I  want to give up smoking but I'm hopeless.
I would appreciate advice from older people who has managed to kick the habit !

I'll admit to being an 'older ex-smoker'!!!

I gave up smoking on March 17th 1989. I'd been a 30-a-day girl for 5 years or so, having started on just a couple a day at 17.

I was determined to quit - my little boy had started crying when he saw me light a cigarette "I don't want you to die, Mummy" - he wasn't yet 3 years old! :-o -and the guilt took away all the mental pleasure from the smoke. So I invested a month's cigarette money in a course of quit-smoking tablets (can't remember what they were called, but they were official!) and being short of cash wasn't going to waste the investment. I stuck to the course though it wasn't easy, and after a month off the fags there seemed little point in starting again. So I didn't. And I haven't had one since.

Hi Bridie, had to give up in Oct last year after 14 wonderful years :) due to having extremely bad bronchitis and had to have an inhaler. Enough of a shock to give me the incentive to quit - did it cold turkey (couldn't smoke at all - did try, but made me cough too much !!) Haven't hsad a fag since but just very occassionaly want one. HAVE PUT ON NEARLY 2 STONE THOUGH :(  so whatever you do please watch your eating. Swapped one addiction for another ;)

Did try the patches 2 years ago and gave up for 6 months, then it was xmas so gave myself a treat....!!!!

Good luck, it can be very hard

Thanks guys but I've tried the patches,chewing gum,and hypnosis.

You have to really, really want to quit. The aids are simply a support to your will - they can't do it for you.

I do really,really want to quit. The problem is I enjoy a cigarette

You can have all the help & aids there are but none of them work if you dont have the right frame of mind. Im a firm believer that if you really realy want to do it then you can. You say you "enjoy" a ciggie, so try to work out the times when you sit down and enjoy your ciggie and eliminate it. I.e if you cme home from work and switch the kettle on and light a fag then change your routine. Also, if you want a cigarette go and brush your teeth. A craving only lasts 5 minutes so give yourself something to make the 5mins go quicker and the teeth brushing will make your breath and mouth feel all clean and fresh.
Amazing really...i know all this yet im still a smoker :-)   Dont want to give up though.

Smoking is a hard thing to quit.  I thought I was doing great, hadnt smoked for a month, then started out of the blue again. 

The thing thats motivating me to quit, is the death of someone I knew.  He died of lung cancer this week. 

Now, I cant say I am not smoking, but maybe 2 - 5 a day right now again, and tomorrow, I am planning on nothing.  It takes something, to really hit you hard, like a death or statement from a loved one begging you to stop for your health, to really hit the message home. 

Try thinking of all the things you will gain from NOT smoking.  Put the money into a jar, that you would normally spend on smokes, and pick a date where you havent smoked for X amount of time, and go spend the money saved on something nice for yourself. 

You always say, that smoking is just a scapegoat, but when this person died from lung cancer, it really did hit home (to me) as to how bad smoking really is, enjoyable or not, it isnt worth your life.   May he rest in peace!

It has now almost been a year since I quit after smoking for about 13 years. Me and my partner stopped at the same time, he used pills from the doctor (like zyban but not?? can't remember name!!) and with those he had to keep smoking while taking them and then one day he just didn't want one. I just stopped through will power. To this day neither of us have had one. Although he finds it easier than me I still get cravings and there are times when I could still have one even though he smoked more than me. It doesn't bother him at all so there must be some use to these tablets. I found this site so useful as I used to post all the time if I was finding it hard and everybody used to support me.

I can highly recommend the Champix tablets.  I'm now on week 4 of quitting and they seem to work really well!  You have to get them on prescription from your doctor and go to a stop smoking group once a week (which I was dreading1), but it's fine, everybody there is very supportive.

Sarah.

i started taking Campix last november after being a smoker for 30 years..i have not had a ciggie since!
i was signed off the smoking clinic last week
i feel great and am now at slimming world to shift the few pounds i have gained!
but i no longer smell and my house is so much cleaner!
i didnt want to quit as i really enjoyed smoking but i couldnt afford it and i am due to have surgery so needed to quit!

They really seem to work don't they?  I too no longer smell of fags, but unfortunately my hubby still smokes, though he has to sit with his head virtually up the chimney when he smokes (I now hate the smell!!).

Champix I think that's what my OH took!!! Made him feel soooo sick but he still says they were worth it!! Says the smeel doesn't bother him anymore, but me mmmmmmmmmmm I love the smell LOL!!!!

I was pretty ill on the blue tablets (stronger ones), but am now taking 3 of the white tabs. a day.  Feel much more human on them!!

Hi

I smoked 30-40 a day for 10 years, I was incredibly stupid & a later starter to it so should have known better but hey.  I failed numerous times to give up I tried patches, gum etc.  Then some small thing would set me off (to be honest I only ever managed a 5 day span to start with).  DH was a smoker too & we both gave up in the New Year one year, I'd failed by the next day, he tended to last a fortnight.

Anyway, 8 months later I decided enough was enough.  I'd had a bit of a scare with a searing pain in my trachea & nausea & stomach pains which prior to my doctors appointment I thought was something really bad.  Actually it was the start of an ulcer.  He basically told me that I could change my food & stress levels & he could medicate me but it was all useless until I gave up smoking.  This was the year they put patches on NHS so all the doctors had counsellors etc.  Anyway, it frightened me enough to WANT to give up this time & I succeeded.  DH gave up a few months later cold turkey.  I used patches & it worked this time around.  That was nearly 7 years ago.

It's not easy but as everyone will tell you, you really really have to WANT TO GIVE UP, not just feel you should. 

Yes I still have to odd craving & if I lived near a shop & had the money then I probably would have a day where I went back to it.  Can't say I feel healthier for it but who knows how ill I'd be?!

Hope that didn't sound like a lecture 'cos it wasn't meant to be

I quit today and feeling pants now, I know I'm doing the right thing and I'm determind to stick with it.
Good Luck
Mary

Over ten years ago for me!
It is difficult, but when you finally make your mind up you really can do it. I was inspired by others who I thought that if they could do it then I certainly could!
I used a tamagoutchi toy and sweeties. That gives the hands and mind and mouth something to think about.

Good luck Karn

I decided not to buy any today but I had about nine in a packet so guess what ? Yes i've smoked the lot. I'm ashamed to tell you all i've been out searching the car. Tomorrow is another day !