. My heart sorted itself out, mainly due to stopping smoking but giving up coffee (temporarily) and getting rid of my then husband(permanently) also helped. Now, I am so glad I don't smoke when I go to the pictures, theatre, in a restaurant, on an aeroplane, at work etc, etc, Never give up giving up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 I stopped 4 years ago at the age of 50 after smoking since I was 18 when I was stressed about our wedding - my mother took over - AARRRRH. I watched my aunt take lung cancer and then it went to her brain - never do I want to see that again and went for patches - the day ones did nothing for me and I used the 24 hour ones but took them off at night and used them like the day ones and no problem - my hubby still smokes and I hate it. Good luck you can do it if you really want to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 I do have to admit though I occasionly have one. Its very rare though. 5 a year maybe?You are so lucky to be have beaten it to the extent that you have so much control over it. I could just say I'm a social smoker with no social life Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 I am a typical ex smoker, hate the smell with a vengence don't even like walking past someone in street smoking Same here! It's been about 7 years for me and I can honestly say I will never smoke again. Good luck Sarah, you've said you want to stop so keep telling yourself that. A bit of willpower required but if you really want it you'll do it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiepoppies Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 Offspring....I wasn't going to even acknowledge your post with a reply.. but then I thought how much many of us have struggled with unpleasant things in our lives and come through them with flying colours! [Just read the Nesting Box] Your partner 'Grew up'? she'll do that when she flies your nest! By the way....do you use the NHS.. cos if you do it's smokers that pay for it in part with taxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 jackiepoppies, i was annoyed too, just wasn't going to say anything Nicotine is proven to be addictive and smoking is not childish, not good, but not childish behaviour I'm sure that everyone on the forum will be supportive of anyone who does the good thing and gives up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiepoppies Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 Hi Helly Welly. Thanks for your support on this sanctimonious, 'non profiled' post. At least the majority of us have got the guts to own up to our failings....not just judge others. The Forum is supposed to be non offensive.......I personally found Offsprings comments offensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 Don't rise to the bait ... that's his or her only purpose in posting on here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 We are above that sort of thing and we all wish you all the best of luck in stopping smoking which IS an addiction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiepoppies Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 PS...sorry I was so mad I forgot to say.................. CONGRATULATIONS......and big wing flaps to everyone who has DONE IT and GOOD LUCK to those who are about to embark on this tortuous journey. pps. dont know how to do colour yet! but I'm learnin' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuggywoo Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 Congratulations to anyone who's tried, succeeded or even failed to give up! I've tried with willpower, patches, hypnotism, all 3 at times It's hard, so hard to give up and to those who've never smoked, don't even try to imagine what it's like. The last time I tried I told no one and I found that went so much better, for me at least. I only let myself down Good luck and all the very very best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 I have read this thread with interest, (whilst smoking) and I can say that smoking is an addiction that breezes into your life when you are young and daft and then refuses to leave without a major fight. I have managed to kick the weed for over 3 years, twice. All it takes is a moment of weakness and you are back to Old Kent Road. To give up you really need to want to, and stay wanting to. Not easy. I can understand people who have never smoked finding the smell and all the other downsides to smoking offensive. It annoys me when ex-smokers shout the odds about their ex habit. Stay strong and stay stopped, once you have please don't berate those who still smoke, leave that to the government. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiepoppies Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 Hi Nuggywoo...have you succeeded? Hard?......thats not the half of it! You know when people say they they can feel limbs ater they have been amputated? Well ....when you give up smoking, it's so easy to imagine picking up a packet of fags, pulling the opening strip, taking off the cellophane,opening the top, taking out the foil putting those bits in the empty packet and then....and only then....taking out a brand new addictive, cancerous stick flicking the lighter and lighting it with a nice big inhalation! We all have [had] our rituals. Even after over a year I can still FEEL the actions! and I can't deny it......I miss it!!! BUT my OH is quite tight on the pursestrings [can't really blame him as I'm a spendthrift!] now I have the excuse to spend on ANYTHING I want [like a cube] cos I aint spent it on ciggies! No contest!!! PS March 2006~March 2007: Approx 300 cigarettes per week = 65 Euros pw = 3380 Euros per year = approx £2704 per year =approx 3.86 new cubes per year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted April 30, 2008 Share Posted April 30, 2008 I smoked for about 9 years. Gave up at 30 and became very fit. No idea why I started really - at nearly 21 I should have known better. Just wanted to say hope you succeed. If you are ready to give up that is at least half the battle. Knowing all the downsides - cost, health, stinky clothes, disapprival from nearest and dearest etc played little part in my giving up - I knew all of that before I started smoking. I just decided I did not want to smoke any more. And I stopped. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 30, 2008 Share Posted April 30, 2008 Our MD gave up a couple of years ago after a nasty health scare due to his lifestyle. He's now an ardent non-smoker and far healthier. Good luck to you, I hope you manage to give up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted April 30, 2008 Share Posted April 30, 2008 (edited) A friend of mine gave up recently and has painted her walls, had carpets professionally cleaned etc as she is not keen to spoil them by starting again. Congratulations on deciding to quit. We will be behind you all the way, so every time you might be tempted, pop on here and keep your fingers occupied! Edited April 30, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
