AlanHo Posted August 31, 2003 Report Share Posted August 31, 2003 About 15 years ago I gave up smoking, having smoked 40 per day for many years. Since then I have been a compulsive non-smoker which I am trying to give up for health reasons.Starting smoking is not as easy as people might think – you first have to reduce the number of cigarettes you don’t smoke each day by an amount equivalent to the number of cigarettes you are currently not smoking – and in my case I was not smoking at least 40 per day.I initially tried to stop non smoking suddenly by cutting out not smoking completely – but my addiction to not smoking was too strong and it gave me major ‘drawal symptoms. I therefore tried to reduce the number of cigarettes I didn’t smoke gradually, by cutting up a few each day. This worked for a while and I managed to reduce the number of cigarettes I didn’t smoke to approximately 10 per day. One unfortunate side affect was that I lost weight and felt much more energetic due to reduced appetite.However, social pressures took their toll and I found myself not smoking at least 40 per day again which enabled me to get back to my former plump and unfit state. As an habitual non smoker it really is embarrassing to sit in the smoking section of a restaurant and have complaints from adjacent tables about you not smoking. (Mind you – I reckon having a non-smoking area in a restaurant is about as effective as declaring a no-peeing area in a swimming pool). Not only that, I really miss not being able to non smoke after a nice meal with my coffee and brandy. My breath has developed a strong lack of odour and the absence of nicotine stains on my fingers has definitely got worse.I have tried hypnosis and acupuncture to reduce my non smoking without much success. I have also tried not wearing a nicotine patch and not chewing nicotine gum, which have proved to be equally ineffective. I am currently avoiding not smoking the occasional cigar and pipe to see whether this will help.Hence my advice to all smokers is not to give it up in the first place – if you do - you could have serious difficulties in starting again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artist Posted August 31, 2003 Report Share Posted August 31, 2003 How's your abstinence coming on, Nell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted August 31, 2003 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2003 Are you asking about cigarette smoking as well ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nellie2 Posted August 31, 2003 Report Share Posted August 31, 2003 urmm just over 10 weeks now. Have had a bit of a bad day today though. Very nearly cracked.... but I didn't!! :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted August 31, 2003 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2003 NelTake heart. I went from 80 to 100 a day to zero overnight about 20 years ago. It was hell on wheels for about 3 weeks but the longer I went without - the more determined I was not to waste the time spent without fags.Now - 20 years later - I rarely think about smoking and am sure that I would be ill if I tried one. Just occasionally - especially after a good meal and some fine wine, I could murder a fag - but I never give in.Keep it up gal - you won't regret it and might even avoid angina and emphysema in later life - which believe me aint no fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artist Posted August 31, 2003 Report Share Posted August 31, 2003 NelTake heart. I went from 80 to 100 a day to zero overnight about 20 years ago. It was hell on wheels for about 3 weeks but the longer I went without - the more determined I was not to waste the time spent without fags.Now - 20 years later - I rarely think about smoking and am sure that I would be ill if I tried one. Just occasionally - especially after a good meal and some fine wine, I could murder a fag - but I never give in.Keep it up gal - you won't regret it and might even avoid angina and emphysema in later life - which believe me aint no fun.Ditto - almost identical story!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted September 1, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2003 Now you know why I get so depressed from time to time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artist Posted September 1, 2003 Report Share Posted September 1, 2003 Obviously a character flaw -I'm ok! :D :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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