My head seems to work differently to many perhaps. I've never smoked, but my mum and dad both have all my life. Both of them talk about trying to stop all the time. Heart failure made my dad stop a few years ago for a fortnight. His lung collapsing six weeks ago made him stop for as long as he was in Intensive Care.

Redboots post above fits my way of thinking the best.

Or, to quote Yoda, talking about raising an Xwing from the swamp if I remember;

Do or do not. There is no TRY.

Redboots decided to quit and did. My Dad keeps talking about trying to and continues to keep trying. Not stopping. As long as he continues to try society and his girlfriend keep off his back as he's doing the right thing. Its kinda obvious his health could be better, but he likes to smoke. Trying to quit allows him to keep doing smoking.

Read the above posts and most who use the word trying havn't stopped, or took ages doing it.

Stop now.

I know what you are saying, and maybe it is a case of me not wanting it enough. I know that the whole principle of the Alan Carr method involves people accepting cigarette smoking for what it is, a nicotine addiction, nothing more nothing less. Maybe I'm still clinging to the idea that I get more from smoking than just the continuing cycle of feeding and reseting my nicotine habit.

I'm not a smoker and never have been..

What I am is a passive smoker. One of the many who are made to feel ill and poisened by smokers who don't feel the need to smoke outdoors or in their own room etc.

Now, this is by no means an attack on you smokers. Do what you like, its a free world (mostly).

My point is (yes there is one), is that if you could understand how antisocial smoking is and how the majority of non smokers really HATE it (but are usually too polite to say so), then you might stop smoking to increase your chances of making friends and being welcome into a social situations rather than being the guy who stinks out the place and clears a room with a ploom of carcigenic fumes..

I've been in many bars and hostels where you can smoke. The smokers are usually wildly unaware that people are avoiding them because they choke the air and make the place unpleasant to be in.

I understand that smoking is more addictive than heroin and you have my respect for trying to quit.

You will be more liked for not smoking though... Let us breath easy

I hope this will give you a little motication..

Feel free to ignore me at your leisure !! lol

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

I've been smoking for 10 years, I know I should quit but my main problem is that I don't want to, I enjoy it. I feel that if I wanted to quit I probably could but the main issue for me is actually making myself want to.

Hi Steve,

I was an avid 20 a day man for 20 years or so. Thought I was indestructible until I had a stroke last year in September. I was only 45 years old and had lost the ability to ride a bike. Until this fact dawned on me I hadn't even considered giving up. Yes ...cigarettes are bad for you. Please don't wait for something like a stroke to happen to you to realise this. Simply put them down and fight the craving until it goes away. I did it "cold turkey" and have been free of nicotine for almost a year with no cravings. I regained almost all of my sensation and strength down the LHS of my body and rode my GSA to Inuvik (Yukon) and Prudhoe Bay (Alaska) this summer in aid of the Heart & stroke foundation. Please read my blog at www.mytb.org/nevil to see some articles if you wish. I truly wish you and anyone else reading this the strength and determination to give up. Good health to you and may this keep you riding!

Kind regards.......Nevil

It was'nt the fear of killing myself that made me stop smoking. Or the money. Or being worried about offending someone who did'nt like the stink of smoke.
I just wanted to stop smoking so I told everyone I knew, everyone I worked with, everyone who'd listen that I'd stopped.
So........the one thing that's kept me from starting again is the fear of failure.
Twenty one years since I packed in and I know that, if I smoked one, somebody would say "knew you could'nt do it, loser"

Awesome story NEVIL (in a slightly odd way.) That is the kind of motivation that actually works. I don't know about anyone else, but you are an inspiration to me.

After my earlier post, I decided to cut back. I still smoke socially, but have kicked the 20 a day habit I had. If I was more sensible I would quit entirely, but if I was more sensible I would be an entirely different person.

Kudos.

Birdy

I have tried many many times,, but yesterday I said anm sick o this smoking.. I want tae quit but I do enjoy them here an there,, but most times its out o habit........ i want to stop.

I think my biggest problem is boredom, which is kind of mad really, it's not as though smoking is hugely entertaining! Still it at least gives me some avenues to explore in my attempt to quit.

I'm now 3 months off um. The not being a failure is doing it for me, I've always been the doer never the spectator and friends have said "you'll do it" for that reason there's no way I'm going to smoke.
I'm always the winner (please read in a non arrogant tone of voice).

Cheers
Pete

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Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand 2016
Buenos Aires to NYC 2012-2013: www.facebook.com/curryhunt
India and back 2009-2010:

Steved1969....and anyone else who may be interested.......

I've smoked for the last 30 years and in probably the last 15 of those I've smoked 30 a day, more if I've had a few pints. About 2 months ago I started to have difficulties with breathing and went to the doc. Basically he told me to stop smoking and I'd be fine. He gave me those Champix tablets. Problem was....I didn't really want to stop. I've always liked smoking. I like the actual act of smoking...the lighting up, inhaling, blowing smoke out....I like it. Can't help it but that's how it is.
People say you have to REALLY want to stop, otherwise none of these tablets etc. will work. So I decided to try Champix and I have to say I did so with only half a heart and I had no expectations of going beyond the first day or two with them. I tried them anyway and I continued to smoke for the first 11 or 12 days. I felt nothing. No sudden desire to stop smoking, no sudden bad tastes....nothing. Then I woke up the next day and something in my head told me I didn't smoke any more. Don't ask me what it was but that's how it happened and I can't explain it any further or in a more accurate fashion. I simply had no desire to smoke. However I have had a few difficult days where I've had a craving for the habit of doing something. Could have been anything, it was just the habit thing. All I've had to do is go somewhere, do something, talk to someone about anything any the desire passed instantly.
Believe me, there is no-one more baffled by this turn of events than me. I could never have imagined myself as a "non-smoker". It has only been a few weeks now so I won't get too carried away with my boasts....but believe me, and trust me, when I say........IF I CAN DO IT THEN ANYONE CAN. I'm one of those people who has an addictive gene to nearly anything if I like it. These tablets have taken away the need for willpower. I have little if any of that but still I find myself not craving a cigarette.
Good luck to anyone who's considering stopping. I have to say my house smells so much better....as do my clothes....and my hair....and my breath...and pretty much everything else too. I have much better breathing than before so I do hope this in itself will be enough of an incentive for me to stay off them. After all, it's difficult to have fun on a bike if you're dead!

Chris

PS......Forgot to say....try and stay away from other smokers for a week or two if you can. Might be too much of a temptation, and another smoker will nearly want you to start again coz it makes them feel less guilty about smoking themselves!

Every time I quit I'm just fine until I drink again! It's a real pain in the ass. Actually going to go volunteer in this remote location of Bolivia for a few weeks which has a ban on alcohol, hopefully will be able to kick the habit there!

Champix seems to work for almost everybody........... except me!!!!!
2 days into the the course the side effects were too much so did the cold turkey (now 3 months off the fags).
The thing that keeps me in check is that I read somewhere that one fag and you're back to square one, so I never have the "oh it's OK to have one fag, it's a slag night/birthday party/weeding/etc", I know I can never smoke again and I have to get my head round it.
It helps me to look at smokers like a NON SMOKER would rather than a RECOVERING EX SMOKER. I find myself looking across the site at people chuffin away and thinking, you twats, I brought into that for 30 years and can't believe it's taken me this long to realise!

Cheers
Pete

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Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand 2016
Buenos Aires to NYC 2012-2013: www.facebook.com/curryhunt
India and back 2009-2010:

Wife and I both quit with Champix after being smokers for 20+ years. After 2 weeks we were free. Did the whole cure of 12 weeks to make certain. That was 3 years ago.

__________________
HansP
All you wanted to know
about riding in Norway

A lot of encouragement from ex smokers, I'm an ex and like many absolutely detest the stench of cigarettes, regardless of fresh or stale, lingering on clothes or peoples breath, they stink. I used to stink just like them.
I met a stage hypnotist, it was my mate who wanted the session I just sort of sat in, deep down I knew I should give up but I couldn’t be bothered with the cravings and the agro I’d had on previous attempts anyhow I listened and tried to concentrate then at the end he said “on one you can open your eyes”
From then on I could be bothered with smoking it was too much effort. During the night I kept laughing, I was confused, normally I’d be ripping doors off to get out for a fag but I couldn’t be bothered. I finished working about 5am and sparked up as usual out of habit and was nearly sick. 6 years down the line I’ve never touched or wanted to touch another cigarette.
My mate stopped for nearly 9 weeks then started again whilst on holiday, and still smokes.
Find yourself a good stage hypnotist or someone who practises the Dave Elman technique, you’ve nothing to lose
Any way you go do it for yourself every cigarette is another 5miles of fuel