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.

Someone I work with found out 2 months ago he had throat cancer. He was a heavy smoker and now he has a feed tube in and is in a wheelchair. It's unbelievable how quick this cancer has taken hold. Young guy with a family

I've made it a full week 24 hours cold turkey 🙂

*full 24 hours

(Not sure where the 'week' appeared from)

Your brain is literally incredible at coming up with literally EVERY CONCEIVABLE LOGIC to smoke. It's amazing. Alan Carrs book really helped me to be aware when I was doing ridiculous mental gymnastics about why I should start smoking again.

Just remember, the ONLY way to stop smoking is to never put another cigarette into your mouth. Any other reasoning will not be quitting.

I second champix. Side effect: amazing fantastic dreams! Unfortunately they stopped when I stopped taking it

Never had a craving since. I love love love taking a huge loooong breath in without coughing.

My mother in law died of lung cancer aged 48. I never knew her, she died before I was in her son's life.

My grandad died a horrible death of lung cancer in his early 60s. I was 11 or 12 and he was the first person I remember dying, in the 1980s. He was such a funny, handsome (even in his 60s!) man who was a joy to be around. The fags took him away from us. I never wanted to start smoking, after he died, and I never have.

My grandfather died a horrible lung cancer death.
I wanted to prevent my kids from that. So I ate an orange every time I had a craving.

12 years down the line now. I feel much better, although am
A bit heavier than I should be. But it's the lesser of two evils.

First week is the hardest. Good luck... it is possible, if you really want to.

3 years fag free here.

For me, the Smoke Free app helped - it shows you what’s happening to your body as you go longer without a fag. Also, the realisation that I would probably alway miss the ‘theatre’ of fags - buying, lighting, inhaling, the ‘outside chat’ down the pub (back in the day ) etc and that was ok. Mourn them. I began to realise that I liked smoking and that if it didn’t kill you and make you smell, I’d have carried on. But it does and you can’t.

And - get this - I genuinely didn’t realise how easy it would be! After about 3 weeks, I really really enjoyed being fag free. Can’t describe how good it feels 3 years later. Honestly, if I’d known how easy it was, I’d have done it YEARS ago.

Oh and, stop drinking for a while (if you do). It SERIOUSLY helps.

Well done OP.
My DH works in respiratory medicine and he says that emphysema is a truly horrible disease to have. Just to give you more motivation!
You can do it !!!

Lots of good reasons:
You smell
You're likely to die sooner (10 years on average) than non-smokers,
It's expensive - you'll have money to spend on other stuff if you quit
It's anti-social - most people do not want to be around someone that is puffing smoke out
wrinkles - only smokers get those wrinkles around their top lip

I gave up smoking 15 years ago. My XP, who didn't give up, has had cancer and a heart attack in the last year.

It does get easier- eventually...

You know you are well on the road to recovery when you stop walking behind smokers on the street inhaling their ciggie smoke.

Also when you work out how much you could have invested in your ISA in the last financial year. 🌹

I started at 16 and stopped age 33. I did stop twice during my first two pregnancies but always started again. I loved smoking it was my five minute break to think and just chill. I didn't want to give up for years and genuinely believed I never could. I've been stopped for 11 years now! I found the first few days the hardest and spent a lot of time on stop smoking forums because it was good to see other people going through same thing and ex smokers giving encouragement. I also got to bed as soon as I could because that was another day done. I promise it can be done like I said I loved it. Be prepared for the dreams where you smoke ! Do it you will be so proud of yourself!

I’ve not smoked for 11 years (and I was about 30-40 a day)

Quitting was the best thing I have ever done. Off the top of my head some benefits are :
I can walk up hills without getting out of breath.
I can walk and have a conversation without getting out of breath.
I hardly ever catch colds/virus and when I do they are gone in days.
I don’t have constant phlegm
I don’t stink
My clothes don’t stink
My children aren’t exposed to it.

I used to love smoking - I would smoke anywhere and everywhere all the time, in bed, in the bath, at the dinner table.. and I promise if I can give up then you can too.

I took it i one day at a time - I chose not to smoke that day , and I think it’s the best method. Give it a try, see if you can go for a day, then 2 days, then 3 etc....

Good luck OP

I quit after 7 years using Champix. Amazing stuff, even better dreams

For the first few weeks when I craved a cigarette I sort of told myself yep it's sad you can't have one and I know you really want one but you can't, you've given up and you're not allowed one.

This was the umpteenth time I had given up after starting to smoke at 13, 10 years later I'm still a former smoker.

I do have to admit though, it was purely the money with me. All those nasty pics on the cigarette packets, the telling off from my doctor and all the health reasons didn't make me stop, being able to visit grandchildren more with the saved money was my incentive I'm a firm believer in that you really need to stop for a reason that is important to you.

I had an NHS app that updated every day with how long it was and how much money I had saved, it really helped me and even now a screenshot sometimes comes up on my FB memories and it makes me smile.