The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

fermi

MoneySavingExpert.com Insert:

Click "Post reply" below to join in with fellow MoneySavers trying to give up cigarettes. If you're new to the Forum it can look scattergun but read down and remember it's a conversation, starting with first post, scrolling forward for the latest. To reply you'll need to join the Forum but it's free to do.

---

In May 2007 jo1972 started a thread for all those DFW's who were trying to quit smoking. That thread grew to over 8000 posts!

The original thread can be found here: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=445572

Good luck everyone.

I've given up myself, so know how much of a struggle it can be. It is VERY worth the effort though.

Jo's great first post with links:

:eek: This is proper going public, can't go back now :undecided

So....I've decided to give up smoking tomorrow to help save money. I spend £5.60 smoking a day and I can't afford it.

So if any of you smoke and feel as though you might want to try giving up then post here and join me, more the merrier!!

Can't believe I'm doing this but...I pledge that I will not smoke tomorrow, will take every day as it comes, and will be completely honest with all of you.

So, I've worked out (if I'm right...) in a year I would save £2,090.40!!!!

So I gotta go for it...anyone wanna join me??:eek:

EDIT:

Here are a few links to websites that you might find useful for info on various types of NRT, support groups etc. Plus a couple of books that you might find helpful. Thanks to Oops a daisy for compiling this list :T

If you would like to add any links or ideas to this list that you think are useful for other members then feel free to leave a message on here or PM me and I'll add it so that it's all kept in one place and easy to find. Thanks

link to FrugalJo's Blogspot: Exhaler - Diary of a Nicotine Addict http://www.exhaler.blogspot.com/
link to silk quit http://www.silkquit.org/sqmmiv/meter.aspx
link to quit smoking website http://www.whyquit.com/
niquitin website http://www.click2quit.co.uk/
free niquitin twister http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=462895
link to another thread on MSE for quitting smoking http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=38742&page=68
link to info on new drug for quitting smoking http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6705667.stm
link to on line smoking support group http://users.boardnation.com/~fullstopsmoking/index.php#1
link to info in champix drug http://www.theonlineclinic.co.uk/champix.asp
link to ASH http://www.ash.org.uk/
link to Max Kirsten's stopping smoking site (watch the smoking vid!) - thanks to TNG for this link http://www.maxkirsten.com/resources/resource_view.asp?id=13


Recommended books:

The Nicotine Trick by Neil Casey
Easyway to quit smoking by Allen Carr


And here is a list of reasons that make the posters on this thread happy that they've stopped smoking, I hope this gives everyone a bit of encouragement, whether you're still to stop or have stopped and waivering, or just stopped and want to remind yourself how great you are

Not having to ask non smoker friends if we can sit outside, when the weather really isn't good enough

Having nice smelling hair and clothes

Coming home to a nice smelling house

No more sore throat and burnt feeling tongue

No more 'smoking hangovers' where the night before you smoked a packet which makes you feel much worse than any amount of alcohol

Not worrying about whether you've got cash for cigs all the time

Not getting evil looks from passers by when you have a cig break on the pavement at work and the smoke goes near them

Smelling smoke from other people and thinking that actually it doesn't smell very nice and realising you might be able to actually give up

Having a £2,000 a year tax-free pay rise :j

Being able to concentrate on what you're doing without thinking about going and having a cig when your finished, eg eating, cleaning, working!

People not backing off from smelly smokers breath

OH saying how much better the flat smells now

No nasty clearing your throat all the time

Taking deep breaths of clean air

Being a bit richer

Having a pink tongue!

Your lungs getting rid of gunk

Clean fresh hair and clothes

Paintwork will stay whiter as will ceilings

Lovely clean teeth

More energy

Ateries becoming un-clogged

Longer life

Not having to go outside the pub for one

Laughing at those who do have to go outside for one

Moaning about all the butts they leave outside


And finally, but most importantly, here's the reason we're doing it (thanks to Adz for digging out this info):

At 20 minutes after quitting:

• blood pressure decreases
• pulse rate drops
• body temperature of hands and feet increases.

At 8 hours:

• carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal
• oxygen level in blood increases to normal

At 24 hours:

• chance of a heart attack decreases

At 48 hours:

• nerve endings begin regrowth
• ability to smell and taste improves

Between 2 weeks and 3 months:

• circulation improves
• walking becomes easier
• lung function increases

Between 1 to 9 months smoke-free:

Starting as early as a month after you quit smoking, and continuing for the next several months, you may notice significant improvements in these areas:

• coughing
• sinus congestion
• fatigue
• shortness of breath

At One Year Smoke-Free:

Your excess risk of coronary heart disease is decreased to half that of a smoker after one year.

At Two years Smoke-Free:

Your chance of achieving long-term success with quitting tobacco increases significantly after two years.

At 5 years smoke-free:

• from 5 to 15 years after quitting tobacco, stroke risk is reduced to that of people who have never smoked.

At 10 years smoke-free:

• risk of lung cancer drops to as little as one-half that of continuing smokers
• risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases
• risk of ulcers decreases

At 15 years smoke-free:

• risk of coronary heart disease is now similar to that of people who have never smoked
• risk of death returns to nearly the level of people who have never smoked

[threadbanner]box[/threadbanner]

determined_new_ms

(copied and pasted from thread 2...)

oh gawd you've set me off again Sue! So sweet, encouraging and giving. :A don't u sleep????

so last night wasn't good. Restless all evening, couldn't sleep in the night and felt quite flat and down (weird that as earlier in the day I had thought it was a breeze! There was one self-indulgent moment when I thought "I can't do this!" but then had a quiet word with myself and just rode the evening out)

I'm really taking heart from you guys that after today things should feel a bit easier? Going to go and read back thru and see what you guys are saying....

Have a great day everyone, today I am resolved I will not smoke x

jinty271

Popping in to the shiny new thread to declare 3 days completed, and on to day 4 - Good luck everyone , be strong

heretolearn_2

Oh dear, first proper day back at work, all sorts to deal with, feeling stressed and keep thinking 'I could just nip to the shop, buy 10, smoke one, and then start again'. Resisting, but they are Caaaaallling me. I've got to find an alternative work de-stressing 5 minutes 'something' that isn't a cigarette or diving into the biscuits. Trying nicotine gum, ick, just makes my mouth sore. But I don't think it's the nicotine I crave so much as the action and habit of smoking. It's my way to take a break, have a little think, and calm down. Anyone got any good ideas?

Still, this is day 3 and it hasn't been too bad most of the time. I always knew work would be hardest as that's when I smoked most. After that bedtime is hard as it's a habit of mine to go for a cigarette immediately before bed and somehow it makes me feel sleepy.

Tried listing my reasons for giving up

Improving health generally and especially getting rid of that breathless feeling
Not being stinky - stinky hair, clothes, car, fingers and breath
Saving money - it'll be about £800 a year for me
Fresher mouth - no more yellow tongue and ashtray breath
Making Mr HtL happy
Not having to pick up the fag buts from my smokers corner in the garden

That's about it for me.

determined_new_ms

In the past I've found that when I smoked smoking I didn't take breaks the same way I did as a smoker, so until 3 days ago I would stop, down tools (so to speak) and go outside have a cig and a chat & totally step away from work for 5 or 10 mins 3 x a day. As a non-smoker you don't this.

I think its helpful for the process (and not to mention working effectively & efficiently - but that's another whole story) to maek sure you still take these breaks. hths

penelopedee_2

Heretolearn, hugs - hope you get on at work ok today. Try go and getting a drink of water each time, as at least you will be doing something/taking a break. Might help.

I'm dreading 4pm when I get home as its the first thing I normally do as I walk in the door.

Hey Ho, back to work and the boss is lurking so had better look busy x

SmellyOldSock

Morning guys! feel i've kinder cheated as i had my last one at 6pm, obviously been asleep for about 10 hours lol

am not feeling too bad at the mo, lets see how the day pans out!

good luck everyone,

jammy_dodger

good morning one and all
glad to see you all on the new shiny thread..theres PLENTY of room for anyone lurking and thinking about starting a new smoke free life you'll be in great company , loads of help and suppport from others experiencing just the same as you .., the more the merrier, i can here the tax man quaking as another moves over to the sunny side of life

glad to hear you are sticking your heels in jinty i promise it does get easier , you WILL think less and less about smoking it does ancompass al the thoughts in the early days stick with it

you are doing so well penelopeedee , determined , geretolearn , az , SMELLYSOCKS

what i did at work when i first quit , so i didnt feel i was missing out on my break at work was take a pocket suduko or fiddle with one of the apps on my phone for 5 mins whlst having a coffee , now i join th eothers who smoke to have a natter but am glad i dont smell like they do ...:eek:
i cant believe i used to smell like that and squishing the au de toilette spray doesnt help much eh ....so whatever floats your boat dont feel you are missing out on break time , find something or take something to chill with ..
a be proud at the end of the day trhat you never gave in to old nic

have a great day everyone

JD XX

jammy_dodger

to all those newly posting and have quit am sure sue-uu wont mind me asking on her behalf ? could you put in the title bar how long you have been stopped and what method used it does help when offering support , and maybe helps others who are lurking to "identify" a posters journey if they are thinking of using the same method

am sure sue-uu will explain more if i have missed anything out

jd xx

rmplc

jammy_dodger wrote: »

to all those newly posting and have quit am sure sue-uu wont mind me asking on her behalf ? could you put in the title bar how long you have been stopped and what method used it does help when offering support , and maybe helps others who are lurking to "identify" a posters journey if they are thinking of using the same method

am sure sue-uu will explain more if i have missed anything out

jd xx

Oooooh a shiny new thread ..... this one is very spacious isnt it lol

I have to echo what Jammy said about putting your status in the title bar, as it really does help when giving advice to know what stage you are at.

Well done to all the new year quitters on making it to the 4th day, and jan 2nd quitters for making day 3.

Smellyoldsocks, you have not cheated, you have still gone 18 hours smoke free, we all sleep lol

Good luck all

Ross
xx

Catherine25

Cheers Ross, Id never have figured that out on my own lol!

heretolearn wrote: »

Oh dear, first proper day back at work, all sorts to deal with, feeling stressed and keep thinking 'I could just nip to the shop, buy 10, smoke one, and then start again'. Resisting, but they are Caaaaallling me

Hi heretolearn everytime Iv quit before I used to say that to myself but then I realised if I did that everytime I tried to quit id never get anywhere! Thats just old Nick trying to win you back lol! Your doing really well, the first few days are the worst so youve done brilliantly to get over them.

Well done determinednewms! It always makes me feel better when I get through a particularly hard day. Before you know it youll be hardly thinking of smoking. The thing I do is to remind myself Im not giving anything up because that only makes me want them more! I have been saying to myself, ok smoke if you want to. But I know I dont want to be a smoker anymore so it helps if you see what I mean. Sorry im not very good at explaining myself, I know what I mean even if no one else does :rotfl:

Penelopedee try making a new routine for when you get in from work. I know its easier said than done but maybe try to make the dinner straight away when you get in or jump in the shower. Anything to take your mind off it. I sometimes buy myself a small treat out of the money im saving, eg a magazine or a nice dessert. all the little rewards can help motivate you and keep your spirts up!

Smellyoldsock you def have not cheated, you done brilliantly! doesnt matter if you wer sleeping or not, you still didnt smoke so thats a big achievement!

Well done Jinty hopefully youl find it a bit easier now, the first 3days are usually the worst.

How is everyone else today? Im still feeling a bit under the weather but had to drag myself out of bed today cos OH is away back to work Think I better take the tree down today. Iv been wanting to for ages but didnt bother cos I wasnt well. Iv also got about 5 loads of washing because OH didnt bother to do any!

Well done everyone!
Catherine xxx