My Quitting Smoking Diary - yours too!

jammy_dodger

dundeedoll wrote: »

Have JUST realised that I have STOPPED smoking and given up being smelly, breathless, having tingly heavy legs and arms, not eating properly, ruining my teeth and skin as well as my health blah blah blah.....2 years ago today! :j:T:beer::T:j

That is what I 'gave up' and in all honesty it was no hardship

Thank you Sue and Jammy (and larmy x) you absolutely kept me going :A

:T:T:TWHOOP WHOOOOOP:T:T:T

OMG 2 years :eek::eek::eek:that is fantastic dundeedoll

VERY WELL DONE TO YOU

JD xxxxxxx

fab news smileytiger what a year you are having am very pleased for you xx

great great stuff from those recent aboard too , stand proud and fresh as a daisy :D

HI Faceuptoit a warm welcome

you've found the best place for supportm
myself along with many many others who have decided the time is right to quit have had the lovely sue-uu as our "guardian angel " during the tough and good times ,
stopping smoking can seem a rollercoaster but one to DEFINATELY stay on, it does get easier


your decision to quit will be the best you have made, and we'll be around to help you stay free from the blighters

i hope you have thrown any fags you have away , so not tempted

is it a particular timeof day or association that maes you light up ?

thinking of the triggers ( besides a night out ) may help you stay free

all the best
JD xx

Sue-UU

faceuptoit wrote: »

I have been talking about giving up for ages, I used to be able to cold turkey for a year + and it wouldn't affect me. It's now getting harder. My last cold turkey spell was about 3 weeks, one month ago.

Hi faceuptoit and a very warm welcome aboard!
Am I right in thinking that booze alone is your downfall? If so, then is it possible for you to leave it alone completely whilst you truly do quit? Maybe you could swap alcohol for softer drinks..anything to help you through quitting would be a Godsend.

You honestly do sound very determined though and that alone, without hang ups such as alcohol, really can be enough to see you through. So, have a think about it and see if you can just help yourself a little further. Meanwhile, we're here to support you through and will gladly give all the help we can. Also, if you have access to a phone and apps there are some great ones to choose from, and one of those could be helpful when you're out, especially to help deter you when out drinking!

For now, stick to reaping all the rewards that stopping the fags will bring you, and please do come and seek help IF ever you may be tempted. If you think it will help then tell your friends you do NOT smoke any more, they may be able to support you at weak times.

Very best wishes in kicking it once and for all!!

Sue x

Hiya Chrissie and such splendid news about the house being a definite for you both now! I am absolutely delighted for you as I really do know what it means to you!! :j:T:j If the job really appeals to you then I do so dearly hope you get it!! What a year this will be for you all.

Thanks so much for letting us know!

Sue x BTW, fantastic news about the smoking! :T:T:T

SaLoGo wrote: »

Four months, one week, one day, 21 hours, 59 minutes and 14 seconds.
1963 cigarettes not smoked, saving £588.93.
Life saved: 6 days, 19 hours, 35 minutes.

My inspiration for quitting arrived last week - my wedding dress :j

Hi there, Sal!!! Congratulations on being free of fags for over 4 months!!!!! :T:T:T Terrific work...all achieved by you! What some amazing statistics already, so very much to be proud of!! Now you have that special motivation - the Wedding dress along with the Wedding itself. It won't be long and won't it make a difference to be able to start married life as an ex-smoker, a reformed character - call it whatever you like, but it's HUGE and YOU did it!!!!! :grinheart Marvellous work and well done to your friend...she's also doing herself a great favour too!

Sue x

dundeedoll wrote: »

Have JUST realised that I have STOPPED smoking and given up being smelly, breathless, having tingly heavy legs and arms, not eating properly, ruining my teeth and skin as well as my health blah blah blah.....2 years ago today! :j:T:beer::T:j

Good Heavens above DD...is it truly THAT long?!!! :eek: Well obviously it is, but it seems to have absolutely just flown by!

Many congratulations on a HUGE accomplishment, DD!!! :T:T:T:T

I'm so pleased we were able to help you through, but as I say to everyone - the one who did it all in no uncertain terms could only ever be YOU!!! Wonderful to see you back, DD!

Sue x

Hello there, JD! It definitely sounds as though those scones had a great influence on you!!! :eek: My DH hasn't had one for ages now, but he too is a real sucker for scones, jam and cream. Alright for a treat now and then and delicious, but so much fat content in the cream alone! Never mind, you'll soon shrink back to normal and at least you enjoyed them. All the best with the weight loss.

Sue x

Back to my weakness now then....the Olympics! I love it all, especially the hockey!!!

Take care all and let nothing come between you and quitting as there's just too much to gain!

Sue x

faceuptoit

Sue-UU wrote: »

Hi faceuptoit and a very warm welcome aboard!
Am I right in thinking that booze alone is your downfall? If so, then is it possible for you to leave it alone completely whilst you truly do quit? Maybe you could swap alcohol for softer drinks..anything to help you through quitting would be a Godsend.

You honestly do sound very determined though and that alone, without hang ups such as alcohol, really can be enough to see you through. So, have a think about it and see if you can just help yourself a little further. Meanwhile, we're here to support you through and will gladly give all the help we can. Also, if you have access to a phone and apps there are some great ones to choose from, and one of those could be helpful when you're out, especially to help deter you when out drinking!

For now, stick to reaping all the rewards that stopping the fags will bring you, and please do come and seek help IF ever you may be tempted. If you think it will help then tell your friends you do NOT smoke any more, they may be able to support you at weak times.

Very best wishes in kicking it once and for all!!

Sue x

Hi and thanks to you and jammydodger for your kind responses.

Have cigarettes in the house but not out and about. When I'm giving up, I kind of like having them around and going outside when my friends smoke as it tests my will. That is the way I've always given up - for me, it's the ultimate cold turkey!

Alcohol is definitely something I've come to associate with smoking. I used to associate walking around the city (ie to and from work/the tube) with smoking but I managed to stop that the last time I quit. Now my danger spots are: (1) when drinking and (2) after lunch at work/eating a heavy meal.

Last night, I managed to go for a couple of drinks without smoking though :beer: even though I was with someone who was smoking and we stayed outside the whole time. I may try to stop drinking as much too, though, and especially when I'm at home. My only problem is if I put too many prohibitions on myself my little brain gets very rebellious!

I am also thinking of starting up running again, as that always makes me feel like I don't want to taint my lungs with tar!! So, today will be my first smokefree day. I think I might download an app - are there any which show you particularly gruesome pictures? That has a real deterrent effect for me.

Thanks again all x

Sue-UU

faceuptoit wrote: »

Alcohol is definitely something I've come to associate with smoking. Now my danger spots are: (1) when drinking and (2) after lunch at work/eating a heavy meal.

Last night, I managed to go for a couple of drinks without smoking though :beer: even though I was with someone who was smoking and we stayed outside the whole time. I may try to stop drinking as much too, though, and especially when I'm at home. My only problem is if I put too many prohibitions on myself my little brain gets very rebellious!

I am also thinking of starting up running again, as that always makes me feel like I don't want to taint my lungs with tar!! So, today will be my first smokefree day. I think I might download an app - are there any which show you particularly gruesome pictures? That has a real deterrent effect for me.

Hi faceuptoit, it seems as though you're like a lot of us have been, the ones we missed most (at first) were the ones we associated with after meals, driving and with alcohol. Try to alter your lifestyle a bit so you immediately do things at those times. BTW, VERY well done on totally abstaining last night! Under the conditions you did brilliantly and deserve to be so proud of yourself!! :T

I'm not sure about which apps are best, though someone recommended one 2 or 3 pages back on this thread. However, if it's graphic pics you want then why not look through any quitting site and get one or some and use them as backgrounds for your phone, for your PC too if it helps. I'm sure your Dr could give you gruesome posters, hospitals too! Pin them up all around the house and always carry some with you and bring them out on getting any urges!! Anything you know will be of help - do it!

Running will be so beneficial to you:

A/ to release endorphins into your brain and make you feel so good.

B/ as you've already noted, it helps cleanse your lungs with all the panting...so why ever would you put more rubbish back into them after!!

I think you already know what's best for you which is so good. Now, trawl through the apps and see what you can come up with or trawl the net for filthy, tar infested lungs. I'm sure you'll find there are even photos of lungs of poor folk who, so sadly, didn't make it to quitting. It sounds as though you can so don't become a statistic!

Great news on Day 1!!

Sue x

jinty271 wrote: »

One week, three days, 3 hours, 28 minutes and 34 seconds. 202 cigarettes not smoked, saving £62.90. Life saved: 16 hours, 50 minutes.

Hi jinty and very many apologies for missing you out in my post above. Excellent news on 10 days FREE OF FAGS!!!! :j:T:T:j You're doing terrifically and are already starting to get your lungs free, reduce the risk of life-threatening illnesses, rotting your teeth and a host of other things!

Keep looking at those splendid stats, jinty, you're well on your way!!!! I'm sooo proud of you!

Sue x

walkerrs

Hi, I am hoping to give up smoking soon..though have been saying that for years (and years).Been a smoker for 20 years + now . I am gonna call my local cessation place next week (been saying that almost weekly over the last 2years though) Any tips to get me going??

Sue-UU

Hi walkerrs and a very warm welcome! It sounds as though you've had the same struggle that most of us lived with all through our smoking lives....until we finally stopped!!!

No doubt you, like we did, find it a very daunting thought each time you decide to 'quit', it can seem that way. Try viewing it in the light that you really aren't going to miss out on anything at all, in fact it's totally the reverse once you've stopped as you've then taken the beast by the horns and said "NO - I don't want you in my life any longer!!!" :mad: What appears now to be your friend could in fact be slowly trying to kill you!! Leave that no good 'friend' out of your life and you'll start to live without all the torment that smoking brings.

It's so good then NOT to have to live your life according to how many fags you have left? how much money you have? where you can smoke etc? Stop smoking now and you'll no longer wreak of stale baccy or have stained (or possibly rotting) teeth and fingers and your health will be in far less danger that it is right now! WE CAN ALL DO IT and that includes you!

Make a definite promise to yourself to ring the local cessation nurse and make that appointment - why not - you've nothing to lose...but it could just be the start of you stopping and regaining your life as you new it before fags! Yes, you lived ok then AND you go through each night without needing a smoke! So go and talk it through, see what she thinks is best for you and then stick by the following pledge every day:

Quitters Pledge

"Today I promise not to smoke any cigarettes, tomorrow - if I wish - I may do."


Renew the pledge every morning on waking and any other time necessary in the day. This helps in not making it feel as though you're planning something lifelong, it helps trick the mind in taking it all one day at a time. The lifelong part you determine for yourself when you're ready.

Meanwhile, get yourself a copy of Alan Carr's Easy Way to quit smoking, soooo many folk have said goodbye to fags via that and it won't hurt to read it.

We're here for you, walkerrs, keep talking to us and we'll help you through it all IF you let us. We all know what it's like and just how much easier it all is after saying ta ta to that last fag!!!

You too can do it! All best wishes in leading a nicotine free life.

Sue x

hannahroberts1985

Hi :wave:

I have recently started my debt free mission. I have always wanted to quit somking and have tried on may occasions. I feel now is the time to kick the habit once and for all. I'm 26 and don't want to be a smoker.

Every other time i've quit it's been hard because BF smokes I have spoken to him and he agrees that we should quit. His father in law is termanily ill with throat cancer and we don't want to end up in the same situation.

We have agreed out quit date will be october 1st. A while away but BF says he wants to spend one last summer ( if it ever happens).

I've decided to start cutting back to make it easier and hopefully he will follow suit. Going to try to read throught all the posts on here before work today to give me ideas and inspiration.

:j

Sue-UU

Hi and a warm welcome to you, hannahroberts1985 ...maybe we'll simply call you Hannah!

Oh what a really awful wake-up call with your BF's F-I-L being terminally ill! Sincere sympathy to him and all the family, it's a really terrible time to go through.

I'm sending you a PM, Hannah, read through that, also read through the Quitting Pledge (above) when you're ready to go for it. Try and do as walkerr's hopefully going to do and book an appointment with your Cessation Nurse (get in touch with your Dr surgery, they'll tell you). They're marvellous and it's so good to be able to have them to help you through physically. Make the appointment now as they get very, very busy.

Then there are a few of us here too, and we'll help you all we can, we love to! Don't forget, we've all been there - and got though the other side and know that life is great without having to hang onto fags!! Please do read through the posts here, they'll help and inspire you, possibly give you some tips too.

Let us know how you get on with cutting down and please read the first page and how I gave up doing it the same way; for me it was what finally cracked it and I've never looked back! :grinheart` Incidentally, you might let your BF know that men so often find it a lot easier than us as they don't have monthly times and hormones to deal with.

All the very best to you both for the 1st October and don't forget to bookmark the thread and come back and let us know how things are going. If you need any help/advice...we're here!

Sue x

jinty271

Two weeks, 58 minutes and 14 seconds. 280 cigarettes not smoked, saving £87.05. Life saved: 23 hours, 20 minutes.

Sue-UU

Splendid news and stats, jinty!!!! :T:T I am so chuffed for you, you really are doing superbly. Stay as strong as you have been doing and you'll be getting to where you want to be and will be ecstatic!!!

From a former smoker's point of view I reckon this has to be as close to winning gold as you can get!!!! :j

Sue x