Help me not to buy cigarettes today

[Tweetypie27]

I’ve give up smoking I’ve got a vape a good one I haven’t smoked since yesterday. This is so hard I really want one I want nothing more.
Im 36 and need to stop now I smoke up to 20 a day sometimes my skin has gone rubbish my hair is snapping my teeth have had better days.
my only reason for quitting at the moment is vanity and I’ve promised my children they keep nagging me to stop and their scared I will die young.
I know all this I know it’s bad for you but will I always miss it ? My morning coffee and fag my pudding fag I want to stop so much but I feel like something js missing will this go ?
Im avoiding the shop today I will buy some if I go in there today the worst bit is sometimes the man even gets my fags for me before I even ask lol it’s terrible I feel like I can’t go in if he does that I will have them help me see the benefits

So I’ve been to the shop I got some Smints and some bottles of water I didn’t get any fags I am proud of myself usually I would look for any reason to smoke by now but I haven’t. Im using the Vape not constantly at the moment the mints help though.
What benefits to yours health did you see ?

This thread is keeping me going at the mo

Have you been to a smoking sensation consultation. I got given pills that just cut off the cravings, however had to stop as the side effects of them, were that they made me mentally unstable, but that was just me.

From that I got a high dosage nicotine vape juice and then over time, cut down on the nicotine level to zero. Then just purposely kept forgetting my vape when going out.

Apparently going and having a sauna helps as it gets rid of the toxins so decreases the withdrawals. Get some fidget spinners or something to occupy ur hands. If you feel the urge, do something else to occupy ur mind.

Good luck. I haven't smoked for ages and feel better for it, while all my friend continue. One got lung cancer and died and a few have COPD. so we'll worth the effort on stopping.

Also try putting away what you would have spent on fags and buy yourself something nice, then when you look at it, you know what it costs you to give up the fags.

You got this.

You could look up short relaxation videos on YouTube . Guided meditation. Body scans could be a few "smokes" per day. Just 5 minutes you would have spent doing that.

Oh. Write a list of reasons why you don't want to smoke and put it always near you to read if your feel wobbly. Be blunt!

I hope your kids will be supportive. I was that kid and my efforts with my mum (80s/90s) didn’t work. She died at 55 and missed out on a lot.

good luck. Lots of good suggestions here.

Can't speak for everyone but I found quitting cold turkey didn't work for me.

I made a deal with myself that I wouldn't smoke at work so basically I had one at 8.50 and the next one at 5.05.
Then I added in the commutes so I had one at 7.50am and the next wasn't until 6.30.
Then I added in awake time for DS so none from 7am until 7.30pm.

Then it was only 3 in the evening and then dropped down to one and sometimes I couldn't even be bothered. So ended up stopping.
I have a vape which I use if I really want one or if I'm out with my friends who smoke. I can still have a real cig but it's a couple times a year now and even then I light up and regret it.

If you want to go cold turkey, can speak to the shop keeper and tell him not to sell you tabs any more?

Hi OP.

Morning coffee fag and pudding fag used to be 2 of my favourites too. Just to reassure you that if you persevere, those cravings will go and in fact you'll look back and think you were mad to ruin the taste of a good dinner with a cigarette.

I smoked heavily in my 20s, gave up twice - last time being 20+ years ago. Had the odd one since at New Years but never gone back.

You've already ditched booze (well done on that btw - I'm working on ridding myself of that addiction currently!) so that will help avoid lapses.

If vanity is the thing that motivates you, remember that fags stain & damage your teeth, ruin your skin and make you and your house (and possibly your kids) absolutely stink all the time.

Best of luck - you've done it once so you can do it again - permanently this time!!!!

I really hope that you are still managing to resist. You have done so well already, don't waste that effort.

Hi guys I’m still going strong lol I do keep looking for my fags then remember I don’t have any. I went to asda and got some more mints and lollipops. So weird feel like I’m missing something all the time. Hope it passes

I've only read your updates OP, so sorry if this has been posted already but I listened to Stephen Bartlett's podcast in breaking & making habits and a few.of his tips work for me (Am I going running today? Yes I am).

You might find it useful or it might while away an hour!

Diary of a CEO

You are a non smoker. Keep reminding yourself of that 💪

Well done for making the decision to stop, it's the best thing you will ever do for your health.
Have you considered NRT products? Having the right products can really make the cravings and withdrawal symptoms more manageable.

I read How to stop smoking by Alan Carr. By the end of the book I'd stopped. That was 15 years ago. Never looked back

Me too! I'm actually finding it easier than anticipated, but am conscious that that may change!

What vape do you have and what mg liquid? If you have a good vape the need for a cigarette does disappear!
Me and my husband have up last year and have Caliburn Uwell vapes - they’re brilliant, we were using 20mg liquid (riot squad - really good) and we’re now down to 5mg which is good I think considering we were both smoking 20 a day. The smell of cigarettes now is so horrible!!

Well done @Tweetypie27 you are a non smoker, you can keep it up!! It will get easier I promise! Believe in yourself and don't let those bastard fags have a hold over you. Keep talking on here xx

Try lost Mary's - when I was on the edge of buying fags (I see them behind the counter) and think it's a sign.

I actually call them holy Mary's for this reason but that's not the actual brand name.

Bloody well done so far OP. You’ve got this.
I am 112 days of not smoking. I smoked for years, 20 a day. I loved it. But. In October, I had a massive asthma attack that hospitalised me for a week. My main fear was when the medics weren’t sure if it was asthma or copd. It frankly terrified me that my next fag could be the one that triggers COPD.
I have saved £1,374.75 so far!! I have an all that tells me (and counts the time).
when I first stopped, I checked the app all the time. It really helped watching numbers go up. Now, I check once a day of that.
I also used patches. They helped massively. I’m one week into no nicotine at all.
I was SO BORED at first. I mean, wtf do non smokers do all day???
I wiped surfaces a lot.

you’ve got this. You’ve done the hardest day already. well bloody done.

Partner came home he actually offered me a fag I was dead annoyed he goes one won’t hurt I think he wants me back smoking as it’s a thing we do together but I said no I’ve come through a day now.
i think deep done he’s envious he wants to but can’t yet.
I wasn’t tempted to have the fag but that may change I can’t smoke even once it’s all or nothing.
i did quit using Alan carr but drank and smoked again.
One day nearly done I read day three is the worst day thanks so much I think this thread has stopped me smoking.

@Matilda1981 - I used exactly the same combination caliburn and riot squad and it did the trick for me too! I'm down to 5 but looking for a different vape so I can lower the mg by using the bigger juices if that makes sense

@Tweetypie27 - if the vape is the direction you want to go which I think it is just keep puffing on it especially when you're thinking you're about to cave! YOUVE GOT THIS xxx

Just a word of warning OP

One thing cigarettes do is paralyze the hair cells in your lungs, these cells filter out particles from the air.

As they 'wake up' they try to do a spring clean of your lungs and that means you will cough up some nasty phlem.

This normally happens two to four weeks after stopping and is when many people go back to smoking.

After 4 weeks you will feel better but be prepared.

This thread will keep you motivated.

Keep going, you’re doing fantastic.
Take it hour by hour and try to be busy.
Accept the notion/thought will come about a cigarette so prepare for it.
Most importantly know the thought of smoking will pass.
It will pass.
And each time it’ll be easier.
And it passes if you hang on and stick with it.
Talk to yourself when the though comes, say this is a thought and it will pass.
Distract yourself, phone someone, post here, clean your sink.
It will pass.
Have you tried patches? Going to the NHS stop smoking programme gives you a focus, especially in the early days.

It definitely helps.
Your partner isn’t! He was no help to you.
That’s sad he hasn’t got your back - most people whether they smoke or not know it’s better not to, especially when you’ve children.
Have something sweet with you, the sugar definitely helps in first weeks.
You’re going to do this.
Other people have.
Why not you?
Why not you too
🌟

@Tweetypie27 Another ex smoker here - I gave up when pregnant with my first son 23 years ago. So glad that I did now, and no , I don't miss it or even think about it 100 per cent of the time.

Keep going and stay strong, it is a tough addiction, but if I can do it (very addictive personality here!) so can you!

OP I'm so glad you've stopped smoking! You're doing brilliantly. Just remain in the mindset that you don't smoke. As others have said, acknowledge the feelings that there's a gap where the fag would have been and let it pass.
One thing I realised when I didn't smoke was how much time I had! I spent so much just time having a fag. It was like a loss for me, so much of my life,who I was,my memories,all photos of me!, were wrapped up with me smoking. I just had to take that feeling,that gap,around with me acknowledging I felt altered until I didn't notice it anymore. It's a huge addiction.
A couple of things I did practically:

Chopped up some fruit and veg and had it handy in the fridge for snacking
Some people chew gum instead but I didn't want to replace the feeling of doing something with my mouth so stopped the airwaves I used to constantly chew
Stopped coffee to begin with as it was too depressing/a reminder to have that morning coffee without a fag so I did hot water and lemon for a while. Just something totally different to change it up.Total coffee addict now though.
People like your partner are addicts who will want you to fail to reiterate their habit. They dont want to have to think about not smoking being a possibility. These people should be avoided until you're a bit stronger. Don't let him into your frame of mind. You don't smoke.
I'm 17 years stopped and am beyond thankful but I still occasionally have dreams that I am a smoker and I wake up in a panic! It's just part of me like lots of other little parts of me. It will shrink for you over time too.
I'm so proud of you Mrs non smoker.

They can treat most cancers now, which apparently makes some smokers less inclined to quit smoking so here is dome motivating information: Chemo therapy doesn't only make you feel nauseated and loose your hair, it can also destroy your veins. They will then make indentures into your arm. Not exactly pretty. The chemo makes your blood less capable to obtain iron and oxygen so you'll move so slowly that old ladies with walkers will walk past you. They will seem fast to you. Getting up the stairs will seem like climbing a mountain. Radiation therapy is not painful when you get it. A week after treatment has stopped however.... They call it " can be a bit sore". I don't think that is how "sore" is defined in the dictionary.