The Giving Up Smoking Thread!!

Sue-UU

Hi again everyone! :hello: What some wonderful stories of success I've just been going through during my forced absence!!! I'm thrilled to bits :T for you all as it's really amazing to see people like Lula, sunnyteacake, Puzzled, feedum and SO many more who have come such an amazing way, you really all should be so very proud of yourselves as it isn't easy, but you are all amazing and proof of how it CAN be done!

Kandipandi, I love your method of keeping on the straight and narrow, but it's working for you so keep it up and keep FREE!!!:D

Don't worry about your feelings of depression simbalou, as bubbles says; you spend so much time thinking about not smoking and that alone wears you down, you've also "said goodbye" to an old friend ~ though a very BAD one :mad: ~ and that too is depressing BUT it'll definately soon pass and you'll feel so very elated with yourself and all your hard work. Keep reminding yourself of the good health and money you've gained since quitting. Try plenty of walking and drinking lots of water to relieve the headache, that too sounds like stress and will soon pass off leaving you feeling like a different person. Keep reliving beautiful memories and making new ones to look back on. You're welcome to PM me. Whatever you do, please don't cave in ....or that BAD friend :mad: will have got you again and you just can't allow that to happen not after a whole month!!! :T Way too good to let go!

Good luck once again all and keep very strong.

Sue

sunnyteacake

Its weird ....... ive been a non smoker now for nearly 2 months and a week. The first week or so was proper scary but on a day to day basis it was not nearly as hard as i first anticipated. I used patches for the first 4 weeks but was allergic to the adhesive and it was making my skin very itchy and sore. For pretty much the last 3 weeks i have not really given any thought to smoking and the cravings have gone pretty much. The weird thing is, last Saturday, for no particular reason, i could have quite easily bought a packet of 20 and smoked the lot. Nothing in that day was different from ordinary life but all day i was craving. I did not cave in and the next day i got up and was back to normal with not craving at all. Why did this happen? I have no idea. Will i get days like this still when i could just throw the towel in? Its only happened once in the last few weeks but it did make me realise how strong i still have to be.

shadydaz

Hi Guys,

I stopped 8 days ago, pure cold turkey style apparently. Mainly decided to stop as a result of a bad chest infection that just wasnt clearing up, i was feeling really poo-poo.

Now i feel great, like i said, 8 days in, bar the fisrt two days, which were a bit tough, i am flying. Energy levels up, head clearer, finding it easier to get up in the mornings, chest infection nearly gone and now i dont even feel like i want one or even think about it too much.

When i do i just take a big deep breath and let that lovely fresh air fill my lungs and blow out all those bad thoughts. Lovely Jubely. I guess i was more ready to try than i thought i might be....

There is only one thing, i have attempted twice before years ago but have usually been undone after about 6months by the old pub/drinking/smoking caper. Not any more with the smoking ban i hope. Thursday night out was good, a lot easier than i thought with all my mates having to leave the premises for their intake, i wasnt in the presence so absolutely not bothered.

Bootiful.

Should save me about £40-£60 a month (as smoked rolling tobacco)

Banked £12.50.

Happy days.

Good luck to everyone

Lula-Hula

hi everyone,

puzzyb & sunnyt - great to hear form you & that you're doing so well :j

I think we always have to be wary of the evil nicotina, I gave up for nearly 3 years, remember . I still have the odd instant when I think oooh a ciggie would be quite nice now, BUT I know it'll taste vile & that I will have allowed that evil addictive substance back into my temple :rolleyes: & will have to start the whole process all over again.

The way I look at is that I am a non smoker, but still susceptible to smoking temptations so will always need to be alert & aware of that.

1982 girl - good girl, keep going

kandi pandi - brilliant idea, wish I'd done that instead of spending it

lita - any bodies yet ? :eek:

irt1959 - best avoid barbecues too me thinks

shady daz - well done so far, nothing nicer than not having a hacky cough in the morning

Sueuu - thanks for all your fanatastic support & encouragement :A

Arent we all fab :j

lula x

simbalou

Thanks Sue-UU for your support, it means alot. And yes, Lula-Hula we are all fab!!

Just found out I got the job I was interviewed for today so I am so pleased. The really daft thing is that I wouldn't have got it if I'd still smoked because it's a Trainee Health Trainer position where I help people adopt a healthy lifestyle and of course, I couldn't go smelling of fags could I?!!

At least the job will help keep me on the straight and narrow, I can't put my weight back on, can't smoke again so really I'll be treating my body with the respect it deserves.

Good luck everyone with the coming week, it gets easier each day that passes and now I don't mind waving goodbye to my dirty, filthy, smelly friend that kept me company for years, I'm strong enough to go it alone!!

lita

23 hours done! I can honestly say I never realised my OH was sooooo annoying!!!!
I dont know if he's doing it on purpose or what but i've never had to tell him off for annoying me so much before!!!
I have been chomping on a lolly stick continuously so my mouth is entertained and reading everything online possible to keep my head occupied and am halfway through decorating my living room.
If you hear about a guy having a paint brush inserted up his bum and being sanded to death you know he went too far!!!

Bf109

Hi All.

Stopped on Sunday. 8pm. Was smoking anywhere between 30 and 60 a day - more if I was out on the beers - and have smoked for 17 years.

I spent all last week with a nasty cold and a copy of Allen Carr's book.

Its been just under 48 ours now - I have put not a single atom of nicotine into my body. I must say that this is the easiest and so far most succesful quite attempt I have ever had (though of course its early days yet).

I was sorely tempted to buy a single hamlet from the newsagents just now but then regained some dignity and held out!

Sue-UU

Hi sunnyteacake. Don't worry, you're not alone in having a time such as this, I had them for a while, but just as with you, they only lasted for a day and sometimes not even that long. Some were just quite strong but only fleeting and it happened to me more when I was excited. Yours came out of the blue and for no reason and I'm inclined to think it's our "older mind patterns" catching up with us now and then. Try to force your mind onto something beautiful, such as wonderful holiday memories, deep breathing in a relaxed way helps very much too.

To answer your main question though: No, I don't think you'll get too many like that or that they'll be bad enough to make you want to throw the towel in, but we've smoked for a long time and, just as with most habits we acquire through life, they catch back up with us now and then and still manage to take us by surprise. However, get yourself to a fair time away from them and you'll find that the thoughts of chucking the towel in won't even enter your mind, you'll perhaps just get very short cravings that'll come and go, lasting only seconds and they'll go without you even realising it.

You'll be ok sunnyt, you said it yourself, it reminds you just how strong you need to remain! Keep that resolve and you'll maintain the strength!

Hi shadydaz, its amazing how many folk can quit so easily when health issues rear their heads and there's nothing quite like a chest infection to make you take notice and quit without problems. You've now got all the little hairs in the respiratory areas growing back and you'll soon be right on top of that infection and having GREAT health! You sound so very chuffed and brimming with pride - and so you should!!! :T You even have the pub problem in hand, thank goodness the ban has made it so much easier. All the very best to you in your healthy life and bulging pockets life ahead! Just please let us know how you're going as it's great for moral on the thread.

You've got it all sussed Lula and know just how much we all need to keep up the strength to get through it all. All in all though I think this is your time to win!:j

simbalou, very many congratulations with the job and what a job to keep you on your toes with your healthy lifestyle!!! :T It just couldn't have come at a better time and I'm thrilled for you!

lita, thanks for that really good laugh, the image is a great one! :rotfl: Try reminding him just how hard it is for you and how you need all the love and support he can give to help you through it all .....that way his passages will also remain clear!!!!! :j

Bf109 that's brilliant news after 17 years with 30 - 60 a day or more! :T Keep strong and drink plenty of water to wash it all out of your system, it'll also help if any cravings come along. Well done for not giving in to that hamlet, a test of strength. All the very best for a successful quit this time! Keep counting the money saved and the good health gained!

All the very best to all and keep up that resolve.

Sue

myleta253

Hi to all and well done to those who have given up, and good luck to those trying to give up. And to those who have fallen off the wagon-well climb back up there and stubb `em out!

I gave up smoking on January 20th this year. It was the 3rd anniversary of my mum dying-of cancer.

In that time I wanted a cigarette in the early days just about every minute of every day. I wasn`t nasty or depressed, but I acted like a 2-year-old, almost stamping my feet when I decided I wanted a ciggie and then remembering that I wasn`t allowed one. It got easier and the craving became less frequent-maybe once or twice a week-again with my toddler tantrum attitude. Now I`m in my 7th month it`s very rare for me to want one.

I still like the smell of cigarettes-I guess I`m not going to be one of those ex-smokers who DETEST the smell and preach to EVERYONE about how AWFUL cigarettes are. My friends still smoke around me, and I`m pleased to say that it doesn`t bother me or make me want one.

My husband gave up too, and I think this helped tremendously. It means that we have competition and support. Neither of us wants to be the one to give in-we`re both much too stubborn lol.

Again good luck to you all, and never give up giving up.

Waspeze

Lula-Hula wrote: »

Keep up the good work all you non smokers & Waspeze, we havent forgotten you so dont go thinking you're safe

lula x

I'm still here... just hiding in the corner at the moment, keeping a low profile, waiting until I feel strong enough to venture out into the smokefree world again