The Giving Up Smoking Thread!!

little_lily

schmickleicklepickle - I can SO identify with that feeling about finishing something and then mentally reaching for a cigarette. Ihave it at least ten times a day! I'd say that about half the time I feel sad that I can't have a fag (how pathetic!) and half the time I am delighted that I don't have to go outside in the freezing cold and kill myself.

The battle with smoking is, in my humble experience, 5% with the nicotine monster and 95% with the brainwashing monster. I just keep repeating my mantra over and over and over agin - I didn't used to smoke becuase I enjoyed it, I smoked because I was a drug addict. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO ENJOYMENT IN SMOKING, NO MATTER HOW MUCH MY BRAIN TRIES TO KID ME THAT THERE IS!

And you are absolutely 100% right, schmickleicklepickle - we are FAB!!!! :T

HHH - the folks on this thread have been so amazingly supportive to me over the last week - we will all work together to get you through the first few days and weeks. My advice is to read this thread from Page 1 and to re-read your Allan Carr - it worked to inspire me and I am positive it will do the same for you.

You talk about fear and I can 100% identify with that but, believe me, it is your mind playing tricks on you! You fear that you are about to give up something that is a pleasure, you fear that you are about to give up something you enjoy, you fear that you are about to lose a friend, that you're sacrificing something, that life will never be the same again without ciggies.

EVERY ex-smoker (myself included!) had the same fears before we quit. And we all know now that the fear is simply our mind playing tricks on us because we are/were a drug addict.


You don't have anything to lose by quitting smoking but everything to gain. You are not giving ANYTHING up, you are not SACRIFICING anything. Your mind THINKS that you enjoy smoking but you don't. You DO NOT smoke because you like it, you smoke because you're addicted to nicotine.

I have smoked for 25 years and gave up 7 days ago. Freeing myself from the addicition was ridiculously easy, it continues to be ridiculously easy and it's all down to Mr Allan Carr and the amazing, supportive, inspirational people on here.

And one last thought - you worry about failing. Sounds obvious, but what on earth have you got to lose by trying? If you try and fail, you're no worse off at all. But if you get yourself into the right frame of mind, have a go and succeed - I can promise you that a wonderful, smoke-free life awaits!

yellowmonkey

little_lily wrote: »

Hi all,

The Secret Smoker here - or really, the Secret Non-Smoker as it's now been 4 days 23 hours and 27 minutes since I last smoked!

One thing that really depresses me is reading about those of you who have stopped and who still, many months down the line, crave a cigarette.

That's not a criticism of you posting, by the way - I appreciate the honesty. But though I'm managing well at the moment, I keep my spirits up by thinking "Oh, well - the cravings will be gone before too long and then I can really enjoy being a non-smoker"


So it's mighy depressing to think that five or six months down the line I'll still be suffering cravings.

Long-termers - your thoughts and experiences, please!!!!

Hi

I have had the odd craving but the difference is that they last a milli second and then I look at the poor soul outside shivering having a puff and then have to smell them in the lift back up to work.

Cravings last seconds. The good I have done to my body will last ( I hope ) a lifetime.

ym

~Chameleon~

Sorry I haven't posted lately but just to let you all know I'm still an ex-smoker :j

It's been 18 days now and also a week since I last used a NR patch :T

Glad to see everyone else is still doing well, despite one or two blips but that's all they are just blips and not a reason to give up on giving up

SiannieLaz

Hi All,
I posted on here a while back and got loads of advice (thanks Sue!) but I fell off the wagon :mad:
However, I have jumped back on again, and am on day 4 of NS and I've been down the gym twice this week!! Feel absolutely amazing, it's great waking up NOT feeling like I've got a stinking cold!!
I kept reading the thread even though I started again and I know it was one of the leading factors in me stopping again.
This time each time I feel like a ciggie i just shout 'WRINKLES' to myself, seems to be working a treat so far!!
Big hugs to all (((((((((())))))))))))
xxx

kazmc

HHH wrote: »

I am THINKING of giving up smoking. have got as far as seeing doc and been referred to stop smoking clinic but am too scared to phone and make appointment. have smoked all my life and cannot imagine being a non smoker. have already tried patches, hypnotherapy, cold turkey and various books including alan carr.basically im very worried about failing but also i actually like smoking. any advice please?

Oh you poor thing I know EXACTLY how you feel, I could never imagine myself as a non-smoker BUT 8 months down the line and I am! I truly cannot believe that I dont smoke!
Would you be willing to try champix - for me it was the wonder drug and without it I would still be smoking. Maybe an idea to have a chat with your GP?
Good luck
Karen

Naomim

Hi All,

I'm not sure if any of you remember me but I joined this thread around June/July time and just kept falling off the wagon. I have tried patches and hypnotism and the Allen Carr method but nothing seems to get into my head. The problem I have now is I know Allen Carr back to front as I have sat through 4 sessions at the clinic but it still doesn't stick! :mad:

However, I have made an appointment with my practice nurse for next Tues (I have the day off work) and I'm hoping to try champix :j

So fingers crossed I shall meet you all again properly next week :rolleyes:

Naomi x

American_Dreamer_2

Hi folks

Just thought I'd pop in and let you know that I am still with it - 24 days/£145 Saved/610 Cigs not smoked.

Not too bad at the moment, just the odd craving that soon passes. Really need some inspiration to get to the gym as I really want to take advantage of the fact that I am a NON-Smoker. Started whitening my teeth too!!!

I think the more you feel good about yourself, mentally and physically, because you have stopped smoking the more chance of being successful you are.

Good luck and best wishes to you all x

joop

Hi, haven't been able to get on the pc much this week, but i'm still around and I haven't smoked 213 cigarettes and saved nearly £50! I have noticed that when I have some money in my purse it tends to stay there. What I am buying a lot of is clemantines! I find that when I get a bit of a craving, I peel a clemantine (or two or three) and by the time I've got all the hairy stuff off I've forgotten about the ciggie. When I say craving, it's more "time for a smoke" and I find that I'm not wasting as much time as I used to either. "Just have a fag...then I'll do whatever.

HHH I felt exactly as you do about being frightened of failing so much that I carried on until I put myself under so much stress about my health that I really was becoming ill. I'm still frightened of failing - I have failed in the past,but I've decided to get rid of them - hopefully forever this time.

Changes I've noticed in 11 days

• my teeth look and feel better
• no yucky gunky mouth in the morning
• the house and car are smelling better
• money in my purse
• my clothes and hair smell nice
• oh dear, my best friend stinks!
• I can breath all the way in and out without coughing
• I can laugh - hahaha! - without coughing

All that in just 11 days!
Luck and love to all x

~Chameleon~

joop wrote: »

Changes I've noticed in 11 days

• my teeth look and feel better - I can identify with that. Seeing dentist on Monday so will see if she notices
• no yucky gunky mouth in the morning - yup, no more furry tongue, it's now pink!! :j :j
• [strike]the house and car are smelling better[/strike] - never smoked in house or car anyway
• [STRIKE]money in my purse[/STRIKE] - not as noticeable for me as I smoked roll-ups so only save about £7.50 a week
• [strike]my clothes and hair smell nice[/strike] - ditto above, I never smelt of smoke as I only ever smoked outdoors.
• [strike]oh dear, my best friend stinks! [/strike]- I was the only smoker left to give up
• I can breath all the way in and out without coughing - yup!
• I can laugh - hahaha! - without coughing - yup again!

All that in just 11 days!

I'm a week ahead of you now but felt all those benefits a week ago too, so hopefully it will encourage others to keep going too! :T

I sometimes have to really think hard for reasons not to give in when the cravings are bad as you can see above not all the benefits apply to me as I never smoked indoors or spent very much money on it, and I guess those would be two of the main reasons for many people.

One other benefit I can think of for me is that I rarely drink alcohol either now as it's a main trigger, although the problem I have now is that I'm incredibly tipsy after just a glass or two :rotfl:

I've actually ordered bottles of 5% strength wines for chrimbo for the first time ever!!! :eek: ... don't want to go falling over drunk after just one glass _pale_

Sue-UU

SiannieLaz wrote: »

Hi All,
I posted on here a while back and got loads of advice (thanks Sue!) but I fell off the wagon :mad:
However, I have jumped back on again, and am on day 4 of NS and I've been down the gym twice this week!! Feel absolutely amazing, it's great waking up NOT feeling like I've got a stinking cold!!
I kept reading the thread even though I started again and I know it was one of the leading factors in me stopping again.
This time each time I feel like a ciggie i just shout 'WRINKLES' to myself, seems to be working a treat so far!!
Big hugs to all (((((((((())))))))))))
xxx

Hi SiannieLaz! It's wonderful to see you back and having another go, even more so to see that you're feeling so good about it. Keep it up and keep very, very strong!

I'm just so pleased it all had effect for you bigsmoke. The boozy nights will return again, but get over the vulnerability stage first. Try the OJs! You're doing so well, keep impressing that on yourself and you'll do just fine!

little lily, you are sounding so very chirpy, successful too with all that terrific advice you gave to HHH! That's the sort of thing that happens when you're getting to grips with it all and you're doing just that! Excellent Lily, keep going!!!

Marvellous work Schmickle, Chameleon, American Dreamer and joop!!! :T I'd wondered how you were all doinf, though in all honesty, I didn't think any of you would fall! You proved me right too! Jopp, it sounds as though it could well be the natural orange juice that's working wonders for you!

Great work for you too Waspy!!! :T You're still sounding so very confident and it'll be so good to have that first month under your belt. I think you're missing something with the squirrel and ducks fiasco. Sounds to me far more as though the ducks had probably nicked the suirrels nuts which made him run!!! :rotfl: Aha, you're not being a tiny bit naughty there are you???! :rolleyes: :A

Very many congratulations Karen!!! :T You've so much to be so very proud of and I'm so pleased you've come on and told us of your success as it does wonders for all those who are travelling on their own jouneys to success!!! Well done YM, you explained that perfectly!! More congratulations due to you also!!! :T

Hi there Naomi!!! :j I couldn't forget you, surely you Waspy must remember her too, I'm sure. I sincerely hope that THIS time will be the one that you've been looking for Naomi, though you're showing how determined you are by keeping trying and that alone is marvellous!!! :T Stay with us and I do hope you get there, we'll all be rooting for you!!!:D

It's marvellous to hear of such achievement everyone, you're all doing just great, even you Naomi and SiannieLaz as you're both back and trying so hard for success which is still classed as doing so well too!!:T Keep strong everyone, that wonderful fresh life is worth every step you take!!

Sue