Do you smoke cigarettes?

[pommiebloke]

i gave up over 12 years ago after smoking fairly heavily for about 16 years. Cold turkey. Decided I was never going to smoke another cigarette again and I haven't.

Feel sorry for those who can't give up, it is a terrible addiction.

 

[Weizguy]

i used to smoke a hundred a day up till 4 years ago.........gave them up due to the cost.....last xmas diagnosed with throat cancer.....go figure?????I had to give up as i got to a 50gm packet of white ox per day and it was getting worse....ruled my bloody life and the cost was ridiculous......mind you im NOT an anti smoking campaigner whatsoever...i used to love my smokes still enjoy a wiff of nice tobacco from time to time........im undergoing radiation as we speak and the cancer crew DONT know nor will say what causes throat cancer.......so thats my 2 bobs worth. I say if ya enjoy something...do it.....the amazing thing is ive never had a smoke since i gave up....never thought id actually give them up.....my wallet notices the difference though lol, cheers all...Ned

Michael Douglas reckons he knows what caused his throat cancer, fwiw.

 

[newguy]

Trying to get the missus to give them away too...that's going to be harder than actually giving them up myself I think. :lol:

+1

Dad smoked, died at 52. Cigarettes weren't a direct cause of death but they didn't help. Wife's dad smoked over 2 packs a day. Died 4 years ago at 76. It was his 4th bout with cancer. Wife's aunt died a year later at about 60 years of age from smoking related cancer. Wife's mother smoked for 55 years (more than 2 packs a day for the majority of that time), is aged 71 now. Med prescreening for her 2nd hip replacement saved her life, as they detected a lung tumour that wasn't there a year ago. Will undergo surgery to remove part of her lung in a couple of weeks. Wife's wedding dress hung in the in-law's closet for 3 or 4 years until the FIL died. Stunk so damn bad we hung it in the garage for a little over 3 years and the smell never receded. Ended up tossing it.

Wife smoked when I met her, and despite bouts of quitting, never really quit. Hopefully this latest news regarding her mother finally tips the scales....

Hate tobacco myself.....

 

[wbosher]

I'm going pretty easy on her, I know how damn hard it is to quit having only just done it myself. I'm being a little sneaky trying to get the kids to do the work for me..."Mummy, I don't like you smoking. Can you please stop?"

I know she wants to quit, she's told me plenty of times, she just can't. Hopefully getting the kids to lay on the guilt trip will tip the scales. I know it sounds very underhanded and devious, but it's all I can think of that we haven't already tried.

 

[Liam_snorkel]

Most of the people I know who have successfully quit used that champix stuff that gives you epic dreams. Maybe you should suggest a visit to the GP?

 

[philmud]

I quit about 12 years ago, have a cigar about once a year, but only at Monica's insistence.

 

[justatad]

I give it away 5 years ago after 35 years of draggin my guts out, amazing what the threat of a coffin does to you!

 

[of mice and gods]

F smokers cost the country millions in health care , I should know as it caused my heart attack and killed my dad.
Well and truly reformed. Disgusting vial anti social arse rapist habit.
I am not sitting on the fence on this one.
You smoke you die.
Nev

Sorry to break it to you Nev, but you realise non-smokers die too?

I'm not defending smoking, but if tobacco companies are getting 2-3 bucks a packets, where is the other 18 bucks a pack going? If the govt doesn't spend it on building the most kick ass health service (which would spill over to non-smokers too) that's not my fault.

Edit: Also, I'm not a rapist.

 

[BadSeed]

A little bit when I was younger, I was fond of marlboro reds, stopped a long time ago - nearly 20 years.
It was not a good accompaniment to my kickboxing.

Wouldn't mind some weed though, anybody hook me up? :blink:

 

[newguy]

I'm going pretty easy on her, I know how damn hard it is to quit having only just done it myself. I'm being a little sneaky trying to get the kids to do the work for me..."Mummy, I don't like you smoking. Can you please stop?"

I know she wants to quit, she's told me plenty of times, she just can't. Hopefully getting the kids to lay on the guilt trip will tip the scales. I know it sounds very underhanded and devious, but it's all I can think of that we haven't already tried.

Tried that already. Kids got yelled at. Not kidding. Haven't tried that approach in 3 years now because of that reaction.

 

[Dengue]

never smoked voluntarily but used to be a huge passive smoker before they banned it in a lot of public places

had no choice, the it was the social scene back then so if you wanted a chance to meet women then you put up with coming home stinking of an ashtray all covered in other peoples breathed out excrement.

i'll take on the freedom of rights activists any day that reckon you should be allowed to smoke anywhere at personal choice. Breathing someone elses smoke is as bad as having them stand on a table and piss on you.

 

[wbosher]

Most of the people I know who have successfully quit used that champix stuff that gives you epic dreams. Maybe you should suggest a visit to the GP?

She's tried it already, didn't help. Made her feel so bad that cold turkey is probably a better alternative.

Tried that already. Kids got yelled at. Not kidding. Haven't tried that approach in 3 years now because of that reaction.

Kids get yelled at plenty already, and nothing to do with smoking. :lol:

 

[of mice and gods]

I congratulate all of you who have quit smoking, and I'll get there some time too. But we don't need the government to enforce it.

The problem with giving away your rights to the government is they never give them back, and the more they take the more they can get away with taking as people get used to this idea of being completely nannied by the state. Look what happened after September 11 in the States, people got all uppity and gave away their rights in a swathe of 'anti-terrorism' laws which they will never get back. I realise it's an extreme example, but you get the idea.

If they ban smoking. it's not that far a step to going back to banning home brewing. Because, you know, people die and it's bad for society because people that drink have a negative impact on tea-totallers. And realistically, if you live near a main road or cycle/walk regularly near traffic.. it's probably not that much different from being a smoker, so shouldn't we ban combustion engines?

Like the old sticker used to say.. Ban ******** Before Bullbars.

Al

 

[wbosher]

I agree about not banning things, prohibition never does any good, will just drive it underground like pot. No govt in their right mind would ever do that anyway IMO, way too much tax will be lost.

People bleat on about the cost of smoking in terms of health costs to the country, but the tax they get on smokes, at least here in NZ is far more than smokers cost the taxpayer. They just keep driving up the price every year, which IMO is the most effective way to get people off the things, won't work for everyone but seems top be working here for the most part. The number of smokers here is at an all time low, and dropping every year.

The other thing is education aimed at kids, make smoking look uncool, seems to be working. Most teens that I know think smoking is for losers, complete reversal from when I started in the early '80s.

 

[yum beer]

I'm going pretty easy on her, I know how damn hard it is to quit having only just done it myself. I'm being a little sneaky trying to get the kids to do the work for me..."Mummy, I don't like you smoking. Can you please stop?"

I know she wants to quit, she's told me plenty of times, she just can't. Hopefully getting the kids to lay on the guilt trip will tip the scales. I know it sounds very underhanded and devious, but it's all I can think of that we haven't already tried.

get her to hypnosis, it works very well and a good therpaist will give her ongoing support.

 

[wbosher]

Nah, tried that too, and patches, and e-ciggies. Cold turkey is the only thing that's going to work for her I think. The problem is you need to really want to do it, I just don't think she's quite there yet.

 

[kalbarluke]

I smoked for 10 years. Tried to quit about 5 times before finally succeeding. The biggest aspect to my successful quitting attempt was I really wanted to quit. All the other times friends/relatives/colleagues said I should quit and I would go without for a few weeks then get back on them. As soon as I decided that I wanted to quit for myself, it was easy (well, not as hard).

Now I can't stand the ******* things. Just the smell of ciggie smoke alone makes me sick.

 

[AHB_Admin]

Man, I'm struggling today. Kid woke me up at 4 am and all I want is coffee and a smoke.

 

[AHB_Admin]

Man, I'm struggling today. Kid woke me up at 4 am and all I want is coffee and a smoke.

 

[Hippy]

Man, I'm struggling today. Kid woke me up at 4 am and all I want is coffee and a smoke.

I hear you man.
Wife just had a baby and is still in the maternity ward while I'm at home looking after a 3 year old.
Bought a pack tonight after quitting when the 3 year old was born. Had one and it tasted like **** so threw the rest of the pack out.

 

[Green-Lobster]

Started smoking ciggies in the 90`s cos the skipper didn`t like us having a bong on board. I know it varies more state to to state i dont like it straight, but if they ban tobacco wtf am i going to mix with ? our should i just switch to Breaking Bad like thats all cool and trendy ?
Lucky to smoke a pack in 2 months now .
Hated smoking indoors . Pubs are all the better for the ban, not to mention restaurants. You want old school now go 3rd world and soak up that haze.
Well done to those that gave up , good luck to those that didn`t.
Remember this , no one gets out alive.

 

[Mardoo]

Used to smoke. Totally loved it, the ritual of the rolling and the roll of the smoke off my lips, the exhale. If I could smoke and drink coffee 24/7 I would, but my body just isn't made for it. As a friend of mine once said, quitting smoking is a sad, stupid thing that some of us have to do. I genuinely think there are a few people built for it and the rest of us are at our own mercy. The trick is being able to tell before it's too late.

I was never addicted until I started smoking to deal with frustration at work. Then I was hooked. Before that I could pick it up and put it down at will. Over the course of 12 years I probably smoked for a total of 3 of them. Then I got the emotions involved!

After 10 years of regular smoking - best one is the first one, 6am, cuppa coffee - I found out my wife was pregnant. I decided I didn't want to risk anything more with my life and just stopped. I had already been through cancer. Before, I had tried to quit a thousand times but this time I actually wanted it and it was totally my own decision. Cold turkey, just decided. The first three weeks are hard, but it eases up a lot after that. I don't regret it or miss it at all. I hang out sometimes with social smokers smoking because I like the hang out (no drags ).

I have no issues with smokers or smoking, and don't think the government should ban it. (Seems to me the problem is commercialization actually.) Some people seem to be able to be lifelong smokers with no major ill effect. More power to 'em. Wish I could.

 

[wide eyed and legless]

I gave up smoking years ago but as others have said I do still dream that I smoke and wake up feeling guilty.
But as an impact on society I think that alcohol gets first prize, although I did read that junk food is has taken over the both of them.

 

[Forever Wort]

Not worth it for me. I'm a health-conscious kinda guy.

 

[manticle]

Some gold in here. Someone has probably linked similar in the thread but anyway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_9NtA80qHg

 

[AHB_Admin]

 

I hear you man.
Wife just had a baby and is still in the maternity ward while I'm at home looking after a 3 year old.
Bought a pack tonight after quitting when the 3 year old was born. Had one and it tasted like **** so threw the rest of the pack out. 

Good for you. I would have kept it up. I went out an bought some cigarillos to chew on. I'm having a hard time quitting this time around.

 

[Truman42]

Im 42 days quit today and so far have been doing okay. I get the odd cue induced craving especially if swmbo has one sometimes but other than that the Champix has really been doing the job this time.

And according to my quit app Ive saved $820.00 although I wish I had that money in my hand.

 

[wbosher]

Been almost seven months here, must have saved thousands...I can't see that money anywhere either. Buggered if I know where it went...well actually... :chug:

 

[Steve]

18 months cigarette free for me after nearly 30 years of smoking! Best thing I ever did! Highly recommend it to anyone thinking of quitting.
Cheers
Steve

Edit. Champix worked for me. Sends you a bit cuckoo for a while but hey it was worth it!

 

[James85]

Well I'm 6 weeks into my quiting journey. Smoked a 50 gram pouch of Bank every 3 days ( more over the weekends ) for 16 years. Absolutely loved it, loved the smell of a freshly opened pouch, the smell and taste of the smoke, the ritual of rolling a smoke the who lot. What made me want to quit was when my 2 year old boy looked outside and said " daddy smoke" and pointed at my pouch. I knew there and then if I wanted him to never touch them then I had to be a roll model and give them up.
Had a few good arguments with the missus since I gave them up as she smokes to but it's worth it in the long run.