I've quit smoking!

[floss85]

I have not had a fag since Friday and I haven't really wanted one all weekend. As sooas I got back to work, the first thing I thought about was my first fag break! I really want to quit but I just know when Im at work - I'll have one. I have loads of chewing gum. But what else can I do?

[b13thy]

Well done Floss - wish i had the willpower to give up (especially on a friday). Everytime you get the craving get up, get a glass of water, go to the bathroom, bascially do anything but have a cigarette. You have made it this far, if u can get til the end of the day on your way home buy yourself something - something lovely for tea or even a new toothbrush. Give yourself goals and if you can make it to the morning then you will have nearly cracked the hardest part. If you do have a fag don't despair, try again. Let me know how you get on :)

[d0gsb0dy]

I recently lost my brother-in-law, a heavy smoker, to lung cancer. He was 52. Watching him suffer would stop anyone smoking. Also, I have a friend who until recently smoked quite heavily. He now has emphysema, which is incurable. Smoking destroys the cilia (fine hair-like structure) in the lungs, which means you can't get rid of the rubbish in them. Not pleasant.
Just be positive about it. Think of all the hard-earned money you give to the government each time you buy a packet of fags. Most of all, think of the health benefits.
I stopped many years ago after dozens of attempts, so don't give up hope. Not easy, I know, but also not impossible.

[ceebee007]

Well done floss!

First, you should be congratulating yourself that you haven't smoked since Friday - that is an achievement.  If you have made up your mind that you want to stop you've obviously done well to get this far.  (There is no more nicotine in your body after 48 hours).

However, you are now back at work and in an environment in which you are used to smoking - it is inevitible that you will make the association with your first fag break.  Just keep up with the chewing gum, keep yourself busy and just think of the money you're saving - if you used to smoke 20 a day, then you will have saved over �1,500 by this time next year!  You'll also smell a lot nicer! 

Perhaps you could treat yourself to some fresh fruit to nibble or fruit juice/Fruit smoothies to drink.

Be inspired by some other peoples' stories at the following link (there are also some othe helpful suggestions):

http://www.nosmokingday.org.uk/smokers/testimonials.htm

Good luck!!

[mfewell]

Take off the rest of the week if you can ? Seriously, when I gave up I took time off to do nothing else but give up. Nicorette 4mg fruit (cheapest in Asda). Long walks nowhere near any fag shops.

[floss85]

Just had my first lunch break without a fag!

Thanks for the support guys!

xx

[GucciGal]

Well done!!! I quit 5 years ago after smoking since I was 15 (was 30 when I stopped) and looking back I realised a lot of it was just habit - that memory will dimish over time. The one thing that did help was a smaill piece of paper in my purse that I had written all these little mantras. One was

YOU ARE NOT GIVING ANYTHING UP. THERE IS NOTHING TO GIVE

YOU ARE A NON SMOKER

YOU WILL NOT BECOME ANY LESS OF A PERSON

Good Luck!!!

[magicbeatle]

Well done for giving up. I gave up nearly three years ago. The biggest reason most people give up is that they dont set themselves any conditions beforehand. You have to make an absolute pact with yourself right from the beginning that nothing will stress you out enough to light up a fag. No matter how moody you might get, and no matter what happens in your life. Also, you have to make the decision that other smokers wont bother you. You have to be comfortable with it. If you cant do that, then every time your in a pub you will find it difficult. Take one day at a time and before you know it, these rules you have set yourself will become habits you wont even think about.

[magicbeatle]

Sorry, I meant the biggest reason most people find it hard to give up is that they dont set themselves any goals!

If you fail, dont beat yourself up. Keep trying and you will succeed!

All the Best!

[Buddy]

I gave up 2 and a half years ago after a chest infection.I know we all die with lack of breath but living with it - no thanks.Been t 4 funerals in past 8 mths all smoking related.I also had the good fortune of spewing up the poison every morning for a few months and wont go there again.I'm sorry to be so graphic but these are facts.

You are doing wonderfully well - please persevere -u might have a hiccup - I did one mad night but just kept going and boy am I glad.I am now a one woman crusade but cant get hubby to stop but I wont give up.

All the very best.

P.S I smoked for 30yrs since I was 13. 

[Buggsbird21]

Congratulations Floss, you should feel really proud of yourself!I know I've mentioned this before on other threads but you should get Allen Carr's Easyway To Stop Smoking book. I swear by it! I had no intention of trying to stop smoking but read the book anyway to satisfy someone else and I havent smoked since. That was 5 months ago and I honestly didnt even have a single craving and I smoked for 14 years. I didnt use any substitutes (gum, patches etc) and didnt take myself out of my usual smoking situations (being around smokers or drinking alcohol). Give it a shot, might help!

Whatever you do, best of luck xx

[delboy3]

Congratulations! As others have said, just keep yourself busy and don't think about it so much; eventually the desire will go away. I've just given up after 20 years and even though I bought some patches I never actually used them (I want my money back!). So far I don't miss them, and have passed my first real test by having a few cans of beer the other night without so much as looking at a fag.

Try saving away what you'd normally have spent on cigarettes, then treat yourself to something useful!

Best of luck!

[sunflower68]

Well done floss!  Hope you made it though Tuesday too.  It will get better, honest.  It seems that you have quite a large association, as ceebee says, with smoking and work; perhaps many of your friends there are smokers still.  You need to lose that association quickly - hopefully your friends will be supportive.  Find something to do in your lunchbreak which will become a new habit (no, not crack cocaine or alcohol!!) but do it away from the smell of smoke. 

A lot of the addiction is to the habit and "what else can I do with my hands??" but after a few days or weeks you will realise how daft that is.  I wish you nothing but good luck; you won't regret a bit of this. x