Smoking.

[thelace]

Seriously, well done pet!

[SallyAnne]

I gave up about 50 years ago, never wanted another since

Someone gave me a puff on a ciggy when I was five, in the school gates, put me off for life it did.

I wish the bugger had given me a pint of special brew at the same time

Did they have ciggies back then?

[SallyAnne]

Seriously, well done pet!

Ahhhhhh - the use of "pet" made me feel better straight away

[ratewhore]

I loved that time on my own - every hour, just 5 minutes to myself, no matter what...time alone with your own thoughts, your own peace.

Go for a shit instead.

[chef]

quit smoking Oct 4th this year, haven't had one since and haven't had the urge..

have found I can taste and smell things far better, i like the idea the home doesn't stink of cigs and my clothes don't smell

feel I am healthier and happier without it

[Archangel]

13th June 2004 for me (can't remember the date of my wedding anniversary!). Still miss it very occasionally. Enjoy the thought that I beat a serious addiction though.

[conned tractor]

Some motivation for those who have given up.

I stopped January this year having had lower lobe of left lung removed due to emphyszema. And i'm 31. Fit and healthy now though, just that i am of a lower lung capacity. Ct scans show that it was localised - rest of the lung OK (????).

Not that i'm on a crusade to stop anyone smoking. Not even possible to prove that it was the fags. There are many other causes.

And at times I would kill for a fag.

[Scotchpie]

Well I smoke about 6 a day and with a baby on the way I'm seriously thinking of quitting. I quit for about 7 years but started again 10 years ago (more fool me).

Anyway, on our yearly pilgramage to my wife's parent's home (they're Japanese), I've found nicorette inhalers really work to kill the urge and give you a little kick in the back of the throat when you inhale. In fact if I drag on it too much I actually start coughing!

Not as medititive as smoking but probably the next best thing.

[Bagpuss]

I was one of those start smoking socially at uni people in my mid 20s. Before that I only ever had the occasional one if drunk and never really understood how people got addicted. I could get through 20 on a Friday and 20 on a Saturday night then not smoke all week. I then made the mistake of using smoking as a crutch when I was feeling down, big mistake, I became properly addicted in my 30s.

I've stopped a couple of times, 1st time on gum for about 6 months, then using hypnotherapy for about the same time. When I'm not working I find it easier to quit, working makes me want to smoke. As someone once said to me "Smoking legitimises waiting", so it's a great excuse to leave a dull office environment for a few minutes. So I started again after 5 months off, I didn't even crave one, so pretty stupid really.

I've stopped again this week with the Paul McKenna CD, it's so easy with that method, much easier than gum (which doesn't address the underlying problem).

[Pogle]

I can take it or leave it, I'm one of those annoying people who can smoke on a night out and then not have one for the next month.
Sadly Mr Pogle does smoke, he had given up for about 6 years, but started again when he and I were having a bit of a bad time.

He may try and stop again over the Christmas break, i do hope so, but its up to him.