I've decided to stop smoking

[MickyMacgraw]

Enough is enough and I'm sick of being controlled and a slave to nicotine and purposefully administering this slow acting carcinogenic poison to myself. Originally I thought I'd start in the new year but why wait until then and further harm myself? Anyway I've bought some niquitin-minis lozenges 1.5mg and will be starting tomorrow morning after having my last smoke tonight. I will be logging cravings on a 1-10 scale, stress of the day on a 1-10 scale, depression and other things such as whether my appetite goes up etc..
I think the most dangerous times will be in the mornings, after meals and before bed.
I've stopped drinking for the moment so the after drink cigarette will not be a problem for now.
Hopefully I will be able to stick this out and maybe even be an inspiration for others to quit.

[B00]

Ahhhh

[MarkRae]

Good for you! I had hypnosis many years ago and haven't touched one since...

[daftgrandad]

Good for you Micky.
Hope you stick with it.I did and it was the best thing I,ve ever done.
Regards dg

[B00]

Do you still cluck like a chicken when the phone rings Mark?

[owllady]

Good for you! I stopped 10 years ago, best thing I ever did.

[MickyMacgraw]

Thanks for the support and congratulations to markrae,owllady and dg for quitting.
Can I ask did you relapse and if you did how long for?
Personally I gave up about 5 years ago for two years on the original mints but then obviously started again.
I have to stop looking at it as the nice smooth and fulfilling flavour and start seeing it as a deceptive cancerous poison that wants to hurt my health and take away my time with my family and friends so psychologically I have to change my mindset first in order to make the cravings less than what they are.
Enjoy your weekend and I'll post back tomorrow.

[sara3]

about time too, Micky.. you were starting to stink ;o)

[crofter]

Hi Mickey, I smoked off and on, since the age of 15. At my "peak", I smoked 35 a day and lighting up a cigarette was the first thing I did every morning. Whilst driving to work, I'd be smoking my 5th cigarette of the day.

I couldn't imagine waking up, finishing off a good meal, gardening, playing chess, etc etc without a cigarette!

I finally gave up with the help of patches (with chewing gum at points of crisis). I took strength from the fact that the physical addiction takes (only) 10 days to break ~ the social addiction takes longer.

In the past, I had found any excuse to have "just one more", to find that I was back at full addiction within two or three days.

With full knowledge of the strength of the addictive atttraction, I haven't smoked in over 10 years.

You'll get there, if you're serious about giving up!

Best Wishes and Good Luck!

[anneasquith]

well done MM and good luck. will be interested to see your updates. how many do you smoke per day ?

[fruitsalad]

i gave up in June and have been fine the hardest time for me is when my sons visit, they smoke although they have to go outside to smoke there are still times when I would like to join them.

[madmaggot]

Good for you.
I was in a meeting last week when the bloke sitting next to me excused himself. I thought he had to 'pay a visit'.
When he came back he smelt so bad of smoke it nearly made me sick, I've never smelt anything like it. I had to move to another seat.
It's worth stopping if only so you don't stink!

[Khandro]

May I suggest; Don't make the mistake of not having tobacco available somehow, or you might find yourself driving out in the middle of the the night to find a 24 hr garage as I once did. I finally beat it by having some locked in the glove compartment of my car and the car was 100 yrds from my house. - you have to do it on your own. Remember there are three goals; 3 days, 3 weeks and three years. I promise you that if you can get through 3 days you will have the compensation of starting to feel proud of yourself, good luck!

[MarkRae]

Add up how much smoking costs you per annum - that's often a good way to focus the mind...

[wolf63]

My mum died when she was 58 due to emphysema. My dad had hardening of the arteries in his legs, he was destined to lose a toe or two but keeled over with a smoking related heart attack before it got to that stage.

I know of people who stop smoking when they became pregnant - you should check this out to see if it will help you. ;-)

** Good Luck **

[boxtops]

Good luck mickey, keep telling us how you're getting on, I wish you 100% success. Within only a few hours your body will be feeling the benefits - take a quick look at this table! http://www.quit-smoki...smoking-benefits.html

[askyourgran]

Good luck mickey I stopped just over a year ago. I've put on weight (more than the average 5lbs), and my BP at the moment is higher that it was and there are moments expecially when I just finished doing all the chores and want to sit down with a coffee when I fancy a cigarette. I have a cigarette case with 20 cigarettes in it and a lighter, BUT I have never thought of reaching for them, I know just one will be disaster for me. You've done it before so you know the risks. This time convince yourself that standing out in the rain with a cig that will only last you five minutes tops is stupid. Your clothes and breath smell. You can save at least £100 per month. And you'll look better for it. Just eat sensibly if you can, I've obviously pigged myself because of the weight I've put on. Keep in touch.

[cazzz1975]

congrats micky, times will get tough for sure but when they are tough, try to remember all the reasons you wanted to quit xxx

[LazyGun]

Congratulations Micky, and fingers crossed you succeed. I gave up about 3 years ago now, and certainly my wallet feels a lot healthier, and food tastes so much better. Plus which I am no longer a slave to the nicotine.

4-5 days breaks the chemical addiction - takes a lot longer to break the dependancy though, but stick with it.Personally, I went cold turkey, eating something when i felt a craving for a smoke, but it did lead to putting on weight. which I am struggling to lose.
Were i to do it again, i would follow a similar path, ie cold turkey, but would make sure i reached for an apple or orange or something, rather than a bag of crisps :)

[chattykathy]

Have you ever read Allan Carr's Easy way to stop smoking? The best £7.99 I've ever spent! I was a confirmed 20/25 a day smoker and had 'tried' many times with patches etc to give up. There's somethng about this book that really makes you WANT to stop.NB not 'give up' smoking. I'm so proud of myself for not smoking any more. The major point is resolving to YOURSELF that you won't smoke again - that was the biggest turning point for me. Definitely I've put on wieght, but I wouldn't change that for being addicted to nicotine again. One idea that kept me going was imagining there was a Nicotine Monster inside me that would keep growing while I fed it nicotine but would shrink if I didn't 'feed' it anymore no matter how many times it 'begged' me.
I wish you much luck!!!!!!

[zzxxee]

I quit around 16 months i wish you lots of luck x