To ask you what has changed in your life once you quit smoking?

[proseccoaficionado]

That's it, folks.

I set my date for the end of January (some stressful events in January).

Please tell me the positive aspects of quitting smoking, what has changed in your life and please, your top tips to stay away from it.

I have to admit I'm a bit terrified and never tried to quit before. I want to do it once and for good.

Thank you and a Happy New Year, everyone

@JoDa73 I am sorry to hear that and I hope everything turns out well for you. Admittedly, my life has been a mess in the last 5-6 months (plenty of changes, panic attacks, anxiety), but I am hoping things will improve in 2019

I hope 2019 will be the best year we ever had, for all of us🥂🙏🏻

I stopped by starting to vape 1/2 the time, then vaping took over. I vape now than I smoked but it's so much better. I can do it in the loo if I'm out and nobody need know.

I had a cheeky roll up over Xmas and stank the next day. Had no idea it was so bad! Because so few people smoke now you rarely smell it but it's proper awful. If one patient in a hospital ward had just been out for a fag the whole ward stinks.

You can do it!

The liberation ! Never worrying if I needed another packet of fags or when I could next smoke one. Never worrying about being in smoke free places. Better skin, more £s and none of the discomfort of nipping out for a fag when none of your social group smoke. Or worrying if you smell of it.

If I'm honest I probably planned activities, holidays etc so that there would be the opportunity to smoke and dreaded things like long haul flights.

You can do it op and you will feel very proud of yourself. To those thinking about quitting, it is tough and you can only do it when YOU are ready. No amount of nagging or quit smoking days was ever going to work until I was ready. I feel sorry for people who continually get grief about it. Good luck

Day 3 for me, cold turkeying it x so looking forward to being free from cravings and becoming healthier xxx

@flameycakes how is it going? How are you feeling so far?

Reading and contemplating. Really want to but so scared as have smoked forever

Not too bad to be honest, had moments where I feel whingy, ive been doing a lot of cleaning and getting hugs of my sons, I've removed everything smoking related. Determined to see this through, was so tired of feeling selfish xxxx

I plan on stopping later this month! I want to get life insurance and the premiums are much higher so I don’t want to use any nicotine product. My kids hate it and it is pretty disgusting. Can I join?

@Cuttingthegrass I know, I have smoked forever too. Well, 11 years. But that's a whole lot!

@Onehellofaride Of course you can! More than welcome! The more, the merrier

I gave up 10 years ago after a really disgusting throat infection. It was hard for 2 weeks and then boom! Loved it! I wasn't tied to them, I didn't drink, I wasn't throwing my money away or worrying about when I could next smoke. 10 years on and I haven't even touched a cigarette and never will again.

My life changed.

I started smoking at 13.
It ruled my life.
I smoked throughout my pregnancies ( it was normal back then ) fortunately my babies were born healthy and a good weight.
I refused to go on flights lasting any longer than 5 hours max.
I lost all my teeth through gum disease, wearing full dentures by the age of 45.
I nursed people who were dying of cancer, gave comfort to them and their relatives as they died.
I would smoke rather than eat, or spend money on cigs rather than food.
I used to become aggressive with people who tutted if I was smoking where I was allowed to.
I sparked up a cig while waiting to go in the church on my wedding day, going down the aisle stinking of smoke.
I would get ready for a night out, make myself smell lovely with bubble baths and perfume, then ruin it by sparking a cig up.

AND I STILL SELFISHLY SMOKED!

Then I lost a lung to cancer. I stopped.

And all of the above didn't apply any more. It feels great. I can face anything now including long haul flights. Years of making the tobacco industry richer, while they made me poorer. How stupid was I.

You only get one chance at life, grab it, nurture it and love it.

I’ve stopped smoking 5 days ago, been smoking menthol cigarettes for a few years after stopping for around 12 years, previous to that smoked for several years during student days. Just downloaded 3 of Allen Carr’s (first searched for the comedian Allan Carr...) books to hopefully cut back on eating and drinking too much. Thanks for the tips & best of luck to you all on a healthier & happier New Year.

@Ifangyow I am so sorry for your cancer. I hope it never ever ever ever comes back!
I am happy though you don't smoke anymore and feel happy! Thanks for the courage of sharing this with me
Also, I have to admit the thought of me smoking before I go up to the aisle ( not married yet, probably next year) really knocked some sense into me.

Much appreciated. Thank you and wishing you best of luck!

@BobbyGentry yay you!!!! Happy new year!🥂🙏🏻

Just started to feel crotchety and really piddled off, going to try and lay low so I don't start biting people's heads off, oh the joys lol xx

Today is my first day quitting. This thread is great and really helpful to read when I feel like smoking. I'm determined to quit for good this time!

@flameycakes if you want to bite people's heads off, I can provide you with an extensive list of morons who piss me off seriously now, YOU CAN DO IT! You are already doing it
@expatinspain I still have almost a month of being a smoker, but I can't wait for the day to come. I'm sure that I chose the day well as I have v stressful times ahead this month.

This site has some real life horror stories of the harm that smoking does. Warning - some of the photos are graphic
whyquit.com

@feelingverylazytoday not that brave, sorry🙈 I am too paranoid

• health anxiety

Day 3 for me after reading Allen Carr (thank you you amazing people here).

After 38 years and numerous attempts this is it. It's going rather well.

I listened to the Audiobook rather than read the book. It's quite 'of its time' (1980s) which bugged me but the message is the same regardless.

I wish I'd read it years ago.

@MaidenMotherCrone Congrats!!!!

Prosecco, you will create new memories to associate with all those things. Once you stop using smoking as the "soundtrack" to your life, you will create different ones. I absolutely promise you. You will feel liberated.

As long as you tell yourself you will, you will. That's how you break the addiction.

I swear to you, it is just a con trick. It is you who imprison yourself, by creating those memories. I had 3 attempts at stopping before I figured that out. Once I did, it was easy.

It is so hard, day 5 is shitty, depressing, emotional. I keep thinking of my DC, remembering I want to be married this year.
I have read the other smoking threads to reiterate how disgusting I am as a smoker, feck me it really gets a hold of you.
Tomorrow is a new day, I am convincing myself to break and start again Monday when the DC go back to school, but I am fooling myself.

@Yearofthemum I took a screenshot of your comment. I'm pretty sure is going to end up as my wallpaper at some point😂 Thank you. You've been fab.

@EmeraldShamrock but you are a rockstar! You made it for 5 days! You're the best! You can do it!!!!!! And you will. This is the year when we rock!!!🎉🎉🎉