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

[WiddlinDiddlin]

I switched to vaping.

The key there is getting a good vape kit, go into a vape shop and explain and try some vape juices out in the shop - they may taste funny but remember you still have a smokers tastebuds and so you aren't really getting the true flavours yet.

Concentrate on how you feel after a hit of vape, does it give you the same nicotine hit as a cig (it should, you should feel satisified).

Thats the bit you need really, the flavours and all the other faffery around vapes can come later.

Then just tell yourself 'ok I want a fag, but Ill vape now and if i REALLY want a fag afterwards I can have one...'

And do that every time and you will find if you got the right vape, that you NEVER 'really' want one afterwards.

After just a few days you will feel freer, you will lose the smoker smell, you will smell other smokers a MILE off and it'll probably give you a headache if you are shut in a small space with one, and things will start to taste better.

You may have a sore throat and a cough for a few days, thats normal, getting rid of the crap you built up from the fags.

Vaping gets you out of the habit of fags - you still get your nicotine but you will lose the habit of marking out each day in fags, how many fags is this dog walk, I'll do this and then have a fag, I'll just have a 1 fag break... oh no i can't go do that ive no fags...

You can sit and hold the vape and not actually vape it - think about how many times you light a cig ... and then actually arent really smoking much of it (I used to sit down to write an article or blog, light a cig.. then type away as it burned down! I think half the cigs I lit I didn't actually smoke!).

Then once you have htat habit cracked you can reduce the nicotine and bust the nicotine addiction, then you can dispense with the vape entirely if you want.

[itbemay]

My skin is better I look less wrinkly, I don't smell of smoke and I notice my perfume more as do others.
I don't need to wash my hair as often! My car doesn't stink, I have more money and more time as I'm not outside smoking all the time! I do vape but a lot less than I smoked. Good luck!
I feel fab going into the new year not smoking. Good luck!

[danni0509]

@WiddlinDiddlin any particular vape flavours you recommend?

[grannycake]

I liked ice menthol as a vape. Don't get on with the sweet ones and they smell. No smell from ice menthol. But I used to smoke menthol fags

[PookieDo]

I vape menthol too. Much nicer than any others

[proseccoaficionado]

Thank you everyone! I'm so happy I have this thread to come back to when need be! Now I can't wait. But I set my date and sticking to that. I really hope I can make it!

[EmeraldShamrock]

Great thread. I have wanted to start one.
I am on day 3 feeling ancy. Looking forward to no longer been ashamed and feeling like a failure.
A tip I done this time, I downloaded the Alen Carr audio book. You can get a free audio month from Amazon with one token for the book.
It is amazing, everything he says I and most smokers can relate too, my main incentive is my DC. I am terrified of catching some awful disease and not bern here anymore through my own making
It is an addiction. I often think what the fuck is wrong with me to sabotage my health.
Good Luck OP.

[proseccoaficionado]

@EmeraldShamrock wow, great for you, well done! How were day 1 and 2? Especially the first?

[EmeraldShamrock]

It is actually ok. I am not vaping, I have lots more energy, my mouth feels much cleaner. I am keeping busy clearing the house.
It is just my mind I have to control. I am convincing myself of the positive as the mind keeps making excuses not to stay quit. Im ignoring those thoughts.

[jessstan2]

I stopped coughing, within a fortnight. I'd had a bit of a cough for years, didn't think much about it.

Whenever I caught a cold and even when suffering hay fever, mucus settled in my lungs and I developed a chest infection.

When I gave up smoking, that stopped too.

[proseccoaficionado]

@EmeraldShamrock 🥂🥂🥂 here's to many many many years of being smoke free! Well done!!!!!

@jessstan2 I only had (have it sometimes) that feeling of mucus in my throat. I hate it. I assume that will go away for good too.

[onlyhereforthefood]

I switched to vaping and spend the less than the cost of one packet of fags weekly on juice/coils etc (was buying 4 packs/week so saving 75%)

The best part for me is no longer stinking, I feel much happier and more confident about walking in to places!
My sense of smell and taste is better, now weaning down the nic on the vape getting ready for TTC time.

I lapsed and had one cigarette over Christmas and it was truly vile.

[BaeBae]

The skin on my face & whole body improved dramatically, took years off me. I run & can work out without getting out of breath. I no longer have to stand outside puffing & then stinking of it. My kids are so happy. I vape now and it’s great. No side effects. Go for it!!

[Craftylittlething]

I’ve lost weight, I’ve got more energy, better skin, better off and weirdly I’m more punctual- because I’m not having a quick fag before everything!

[user1466783975]

I have no idea why I don't get colds now! My immune must be pretty good. I used to get that tickly throat feeling and then a full on stinky cold,but since giving up it just goes after a day. I remember the days of lying down in bed and nostrils getting blocked ! But no more!
I was on about 15/20 roll ups a day and with vaping gave up over night

[Spudsandspanners]

No real changes for me as I only smoked a few roll ups a day. I was quite moody for a long time though and didn't really see many benefits and quite a lot of negatives (a small amount of weight gain, mood swings) I just got slightly less out of breath when exerting myself. The main benefit is knowing I'm not slowly killing myself and my son isn't seeing me smoke. it's worth it though for those reasons.

[Subeccoo]

I had hypnotherapy in July. On the 4th Jan I'll be 6 months smoke free.
Never looked back, avoid social situations if you like a fag with a drink for the first couple of weeks but honestly before long you'll not notice.
Even my kids say the notion I ever smoked seems weird now. Love not going outside in the winter, or while out with friends..
I've knocked 10 minutes off my 5k time too
Good luck however you do it, best decision of my life. I'm going to be a grandparent this year and sooooo happy to be smoke free for that baby x

[YeOldeNameChange]

Permanent phlegm-y chesty cough went
House, hair and clothes no longer stunk of fags
Yellow finger went (cringe)

[YeOldeNameChange]

Oh..able to run without fearing getting out of breath defo a huge one
Gave up in 2011 cold turkey you can do it

[Highginx]

I think getting new perfumes and air fresheners really helps. Just reminds you to take so much more pride.

[Zofloramummy]

I’m Day one. Had my last one about 7pm yesterday as I was determined not to buy another pack! Im vaping. I feel a bit at a loss today but I’m managing ok. I stopped in the spring last year but then had a horrible time and started again late summer. I have a quit buddy this time and hopefully that’ll help!

[neversleepagain]

I haven't smoked since my bfp which will be 7 years ago next month.

I have considerably more money 3k more a year to be exact.
I don't stink, which has been one of the best parts for me.
I haven't had a cough for 7 years! When I was a smoker a cough would floor me and it would continue for weeks on end.
I don't get breathless when walking up stairs.
I don't have that worry of when my next fag with be, you won't believe what a lifted weight that is.
I can leave the house without making sure I have my lighter and cigarettes.

I wish I hadn't wasted 12 years as a smoker.

[proseccoaficionado]

@Zofloramummy keeping my fingers crossed for you! You will make it! Congrats! Already more than 24 hours! 🎉

[longwayoff]

+2.5 stones. Watch yourself, find something to chew on.

[proseccoaficionado]

@longwayoff I'm going to the gym 5 times and week and I cut out sugar completely for 3 weeks now, I am hoping to replace cigs with water/mints if need be. Hopefully I won't have sugar cravings