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January 2007
Posts: 672
Location: New South Wales, Australia | I'm just about to step outside and smoke my last cigarette. That's it, no more, I QUIT!!
I figure if I put it in writing and put it out there in the public domain then I HAVE to stick by it......don't I :confused:
Any ex smokers out there got any tips -- I've tried nicotine patches, nicotine gum, excessive fingernail chewing, eating too much, drinking too much, etc etc |
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November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | Quit a little over ten years ago. I failed MANY times before it stuck.
What worked for me was this: I promised myself a very nice gift if I made it a year. At the time, I was interested in woodworking, so I promised myself a shop full of stationary power tools. That was my goal.
Then I just kept telling myself that every day would be easier than the day before. You know all too well that those first few days are brutal. I just kept reminding myself that I couldn't bear the possibility of having to go through that again if I re-started and had to quit all over.
For me, no gum, no patch, no nothing except that I gained about 40 pounds and have never taken it back off. But I wouldn't smoke again for anything.
It took years before the occasional urge to smoke went away. Now, after all this time, I feel like I am completely cured. I never have urges anymore, and even if I am with someone who is smoking it doesn't bother me.
good luck!!! |
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December 2005
Posts: 1234
Location: Tidal Mudflats of Virginia | Congrats and good luck ozwatto!
I quit 19 years ago cold turkey. Just woke up one morning hacking and coughing up crap and said thats it. I used the mental image of licking a dirty ashtray for the first few weeks whenever the urge came up. After two months I was fine, no urges, no side habits, I too put on about 30 pounds because I started eating again, foods had tastes. Now I can't stand to even walk through someones smoke trail.
Best wishes,
Tim |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | I was up to two packs a day, then decided to "get healthy". I started working out and just figured smoking was kind of against what I was trying to accomplish, so I stopped and never started again. That was almost 30 years ago, (cigs had just gone up to .75 a pack). BTW, I also quit working out, but that was easy.... :rolleyes: |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | You got my support and best wishes ozwatto!!
My wife is taking the prescription drug CHANTIX. I've talked to 4 or 5 others that have had success with it. You still gotta have the desire to quit but I hear it helps. She is working on staying away from her "triggers". When we go out we take my truck (which remains smokeless).
A good friend gave the advise... Idle hands are the devils playthings. Stay busy with something. We went to the movies last night (Harry Potter), and today we are going to a Tiger baseball game.
Smoking can't be easy to quit. My only suggestion is to shake things up. Do different things. Go to a different place. Hell... If ya have to, buy a uke!!!
Really though.. good luck. |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Quote Slipkid " You still gotta have the desire to quit "
So TRUE !!
Once I quit for Eight months,then I thought :What for ??...so I smoke again..like a chimney..but use small plastic filters,that work on the principle of condensation..But, I wish you all the best with your new endavour,Hang in there Mate...you can do it :)
Vic |
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November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | After reading about a research project on smokers blood chemistry in Science Digest, I copied the experimental process they related.
Every morning, before I was awake enough to know what I was doing, I'd drink a teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in a swallow of water. It tastes like salt water, so a quick swill of fresh water rinses the taste right out. I'd do it early, to fool myself...
Seemed to work for the most part. I'd have no desire for a smoke until long after I got home from work. (I smoked up to three packs a day back then.)
When I felt the urge for a cigarette, I'd have another 'baking soda treatment' instead.
This all happened decades ago, in my mid-20s. I'm 52 now. Don't smoke cigarettes, don't want to. (after 20 years or so of being a pain-in-the-ass non/anti smoker, I have taken up the occasional cigar after weekend chores)
Which proved one of at least two things; either the process of making the blood more alkaline to counteract the acidity of 'smokers blood' works...or.... aversion therapy works.
Luck! |
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September 2004
Posts: 1180
Location: Vermont USA | 24 years for me one of the best things I ever did.
Pauly |
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July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | Good luck ozwatto! I know you can do it. I quit many years ago, and it's the best decision that I had ever made. Sometimes, I wished that I never even started in the first place, cos I strongly believe it's them butts that limited my ability to sing...
then again, it could've gotten worst if I continued, so I'm still thankful overall that I succeeded to stop completely. |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Good luck Watto. Maybe a smokeless weekend on the Sunshine Coast is in order?
I only smoked during my late teens / early twentys. I discovered that I could drink LOTS more without getting a hangover if I didn't smoke tobacco, or mix tobacco with my other 'smokeables'.
Luckily, I found it easy to give up. I think because I never really liked it and only did it to keep up appearances. I didn't have any of the long term dependency issues you'll be having to deal with.
My only recommendation would be- DON'T TAKE IT OUT ON THE KIDS OR THE MISSUS. Think about your role as a doting father. Do you want your kids to grow up to be smokers? Just trying to throw you some more ammunition and incentive.
Hang in there, mate. |
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January 2006
Posts: 1486
Location: Michigan | I smoked from when I was 17 years old until I was 37 . I was coughing up oysters as I would be talking to people and constantly clearing my SNOTTY MUCUS FILLED LUNG CHEESED PIPES and blaminig it on my sinus problems ( which I do have ). Then one day I coughed up a bunch of blood.Oh-Oh went to the doctor and he said it was from coughing so hard that I broke a blood vessel in my throat.
Oh cool now I can go back to smoking again.3 months later I had it happen again only this time I was leaking pretty bad so I had to go in for a few tests and wait for 4 days for the results to come back.I SHIT myself for those 4 days and didn't even think about anything else but the BIG C.I got an all clear on it and I have always kept that fear in me of those 4 days waiting to find out if I had the big C.It scared me so bad all I ever thought of was having lung C and ruining my life , but more important the loved ones around me for me being so stupid to keep on smoking.My wife quit cold turkey one month later.It was hard but I knew what my future ( or lack of one )would of been if we didnt stop smoking.
For me no weight gain for Momma she did gain some.Food does not taste any better to me or the wife.
16 years smoke free and loving it.
""""" GOOD LUCK TO YOU. """""
P.S. I now am a raging Alcoholic with a bad case of guitar gas.GWB |
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November 2004
Posts: 1330
Location: ms | I gave smoking up about 25 years ago. It was tough but being from down south i moved over to chewing tobacco for a while to help. It worked and getting off chewing was not as hard. I like a lot of you have to play in smoke filled rooms from time to time and i still hate it, i hated that when i did smoke. |
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November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | Just checking in to see how its going. You hanging in there? |
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Posts: 4413
| I was wondering. |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Yeah... me too.
.
My wife is right in the middle of the hardest part right now. Yesterday she broke down. She went down to the corner store to buy a pack. She asks for her brand and the counter guy says, "Sorry.. I'm out." This is the first time ever that they did not have her brand. Pam said, "Good... I'm trying to quit anyway." Then the counter guy says, "Gimme 50 cents". Pam gave him 50 cents and he handed her to "packs" of candy cigarettes. She went home with those instead. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | You just have to really want to do it, then it's easy. If not, don't give away all your good lighters. |
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November 2002
Posts: 35
Location: Reading, PA | Yeah, I wish you all the luck you'll need to get this done. I stopped by reducing down from a pack a day to about 4 smokes a day then went on Zyban for two weeks. It went fairly well. I also had the opportunity to realize my early middle age mortality when I experienced a slight but telling health issue. The sooner the better and every day is one day further down the road to something better. |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | It`s nuthin`but propaganda...couugh..wrahhh..ughaghu...snooot..raghll...see ,nuthin`wrong..ahbraph..ozzie..it`s not gonna kill ya..now the taxes..they might :)
Vic |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | When I was a kid I met a lot of the music and other people who smoked and drank constantly. About 90% of them have died between 50 and 60 if an OD didn't get them first.
That said, quitting when you're 59, while still a good idea, is not getting the best of both worlds. The sooner you give it up the better. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I've quit for over a year-at-a-time... I currently STILL smoke.
I like that "promise to buy yourself something" idea. Adamas...mmmmm! :D
If nothing else, think of all the money you will save!
Really, Good Luck, Stay Strong.
And if you stumble, no big deal, just quit again! |
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May 2003
Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | I quit 11 years ago, one of the best things I ever did. I did gain some weight but overall I am much better off.
Best way to quit is to get a change of scene and keep your mind occupied with other things. Even though I am not religous there is truth to the old adage "idle hands are the devil's play thing". As soon as you get bored you think about wanting a smoke, so do your best not to get bored. I read books, rode my bike, cleaned my closests, played my guitar, etc....anything to keep your mind occupied.
Also a change of scene helps. The week before I finally quit I was on jury duty and was not allowed to smoke in the building so I only had a couple cigarettes a day. Then I was on vacation for two weeks so I was away from all my smoking buddies at work. If you can take a vacation, ride your motorcycle cross-country, or go camping where there are no party stores.
Also, THINKING about quiting is much worse than actually quitting. Your mind plays games on you and tells you how miserable you will be, but it's not true. It's like dipping your toe in a swimming pool....quit fooking around and just jump in.
Soon you'll have a couple days behind you, then a couple weeks, then a couple months, it's no big deal. After a few months you won't even really think about it anymore. But above all, never go back, don't take that one puff or buy just one pack, because if you do it was all for nothing.
Good luck |
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| I think he's gone walkabout. He's probably smoking koala crap by now.
Hang in there oz. |
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November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | Quitting is such a hard thing to do...there is a reason people smoke, after all. I used to love it. I loved everything about it. It gets into your head. I used to love the smell of a freshly opened pack. I loved that moment when I had my first smoke of the morning. Pure heaven!
In fact, just about the only thing I didn't like about smoking was waking up the next morning after a night of heavy drinking and even heavier smoking. That "smoker's hangover" was no fun.
In my case, I promised myself I would quit when I was 30, and I almost made it. I smoked a little past that, but eventually quit. I couldn't even begin to count the number of times I tried to quit and failed.
Old story, really.
The bottom line for me is I have tremendous respect for anyone who is trying to quit. Its damn hard.
Now, I'm going to finally get around to doing something about my excess weight! This may be harder than quitting smoking! |
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January 2007
Posts: 672
Location: New South Wales, Australia | I'm still here....haven't gone walkabout Schroeder but that koala crap is mighty tempting :D
Brian T's suggestion of keeping my mind occupied with other things is a good one and it's funny he should mention riding a motorcycle cross country.
I was recently offered a job as a postman in this little village where I live...all I had to do was get my motorcycle licence....easy, right?
Yesterday I had to attend a motorcycle training course as I've never even sat on a bike before. They put me on a Honda Virago and I proved my inexperience by having a minor spill and then a major spill...doing major damage to the bike and my left knee, hip, shoulder and forearm. I was told that I wasn't suitable for the course and thet I would need remedial private tuition....at $70 an hour!!!! So my motorcycle days are over before they began as well as the job opportunity.
And what did I do when they got the bike off me and scraped me off the ground.......had a smoke :( :mad: .....I think I'll stick to four wheels from now on.
Thanks everyone for your support and encouragement :) |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | So over there they put Postal Workers on motorcycles???
Over here, we give 'em guns . . . |
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| Cliff Clayburn with an Uzi - now there's a thought. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | It's a good thing you didn't get the job. A postal worker who's trying to quit smoking would be too dangerous.
For those of you on the other side of a pond, "going Postal" is a recent addition to the American vocabulary, referring to someone who freaks out while working for the Post Office and shoots up his coworkers. Seems to happen regularly over here. |
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Posts: 672
Location: New South Wales, Australia | I've heard of this phenomenon...it's pretty rare out here. In saying that, my wife and I owned and managed a small post office (Australia Post has a quasi franchise agreement and there're a lot of small post offices in small towns that are independently owned)up until 2 years ago.
We were located in a small seaside village about 5km (dunno what that is in miles..a couple I guess) from the seaside village in which we live. Combined population for the two villages is about 6000 so it's not a real busy place.
Ran the business for five years but got out following an armed robbery. Couldn't belive it was happening in such a small place.......So I guess "going postal" can happen anywhere.
WOW.....I've rambled on a bit there....but it's stopped me from having a smoke fo the past ten minutes :D |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Clavin.
Cliff Clavin. |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | ... Doenges |
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Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Hübner
Vic Hübner .... How d`you do.. |
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Posts: 5575
Location: big island | Hanger |
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Location: big island | i hear tim tams are good to eat while trying to quit smoking.
on the other hand, smoking might help someone with a tim tam addiction. |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Originally posted by ozwatto:
And what did I do when they got the bike off me and scraped me off the ground.......had a smoke :( :mad: What the f@ck are you doing with smokes in your pocket when you're trying to give up, mate??? Are you trying to make this harder for yourself?
Originally posted by ozwatto:
We were located in a small seaside village about 5km (dunno what that is in miles..a couple I guess) About 3.
Originally posted by lanaki:
i hear tim tams are good to eat while trying to quit smoking.
on the other hand, smoking might help someone with a tim tam addiction. Has anyone from here sent you a packet of Tim Tams yet, Randy? I tried, but by the time I got to the post office, both times, the pack was empty. :rolleyes: |
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January 2007
Posts: 672
Location: New South Wales, Australia | Muzza...I didn't have any smokes on me so I limped into a nearby shop, bled all over their floor, bought a can of coke and then the smokes without even realising what I was doing. It's not just the physical addiction, it's all the other habits that go with it.
As for Randy's Tim Tams, I plan on sending some over to him in time for Christmas |
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October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | send 'em now oz. they'll get here by christmas...maybe. |
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| You're wimping out here blue. I can tell. Another failed attempt.
Clavin eh?
We need to cast Cheers with characters from the OFC. Obviously the erudite, English speaking sophisticate that is Frazier Crane would be perfect for Templeman. Any other suggestions?
(Cliff is obviously Carla) |
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November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | Somewhere in the Great Book of Life, it is written how many times you will have to fail before you finally succeed.
Every failure gets you one step closer. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | So Oz, tell me, what do you say to yourself, every time you now light-up? Do you say, "Wow, it's so hard to quit!".... Well, guess what, you're not quitting.... you can't quit when you still smoke.
Save us the drama... |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | JustDoIt. |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Originally posted by schroeder:
We need to cast Cheers with characters from the OFC. Obviously the erudite, English speaking sophisticate that is Frazier Crane would be perfect for Templeman. Any other suggestions?
(Cliff is obviously Carla) I thought Cliff would be Cliff.
And MWoody could be Woody. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Don't let Schroeder cast it.
Those guys're stuck on Judi Densch & Felicity Kendall . . . |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | I wanted to be Carla :(
Oh, wrong chatroom...
Although I held Woody's character in high esteem I think I'm moving closer to "Coach".
I was hoping nobody labeled me as "Norm".
Oz - who are you - a Smoker or a Non-Smoker?
My suggestion: when you find yourself on the edge of giving in you need to sing a verse of "Waltzing Matilda". Call on your inner Aussie backbone to get you through!
Knowing full and well that if you cave in you must then sing "Oh Canada". |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | My wife is at 12 days now & doing well.
Come on oz... don't let a sheila show you up! :D |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | I think you just did it for him, Brad.  |
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OT: wish me luck