The best way to give up smoking?

Question

I would like to hear of different ways/tips people have had to give up smoking. Anything from patches to hypnotherapy is good.
Also tell me things that didnt work please.

Answer 1

I smoked for 51. yes, fifty one smelly years. Gave it up 4 years ago. Does that make me qualified to answer your question?

I tried many times in that 51 years without success. And the reason for that is - because you need a good reason to give it up.

For most people that means health problems. Unfortunately, by then it's too late.

I got away with it health wise but 4 years ago I sat down with a calculator and did some sums. By then I was working part-time outdoors in all weathers, and heading towards full retirement.

I have smoked everything you can imagine during those 51 years but 4 years ago I was smoking small cigars like cigarettes - inhaling and smoking about 40 a day.

It worked out that I was spending more money on smoking than I was earning in my part time job. All those soakings outdoors and getting colds etc just so I could smoke.

Choice - carry on getting soaked to the skin or give up smoking.
I chose to give up and take it easy.

Yep, it was hard, but I did it. No patches, no hypnosis, I just didn't put any cigars or cigarettes in my mouth anymore.

When the craving got too bad I found that stuffing 4 or 5 strong flavoured pickled onions in my mouth helped. Also a strong Bovril drink.

But I must warn you about the side effects of giving it up (and others tell me they have had the same side effects.)

After about a month you realise you've won.
You've beaten them.
You've broken free.
And when you see other people standing in a doorway of an office in the rain having a smoke you think of them as weeklings.

You are strong. You did it.
It makes you feel really, really good. You feel like a Superman.
It gives you a whole new outlook on life.
No one is going to tell you you stink or wriggle their nose up when they get too near you - you feel so very good inside yourself, and that has a knock-on effect.

Your sex life improves dramatically. You feel fitter. You want to go out dancing. You want to enjoy life. Because you have broken free from those damned handcuffs.

And if you don't believe me - try it.
It's true.

I won't say "Good luck" to you.
Because there's no luck involved.
Just hard work and the guts to see it through.

I may be an old git - but I'm a non-smoking old git!

Tiddly Pops

Answer 2

I quit cold turkey after 10 years and many failed attempts. I think the key was getting angry at being a slave to it. Also, I made a list of the pros and cons. My pros list was very short. I tried to figure out substitute ways to still have the pros. Then I focused on the extremely long list of cons when I wanted to give up on quitting. I really had to get my mind set and wait until I felt like it was time. I chewed a lot of regular gum the first 3 weeks. What didn't work that I tried? Patches! That was like torture to me because it felt like a prolonged withdrawl. I'd rather rip the bandaid off quickly. I've heard that hypnotherapy works.

Answer 3

Ive done this (last September after 39 years) so you can too.


I was honest with myself and realised that as long as i stopped kidding myself that I was an addict (as opposed to smoking cos i simply loved it) I could choose to stop completely if i was prepared to give up my love of fags and lame excuses for doing it.

I also realised that in a way choosing to smoke is choosing to commit suicide over a slightly longer period!!

So - I chucked everything in the bin and gave up there and then. You honestly don't need patches, substitutes or gum (any more than you did before you smoked!!)

What you do need though is this - something to do when you crave. For me thats simply go out for a really fast walk round the block to help me stop thinking about them.

I'm embarrased to say that giving up really is so simple I kick myself for not simply doing it earlier.

If you can't do it now, this minute right after you've read this note, be honest with yourself - you don't really want too.

And that is what I meant by being honest with myself - I knew I should but secretly, just like you, didn't really want too.

Only smokers understand the truth in this and I hope that by saying it to you directly, you will grip it now and simply quit. That's all you need to do.


I really hope that this reply is the one that makes the difference and wish you a longer healthier life!!!!!

Answer 4

Smoking is caused by habbit or boredom and there are many ways to quit some work and some dont. I use to smoke regularly and i finally quit when I was running for the bus and missed it so I ran to next bus stop but still missed it. It made me short breathed. Another method was have a nap for a while and that cut out the boredom. You could try jogging and if you cant get to your goal in ten minutes in half a mile....try eating mints.

Answer 5

I got myself into a situation where I was looked down on for smoking and always had to work really hard to hide it and putting my clothes in plastic bags straight out of the wash and washing my hands 20 extra times a day got old and I just quit. I've never smoked again. So I guess my advice is to just stop. That's sounds really hard when said, but I found it to be fairly easy after a few weeks.

Answer 6

Just make up your mind and DO IT, I was a 40 a day,100 at weekends smoker till I got wise and quit, Now I hate the smell of tobacco on peoples clothes. PS patches do help if you need it. good luck,believe me after 3 months you'll wonder why you ever bothered.

Answer 7

Discover How To Quit Smoking : http://Go.QuitSmokingMagics.com

Answer 8

The best method I can recommend is Hypnotherapy, I tried everything you name it; patches, Zyban which I would not recomend, first couple of weeks not too bad bit you will suceed.

Answer 9

The best way to do anything is "just do it"! I quit cold turkey! The first couple of weeks are tough but a little will power and you can become a non smoker as well! Good Luck!

Answer 10

Cold turkey. If you cant go this way then try a patch. One thing that doesnt help is constantly being around people when they smoke. It always made me have the urge to light up.