Quitting smoking

[madmum]

I`ve had a bad chest since August, been backwards and forwards to the quacks, got my fourth course of antibiotics today and some steroids. It`s doing my head in, I`ve got a grading at karate in a couple of weeks and there`s no way I`ll be able to do it if my chest stays like this. I hate going out in the cold as nearly every time I breath in I start coughing my guts up. I`m still smoking and want to give up, this will hopefully improve my karate as I`ll be able to do more without getting out of breath so easily. Has anyone given up using just willpower? I`m always `giving up tomorrow` but it never seems to happen. Any advice?

[Trinity]

Hi madmum, I am a non-smoker but have a few smoker friends who have given up by using the Allan Carr book, though it appears to work better for men than women.

Do you have anyone else who is willing to give up with you? What about anyone on here - why don't you all try to do it together? Sorry, don't mean to sound bossy or anything but it sometimes helps if you have a bit of moral support.

Good luck, I am sure you can do it. Think of the money you'll be saving and how more healthy you will be! :)

[Netty]

Hubby stopped in October - using willpower, sort of.

I had bought him a book - Allen Carr's Easy Way to stop smoking (from Amazon) - it reinforces how you are addicted to a drug that you do not need.

He had one slight relapse when he had a couple of drags on a roll up - and it made him feel really ill!

So, yes, I have only heard good things about this book and believe that it really does work!

[Girlzmum]

My mum has now gone 5 weeks without a smoke (well done mum!!!) She's getting patches on prescription from the doctor for them as it's much cheaper than buying them. They seem to be really helping her, she's been out in the company of smokers and even still goes to the smoking room when she's on her break but so far hasn't given in. She's tried many times before without the patches and hasn't been successful so fingers crossed this method continues working for her.

[madmum]

It might sound strange, but I think I`ll find the habit part more of a problem then the addiction. The first thing I do in the morning is have a fag in the kitchen, Then I always light another one up as I`m going out the door to school, they`re almost part of my daily routine. Maybe I should give up when the kids break up from school so my daily routine is changed.

[shelby]

Can't really offer any advice as I always lapse the minute I walk into a pub (it's the habit of drink and cigarette completely - fortunately I rarely go to the pub these days though) but did want to say a big GOOD LUCK with it x

[kathyhinsh]

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/kathyhinsh/Smilies/N1hi2.gifSorry, no advice.....cos I was really jammy! I set the date 4 the day the kids went back 2 skool, & during the hols we went 2 a BBQ round mil's (4 dh's b'day) & cos they all smoke, I decided 2 go cold turkey 4 the night, 2 see if I could do it.......The last ciggie I had was 6pm fri night, went 2 mil's & didnt bother all night. When we got home, I didnt biother having 1, thought I'd see how long I could go! & next day I didnt even want 1. That evening I was stressed cos I was having 2 cook 4 lots of ppl, thought I'd have 1...only managed 1/2 & almost passed out! & I haven't had 1 since, or craved 1 :party05:
That was 4 yrs ago, & the ironical thing is that 3 months after I gave up is when I got the results of my biopsy saying I did have C!...& BTW I'm all clear now http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/kathyhinsh/Smilies/elefant.gif

[Netty]

Dh says it still confuses him why the book worked so easily. He has been a smoker for 15 yrs and one read through the book (in 4 hrs in 1 day) was enough to instruct him to have his last ciggie, so he did, and it was. He says he has not "suffered" apart from in 5 weeks, 2 "almost cracked stress moments. The rest of the time when he has thought, "usually I have a cigarette now" his next thought was, "but I have stopped smoking".

The book teaches you to *stop* not *give up*.

Hope this helps!

[Netty]

Netty's hubby here

What netty says above sums it up, I read the book, I stopped. I don't know why it works, but I do see some very clever psychology that changes your perception of cigarettes.

For example, i have "stopped" smoking, I haven't "given up" and Allen Carr explains the difference.

When I think I want a cig, because it's the "habit time" when I would have one, like after meals etc. my first thought is, "but I don't smoke" and somehow I just chuckle away the desire.

trust me, try it, the book doesn't work for everybody but it worked for me, and stopping smoking was a piece of piss! if it doesn't work for you all you've lost is a few hours reading the book and under a tenner buying it. And of course, you can always try reading it again when you are maybe more "ready" to stop.

Sorry if I sound over effusive about this book but I for one am still on a high about stopping smoking!

[luckylady]

Hubby quit last January on will power and a few patches. but he kept forgetting the patches (we still have boxes of them somewhere).

He didn't have much of a choice - my dad's a lung surgeon (!!!) and i kept nagging that we would never get pregnant if he didn't quit... we found out I was expecting 2 weeks later!

He's found it difficult when stressed at work and he's had a few cheeky ones here and there but he's been very good. Obviously made it easier that I was pregnant but also he didn't beat himself up if he had a drag or something and most of the time it tasted crap anyway.

It helps that you've got a goal to reach with your karate so that should help motivate you... and of course the whole health thing!!!

Good luck!

[Ravenfire]

Oh I might look at getting that for my DH for Christmas he wants to stop but cant!

[Netty]

It is def worth a try, imo

here is the link - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140277633/qid=1132832310/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_11_1/026-6577460-4708445

(found from the mumszone link!!!)

[bonnybubble]

Im always giving up tomorrow, i dont smoke that many but its enough o still call myself a smoker. I have given up for 2 to 3 years twice both times i was pregnant. Good luck though, and i hope your better soon. You could always find yourself a quiting buddy some one that will quit with you.

[sammixi]

I need to give up, as I suffer with bad chest infections and asthma but I find it really difficult, so if you fancy a buddy to do it with, I'm up for giving it a go if you are!

[madmum]

Thanx for all your replies. I`m gonna get one of those books and see how I get on with it. I`m def up for having a buddy to give up with, I`ll pm you so we can agree on a date. Hopefully hubby will give up to, I`ll find it harder if he`s still smoking, but I think he`ll be easy to convince