smoking!!! After 43 years on the dreaded fags i have named friday 23rd July 2010 as my Stop Day I have got the quit pack and Drs appointment on friday. Was just wondering if anyone had been through this ( and I'm sure you have )  and what helped you through it ????

Good luck Ann....I've been struggling on & off with the weed for years. Currently off but am a nicotine gum addict instead lol. At the end of the day it's only sheer determination can nail it. Your head has to be in the right place but once it is, you can do it. Go for it girl x                                                                                                                                                                             

Good luck!   I went "cold turkey" when I gave in, but that was a long time ago. I know people who have done well with the tablets from the doc's, so fingers crossed for you.   Just think of all the lovely dosh you'll have to spend on treats with the money you won't be "burning" on the fags! Put as much in a jar each day that you would have spent on fags, and at the end of each week/month buy something that you want or need that you previously wouldn't have....   I'm sure you can do it!!                                                                                                                                                                              

  Good Luck!! bratlin'    I wish you all the luck in the world. Just think of it one cigarette at a time, don't think 'today I won't smoke, just think, 'I won't have the next cigarette'  some say a change of thinking helps as much as a change of habit.   I gave up almost 3 yrs ago and it was dead easy, (sorry Anneka) cos I had no money so I had to stop, cold turkey like Angel, but what made it so easy is I wanted to be rid of the addiction, I was sick of rolling my own fags, hated them, preferred manufactured fags. I wish I could get in the same frame of mind about eating lol   Now I can't stand the smell when someone has just had a fag, I think I've programmed my brain to find it disgusting so I won't smoke again.   Don't think of yourself as failed if you start smoking again, you can always give up again.   If you give up while you can afford to buy them you will save loads of money.   What would you buy with your extra dosh?                                                                                                                                                                               

Good Luck Ann!!    i stopped through ill health ( i got Bronchial Pneumonia)  but I was trying to stop anyway and one of the things that helped me...and this sounds really disgusting but it helped...   I used to put all the tabs in a jar with water, and when i fancied a cig i wud open the jar and have a sniff..it used to make me feel sick !   That was a tip that was giving to a friend of mine who went through a stop smoking campaign.   Like minnie says.. once your head is in the right place you will do it...and it seems like you're ready now!   You go girl !!!!                                                                                                                                                                               

Some wise words from awokenangel and kwak too.. that reminds me...   I was told it was about 'breaking the cycle'  ... I used to have a cig when i got up...then driving to work I would light up at a certain point in the journey..then again when i got to work.. then at break, 1 or 2 at dinner time etc, etc...   So.. I would start cutting down.. i would have the first one.. miss the one driving to work.. then the next day .. miss the one when i got to work aswell...  etc, etc.      You will be suprised that you dint need that cig at that certain time..and if you can do without that one.. you can do without the next..etc..    It is all about BREAKING THE CYCLE ...     I wish you all the luck!    Im not ant-smoking..just feel its something I needed to do                                                                                                                                                                               

Anne .... woo hoo!   You are doing it ... huge hug :)                                                                                                                                                                             

Thanks  everyone  For the last couple of weeks when i have been and bought ,say, 40 cigs  and got home with them i kept thinking well that's another tenner gone !!!( I am on 20 a day but buy 2 packs at a time cos they are always selling out) I believe the inhalator is good, was talking to woman who hadn't had a cig for 10 weeks using that when the urge got too strong.

  If you feel the urge to smoke log in here and post on this thread, we'll give you moral support                                                                                                                                                                              

Or immoral support even!!!                                                                                                                                                                              

 Thanks Auntie Kwak xxx you may regret saying that                                                                                                                                                                                

  Or immoral support even!!!   that n orl lol                                                                                                                                                                             

God I love you guys                                                                                                                                                                               

Seeing my dad go through hell with lung cancer was my turning point, sorry Anne.   I agree it is all about breaking the cycle and I saw a programme once where the expert said, about breaking any habit, that it is changing your behavour 21 times in a row that cracks it.  I think cold turkey is the best way if you can get your head round it, and the putting the money in a jar and buying goodies for yourself or special people in your life will make you feel better about it and means more rallies!   If you really can't hack it with willpower, try to do it with as little chemical help as possible or you might just be creating another habit, albeit a less harmful one.   All the best, I'm sure you'll do it.   V                                                                                                                                                                             

Good luck Anne   I struggled for years & It was not till I met Ian that I stopped , he never said I could not smoke when with him, however he does not smoke, so I never smoked when with him ... gradually it got less & less & then one day I realised that it had been 3 weeks since I had smoked   I am sure you will do it                                                                                                                                                                              

Hi Anne I packed in on new years eve 1989 and not had a one since, you will only stop if YOU wont to, I can say it was hard and I was a bad tempered git when I stopped but it was worth it never looked back. So best of luck be strong its not easy but you can do it jp                                                                                                                                                                             

I stopped about 4 and half years ago, the first 2 days are the worst after that the physical craving has gone and it is all in the mind then.....once you get the first week over with and resist the few times you feel like it it is a lot easier....just change your routine...for example if you used to light up straight after dinner then have a cuppa and then do the dishes....change the routine, have dinner then do the dishes fill those times in with another routine to keep you busy....   .....what you have to remember is if you have a craving it will be gone in a few minutes, just take it a day at a time....but in the uk 20 a day is £175 a month you could treat yourself on......just think £175 a month thats a new bike...new set of leathers...a car ...a holiday £2100 a year will get you a bloody good holiday......   You can do it Anne have confidence and just resist the temptation one at a time...we have faith in you...                                                                                                                                                                             

anne dont let them docs put you on them tablets they are ruddy awful things (champix ) good luck with however you try and stop                                                                                                                                                                               

Good luck anneka. Hugs if you need them                                                                                                                                                                               

I gave up using Allen Carr's easy way to stop smoking book nearly six years ago. I didn't plan on stopping, just wanted to prove a book couldn't work.....and it did!! I still had a carton of 100 in the house too!!   Have never had a craving, didn't put on weight and don't mind people smoking around me.   Don't quit quitting!!