The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

MumOf2

Hi Bruce

Can I add my support to that of Sue and Larmy. By now you may have finished the last 6 and you are now smoke free! What a wonderful, exciting, liberating feeling!

I'm now 2w 2d 18h, £100.64 not spent on cigarettes, 335 not smoked. How fantastic is that! This is a far higher buzz than smoking 335 cigarettes.

Other benefits I'm noticing:

1. My skin looks soooooooooo much healthier.

2. Hair is looking better too.

3. Teeth are so much whiter - a couple of people commented yesterday about how very white they're looking.

4. Sang last night and I was clearer, with a much better tone, in the upper registers also wasn't struggling as much towards the end of a phrase.

I'm surprised that the negative effects of smoking are abating so quickly, I thought it would take months. Bit of a challenge ahead tomorrow - going into a situation which will be a strong trigger so will deep breathe, look in mirror (would rather be thought of as vain than cave in) and if it gets too much just walk away for a while.

Just remember that Nick is a narcissist abuser - he brainwashes you into being convinced that you can't live without him, that you'll never be able to cope without him and that you'll never enjoy yourself again without him around, but in fact he's the one who can't survive without you.

He distorts your thinking whilst you still welcome him into your life, but once you're rid of him you can see him for exactly what he is - a physical, psychological and emotional abuser.

Keep strong everyone.

MumOf2

jo1972

tattycath wrote: »

I've been itching to post this!!!

It's 2 years today since I stopped smoking!!!!!!!

joop wrote: »

Woop Woop!

One year today!!!!!!!

Congratulations to you both :T:T:T

Cath, I remember you at the very start of your journey

fiftyeighter_2

Hi to everyone. I've seen this thread a lot but always been to scared to enter. A lttle about myself. I'm 59 and have smoked since i was 15. I did however pack up smoking for 10months about 4 years ago. I suffer badly with my chest. I have asthma and also a lung complaint. I know your thinking "why on earth are you smoking if you know all these things" I know all this is true but i can't stop.
I keep trying, I promise. I wonder whether by subscibing to this thread it will give me the kick up the .... i need.
Am i in the right place. Please can someone help me to finally quit. You all seem to have already quit so maybe this is the wrong thread. I just feel so down with myself over this.

allthatmularky

Now over seven months and it just gets better and better - now doing so much exercise and loving it. Back to being able to walk the fells in the Lake District without struggling for breath on the hard climbs. Just feels great to be alive - much more positive and far more energy - gone are the days of feeling constantly tired and lethargic.

To all the folks just quitting or just about to - we all hear all the negatives from our brains as to why we can't do it - but there are a million more positives. The only negative thought from me now is why I ever did it in the first place.

I wouldn't worry about all the tales of cravings and missing it years after - some folks (myself included) are free of the mental and physical cravings within weeks.

Go on, give yourself and your family a great Christmas present.:j

geoffgeofftygeoff

It's been a few weeks since I last posted but I'm really pleased to say I have stopped smoking now for over 6 weeks. I've just spent some time reading the last 5 pages of posts as it is really inspiring. Not smoking is a brilliant thing to do!

Weirdly, I have had a few weeks without thinking about the things and didn't want to get complacent so reading up on here has helped that a lot. I've also read the Allen Carr book (10th time) for good measure - I'm actually sick of the book now and need to give that up! :rolleyes:

I'm still coughing and clearing out but when I think about it, it took me 16 years to get to this point, so it's not going go away in a few days or weeks. It will happen though and I feel much better already.

Good to read all your stories and updates, and best wishes to all.

ggg

Amended sig as the last smoke was actually on Sat 24th October (midday) but I had put the first full day smoke free on my previous sig. Details I know but these things are important at times like these!

larmy16

fiftyeighter wrote: »

Hi to everyone. I've seen this thread a lot but always been to scared to enter. A lttle about myself. I'm 59 and have smoked since i was 15. I did however pack up smoking for 10months about 4 years ago. I suffer badly with my chest. I have asthma and also a lung complaint. I know your thinking "why on earth are you smoking if you know all these things" I know all this is true but i can't stop.
I keep trying, I promise. I wonder whether by subscibing to this thread it will give me the kick up the .... i need.
Am i in the right place. Please can someone help me to finally quit. You all seem to have already quit so maybe this is the wrong thread. I just feel so down with myself over this.

Dear Fiftyeighter.

You can do it. The important thing for you to do is relax. When we relax, we stop putting pressure on ourselves. How do we handle pressure? We smoke....(or used to - and you can and will be coasting along with us if you want)......nothing is impossible.

If someone could hand you a key to unlock the prison you are in, would you take it?

Here is the key........you just stop. You can expect to go through a few days of feeling something nagging you (you may not).....I know you have stopped before and you lasted 10 months. That is amazing and brilliant and is the only proof you need that you can do it.

A lot of us have had many tries (me especially... have lost count!).but I hated smoking and the hold it had over me. The peace of mind is incredible...and you can do it. I just know you can.

Please stay with us, while you work out a date and time to quit. Then do it and keep posting. We will be here for you. Promise. XXX

sar050680

fiftyeighter wrote: »

Hi to everyone. I've seen this thread a lot but always been to scared to enter. A lttle about myself. I'm 59 and have smoked since i was 15. I did however pack up smoking for 10months about 4 years ago. I suffer badly with my chest. I have asthma and also a lung complaint. I know your thinking "why on earth are you smoking if you know all these things" I know all this is true but i can't stop.
I keep trying, I promise. I wonder whether by subscibing to this thread it will give me the kick up the .... i need.
Am i in the right place. Please can someone help me to finally quit. You all seem to have already quit so maybe this is the wrong thread. I just feel so down with myself over this.

Hi fiftyeighter, you are absolutely in the right place if you're trying to give up, I gave up after reading and posting on this thread, so many inspirational people to help you all the way. Please stay and keep trying. Paul

fiftyeighter_2

Thank you so much Paul and larmy. Its so good of you to reply. I just have to stop this time for good. I've been told that if i stop although my lungs wont improve they can control it. So that should be enough shouldn't it? Someone gave me the book that a few people have said about so i thought i would hunt it out and read that.
I really appreciate your replies. They mean a lot to me. And well done to all of you. i will call again to let you know how i am doing.

larmy16

fiftyeighter wrote: »

Thank you so much Paul and larmy. Its so good of you to reply. I just have to stop this time for good. I've been told that if i stop although my lungs wont improve they can control it. So that should be enough shouldn't it? Someone gave me the book that a few people have said about so i thought i would hunt it out and read that.
I really appreciate your replies. They mean a lot to me. And well done to all of you. i will call again to let you know how i am doing.

Even if your lungs don't improve, the rest of you will!:j

Hope you can find the book - if not I have one specifically aimed at women which I can send to you if you want (thats if you are a woman!). All the best and look forward to hearing from you when you are ready.

mollie123_2

Hello
I've been an avid read of various forums for a little while, but this is the first time I've actually posted a message! I'm looking for some help on giving up and hoped that I could join in the discussions here.

I've tried to give up before, and always caved in on about day 4, but this time I'm really hoping it's the right time. I've been thinking of stopping for some time, but I'm hoping the worry of actually smoking will spur me on to succeed. I find myself constantly worrying about the effects on my health (smoker for over 20 years) and every time I get a pain in my chest I'm convinced I'm about to have a heart attack. So I thought that if I'm going to constantly think about smoking as a smoker - and believe me every time I'm lighting up, I'm worrying about what I'm doing to myself (but still continuing to smoke)- then I may as well think about it constantly as a new non-smoker (if that makes sense).

Anyway, I'm putting the plans together (bought the patches, mentally planned what to do during my danger times) and I'm now just looking for some help and support.

Thank you to all the other posts - the success stories are an inspiration to me.