The Stoptober 2014 Challenge - How much will you save?

hdh74

I've been stopped about a year and a half. I bought the Alen Carr - 'Easy way to stop smoking book' for a couple of quid on ebay. Believe me I tried everything for years, decades even and could not stop. I read the book once, and all the way through I was thinking, 'yeah right' and I put it down and carried on smoking for a couple of weeks. But phrases from it kept popping into my head and I read it again. And that was it. No more fags. I was grumpy for a week then over it. Can still hardly believe it but have met several other people who have succeeded with it. Best couple of quid I ever spent.

Flutterby83

GunJack wrote: »

nicotine delivered by e-cig is less addictive than tobacco, as it hasn't had all the additives that fags have got that make it more potent. Also, nic itself is only as harmful as caffiene. So don't stress about vaping, it really does work to get off the fags....

question - do you drink any alcohol? That's way more harmful to you than nicotine, just to put it into perspective...

Thank you, I didn't realise any of that!

I don't drink alcohol, I've been teetotal for about 11 years (not intentional, didn't drink when I was pregnant but my son has a disability and it's just easier for me to stay sober and be designated driver when we go out, I don't lead a very exciting life!) being a smoker is the only bad habit I have but the only part of my life I'm ashamed of, I try to hide it when I meet new people and a few people who know me in real life don't even know I smoke so it's a good start to stopping

Dreaming_of_Kubera

Only hours to go now folks!


Good luck all, I just KNOW we can all do it


Rae xx

GunJack

Flutterby83 wrote: »

Thank you, I didn't realise any of that!

I don't drink alcohol, I've been teetotal for about 11 years (not intentional, didn't drink when I was pregnant but my son has a disability and it's just easier for me to stay sober and be designated driver when we go out, I don't lead a very exciting life!) being a smoker is the only bad habit I have but the only part of my life I'm ashamed of, I try to hide it when I meet new people and a few people who know me in real life don't even know I smoke so it's a good start to stopping

I went off alcohol 27 years ago and never looked back, like you I prefer to be able to drive anytime If you can do that, you can ditch fags
Go for it

Woodster76

I've just worked out as I smoke 15 cigs a day it costs me £5.72 per day! :eek::eek:

I will smoke my last cig at about 6pm tonight as I don't smoke when hubby is home. He doesn't like me smoking so tend to smoke when he's not around.

Then I'm going to get in the shower and wash the awful smell away and put fresh smelling clothes on.

I've downloaded some games onto my iPad to keep me busy when I get a craving.

So what will you do with the money saved? I do have a credit card debt of about £1k. which I want to pay off but will allow myself to take £10 per week to treat myself for being good - not sure what on yet.

I'm feeling positive I want to do this.

Flutterby83

GunJack wrote: »

I went off alcohol 27 years ago and never looked back, like you I prefer to be able to drive anytime If you can do that, you can ditch fags
Go for it

Thanks, I've picked some liquids that are quite sweet so hopefully I'll like them I think seeing what alcohol did to people helped put me off it as my Dad was a publican for a large majority of my life so I saw the 'nasty' side of alcohol more than anything else.....my Dad gave up the fags a few years ago too and I keep thinking if he can do it then so can I as he smoked around 25 roll ups a day!!

GunJack

Flutterby83 wrote: »

as he smoked around 25 roll ups a day!!

sounds like me before I switched to vaping

earthbound_misfit

hdh74 wrote: »

I read the book once, and all the way through I was thinking, 'yeah right' and I put it down and carried on smoking for a couple of weeks. But phrases from it kept popping into my head ...

I tried a hypnotherapy CD a while back. Might dig it out again. Found the same thing though - phrases popping into my head which really helped. In particular was "Do I really need this cigarette?" which helped me cut down first.
I use smoking as a crutch, I suffer with depression/trauma-related/anxiety stuff. Started quitting yesterday (2 days early cos of where weekend falls I thought it would be easier!) but had one in the evening. None today, and using gum and inhalor, but the depression aspect is hard.
A friend explained it to me that when you react to happy things, a whole load of chemical reactions happen in the brain so you experience pleasure. Nicotine attaches itself to the chain of chemical reactions, so without the nicotine you simply cannot feel the pleasure to the full extent. Until you're over the addiction, of course.
On the plus side, I'm used to feeling crappy and scraping through so have a weird, focussed determination here.
Good luck everyone!

missmilly

Count me in too please. I have been quite good at giving up in the past, but.... I am even better at starting again :mad: I just don't seem to be able to get past that 6 month stage for some reason.

So, here I go again, I am ready with my patches and gum and the determination to get there this time

Woodster76

I've officially smoked my last cigarette.:p