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

Actually,i haven't had a cold in years. Get a slight tickly throat but then it goes after a day. Also that £40 a month soon adds up

I’ve recently quit smoking (1 month today!) and started vaping. The catalyst for me was the fear of losing my teeth. I’ve noticed the stale smell on people who smoke, it’s gross. Horrified to think that I used to smell like that. I’m really proud of myself, I was a very heavy chain smoker and I never thought I’d be able to do it. Highly recommend trying a vape. You’ll save a lot of money and feel so proud of yourself, go for it

I don't have to wash my hair or clothes as often because I don't stink. I have a lot more money.
On the downside, the smell of other's smoke really disgusts me.

I got a lot richer.

@user1466783975 I am so so so curious about the flu/sinusitis/colds. I can bet it will make a difference in the sinusitis issues. I had it 2 times (2 years ago and now when it lasted 4 bloody weeks!!!!!!!!!) and I am so ready to never have it again.

@Birdie6 ok I took the plunge and I'm spending bloody €250 monthly (roughly). I can certainly do stuff with €3000/year.

@Withasideofbeans YAY YOU!!! Well done!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

Good for you ! Stick to it and you'll never regret it.

I quit 12 years ago when pg. It was fucking hard but I was determined to do it. In fact, it's the hardest thing I have ever done. I did it with the help of the NHS stop smoking service but if it was today, I would vape.

I had my last fag in the evening (30th Nov 2008) and went to bed. Woke up a non smoker! I woke up crying as I was scared but I got through the day (despite MIL chain smoking and telling me she smoked all through her 2 pregnancies 🙄) and I was so proud of myself.

I agree with the PP....do it once. Its pretty tough not to smoke for an entire day, so don't do all that good work only to cave in.

One day at a time. If you have a craving, find something to do. Change routines.

If I can do it, anyone can. Good luck xx

30th November 2006 even. I had a few cigarettes in the packet in my handbag for months too 😊.....just in case! Never smoked them.

I gave up smoking on new year day last year and haven't had one since.

I bought an e-cig and to begin with I didn't like it and thought it was useless. Gave it a few weeks and then I began to like it more than cigarettes!

I think the best thing for me was getting rid of that horrible smoke smell that lingered in all my clothes, hair and space around me. Also knowing that my health must be a lot better now too.

I still vape and do need to work on weening myself off it.

I bloody loved smoking but I did it
Buy a good vape, you'll never look back
I bought myself a treat with the money saved for the first 6 months so I had something tangible to show for it

Saved loads of money....that I spent on cocaine.

I quit 6 weeks ago using a vape.

My skins still shit & I still feel like shit, but I'm saving £££ and in the long run my health will benefit.

As long as I'm puffing on my vape I'm ok and not needing a fag! Haven't even thought about having one since about the third week tbh.

I smoked 10-15 a day (barring pregnancy) for 15 years and I enjoyed having a fag. I'm enjoying vaping now though.

I smoked 20 a day for over 20 years. I loved smoking. I had to quit three years ago due to a critical illness and just went cold turkey (I’d fagfed about with parches and vaping beforehand but they never worked permanently for me). It was so much easier to quit than I thought it would be, so I hope it will be for you too. It’s just such a relief not to think about it anymore.

The best things are:
More money
Less guilt
Not having to stress about it, remember to buy cigs, find a time and place to smoke.
My skin looks amazing
I was worried I’d eat more but actually found exercise easier as I have more breath and as I beat nicotine I just feel more “I can do it! “ about exercise.

Good luck, OP xx

Definitely lack of stress. It's so nice not to worry about when you can smoke, e.g. on a plane or when you're at work. I quit vaping a couple of months ago too and it's just freeing not having an addiction.

I quit just over a year ago when i found out I was pregnant, it was easy for me to do it at that time as I had my baby to motivate me. Now, my DD is 8 months and I have had puff or 2 when I've had a few drinks on 2 occasions. I do miss it sometimes, but j think it's just because I've been through alot of stress this past year, but in all honesty the only difference I see is that I have more money and I don't smell of stale smoke.
My health was pretty good even when I smoked, i very rarely got ill and even a cold only last a day or 2. So that side of things I can't relate to.
I stopped smoking using niquitin mints, the midwife recommended them and it made it pretty easy, I stopped smoking completely over night, basically. Just used the mints instead. And then I stopped using the mints after 2 months I think it was.

Good luck! You can do it!

I also read Allen carr's book and I stopped over night for a year a few years ago but then started again, stupidly. I tried to read the book again to stop but it didn't work the second time. I would recommend it, just don't be silly and force yourself to start again x

I gave up when I was pregnant and stopped for about a year in that time i felt healithier and the smell used to make me feel so sick and dirty, stupidly I went on a night out and started smoking and then started the next day.

I did Alan Carr's workshop and it was the easiest thing I ever did.

I'm richer. I'm certainly healthier and I don't have health anxiety any more.
I smell good and never have to check out where the 'smokers corner' is everywhere I go.
I enjoy food more and I didn't put on weight in fact I lost weight because I became naturally more active.
My house insurance is cheaper.
I stopped drinking alcohol which was a completely unintended but very good thing because I was doing too much of that too!!

I've got my taste buds back. My hands and fingers don't stink if nicotine. I noticed my right hand was ageing rapidly compared to left. There's still a difference now 5 years later. No way could I afford to smoke now, 10 for twenty?

15 years now.
I don't smell like an ashtray anymore.
I don't have lungs that feel like I need to stand on my head to clear them.
I have lost that nasty grey look.My wrinkles have improved x 100.
No more eye bags.
My gums have gone from gum disease to normal, my dentist says it's very unlikely I'll lose my teeth now. Haven't lost a single one since I gave up smoking 15 years ago.
No desperation to have a fag when I'm working in a clinic that doesn't allow smoking anywhere.
Better hair and nails.
Feel great in the morning instead of exhausted.
Can walk up a big hill easily.
I could go on and on.

Oh yes and after failing to give up numerous times, took 2 weeks off work and went cold turkey. That worked.

If you switch to a vape try and make it very short term and as a way of weaning you off nicotine I have used the Nicorette sprays with great success as it’s the closest to actually smoking in terms of the ‘hit’.

Everything is so much easier, even running for a bus.

A poster above mentioned surgery, I had surgery before and after quitting. The difference was amazing, your body heals so much quicker as a non-smoker.