The Giving Up Smoking Thread!!

helloworld2007

Hi Tilly,

Thanks for the reassurance!

One month in hey - thats great!! Well done!

What were your main reasons/motivators behind giving up?

Cheerio!

in_debt_again_but_dealing_with_it

Hi hw2007 you are definately in the right place for mutual support and advice. As you have found out Mr Nick O'Teen is sneaky and creeps up out of the blue when least expected - like "oh no it looks like rain quick have a cigarette you'll feel better" - lol!! My main motivator was simply its now or never, I really felt/feel that if I fail this time I will be a lifer and never quit again! I can't face that so have to persist and it really does get better/easier - don't get me wrong I still have cravings and occasionally would love a cigarette (shamefully) but I breathe it out and they are becoming fewer and fewer! My sig is my mantra "not complacent but confident"!
Thanks for the compliment Tilly but I have to say the feeling is mutual and without you and Jo and all the others on this forum I don't think I would have reached this point!
love and hugs to you all
IDA
xx

jo1972

We are all doing so well and think we deserve a round of applause :T

If you've fallen off the wagon go back to post no 1 and have a read through, check out the Max smoking video link, watch it and remember why we all want to rid ourselves of the evil habit. Our minds will always play tricks on us and we have to remind ourselves of this DAILY, in fact a few times a day :rotfl:

It will get easier, I know this for a fact. I gave up for over 2 years previously and I had no cravings whatsoever, had no problems being around other smokers, felt healthy and fit. Then got hideously drunk and had a conversation with a group of smoker friends about whether I would ever smoke again and said I doubt I'll even like it now. So tried one and didn't, but in true addicts stylee I perservered until I did. I realise now that I still didn't actually like it but I had so many that I made my body/mind start craving again and by having one took that feeling away so in turn thought I enjoyed it! I had no problems with it up until these 'so called' friends badgered me into trying it (it was my decision ultimately though ).

I haven't read Allen Carr this time round but I remember something in his book about when you give up, your smoking friends will always try and tempt you back. Smokers feel safer around other smokers, this proves that everyone wants to give up and they don't feel as strong around non-smokers, they feel threatened - cos they know that they have no control over their addiction!

Power to the non-smokers :j :j :j :j :j

Keep it up!!

WOOOHOOOOO!!! I feel motivated today

in_debt_again_but_dealing_with_it

I gave up for exactly 12 months 17 years ago and found it realtively easy, I did exactly the same as you Jo, was at a family wedding, got drunk and my casual smoker cousin convinced me that "one wouldn't hurt", like you it was my decision but I was definately encouraged!!! It was about 3 months before I was a "proper" smoker again and that was it have smoked everyday since, up until 1 month, 1 week and 1 day ago - YAY!!! We should never be complacent about cigarettes or Mr Nick O'Teen he lurks and waits to ensnare us again - stay focussed people!!!
Been to the Dr's this morning and while I was there a man stood near me clearly a smoker and boy did he smell, stale tobacco eugh that was me not so long ago - I love my pink tongue and clean fresh smell!
Happy smoke free day all
IDA
xx

Storm

Jo & IDA - exactly the same thing happened when I managed to quit before - I'd gone about 6 months, having no problems at all & out with friends there was one who didn't smoke regularly, but would go out and have 1 or 2 and really enjoy them (how, I have no idea!) She had got hold of one and offered me a drag, which I took I think because I was curious rather than anything else it was horrible, but over the next month or so I started having odd drags, then odd cigs, and a couple of months later back on the 20 a day!

I'm hoping that this time I'll have the memory of how I started back up again to motivate me into not even having that odd drag.

Anyway... day 2 of not smoking and it actually appears to be getting worse (is that normal?) I know that it's not long until all the actual nicotine is gone from my body, so I'm really looking forward to the weekend!

in_debt_again_but_dealing_with_it

Hi Storm
I found it got worse too, I think the initial enthusiasm and drive wears off after a couple of days and then you have to relax into the quit and come to terms with "this is it" once you've done that it eases again, for me there was no magic day when I thought thats it I've done it, although it is still early days, I still know I'm just one cigarette away from smoking again. Thats my motivation and focus! You're doing well don't doubt yourself cause thats when Mr O'Teen pops up - have you had a look at these videos that Jo mentioned they're defiantely worth a look - though not just before eating - lol! Happy smoke free day!
IDA
x

Storm

Just watched the video on Max Kirsten's site - is a bit ick!

One thing I found before was that having quit once (and quite easily!) I thought I'd be in control of having the odd one here & there - that I'd be able to do it again no problem.... I guess knowing where I fell down before can help - and at least with the ban in place now I won't be tempted every time I go to the pub!

jo1972

Storm, you will be fine. You are just aware that you can not have a cigerette any more and so you will find yourself thinking of it. Before you wouldn't actually think about it, you'd just light up. Now you are concious of it.

You've still got traces of nicotine in your body but by the end of tomorrow you'll be free!! And as Olive said so very wisely yesterday:

'The nicotine leaves your system after 3 days so any craving you have after then is probably not for nicotine, it will be more of a physchological thing. If you put nicotine back in your body after those 3 days then you're reintroducing the thing that makes you want a cig the most!'

Very wise!

jo1972

Plus take note of the days, I think that helps. Especially when you get to a week you don't want to have to go back to no. 1!

Storm

Very true - think I'll go add a quit line to my signature