I have recently had a close friend diagnosed with a smoking related illness and as a pack a day girl I am petrified of giving up. I have tried so many ways before including cold turkey, patches hypnosis and acupuncture to no avail. Has any body got any ideas or alternatives that have worked for them?

Non-smokers don't smoke. Simple as that.

I gave up about 3 years ago. No secret to it Mper, just don't.

There's no easy way. Which is what everyone looks for. It never gets any easier either. You've just got to make a conscious decision and just don't do it.

First coupla weeks is easy. Then the two years after that is hard, then you just don't do it after that.

Sorry there's no magic fairy dust or anything.

Having a motivation helps first up. When I first gave up I traded that $100 a week I was spending on smokes I spent on a new car for myself.

hi, I'm new comer here.
And I'm smoker. But I want to quit from this bad habits.
Any advise for me ?

Your Friend
my-herbal

I once was a walking ash tray.
Pay day saw after my bills, first purchase, two cartons of cigarettes, 4 packet of roll your own, and a box of mini cigars.
No kidding all would be gone in the two weeks till next pay day.
4 lighters, one in my shirt, one in the lunch box, one in the truck I drove, the last by my bed.
I always lied to myself saying I could never give it up, would not know what to do with myself.
30 years ago, in hospital and really sick, with Q fever long before immunization, I went cold turkey.
No one knew what was wrong with me for a month, I was even thought to have aids, treated as if I did, being in the cancer ward with those waiting to die.
Any one can give up smoking, you too, if you understand loving your body is better than not.
In truth once seen as smart and sexy smoking is the reverse, its plain dumb.

Ah, that is easy, I have quit so many times :)

My problem is not so much quitting, but staying off them.

Studying me the addict has been interesting and I've learnt
something new each time.

I found it easier, once I knew what was going on in the
brain, so when I was going nuts, I knew why I was going
nuts :)

Smoking increases dopamine levels, which is an important
neurotransmitter linked to the pleasure and reward centres
of the brain. When you quit and can't think straight for
a while, its because the brain has to kind of reprogramme
itself to naturally increase dopamine once again. If the
worst comes to the worst, go to bed and pull the sheets
over your head or have pay tv handy. I've had some
close shaves driving whilst quitting and it can in fact
be dangerous at some times.

Another thing that I have found helped was magnesium
tablets. Apparently our diets are low in magnesium
and I know from animal nutrition that magnesium has
a calming effect, so helps deal with anxiety, depression etc.

yabby I was too stubborn to try quiting, until I saw death all around me in that hospital.
I got to know each of them as good people, watch one die.
I turned that stubbornness into my reason to quit, forever.
I refused to smoke, never once did.
Now its that same tool in use, I am dieting and 5 weeks 9.2 kg is gone.
Every one is different but surely it comes down to do we like ourselves enough to do it?

Hey Mper

Quitting smoking is HARD, and coming to the conclusion to do it the way you have is the hardest way to do it.

BUT good on you.

I was a smoker for 16 years and it was hard to give it away for so many reasons but the thing that worked for me took a different, more psychological approach and as long as you are not afraid to learn some new tricks i think it can work for most people.
f you want to check out my method the address is.

If you want to check out my method the address is.
www.easyquitsmoke.com/ (I'm a big fan)

Good luck in the quest .

today at the press-club was a dr..[who as'chair'for the heart-foundation,..was giving a talk..[50 years these frauds been mixing it up with health/regulations],..any how some interesting stuff was revealed

like some food/company manager..[a fellow board member]was in the audience,..but what was interesting is that the 'dr'mentioned two missions for the heart/industryfoundation-board..[number..ONE was an increase on smokers tax]..number..two was trying to get us to give up coconut oil in favour of gmo canola oil..[formerly a poisen-seed geneticlly/modified to not be'as'poisenouse]

this is the same lot..who for twenty years told us eggs are bad..lol,now eggs are good..lol..[because there is two/types of colesterol]..but this fraud didnt mention the two types of colesterol

a reporter made mention of food-tax[on sugar,and transfats etc..but this was dismissed by the over/weight'docter'..telling us smokers are the big problem..[no doudt'the friend'in the food bu-sin-ess[also on the heart/foundation..board dont want no tax on food..[thus the tax on fags suggestion]

anyhow there was lots more colusion revealed..but this link reveals the why of tax on fags
http://www.jeremiahproject.com/newworldorder/moneytrail.html

as for giving up[or quit smoking alternatives,well do like all other smokers do put food in your gob/mouth..[the heart/foundation dont see any problem you doing that]..apparently..[or eat hamburgers and chps that fine[..if having given up smoking you..have done all the heart/foundation needs you to do..lol

of course they would prefer a cut of the fag tax..for the foundation,.cause only a small percentage of the heart foundation boards income comes from govt[=or-20..percent from memory]..but if they manage a further tax on the poor/smokers..well you know who put the case for it.

so im not saying an alternative..but giving you a good reason to give it up...good luck to ya...ps;i noted many ex/smokers get put on tranquilisers... you should note that they are the bigger problem

anyhow as this is the only current smoking topic/i thought i would keep the info together...good luck with staying sober[only smoking is bad for you..lol...interesting we have tv/adverts on the smoking dangers..[other heart foundation members must include the booze merchants and chemical industries...great lurk eh lol