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

@EmeraldShamrock and I am pretty sure that by now all the nicotine has left your body!

I took up knitting, crochet and embroidery when I quit. I found keeping my hands busy really helpful, plus it's quite relaxing too.

Day 4 post Allen Carr revelation.

Please, please read/listen to this man. Costs less than a pack of cigs.

It doesn't have to be difficult to give up. I can't believe how easy it can be after just listening to an Audiobook.

I haven't wanted to smoke at all, I've done all the things I'd usually do which would normally require a cigarette.

Give it a go

You are fab, Proescco. You are striking out and exploring a new you.

Nicotine is in your system 5 days I think, or is it 7? It takes 3 weeks to begin to feel you are starting to create new habits, I think.

Just keep batting those negative thoughts away. You are all doing this because you want to. And because tareq powerful people.

Nicotine is very short lived, it has a half life of 2 hours which is why people need to light up throughout the day.

I dont understand why so many of us are saying we quit without stress using the Alan Carr method and people are still talking about gritting their teeth and using willpower.
If you want to quit and stay off them, without vaping or patches or gum, use the Alan Carr Easiway method.

The Allen Carr method doesn't work for some people. I've read the book a few times and it didn't register with me at all. Going cold turkey is ok, but you have to time it right.

I'm finding the NHS stop smoking app really useful, especially the craving diary part.

I lost weight (I inadvertently cut out the whole hand to mouth action and didn't eat enough!)

Is the Allen Carr book useful after you've quit? For example I find the first few weeks easy but after that, I feel like I'm missing the fags and want 'one last one' which of course leads on to more and that's when the real cravings start. I'm on day 5 now I think or day 4, cant remember what the date is haha and all is fine.

After a few weeks the cravings are psychological. So that's what the solution it- work on telling your mind and persuading your mind that the cravings aren't real, and will only last a few minutes. Which is the truth.

I've given up smoking and I'm so so happy. I feel and smell great. My hangovers aren't as bad. I can exercise at twice the pace (one year on).

The cravings are all in your head. You can do it!!

@proseccoaficionado ha ha, bring on that list or a punch bag lol day 4 nearly had murder with my eldest ds, so went and sorted shed out, ds survived just x The house is starting to sparkle for a change though x

Well done of you recently given up.

a PP mentioned that they found the first few weeks easy then cravings hit hard by about month 3. Totally agree with this, I have issues months into it, when it's definitely only psychological as physical cravings will be long gone.

Also can relate to 'The Rage'! At 6 weeks I am past that now but my family suffered a bit.

I tried a vape on my first quit and didn't really like it at all, had a e cig that I took on nights out but this time I'm completely cold turkey. It's difficult but I know some people who vape more than they ever smoked and I didn't want to replace one habit with another. Having said that vaping is better than smoking so whatever gets you through.

Allen Carr didn't work for me, I didn't get all the hype as I couldn't even finish the book - but again, whatever works for you is all good.

@Newbeginnings2019 If you use Alan Carr you don't really get many after cravings. I went from chain smoking to zero overnight.

Well I had £50 extra in my wallet every week. I smoked marlboro reds so I saved a fortune.

My chest cleared up within a week or so and I didn’t get out of breath anymore walking uphill/upstairs. Also didn’t hurt when the cold air would hit me as it always seemed to when I smoked.

No longer had to go outside in the cold to smoke which was a massive bonus...

Didn’t stink like shit anymore.

Good luck!

I gave up last year after minor surgery. I was advised to, wavered about “oh well. I only smoke a few a day” then told myself not to be a dick and just follow the damn advice!

It is so liberating! As others have said, I’m not tied to calculating when I next have to go to the shop or garage, or to standing outside in the pouring rain.
I have so much more money, I’m watching my savings account just zoom up and up every month. At £12 a pack I was deluding myself about how much I was spending. I never went short of anything because of it, but that isn’t the point really.
Silly things, like being able to book holiday cottages/Air B nB s without working out from the photos how close other properties were and would I piss neighbours off if I was smoking outside.
My lung function improved rapidly. I’d got used to the tightness at the beginning of a walk or going up hill - gone now. Just need my leg muscles to get the memo and I am going to be fitter than I’ve ever been.
My skin also improved so quickly. People who didn’t know I smoked (at work) asked what I used! THey still don’t know I smoked 😄
I tried so many times to give up over the years. I’d totally bought into the bollocks that smokers tell themselves oh, I’m otherwise fit and healthy......I’ll be one of the lucky ones who dodge the illness bullet.....Aunty Mavis smoked 40 a day and died aged 102 peacefully in bed All that utter delusional twaddle.

I do still love the smell of fresh cigarettes though. But I’ll never pick one of my own up and light it ever again.

*The stress just goes away.

Honestly it is so much less stressful to be a non-smoker. I wasn't expecting that one as someone who would run for a cigarette every time I got a bit stressed, but it's true.

Good luck x*

Oh god THIS! So much. It's stressfull to quit smoking but once I got through those first weeks my life became so much more peaceful. I didn't have to decide when I could smoke, where I could smoke, when to buy a new packet, if there were enough lighters, no explaining that I need to smoke. Life gas become easier.

Also the obvious health benefits, after three weeks I could run 3x longer than before without putting in the extra effort. It suddenly became easier. I don't smell anymore (smokers stink so much more than they realise), I have money to spend on holidays and my jewelry collection. My skin looks nicer, I look a bit younger.

Oh my god. You people are amazing.
I will re-read this thread over and over. I know I'm being silly for having set a date and stick to it, not I just want to do it now but I don't want to jinx it. I'll stick to my date, I am 100% sure, I have Allan Carr, the smoke free app, and 2 meditations app.

I can't wait. I love this thread. I also can't wait to come here and report with a smug face " I'm a non-smoker for a month, 2 months, 6 months, etc".

I’ve been off them nearly two years now. I quit to get pregnant and stayed off them. Biggest thing I’ve noticed is the money! I always have money in my purse!

Erm yeah, OP, the Smug thing. It will, I’m afraid, make you very Smug indeed
I still give updates to DH about how long i’ve given up for and he has to say “Well done you!” Every. Single. Time.

I've just looked on the smoke free app and it's told me all my health benefits thus far. I find that quite motivating.

@Saucery oh my poor DP. And my parents. And his parents. And my friends. And poor you mnetters. You'll never hear the end of it. Can't wait

I'm also going to put £18 in a separate account every week which is what I would have spent on cigarettes and watch it grow. That might help in a few months time when I feel the urge to smoke. I know that urge is coming as its happened every time I've quit so I am going to try and prepare myself for it by having a nice little pot of money to spend instead.

I’ll look out for you proseccoaficianado. More than happy to feed your Smug, at 1 Day, 3 Weeks or 6 Months.