How do I give up smoking?

**Wally Dorian Raffles** · 31-03-2008, 08:41 PM

Well the good news is I have stopped drinking - which was quite easy really. In the fours years which I have just spent in Thailand, I must have drank more beer than.... than .....well a bladdy lot of beer anyway! Those of you who know me are aware that I was kind of depressed when I arrived in the LOS, which was the result of losing the only girl I have ever truely loved, which led to me shutting down my business in Tokyo and arriving in Thailand with the grand old plan of having a good crack at drinking myself to death. Bad plan that was, but it seemed kind of romantic at the time. To those of you who saw me in incoherent states, sucking on a bottle of toilet duck - please except my apologies - but it doesn't taste too bad if you add a little coke

Anyway, I am happy to say that I am over the past, and are now working on a bright new future. I don't drink, i've stopped smoking dope and i'm spending 3 hours per day at the gym. I'm also starting a university degree which is 100% online, and I will start work as a Japanese tour guide very soon. The problem is, i am smoking more ciggarettes than in any period of my life - sometimes almost a full box in one day! I think having too much free time on my hands has a lot to do with it - which will change soon, but it has without doubt, got to stop. It's such a stupid habit - and the cost of them back here in Australia is outragous!

So any of you fine people out there who have managed to quit, please tell me how you did it! Beer and pot was easy, ....but these things really seem to have a hold on me!

Any suggestions??

**kingwilly** · 31-03-2008, 08:48 PM

I guess, ya gotta get busy, that'll slow it down, play some sport or exercise and that'll help give you a better reason to cut down or not smoke at all.

good luck mate.

**blackgang** · 31-03-2008, 09:00 PM

Well my good friend, Thats because you are addicted to Nicotine, booze and pot ain't addictive, but if you can stay quit from booze then you have that whipped as long as you do not have any, you can stay quit, I have been quit for over 26 years and I was a terrible drunk.
But I never could quit tobacco, no matter how hard i tried,, I have had Emphysema for a number of years and knew I was getting it in 1985 and made the vow to quit, made that vow a million times, tried patches, gum, miracle cures, Nothing worked, I got where I couldn't breath the first of Dec. and they hauled my ass off to the hospital, I was in there damn near a month and came away without hardly a cough, I have now been without a smoke for 4 months, and at this very moment I would kill for a smoke, I smoked for over 60 years and was never without a pack of cigs, cigars or a bag of rolling tobacco and a book of papers.

Now the Dr. tells me that he will not be able to save my ass again if I start to smoke again, and I believe him, he thought I had quit before, but i was still smoking just one a day, then 2 then buying a pack and hiding it from my wife.
No one cares if I smoke, but I sure do anymore.
So if you want to quit smoking then do it like you did the booze, have none and it works, do not have any today, maybe have one tomorrow, but not today, and same as booze, if I do that every day I can do it. So can you, but there is no such thing as taper off til you can quit,, you know as well as I do that that is bullshit..

**Wally Dorian Raffles** · 31-03-2008, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by blackgang

do not have any today, maybe have one tomorrow, but not today,

Now that seems to make alot of sense - as we all know, tomorrow never comes. You could be onto something there BG. Thanks.
Your story is also a little frightening, as are the yucky pictures they put on boxes these days. i feel that scare tactics can play a part in helping me stop.... hmmm...

**Wally Dorian Raffles** · 31-03-2008, 09:01 PM

^Yep. I'll be busy within a month or so, but I'm already getting quite fanatical about the gym. It shares a pool with a large hotel where many Japanese girls also swim

which is a bonus, but even 3 hours per day there leaves too much time to kill . C'mon! somebody give me a miracle cure!

bTW, thanks KW..

**Blake7** · 31-03-2008, 09:01 PM

You have to make the decision that you will never smoke again, never. It is all about the mention approach. if you say to yourself that you will have one or two when you are really pissed or when you are sitting in that Italian Piazza with an expresso and the Telegraph then you have failed before you even began.

**Wally Dorian Raffles** · 31-03-2008, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by Blake7

You have to make the decision that you will never smoke again, never. It is all about the mention approach. if you say to yourself that you will have one or two when you are really pissed or when you are sitting in that Italian Piazza with an expresso and the Telegraph then you have failed before you even began.

I'm think you are right. oh dear, another one of lifes pleasures gone..then again, it hasn't been pleasurable for a while. As for drinking, I will start to have a few when i have good reason to....atleast it gives you a buzz..

**kingwilly** · 31-03-2008, 09:05 PM

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

bTW, thanks KW..

yeah no worries, i was thinking up a smart answer when i saw the title but your OP deserved much more than that.

**slimboyfat** · 31-03-2008, 09:06 PM

i dont know. i managed for 2 years smoke free. last year for 3 months. and recently almost a month.

the problem is that when i start feeling healthy again (no cough, being able to walk up a large flight of stairs without being out of breath etc) then i get the 'yeah why not have one?' feeling. And then its back on full blast until i start feeling shit again.

**jizzybloke** · 31-03-2008, 09:07 PM

pm sent

**blackgang** · 31-03-2008, 09:10 PM

^ Yep, same as booze, there ain't no such thing as "Just have one"

Well it is true too what they put on then baxes anymore, you should see a Xray of my lungs, they are solid BLACK, no light spots no more for the last 5 years,, look like an old innertube cut in 2 pieces..

**Frankenstein** · 31-03-2008, 09:13 PM

pm sent too.

**Wally Dorian Raffles** · 31-03-2008, 09:27 PM

thanks for all of the sincere replies, and pms.

You guys rock!

**machangezi** · 02-04-2008, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

thanks for all of the sincere replies, and pms.

You guys rock!

May I get PMs too? I've been trying hard to give up for years but in vain.

I manage for a few days but then ..... you know what. I know well why I relapse. When I quit smoking:

1. I react to small things
2. I go ballistic if questioned more than once about the same thing
3. I get terrible headaches
4. I have constipation problems
5. I drive like a crazy bastard

In simple words I loose me temper.

I hope suggestions/pms in Wally's thread help us all smokers who want to give up.

So anyone with any suggestion?

**barbaro** · 31-03-2008, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

Any suggestions??

Great to hear from you, Wally.

Perhaps, slowly reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke per day. A slow reduction, steady over time.

(3 hours in the gym seems a little too much.) Trading one habit for another.

Anway, good luck and keep us posted!

**Wally Dorian Raffles** · 31-03-2008, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by Milkman

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

Any suggestions??

Great to hear from you, Wally.

Perhaps, slowly reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke per day. A slow reduction, steady over time.

(3 hours in the gym seems a little too much.) Trading one habit for another.

Anway, good luck and keep us posted!

Thanks milky. Much appreciated. i don't know if weaning off is the right way for me. i am a bit like slimboyfat as i tend to think "Oh well, I feel pretty good today so i may aswell enjoy the rest of the box" - and the cycle continues..

I think firmly hitting the nail on the head once and for all is the best way for me. As Blake mentioned, those moments where you think "what the hell, just one won't hurt" seem to be my downfall. Whether I use medication which was recommended in a pm, or just use a little old fashioned will power, it has to be done..

Hows life in vietnam anyway?? Are things moving ahead in leaps and bounds over there as we are lead to believe??

**kingwilly** · 31-03-2008, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by Milkman

Perhaps, slowly reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke per day. A slow reduction, steady over time.

2 other people who would know have said otherwise to that suggestion.

Originally Posted by Milkman

(3 hours in the gym seems a little too much.) Trading one habit for another.

now that's just a bolloxy silly answer, one can train up 6-9 hours a day if your not working or otherwise occupied.

**barbaro** · 31-03-2008, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by kingwilly

Originally Posted by Milkman

Perhaps, slowly reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke per day. A slow reduction, steady over time.

2 other people who would know have said otherwise to that suggestion.

Everyone is different. What works for one person may not not work for another.

I used to smoke. I quit. Like a lot of people. Wally can try different things to see what works for him. It's not etched in stone.

Originally Posted by Milkman

(3 hours in the gym seems a little too much.) Trading one habit for another.

kingwilly:

now that's just a bolloxy silly answer, one can train up 6-9 hours a day if your not working or otherwise occupied.

Dead wrong.

You don't know much about the hormone cortisol do you?

**kingwilly** · 31-03-2008, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by Milkman

I used to smoke. I quit. Like a lot of people. Wally can try different things to see what works for him. It's not etched in stone.

true enough.

**slimboyfat** · 31-03-2008, 10:13 PM

but how much do you know about the hormone cortisol KW?

**Wally Dorian Raffles** · 31-03-2008, 10:14 PM

My 3 hours at the gym consist of:

15 minutes stretching/ stomache exercises..

30 minute on the treadmill - not too fast mind you..

45 minute on the bike - this i enjoy as i read a good book at the same time..

45 munutes of weights/ weight machines

45 minutes - an hour in/around the pool where i also read/ perve on japanese girls..

So don't worry milky - i don't over do it

What is hormone cortithingy anyway?

**dirtydog** · 31-03-2008, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

My 3 hours at the gym consist of:

15 minutes stretching/ stomache exercises..

5 minute fag break outside..

30 minute on the treadmill - not too fast mind you..

5 minute fag break outside..

45 minute on the bike - this i enjoy as i read a good book at the same time..

5 minute fag break outside..

45 munutes of weights/ weight machines

By then I am dieing for a smoke

45 minutes - an hour in/around the pool where i also read/ perve on japanese girls..

But this is the end so I can go out and smoke as much as I want

So don't worry milky - i don't over do it

What is hormone cortithingy anyway?

Maybe try cutting down first.

**jizzybloke** · 31-03-2008, 10:33 PM

Here you go,

Primer - Hormone Action - Cortisol

**friscofrankie** · 31-03-2008, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

What is hormone cortithingy anyway?

Originally Posted by Who else? The Wiki

Cortisol

Originally Posted by Who else? The Wiki

is a corticosteroid hormone produced by the Zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex (in the adrenal gland). It is a vital hormone that is often referred to as the "stress hormone" as it is involved in the response to stress. It increases blood pressure, blood sugar levels and has an immunosuppressive action. In pharmacology, the synthetic form of cortisol is referred to as hydrocortisone, and is used as an antagonist in the treatment of allergies and inflammation as well as substitute supplementation in cortisol production deficiencies. When first introduced as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, it was referred to as Compound E.

I've never quit smoking. I've quit other things. But I've smoked for 40 some odd years every day 20 - 40 times a day. I still like smoking it might kil me and it is a slow lingering death I know I should quit. I would prefer to smoke about 10 cigarettes a day I know I would enjoy ech one I smoked. That will never happen. I know there is no magic bullet. If I am to reduce my smoking, it will either be to zero or not at all.

BG has offered yo the best advice you'll ever get on the subject. Don't smoke. make up your mind and then do nothing. Don't light one. Don't buy one.
Just don't. Good fuckin luck

**DrAndy** · 31-03-2008, 10:41 PM

If you can do 3 hours of boring gym, you must be able to give up smoking

I did the latter, but have always been too lazy to keep up the former

so, the first three days of not smoking is the true withdrawal period, when the lack of the drug affects you physically. After that, it is all mental; you want a smoke because you want a smoke, not because you need one

like you have always had one with a coffee, or with a drink, or at 3pm

so, try to vary your daily routine, try not to put yourself in situations where it is difficult (like going out with a mate who smokes)

I gave up years ago and still "fancy" one now and then

just say "NO"...it gets easier

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