Smokeaholics (Not so) Anonymous

[Marcoose]

Hi my name is Marcoose and I've been smoking for 13 years. I really want to quit but find the thought of never smoking again (mainly when I go out on the razz) an impossible task. I read that book that everyone bangs on about and found it to be of little help.

Do you smoke? If so do you plan to quit? If you are an ex smoker, how did you do it? Help!

 

[Aiden Roberts]

Guilty

Been smoking for 30 years, fully understand all of the reasons why I should quit but have no intention of doing so, I am an idiot!

Aiden

 

[BREWSTERS]

Smoked for nearly 20 years - quit 8 years ago; best thing I ever did.

I'd tried plenty of times, stopped for over a year at one time, but started again.

The way I stopped for good, was I was due to go to China on a business trip with a very busy schedule. I decided weeks before that I wouldn't take any ciggies with me, and I started to picture myself in situations where I'd usually smoke; in the car; in a bar; after a meal etc and also turning down offered cigs - in my visualisations I'd say "no thanks, I don't smoke".

In China I was so busy and it was so interesting, that it took my mind off them to some extent, and because I'd been visualising being a non-smoker, when I got back after the trip, it was easier for me to carry on.

First thing though - you've got to want to stop permanently or it won't last. You'[ve got to want to stop being a cigarette victim, always needing to know you've got some or where you can get the next pack. After you stop you'll realise how much ciggies controled you - if you want to stop you have to be the boss, not them.

My circumstances where a little odd and hard to replicate - if I had to stop again I think I'd go down the hypnosis route. Basically it will rewire your subconscious to make you believe you're a non-smoker the same as my visualisations did.

Good luck!

 

[Edwin]

Is money an incentive at all?

At £6/pack, if you smoke a pack a day that's £21,900 over 10 years. There's a lot of other things you could do with that sort of money, that's for sure!

 

[Marcoose]

Is money an incentive at all?

At £6/pack, if you smoke a pack a day that's £21,900 over 10 years. There's a lot of other things you could do with that sort of money, that's for sure!

£1.50 for a pack or Marlboro lights where I am mate Regardless, if it weren't for the health risks, I would happily pay 22k for ten years of smoking! They do say nicotine is more addictive than heroine and I am finding that to sound about right.

 

[Marcoose]

I would definitely consider hypnosis but am not sure my brain can be manipulated in such a way for it to work. I'm not very open minded!

Smoked for nearly 20 years - quit 8 years ago; best thing I ever did.

I'd tried plenty of times, stopped for over a year at one time, but started again.

The way I stopped for good, was I was due to go to China on a business trip with a very busy schedule. I decided weeks before that I wouldn't take any ciggies with me, and I started to picture myself in situations where I'd usually smoke; in the car; in a bar; after a meal etc and also turning down offered cigs - in my visualisations I'd say "no thanks, I don't smoke".

In China I was so busy and it was so interesting, that it took my mind off them to some extent, and because I'd been visualising being a non-smoker, when I got back after the trip, it was easier for me to carry on.

First thing though - you've got to want to stop permanently or it won't last. You'[ve got to want to stop being a cigarette victim, always needing to know you've got some or where you can get the next pack. After you stop you'll realise how much ciggies controled you - if you want to stop you have to be the boss, not them.

My circumstances where a little odd and hard to replicate - if I had to stop again I think I'd go down the hypnosis route. Basically it will rewire your subconscious to make you believe you're a non-smoker the same as my visualisations did.

Good luck!

 

[Edwin]

A bit more math, based on UK cigarette prices: if you're 25 today and smoke a pack a day for 40 years (and assuming a very conservative 3% annual increase in the cost of a pack) then you'll have spent £165,128 on cigarettes by the time you retire at 65.

On the other hand, if you could save at the same rate as buying packs of cigarettes at the CURRENT price i.e. no annual increase in savings rate (and assuming a conservative 2% interest rate and a tax-efficient savings vehicle such as an ISA) then your savings would be worth £132,280 at retirement.

In other words, a £297,409 difference between "smoking your money" and saving it. That's more than the price of an average family home!

 

[Marcoose]

A bit more math, based on UK cigarette prices: if you're 25 today and smoke a pack a day for 40 years (and assuming a very conservative 3% annual increase in the cost of a pack) then you'll have spent £165,128 on cigarettes by the time you retire at 65.

On the other hand, if you could save at the same rate as buying packs of cigarettes at the CURRENT price i.e. no annual increase in savings rate (and assuming a conservative 2% interest rate and a tax-efficient savings vehicle such as an ISA) then your savings would be worth £132,280 at retirement.

In other words, a £297,409 difference between "smoking your money" and saving it. That's more than the price of an average family home!

When you put it like that it does bring it home. Along with the short breath at the gym and risk of terminal illness, I do wonder what I'm doing. The quitting thing would be so much easier if I didnt lose all self control when I drink!

 

[Edwin]

The quitting thing would be so much easier if I didnt lose all self control when I drink!

Have I mentioned how much money you can save by not drinking?

 

[Aiden Roberts]

I agree with the money aspect, the health aspect but am not ready to even try quitting.

I am an idiot!

 

[Marcoose]

Have I mentioned how much money you can save by not drinking?

Go on, enlighten us!

 

[Aiden Roberts]

I am going to unsubscribe from this thread as every time my phone bleeps to tell me there is a new post, I read ciggies and guess what happens?

I want a ciggy.

Maybe we should start a thread about doughnuts!

 

[chrisduggan]

The fat and sugar content in a doughnut......

 

[boxerdog]

I cant recommend these enough: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZfU2vHAmek if you want to try one I can get you a discount code.

 

[BREWSTERS]

I would definitely consider hypnosis but am not sure my brain can be manipulated in such a way for it to work. I'm not very open minded!

Don't think of it as being on a stage chewing away on a nice onion thinking its an apple - it's just a form of relaxation that allows you to reprogramme your core belief to a degree - enough so that you can see a time when you're not a smoker any more.

Apart from the £ incentive that Edwin mentioned - and the obvious health benefits, consider the fact that to all non-smokers...you stink dude!

 

[saberace]

I've smoked for 10 years.

At Uni we had a stage hypnotist come in to entertain our halls of residence. He asked if anyone smoked and wanted to quit - so I volunteered.

After about half an hour of being humiliated in front of my peers, he got rounf to the quitting smoking bit - said it tasted like camel s**t.

It worked! I managed to quit for two weeks, then went out on the lash it was back to square one...

 

[Marcoose]

I've smoked for 10 years.

At Uni we had a stage hypnotist come in to entertain our halls of residence. He asked if anyone smoked and wanted to quit - so I volunteered.

After about half an hour of being humiliated in front of my peers, he got rounf to the quitting smoking bit - said it tasted like camel s**t.

It worked! I managed to quit for two weeks, then went out on the lash it was back to square one...

Thats the bloody problem - booze. If it weren't for that I'd have no problems. I've tried the gum many times and it works but me being me, i get addicted to that too. I chew so much of it my jaw aches! Tried patches years ago but they gave me the most messed up dreams ever. You don't need acid when youre using them - just wait til you go to sleep.

 

[boxerdog]

Try an Ecig if booze is a problem, sit in the pub "vaping" while your mates are outside freezing their tits off

 

[murph]

Smoked for 13years, quit 3 years ago! Theres 2 battles, mental/physical. I had one hypnotherapy sesh. At time I remember thinking this is a load of bull.. But it deffo did help a bit, mentally. Physical addiction kicked using nicotine lozenges!

 

[Marcoose]

Try an Ecig if booze is a problem, sit in the pub "vaping" while your mates are outside freezing their tits off

Or just quit booze I suppose. Think I've got too much partying left in me to consider that just yet though.