How Many of You Smoke?

[Sparks]

What really hit home for me (when I was a smoker) is that how you feel when you're having a smoke is how non-smokers feel normally. Having a smoke might calm you down, or help you think, or reduce your stress, or perk you up, or whatever. But that's only because smoking makes you feel the opposite of all of that stuff when you're not having a smoke. Good riddance to that.

I'm amazed that non-smoking public service messages don't emphasize this. All they do is finger wag and it's utterly pointless. Everyone knows the health risks, for god's sake.

[J pold]

I don’t smoke but since we are on the topic I have a roommate who smokes and wants to quit but has little too no will power, the deal we have now is every time he has a cigarette we get to punch him in the face, in fact when he gets home tonight in is in store for 6 straight punches to the face from one of my other rooms mates

Problem is that is this doesn’t seem to be working…anyone out there have any other suggestions too get him to quit? He has tried the patch, gum, and inhalers

[Russic]

Don't smoke cigarettes. I'll have a cigar with my dad a couple times a month, but not much more than that.

[red '00]

Smoked for a few months a couple years ago. Managed to quit fairly easily. Never going back..... pretty sure I was like most people and tried it cause I saw my friends doing it.

[Sparks]

Originally Posted by J pold

Problem is that is this doesn’t seem to be working…anyone out there have any other suggestions too get him to quit? He has tried the patch, gum, and inhalers

I'm sure other ex-smokers will have ideas, but here are some things that helped me:

- Don't let your brain play games with you. It will invent any excuse to smoke, lie, deceive you in any way it can, because all it wants is more nicotine and it will find any way to get it. You can't trust your reasoning while you're quiting.
- Go back on the strongest patch. If your dreams bother you when you sleep, take it off at night, but make sure you slap that sucker on first thing in the morning, because the cravings will be fierce. Speaking of patches, buy them at Superstore. They're about half price.
- Take the bus instead of a car, or get a friend to drive you to work. Basically, get yourself in a position where you can't smoke on the way to work. If your life involves long car drives, try to find alternate transportation. Just taking a vehicle that you're "not allowed to smoke in" won't work.
- Cutting down on drinking is a good idea. Stay away from your friends that smoke, at least for a while. This is a really tough one.
- Stay busy. If you're bored, the temptation to smoke will be overpowering.
- Try to avoid things that make you want to smoke, or that you associate with smoking. I had some weird ones. Whenever I bought a new CD, I always had to have a smoke when I listened to it for the first time.
- You might want to consider smoking a tiny bit of pot for a while as an alternative. I know this is questionable advice, but it does help when paired with the patch. You get the nicotine + you get to smoke something. Then you can phase out the patch. Then you can stop smoking the pot.
- Breaks at work can be extremely hard if you have co-workers who smoke. Try to have a short coffee break at the same time, or keep yourself occupied some other way.

- Remember that there will be a time when you don't crave cigarettes anymore. It sounds impossible, but it will come. You will get up, go to work, come home, go to sleep, etc, and you won't want a smoke. It's fantastic and you will get there.

[arsenal]

Originally Posted by Sparks

What really hit home for me (when I was a smoker) is that how you feel when you're having a smoke is how non-smokers feel normally. Having a smoke might calm you down, or help you think, or reduce your stress, or perk you up, or whatever. But that's only because smoking makes you feel the opposite of all of that stuff when you're not having a smoke. Good riddance to that.

I'm amazed that non-smoking public service messages don't emphasize this. All they do is finger wag and it's utterly pointless. Everyone knows the health risks, for god's sake.

So you read Alan Carr's book too?

[Sparks]

Originally Posted by arsenal

So you read Alan Carr's book too?

No actually, but I heard it was highly reccommended. I dunno, for some reason I always figured that reading a book wouldn't be any help.

[Bobblehead]

I had an uncle who was a heavy smoker who passed away from lung cancer in his late 50s. For the last few months, he would walk about 5 minutes then need to sit down for 15 to 20 minutes. It was a horrible thing to watch this formerly busy dairy farmer totally broken down.

My mother was the 9th of 9, and she smoked. My aunt (the 8th of 9) also smoked. Those were the only 2 of the siblings who smoked. My aunt passed away of a stroke. My mother was forced to quit when she had open hear surgery. All the other siblings are still alive and well (and my mother is now 65 - her oldest sister is late 80s).

Every aunt/uncle/grandparent I had who smoked and didn't quit (voluntarily) have had serious health issues, most resulting in death.

You are welcome to do what you want, but you really don't realize how many other people you affect with your actions, both now and in the future.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by J pold

I
Problem is that is this doesn’t seem to be working…anyone out there have any other suggestions too get him to quit? He has tried the patch, gum, and inhalers

Originally Posted by Sparks

- Don't let your brain play games with you. It will invent any excuse to smoke, lie, deceive you in any way it can, because all it wants is more nicotine and it will find any way to get it. You can't trust your reasoning while you're quiting.

This is so very true, it's amazing how many times you can tell your self "today is not a good day to quit because....."

things that helped me.
chew gum, drink lots of water, exercise, go for a walk, don't hang out with people who smoke.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by J pold

I don’t smoke but since we are on the topic I have a roommate who smokes and wants to quit but has little too no will power, the deal we have now is every time he has a cigarette we get to punch him in the face, in fact when he gets home tonight in is in store for 6 straight punches to the face from one of my other rooms mates

Problem is that is this doesn’t seem to be working…anyone out there have any other suggestions too get him to quit? He has tried the patch, gum, and inhalers

quit drinking. I did for more than 6 months when I stopped smoking. Also, totally change your non-work day to day routine. Include exercise, etc. Don't worry about the eating thing, gaining a little weight is a hell of a lot better than smoking.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by cgy2london

never once touched a ciggarette. My mom smoked from my childhood till i was about 13, so I just always hated it. saying that spending 5 days a the rink for 10 plus years now has led to a tobacco addiction. Unfortunatly its copenhagen. Even more unfortunate im playing in england now and you cant buy the stuff! you have to order it online through a dodgy website and pay through the teeth!!

Love a fat dip with the boys after a big meal on the road in a hotel or while playing cards with the boys on the bus, but i keep telling my mom im gonna quit soon. 22 next month, maybe its time 2 fade out the chew...

At least with smoking, people can't see the lung cancer. With chewing tobacco, people will notice if you've had to have your jawbone, lips, tongue or teeth removed because you developed cancer in/around them.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by worth

I also occasionally smoke shisha. Much better than cigarettes.

False, Shisha is much deadlier than cigarettes. You inhale a lot more smoke than you normally would, plus even more carcinogenic substances from the charcoal mixer and other substances and flavorings. Even though the tablets don't contain as much tobacco, it still contains many substances. If you burn anything at that temperature, new chemicals and substances are created that are even deadlier. I believe the tablets even burn at a much higher temperature than tobacco leaf due to smoldering charcoal. The water does not filter the smoke at all, it simply cools it, allowing you to inhale more than you normally would.

[rockstar]

Does anyone here smoke Drum?

I smoke 2-3 cigarettes / day.

Drastic increase if I'm drinking on the weekend, or on vacation; goes up to about 8-9 per day.

[prarieboy]

I quit two weeks ago!!!!

I probably smoked for close to 25 years and could never beat the addiction. I would quit and be back at it six months later. Not this time.

Good ridance.

[Weiser Wonder]

I've never smoked a cigarette. But I like the smell and will often go out with the smokers at parties to talk. Don't really think it's disgusting but refuse to smoke them.

[Torture]

I don’t smoke but since we are on the topic I have a roommate who smokes and wants to quit but has little too no will power, the deal we have now is every time he has a cigarette we get to punch him in the face, in fact when he gets home tonight in is in store for 6 straight punches to the face from one of my other rooms mates

Problem is that is this doesn’t seem to be working…anyone out there have any other suggestions too get him to quit? He has tried the patch, gum, and inhalers

Punch harder.

That or move to kicking him in the balls, if that doesn't motivate him I don't know what would.

[Sylvanfan]

Every year my New Years Resolution is not to smoke. Seems to be in even numbered years that I have a problem keeping it up. In 2002, my boss had his first kid, I got suckered in to a Cigar. 2004 at my stag....another cigar, 2006 at my brothers wedding, yep another cigar. This time I'm going to make my resolution stick!!!

Used to do that chew thing in my early 20's, that crap was addictive. Evenuall I did grow out of it, but it was a better part of a year till I finally was able to kick that habit 100% back in 2000. Although I did have a dip in 2003 at a buddies stag...disgusting, but so good at the same time. Oddly enough if you keep those evenings of heavy booze consumption to a minimum...you tend to avoid a few of thos other bad habits that seem like good ideas when you're inebriated.

[Jayems]

Originally Posted by J pold

I don’t smoke but since we are on the topic I have a roommate who smokes and wants to quit but has little too no will power, the deal we have now is every time he has a cigarette we get to punch him in the face, in fact when he gets home tonight in is in store for 6 straight punches to the face from one of my other rooms mates

Problem is that is this doesn’t seem to be working…anyone out there have any other suggestions too get him to quit? He has tried the patch, gum, and inhalers

Get his to go to his doc and see if he can try out zyban or wellbutrin.

He'll have to curb his drinking though, I don't think it's exactly good to get drunk when you're on it.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by prarieboy

I quit two weeks ago!!!!

I probably smoked for close to 25 years and could never beat the addiction. I would quit and be back at it six months later. Not this time.

Good ridance.

Best of luck buddy!

[arsenal]

Originally Posted by Sparks

No actually, but I heard it was highly reccommended. I dunno, for some reason I always figured that reading a book wouldn't be any help.

He basically outlines what you just said, conceptualizes the cravings as being a big monster and little monster wanting to stay alive, etc. Talks about the confidence tricks etc.