Quitting smoking day 1 - please give me all your tips and success stories

[AnonymousAuroch]

I'm on day 1 of quitting smoking and am about to jump out of my skin. I've quit so many times before, sometimes for just months and a couple times for multiple years (because I like to torture myself by relapsing and having to quit all over again, I'm super smart like that), so I KNOW I can do it, but I need support and positive quit vibes!

If you're an ex smoker, what really helped you get through the worst of the cravings? And what helped you keep your eye on the prize long term? My big problem is thinking I can smoke "just one".

My quitting plan involved vaping if the cravings got too intense (better than breaking down and buying a pack of cigarettes), but now (in the midst of day 1 cravings) I'm having a change of heart and thinking I should just suck it up and get through the nicotine addiction full stop.

Please send help!

[thebabessavedme]

I used the patches, did exactly what it says on the packets, large ones for month, then medium for month then small for a month.

Remember that the craving only actually lasts for 4 minutes and find some thing to do, even going to the loo and washing hands takes approx 4 mins.

I have not had a cigarette in 25 years.

[ParkheadParadise]

Good luck
I used patches when I stopped. I smoked 30 a day. I also used the mint minis which really helped with the cravings.
I saved all my fag money in a jar watching it mount up helped me to keep going. I was the last of my friends to stop smoking it helped as I don't think I could have done it surrounded by smokers.
I sometimes still have an occasional craving, I would never have a fag as I know I wouldn't be able to stop at one.

[Agadorsparticus]

Get some distractions, lollypops or boiled sweets / mints.
Wear your favourite perfume and you should be able to smell it all day.
An app to tell you how much you've saved and how your lungs are healing.
Also when I have cravings, I'd go outside for some deep yoga breaths until they subside.

[ParkheadParadise]

Lollipops are a good suggestion.
The stop smoking advisor told me to buy lollipops, they did help.

[rainbowdashsneeze]

Hey I've been the same quitting for a number of years then starting again. Usually on a night out in drink, I haven't smoked not for 6 months but I do vape it's been a life saver abs also prevented me starting smoking again. When I have a drink if I vape I don't crave a cigarette.

Good luck OP I'm with you.

[MissBattleaxe]

I tried Champix as I was a part time smoker- only with wine. Then I found I was drinking more wine and I didn't know if it was the wine or the cigarette I wanted. I took Champix to help me quit smoking. Nothing happened for about 5 weeks and then, BOOM went off all booze and therefore I no longer want to smoke. I didn't intend to quit drinking too, but the Champix turned me off both and I feel fantastic. No cravings, best sleep of my life and tons more energy.

NB Not everyone goes off booze with Champix, it's designed to stop smoking cravvings. It was a fluke with me that the booze went too.

[troppibambini6]

I used champix and read the Alan carr book along side. You can do it! Think of all the reasons you want to, think of how you will feel when you've cracked it. Apart from having kids it's literally the best thing I've done. I was a twenty a day smoker first thing I did in the morning and last thing at night, not had one for 10 years and never will again.

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe]

I'd never tried to stop smoking before I did it.

• I bought, read and re-read Allan Carr's Easyway to Stop Smoking;
  
• I bought several boxes of Jordan almonds thinking I would have one instead of a cigarette. I've never eaten one since, only managed half a box.
  
• I bought my favourite perfume to reward myself.
  
  and this is the big one:
  
  
• The second that I'd finished my last cigarette, I told myself that I don't smoke anymore. Every time I wanted one, I told myself that, how silly I was as I don't smoke anymore.
  
  I've been stopped since the year before the ban (2005/6?). I'll never smoke again.
  
  As you've quit and re-started previously I think you should do something to indicate that this is not like the other times, that this time, it's for good. Don't make having a cigarette an option again, behave like a no-smoker.
  
  Best of luck, you can do this.

[Justcallmebebes]

I stopped and started for years. I haven't smoked now in several years and I did it with the Nicotine Lozenges. They just instantly hit the spot when you get a craving. I have no desire to smoke at all now but keep some lozenges just in case a craving hits.

Good luck trying - you won't look back if you succeed

[MissBattleaxe]

I love the freedom of not smoking. No anxiety about running out. No more guilt. No more smoky smell. No horrible taste in your mouth afterwards. I love not needing them anymore.

[Classica]

Read the Allen Carr book. I puffed my way through that book and by the last page was dying to be a non-smoker. I didn't have any cravings, there was no sense of being deprived of anything. I was full on enthusiasm and excitement.

All hail Allen.

[AnonymousAuroch]

Thanks everyone, just did a workout to let out all this angst and feeling a bit dizzy and irritable. I have the Alan Carr book -- I quit smoking with it once before and will have a reread.

Haven't vaped yet but am on the edge of giving it a try. Feeling rather pathetic because I'm only a couple hours into my quit and already feeling far too emotional about it all!

[Boood]

Keep reminding yourself that this is the worst it’s ever going to be. You have to give up at some point. If you stick with it now, every day will be less painful until it’s completely fine. You’ll never have to feel this miserable again. If you fall off the wagon, you’ll have to try again one day and go through the hideous first day again.

[Snorkelface]

I vaped my way out of it. It worked but meant it took longer to feel like I'd actually quit but the financial saving was still there as vapes are so much cheaper. I persuaded myself to just have one hit of vape for a craving rather than just puffing away. Once in a blue moon I'll still have a vape (still have some cartridges left) but only after a too many wines. It tastes so rank and odd now it hasn't become a regular thing again and it does't occur to me at any other time. I love not buying fags, love it, I love not wanting them, I even loved not being able to find a lighter to light some birthday candles with last weekend. Other friends nailed it first time on patches. Good luck OP, you'll do it!

[AnonymousAuroch]

This is all great advice, thanks guys. I did go for the vape just to keep myself from going out and buying cigarettes, and I'm okay with that. I'll take all the crutches I need for the next few days/weeks, as long as no more cigarettes!

My lungs already feel better and it's only been a handful of hours. I'm hanging onto that even though I feel miserable.

[mintylovely]

I had a supply of those super sour sweets and an elastic band around my wrist. Every time I had a craving I'd eat a horrible sweet and ping the elastic band. Home made aversion therapy, I'm sure it isn't recommended but it worked for me as I haven't smoked for ten years. The cravings went away after a couple of weeks.

[AnonymousAuroch]

@mintylovely that's brilliant. I love sour candy but licorice would probably work for me.

[AddsVsGeorgs]

There is a book about quitting smoking, its also on audio
I know 3 people who have quit this way.

I will try and find out what its called

[AddsVsGeorgs]

Here. Apparently its AMAZING


www.amazon.co.uk/Allen-Carrs-Easy-Stop-Smoking/dp/1405923318?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[AddsVsGeorgs]

Vapping is not good for the lungs

[Otterspotterspocket]

I quit many times - found Alan Carr's book useful but didn't manage to quit (30 pack years) until one day a switch flipped in my head and I decided I didn't want to be a smoker anymore. Stinky clothes and breath. Dull wrinkled skin. Yellowing teeth. Squinty eyes. Morning hacking cough. That was 15 years ago. The physical addiction took 3/4 days to clear and after that it was easy. The best result was within two weeks I could breath again. Run upstairs without heaving my lungs up. I will never smoke again. This link really helped me:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317956#timeline

Good luck

[Otterspotterspocket]

Oh and my skin is amazing - my DH said I looked 10 years younger six months after quitting .

[KillerFlamingo]

DH did a Stop Smoking hypnosis course, he was sceptical but it was amazing and really worked for him.

[lilroo87]

I stopped half way through a cigarette, snapped the rest of my brand new packet of 20 up and threw them in the bin.
It was really tough but I was so determined to stop because the cost was astronomical, even back then (10 years ago).
The first week was the worst, I replaced cigarettes with food and tried everything to keep my hands busy. After the first week, it got easier and easier.
However, even now I do still occasionally get cravings but the cost and smell of cigarettes puts me off so much. Noticing how other people smell from smoking really keeps me determined to never smoke a cigarette again.
You just have to find your reason for quitting and keeping that in your mind all the time. Good luck xx

[AnonymousAuroch]

Thanks again everyone! Made it to 24 hours smoke free .

I can feel my lungs are starting to clear out and my smoker's cough has got worse, but it feels productive and I don't feel out of breath. And my bpm has gone from the 70s to 50s!

Slept for a huge part of the day yesterday. Really struggled to work and ended up taking a nap and then going to bed at 9pm. Got ten hours of sleep -- recovering from an addiction is no joke!

I'm going to try not to vape today unless I absolutely have to/am reaching a crisis point. It's incredible how many chemicals are in tobacco that are causing withdrawal symptoms, because even with the vape satisfying the nicotine and smoke-break habit, my body still feels like it's on fire. I don't want to vape long term for loads of reasons, but it's helping me get through these early days.

If anyone else is quitting and wants to jump on board, please do! Although I do kind of feel like the last person to quit smoking so maybe there aren't many left.