I'm Giving Up Smoking

Lazy_Line_Painter_Jane

Ok, as of tomorrow, I will be a non-smoker (and I will stick to it!)

Am doing it myself - don't smoke that much anyway, but it all adds up and I'm sure I will feel better for it. I'm going to put the amount I spend on cigarettes into a jar each week and put it towards my debts so I can clear them faster!

How did anyone else cope while giving up? I really don't want to relapse. All help and support appreciated!

Lazy Jane x

yellowmonkey

Hi

Well done and good luck. Can't offer to much advice mind as I have started smoking again after stopping for 4 months :mad:

I will stop again though and I wish you all the best.

YM

Softstuff

One of the things you miss when you give up is the feeling of relaxation from just puffing away. So when you feel like you need one, sit down, breathe in deeply through pursed lips and blow out slowly, almost as if you have a ciggie. Works a treat.

tealady

I went to Boots and got 8 weeks of nicotine replacement therapy for 1 weeks prescription costs. The patches worked best for me. However it did take 2 attempts as the 1st time I went to the clinic the counsellor who was running the stop smoking classes had never smoked in his life!!!!

Broken_hearted

Good luck you'll feel better and save money

immoral_angeluk

Just wanted to say good luck. I watched my mum try time after time to stop smoking but she couldn't as she'd been at it for 40 yrs+. In the end she died of lung cancer because of it and it was the hardest thing to have to go through. Good luck and don't be afraid to get help if you need it.

IvanOpinion

LLPJ, some tips for you
- make sure everybody around you has bought in to the fact that you are giving up. You will need their support and they may have to take a bit of withdrawal aggro from you .. once things have levelled out take them out for a meal to say sorry. You will find out who your really good friends are.
- take up something to keep your hands busy such as cross stitch, knitting, painting, gardening etc. If you feel the urge then involve yourself in the task that keeps your hands busy. One of my wiorst moments was after meals so rather than loading the dishwasher I started washing dishes (yes I know I have a wife to do that sort of thing, but sometimews you just have to make sacrifices).
- do not fall for the 'just one' because 'just one' leads to 'just one more'
- watch the weight, do not substitute snacks
- think of something that you really really want, something that you would definitely not buy yourself in normal circumstances. Put every penny you save into a fund for that item and under no circumstances use that money for anything else. In my case it was a Caribbean cruise ... what I save on smoking each year just about covers the additional cost of this.
- do not turn into one of those sanctimonious holier than thou ex smokers (obnoxious creatures)

One other thing, do not expect that you will necessarily feel any healthier or have a sudden urge of fitness. That seemed to pass over me ... I feel less heathier and catch more ilnesses than I did when I smoked (I was never ill as a smoker). You will get back your sense of taste and sense of smell .. and the first thing you will learn is that modern food is bland and tastes of fish and that this world stinks of pollution (you do get used to both though).

I am sure you will be healthier (even if you don't feel it) but also concentrate on how much you are saving.

Overall though good luck.

Ivan

this_year_2

Good look,
It is hard to do but once you get past the first couple of months it gets easier...I have been smoke free for 1yr and 6 months 12 days 25 minutes and 14 seconds but whos counting

65special

Good luck. It's all in the mind (well mostly). If you really want to give up smoking for your own good then you wil suceed. There are 3 milestones, in my opinion, at day3, week3 and month3 when the craving is really bad. Once you get over this it is relatively easy. I'm just past the 3 month stage after smoking 40/day for 30 years.

Keep telling yourself you can do it and good luck.

minirolo2004

In 6 days I will have stopped for 3 months. :j I'm 25, and I had been smoking since I was 11!!:eek: (yes 11..stupid child).

I found the inhaler things excellent as I didnt want to lose the hand-mouth association..and, it feels like smoke is hitting the back of your throat! I was initially worried I'd end up hooked on the inhalers instead...but..mine went missing around 3 weeks ago and I've shrugged and got on with it!

Just make sure you have plenty of people around you who can give you the support you need - we all certainly will! :T :T
Good Luck!

Mini :cool:

FieryBlondeScot

good luck i am on day 2 and dont feel too bad well i spent most of my time yesterday eating! and today i plan on cleaning all day. the worst part for me so far has been vivid wierd super-realistic dreams and restless nights and then waking up really early and being unable to get to sleep again thus making my next smoke free day even longer to bear! argghhh. i tried the nasal spray but to be honest it stung my nose and my eyes were streaming and i dont fancy that again!. i just keep telling myself if i get the days behind me then before i know it it will be one week, two weeks etc.

i was smoking 20-25 a day for 15 years, in the past week i cut out all tea and coffee ( had a 10 a day habt of that too) and cut my smoking down to 10 a day, already i feel my breathing is not so tight, my eyes and skin look a bit brighter and my flat smells nicer