Anyone successfully stopped smoking? How?

[ataloss24]

I smoke about 20 per day.

Good luck OP!

Smoked since I was a teen . Gave up at 40 . Nearly 10 years now .
I did patches and the inhalator stick (although not much on this ) . But I think the main thing was I signed up to it all with the pharmacy and had to go and check in with the pharmacist each week . It was motivating to feel I had to answer to someone .
I look and feel so much better .

Getting pregnant and being a parent made me stop for good.

I still miss it. But wanting to be healthy and set a good example for my DC gave me the necessary willpower.

Champix via NHS stop smoking initiative about 10 or 11 years ago. I had smoked for almost 30 years. Really really wanted to give up. I won't say it was completely easy, but it did the trick, whereas patches etc never did.

Nicotine gum. Problem is I'm addicted to that now!! 😅

It is good, isn't it? I'm off them now, but I used to love them! :)

Yes I was smoking 20 a day. I decided one day (after years of saying one last packet) that was it. I didn't want my teeth to be disgusting (I got them cleaned of all nicotine stains!) I then got a vape and yes the first week was hard but after that I used it less and less... it's been 15 months and I only vape in the evenings but some days I don't now. For me it was just getting out the routine more than anything...You can do it!! And no I don't miss smoking anymore. It's nice not coughing so much 😂

I read the easy way to give up smoking by Alan Carr. I stopped after reading it and went cold turkey. I had panic attacks in the first few weeks but they made me even more determined to give up. Although, 15 years on I'm still an ex smoker. I still fancy it. I just know I'll be back on 30 a day in a week.

Flicked my last cigarette into Vesuvius and figured I couldn't top that as an ending to 30 years as an addict. Can't remember how long ago now, it's no longer important. Pre COVID though

Where did you get them?

Yes I quit. I had gone to GP as I was getting tightness in the chest and coughing - mentioned to the GP that I had coughed blood. She handed me a form and told me this is for a mandatory chest X-ray, to which I replied 'oh do I need to make an appt. with the hospital' and she replied 'no you go now'. That was twenty four years ago - X ray was clear, but I have never smoked since then.

I swapped cigarettes for mars bars, I wore a groove in the road going from work to the sweetie shop.

And it turned out the cigarettes were easier to give up than the Mars bars, I tell you, there is something in those bars that is as addictive as crack cocaine.

I did this too! Cold turkey. Read the Allan Carr book. You can do it. Good luck.

A surprise pregnancy! Quit as soon as I found out - admittedly a little extreme and resulting child has cost a little more 😆

I started again for about a year, then quit with lozenges. Still on the lozenges now mind, years later 😩

Yes,I used to smoke 20 a day. Met my husband who is very anti smoking so cut down a lot.
Got a promotion so decided that I would have a sort of new start, got a vape. Not touched a cigarette since then.
After a few months I cut down to zero nicotine vape no problem. Then one day, a few weeks later, just decided to throw it away. That was years ago and I don’t miss it at all

I gave up 18 years ago after many failed attempts.I was a 30+ a day smoker, I cut down first, aiming to smoke one less each day but not beating myself up if I had a bad day ( there were many) once I got down to coping well on 10 a day I started the nicorette patches and never smoked another cigarette from the day I put the first one on.I used them for 6 weeks but probably could have done it in less time as my cravings vanished from day one . Good luck !

That was my thread 😁

Happy to report that 13 months later I still haven't picked up a cigarette, hell will freeze over before I do! I still vape but that will go at some point too

Just stop. Then put the money you’re not spending on cigs in a jar or savings account - you’ll be amazed how quickly it mounts up. Promise yourself something lovely with the cash. And think how much healthier you will feel. (DH gave up by eating a mint every time he would have had a cigarette. Took him a while to get off the mints, but he said it made it a lot easier to stop smoking.)

Took up running. Seemed so counterproductive.

Went to a vape, reduced the strength, got to 0%, packed that in too.

Smoked from age 15-50
Vaped from 50-57
Now 61 and have been smoke/ vape free for 4 years.

Still running!

I was buying my first flat and wanted it to be pristine. I smoked 15-20 a day, more when drinking. I never smoked again. That was about 18 years ago now. Sheer will power, no patches or anything. It was harder than I thought for about 3 months.

@StMarieforme Well done!

I moved to a country where cigarettes were so expensive that i couldnt (or didnt want to) afford them anymore. Smoked about a pack a day, more on weekends with drinking for 10 years, then quit the day my flight landed.

I was broke and couldn't afford to buy any tobacco I read the Allen Carr book, feeling v sceptical. It worked though. I have "relapsed" twice in 9 months, but only when v drunk and around certain people! I have the occasional craving but I know I can just ignore it and it'll go away soon enough.

Op I was totally addicted.. I had to have one when on the phone, at night, definitely with a drink.

I urged surfed... Have one if you want one in 7 mins..... Nothing harsh just tiny steps.

I broke the habit which was the main thing.

Then had some at social events.
A few times a year and then stopped.

Now I've not had one for about 5 years. If I now fancy one I will definitely have one but I dijt

It’s the hardest think I ever done - I smoked rollies all the time . I really really wanted the stop and made it my no 1 priority. I realised I couldn’t drink at all, or go out at all, as I would smoke again when I even had 1 sip of alcohol.
So I stopped going out for over a year - I just really wanted to stop smoking so was prepared to do anything.
That’s now 17 years ago and I’m absolutely fine with going out - I am completely addiction free. But it had taken me a good 2/3 years to get comfortable with going out and not craving a ciggie…
All these years later, I can confidently say it’s the best decision I ever made and I’m so so glad I got through it.

the very best of luck to you and to everyone who wants to stop - you can do it, just be prepared to do what it takes..!