I've given up........

[MarillionFan]

"Thanks for all your encouragement."

Its a dog eat dog world denny!

[Denny]

"Thanks for all your encouragement."

Its a dog eat dog world denny!

Yes, but you're a snarling pit bull, and I'm a cute little spaniel

[The Lone Gunman]

I gave up just over a year ago.

My tuppence.
Dont say you are giving up. Say YOU DON'T SMOKE.
Try and change your day so the habitual ciggies are not there. i.e. if you always had a ciggie in your car on the way to/from work then get the bus for a couple of weeks.

[BrilloPad]

I had last cigarette 22nd December 1989 - but I still miss it occasionally.

I used to hate it when I was nagged to give up - IMO you have to want to do it for yourself.

[SandyDown]

Stopped exactly a week ago and get the occasional pang but it ain't worried me yet although I think I've put on a couple og kilos already. Apart from VAT going up in Germany (now 19%) which means that a pcket of fags has gone up to €4.00 they've also changed all the fag machines. It used to be that when you ran out you could just pop down the corner of the road and stick yer €4 in and get a packet of snouts. No longer though as in an attempt to stop uderage smoking you can now only get oily's with your bankcard and it has to be one of those ones with a chip on it which you load up at the bank and I don't have one. Same in pubs, etc. except the staff there have a special card for ciggie machines (expect a black market in them) which can also be used on street corners.

Sorry if someone already mentioned this, but you know in Amsterdam airport they sell you these chip&pin cards they have different values but I used to buy one every week when arriving in Holland to the value of €50 just to use at work cateens which didn't accept any cash.

btw: well done for quitting.. I've never smoked, so don't really have much advice for you

[Flubster]

Denny...

How does this affect your IR35 status? Do you need to get this checked by B&C?

[sasguru]

I love puppies but not pangs. Thanks for the tip though, Sasguru

Much as I have a quick imaginative mind that lends itself all kinds of bizarre analogies when illustrating a point, I can't get my head around calling a fag pang that's gnawing away at me 'lucky' and then stroking it and wanting to take it for a walk. I think I'd rather imagine my pangs as the equivalent of a hairy spider - something that I'm trying to get rid of and rather scared of. That way I can better equate the irritating urge for a cigarette with the unwelcome little beastie creating it which I can then imagine crushing underfoot with no remorse (just as I did with a ciggie butt).

confused:

Everyone has their own way. The importatnt thing is not to think about it. You're now an non-smoker. The ocassional pangs leave as soon as they come if you think of something else and lessen in intensity pretty quickly.

[Zippy]

Good luck Denny - you're nearly there.
I quit a couple of weeks ago and feel fine now. It took about three days before I stopped getting that sinking/crushed feeling when I realised I wasn't going to have a smoke with (e.g.) a coffee. I quite enjoyed feeling dizzy and spaced though . I haven't avoided any classic smoking situations like the pub although in my local there's so much smoke you probably don't need your own fags

I haven't used any nicotine patches/gum etc. and I reckon that has helped shorten the withdrawal. Did the rest of you 'quitters' use anything to help give up?

I think I'll quit alcohol next

[freakydancer]

I thought about quitting smoking but I'm a winner.

And winners don't quit.

[DS23]

good decision. just stop.

i gave up 8 years ago next month. first 6 months were hard. it's really tricky when alcohol is being consumed 'cos the two go er... hand in hand. if you can get hammered and still not succumb - you have it nailed.

good luck.