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

[MissTook]

It's easier than you think, op. I smoked from age 15, I was up to 60 a day. I was never without my fags.

I used patches to the letter - I didn't skip one single instruction in the leaflet because I knew that would give me an excuse for them 'not to work' for me. I sailed through it and haven't looked back.

Don't worry about the weight thing, you're giving yourself an out before you start.
You. Can. Do. This.

[proseccoaficionado]

Wow. I am amazed at the support I got on here. I will definitely come back on this thread when the time comes.

I am so happy I finally took this decision and that I asked on here. So many positive stories!

[MakeLemonade]

This might have just been me but every time I got a cold/cough when I was a smoker I was convinced I had lung cancer. Made for very stressful winters.

[proseccoaficionado]

@MissTook I was thinking to buy patches (and anything available) but only use them if it gets really rough. I am on 20 a day but I think recently I'm on a bit more🙄

[proseccoaficionado]

@MakeLemonade oh I'm a fan of throat cancer. I had sinusitis + post nasal drip and I convinced myself I had sinus + throat cancer. Yay me. Nope.

[userschmoozer]

Don't use patches before you've tried Alan Carrs Easiway. I used to chain smoke and didn't really want to quit. I didn't think it would work for me. I stopped easily, the few cravings were dealt with using a herbal cigarette. I only used one packet of those and I was done.

[ReadingIsFundamental]

I had stopped for 7 years, then stupidly had a couple on a night out and went back to full time smoking for a year. I quit again in June using Allan Carr’s Easy Way to stop smoking for women. I also downloaded the smoke free app. In 6 months, I’ve saved £2,000 according to smoke free. It also documents the health advantages of giving up so is a good motivator not to start again.
I love not having to hide my disgusting habit from my kids or wider family. I love not having to disappear outside on holiday or after a family meal in order to have a quick smoke. I think I’ve been less stressed after giving up than I was when I was using it as a stress-reliever. I was also incredibly ashamed of myself for smoking again so successfully giving up felt like a real achievement.
Honestly, there are too many advantages to list. All the best with giving up, once you have made up your mind it’s really not difficult. And I wasn’t a grumpy cow when giving up, because I was very happy to be free of nicotine.

[proseccoaficionado]

@userschmoozer Actually now you say that I remember a few days ago I read some tips online written by Allan Carr and he said that it you use patches / any other aid you will convince your brain that you are making a sacrifice. You're absolutely right, thanks for the reminder

[proseccoaficionado]

@ReadingIsFundamental I had no idea there's an app! That's great!

[TooTrueToBeGood]

I quit 9 years ago having smoked heavily since i was not even a teenager.

Benefits:
No longer smell like a tramp
Saving a fortune
Fitter now in my fifties than I've ever been before
Teeth and nails no longer yellow
Food tastes and smells more intense
Much more stable temperament.

Only two downsides I can think of:
I can smell a smoker from 100 metres and they're absolutely rank.
I'm much less likely to die early so have had to seriously review my pension planning.

[CoddledAsAMommet]

Do you have a One You service where you live? (Just Google One You and your county /borough.) You're 4x more likely to quit if you have support. The support is free (even patches/gums etc are free if you decide you want to go that route) and brilliant quality. Good luck.

[HJWT]

@proseccoaficionado I just felt so much better, and the STINK of people smoking is VILE once you stop yourself! I actually had a cigarette last summer when i was drunk didn't even manage more than 2 'gos' and wanted to vom

[TroubledMuchly]

Do it!!!

Contrary to others stories of misery and hardship, I found quitting easy. Maybe because I was expecting the worst!

The benefits are huge.

I decided to quit once, and once only, like PP have suggested. Make your decision that you're now an ex smoker. Cravings are temporary, but you'll have better health the rest of your life!

I've gone from being an overweight unfit smoker to a slim, super healthy half-marathon runner. With a LOT less stress!

It will change your life!

[proseccoaficionado]

@TooTrueToBeGood not specifically that one but I found something like "smoker anonymous" (???). I admit I had a laugh.

Hiiii, I am proseccoaficionado and I'm a smoker🙄

[proseccoaficionado]

@TroubledMuchly That's the best part, I believe. I'm prepared for the worst of the worst. So perhaps it can't be that bad as I convinced myself it will be

[HJWT]

@proseccoaficionado when my Dad quit he chewed gum and not he has no teeth be sucks of sweets 😂

[CatcherofDreams]

Another vote for Alan Carr and his Easy Way to Stop Smoking. I used this and had no cravings, just a sense of pure happiness that I had joined the ranks of the non smokers.
I didn't plan a quit day, I just stopped. I used to bulk buy my cigarettes and still had a couple of packs 'in stock' which were completely useless to me of course due to my 'non-smoker' status.
I can never have a single cigarette again or even 'just one puff' because then I would be a smoker again.
The best thing is being able to lie in bed and enjoy a cuppa instead of dragging on my dressing gown and going outside in the cold for a cigarette.

[R3b3kah]

I threw away every lighter, rizzla, filter etc completely got rid of it all.
Fully charged up my vape the night I would have my last fag... woke up in the morning and vaped only, not as fantastic as some who can go completely cold turkey but after many failed attempts I still can’t believe I’ve been off them almost 2 years

[humblesims]

it is so much less stressful to be a non-smoker
this is very true. you dont realise how much time you spend worry about giving up smoking until you look at it in the rear view mirror and think to yourself what was I so worried about. There are zero regrets. Everything is a positive. Your health, your wallet, your appearance etc. Smoking feels like a friend you are going to mourn the loss of but honestly this is a mind trick. You wont mourn it and you wont miss it once that hard part is done. When the craving strikes just distract yourself with something (not food) and be strong until its passed. DO NOT GIVE IN TO IT EVEN ONCE!. Its a little gaslighting monster in your brain and you can beat it. You will never regret it or mourn it. Good Luck. I found a mantra useful "All I have to do is not smoke".

[WhatNow40]

DM quit with help from the dr, after 40 yrs. she discovered the smoking has been masking symptoms of diabetes. After stopping, her body started to cleanse itself which then highlighted the other symptoms.

FIL had treatment for bowel cancer. He'd spent 2 wks in hospital and his body was over the physical nicotine addiction. After that, it was dealing with the other aspects of addiction such as habits, boredom and social identity. He's found a higher appreciation for his health and is enjoying being able to taste the finer notes in good red wine.

Best of luck to you.

[TroubledMuchly]

I really was expecting it to be much harder. But be firm, focus on the positives (write a list) and tell yourself you've done the hardest bit by deciding to quit.

Honestly I was worried about how moody I'd be, how much weight I'd put on, but I was SO proud of myself for doing it, every hour I made it, (then hours into days, weeks, months, years) that positivity outweighed the cravings.

I actually lost weight and got better skin, my DH was really proud, I had loads more dosh, I didn't stink anymore, I didn't get stressed as much and life was brighter.

The best bit was (a year after quitting) going on a long-haul flight with zero worries about when I could next have a fag.

It's like being free, and you won't regret it :)

[feelingverylazytoday]

I notice my increased fitness the most, I can swim and walk for hours without getting out of breath. I very rarely get a cough now. And of course all the money I don't spend.
Also my eldest (adult) child smokes, because I smoked when he was little I hold myself partly responsible for that. My younger doesn't smoke and I think thats partly due to spending most of his life in a smokefree household.
I gave up 14 years ago after several attempts, I was a 30/day smoker. I used patches. I sometimes think I would have been dead now if I hadnt quit.
As to weight gain, yes I did unfortunately, and I was obese for a few years. I can't put that down to just quitting smoking though. I should have got on top of it earlier. If you increase your exercise and eat properly instead of flopping around eating instead of smoking (like I did) then you should be fine. I think I read that the average weight gain after quitting is eleven pounds, that is a manageable amount of weight to lose, and has to be compared to the advantages of giving up smoking. Giving up smoking is the most effective change you can make for your health.

[LostInShoebiz]

Tomatoes and aubergines have nicotine in them and I switched to snacking on those as an interim measure. Keeps the hands busy and (probably more placebo than anything) I was getting my nicotine fix. Plus they’re not massively calorific like if you had some crisps to occupy your hands.

[AuntieGeek]

Champix helped me. Been smoke free for 6 weeks on Thursday and it makes me feel so good that my lung capacity is going to be ok again.

[Blueblueyellow]

Watching with interest Op, want to quit too. Its just like aaah what do I do if I don't smoke iykwim. Do you feel like that too?