The Giving Up Smoking Thread!!

SandC

Hi there, I haven't read all this thread but I'll try to do it in bits.

I got to thinking, having been lucky to have duty free cigs from Turkey ever since July (first trip) and September (second trip). As they approached running out I started to feel more and more disinclined to spend £5.72 on a pack of Marlboro lites. When I ran out and bought my first pack last week it really didn't feel good. Nor did it feel much better when the next pack I bought was a cheaper brand, still at just under £5.

I actually, for once, voiced my opinion to friends whilst outside the restaurant smoking on Friday night that I wasn't much for doing this any more.

Well anyhow, so I havent bought any since but I decided to get rid of my 'emergency menthols' before going all the way. In prep for this I went all day at work without one yesterday, finished that pack last night and this morning.

So here it is. By tomorrow morning the 24 hour mark will be past and done. I have a night out on Friday night but you know I've never tried to give up since the smoking ban. I will be in a hotel, I will have a fair jaunt to go outside. I think it might make it easier than previous attempts.

I'm aware I may fail at this but the way I see it, I've saved money already. I need to keep myself busy and then have early nights.

Sue-UU

SandC wrote: »

I'm aware I may fail at this but the way I see it, I've saved money already. I need to keep myself busy and then have early nights.

Hi SandC and a warm welcome aboard. I hope this is the first and last time you quit smoking. Try not to hang on to the last statement of your post - push on and tell yourself you're through with it all and WON'T go back. However, IF you should happen to have a 'blip' (that's what you we all refer to them as) then just get right back into that circle at the earliest opportunity and push on again.

Take a look through all that I wrote to Kris and see if any of that can be a help to you too. At least you've already started, so now press on and count those hours of freedom from that filthy habit. You CAN do it SandC, you know you CAN. Get as much exercise as you can and when going for a walk, imagine trampling your feet over all the past cigs of your life!!! Be in touch in a mo.

All the very best with your great journey!!! :T

Sue

madmoney_2

:beer:Time to celebrate:beer:

Just finished my 5th day as a non smoker and it feels fantastic, Im still 100% certain I will never smoke again, thanks to the truth as told to me by Allen Carr!!!
just wanted to know if anyone who has stopped smoking, experienced a new lease of life when getting up in the morning?!!! Its just that as a chef, i tend to do very late nights, then have to get up with ds early, i used to get up and feel a painful rush of blood to my head, but havent had that since i stopped smoking? Just wondering if its connected coz I got up with the joys of spring today, seems a bit surreal for me!!!
Hope everyone is doing ok, anyone who wants to stop or is lurking, READ EASYWAY by Allen Carr!!! Trust me, if I can do it anyone can!!

mm:cool:

Sue-UU

Hi mm and very well done indeed as 5 days is a long time to go smoke-free! :T

Yes, I did feel that amazing feeling of euphoria way back then - and I STILL do! I still go with the statement of it being the best thing we will ever do for ourselves, a bit like giving ourselves a HUGE gift andI guess that it is really, as to put it bluntly, we're giving ourselves the gift of LIFE!!!!!!

Keep up that GREAT work mm, you're doing wonderfully well. Hold your head up high and be really proud of yourself! :j Any other looking in, you too can be like madmoney IF you take the bull by the horns and quit ....go on give yourself that gift we've just spoken of, after all you owe it to YOU!!!

All the very best, Sue

SandC

Well that's the 24 hours been and done and I'm okay. There are certain times where I feel like I'm really missing out on something, lol. I know. :rolleyes:

I read the Allen Carr book a couple of years ago - it didn't work for me but glad it is for others. I perhaps should have read it twice. Maybe I wasn't in the right place at the time. I know someone at work who started it and then left it. It is a scary prospect!

This isn't the first time I've stopped. To my shame I smoked for maybe 3 years from age 17 and then gave up for 2.5 years at aged 20. That should have been it, but well, there you go. No point dwelling on what I did back then..........

Sue-UU

Brilliant news SandC, that's that great first day out of the way!!! :T Keep on looking ahead and don't even think about the time before (most of us have had that happen anyway), that's in the past and you're looking forward now to a very healthy and wealthy future! If you get any twitchy times and need to get things off your chest then come on here and tell us, hopefully you'll soon feel better and more able to press on again.

Keep telling us of your successes too though as they're great for all those who might be struggling a little and in need of the strength from another quitter. We all wish you the very best of luck and that THIS time will be the time you quit for GOOD!!!!! :j

Sue

SandC

Bought fags last night and smoked them.

Notice of redundancies was made yesterday, 15 jobs going with monthly paid staff.

Okay, guess I used it as an excuse to drink wine and smoke.

Stopped again now though.

Sue-UU

Well, I'm pleased you were honest with us and with yourself for your reasoning, BUT there is another way of reasoning it: IF it were you to be made redundant then think of the advantages of having more money in your pocket as a result of no longer smoking! Far better able to deal with the financial side of things.

Anyway, you say you've quit again and I'm really thrilled that you didn't wait to do so, but got straight back into that circle. A circle is something that is never broken, so as long as you keep getting back in there you'll make it, especially if you get a good spell. Get that first week behind you SandC and you'll feel so much better and have more perseverance. Try keeping away from any alcohol or anything you relate to going hand in hand with the evil sticks. Keep really, really strong SandC and you'll get there!:D Keep talking to us and telling us (where is everybody these days?) your feelings, that alone is a good release and keeps you occupied.

Incidentally, we used to have one girl who used to compose texts on her mobile to keep her fingers busy, her brain too. She never used to send them, just keep on texting to herself - BUT - it worked!!! :T

Onward you go again! Good luck to all those still quitting, you're doing yourselves proud.

Sue

SandC

Thanks Sue and you are right. I have chastised myself for using it as an excuse - it most definitely was. The reasoning for giving up at this point is primarily money anyway - so obviously this IS a good time to do it, the best time. I won't be beating myself up about it anyway - it was just the same as buying chocs and scoffing them all, cept this was wine and cigs.

I have a 'do' on tonight but as I am helping and in charge of various things including cash I will be driving and therefore not drinking. I am sure the temptation won't be there.

So far as how I am feeling, I'm honestly fine. I have fleeting pangs of cravings that pass very quickly. I don't feel as if I'm being a miserable git (although my work colleague pointed out 'you do have your own office though Sand' ). I really think Wednesday was just a blip, doing it for the sake of it cos I'd given myself a reason.....

feedumall

morning all, hi sue ,dont come on here as often as i should:o ,i was given support so i should return the favour:D ,to all those lurking ,you can quit .twenty a day ,but no more ,quit at easter.as sue says the best thing you can do for yourself:j :j :j .i thought that no way could i quit so did it in secret told no one untill a month went by ,used patches for a week then just this site:D .please dont use the excuse im stressed:rolleyes: i was more stressed worrying about my health and buying the bl888dy things.no thank you i dont smoke what a great feeling ,and the money it really does add up.i can and do buy more treats now ,without feeling guilty,no where near the cig money:eek:. looking back the though of quitting was ten times worse than the actual deed ,madmoney well done:T ,sandc sorry to here your news ,but all will be fine im sure keep up the non smoking you can do it:T feedxx