Hey all, i`m looking for any hints and such on this.

I`m 21, and been smoking for about 4 years. Not that heavy, less than 10 a day. Just recently i`ve been getting more active again and will be joining a football team this week so it is time to knock this on the head. What strategies has anyone found successful or unsuccessful? I am thinking to slowly cut down and limit myself starting at, say 7, then drop one every 2 days for 2 weeks. Any thoughts? I am not up for any groups though.

Cheers;

Patches helped me when I quit... used them to get past thr first 3 days and then just knocked it on the head. I also tried to spend more time in places where is wasn't possible to smoke (at the time it was still possible to do so in pubs, clubs etc), which for me meant spending a bit more time in the gym or visiting people who didn't smoke.

If you have made the decision to quit just do it - none of this cutting down bollox. If you want it badly enough your brain will find a reason to screw up any reduction plan you may have... But once you get past the first week your craving will have diminshed - and when you realise how badly people stink when they've just had a smoke you won't want to go back.

Good luck with whatever you do.

Willpower you lightweight.

With any addiction cutting down wont work

Go to your pharmacist or GP and ask them for smoking cessation advice. They will talk you through your options.

But you wont give up unless you really want to.

And that means want to give up, not want to have given up.

Cool, cheers.

A wise man once said "just do it", so here goes then, starts now.

Doing something energetic makes me not want to smoke. I`ll run round the block at each craving and look like a plum.

stopped in april after 26 years (willpower)only good luck

Cheers!

Exercise is probably a double win, just don't overdo it.

Have a quick search on this forum. There's been at least two long threads abou thits in the last few months

Good luck ................. post everyday on here and you'll get lots of support! Start a thread?

Good luck with it, Dan.

I have given up smoking today myself after 24 years. I've gone for the patches. Smoked my last fag at about 8:30 this morning then into the chemist at 9 on the dot to get my first pack of patches.

There have been quite a few times today when I fancied a smoke but I've tried to keep my mind occupied at work and haven eaten a bit more than I normally would (Mostly fruit but the odd biscuit, etc).

How are you getting on so far Dan?

Cheers lads.

mkc0303, 24 years is heck of a time, and good on you for doing it.

For me, not so bad. Last cig was at 5 after work. Home, eat, football, round a mates. Kept busy, but just left cos of smokey atmosphere. The real test will be tomorrow at 10.00 break as I have a wee whipper snapper working with me who smokes.

Will have a look at that kizkiz, thanks.

Day 3 of my Stop Smoking mission - This has been the worst day so far.

I work from home a fair bit and my wife works on a wednesday so I'm on my own today. Due to peer pressure I never smoked in front of the wife and kids anyway, so normally, on a day like today, i would have smoked at least 10 between 8am and 4pm - but none today....................

how you getting on dan?

I haven`t too much trouble thanks. If it stays as is, there shouldn`t be any problems.

What sort of things are you doing to keep your mind off it?

I found singing and nail chewing helps.

Not at the same time.

One week down and still going strong. You good mkc?

Well played mate - feeling better for it?

Thanks mate. To be honest, not yet ... but I am real happy with myself. Would encourage anyone to do this as I personally haven`t found it as hard as word on the street had me believe.

I would imagine i`ll reap the rewards in a month or two when I get back in shape. Managed to bigger me foot up during football on Saturday and hoping it doesn`t last long.

Cheers for support.

I think I need to join you, smoked at least 30 last night (most of em I was too pissed to even enjoy them) mouth is dry as eff, been coughing non sytop alll day, but I've still just had one. I think I might have a slight problem

What I needed was a motivation, and a moment of realisation about my fitness and leaving it until 'tomorrow'.

For me, the motivation is getting into a footy team, getting knackered playing footy, and Dot calling me a pussy.

Maybe it is different for you, or perhaps you can relate to that in some way. What are you waiting for? Toss those cigs away and laugh at those cravings. They can`t touch your self belief and I mean that.

I`ll race ya. First one to a month wins?

Dunno about a month, how about an hour?

Really should pack em in, 6 quid a packet is scandalous

Just quit you smelly bustard!

8 days without a smoke now. Quite hard today. Was in the car for over 6 hours (return trip to Devon) and would usually have smoked best part of a pack of 20. The patches are doing their job though (coupled with fruit and a bar of chocolate).
Drogs - I'm sticking all the money I am not spending on cigs into a pot and reckon I'll a have enough for a season ticket at the bridge for me and my boy next season!!

Alternatively, you could aim to buy something nice. Say, a season ticket at the Emirates.

I agree about driving. I tend to sing in the car instead now. No more veering about the road trying to make a roll up though.

During my work breaks, I find it useful kick a ball about to fill the last few minutes which I now have no use for. Hopefully I won`t realise how silly that looks just yet.

Congratulations anyway. I can only imagine how hard it becomes after 24 years.

TDB - I think it is something you have to sense about when the right time is. If you truly want to end it, then don`t let it remain in the future because it will never come. It is about what you want for yourself, not what "is right". That is what worked for me anyway.

Good luck to anyone attempting to kick the habit. I did it almost four months ago and it was really hard at times but well worth it. I'm currently putting on weight at a rate of about a stone a day (or that's what it feels like), despite exercising so I need to start controlling my calorie intake now Better than smoking though. Not saved any money yet as I've been spending it all on food!

Keep up the good work and let us know how you get on.

Nice one, congrats!

I am putting all the money I save in a jar, and should be able to afford a prostitute every 3 weeks.

Thanks Dan but I've already got a library ticket

Day 9 - not so bad today - worked from home, But as with CH i'm now eating for England

Well my plans to quit are a bit effed now, never been able to turn the smoke into hoops, just had a crafty one and accidently did, now im making big uns Will just have to wait for the novelty to wear off before I start the quitting campaign

Stil going strong mkc?

I found a nagging girlfriend to be particulary effective but the real reason was remembering that i only actually enjoyed 1 out of every 100 cigs - the money you save is amazing

It's taken me a few weeks to pluck up the courage to open this thread.

I'm 29, been smoking since I was 11 and been a proper smoker since I was 18 (I remember the precise moment I realised I was addicted).

Currently on 25+ a day.

Wife, son, one in the oven, work, fitness, history of lung cancer in the family, money. I've every reason in the world to give up. So here I go...