View Full Version : So.. I am quitting smoking....
abostonboy
07-12-2008, 01:59 PM
Cigs are $9.50 a pack in NYC. I smoke a pack a day. I decided to buy 10 itunes songs a day instead of cigs. It's actually working as I am enjoying the music much more than cigs while I work.
Though I have been sneaking a cig here and there when I go out. But, I am "bumming" from my friends. But, they are real cool with that so far.
YEAH!
marcjacob
07-12-2008, 02:03 PM
Llloyd, as someone who has tried and failed many times, I can tell you that its the sneaky ones that you let go that lead to you failing.
The only way to do it is to become a total non smoker and never even have one again.
Even one 6 months later will start you on the road to smoking again.
Trust me, Ive done this cycle many many times...
BTW your putting me to shame as Im desperate to quit..
barnkin
07-12-2008, 05:18 PM
Good Luck, as one who has failed to quit many times also, I sincerely hope you make it, however the occasional one will lead back to buying. When you get the urge to sneak one, walk away.
MrMax
07-12-2008, 05:24 PM
Almost $10 a pack??? And most of that is taxes?
Jesus, we should have free health care and/or free college education then.
Wheres all that money going?
Marc's right - you can't do it in stages, or sneak one now and again ... it has to be totally off the smoke train or you'll be right back on it. Besides the music, stock up on fresh fruit you like, stuff you can eat at the computer, like grapes. Also try flavored toothpicks. (cinnamon and mint avail thru amazon.com) You'll find you crave the mouth action long after the nicotine has left your system.
basschick
07-12-2008, 07:01 PM
if you're bumming cigarettes, that means you still want to smoke. perhaps it would be helpful to sit down and really figure out why you do want to quit, why you don't - and be honest. figuring out why can help you find a substitute that will break the pattern.
if you love to smoke and like having a cigarette in your hand, you might want to try smoke free cigarettes. if you don't like to smoke but find social situations easier with a cigarette, same thing. if you like having something to do with your mouth, grapes, popsicles and what have you could help. if you just don't know what to do with your hands, you might want to find something simple and easy that can keep them busy. if you have actual nicotine cravings, the patch could help, and if you have nicotine cravings and want something to do with your mouth, using nicorette gum as directed and regular gum the rest of the time could help. my experience is that most people who crave cigarettes don't actually crave nicotine, but i'm sure some do.
if it's a habit, i recommend smokeenders - i have several friends who did that program and it worked for them where others don't. they teach you to gradually break the habit - it's behavior modification, not a shock therapy thing like schick center.
best of luck to you!
Cigs are $9.50 a pack in NYC. I smoke a pack a day. I decided to buy 10 itunes songs a day instead of cigs. It's actually working as I am enjoying the music much more than cigs while I work.
Though I have been sneaking a cig here and there when I go out. But, I am "bumming" from my friends. But, they are real cool with that so far.
YEAH!
AlexManifestMan
07-12-2008, 07:12 PM
You can find 10 iTunes songs to buy every day? I gotta look harder then.
marcjacob
07-12-2008, 08:02 PM
if you're bumming cigarettes, that means you still want to smoke.
Not always. This addiction is very powerful and it can be hard to let go. Even if you desperatly want to.
MrMax
07-12-2008, 08:30 PM
try this: http://www.chantix.com/
I know someone who quit because of medicine, but I dont remember if it was Chantix or Zyban
tigermom
07-12-2008, 08:38 PM
First, well done on the decision! I never smoked in my life but I know from close friends and family how hard a habit to break it truly is.
Here's a link to the most popular book in the US about how to quit smoking. I bought it as a birthday gift to a good friend. He's still in chapter 2 ;) but it's supposed to be a good book and it costs about the same price as a packet of ciggies, so worth a try?
http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Way-Stop-Smoking-Non-Smokers/dp/1402718616/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215923786&sr=8-1
The ONLY way to quit is to just STOP. Cold turkey worked for me. Been smoke free for going on 2 years now
FisHY
07-12-2008, 10:49 PM
It costs pretty much the same here in Australia...tax is bad here on cigs.
I allow myself to smoke only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
gaydemon
07-13-2008, 01:37 AM
You're in the UK right?
There is a really good drug on the NHS that might really help you. I tried it when i stopped (ok i started again a year later..). Its a really amazing drug though, it really does work like nothing else.
Its called Champix, just ask at your GP and you can get it there. I will be using it again, i want to stop as well but you can only have it once year or something like that from the NHS, and its not possible to buy it in a pharmacy. So I just got to wait..
Llloyd, as someone who has tried and failed many times, I can tell you that its the sneaky ones that you let go that lead to you failing.
The only way to do it is to become a total non smoker and never even have one again.
Even one 6 months later will start you on the road to smoking again.
Trust me, Ive done this cycle many many times...
BTW your putting me to shame as Im desperate to quit..
marcjacob
07-13-2008, 02:34 AM
Thanks Ill look into that. Ill have to check if I can take it with other tablets I take.
gaybucks_chip
07-13-2008, 08:53 AM
The comments others have made are right on. Nicotine is a toxin to the body and receptors to capture it are created in the brain with each cigarette. The urge to smoke is created by the receptors wanting nicotine to bind to them.
When you stop smoking, the receptors slowly die down and the cravings eventually decrease, but even a single cigarette, whether one day or 25 years after quitting, will reactivate all of the receptors and keep the addiction alive. So the only way to quit is to eliminate cigarettes completely. It is no more possible for an addicted smoker to have an "occasional cigarette" than it is for a heroin addict to have an "occasional fix", and, physiologically, nicotine is a tougher addiction to quit than heroin is.
On top of the physical addiction (which only lasts about 3 days once you quit smoking entirely), the psychological addiction to the smoke entering your lungs, having something in your mouth and hands, changing the natural habit to smoke when drinking, or smoke after a meal, or smoke when getting up are the toughest things.
In NY and some northeastern states, there is a cigarette available called Quest 3. It's made with a genetically altered tobacco that contains no nicotine at all. Several ex-smokers have told me it's very helpful in getting past the psychological part of the process. You can smoke Quests and there's no addictive aspect to it at all, but for some, it helps with the need to hold something in your hands or feel the smoke in your lungs.
Also, in addition to the things Bec said, licorice sticks that are naturally flavored are helpful, as fennel, the natural flavoring agent in licorice, has something in it which the body interprets as similar enough to nicotine that it will bind to the same receptors and help to eliminate the craving.
Hope that helps, and good luck!!
marcjacob
07-13-2008, 10:49 AM
Its called Champix, just ask at your GP and you can get it there. I will be using it again, i want to stop as well but you can only have it once year or something like that from the NHS, and its not possible to buy it in a pharmacy. So I just got to wait..
You can buy it online.. but its not cheap at £100.
http://www.121doc.co.uk/champix.html?a_aid=trolley
You can buy it online.. but its not cheap at £100.
http://www.121doc.co.uk/champix.html?a_aid=trolley
Trust me ... it's cheaper than a heart attack and/or bypass surgeries, or cancer treatment.
marcjacob
07-13-2008, 11:25 AM
Trust me ... it's cheaper than a heart attack and/or bypass surgeries, or cancer treatment.
We dont pay for that here...
I get your point though. Im sure the NHS will pay for mine as your allowed 1 a year. And it doesnt seem to interfere will the pills I take. Ill defo try it if the Dr agrees.
Chubbs
07-13-2008, 11:28 AM
Good luck man. If you get the jones and wanna talk to someone, call me.
--Chubbs
ChadKnowsLaw
07-13-2008, 01:48 PM
I will quit in 2013 unless the world ends December 2012 like the History Channel told me.
http://www.december212012.com/
Until then, I _like_ smoking. :-)
abostonboy
07-13-2008, 04:18 PM
I will quit in 2013 unless the world ends December 2012 like the History Channel told me.
http://www.december212012.com/
Until then, I _like_ smoking. :-)
I am getting bored of Itunes now.
ChadKnowsLaw
07-13-2008, 11:16 PM
I am getting bored of Itunes now.
Fascinating isn't it?
Time to start a new thread 666
gaydemon
07-14-2008, 01:54 AM
Yes I think there is a few things you cant take at the same time, or be pregnant.. but i trust that later you wont have any problems with lol
Just noticed, yes its available to buy online. I'm going to try that, since my GP wont allow me to try again because of NHS rules until in 6months or so.
If you do it on NHS its only £5 per every 2 weeks, and you do a course of 8-10 weeks in total.
Thanks Ill look into that. Ill have to check if I can take it with other tablets I take.
marcjacob
07-14-2008, 05:10 AM
Just noticed, yes its available to buy online. I'm going to try that, since my GP wont allow me to try again because of NHS rules until in 6months or so.
Well that £100 is only for a two week course. So 10 weeks could be pricey. But I guess the money youll save in the long run will pay for it.
Did you get it from the doctors or from an NHS clinic? As I know my local chemist runs a clinic. Also does it deal with all the withdrawels or do you still get a load?
gaydemon
07-14-2008, 01:11 PM
I only had to see a nurse, not actually the GP. So a clinic might be able to do it.
Its a excellent drug, you take it for a week at the same time as you smoke. Gradually you will start to dislike the taste of the cigarettes, and also want them less. Once you hit 7 days, you then stop smoking but continue to take the drug and increase the dosage. By that 7th day you are pretty fed up with having a cigarette thats its not very hard to stop.
It helps in several ways including the withdrawals. The thing is, even if you feel like having one, you know its pointless because its simply wont taste nice because of the drug. And even if you stop the drug, or forget to take, those effect still lingers for a day or two.
Well that £100 is only for a two week course. So 10 weeks could be pricey. But I guess the money youll save in the long run will pay for it.
Did you get it from the doctors or from an NHS clinic? As I know my local chemist runs a clinic. Also does it deal with all the withdrawels or do you still get a load?