I've quit smoking... today is day 1 and I'm already considering buying a packet

[TTG8]

Please share your horrors stories with me to remind me why I have to quit.

No story but I've been trying for 2 days.
Today I've had 2 cigs so far....
I've decided that tonight midnight that's it.
I've stocked up on mints.
Also browsing Alan Carr principles online.
Good luck!!!!

My Granny died of lung cancer. Long drawn out painful.

You've done one day. (nearly) frist few days bound to be the hardest.
Put some money in a jar to show how much you've saved already.

Good luck

No horror stories to give, but I just wanted to let you know what someone once said to me years ago and which helped me quit.

It is only the next one you are giving up.

I'm an ex smoker. Everyone always sings the praises of that Alan Carr book. I thought it was useless and just made me want a cigarette.
I tried so many times to quit but what really did it for me was seeing the effects it had on my dad - a lifelong smoker, in the year before he died, he used to have to sit down to get his breath back when making a cup of tea, he couldn't walk the dog or do any gardening, we couldn't have candles lit when he was around, he couldn't cope with aeroplanes because the recirculated air made him short of breath.
He used to spend most of the evenings panicking about how he was going to get up the stairs to bed.
It was awful for him and for us to watch. When he died I promised myself that I wouldn't let his suffering be for no reason so I stopped. It was hard and even now, 10 years later I still get the odd craving. I've caved a few times and it's never as nice as my brain tells me it will be and I always regret it!

At the beginning just take it by hour. Each hour is another victory. Gradually you'll be able to work in days and then weeks but for now, concentrate on the hours or even minutes. Good luck!

My dad's method.

Don't give up, just see how long you can go without a cigarette.

You can have one at any time, but try to beat your 'personal best'

The cravings will decline in about 2 weeks but at about the same time the hair cells in your lungs will 'wake up' - tobacco paralyses them and start clearing the gunk from your lungs.

You will start to cough up horrible black gunge but stick with it.

Try spraying Nicolette quickmist spray under your tongue it gives a really good nicotine hit, and it’s really not that bad after you’ve got through the first few days.

I agree with PP, it's only this next one that you're not having. Also, nicotine replacements to help take the edge off. Keep going, this is such a great thing you're doing.

When I quit, I downloaded an app, and every day I entered that I hadn’t smoked. It was great because I was in competition with myself to make sure I didn’t lose my lead!! It also made me write some reasons I wanted to quit as motivation as well as reminding me that a craving only lasts 30 seconds... so just get through that.

It worked!

Best of luck. You can do this! Believe in yourself!

I had a very intense moment where I was about to buy some. It was like I was being propelled by an unknown force. I could almost feel my cells shaking. It was like someone else had control of my mind. I was out with a friend at the time. Then another friend turned up with a brand new baby and I that put my plan on hold. Ten minutes later the craving passed. That baby saved me from my myself.

So, moral of the story, you will have these moments. They will pass.

Nicotine is gone from your system in about 48 hours. Quicker if you drink lots of water.

At some point you will see the world as a brighter place. The grass will literally look greener. You will be a free citizen. Money and health are big reasons, but freedom is beautiful.

Quit from a pack a day to nothing cold turkey. It was hard, was climbing the walls at night as couldn't distract myself like I could during the day but it gets better. District yourself, drink lots & water & juice & fight it 1 hour at a time & it will get better eventually! Good luck & well done.

i have been a smoker for over 40 years last week decided that was it health wise money wise and decided to give up, i bought a vaper for a fiver from poundland and menthol vape oils as have tried in the past with fruit ones, last week i had half a packet of tobacco left so went down the route of taking the vaper out when out of the house, and smoking when at home, saturday and sunday i had one cigarette all day, from monday non whatsoever so far day four and have not given in once, not actually as hard as i thought it would be and twenty pounds in my saving tin so far towards a dream holiday two years from now , each time you want to give in just go another ten minutes then another ten ad infinitum

I understand the patches are very good.

Your "I am already considering buying a packet" is a craving. It's what all addicts have and totally to be expected. It will pass surprisingly quickly if you ride it out. The first 3 days are the worst, by 2 weeks you will be amazed how long you can go without thinking about cigarettes.

What worked for me was saying “If I’m still absolutely desperate for one at (eg) 6pm (choose a time about 5hrs from the craving) then I’ll have one then”.
I was never desperate enough at 6pm (or whatever time I’d chosen) to have one.

Or, just “I’m not having any today”.

I found not having the things I most associated with a cigarette helped. So I liked black coffee and a cig, I stopped having black coffee.

I quit an 14 a day for 25 years habit 20 months ago with the help of a vape
I gradually decreased the amount of Nicotine in the juice Had no real withdrawal symptoms and it was great not to be controlled by cigarettes
The main motivator for me, to be honest was financial
Download the NHS smoke free app which I found very helpful
I tried the Allen Carr book but I found it made me want to smoke more!
Stick with it. I promise you it will be one of the best things you ever do

I’m on week 7 but I am using a vape so if you’re going cold turkey it will be different. I am down to 1mg of nicotine a day and I was quite a heavy smoker, I never thought I’d be able to give up.

When I’m tempted, which is still a daily occurrence, I think about the fact I’ve added time onto my life already. My aunt died of lung cancer and it was slow and horrific.

I’ve spent around 40K on fags since I started, which truly disgusts me. Imagine walking into a shop and handing them 40K or quite literally burning it.

I can breathe better in the short time since I’ve stopped and I can smell smokers a mile away and it’s so horrible. However it’s lovely knowing that I smell nice. I’ve spent my extra cash on nice perfume!

Good luck OP try to stay strong it is so worth it.

It's not quite the same but I have done a month using Heets. I know it is still nicotine but I am breaking the cycle with cigarettes and in another month I will wean myself off the replacement. I had a horrible hacking cough (not good in these times) and it has already completely cleared up. I smoked for over 30 years and have surprised myself.

23rd August 2015 @11:50am that’s when I quit and I’m still off them today. I constantly thought about having one for the first few days. Showering helped as it’s impossible to have one there
Honestly it gets way easier after the first few days. It’s a mental battle against yourself.....don’t loose.
Best of luck, more money, better sense of taste and u will no longer stink await u.

I went for lots of drives as I didn't smoke in my car and when driving I just automatically didn't want one.

I also kept going outside for my smoko breaks until the weather got cooler and then I'd say no, I'll skip today as it's too cold. It's FOMO too, all your mates are having fun having a smoke type thing. But if you're there and keep up with the chats you don't feel like you're missing out.

I second the Alan Carr book. I never read self help books but that book is the reason I was able to quit smoking. I highly recommend it. It really gets into your brain and helps reframe the way you think about quitting.

I’m on week five, cravings etc are just as bad as the first week. I try to do something endorphin releasing when cravings are really bad, like exercise which helps a bit.

I’ve tried champix before but it made me really ill and didn’t reduce cravings.

Someone was smoking near us in the park earlier, it smelled gorgeous.

I downloaded an app called My Last Cigarette. It's very good. There are graphs of how your body is improving by not smoking. I've just done a year of no smoking yesterday. You won't regret giving up but you will always regret not giving up.

When I quit, I found a big glass jar. I used to buy approx a pack of 20 a day, so as I got near the end of the day, I would put the cash in the jar instead. It had to be a glass jar so that I could see the cash going up.

After a week, I bought myself something special to wear and then worked out how soon I could book a holiday with the contents of the jar - 6 weeks or so. I distracted myself by browsing holidays when the craving was worst, and choosing where to go with my jar of cash.

My dad had a massive stroke in his late 50's, was in a wheelchair for the last 11 years of his life and nil by mouth for the last 5. All due to smoking. Don't do it!!!

I used a vape which I thought was great. I had to make myself feel disgusted with smoking and smokers. I was giving up because I was in control and we were going to try for a baby.

So that was 5 years ago now. I may occasionally have one but I always think yuk! Why did I do this for so long? I don’t feel any better for giving up but I know I am better for doing it.