Thread: Cold Turkey or Stopping Gradually?

If you are around 40, have smoked since 13, and drank since 14 and currently do 5-10 pints a day and 2 packs of smokes, is it OK to go cold turkey? I've heard that if your body is that used to and addicted to nicotine and especially alchohol it's better/safer to stop over a period of time.

What do you reckon?

Mmmmmmmmmm. Cold turkey......

curried chicken's better though

Originally Posted by Albert Shagnastier

Cold Turkey or Stopping Gradually?

Neither - you need to increase the intake if anything

Originally Posted by Albert Shagnastier

curried chicken's better though

Nah, I love turkey. Still get a roast one here every Xmas.

Anyway - back to your question - I don't recall reading anything that says it is dangerous to stop suddenly.

My personal belief is that when you REALLY, REALLY want to stop - it does not matter which method you use...

cheers.

^ Good luck. Seriously.

Originally Posted by somtamslap

Originally Posted by Albert Shagnastier

Cold Turkey or Stopping Gradually?

Neither - you need to increase the intake if anything

That's another theory - and a fair one at that. if we drink more and more does it simply pickle thence preserve our bodies. Does the thick coating of tar on the lungs from the smokes protect us from the pollution?

Smack certainly is villified - yet used in all the strongest medicinal cures around.

Originally Posted by The Big Fella

I smoked for around 30 odd years. 2 - 3 packs a day day in day out. I used to enjoy smoking. At the time I stopped they were around 5 -5.50 pounds a packet. I used to spend more on cigarettes than I did on my mortgage. I used to work away from home and as usual on Friday afternoon I'm heading home. As I was filling up the car and having to get my third pack of the day a guy on a new Yamaha R1 pulled in. I have had bikes since I was 8. It was stunning. As I was walking to the kiosk to pay for the petrol and get my fags the penny suddenly dropped.
If I didn't smoke I could have one as well. That is what I did. I never got that third pack. The next day I went and got me a new bike and I have never smoked again.
I found that once you really want to stop it is easy. Been stopped now over 10 years and never missed smoking and know I will never have another in my life.
The secret is really wanting to stop.
Good luck !

cheers Big Fella

Originally Posted by nidhogg

I don't recall reading anything that says it is dangerous to stop suddenly.

I know a bloke who was hospitalized after going cold turkey on the smokes.

I'd go for gradually. definitely. 3/4 pints a day - one pack of smokes, 2/3 pints day - two thirds of smokes, 2 pints a day - half a pack of smokes, and stop there, cos there's fuck all wrong with that.

Use a pipe as a replacement. Makes life easier, and easy to cast aside after a while.

I stopped for 9 years. Cold turkey. Then I really had to apply myself to be able to tolerate it and start again.

Originally Posted by somtamslap

cos there's fuck all wrong with that.

Apart from possibly killing you of course..

Originally Posted by somtamslap

2 pints a day - half a pack of smokes

I have to agree that for sure, if you can just drink a couple and spread a pack over 3-4 days, probably doesn't affect your health. alchohol in that amount is probably good for you, and your body can probably clean out the small number of smokes easier.

Originally Posted by FlyFree

Then I really had to apply myself to be able to tolerate it and start again.

roy castle would have been proud

Originally Posted by FlyFree

Use a pipe as a replacement.

just dusting off the bong now

Originally Posted by Albert Shagnastier

and spread a pack over 3-4 days, probably doesn't affect your health.

As long as you combine it with a bit of exercise it'll deffo lessen your chances of getting offed by stress.

Beer = stress buster extraordinaire. Until the feckin morning that is...

Originally Posted by The Big Fella

The secret is really wanting to stop.

That's it in a nutshell. If you don't want to give up you won't.

Alcohol is not an issue for me. I can take it or leave it.

Smoking is my big Achilles heal.

Good one Big Fella.

Originally Posted by FlyFree

Use a pipe as a replacement. Makes life easier, and easy to cast aside after a while.

I stopped for 9 years. Cold turkey. Then I really had to apply myself to be able to tolerate it and start again.

New Year's Resolution: Start smoking?

Gave up last century, 5 minutes to midnight 1999,
best thing I ever did, since then I developed C.O.P.D.
not through cigs ,but using Thai poisons, if I hadn't
given up the evil weed, old Peaches would be R I P now.

Good luck Shagers.

I've done it both ways. I vote cold turkey, otherwise, you are simply putting off the inevitable. I've always had far less problem stopping booze - that's been easy (for me - everyone is different). Smokes are a bitch. And, they go together - if you're really going to stop the smokes, you'll need to get off the booze as well, at least for a period of time, because of the association factor. I once stopped both for nine years by going cold turkey - then I divorced the bitch and was back at it the next day. Best of luck - it's tough - and it has to be YOU who wants it.

I had a mate that went onto the patches. He ended up spending more on the patches than he was on the smokes

Cold Turkey, quit in 87 and never looked back. Cold turkey, quit booze in 92, never looked back. Cold turkey, quit meat in 92, full vegan for years, now eat eggs and dairy.

Originally Posted by The Big Fella

I had a mate that went onto the patches. He ended up spending more on the patches than he was on the smokes

Had a similar problem meself. I was totally addicted to the nicotine patches, until a friend recommended a herbal alternative to wean me off them. They're called "cigarettes", and since I started using them I have no urge to return to nicotine patches at all.