How to quit smoking?

Warning to those who vape,
I know this is an oldish thread,but some Gransnetters need to know imo.
My step daughter was rushed into hospital with severe stomach pains,needed surgery as 6 holes were found in her stomach and she had a problem with her pancreas.
Surgery was supposed to last one hour,it took 4 hours.
She is extremely ill.

I bought paperback with instructions how to quit. the process takes 5 or seven days and is unpleasant but it works.

You have to really want to kick the habit.

1. Buy a brand of cigs you really dislike, and throw out all the cigs you like.

2. Get a glass jar with close fitting lid and three inches of water in it.

3. Day one. Light a cig and inhale the smoke. Deliberately cough until you are really tired. Do it again then throw the remains of the cig into the glass jar and retain what's in the jar so you can have a long look at it..

4. Repeat the process on days two and three and so on. Don't smoke in between times unless you do the coughing too.
The appearance of the dark brown tarry water in the horrid jar, and the discomfort of coughing will make you averse to cigs for ever.

5. Throw away the remaining cigs.

The only people I know who permanently stopped smoking, are those who did it completely ' cold turkey'. They made up their minds to stop. One of them knew the smoking was seriously beginning to affect their health, so it was make your mind up time. They cleared the house of all cigarettes, matches, lighters and ash trays. In fact anything that reminded them of smoking got binned. They had two weeks of hell, going through withdrawal. It was not easy to live with, but after the two weeks passed that was it. They never smoked again. Both were very determined to stop though. It's not an easy thing to do. I was fortunate that having tried it once, I really hated it, so never took it up and I came from a home where one parent and one sibling smoked.

First of all I think you need to want to stop smoking for yourself rather than for other people. I stopped smoking 35 years ago after many failed attempts and I am so glad that I did. I read the book by Allen Carr, he's sadly no longer alive as he died of lung cancer but his method made perfect sense to me. He had stopped smoking years before his death but used to run stop smoking clinics where he inhaled second hand smoke! You can buy a copy of his book on the internet very cheaply.

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I smoked from aged 14 until five years ago including through later stages of pregnancy as many did in those days even the midwife on a home visit……I know, but it was very, very normalised in those days even though the facts had been out there regarding the risks for all of my childhood.

I and many others believed ourselves invincible. I never had a cough and the smell wasn’t an issue except on clothes after a night out.
The cost became an issue as the tax increased but I was addicted. The cigarettes were like a friend through good and bad times and forged a bond with other smokers in all sorts of circumstances.
It was acceptable and legal to smoke indoors in public everywhere. This should not be forgotten. It was an entire culture, A way of life, portrayed on television and film and commercials.
I stopped FINALLY after three heart attacks and before a by-pass op in 2017. The op was a total success.
It was much easier because hardly anyone in my circle still smoked by then.
I was bought an e-cig and have used one ever since. I vape no nicotine and fruit flavours.
I do not miss cigarettes and will not ever smoke them again.
I feel fine and have not put on much weight. I can afford nicer food and other things to cheer myself up now.

I have recently moved to an upper floor flat and the smell of concentrated fag smoke from the neighbour below as soon as I open my front door is so strong but I do sympathise with him.
I think the smell and the price are what people find abhorrent now because the haven’t grown up surrounded by it
E- cigs have been a life saver for me.

I made a pact and stopped smoking on non smoking day in fact which is now about a month ago. My journey is going well. I have full support from The Family chemist its an online pharmacy so no face to face needed. Just follow ups if you wish and advice. I recommend Zyban. Like everyone its a struggle at first but I feel my cravings have now come to a balance.

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I was a smoker for 40 years and knew that I should quit one day. The only problem was, that day never seemed to arrive. Then one day my daughter bought an electronic cigarette and after trying it and liking it, I ordered one on the internet, telling myself that on the day it arrived I would never smoke again. Well, I have had the odd one or two but found I really don't like them any more - I prefer my e cig!

I never thought I would quit smoking - I was a hardened smoker for many years. But since using an e cigarette, in a fruit flavour, there is no way I will ever go back to smoking.

I really do think it's worth giving it a try.

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Cigarettes are bad for health. If you have the fortitude it is better in one day to throw everything and do something else. For example, it can be fitness. Believe me after a jog you won't want to smoke

I stopped about fifteen years ago and am so angry with myself not to have given up sooner....not least because my face is so old and lined looking. -*Don’t cut down gradually*
that just keeps the nicotine craving alive. Go cold turkey, go for a walk instead of a cigarette, spend the money you save from a week of cigarettes and buy indulgent things like nice underwear !

Nowadays, medications are available to help you quit smoking. Consult your physician. He/she will prescribe you appropriate medicine.

When working as a smoking cessation adviser on the NHS helpline, we always advised people to set a stop date, and plan for it. It was things like going somewhere smoke free ( much easier nowadays) with a non smoking friend, treating yourself to a nice healthy lunch and dinner, and aiming for ‘ one day at a time’. Perhaps making up a playlist of songs to relax you beforehand, or plan something to occupy your hands. We recommended drinking cold grapefruit juice, and keeping a bottle of mouthwash in the fridge for when you have a ‘ notion’ ( we tended to avoid saying ‘ cravings’). Also, before your stop date, cut out the cig you think you’ll find hardest to resist.
I remember a lady telling me she used the Argos catalogue and travel brochures, put sticky labels on things/trips she fancied, with the price written on them in packets of fags, and she’d look through them when she fancied a fag!

Darrelllomili reported

I think vaping is the curse of the devil you are swapping one addiction for another and it’s really quite unknown yet what harm vaping may or may not do
A lot of men don’t realise cigars are the equivalent of about 4 cigarettes so much worse for your lungs
Likewise smoking weed is more dangerous to the lungs too
There are many ways to give up but by far the quickest and most successful is cold turkey, however a lot of people don’t believe in themselves enough and do need a lot of help and I d advice going to your local smoking cessation advisor they are in doctors surgeries and pharmacies and will support you along with your given item (patches, tablets gum etc etc)
Champix suits a lot of people and works well for most

Never keep one in case that’s fatal

I saw my own dear Dad suffer with bronchitis and emphysema; couldn’t complete a sentence without gasping and held my dear Mum’s hand as she drowned to death in her own bed-all cos of smoking! Parents in law had miserable final years following strokes again cos of smoking. No matter how hard it is to stop-harder than heroin I’ve heard-it’s nothing to what you will suffer if you continue. My dear sister in law struggles; weak, addictive personality so very hard. She’s given up smoking but now hooked on vaping.
The secret really is never to start-I am full of admiration for all of you who have quit-well done!

My husband used to smoke cigarettes, then just cigars. I was always nagging him to give up, health, cost, the smell etc. 20 years ago, he had a really bad cough and cold and didn’t smoke for about 3 weeks as he just didn’t fancy one. He tried one when he felt better, but found it unpleasant. That was it, he never touched one again.
I am so proud of how he gave up, quietly without any fuss or palaver. But HE had to want to do it, all my past nagging was to no avail.
I think he cannot understand now why he smoked for the time he did, but we do live in different times to when he started smoking.

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I was a chain smoker. I stop smoking for my children and my wife. My children are my role models they help me a lot to quit smoking. Today I am living very happily

After ending up as an emergency in hospital with a chest infection, I'm (a bit late) done with smoking. What convinced me? A bit of maths. 50 years at 20 a day = 364,000 cigarettes. 5 minutes per smoke = 3.6 YEARS 24 hours a day non-stop smoking!! I don't even want to know the financial results!

Lisa - Although I have never smoked myself, I saw my MIL die a very slow agonising smoke related death, and I was devastated. So I do hope you kick the habit and I wish you well.

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