Korean Job Discussion Forums

Mint · Joined: 08 May 2008

Hockeyguy just hold on!
All the nicotene has now left your body. You are now a non-smoker. All that's left are the ghosts you made, and screw them, your brain wants you to fail.

I'd go hardcore monk mode right about now: clean the daylights out of your house, get exercise and 8 hours rest, eat only healthy foods, throw away junk you never use, polish your lesson plans, study something, start asking out every woman you see. You started on a good path with quitting, now keep the momentum up and move it into all the areas of your life.

hockeyguy109 · Joined: 22 Dec 2008 Location: Daegu

Mint · Joined: 08 May 2008

Especially when that person knows just which shame buttons to push...
You should have her set up incentives for you to reach at certain milestones. Backrub each night
She does something small around the house for you each week
Steak and er, party, each month

Cool

hockeyguy109 · Joined: 22 Dec 2008 Location: Daegu

dr. love · Joined: 09 Oct 2007 Location: Seoul

As reformed smoker myself, I found that the worst thing you could do is quit for another person. As soon as you have an argument or disgreement or any sort of trouble you turn to smoking. If you're going to quit do it for yourself.

Cold Turkey. No Nicotine Replacement or Anti Depressants. Just good old will power. Remember that smoking is a choice.

I quit for 5 years and started again in 2006. This is my second attempt at a smoke free life. I am at four months. easier everyday, but it is always there, lurking at the back of my mind. A truly horrible habit that I wish I had never started.

rusty1983 · Joined: 30 Jan 2007

rusty1983 · Joined: 30 Jan 2007

Im 2 weeks in now and Im still doing well with nicotine gum except Ive been using a bit of nasal snuff when ive been drinking. To be honest its like forming a whole brand-new habit in itself, but it kills any cravings dead.

F*ck knows what that'd do to your nose if you took it over a number of years. Ive read up a bit about it and there has been one recorded occurrence of cancer from using nasal snuff, and that was from some oddball who was putting it in his ear. You do have to take into account how few people actual take nasal snuff though i suppose. I imagine it isnt actually that safe.

My old man used gum to quit and said when he stopped using it after a while he didnt even notice it had gone, but I do agree with what everyone here is saying about making it a daily battle. But I just look at people smoking now and smell it and think - no. You kind of change back to how you were when you were a child, or when you first started smoking and it tasted and smelled rancid. The only time this has changed is when Ive been drinking hence thats the only time Ive really wanted one.

Still though, although my initial burst of energy and enthusiasm has balanced out I still feel much better for not smoking.

I feel more awake, better rested, more focused and more positive in general. Ive got more time to get ready in the morning, dont have to rush around in between classes and can put a few extra activities into my classes which has gone down well (Im the king of the wingers).
Im generally FAR more confident and am getting a better response from people than normal. Im less moody than before, more positive.

My plan over the next few weeks is to up the ante in the exercise stakes and use that good feeling to get me past this humpy part. Like I said this has to be my 5th or 6th time trying and I can see the tricks my mind is playing on me.

Mint · Joined: 08 May 2008

hockeyguy109 · Joined: 22 Dec 2008 Location: Daegu

Good to hear, Rusty! I'm only 5 days in, but feeling positive. However, I do worry about going to the pub this weekend. Someone recommended the patch. Anyone agree? Never taken it but the gum didn't work for me. I really do enjoy drinking, so I hope this no smoking business doesn't get in the way.

Mint · Joined: 08 May 2008

I'd steer clear of the patch, it's a tease. I've tried twice unsuccesfully to quit with the patch.

Go, have fun! It's really important to not quit drinking when you quit smoking. The only thing you are fighting is your own manipulative mind, so give it the big eff you and buy yourself some shots of top shelf with the 15,000 won you just saved these past 5 days. Just hold strong and drink hard and you'll notice your hangovers are 100% more manageable now that you stopped burning the moisture in your lungs away.

hockeyguy109 · Joined: 22 Dec 2008 Location: Daegu

Thanks for the advice, Mint. First shot of whiskey is to you!

Forward Observer · Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Location: FOB Gloria

rusty1983 · Joined: 30 Jan 2007

When I tried using the patch ages ago I didnt realise the strength of it. I put it on in the morning and was aggitated throughout the day, then all of a sudden in the mid-afternoon it kicked in and I could hardly stand up!!

Drinking is definitely the time when the cravings hit their peak, so be extremely weary. Id say the gum is pretty useful for that. You could use it just when ur drinking? And again, Ive been tackling the drinking problem with nasal snuff and that seems to work!

You cant smoke in the pub now in the UK so thats also helped massively, and when you couple that with the fact that it is pretty freezing at the moment it makes it quite a bit easier I think.

If youre in Korea its gonna be tough, if I were dead serious about quitting I would probably just give the pub a miss for a few weeks!

corinthian · Joined: 21 Sep 2009

I got an electric cigarette. Physically, it feels like I quit, plus there's no smoke, no smell, and it's much cheaper in the long run. Never going back.