Giving Up Smoking.

[Atheist]

After 55 years of B & H, Consulate, Silk Cut, Golden Virginia and Old Holborn (and a year or two of Black Cavendish pipe tobacco, not to mention years of home-grown cannabis) I stopped smoking mid-December. My smoker's cough and my wheezing and my gasping for breath whenever I manage to turn over in bed have all disappeared. I have started using Nordic Spirit nicotine pouches (non-tobacco sachets tucked up inside my upper gums) and they seem to be keeping me off the inhalation. Anybody else managed to stop smoking without strong will-power?

[gulliver1]

Atheist,,,,, Well done. Good Luck to you.

[Atheist]

Thanks, Gully. I'm feeling optimistic. No fags since mid December and I'm not gasping for one. I'm working my way down the strength of the pouches so I'm not getting much nicotine now. My horrible cough before Xmas did worry me, so I felt really motivated (=terrified and hopeful). I occasionally think it would be nice to have the old familiar sensation of that kick in the throat, but it gets less appealing every day.

[maggiebee]

Well done Atheist. I smoked for 43 years then gave up. Best thing I ever did in terms of my health and in my pocket. Came back from working abroad, where fags were only 50p per packet, "kippered" as we say in these parts. That was it, went cold turkey.

[Atheist]

maggie:
" That was it, went cold turkey."
I bow low before your strength!! Well done.
I now take you as my model and inspiration (mind you, you only smoked for 43years!) Thank you so much.

[Bobbisox1]

Well done you, I packed in 26 years ago when you ‘flashed the ash’ in the pub, both of us did, then when we packed in I realised even pillowcases smelled off my hair , best thing we did

[Atheist]

Oh, bobbi.... You've set me off. A beautiful woman whose hair smells of paradise! Get thee behind me.
Thanks for your encouragement and your inspirational example.

[Bobbisox1]

You’ll do it , I know you will Atheist

[barry1010]

I did in 1994, I smoked at least 40 a day and stopping was a tough few months but the best thing I ever did.
We went through a very traumatic experience in 2000 and I wasn't tempted to start again.
I wish you well

[Atheist]

You're all making me feel nervous - I could never match your strength and will-power.
But this time I think I've found a method that will keep me alive a few more years. If I work hard I may live as long as some of you kids.
XX

[Canary42]

I gave up in 1984 (aged 41), and eventually felt a lot better for it.

[Cloverjo]

I gave up using an Inhalator. I don’t know if they are still being made.

[Atheist]

Thanks to all those who have made positive encouraging comments. I'll try not to let you down. I'm speaking as a Remoaning, 5C, Leftie, Clownish, Commie, Atheistic, Damned Idiot.

[jourdain2]

I'm sure you'll manage it, Atheist. I managed to give up when I was pregnant with my 2nd child, just over 40 years ago. I was a fairly heavy smoker though. Teaching in really tough schools had a tendency to teach you to smoke 3 fags in 15 min. breaks! Never mind the packet of 20 in an evening when marking. There weren't any 'aids' in those days.
To answer your question, will-power is essential. The tricky bit is after about 10 days when you think you are doing really well and have 'cracked it' - that's when it sneaks up and pounces.
Money helped me, amongst other things.
I worked out how much I was spending on fags per day, week, month year and made labels stating this (1 label each cost). I stuck them everywhere around the house, in the car and on the back of No.1's pushchair. I also made labels of other reasons I should, and wanted to, stop and they were plastered all over the place as well.
So, whenever a craving got to me I could look straight at a d**n good reason not to give in to it. Hope this helps, good luck. I was mildly surprised 20 yrs.later to get a craving, but they seem to have stopped now. :)

[Atheist]

Clover. What's an inhalator?

[Cloverjo]

It’s a plastic tube with a capsule of nicotine in it.

[Bobbisox1]

I just said one day That's it ! So both of packed our 30 a day + habit ( each) ,that was March and I paid cash for two weeks in Majorca in July

[Atheist]

jourdain. I'm saving about £70 a week. My nicotine pouches keep the craving at bay, and my really bad cough over Xmas put me off inhaling a hot poker every day. I have given up in the past, and I know that having given up can tempt me to treat myself with an occasional fag. But I don't want to fall into that trap. I need to finish my book and to see the grandaughters reach their majority, so I'm optimistic.
Thank you all.

[maggiebee]

You can do this Atheist - you sound as if you are in the right frame of mind at the moment. Plenty of support on here if you need it. Go that man.

[jno]

well done you, good luck for the future, which I trust you have just lengthened.

[Atheist]

Thank you all. Best stop all this support now; I shouldn't have posted something so personal. I'm touched (I'm sure Naomi would agree with that admission).
Best wishes to all the good souls here.