Stopping Smoking

[Harry T]

I have to admit i am a Smoker and have been for 50 years, having read another great thread by Doc Alan Im going to name a date to try again, What i would like to ask is if members can help me to achieve this, in the past whenever i have tried to stop Iv always been surrounded by Smokers both at home and at work, which didnt help me to quit the habit.. Nowadays Im smoking more through boredom..

So why wait ? tomorrow hopefully with your help on here I will Stop, i will keep you regularly updated on my progress i will be honest and up front if i touch a cigarette.. Its gonna be hard i know it but here goes...

[Michael Parnham]

I just stopped on my 50th birthday and never regretted it.

[stevewool]

Good luck Harry, tomorrow never comes they say,
But on Thursday I will be there trying to help you,

[bigmarco]

Using anything Harry or just going cold turkey ?

Good luck

[grahamw48]

Good on you mate, and stick with it.

Similar situation for me, up until July 2014.

That's when I smoked my last cigarette.

I used a cheap vaping e-cig thing for a a week or two, plus nicotene patches. They worked for me.

It has also saved me an absolute fortune (enough to finance at least one of my trips to the Phils each year !) and made me a more attractive person for my wife and others to be close to... now I and my clothes no longer stink of tobacco.

Of course the health benefits are obvious.

[Terpe]

I have to admit i am a Smoker and have been for 50 years, having read another great thread by Doc Alan Im going to name a date to try again, What i would like to ask is if members can help me to achieve this, in the past whenever i have tried to stop Iv always been surrounded by Smokers both at home and at work, which didnt help me to quit the habit.. Nowadays Im smoking more through boredom..

So why wait ? tomorrow hopefully with your help on here I will Stop, i will keep you regularly updated on my progress i will be honest and up front if i touch a cigarette.. Its gonna be hard i know it but here goes...

Good thinking Harry.....Please please give up.

Of course you know it's not going to be easy, but the success is entirely in youir hands.

You'll really need to be strong and stick to a strategy of not giving in to the next smoke.

I quit at 10pm on December 31 2010 and went cold turkey after many years of trying every easy route.
Do be informed there isn't one.

You'll need your own strength to overcome the desires, but it can be done and has been done by millions. Take each chunk of time as a step.

We'll all be here to support but it's down to you.
I can state that even after 2 weeks without a smoke you'll feel a positive difference.
Forget the finances focus on the health benefits to come even after 50 years.

[Doc Alan]

May I add my encouragement to you, Harry, and well done all those ex-smoking Forum members !


It’s never too late to stop smoking - the hazards of continuing are much greater than stopping, even after many years.


We all know the risks, and it’s hard to believe that even 40 years ago ~50% of men and ~40% of women smoked in the UK. Now it’s more like a fifth of men and women. Unfortunately at least a quarter ( ~45% males, ~10% females ) still smoke in the Philippines.


Richard Doll showed the link between smoking and ill health in 1950. He stopped smoking, and went on to live into his nineties - an inspiration, who probably saved more lives than anyone else in 20th century medicine.


We look forward to your regular updates, Harry .

[Slip]

Good luck. I gave up around 13 yeas ago. I said when my brand went to £5 a pack I would give up. So the day they went up I just stopped from 10 a day to zero.

[Terpe]

Good luck. I gave up around 13 yeas ago. I said when my brand went to £5 a pack I would give up. So the day they went up I just stopped from 10 a day to zero.

Just out of curiosity, how much is. Pack of 20 these days ?

[Harry T]

Just out of curiosity, how much is. Pack of 20 these days ?

Well i dont think 20,s exist now most Brands seem to have cut down to packs of 19, Im told some even do 18,s but the cost varies anything between around £7 up to Im told B&H which are around £9....

I thank you all for your encouragement, and i really think with you guys behind me i can do this... I know its a case of mind over matter, but i have got hold of some patches and a nicorette inhaler...

[Arthur Little]

Well I dont think 20s exist now most Brands seem to have cut down to packs of 19, I'm told some even do 18s but the cost varies anything between around £7 up to I'm told B&H which are around £9....

Oh yes, they still exist ... it's the packets of 10 that've been done away with! Indeed, 20 packs are all you can buy nowadays. Pity that ... ... as I limit myself to only one fag daily after my main meal -have been doing this for more years than I can remember - simply cutting~off the filter tip, and using a holder.

However, you're correct in saying the price range varies depending on the brand selected. Windsor Blue, for example, (my own choice) currently cost £6.79 and can last me for more than a fortnight.

I thank you all for your encouragement, and I really think with you guys behind me I can do this... I know its a case of mind over matter, but I have got hold of some patches and a nicorette inhaler...

Ah, you're welcome. Good Luck!

[stevewool]

Well i dont think 20,s exist now most Brands seem to have cut down to packs of 19, Im told some even do 18,s but the cost varies anything between around £7 up to Im told B&H which are around £9....

I thank you all for your encouragement, and i really think with you guys behind me i can do this... I know its a case of mind over matter, but i have got hold of some patches and a nicorette inhaler...

I can remember going to the corner shop and buying 2 fags for my brother's, and the shop keeper putting these onto a sweet bag, those was the days

[Michael Parnham]

Well i dont think 20,s exist now most Brands seem to have cut down to packs of 19, Im told some even do 18,s but the cost varies anything between around £7 up to Im told B&H which are around £9....

I thank you all for your encouragement, and i really think with you guys behind me i can do this... I know its a case of mind over matter, but i have got hold of some patches and a nicorette inhaler...

£9that's more than half my weeks food shopping money

[SimonH]

£9that's more than half my weeks food shopping money

Come off it Michael, there's no way you are seriously telling us that you feed 2 adults for less than £18 a week

[Ako Si Jamie]

Well i dont think 20,s exist now most Brands seem to have cut down to packs of 19, Im told some even do 18,s but the cost varies anything between around £7 up to Im told B&H which are around £9....

I thank you all for your encouragement, and i really think with you guys behind me i can do this... I know its a case of mind over matter, but i have got hold of some patches and a nicorette inhaler...

A friend of mine owns an off-licence and he says that by next year all cigarettes will be sold in 20's. Nothing else.

I smoke B & H Blue which cost £5.99 for 18 I think although I'm considering swapping over to vaping.

Good luck anyway with your quest to quit.

[jonnijon]

I quit for 6 years until I retired then started again.

[grahamw48]

Problem is, cigs are just so cheap in the Phils.

For that reason I feel doubly proud of being able to resist the temptation when there... as well as the booze.

Of course having a young baby around also makes either unacceptable, as far as I'm concerned.

[Arthur Little]

Problem is, cigs are just so cheap in the Phils.

For that reason I feel doubly proud of being able to resist the temptation when there... as well as the booze.

Of course having a young baby around also makes either unacceptable, as far as I'm concerned.

Oh , Graham ... BOTH are unacceptable in those circumstances.

[Steve.r]

Good luck Harry.

Having never smoked I can't imagine the withdrawal, but I wish you luck.
i have though had to work in an office where my colleague was a chain smoker and every night after work the stench of smoke was awful on my clothes and skin. You can look forward to a fresher more fragrant life ahead. But maybe look at your walls and ceilings, they might need a lick of paint too. All change

good luck

[Slip]

Wow, are they really that much now.

I remember when I started at the age of 14. Would get lunch money for school and buy two singles in the morning for 5p each. Then on occasion buy 10 for 81p. Then off course every year in the budget the price went up.

[grahamw48]

... and of course in a past younger life, Gra was a company rep' for Carreras Rothman's... complete with Mk3 Cortina liveried to look like a Rothmans Kingsize packet.

1,000 cigs a week free allowance.... never had so many friends.

Oh, and free entry to so many sporting events... as my company was sponsoring most of them at that time.

[Terpe]

For 2 of us here in the Philippines we spend between P15k-P20k per month on food.
Means we eat what we want when we want and includes eating out too.

If we wanted to we could easily cut that down to
P12k-15k per month

Lurpak butter is P274 and the marmalade I like is P150
Our bread from The French Baker is about P1000 a month.

Possible, but not desirable to cut back on such items .......

[Harry T]

Well the first few hours were easy, starting to get a few withdrawal Pangs now, but nothing too serious yet

[Harry T]

Thanks Jamie, Im starting to get withdrawal symptoms now... how did you guys get on, Im nibbling lots of rubbish, did you put weight on..

[Terpe]

Thanks Jamie, Im starting to get withdrawal symptoms now... how did you guys get on, Im nibbling lots of rubbish, did you put weight on..

I gained plenty of kilos due to eating snacks as a substitute.
That when I started an excercise regime. Just simple stuff like daily walks and cycling.

Took me 2 years to lose that extra weight.

Harry, it's going to be very tough and you'll need to be strong. When you get the urge just do something (not eating) to get past it like it's just a gap between smokes.

Stay focussed and strong....

[stevewool]

Good luck Harry , it all takes time, make sure you get some elasticated trousers and shorts

[grahamw48]

Don't get withdrawal symptoms.... get angry at yourself for being weak.

Keep busy and DISTRACTED.

I ate snacks (and still do), but affects depend upon your metabolism , exercise, etc. No excess
weight gain for me... just look healthier !

Stay determined Harry !

[Rosie1958]

Wishing you the very best of luck Harry, ........... you can do it!

My partner was prescribed Champex to give up his 30 cigarettes a day habit and hasn't looked back since his last one 5 years ago. He also took up running and then cycling to keep his weight at bay and is at his slimmest now, as well as having a much healthier and smoke free lifestyle

[stevewool]

So Harry 4 days later from your last post, "HOWS IT GOING",