The Giving Up Smoking Thread!!

elle45

Just want to give myself a pat on the back today and give some encouragement to everyone who is trying to stop smoking!!!!:T ONE YEAR today i stopped smoking!!:j :j :j This morning was the first realisation that I was actually very proud of myself!!:D Cos when I look back I never in a million years ever thought it would happen!!:dance: Inspiration or what!!:j

Sue-UU

Very many congratulations Elle!!!!! :T:T:T That is such a wonderful accomplishment and you have every right to be so proud of yourself as it's the best thing you could could ever do for your health!!! :j:j I also never thought I could do it, but just like you I DID succeed and all the family were as proud of me as I was! What a healthy life you have ahead of you - enjoy it!!!!:D

Very, very well done Elle and thanks so much for sharing the news here with all those still in the infancy of quitting, your post will be a great inspiration to them all. Thanks again.

Sue

Many congratulations to you also Simbalou, that is an amazing achievement of which you should be thrilled to bits with!!! :T:T:T 12 weeks is a heck of a long time and you should now focus only on that and how well you've done, don't worry about the cravings because, as you've noticed, you're able to push them aside and get on with things. Believe me though, the time will come when you suddenly realise that you haven't even had a craving for some time - but - that if you do, you know it'll pass off just as quickly as it came. You said that your willpower is taking over, but in a way, it is because the cravings are getting less, we just mistake one for the other in our haste to beat it. You're getting there so please don't think you'll never be cured of it all, because you WILL, but as you've said, some take longer than others....... but we ALL get there!:D

I could really hear your delight with the smelly jeans, but what an awakener it is, another thing to make us even more determined NEVER to go back! Keep treating yourself to the beautiful fragrences of perfumes such as Very Valentino (superb!), you are SO worth it!!!:T

You haven't bored anyone, but you have added greater motivation to all those who still need it and that alone is great to have, keep updating us simbalou as it's so good for moral. Keep patting yurself on the back..... you reallly deserve to!!!

Sue

Sue-UU

Different_Corner wrote: »

Chasing the wagon and need a hand up please !

I am so tired of this smoking rubbish, I am paying £3+ a day to do something that I don't even like. Punctuating the day with these nasty smelly things, because I think I deserve it ? How silly is that ?

Can make as many excuses as I like to justify it but deep down I know I have to stop.

I've done it before and I'll do it again, but this time for good. I'm in a strange emotional place and smoking is part of that reason, I'm all my children have left, I have to start taking care of myself.

Sorry if this sounds like a rant but I'm cross with myself for ever starting again, thinking I could have just one. No more slavery.

Six left, will buy no more. Might even let the kids throw them, jump on them tear them up, that's how much they hate it.

Hope I don't bore you all over the next few weeks

Hi Different_Corner and a warm welcome to the thread.:D You didn't rant at all, your post sounds as though it's from someone who's really ready to quit and STAY quit! You've put so many negatives above so why not copy it out and put it anywhere (or everywhere) in the house to keep you reminded of all the reasons not to keep on throwing money away on this disgusting habit.

Are you using anything to help you? For a start, as soon as you quit why not have a jar ready so you can put the £3 normally spent on them each day into and watch it grow. Your main reason though is, as you've said..... your youngsters and they are the ones who will help you through by being so thrilled at your progress. Come on here as much as you like, you won't bore us I promise you, we just love to help folk out of the ash trays and back to great, healthy lifestyles! If that's what you want (and it certainly sounds as though it is and you're sick of the 'orrible habit) then you're in the right place.

All the very best of luck.

Sue

Kandipandi

simbalou wrote: »

Something happened today that made me label myself as a non smoker after all these weeks. I ordered some jeans from ebay and when I opened them this morning I thought 'God, these stink, what's that smell?!' Of course, it was smoke. The lady who sold me them probably thought they were clean as she sat there puffing away. They are now in my washing machine because I could never have worn them smelling that bad! It hit me that I must have smelt like that constantly when I smoked, my hair, clothes and skin.

I treat myself now to perfume that I could never justify buying before (Very Valentino, my fav!!), my hair smells of shampoo not smoke and I buy freshly scented fabric conditioner which I can still smell on my clothes after a day!

Congratulations on stopping!! :T ITs my 8th week now and after faltering a bit last week (didn't give in just wanted one!) i now feel fantastic. :j Your note struck a chord with me, last night i had my (slightly damp)hair up all day as i was late for work, and last night when i let it down just before bed it smelled fab! I just realised that every night when i got into bed after having a shower and brushing my teeth my hair must have stank!! So glad i have stopped and so grateful for the support on here! Thanks guys. x

Lilith1980

Hi guys, I thought I would join this thread as I am trying to give up smoking and its not going too well

I quit for 2 years once and then met my hubby who smokes like a chimney and for some reason got back into it (my fault entirely).

So we have both been trying to cut down and only have ciggies when we go out drinking with friends. But its been creeping in again to during the day. I hadn't had any yesterday and then hubby came home with a pack and he had forgotten to wear his patch and had caved in. Now I could "easily" just ignore them and not have one, but no, I have to light one up

The days I have gone without them I have noticed how nice my hair and clothes smell. Why would I want to go back to that??

I dont use patches....maybe I should get some and that would stop me from having any. Another problem is ALL our friends smoke and so if we went out, they would all be outside while I'm indoors on my todd. So I'd feel like a leper!

Any tips on how to deal with this would be appreciated!!

Thanks

Sue-UU

Lilith1980 wrote: »

I dont use patches....maybe I should get some and that would stop me from having any. Another problem is ALL our friends smoke and so if we went out, they would all be outside while I'm indoors on my todd. So I'd feel like a leper!

You wouldn't feel like a leper for long, you may even coerce some in to joining you and staying in the warm - whilst the lepers were outside!:D Two options really and - which would be the best for YOUR health and YOUR pocket???

Hi Lilith and a warm welcome to the thread .....and I hope, to a new start at quitting again for good! A shame you started up again, but it's so hard to keep off when you've already been used to the habit and are then with someone who smokes all the time. Still, if hubby is willing to try with you, then no doubt you could both succeed together, supporting each other along the way. Even if he's not quite ready, but you go ahead and quit anyway, I'm sure you'll soon lead him into it. Determination is what you need and if you've got it then we'll help you all we can. We'll certainly give you plenty of support when you need it, even if you don't!

If you're not sure about patches, have a word with your GP and see what he/she thinks or advises. There's usually a practice Nurse/Sister who's excellent at helping folk quit and if you decide to go ahead then you can go and chat to her each week and get more support and help if necessary. She'll also test your carbon monoxide levels weekly to see how you compare with a smoker and after just a very short while you'll be amazed at how quickly you match them and have got all that rubbish out of your lungs! Take a look at a post by Jemima a couple of pages back, she had hers done by a Pharmacist at Tescos and was really pleased with the outcome!

Write down all the negatives of smoking and pin them somewhere to keep you reminded why you're gong to quit, then just go for it, you won't look back and you'll never do anything better for your health! ALL your friends could soon be having you as a role model and doing themselves great favours shortly too!

Take a look at some of the posts here, look at Kandipandi's, elle45's and simbalou's all above, there are plenty more over the last couple of pages alone. We've had so many great successes on this thread Lilith, why not add to that number! PM of tips will be on the way shortly.

Good luck, to you both.

Sue

Sue-UU

Kandipandi wrote: »

Congratulations on stopping!! :T ITs my 8th week now and after faltering a bit last week (didn't give in just wanted one!) i now feel fantastic. :j

Congratulations Kandipandi!!!!! :T :j 8 weeks is a really good time to get to, imagine all those cigs you DIDN'T smoke .....the cash saved and your health improving all the time!!! Great news Kandipandi, keep up that brilliant work!!!

Sue

Lilith1980

Thanks Sue, just got your PM so will check that out.

Also what I am doing is for each day I don't buy any cigs, I'm transferring the equivalent amount of a pack of 10 into my savings account. Then at the end of each month I'll pay it off my credit card.

I know the health issue should be the most important but for some reason I find having that monetary goal is spurring me on

Mips

I am desperate to quit for the sake of the money and my health.. I don't want those lines on my lips that old women have after years of puffing..

.. but I am a little bit put out by the withdrawal symptoms.. they look like torture and also, I don't want to get fat?

Is this something that when you have quit.. you can think, wow, that was easier than I thought .... or is this going to be a battle?

When I quit then relapse.. I feel guilty and it makes me feel bad about myself.

feedumall

hi all nce to see new faces,the quit total must be in the hundreds by now:j :j ,i really dont think about cigs ,just having a looksie at the sight and popped in to say keep going all:D .i gave up easter so six months for me now.no worrying if i have enough fags to last ,how much they cost:o i must have saved over 900 pounds and not smoked 3,600 cigs:eek: :eek: :eek: so to anyone struggling remember why you are quitting wouldn't you rather spend that money on a lovely holiday:D sue uu you are a angel always there when people need support:T :T love feed ps hi lula i am so enjoying my retirement :j sketching up a storm:j