Smoker / Non-Smoker

[jjjnettie]

How many IISers are hooked on ciggies?
Have you managed to give up? How did you do it? Cold turkey or with help?

[[1ponders]]

Apart from a couple of weak moments in late January, I've been clean for 5 months now Jeanette. I can honestly say I haven't missed them after 30 years of smoking.

I've don't know how many times I've tried to give up before but its working this time. Nicotine replacements (patches and gums), hypnotherapy, contracts, cold turkey, Zyban. You name it I had tried it. I used Zyban again this time. And this time though I really wanted to give up. I realized I'd been smoking for twice as long as I hadn't been. And for me that was the difference.

[acropolite]

I've never smoked in my life. My mother, both brothers and sister all smoked, I hated the smell and the filth of the ashtray that was a permanent fixture at the dinner table. My mother died of cancer in her late 50's as did my eldest brother. Watching someone dye of lung cancer isn't a pretty sight, my brother puffed away on cigarettes right till his last breath, the addiction was so strong. My surviving brother gave up smoking for the second time a few years ago, cold turkey, my sister still smokes.

[Striker]

I"m like you Phil....cant stand the smell of smoke

I say slaughter all smokers...no offence...lol

[Astroman]

gave up just under 2 years ago. havent looked back, the smell is actually quite disgusting to me now. used nicabate patches for two weeks then gave them up cos it was actually costing me more, so went cold turkey after that.

[Kieken]

My last cigarette was 8 months ago and I've smoked for 4.5 years. Though most of you guys will easily triple or quadriple the numbers of years in years but at the end it's still the same addiction we try to overcome.

Apart from the smell I carried around there are a lot of benefits I can notice. My dinner tastes better, my body is more energetic, my skin isn't as pale as before, I've got more money to spend, girlfriend is happy (and so are my friends), .....

But I have to admit, a good cigare can taste very good :).

[[1ponders]]

Ditto on the stench. It quite surprised me when I realized how badly I must have smelt, especially to my kids. Can't stand the smell now.

[Vermin]

I gave up cold turkey on new years day (0:00) this year after 15 years of addiction. Two terrible weeks then it was reasonably easy. The ban on smoking in bars helped.

I lasted until last week when I had to work three 24 hour days (not in a row).

Having two chain puffers in the house has not helped either.

I'm half way through my last pouch then it's over for good. I hate it.

[[1ponders]]

Good onya Tom.

[syzygy]

Just to be picky, one shouldn't automatically equate smoking with cigarettes.

I had to put down my pipe to type this!

[drmorbius]

My Dad smoked all his life and died of smoking related throat cancer... somehow, "I told you so" doesn't seem appropriate!

Nasty habit!

[wavelandscott]

I have a bad allergy to smoke...and asthma and a number of related afflications

When I was a wee lad of about 8 years old a doctor explained to me that my lungs could not handle it and it would kill me...scared the daylights out of me and I never pursued the habit further...

I did dabble for a number of years with "smokeless" tobacco products but that is another story entirely...gave that up completely at university...

If I suspect that I will be in a "smoke filled" environment (even campfires etc.) I load up pre-emptively on my allergy medication and keep my inhalers close to hand "just in case" but most times a little planning ahead saves the day...thank goodness for smoke free hotel rooms!

[fremanwarrior]

My parents gave up cold turkey when I became an asthmatic (about 5mins after we disembarked the plane in Brissy when me immigrated to Aus).

I once had the misfortune of servicing the computer of a customer who was obviously a chain smoker who spent his life living infront of his computer.

The outside was yellow stained, but nothing could have prepared me for the inside, it was just covered in a thick film of yellow/brown crud from top to bottom... And the smell was just horrifing!

[Miaplacidus]

I've never smoked, but I have helped lots of people give up. Hypnotherapy, patches, Zyban. No one treatment works for everybody, and in fact most people have to give it four or five goes before they succeed. From my experience I would make some common observations that might help people who are thinking of quitting.
1. Obvious but true, you have to WANT to give up. And you're much more likely to succeed if you want to give up for yourSELF (rather than for your girl/boyfriend, housemate, or even for your child). If you love smoking, all the best intentions in the world won't stop you from finding it incredibly difficult to give up.
2. Fatal error #1: despair if you relapse into smoking. "I'll never do it, so why even bother trying?" As I say, a hell of a lot of people relapse. Looking at it from the other perspective, the vast majority of truly motivated people who keep trying to give up (even with periods of smoking in between) WILL finally succeed. Just don't give up giving up. Everytime a person relapses into smoking they learn something new about themselves and about what makes them smoke.
3. Never have even ONE cigarette once you've given up. You would not believe how often I hear people say that they were at a party or somewhere and they thought they'd have just one, and then next thing they know they're smoking again. Just like AA, for years afterwards I think it helps to call yourself a "smoker who isn't smoking", rather than a non- or ex-smoker.

Sheesh, I can't say anything about smoking without making myself sound like a sanctimonious pri--, er prig. I'm out of here.

[[1ponders]]

One hundred percent right though :thumbsup:

[shaneaust]

Yup, I'm a smoker, with no intention of giving up - and I don't care what others think, either. If the government suddenly put nicotine on the S1 list (or whatever it is), I'd just grow my own baccy. Simple as that. I respect other people's rights not to inhale my smoke, but if I want to smoke in an area that doesnt affect others, I damn well will.

[Argonavis]

thinking of giving it up Triple-J?

[seeker372011]

I gave up - a pack and a half a day habit-in 1984.

Cold turkey-no Nicotine patches then

[janoskiss]

Cold turkey is the way to go. Highest success rate and least likely to relapse (acc. to those in the know). It's very tough if you're a heavy smoker and strongly addicted. First two weeks are a real fight. It's like being two people at once. Then it gets easier but still 3 more months of firm persistence. Then 6 moths to a year of reminding yourself that you don't smoke ever. And then the occasional 'smoking in your dream' episodes with the accompanying guilt trips. These last for life I'm told but become less frequent.

I quit over 2 years ago after 10 years of smoking, very heavily in the last 5. Tried to quit several times before over the 10 years. Lasted about 6 weeks a few times. What always got me was that I told myself I can go back to being just the occasional smoker that I used to be when I started smoking. Unfortunately addiction does not work that way.

Some people are not susceptible to addiction to nicotine (different brain chemistry) and for them it's a lot easier.

[gaa_ian]

Thank god I never went past teenage experiences of smoking.
I think seeing my grandparets start it day with coughing fits from smoking helped put me off too.
Fortunately i have an Astronomy adiction to keep me happy :D

[RAJAH235]

I too, had to 'put down my pipe' to answer this... :D L.

[ballaratdragons]

Yep, I'm a smelly old smoker!

I started when I was 8 years old and have never stopped. That's 40 years of nicotine and poison in me.

I have tried the usuals, Hypno, patches, Acupuncture, Prayer, Kits, counselling, Stop smoking Chewing gum, tablets etc.

My Doc says I have extreme receptors!!! (whatever they are).

I have a very acute sense of smell (which I shouldn't have), 40 years of puffing and yet I hate the smell of Smokes, smokers, ashtrays, Smokers clothes and smoke in the air! I smoke outside at home.

I run around coaching kids in Rugby League and yet I don't get puffed out. And I smoke between 25 and 30 a day!!!

I would like to give up but the addiction has me badly. My Doc said one day I might just stop smoking for no reason but my "Receptors" are different to most people and that's what makes it difficult.

[Gargoyle_Steve]

I'm in the "have never smoked in my life" category ..... don't allow anyone to smoke inside my house. Visitors know the situation, if they want a smoke badly enough they go outside to do it. I don't date a woman if she smokes either ... because kissing a smoker really IS like kissing an ashtray!

Smoking is very much a personal choice ... just not mine.

[Argonavis]

forget the mints as they do not work on the overbearing smell of nicottine - asking said smoker to munch on some parsley takes the stench away. Parsley is amazing stuff for bad breath.

[iceman]

Never smoked, never will. Hate the smell of it on others, too.

My Dad is a smoker, but will probably have to give up soon.

[OneOfOne]

I have never smoked a cigarette in my life. I grew up in Milk Bars (you may remember them?) and one of my jobs was to fill up the fags every night. I can still remember the stench from the "roll your own" tobacco when I opened the doors of the storage cupboard. I have probably handled more cigarettes than any smoker is every likely to smoke (several thousand dozen cartons), but am proud to say I have never had a puff of anything! Drinking is another issue, I never drank...until I met my girlfriend, now wife, (and her teenage daughter), but that is something for another poll.

If you are into astronomy, and I think most of us are, there are two good reasons to give up:

Smoking reduces blood flow to the small capillaries of the body, eg. the eyes, and so you could expect to see a reduction in sensitivity.

Secondly, lighting up a fag will destroy your night adaption as much as turning on a small torch...maybe smoking on a dark site should be banned for this very reason?

[Smokey]

I,m pretty much in the same boat as Ken. I have smoked for as long as I can remember, and although I dislike the smell, I still actually enjoy my smokes.
Makes it hard to give up when you dont want to.

[astrogeek]

Well I gave up about a year ago after 4 years of smoking. Cold turkey worked for me, and I found that just having the occasional smoke helped me quit. Once a week, or maybe longer, I'd have a smoke and after about a month I found I didn't really need to any more. I still miss smoking though as I absolutly loved it. If it wasn't going to kill me I'd be out having a smoke right now.

[ving]

never smoked, my parents did tho. my mother gave up decades ago and my father a couple of years ago after having a stroke. now a smoke free family :)
I dont get people who are just taking it up now, but its prolly just a rebelling thing. :confuse3:

[jjjnettie]

I'm a smoker myself. I've stopped several times using nico gum, patches and cold turkey.
I don't smoke in the house because of the kids and the fact that it makes the house stink. I hate the smell of smoke.
Now that I am moving to a new house in a few weeks time, I'm setting that as the date to quit.
Again I'll go cold turkey. I'm not looking forward to it because I know what I'm in for. Weeks of totally irrational behavior with the occasional violent outburst against some poor inanimate object.
Ron Wood ( Rolling Stones ), who has quit a heroin and booze addiction, said that giving up the ciggies was the hardest thing he had ever done.

[mojo]

I sometimes think I should give up after a night out, when I've had far too many smokes. But it's that morning coffee and smoke that I would really miss.

On the other hand, I'm not much of a drinker and I've played the pokies once in my life (for 20 minutes until I got bored) just to see what people see in them. So I take heart that I might be sucking on a carcinogen but don't indulge in the two cancers on society... But that's another topic.

[janoskiss]

That's a funny sort of cold turkey. Like a vegetarian pizza with salami! :lol:

[Volans]

I've never smoked at all but have suffered 2nd hand smoke on many occasions. I dislike the smell of smoke greatly but I must say, the smell of tobacco itself, ie the dried herb, is quite pleasant, just like any dried herb really.

Peter.

[ving]

always found it funny how "vegetarians" can eat chicken and/or seafood.... :rolleyes:
:screwy:

[circumpolar]

I'm glad I gave up 4 years ago. Since then I have found astronomy and learned about how my pupil size will reduce as I age (Less aperture in my eyes :scared:). Smoking speeds this process up by 15 years or so!.

[fringe_dweller]

I am looking forward to giving up the ciggies very soon, it is one damn very stupid habit, but then i have looked very cool my whole smoking life ahahahaa :P
Best thing I ever did give up was regular drinking and getting smashed (although I do have one drink maybe now and then, but can go months without a drink and have to force myself to have one initially, but - I do drink an exquistite bottle of wine or bubbly and get tipsy maybe once or twice a year) I see old friends and aquantinces who never stopped heavy drinking and they look like crap, while I am as pretty as ever!)
Frank Zappa called ciggies his "food" and couldnt part with them, I understand that one - but then they killed him stone dead in his 50's - sad
Notice the anti smoking nanny nazi's have achieved the ultimate with the packet propaganda - like someone said these images should be on all harmful products alcohol, fast food ect. ever seen people die of alcohol related illnesses and accidents? - I have, not very pretty at all!

[ballaratdragons]

Alcohol is actually worse on the eyes for observing. Even a small amount reduces the pupil size, and enough alcohol blurrs the vision. :P

Using lighters on some observing fields is forbidden but not smoking. Just walk away and light up.

[[1ponders]]

Or use a zippo ;)

[wraithe]

i'm a smoker, given up a few times, and taken it up just as quick...
Both grandfathers smoked till the day they died...
one made 92 other 78, one grandmother wouldnt allow it in the house and died at 97, the other was always put next to a smoker at the nursing home to calm her after my grandfather died and she made 103...
i think old age seems to be more of a problem, and all my grandparents went senile in there 80's, except one who didnt make it...

[johnno]

Yeah,well at 57 years old,
I started at about 13,or 14,and gave it up some 25 years ago,

My Doctor said you have breathing problems,better give up smoking.

Funny thing is,I developed Insulin dependant Diabetes,Immediately,
and spent the next 2 weeks in hospital,and the last 25 years,giving myself a needle of a morning.

THE DOCTOR DID ADMIT,THE STRESS,OF GIVING UP SMOKING MAY,I,REPEAT,MAY,HAVE CAUSED,THE DIABETES.

Like a fool,I thought,here's me trying to get healthy,and I get this problem.
So,I took it up again.

DONT BLOODY SMOKE.

Now,I am on a disabillity pension,due to the effects,not only of SMOKING,BUT now, also the Diabetes,and ITS, associated problems.

I must admit,I
WISH,I HAD NEVER TAKEN IT UP IN THE FIRST PLACE.

In my defence,and also a lot of our older members,WE,thought it was COOL,in the sixties,to be a Smoker,AND,there was NOT the info we have today.

In fact,MY WIFE,was advised by HER DOCTOR,to "Take it up",as it WOULD help her Cope with the Stress,of a Difficult Father,

SHE,Luckily no longer Smokes.

I Still Do.

BUT,
I have now got to the Stage,where I Know,SOMETHING,will Nail Me.
Probably sooner,than Later,so I just hope its Later,(MUCH LATER)

TO our younger Members,DONT TAKE IT UP.

TO,our Older members(Smokers) Give it up,if you can.

Just My Thoughts.

John

P.S,
DONT BLOODY SMOKE.

PPS,
NOW,
you know why,you wont see ME, at meetings,outings,or any other GET TOGETHER,etc.

Because I Choke,at the slightest,reason,ESPECIALLY,cold air

[Vermin]

Yep I've heard of people bringing on emphysema by actually giving up (though this would just have been delayed slightly by not doing so).

[Roger Davis]

Smoked from 20 until I was 27. On a night shift I threw the almost full pack of smokes into the bin and watched two of my work mates try to follow it in.
Had a couple of puffs since, but nothing serious. So that's 23 years without.
Here's a fact for you:
one cigarette butt weighs in at around 1.7g
24 billion cigarettes sold in Australia per year
that's 40,800 tonnes of cigarette butts per year

(see: www.longwood.edu/cleanva/diglitterarticle.htm )

[dennislowe]

I gave it up about 1972 when the brand I smoked went up from 38 cents for a pack of 20 to 45 cents a pack. In those days matches were 2 cents a box, so a pack of smokes + matches was a nice even 40 cents. Having to find the extra change for the matches annoyed me so much I gave it up. I dont think I ever liked the things anyway. I only started to smoke in 1969 while in Vietnam, I got them free there.
Dennis.

[astro_nutt]

I started when I was 15 and tried quitting for 10 years till the age of 40...Zyban did the trick first time and no cravings for 6 years....mind you I work in a private sports club with a gaming room..plenty of smokers!!!...I'm glad I quit...just think..a packet of 30's cost say..$10..?..over a year..that would buy a nice little go-to!!

[fringe_dweller]

I have heard of people developing emphysema, even tho they gave up smoking very early on, 20 years after giving up. but then there are many people who get emphysema, lung cancer, cancers in general ect. and who had never smoked or drank and were virtually athletes that ate very healthily all their lives! so its no garuantee of anything - as they say you got to die of something! if you can have a natural predisposition to something too!
I would agree with wraithe, old age is the biggest killer of all out there lol.
My granddad died of emphysema from smoking in his 70's after years of horrible suffering, I would fear that more than cancer, at least that is mercifully quick to kill you!

[h0ughy]

All smokers are dying, as are non smokers, its just the speed at which they achieve their goal first that hurts the most!

[mickoking]

Gave up the durries a few years back. Have the occasional smoke now and then. Ironically it's my working environment thats more of a threat to my lungs (wood dust from cutting mouldings for picture framing).

[jjjnettie]

By coincidence on SBS tonight on Cutting Edge there is a doco on how the tobacco industry has maintained it's power in the face of growing knowledge about its impact on public health.

[avandonk]

I smoke nearly a packet (50gm) per day of White Ox tobacco and I really enjoy it.
But I will not smoke close to my lenses (much) or telescopes.
I am so used to being an almost leper I put my smoke out when I go to the 'smoke shop'.

You are far more likely to to be affected by diesel particulate exhaust to promote any cancer than tobacco. This does not exonerate(tobacco) it, just puts it in perspective. There is also obviously a synergy with all these 'bad'
environmental carcinogens and mutagens. It always has been difficult to 'prove' a single cause of cancer.
It is more likely it is a series of mutagenic events and then the inability of the immune system to recognise the cancer as 'foreign'.

Why these utter b's can get away with promoting their products is for these reasons.

Bert

[johnno]

As has been said,and I totally agree,
we are predisposed to certain illnesses,a heavy smoker may not necessarily die from a smoking related disease.

Our Family were very good friends with a younger family,who lived across the road,
they both smoked and drank,NOT excessively,however they both liked their food,as well as their little boy,and were ALL overweight.

They both decided to go on a health kick,and gave up the smokes,and grog,entirely,went walking,etc,and lost so much weight,

I almost didn't recognise them,at our eldest daughters 30th birthday,(they had moved from across the road,to the next town,4klm's away ),six months earlier.

Our dear friend,passed away 8 months later from Lukaemia,
She was just 34.

I am very wary,of sudden dramatic,changes in lifestyle,

This is not the only instance,of someone I was close to,or just known,had problems,after a big lifestyle change.

Makes you wonder at times,
As I said,I gave up smoking,and got Diabetes,
I think I will stick with the devil I know.

Regards.
John

[Adrian-H]

i went cold turkey about 2 months ago, about a month before the anti smoking campagn, thank god for it, i believe they should enforce it stronger however. never liked smoking really, but i did enjoy the sensation, "i was hooked to nicotine", i dont plan on going back, its was easy to quit for me, i just bought a pack one day, each time i smoked i felt i hated it more and more, i smoked one, walked up to a bunch of smokers, smoking in the park across the road from bintel in sydney, asked each person siting down smoking on a seat if they wanted a packet of smokes, they all refused, i thought to myself, what are they thinking "my smokes are gonna kill them?" threw them in a bin and then gave up, maybe that sounds pretty crazy to some of you, but i have to say that smoking is true crazy. sure i had the red eyes and the bad dreams "i was smoking in my dreams!" but you have to be strong, otherwise its clear youre a lost cause. i just fell into it peered by the smokers "everywhere" at a presuring time in my life when i was younger

i wont smoke nicotine again, however i may have the occasional green smoke afew times a year! :lol:

[Adrian-H]

the pollution from the car's everywhere, that causes cancer, keep that in mind.

[ving]

abh! everything causes cancer these days... greens are the only food not to be hit but then theres pesticides. really these days you just cant win (apparently).
everything in moderation has always been my way.

[fringe_dweller]

this discussion reminds me of the famous anecdotal stories of how smokers are renown for being the fastest healers, and up and about quickest time, quicker than non smokers, in hospitals, (not for everything of course :P). I have heard this a number of times from reliable sources over the years.
Of course you cant smoke in hospital, and you have to get on your feet quicker to be able to go outside for a smoke - and the habit is stronger than broken bones apparently - true story

[[1ponders]]

:lol:@ F-D

Reminds me of the story of the smoker, the catheter and the wobbly wheelchair....but we won't go there :lol:

[Argonavis]

Reminds me of a Bill Cosby comedy sketch some time back (and I hope I get this right) - Bill is Sir Walter Raleigh who has come back from the New World and is introducing the Queen to this wonderful new habit:

So there is this thing that the Indians do, right?

you get some leaves from this plant and shred them up - ok

and you roll them up in paper?

and you set it alight? really?

and you inhale it?

really?

[fringe_dweller]

never heard that one Paul? can ya Pm it to me :D

Argonavis, i have always loved the beatles song 'so tired' were lennon sings,
"I'm so tired, I'm feeling so upset
Although I'm so tired I'll have another cigarette
And curse Sir Walter Raleigh
He was such a stupid git."

[astro_nutt]

I haven't smoked for 6 years now..but I'll admit that I did enjoy it...however whenever I tried to quit..I found the emotional side really hard to deal with..why??..well...smokes were a good friend to me..I went through college with them..they helped me through the finals..celebrated when I passed..in fact throught thick and thin..the smokes were with me..always ready to help me through...and on those special occasions..birthdays..our wedding..the birth of our daughters..etc..even though it was doing me serious harm..I found it hard to stop..because it's like breaking up with a companion who was with me for many years...even though it's slowly trying to kill me!!..Like any addiction..it might be fun at first..but you pay for it big time later...
I used Zyban and stopped within 9 days of starting the course...

[astrogeek]

Very true. They do become like a good friend, one who is always there for you. Sure makes it hard to quit.

[Adrian-H]

do they talk back to you?:lol:

[JimmyH155]

I must admit to the occasional cigar, but even that may have to stop - you see, I just got a BEAUTIFUL Lightbridge 12 inch and the thought of fag ash falling onto that lovely mirror might be too much to bear.
Mind you I always think of that great quotation by Rudyard Kipling who wrote Jungle book -
I quote.... "A woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a Smoke!":rofl:

[Roger Davis]

Okay, so now we're getting into a completely different area: mental health

As we know all Amateur Astronomers are crazy, so, do you talk to your telescope?

[astro_nutt]

Yeah!!..they say things to you like.."Wheeeeze in and out..that's it..and again..feeling better now???..fool!":(
Oh!..I don't talk to my scope as such...just the odd WOW!!:eyepop:

[ving]

it funny you should say that roger (no i dont talk to my scope). I am sure that the rest of thepopulation think we are crazy. we see a faint grey smear in out eyepiece and have a huge smile on our face for the rest of the night... if anyone else were to see it they'd try to rub it off... :screwy:

[jjjnettie]

It's a horrible habit that makes your clothes and hairs stink, your husband won't kiss you because your breath is like an ashtray, it drives you insane when you mislay your pack, and costs heaps of money that could be put towards an expensive accessory for your scope.
ON the other hand...
What I'll miss most is sitting by a camp fire on a cold night, with a ciggie in one hand and glass of port in the other.

[astrofiend]

Quiting smoking is bloody hard at first, but well worth it after a while. The best reason to quit is you feel better for it. There are plenty of other reasons such as health issues, but the fact is that just being alive kills you. Although I am well aware that there are lies, damn lies and then statistics, I read an interesting one the other day as follows: If you either live in the heart of the city or spend a majority of your time there, it is roughly equivalent (in terms of impact on health) to smoking about half a pack of ciggies a day, such is the pollution. I'm not suggesting a move to the country, but the point is there are many environmental factors almost as bad for your health as cigarettes.

I smoked from the age of about 15 until I was 23. From 15 until 18, it was just a couple every now and then. When I was 18, I really became a social smoker - every time I went to the pub or out with mates I'd smoke. During the week they wouldn't even cross my mind, but the instant I tasted a beer on the weekend, I'd kill for them.

In the end I just cold turkeyed it. I found if I tried to reason with myself or ration them, I inevitably ended up losing the mental battle. You just have to embed it in your mind that ciggies are a no-go, no ifs nor buts about it. I found that when it got too full-on, a pack of corn chips or something would give me something to do with my hands for about 5 mins just like a ciggie would.

It took about 5 months for me to stop loving the smell of smoke and killing for one every time I went out where there were smokers, but now (after 1 1/2 years) I hate the smell of ambient smoke. The biggest thing I've noticed since quitting is that I'm just a lot fitter now. I can happily mountain bike or swim around for hours on end while just sucking down the air - that would have been unthinkable only two years ago when I would have been reduced to a wheezing asthmatic heap in seconds.

[Adrian-H]

sure i am crazy too yeah but id rather talk to myself cause i know i can talk back! :lol:

[CoombellKid]

sheeeeeshus! a packet of that last me a week and I thought I had a habit.
Counting tally-ho's you must be spending close to $150.00 per week :scared:


I started smoking when I was hitting high school, the Moari boy's use to
make me stand guard at the dunny block doors. Where I got introduce to both
types of tabacco :whistle: oh well high school seems to be where it happens.

Anyways still smoking rollies, gave them up first time just before Jake was
born in late 2000 for about 3 yrs. Then we decided to pack up and leave
the big city life, which cuased a lil stress and I took it back up. Lynne my
partner took back up after Jake arrived so they were handy and I was weak:rolleyes:

Now we're due for our second son, I'm the only one left smoking again. So
I plan to knock it on the head "for good" before the lil one is born. I want
to see them grow and buy me beer, perve on the young ladies they bring
home... it's ok lads, you wont have to worry about any future daughters,
I'll be the mutt stuck to the rocking chair on the porch

regards,CS

Rob

[Ric]

I have weened myself down to 5 a day from 20 since January this year. I stick to my rules of....

No smoking in the house (if it's raining I don't bother).

No smokes after midnight and none before midday.

Space out my smokes to when I really wan't them and not as a automatic reaction to anything.

I think my willpower is at a point where I'm ready for the next step and I know that 5 a day will be a lot easier to give up than 20 and working in a smoke free environment is very helpfull as well.

The extra money that Ihave been saving is split 50/50 now, astro accessories and body art but that can be for another poll one day.

Cheers

[Glenhuon]

Yep, I'm a smoker, get through about 20 a day depending on whether I'm busy or thinking (thinking is the worst time).
I don't talk to my scope, well might swear at it now and then, but that's usually my fault. What the trickcyclists call projecting blame LOL

[Sgtfretsurfer]

quit last thursday, and im already getting the itch...

[Lee]

I realise this is a newly bumped old thread - but I felt I had to correct this statement. It is wrong.
The only thing a smoker can do to reduce their chances of developing emphysema is to quit, sometimes quitting occurs too late though, and airways disease develops (or becomes apparent).
Quitting does not bring it on, it does help those with emphysema live longer though.
Good luck to all the smokers trying to quit.
End of lecture!

[erick]

New life to an old thread, it seems.

OK, I had about had a dozen ciggies in the late 60s in my early teens with mates. We hid them outside so parents didn't know - in Qld tropical weather. By the time I smoked the last one it had gone rather green! Gulp! I never smoked again.

[astroron]

I gave up 25 years ago, after a night out with a mate.
I came down in the morning with a mouth tasting like the bottom of a cockies cage , and gave the mate a full pack plus a half packet of Benson and Hedges and a very expensive lighter and said that's it.
Except for two occasions early on have not smoked since.
On arriving back from Astrofest I received a phone call telling me the mate has throat cancer:( so I am glad I gave it up when I did:)

[PCH]

There's no doubt that giving up is the best thing to do on all scores. For myself I gave up 10 years ago - cold turkey from 20 a day and haven't touched one since. I just didn't want to set the wrong example to my three young kids. Plus my wife didn't smoke, - although (somehow) she never once nagged me to stop.

My poor old Mum gave up 25 years ago and was never a heavy smoker, but she still scored emphysema a couple of years ago and now has to have oxygen from a machine or small bottle vitually 24/7.

Also, a mate of mine died of throat cancer that he got 15 years after he'd stopped - although he said (long before he died) that he had been a heavy smoker.

So, clearly the best thing to do is not to smoke at all. But if you do, please consider giving up as soon as possible, because these things clearly don't just happen to other people.:(

All the best,

[GeoffW1]

Aha yes, I thought I had discovered several new binaries one particular night. Fun though.:doh: Till next morning.

Cheers

[ispom]

I'd given up minimum 20 times for days to months,

but than strikes it....25 years ago :)

[OneOfOne]

We are trying to convince my wife's daughter to give up (she's 18). Her boyfriend (17) smokes and she reckons it is cool now because she can buy ciggies for him! She reckons "I don't smoke mum, how many times do I have to tell you". Of course you can smell it on her, although it always seems to be because she was with a group of friends who were smoking and that is where the smell comes from....I don't think we are THAT stupid!

I would think the expense of the habit alone should be good enough reason for someone who earns less than $100 a week to give up. I couldn't afford to smoke and I earn ten times what she does (and work 20 times harder). I would rather put the money toward something useful.....hmmm....like....

[Lee]

You realise that as a teenager that she knows best don't you! :D Wait until she fancies a boy who doesn't smoke, and doesn't like the smell etc, she'll give it up in a heartbeat.

[jjjnettie]

I've seriously got to give up.
I'd bought a packet of 50 to last me through Astrofest. I smoked the last one just before lunch yesterday (wednesday). I started with the patches this morning.

[Dennis]

As a youth, I made the classical mistake of not separating the smoker from the smoke – as a consequence, my responses were often received as if I resented both, which unknowingly, I probably did at the time.

Whilst I find smoke from cigarettes very, very unpleasant, I would not be asking the question of a surgeon “are you a smoker?” before he operated on me.

So, smokers and non-smokers are from all walks of life and as with anything, I have found that I need to take the good with the bad; life is about balance. I’m sure that we non-smokers have habits or attitudes that smokers and non-smokers alike find offensive, so consideration, understanding and compromise appear to be the way forward. I have flaws and my wife understands these, even though she would prefer I didn’t have them. In much the same way, I would prefer that people did not smoke around me, but I have found it sometimes difficult to approach them for several reasons:


Often, they are friends and I don’t want to hurt their feelings.
My internal response is often strong, giving rise to feelings of annoyance, irritation and anger which colour my response to the person.
Smokers are people and can pick up on this, so it puts them on the defensive – gets their hackles up.
Added to that, no-smoking areas have increasingly been implemented, herding those that smoke into other places.
Perhaps as a consequence, I have found some to be hyper-sensitive, much as I am to the smell of cigarette smoke, or snoring or excessive late night noise for that matter!
Maybe unfairly, I judge that if smokers are not responsive to the effects that smoking may have on their own body and well being, is it reasonable for me to expect that they would concern themselves with my comfort and well being?

So, all that I ask, is:

Please smoke your cigarettes well away from me, my clothing and my optics.
I do not think any less of you as a person and will continue to welcome your friendship and other qualities.
I understand that smoking is addictive and therefore I do not judge you; I haven’t walked a mile in your shoes.
I wish those that try to kick the habit every success, plus some.

When we bring our enormous focus and attention to a single topic like smoking, the risk is that the discussion blows up out of proportion, to an almighty calamity. Emotions tend to run high, parallel with those reserved for when a mad axeman is breaking down our front door to murder the family.

Cheers

Dennis

[NQLD_Newby]

I was a smoker in my late teens. Gave up just before I got married at about 21. Got divorced 12 years later and started again. Smoked for three odd years after that, and then gave up again. Been about 4 years now. Its strange, although now I couldn't handle going into a night club full of smoke like they used to be, I still on occasion get the urge. Of course being smoke free for so long, its easy to not relent, but its still trys.

I guess what I am saying is, I feel for those who want to give up, or are giving up, because it is very very hard. But most of all don't give up on giving up!!

If you fall off the wagon, get straight back on and keep going. Don't feel guilty about it, as this only makes the craving worse.

I mean, lets say you were a 20 a day smoker, and you tried to give up, but then relented after two days and had a smoke.

Well there are two ways to look at this......

I failed so I may as well keep smoking.....or

Wow, I dropped from 20 a day to 1 every two days. Lets see if I can last longer than two days this time. Eventually you get to 1 a week, and by then the job is almost done.

Good luck with your efforts.

[Bobj]

Smoked for 30 years, and 60 a day, or a packet of makings and half a packet of tailor-mades to zilch, "cold turkey", 25 years ago.
It's not only your life at risk, other people have to contend with the "passive" smoking thingo. Walking past a line of smokers outside a supermarket is something I don't look forward to.:mad2:

[ving]

its not the smokers i dont like, its the smoke... :)

er.. that said I dont really like having to suffer the smoke of smokers.

[Phil]

I'm a smoker and hate the things. I wish i could give up. I have try so many times. The government should just ban the dam things. I have never smoked inside or in my car. Because people around me should not have to put up with the smell or the damaging smoke.
Any help on giving up would be good try ed all the patches gum etc.
Phil

[Louwai]

I used to smoke a packet (25) a day. One day i went to the doc with a throat problem. He said, "If you don't stop smoking you'll die". Next day was 7 cigs, Day after that was 3 cigs, 3rd day was 1 cig.
the 4th day was none & I haven't had one since.
That was 13yrs ago.

[cahullian]

I used to be a smoker but managed to give them up about 10 years ago. Funny thing happened the other day. I was walking around the house looking for something but not really thinking(not hard for me to do) and realised that i was looking for smokes and a lighter. lol

Gazz

[Ingo]

I voted "never smoked in my life"

I'm 17, at 15 I tried a cigarette, along with a cigar, hated each so I probably will never be a smoker. Now...one other plant I wouldn't mind smoking if it became legal. :whistle:

[wasyoungonce]

I'm the worst non-smoker...an ex smoker..hate the things like an aching tooth.:D

[KG8]

If you switch off the TV and start to use your your own brain to think with you will come up with some disturbing facts.

1/ Exhaust emissions are very deadly and you probably breath far more vehicle exhaust emissions in a given week than cigarette emissions. Just consider the thought experiment of spending an hour in a closed room with 30 chain smokers, or that same hour with one small car with its engine running. The car would kill you in about 5 minutes. Add to this the disturbing fact that catalytic converters were added to cars because of the toxic nature of unleaded fuel ( they add industrial wastes to it ) And that these converters have a lifespan of 3 years. Ever know anyone to have changed one out? No. There over $1000 to replace. As an experiment I emailed BP once, told them I was running an old car on unleaded and asked them if I needed to have a converter fitted. No reply.

2/ Tobacco companies don't make the most profit from tobacco, neither does the government. The biggest profits go to the Medical industry. I'm not talking about treatments either, I'm talking about direct profits from the use of tobacco in gums and patches. They pay no excise and the market for them is huge. They have a vested economic interest in scaring people into switching to their products and often, as in the case of gums, people use them for years and years after quitting.

Sure smoking is bad for your health, but so is sitting on you backside eating too much food and not exercising until you become obease and can't run across your backyard without getting winded. Smoking is bad for you but so is drinking diet coke. Diet Coke has Aspartame, or phenylalanine in it. A chemical proven to cause all manner of health issues. Stick it in google if you like. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0707/S00131.htm

Why isn't it on the news every night? Because Coke is a huge advertiser and has a lot of political clout. Not nearly as much as the pharmaceutical corporations do, Pharma is the second largest business on the planet after Arms dealers.

Whenever you go to a doctor now the second question is "do you smoke" They ask this because if you do, or live with a smoker, or live next door to a smoker... They can blame a whole gambit of woes on it. Just don't blame diet coke, or drugs in chickens, or exhaust emissions, or ......

[Lee]

I'm sorry - but you need to start using your brain. :screwy:
Cigarette smoking is a leading preventable cause of premature death in this country.

Doctors ask you for one main reason:

* they care about your health - by getting you to quit, they know you will most probably do better in terms of longevity and quality of life. If you do quit, the doctor makes less money from you. Smokers help put doctors kids through school. Especially during flu season.

If the drugs in chicken, or exhaust emissions or diet coke bother you - don't eat chicken, live in the bush and drink water - smoke all you like, just not near me please. :thumbsup:

[PeterM]

This may be of some benefit to those looking at giving up the smokes. Some years ago I heard the great screen actor Kirk Douglas talking about how he became totally addicted to cigarettes and how he ultimately quit.
It went something like this. When he decided to quit he smoked his last pack all bar the last cigarette, which he then kept in a shirt pocket. Whenever the cravings came he knew he always had this last cigarette on his person. He would take it out, look at it and declare to himself and the cigarette that he was stronger than that cigarette and then he would put it back into his pocket. This is will power at it's best, by keeping that cigarette on him he obviously could have smoked it anytime but HIS WILL to quit was stronger than the cigarette craving, apparently he never smoked since that day.
Maybe useful
Peter M

[wasyoungonce]

Probably not as helpful to give up as the Yul Brenner Anti smoking ad:

http://www.headandneck.org/psa.htm

[GrahamL]

Working in the rural industry I use farm chemicals regularly,
Over the years many products or groups of products have been removed from sale ,mostly because of there toxicity,sometimes they are replaced by others sometimes not.When you first do a farm chemicals handling course they , irony intended I think ,point out THE most toxic farm chemical ever used ,and banned long ago was indeeed extacted from the tobbaco plant...But you can still buy it to consume from the corner store ? :)

[Dujon]

I've given up smoking more often than I can remember. Seriously.

On one of those exercises in self flaggelation I gave them up (cigarettes) for twelve months - a whole year for crying out loud. I fell over when my mother-in-law, who smoked, stayed with my family for a few days. I'm not blaming her, so don't get me wrong, I blame myself. One evening I botted a couple of cigs from her and then, feeling somewhat guilty of my sponging, ducked down the road and bought my own packet. I still feel so stupid; all that effort and aggravation undone in one evening.

As others have said I turn into a short fused twit when the withdrawal symptoms raise their ugly heads. It's one of the reasons I haven't tried again. I hate myself for the silly, and oft times irrational, outbursts that afflict me - so much so that I'm loath to become serious about giving up the weed again. What makes it worse is that I remember that during that short period of cleanliness I detested the smell of cigarette smoke and felt a sort of pity for those customers and friends who still were addicted. My father, an ex-smoker, died at the age of 59 (heart attack) and my father-in-law, who smoked his cigarettes with a filtered holder, died of lung cancer at the age of 63 (my current age).

I have tried the nicotine patch path and it hasn't worked for me, although I have managed to get my daily consumption of the rotten stuff down to around the 35 per day level. That's somewhat of a victory for me.

Will I put my wife through another few months of purgatory should I go cold turkey again? I doubt it.

[[1ponders]]

Twenty months and still going strong. :) (see start of thread) This would have to be one of my proudest achievements. I've felt quite calm, relaxed and found it quite easy over this time. I put this down to the fact that I really wanted to give up this time.

I found it quite strange actually, that every now and then over the past year and a half, I would notice that I hadn't even been thinking about cigarettes, whereas once upon a time I would have gotten quite panicy when I was getting low on tobacco. :lol:

Also while I don't like the smell of tobacco smoke, I don't find the smell greatly offensive anymore, though I did for quite a while. I do however choose not to be around it.

[Dujon]

Calm, cool and collected, Paul. Half your luck.

Still and all, my wife's gone over to W.A. for a week so she won't receive the brunt of my personality change. Heaven help the cats though. :eyepop:

[KG8]

You so need to turn off the tv. Doctors are one of chief causes of death in the world these days.
From the SMH.
"I see a lot of elderly people in the wards on crazy combinations of medications," says Dr Peter Hunter, the president of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine. "People started on drugs to counteract the effects of another drug; illogical combinations of medications. I tell my medical students the three main causes of acute confusion in older people are drugs, drugs and drugs."
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/death-by-medicine/2007/08/17/1186857771586.html

This says it all.
ANNUAL PHYSICAL AND ECONOMIC COST OF MEDICAL INTERVENTION
http://www.mercola.com/2003/nov/26/death_by_medicine.htm
Or try this search.
http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=%22death+by+medicine&meta=

[Karls48]

I have been smoking since I was 12 years old and I’m 60 now. No ill effects so far. Yes I’m going to die eventually, same as everybody else. I was always politically incorrect and intend to remain this way to the end.
It is sad that so many people in the western world let their lives to be run by propaganda. It is fine if you smoke or don’t smoke because it is your decision. But if you smoke because of peer pressure or you don’t smoke because of advertising you have seen on TV, well what you are going to do if and when governments decide to reduce population and start 15 years advertising campaign telling people that the should commit suicides? Are you going to jump of the bridge because you have seen it on TV?
Fortunately it may not come to this, as the intolerance of various groups pushing their petty issues will fragment western societies to the point when societies more coherent in purpose will take over. Most of great empires disintegrated from the pressures within, not from the conquest.
As for the comment about doctors, I agree. In about 38 years I have been to doctor about 7 times. Then I had work accident. I have great admiration to the surgeon who wired together my shattered wrist. But then my problems started. It took doctors 3 weeks to find out that I got broken ribs, 2 months to find out that I got torn ligaments in the shoulder and 2 years to find out that I got fracture in my spine. At $ 450 initial visit to specialist and $ 175 for following visits that’s pretty poor value for money.

[myparadigm]

never smoked tobacco could never see the point, marijiuana on the other hand...not for a long time but gave it a decent nudge when I did - ah the blissful ignorance of youth

[avandonk]

I used to keep a quick reply to an Ice In Space forum handy and whenever I had the urge to uselessly reply I would look at it until the urge went away.
I know, I just used it!

Bert

[PeterM]

Hi Bert,

I assume you are referring to my post as a useless reply? I am surprised you would reply to the thread in such a manner. No, I did not suddenly get the urge to reply, and I don't keep quick replies handy. I found my way to this thread from a post regarding smokers at the Qld Astrofest. I am not a smoker and having read how many on this thread are trying hard to give the addiction up I simply recalled an intereview I had heard some years ago and thought it might be something that may be of use to someone.

Peterm

[ving]

you must have know ppl would quote you :lol:

when i drink coke it doesnt directly effect other poeple in my vacinity. whhen I dont exercise it doenst effect others sitting near me. when was the last time you had a coughing fit because you saw someone sitting on a lounge watching tv or saw someone drinking diet coke? ;)

exhaust emissions, well thats a different story... and a completely different argument.

a smoker doing what he/she does effects other around them in a way that no other addiction can.

smokers rock!

(ps, dont smoke, just dont smoke...)

[hookedonsaturn]

I've been a smoker since i was 12 and am now pushing 60.So far no ill effects and a lot of younger non smokers have a hard time keeping up to me on a hard ndays work.I dont think its the smokeing but rather the lack of exercise to help clean your system out.As far as quitting well I've never been a quitter and i'm not gonna start now

[Lee]

Ever heard of an n=1 trial??? They don't mean much....
Take 1000 people age 60 who've smoked for 48 years (and survived), put them up in a work challenge of sorts with 1000 60 year olds who haven't smoked.... I know where my moolah is.
I hope your "no-ill-effects" persists for you.

[Neil]

When smoking doesnt allow you to observe and appreciate what we all love,...this wonderfull universe from in front of an eyepiece , you,ve become part of what we,re looking at...........think about it.:thumbsup:

[Ric]

How have the patches been going Jeanette?


Cheers

[jjjnettie]

I ran out, so I'm on the gum now.
I think sleep is the best thing. I could sleep all day, get up eat, and sleep all night.
Just don't make me angry, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry.
I'm on a hair trigger and about to go irrational.
Stupid addictions.

[Ric]

Hang in there JJJ, they say the first week is the worst. you can always go for walks around your property and yell at the clouds. ;)

I think you are doing very well :thumbsup:

[jjjnettie]

Thanks for the encouragement Ric.
I'm working my way through a packet of chocolate coated honeycomb and I'm feeling fine at the moment.

[erick]

Guaranteed to fix any problem! Keep going, Jeanette! :thumbsup:

[alan meehan]

well iam a smoker,and i hate it but just going though the theads there are a lot of people just trying to quit or making excuses about other things that might kill you.iam told smoking is more addictive than morphine.good onya jjjnettie i dont want to pinch a nother smoke of you again.sorry to the ones at astrofest i blew my smoke on ,yes you should have yelled at us.i was diagonosed with lupis disease just 3 mths ago and the doc told me to give up smoking how hard it is.it is good to see so many that dont smoke or have given up, i have just got to try harder.

[antares30]

Gave up approx 20 years ago and never looked back, not a reformed smoker and don't push it on anyone to give up however, how can you all afford it now?:rofl::rofl:

[Dennis]

Hello, Al

So sorry to hear of your health issues with Lupus disease. I wish you all the best in your efforts to quit smoking, it is a worthy goal. I’m sure there are heaps of IceInSpacers cheering you on, as well as family and friends.

Go for it Al, and good on you.:thumbsup:

Cheers

Dennis

[kitty]

Good Luck jeanette. My partner has tried to give up several times, at one stage he had a Patch on and a ciggarette in his mouth! It must be hard. I am the only one in my family that has never smoked, though my Dad and Sister have given up successfully for 20 years.

[entity62]

Clean for 2 years cigs........Clean for 1 year weed.........
My lungs love me....
Gave up so i could buy astro gear...

[I.C.D]

I started smoking at the age of 16 in 1966 gave up in 1985 wean myself off them over 3 months.I started in the mines in1980 and in our crew of 20 18 where smokers by the time I gave only two where still smoking and today we have no smokers at all

[abellhunter]

Well the most powerful thing is your mind. If you make up your mind to stop, you can beat the withdrawls. If your mind is weak, it will find any dumb reasone to go back.

Also deep breathing. i do yoga/pranayama/meditation daily and find it very powerfull. This helps to keep your body and mind fit & centered. Also i took up jogging, and this has just been great to give you a natural high and keep the pounds off. You see, when most stop smoking their system slows down and they gain weight because of it. Not to mention they tend to eat more.

Anyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyway what ever the short term difficulties are the long term benifits are worth it a 1000 fold.:thumbsup:

Be Well. Lance

[PCH]

I'm with Lance - best thing I ever did was giving up about ten years ago. Well worth the pain and suffering of quitting :P

I do think that it is in our minds to quit - if we genuinely 'really want to quit'. In other words, if we really want to do it for all sorts of good reasons, then we probably don't need all those endless patches and tablets and things that are pushed these days. The willpower alone is enough.

The purchase of Nicobate etc as an aid to quitting is kind of a prior admission to yourself that you can't do it by the strength of your willpower alone. And clearly, if this is the mindset at the outset, then any small thing is likely to throw you off the quest to stop.

For those considering quitting, I'd suggest collecting a whole batch of great reasons to stop - and there are plenty of them ! - and then just pick a date asap and do it.

In actual fact, I thought afterwards that quitting was blown up out of all proportion. And although certainly some effort was required, it wasn't as hard as I've heard some make out.

Anyway, good luck to all potential quitters :thumbsup:

Cheers,


or to want to be seen to be

[DRCORTEX]

Hahahaha, thought someone was talking about me - checked the thread, my nick isn't mentioned. Two Lances, amazing, such an uncommon Oz name.

Well, I gave up for 10 years, then **** happened re Divorce, financial hassles, etc.

Dosn't take a lot to get you back there again. It dosn't matter how long you have given up. Those pesky little neurons are just waiting for that hit.

Best bet, don't start. It is addictive as heroin.

Cheers
Lance

[mark3d]

for anyone who wants to quit now or in the future i must recommend this site:

http://groups.msn.com/FreedomFromTobaccoQuitSmokingNow/

there is heaps of info, dont need to join the discussions (although theres no reason not to either)

thank you Joel Spitzer!

(and also thanks to my wife for putting up with me during nicotine withdrawal - lol)

[mark3d]

yes lance it is addictive in the same way as opiates. no intention to preach but i find it fascinating. have learnt a fair bit from the joel spitzer site, as well as various psychology text books from my studies, and my own experience. others can skip the post if they want to.. but i figure some info never hurts.

nicotine is nearly chemically identical to a natural brain chemical (serotonin i believe). the brain loves it, so is happy to let you start smoking. over time the body regulates itself and produces less serotonin, as there appears to be some from an additional source. thus the physical dependency.

for opiates it works the same way - the body compensates for the external source by producing less natural opiates (it explains the reported physical pain during withdrawal).

the brain prioritises these chemicals above even basic needs like food.
in each case if the external supply stops.. the brain freaks out.

also the half life of nicotine is 15 minutes.. hence the constant cravings.. it also means that after 72 hours the molecules have been completely broken down; the peak craving time during withdrawal.

after 1-2 weeks the brain restores the balance of chemicals. any subsequent cravings are psychological, but thats the worst bit.

need to break all the pyschological triggers.. like having a cigarette with coffee or alcohol. those conditioned behaviours have been learnt over the length of time smoking, e.g. a pack a day for 10 years is over 100,000 cigarettes.. say 10% of them is with coffee, then that is a lot of psychological links to break.

about a year after quitting i watched star trek or something that i hadnt seen for a few years.. during the intro i reflexively got up for a cigarette like i always would have.. lol.

even now 3+ years later if i wait for a bus, and theres people smoking nearby.. i really want one. but the reality is my brain just wants a taste.. i would cough my guts up and not enjoy it.

[Hagar]

Aren't you all lucky there are still some of us who smoke. You would all be paying 50%+ tax on everything including your chewing gum. Now there is a filthy habid. Sticky sh** on every seat and footpath in the country. Perhaps we should poll that. Then maybe we could poll smelly body odour and smelly farts. It is a shame that so many do gooders can make so much out of someones weaknesses, if we picked a subject like Euthenasia for the dying maybe you could all make some real sense of it but so far all the posts seem to have a couple of things in common. 1. Gee how good am I, I gave up smoking and 2. How bad are the smokers.

I enjoy my pack a day. I have no intentions of giving up. If you great self richeous people don't like it do the other.

I thought this was an Astronomy forum, not a self gratification forum.

[astroron]

Doug, the fact that it costs millions of dollars in medical bills to the tax payer
negates your 50%+tax on everything.
I just hope you can see the light and give it up;)
I see that you have Hagar as your Avitar, I hope you are not as grumpy as you make yourself out to be.:D
Ron

[AUSMCMLXXXV]

i smoke about 6 packs a week atm. works out to about $59 a week. i buy the cheapest possible... and they acually taste like tobacco . . . not paint like some of the more pricey brands . but anyway...

smoked for about 7 years, im 22 now. ive attemped quiting several times. last time was for about 7 months. now been full time again for about 12 months. its hard to quit when you work with a bunch of people who smoke. bout 90% of the people i work directly with smoke. also love one when the scope is out, along with a beer which makes me want more smokes... hmmm

i also continuously get sick when i quit. last time i quit i had tonsillitus 4 times not to mention all the colds that i picked up constantly. immune systems shot i think :shrug:

[KG8]

Just ignore them Hagar. If the TV told them they should brush their teeth through their bums they would be walking around all day with... well you get the picture ;)

[cahullian]

I used to be...and would'nt you know it all the males in my family die of emphysema(frokm my fathers side)...I only hope I take my lungs from my mothers side as that side of the family die of cancer in their 90's

Gazz

[Hagar]

I can picture the tooth brush picture. Really most would not need to insert the tooth brush very far to clean their teeth. They will just have to stop talking through it long enough to clean them.

[KG8]

I've said here before, the only ones that really benefit from all the anti-smoking spin are the pharmacutical corporations. They make billions worldwide on the lies spun and their drugs combined with the criminal practices of the nuvo medical fraternity send millions to a premeture grave each year. If "they" were serious about healthy air they would insist catalitic converters were changed out every few years. But they don't, because that would hurt the auto industry and probably empty half the hospital beds in the country.

Here, have a look at what you won't see on channel 9

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPI7zdGdqo4

[Jen]

im still a addicted to the things dam it :argue:
they go so well together with a few cans and a social gathering :P:D

[Ric]

That's the problem with the buggers Jen, a few stubbys and you don't even know you've lit up sometimes.

That morning coffee is another deadly one as well.

Cheers

[Jen]

:gday:yeah i can imagine coffee too i dont drink that stuff but i can see that they compliment each other too so give up smoking does that mean i have to give up alcohol too arhhhhhhhh :help2::fight:

[GrahamL]

Gave them up 20 years back .. and as such could never dump on anyone
for chooseing to smoke ..it is your choice .

my brother in law just was operated on for lung cancer and it will likely kill him in a few years sadly .. a work colleagues wife recently beat throat cancer only to now have constant outbreaks of localised cancers all
over her mouth and lips it has pretty much destroyed her life socially.

Both these people gave up in an instant when there life was put on the line
I sincerely hope anyone who chooses to give up the bungers gets all the help they need to beat em and succeed because they want to not because they have to .

[Amy]

I don't smoke but have in the past....mostly in the 70's when we were smoking all sorts of things. lol. Haven't done any kind of that stuff in decades.

I have worked in the medical field for over 20 years. Worked for Internal Medicine Doc's for 18 and now Critical Care Doc's.

We used to pass out this article to our patients that wanted to quit smoking. It's an old Ann Landers article about the BENEFITS OF QUITTING SMOKING. As you can see.....there are positive benefits felt immediately.

Here's the link:

http://no-smoking.org/april00/04-12-00-4.html

and here's what it says in case the link ever goes away:

Ann Landers, "Numbers Don't Lie," Quit Now [04/12-4]

Excerpts from NUMBERS DON'T LIE: QUIT SMOKING

By Ann Landers, Chicago Tribune [04/12/00]

Dear Ann Landers: My niece is trying to quit smoking, and is having a terrible time. I told her you once printed a letter describing what happens to the body after someone stops smoking. It made a strong impression on me, and I'm sure it did on many others too. Will you please print it again to encourage my niece to keep trying? She is discouraged, and ready to give up.
Dee Dee in Detroit
Dear Dee Dee: With pleasure. I was told after reading this column, many people did quit smoking. Here it is:
According to the American Cancer Society, as soon as you snuff out that last cigarette, your body will begin a series of physiological changes.
Within 20 minutes: Blood pressure, body temperature and pulse rate will drop to normal.
Within eight hours: Smoker's breath disappears. Carbon monoxide level in blood drops, and oxygen level rises to normal.
Within 24 hours: Chance of heart attack decreases.
Within 48 hours: Nerve endings start to regroup. Ability to taste and smell improves.
Within three days: Breathing is easier.
Within two to three months: Circulation improves. Walking becomes easier. Lung capacity increases up to 30 percent.
Within one to nine months: Sinus congestion and shortness of breath decrease. Cilia that sweep debris from your lungs grow back. Energy increases.
Within one year: Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a person who smokes.
Within two years: Heart attack risk drops to near normal.
Within five years: Lung cancer death rate for an average former pack-a-day smoker decreases by almost half. Stroke risk is reduced. Risk of mouth, throat and esophageal cancer is half that of a smoker.
Within 10 years: Lung cancer death rate is similar to that of a person who does not smoke. The pre-cancerous cells are replaced. Within 15 years: Risk of coronary heart disease is the same as a person who has never smoked.
___________________________________ __________________________

Realtors will tell you real quick not to smoke in your homes because it GREATLY increases the difficulty of selling your home.

The biggest reason? Quality of life. We all know this. I don't smoke so it's easy for me to say. But I've seen a 36 year old die of lung cancer. Why a 90 year old smoker can die without having gotten cancer and then you see the 36 year old die....or see a woman die of cancer that didn't smoke but lived in a house full of smokers...(another example just with the Docs I've worked for)..hereditary factors come into play, too.

Biggest reason is to me to wanna see my loved ones quit is simply because I want them in my life for as long as possible. Purely selfish motives. lol.
Since I work in the medical field......I come across handy articles like this alll the time. Hope it helps and there are so many wonderful options out there to make it easier for a smoker to quit these days. So what if you get a little help? The end result is worth it. GOOD LUCK to all those trying.
:thumbsup:

[Kevnool]

Never ever had the urge to try a durrie.
I,m Proud of it now, back in the 70s everyone said it was cool ,so that made me uncool at the time and now its swinging about the other way.........with science how does one win,with the exeption of astronomy which is way cool............Cheers Kev....

[AdrianF]

Gave up smoking in 1991. It was a choice of text book for Uni or packet of smokes. Uni won and I havent looked back since. Cant even stand to be around a smoker now.

Adrian

[leon]

This thread has nothing to do with my choice to give it up tomorrow (Sunday) I have been considering it for many months, truly I have :whistle:

I did some sums, as we do, and I figured at 7.50 dollars a day, by the time I'm 60, which is 2 years away, I can do two things, save my health, and also buy something very nice for my astronomy interests.

What can one buy for $5475.00 :eyepop:f......

Leon :thumbsup:

[TrevorW]

I gave up smoking gradually and it worked a treat for me besides I'm to tight with money to waste $10 on a packet of cigarettes when in my hay day I was a packet a day man.

Now I will have an occassional cigar maybe once or twice a year but I don't get the graving back to smart (or tight assed) for that now.

My biggest gripe is how inconsiderate smokers can be, I use trains to go to work and people still insist on smoking on the platform even though it's now banned.

Personally now I would have no quarms if smoking in any public place became a fineable offence.

I look at young kids these days smoking even after all the paraphonalia concerning the porblems with it which we didn't have as children and wonder how stupid they are.

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Ian Robinson]

Tried one puff once when I was about 14 and absolutely hated it and decided straight away that only idiots smoke.
I let my mates know that in no uncertain terms and lost some firiends who "liked" smoking .... can't have been very good mates afterall so no loss.

I still hold this view , I am 51 now .

I refuse to allow anyone to smoke in my wife's or my presence and do get very cranky and outspoken about people who insist on smoking near me , and am not shy about demanding they put their cancer stick out or bugger off , even when fishing.

My father-in-law smokes and I refuse to let him inside my home or to light up on my premises - no loss - I've never liked him and the feeling is mutual.

All my sisters smoked and , all but one of them have since given this ugly , filfy and toxic hablit up , the same rule applies to my smoking sister (she accepts that and goes down the backyard when she visits to have her fix. Her husband is a different story - wont take the hint and so I have to tell him to go outside if he looks like he wants to light up .

[reddiablo]

I gave up smoking 13 years ago and luckily I only smoked for 7 years.

It was easily the hardest thing I ever did and I cannot believe my wife put up with my habit for so long. The smell, taste and cost of smokes as a reformed smoker are unbelievable.

Overall I believe, each to his own, but not in my car or house ever again.

I went cold turkey and found the first 3 months to be the hardest with the cravings completely gone at 6 months.

The difficult part was the way any mates who did smoke, would sabotage your efforts by offering you a smoke even though you were trying to quit. They would say things like "Go on, you know you want one". IMO it was their way of making themselves feel better by thinking, if you fail to quit, then they aren't weak because they have failed to quit.

When I realised this I would say to them, "Right now is the time for me to quit. Your time to quit will come when you are ready and not a moment sooner. With the high price of smokes I appreciate you offering me one but I would rather you save you money, don't offer me one again and smoke them yourself, you did pay for them"

They usually didn't offer me any more, but with the guys who just couldn't take a hint I had to say something a little more blunt like, "You know I'm trying to quit, don't offer me a smoke, I don't need one and I don't need you trying to make me start back on them"

I believe if you could make a pill, that anyone who smoked could take, and from that point on never have or want another smoke again, you would find 99.9% of smokers would take it in an instant.

The Asian world is where the majority of smoking related deaths will be in the future. In Lombok Indonesia last month I saw 4 year old kids having a smoke.

Thats a sight I don't want to see again.:(:(:(

It's right up there with those idiots who smoke with their kids in the car. :screwy::screwy::screwy::screwy:

[luckyphil]

WHAT A HERO. A BIG MAN WITH A BIG HEAD AND BIG MOUTH. I am a non smoker but feel for those addicted. I bet your ex friends are happier than you that they lost you as a friend. Real men show compassion for less fortunate people , however they got there. 51. I thought you would have seen enough of life to realise it is probably more difficult to stop smoking than to stop heroin. It has been proven to be more addictive. More comes out of your mouth than smoke.

[Ric]

Have to agree with you Phillip, I accept people for who they are and not for their vices.

I also love the name of your location, it has a great ring to it, very Australian.

cheers

[jjjnettie]

I started taking Champix tablets a week ago.
It works by blocking the effects of nicotine on the body.
In other words you get no pleasure from your ciggies. No "ahhh, I needed that" when you light up and take a drag.
In fact I've cut down to maybe 5 smokes a day and I don't finish them off, I put them out half smoked because they taste like ****e.
You are expected to not smoke at all after 2 weeks.
So far so good.

[Craig.a.c]

I haven't had a smoke for almost 4 weeks now. Tried patches, gum and going cold turkey in the past, didn't work for me though. I went to the doctors a few weeks ago to get a scrpt for "Champix", haven't thought twice about having a smoke since. I am starting to feel alot better and starting to exercise a bit now.

[Craig.a.c]

It was the same for me. I would get half way through a smoke and not feel the nicotine hit so I wouldn't finish it.
Are the tablets making you feel sick after you take them? I feel like throwing up for about 30 mins after taking them.

[Omaroo]

Another vote for Phil - what a really dumb post from this self-styled know-it-all. I'm an ex-smoker - I've been off them for 5 years. I don't think of myself as stupid nor unintelligent, yet I too was sucked in to the smoking habit when I was 19. I know that I've irreversibly damaged myself over that time, and fully expect the consequences of such folly to catch up with me some day - maybe even soon. I certainly don't need people like this lording themselves over me. I feel bad enough already. I thank my lucky stars that I DID eventually manage to stop "cold turkey" - for the sake of the people around me if no-one else.

[PCH]

Some inspirational posts being made here.

All the best to Craig and Jeanette with their stop campaigns - you'll be so glad you made the effort a few years from now guys - well done :thumbsup:

My wife never nagged me to stop at all, but I secretly new that for my family's sake and my own it just didn't make sense to carry on doing this really silly thing. I found those Nicabate plastic cigarettes a real help as they gave me the same mouth action as well as hand action. But when I realised the cost of them (and how on the back of the packet they encouraged you to drag this process out over a six month period - by which time you'd be well and truly scint !) - I decided to go cold turkey.

I have to say in all honesty that it was a little easier than I expected and I haven't touched one since - a matter of about 13 years. Although I will say this, - I chose my time to quit carefully. My young son at the time was a real handful and I was a nervous wreck. My folks had kindly offered to take him away for a long weekend, - so that was my cue to do the honours. And I've always been thankful that I did take the opportunity, because I really do think that people who smoke do sometimes get a feeling that the moment has come when they could give it a serious go - whereas at other times they just feel the moment is wrong.

But my poor old Mum who gave up smoking almost 30 years ago and never really was what you'd call a heavy smoker, went on to develop emphysema. And boy is that a debilitating disease :( If young smokers could see how they may end up, they may try to stop before the damage is done. For me, as a close family member, it's heartbreaking to see your relative go down the gurglar in this awful way.

Just my 2c - hope it helps someone :thumbsup:

Cheers,

[Ric]

I've never heard of "Champix" I'll have to talk to my doctor about them, they sound very effective.

Good to see you broke the cycle Chris, it not as easy as they say going "cold turkey", I know I've tried many times.

[jjjnettie]

Yep, I hear you.
Today the dosage was upped to 1mg twice a day.
And I felt as sick as a dog for an hour of so after taking this mornings tablet.:(
My doctor said to only take one a day if the side effects were too bad.

[kljucd1]

Hey

Jeanette and Craig - My Mum is currently taking these tablets, after smoking for about 30+ years and seems to have found it much, much easier to quit - she hasn't had a smoke for about 6 weeks now!! This is after having tried cold turkey/patches/gum/etc to no avail. She was also feeling sick after taking them but that seem to have eased as well.

I myself gave up cold turkey after having tried many, many times using patches/Zyban and cold turkey.

Good luck with your attempts to quit and if you stumble, then just keep trying.

Regards

Daniel...

[strongmanmike]

Interesting, from the poll it appears that the number of smokers on IIS is about the same as the National Australian average (around 18%). This is surprising because education level and being a smoker corelates very well so I would have thought our membership would have had a lower number of smokers? The percentage of smokers amongst University educated people is about half that of the those with only yr 10. Smoking rates are still highest among the less educated. As more educated groups, and those in higher socioeconomic groups, have quit smoking or more importantly, never taken it up, smoking has become increasingly concentrated among the less educated.

Of course many non Aussies are on this group so perhaps they have skewed our results? :whistle:

Mike

[Davros]

I became asthmatic because of a smoking habit many years ago. I tried to quit a few times with no success. I ended up going out and getting the strongest i could find (Marlboro) and chain smoked the whole packet doing double drawbacks.
I was subsequently violently ill and i have never touched one since (10+ years) For years even the smell of cigarettes was enough to make me nauseous. Best of luck to those on the quitting path. Wish i had never taken up the dreaded smokes to start with.

[madtuna]

Actually.... I'm a smoker -18.27% I've given up on giving up -0.96% I want to give up -9.13% equals 28.63% on this site are smokers.
Just a tad over 18%. Even a 5th grade educated kid could work that out, maybe even Ian Robinson could with a bit of help :lol:
If you added in the 31.73% of forum members who at one time did smoke it blows the national average right out of the water.

It's probably astronomers have to do something to fill in time while waiting for the damn clouds to pass or thier camera to beep. and that's a coffee in one hand and a ciggie in the other :)

[jjjnettie]

Whichever way you read it, it's too many people blowing their hard earned cash on a legal drug that kills and maims more people than any illegal drug.
Did you know that if you injected the amount of nicotine contained in one cigarette, it would kill you?
So we smoke it instead, that way it can kill us slowly.

I wish I'd never ever got hooked on this filthy addiction.

[GrahamL]

True jjj when I first did a farm chemical handling course many years back
they did give a farly good example of the relative toxicity of many
phased out poisons.. and there were some plain nasty ones which many
would be familiar with useing there common names.. and alarmed by ..if they were still in use today..guess which plant the worst one was extracted from ..thankfully it was phased out long ago .. but I believe you can still
buy it packaged and ready for ingestion from your corner store;)

[Ian Robinson]

You are of cause allowed to have your opinion.

Umm.... did I hit a bit too close to home mate.... ?? :whistle::rolleyes:

Time people stopped making excuses for idiots and being appologetic for those who choose to abuse drugs (I include nicotine and alcohol in that) and are too weak willed to kick their habit, and called a spade a spade & an idiot an idiot.

[Ian Robinson]

Drop a cigarette butt in a livebait tank and see how long before every single fish in there is belly up....

[luckyphil]

Didn't hit close to home at all. If you read my post you would have seen I am a non smoker. My objection is the complete lack of compassion you show. People like yourself are definitly an excuse for retrospective abortion. The world would be a better place without you. You must lead a very sheltered life as you cannot go out anywhere in case you run into a not so perfect like yourself. You are showing signs of becoming a self centered egotist. Enjoy your private life.

[CoombellKid]

What amazes me is government after government allows the sale of
ciggerettes. Purly for the amount of tax they get from it, but on the
other hand spend millions on advertising against it. We all know it's
harmful, the government keeps telling us, perhaps smokers should
take a class action against the government, regardless whether you
think it's your choice to smoke or not. It's also the government
choice to allow the sale of it. Just imagine James Hardy standing
in every corner shop handing out asbestos. The government is
playing on the addiction of people who cant or wont control it
by themselves, kinda makes the government part dealer in dangerous
drugs.

regards,CS

[madtuna]

:thumbsup: Phil!

It's not just the lack of compassion, it's the labelling 28.36% of this forums users idiots, weak willed, drug abusers etc...
Due to the rules of this forum and the fact that I like it here and don't wish to be banned, I'll refrain from labelling him something appropriate

[CoombellKid]

Here! Here! ... but then you always get the self-rightous types within a
group.

regards,CS

[jjjnettie]

Smoking isn't a habit, it's a physical addiction.
If was just a habit, eg nail biting, we'd be able to quit anytime. No withdrawals

[Omaroo]

Another here.

Hey Ian - give us your father in law's number - I think we'd all get along with him.

:rolleyes:

[CoombellKid]

Actually Ron, a few years ago when the anti-smoking lobby tried to throw
that arguement out there... something like $1.5 billion they were saying.
Someone in the tax department said well... we made near $5 billion in
tax on it.... so it's kinda paying for itself. Funny how you dont hear about
that anymore eh'.

An interesting article in the SMH a couple of days back regarding the
banning of smoking in pubs and clubs in NSW, since it's introduction there
has been a 6% increase in people taking it up.... I wonder if mortgage
stress has something to do with that.

regards,CS

[GrahamL]

Only 28.36% ..:sadeyes:.. I thought there was more of us than that !!!

I read a good article a while back regarding people makeing changes in there lives ..I thought a good point was made by the writer in that a very common thing in all of us we are ALL very self indulgent .. we know something isn't doing us any good .. but still make excuses and aportion blame elsewhere for what we do and keep right on doing it :)
As mentioned earlier the few people I know whose smokeing has directly
put there life in danger changed there ways in a second ..good luck to all who make the choice to give em up .. hope it works out .. well .. rob i'll have to bum a fag off ya next time i'm out ..i should have one a year to make sure i'm not missing anything ;)

Lighten up a little phil and Ian ..:) takeing personal swipes at and around each other stirs up a lot of bother Imo .


cheers graham

[PCH]

Rob,

I guess, going back to Roman days, our leaders have to appeal to 'the MOB'. If the masses are displeased you have anarchy. It appeals to the masses to be allowed to smoke if they so wish, and we just pick up the treatment bill for them and generally don't make too much fuss.

Equally, it appeals to the masses not to allow any one (capitalist ba*t*rd money making) business such as James Hardy to inflict these similar diseases on us. That's why the government has to act to stop james Hardy, but is happy to let us keep killing ourselves ! Both things please us generally speaking.

So, the Romans said it first, and we've been doing it ever since - "At all costs, we must please the Mob !"

Cheers,

[CoombellKid]

Well I might not give you one :P. Actually as disgusting as it is I enjoy
a ciggerette. I smoke a pouch of baccy each week, cost me about $23
per week. But I do know I dont like the health side of things. But the
single most thing that has got me thinking and it cuts harder than the
addiction, the enjoyment and the not enjoyment, the always debating
in your head that you know you should kick it... but hell I'll have another
fag and think about it. That single most thing for me right now is my
7 yr old telling me "daddy I dont want you to smoke anymore" every time
those adds come on TV. When ya little bloke tells you that looking you
right in the eye, that effects me. And to tell you the truth I know I
wont be smoking for to much longer because of that, I feel to guilty
and like I'm letting my little bloke down every time I lit up.

So those adds can work in an indirect way

regards,CS

[Ian Robinson]

Well Phil, I haven't resorted to personal attacks singling out anyone.

You don't like my opinion .... fine .... you can say so without getting personal, then maybe you don't have the intellectual capability (judging from your responses so far).

Have a nice day mate. I'm no longer interested in this :argue: bye.

[CoombellKid]

No I think we have evolved from that way of thinking, you don’t see too
many folks out protesting in support of smoking... I mean could you imagine
that... a couple of thousand smokers marching down the road to parliament
house protesting about the bans in pubs and clubs. There is not one
single pro group out there (that I know of) but there sure is a lot of folks
protesting against.... Democracy :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: but I suppose the government
of the day thinks it's democratic right is to be able to allow the sale of and
place gross amounts on taxation on it...

Cheers

Rob

[PCH]

Well, we can't be sure can we. But I can imagine a couple of thousand people marching down the road protesting 20 or 30 years ago. What what we have known for a long time though is that smoking is dangerous. And we haven't exactly tackled the problem head on have we? The Government has deliberately treated the matter in this slow but sure way so that they get people on side slowly but surely. Look at the way it's been done ! It's taken years - decades even, when it could have been done much much faster - if they had wanted to.

Cheers, :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Seems I didn't take care looking at the poll options, you are quite right... I must be a smoker? :lol:

Apart from the weather induced bordom, why do you think so many that responded to this IIS poll are smokers then..? The stats for the national adult smoking average is reliable data. Perhaps the smokers on this forum were more compelled to anwer the poll, as a show of solidarity perhaps..? :shrug:

What ever some may say, smokers "are" a dying breed, err..no pun intended ;)

Mike