The Stoptober 2014 Challenge - How much will you save?

splishsplash wrote: »

I quit over four years ago using Champix and Sue-UU's thread here, which I found incredibly helpful and supportive.
I rarely think of cigarettes, I think it's really weird to think of myself as a smoker now - and I loved them.

You may miss cigs at first, we've all been there I promise you; the trouble with cigs is that they become to be 'a friend' so to think of quitting is like saying goodbye to that friend, grieving if you like.

However, it doesn't take long to know it was a BAD friend and you become so pleased you've left it! Keep reminding yourself about all the money you're saving and the restoration to good health, that'll helps so very much!

It may be a little difficult for those first few days, but then you'll find it's so much easier, that's when you start feeling ecstatic at your achievement. At first you may experience some sleep problems. I did for a while and always woke up terrified that I'd started again! I even felt my fingers to make sure there was no cig between them! What a relief to find it was just a dream. IF you have problems, stick with it and know that it'll soon pass. If it affects you too much then buy some "Kalms", a natural product that helps a lot

If you have a smoker's cough then trust me, you will lose that in just a few days, 2 weeks at the most! You may develop a chesty cough, don't worry as it's your body's way of getting rid of the muck. You may know that all smokers lose the hairs of the respiratory tracts due to smoking, but as soon as we give up, the hairs start to grow back and bit by bit after we get rid of the muck it will in time become as though you never smoked. My youngsters and hubby had always begged me to quit, so when I did they were so thrilled! I've not smoked since and that was 11 years ago Christmas Day 98! That WILL be you some day, go for it!!

Now tips with cravings.

Drink plenty of water all the time you're quitting! It helps so much when you get cravings and will help flush you through too! It's a greater ally than you'd imagine and also fills you up so you don't eat so much! Orange Juice is great for cravings too, it's the vit C. Try clementines too, it'll give you something to do with your fingers! Whenever you get a craving, go for a brisk walk, or do indoor exercise, even climbing the stairs will help and certainly a good walk will. Eating raw carrots, apples, celery or any fruit too. It'll also help keep any pounds off, do try not to eat chocolate, instead try sour lemons or sucking ice poles!

Taking baths/showers as often as you wish will help enormously as a lot of the 'muck' from inside perspires through the skin so we get clean inside as well as out! Relaxation CDs or relaxing music will help whilst lying down on the sofa and imagining you're somewhere beautiful so you can actually see all the wonderful things you'd wish to whilst feeling the warm sun shining on you etc. Clean you teeth often, or put a pea-sized amount of toothpaste in your mouth and swirl it around - who wants to have smokey breath after that it being so clean and fresh!

A biro/pencil is a great finger entertainer and will help from not knowing what to do with your hands/fingers. Doing crosswords (even if you're not a fan) is great as it keeps the mind and hands busy. Doing jigsaws is great, diy as well; even a few keys on a ring - anything that can be played with! The longer you give up for the quicker you 'forget' about the cravings and you'll soon find that when you do get them, they only last seconds! Later, you suddenly realise the craving went without you even realising it!!