Bit confused about best way to go.

sazzybum

Hi everyone,

Been a lurker for a few weeks now, and thought this was the best way to ask opinions...but if this is the wrong place to ask, then please move me on!!
I've been smoking for nigh on 30 years(I'm 43 by the way...sigh) and due to my two sons joining the Army at practically the same time, I have decided it's time to bite the bullet (or nicotine gum as it were) and stop the evil weed- so that I can save and visit them a bit more often, and send more munchie boxes (they still need their mother for that)
My first question is..what's the best way to stop? I have only stopped the twice I was pregnant, and that was total morning sickness-wish I'd never started again..hindsight is a wonderful thing.
The second question is..what's the best way to save the cigarette money? A jar on the shelf-putting the money in every day I would use for cigarettes? A new bank account? Under the mattress? .

I know it seems light hearted, but when I've had this comforter for this long, the thought of NOT having it is......well-stomach lurching. But I'm determined to do it for my boys. If they can go through what they're going through-then I can do this.

Any advice will be much appreciated. Thank you

LameWolf

Hi Sazzybum.

When I packed up smoking, I saved the money in my normal current account, and kept a separate note of when I would normally have bought ciggies and how much it would have cost. I was never a heavy smoker, so this worked for me. An Excel spreadsheet is probably the easiest way to do this (that's what I did).

Only you can decide if you'll need help from your GP, or nicotine gum, or whatever - I did it Cold Turkey; BUT I'd just moved in with a wonderful man (whom I subsequently married) and had got out of the stressful situation that exacerbated my need to smoke. How did you stop when pregnant? Would that work again?

The one thing I found I needed was something to do with my hands - worry-beads helped no end!

To prove that it is do-able, I started smoking when I was 15, and stopped when I was 42. I've now been smoke-free for seven and a half years!:p

Best of luck with this; your health and your purse will definitely benefit.:o

sazzybum

Thank you LameWolf. I've also just started a live in relationship with my fiance-who also smokes, and who also wants to stop, going to need the mutual support I think.

I stopped when I was pregnant because the smell of it made me SO sick, but I don't intend getting pregnant again!! lol. I think I would prefer to go the cold turkey route-even if it's just to prove it to myself that I can actually do it. Excel spreadsheet? Excellent idea! Never thought of that. Thank you :-)

jm2926

I've been stopped for two months now. This time I just stopped cold turkey. Previously I stopped using Xyban (for a year) and hypnosis (18 months). I didn't feel the withdrawal was any worse for cold turkey than it was the other two ways. The main thing is never to start again.

What kept me going was the knowledge that it could only get easier, and no way was I going back to re-do the first day/wk etc. I planned a 24 hr reward (jigsaw), 1 wk reward (jewlery box) and 1 month reward (climbing lesson) to motivate me.

The main thing is wanting to stop - and keeping busy when you have a craving, or eat something healthy that doesn't go with cigarettes (I ate oranges)

Congratulations on deciding to stop.

Morvern_callar

Read this, it helped me no end:

http://mihai.bazon.net/blog/a-guide-to-quit-smoking/Scandal_by_Allen_Carr.pdf

sazzybum

Thank you jm and Morvern! I guess that's what was frightening me-the first few days..I suppose it will be babysteps at first. It's just strange how it's taken so long! I'm so miserly I can't believe how much I spend that's going up in smoke! Thank you ever so much

Ivrytwr3

my mum smoked all her life. She died of cancer when i was in my early twenties.

She never got see me marry, nor did she get to see her 2 grandchildren.

Give up now before you too, miss out on these things.

VfM4meplse

There are so many ways to quit. Why don't you call the free national quitline on 0800 022 4 332 / website or have a chat with your local pharmacist the next time you are passing.

Good luck.

sazzybum

Thank you all. I'm sorry about your mother Ivry..mine died of cancer too but never smoked in her life-prob i would've stopped much earlier if she had. I'll be in touch with the helpline first thing VfM..I had thought of it but probably just needed the kick up the bum from MSE peeps. Thank you for all the good luck thoughts :-)

Errata

Good luck, sounds like it's not never smoking that's giving you the heebies but the thought of not smoking. Loads of smoking cessation help and aids out there, Champix appears to have the best success rate.

sazzybum

Good Luck sazzybum,

My mum still smokes and I think she is too old to see any benefit from stopping to be honest but I wish she would have. She uses gum now and then

Thanks Atomised. My Gran smoked until she died when she was 86-I would never have dreamt of telling her to stop cos it was good for her health. Her fags and tot of whiskey at night was the only thing kept her sane I think.

I think apart from the health issue, it's the financial one that is making me want to stop. Cigarettes-or seeing my boys more (and sending them stuff) the boys win hands down. I've appreciated all peoples kind comments, I thought I'd be told to suck it up and get on with it. Oh well...fingers crossed. :eek: