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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to ask for your success stories in giving up smoking...

54 replies

StartingGrid · 08/10/2018 22:38

... and also your reasons? I've smoked for 17 years, never a day without one, and I just don't want to kill myself any quicker than I need to anymore but I can't seem to break the habit.

So how and why did you manage it please? (I appreciate this isn't the right place but the appropriate boards are so quiet!)

OP posts:
UpstartCrow · 08/10/2018 23:08

This book by Alan Carr. No willpower, no stress, no gum, no patches, just quit;

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/1405923318/ref=sr_1_sc_1_olp?keywords=Alan+Carr+Easiway+to+quit&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1539036424&sr=8-1-spell

loubluee · 08/10/2018 23:10

My last fag was 12 weeks ago today. Just decided to do it. Am using an e-cig, but went straight to 0.3 nicotine and now no nicotine, just need to break the puffing habit. Although realised today I went 7 hours without using it.

You need to want to do it, and you will know when you are ready. Good luck!

NC4Now · 08/10/2018 23:12

I’m on day 87. I’ve saved £400.
The NHS Stop Smoking app works it all out for you and motivates you.

zzzzz · 08/10/2018 23:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LittleBirdBlues · 08/10/2018 23:16

I did it gradually. Started with a smoke free Sunday, then slowly extended that to Sunday and Monday, then added Tuesday and so on. The weekend was the hardest of course, but I had practiced my willpower on the easier days so it was doable.

I think I realised that smoking didn't make me feel better. It was just two minutes of pleasure, and then it was as if I'd never had one. So what was the point?! All I had to do was manage to resist for those two minutes. Looking at it that way made smoking "redundant" in my mind.

I still occasionally crave a cigarette and it's been 5 or 6 years! Alcohol is my biggest trigger but using the logic above I manage to withstand.

Good luck it is really worth it!

snowplop · 08/10/2018 23:16

Another vote for Alan Carr. I did a day's course and drove home afterwards a happy non-smoker. I'd tried Champix twice, patches and hypnotherapy prior to that but I was hopelessly addicted. It's been 7 years now and I haven't even felt tempted. I also haven't coughed at night or had a chest infection. Good luck to all reading this and thinking they can't give up because they're obviously more addicted than I was. It's not true - you can.

Menarefrommarsitwouldseem · 08/10/2018 23:21

Lots of positives for Alan Carr

I'm very tempted as I really need to stop. Have another vile chest infection.

MrsRhettButler · 08/10/2018 23:34

I don't agree that you have to accept that you will want one daily for a very long time. I did not get one craving when I stopped.
I had my last one on my last page of the book then closed the book as a non smoker, threw all my smoking stuff straight in the bin and smiled.
I HAVE NOT CRAVED AT ALL
Sorry to shout but I'm really happy about it Grin

Dillydallyingthrough · 08/10/2018 23:56

Alan Carr only works if your mind works in a certain way.

Tried it 3 times, didn't work for me (and I REALLY wanted it to!) or my 2 siblings.

Darkestnight · 08/10/2018 23:56

I quit 3 years ago for many reasons. Mainly health and finance and being told by a heart consultant I would die by the age of 65 I was 37 then. So thoroughly changed my life. I also lost 8 stone while I was quitting. I used boots giving give up smoking service and used champix medicine. Just some weird dreams but I've never got cravings or was tempted for a ciggi again

BonnieF · 09/10/2018 00:14

I quit mainly for financial reasons, ie because I wasn’t prepared to pay a fiver for a packet of fags. I used a 3 pronged strategy :

1, I used nicotine gum to pacify my addiction while I worked on the ‘bad habit’ part of smoking.

2, I stopped putting myself in situations which triggered the urge to smoke, eg going to the pub, eating out.

3, I saved up the money I would have spent on cigarettes. It mounted up unbelievably quickly.

The first week wasn’t much fun, I missed going out more than I missed smoking, but I got through it. Once I had adjusted to not smoking cigarettes, I gradually weaned myself off the gum. The cash I saved payed for a holiday. I eventually started socialising again as a non-smoker.

AlexaAmbidextra · 09/10/2018 01:31

I had smoked for about 20 years. Regretted starting but actually enjoyed it. Early last year I had flu. Real proper feel like death, can’t raise my head from the pillow, almost comatose type flu. I was off work for three weeks, two of which I spent in bed. Obviously I didn’t even think about cigs and when I started to recover I looked at the half full pack I had left, thought to myself “well I’ve done without these for several weeks, why on earth would I start again now’ and threw them away. That was 18 months ago and I’ve never smoked since. That’s not to say I don’t ever fancy the odd one but I would never risk it. I’m so glad I’m free of the tyranny of dependency.

gluteustothemaximus · 09/10/2018 01:37

Gave up 10 years ago. I didn't want to die is why. When I read that your lungs renew after 10 years (I think) then I thought I'd get a second chance and reverse any damage done..that was my thought process anyway.

I carried a pack around for ages. Told myself I could have one whenever I wanted. But never did. Knowing they were there helped.

Took a few years to stop wanting one. I still occasionally smoke in my dreams. Good luck x

NameChanger22 · 09/10/2018 01:39

I gave up 14 years ago. I read the Alan Carr book, made myself believe every word of it and it helped me stop. I really wanted to stop smoking, so I had the motivation. I stopped going out at the same time so I wouldn't be tempted. I also found a video game to be addicted to and replace the cigarettes for a while, which took my mind off it.

I don't think it's that hard to quit if you really want to and you read the book.

I'm so glad I stopped. I think anyone can.

AltheaorDonna · 09/10/2018 01:59

Vaping worked for me. I only smoked when I was having a drink though so I really just needed something to do with my hands, rather than an actual nicotine hit.

AltheaorDonna · 09/10/2018 02:01

Oops, posted too soon. What really helped was I forgot my vape one night out and chain smoked half a dozen cigarettes. As I hadn't had a cig in about a month I felt so ill! I really felt that I'd been poisoned! Never again!

Wincarnis · 09/10/2018 02:47

Got a really nasty chest infection, wheezy, rattly, horrible. Thought i was a goner. Didn’t smoke for a day or two. Meanwhile, ddog still needed to be cared for...realised ddog stank of cigs. Awful. Quit there and then. Yes it was tough, had to avoid “cig moments” (with a coffee, with a beer) for a few weeks, but soon noticed the benefits (and not having to worry about having enough cigs at all times)

someoneseatenmyapple · 09/10/2018 02:57

I read the Allen Carr book. Gave up. No cravings. I was so sceptical but I wanted to give up. I'm now about 5 years down the line. Don't go down the NRT route if you can help it. It'll only cost you money and you really don't need it. I personally think it's a con.

LellyMcKelly · 09/10/2018 05:14

I’d smoked for 15 years. Switched to vaping about 6 years ago - it kept the craving at bay and I found I didn’t use it as much. I now only use it about 3 or 4 times a year on a big night out with friends who smoke.

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 09/10/2018 05:45

@snowplop has put into words my experience.

Unexpected side effects of stopping smoking

  • genuinely fabulous hair. It’s strong, it doesn’t break, it’s glossy and it now comes down beyond my shoulders. Win.
  • skin. Less pallid. Truly pinker and I look younger.
  • no guilt. I have two under three. I used to feel dreadful when I’d have been smoking then come home and couldn’t cuddle them until I’d changed
  • fitter. I’m claustrophobic and can now feel the difference when I walk the four floors upstairs to my desk
  • I’m not the only one out of my friendship group now dipping out for a fag and coming back in reeking
  • did I mention glossy hair? [swish] Grin
JellyBears · 09/10/2018 06:11

My mum had hypnotherapy about 15 years ago. Never touched one since and my dad well sadly he got the dreaded lung cancer and wasn’t so lucky. You can do it!!

Happygolucky009 · 09/10/2018 06:26

i listened to the Paul McKenna download on quitting smoking first thing in a morning and last thing at night (falling asleep plugged in).

Didn't expect it to work, but after 21 days I had stopped after 10 years. Don't crave cigarettes and had one recently on a night out and was meh!

snowplop · 09/10/2018 06:42

And you @PaulHollywoodsSexGut about the guilt trip. I used to sneak out for fags and then try and sneak in to wash my hands and rinse my mouth out before my kids noticed. My anxiety levels were constantly sky-high trying to manage my addiction.

Nice about the swishy hair Smile Alas, mine has fared less well as it's now mainly grey. Sigh.

HereBeFuckery · 09/10/2018 06:47

Quit when pregnant. Started again. Quit again. Started again.

Switched to vaping. 14 months and no cravings, no desire to ever smoke again. On the lowest nicotine dose (3mg/100ml), the 0mg stuff tastes weird, or I'd go nicotine free.

Anothergoodday · 09/10/2018 06:55

I gave up with the Allen Carr book a few years ago then started smoking again after about a year. The book didn’t work a second time.

This time I used nicotine gum for a month then moved on to normal gum. I also kept a calendar and marked off every hour in the first few days then every day to motivate myself and I kept a no smoking diary and wrote in it whenever I got a craving. I haven’t smoked for 2 years now and don’t miss it at all. Good luck!

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