The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

MoonRose77

I can't say that I ever actually enjoyed smoking at all - it was a habit pure and simple. The need to place little white stick in hand, put to mouth, light, inhale, remove, cough up lungs and repeat - not something anyone could enjoy is it?

Not having a go melbury but what did you find enjoyable? I am really honestly quite curious. In fact did anyone else on this thread enjoy it when they were smoking and what made it enjoyable?

Even when I first started smoking - after waiting til I was legal to do so (how stupid was that I could have carried on as a non-smoker for life!) - it wasn't enjoyable it was a "well the family do it, my mates do it, why can't I?" - and it was foul to start with and the taste got better and my lungs got worse but by that time it was a habit I was addicted. For years I kicked myself and wished I'd never started and would try and give up time and time again and fail because I'd have a good convenient excuse. But no more - I am not a smoker and I refuse to think that I am one because the cigarettes do not control me - I am in control of them.

ps Sue - I managed to get some sleep eventually and still felt great this morning, glad that I had this board to come to unlike on other occasions when I would have been getting my coat on and going to the shop.

melbury

MoonRose77

I suppose if I am completely honest I probably only really enjoyed about half of the ciggies I smoked in a day, the rest were just the habit ones.

But the others I did really enjoy. I liked the taste and it is just so relaxing having a cig with a drink, they just go so well together. That is when I do miss them still.

I smoked for 36 years and gave up purely to prove to myself and my family that I could do it. My OH gave up 17 years ago and my son has been nagging me for years to stop.

Smoking was just such a big part of my life from when I was about 17 years old and stupidly I look on it through rose coloured glasses.

MoonRose77

Thanks melbury - hope you didn't think I was gettin on at you or anything - or being incredibly nosey.

I get what you mean about the drink and the ciggy - not sure if I enjoyed them then or purely because it was normal by then to do it - but that is one I get the idea of.

louserendipity

good luck squidykins
i am out of fags again so waiting to see how i do this time cold turkey
if not i will take champix as they are sitting in my kitchen waiting !

suki1964

Being a recovering alkie as well, I would say that quitting the smoking is the same as quitting the drink - Im one drag away from a packet of 20

12 months down the line and I still get the urge to have a smoke and speaking to ex smokers with 20/30 years under their belts - they say the same - theres times when they really miss a smoke and get the urge to have one still.

It gets easier to not pick up but I dont think the want of a smoke leaves completely. Im sure that all those of us who have had failed attempts to quit have thought to ourselves " just one drag - thats all" and before we know it back up to 20 a day.

Dont underestemate the hard work quitting takes and dont ever underestimate what a fantastic acheivement every day you dont light up is

nikzGfx

I didn't enjoy smoking, I don't know what there is to enjoy, at first it was cool when I was younger, but then it just got into a habit, stress was my excuse to smoke. Sure it felt good for a while but after stubbing it out I felt stressed again. I guess it made my brain happy for a cupla minutes, most times I just felt tired of smoking even if I didn't want to smoke I would still smoke which is a bit silly even when ill!

There are no gains to be made from smoking, as much as I still crave for one now and then I just can't commit myself to another failure, I admit I do miss smoking, with a drink, after dinner, all the times I would have a fag I miss them moments but I am happy they are gone, I don't feel as tired as I use to, I feel more healthier, I am actually saving money, plus I don't reek of that nasty smell anymore which I am happy of.

One of my friends said to me, he doesn't know why he smokes, we would never put our mouths around a car exhaust pipe and inhale all the smoke from there, so why are we doing the same thing from a little stick. I was like tbh I don't know, apart from the nicotine both actions are the same, we would never smoke from an exhaust but yet we do from a little stick.

I saw this on Yahoo answers and thought it was good:

"The tobacco companies make a lot of money, the government collects a lot of taxes, hospitals and doctors get a lot of new business. There are many who benefit from smoking but not the smoker itself"

It's been just over 2 months that I have stopped now, and have roughly saved below:



It feels great having money in your hand! Which would you prefer the above or the below in your pocket?



(Switched to SC Silver in my last few days before giving up, waste of money that was like smoking air!)

Sue-UU

Well done for the above nikzGfx!

Well done everyone for the way you're doing and all the best to those about to embark on a smoke- free life again! Please stick to it this time - you owe it to your family but mostly you owe it to yourselves!!!!

I totally disagree with those who think we're only one step away from starting it all up again. I've quit now for 10 years and can, hand on heart, declare tat I could NEVER go back to that filthy, dirty habit and risk killing myself. I've seen the fear in the eyes of my family about what it might do to me and I've lived through those fears and worried myself sick for the last few years I smoked. Whatever is to to be enjoyed about taking it up AGAIN??!!!!! NEVER, EVER.... I can absolutely promise that.

All the very best of luck and health to you suki1964, I sincerely feel for you having COPD and truly wish you well!! I totally agree with your sentence

<<<"I tell people I stopped smoking on the Champix which is the truth but its my will power thats stopping me from smoking again.">>>

That is true of all us quitters however we gave up in the first place, it's always willpower that does the rest until we've given up for a couple of years, to my mind. I never enjoyed smoking, it was just a stupid habit that I was daft enough to take up.

All the best for a really good week everyone and remain strong and positive no matter what others may wish you to think. Smoking is a killer - not an "enjoyable" thought is it!!!

Sue

TDQO

I've been stupid... been smoking for the last 3wks while I was back in England. I've got a whole handful of excuses but it really just comes down to me being weak. However now I'm back in Oz I have just 2 more cigs left in the packet and then I'm back on the wagon.

Sue-UU

Hi TDQO! Very bad luck that you had a spell of weakness, but I'm so pleased you recognised it for what it was and are starting over again. So many of us have experienced what you're going through, but so long as we come through it in the end, that's all that counts and matters.

It took great courage in coming back and telling us and it's that which is to be applauded. All the very best of luck in getting back to where you were and staying there. Keep strong TDQO!!!!

Sue

stevedavies

Happy Monday, non-smokers!!

Hope everyone is doing ok...Day 19 for me today!!!

I went to visit some friends at the weekend, both of whom smoke, and I thought it would be quite a test for me...Gladly, I didn't have a smoke, although the cravings did start up, but I kept forgetting that the last one had stopped until the next one began, if that makes any sense at all!!!!!...Although I did notice how much they were coughing and generally hacking away all evening!!!..:rolleyes:

Good luck for the week guys, keep those un-kippered fingers crossed!!!!:D