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

[proseccoaficionado]

5 times a week sorry

[tablelegs]

Food tastes different since I quit. It tastes so much better! My hair doesn't smell and neither do my clothes. I don't have to go out in the pissing rain to have a fag. I could go on and on and on.

[longwayoff]

Ahhhh. Not sitting on the sofa like me then. You'll do fine. Look lovely and good luck with it all. Happy new year.

[proseccoaficionado]

@tablelegs I am so curious about the food tasting different. That's why I'm worried about weight gain but as I said, so so so curious, because I'm somehow sceptic that my taste buds/smell are so bad.
@longwayoff Happy New Year to you too and thanks!

Everyone, you're AMAZING. I obviously knew myself that smoking is terrible, but honestly I had no idea I'd have so many extra reasons from you. Some of them I didn't ever think about!😱

[BlitheringIdiots]

The money - bought a new car on finance with the money I saved

Skin and hair - looks so much better

Taste - food tastes different

Smell - I don't smell like an ashtray

Time - I have so much more. Didn't realise how much time I wasted smoking

[BlitheringIdiots]

On and vaping is your friend. Much easier than cold turkey. Down to 3mg nicotine now and plan to give up that soon. Made it easier on nights out with friends who smoke in the early dark days. You can't 'just have one' because then back to square one

[proseccoaficionado]

@BlitheringIdiots I was actually wondering what I am going to do with so much time. I am such an idiot. Not a big fan of vaping, tried it once and didn't like at all. So I'm afraid I'll have to bite the bullet, shut up and just quit

[proseccoaficionado]

By the way, has anyone noticed any effects on anxiety? Better or worse?

[BlitheringIdiots]

I suffer from terrible anxiety and I hadn't really thought about it until you mentioned it but I am a tad more laid back although I still get the anxiety attacks when my DS goes somewhere I don't know myself (someone else's house) but I've never let it control me and get all the 'daymares' out of the way and then move on.

[cupcakesandglitter]

I suffer from anxiety and frequently had anxiety/panic attacks. I've had one since I quit cold turkey in August - I honestly think they're linked, I'm not struggling for air anymore, not even when I walk up the stairs. I was super unfit and actually didn't realise it. I also enjoy food a lot more (as I found usually I'd eat and then look forward to my next smoke). I no longer stand outside in the rain/cold to smoke, I also don't smell, my hair doesn't smell and neither do my fingers, car or clothes. It's amazing how I honestly used to think I didn't smell of it!! Like a PP, I quite like the smell of it too, but I've not been tempted once. So so glad I got rid of it - I LOVED smoking but actually now I could never do it, and actually really disappointed in myself for doing it as long as I did!!

[proseccoaficionado]

@BlitheringIdiots I know I'm going terribly off topic here, but I really struggled in 2018 with anxiety and overthinkg literally EVERYTHING (including caring about every idiot I've ever met thinks about me) but also health anxiety (which I believe it is one of the reasons I took the decision of quitting!)

I hope 2019 will be amazing for you in terms of dealing with your anxiety

[proseccoaficionado]

@cupcakesandglitter that sounds amazing! Unfortunately I know what a panic attack means and they're horrible. Well done for quitting!🥂

@BlitheringIdiots what every idiot thinks about me, overthinking*, looks like I can't write anymore

[BlitheringIdiots]

Thanks you too. I just imagine the most awful things happening to the point where I have to catch my breath. I also suffer from checking anxiety and now video myself locking the office door so I know I've got it banked on my phone so I can check it if I doubt I've locked up. It's saved me from driving back to work on many occasions.

Luckily I have a DH who understands my issues and he always says yes you've turned the straigteners off etc lol

[proseccoaficionado]

Any other people who want to quit in 2019, please feel free to join! This thread is amazing and has SPOT ON tips!!!!

[cupcakesandglitter]

Oh also I found that I didn't really replace it with food I just saw how it had become a habit for no reason, so I'd either get fruit or drink water to curb it (hard work, but it does work!) oh and also the gym became 30x better in a matter of a few weeks!

[proseccoaficionado]

@BlitheringIdiots Don't even get me started about thinking about the most awful things that could happen. Best part is I am starting to realise they pretty much never do, and if they do I find a solution pretty quick and manage to turn it around.

Having support (not only anxiety, quitting smoking or any other unhealthy habit- but life in general) is so important.

Everyone: Wanted to also apologise if my English has been crap at times, not my first language

[cupcakesandglitter]

Thanks @proseccoaficionado I'm super proud I managed to do it cold turkey!! I got DH to quit with me too (he did vape, has quit now) but I will say all of my friends were smokers but all of them are super supportive, so we just don't go out with them when they smoke if it's cold, but we will if we want some fresh air. No one offers us a cheeky one and it's nice not to have the temptation!! X

[proseccoaficionado]

@cupcakesandglitter I actually remember bragging like 2 years about not losing my breath and exercising really well despite being a smoker. Well, that's no longer the case. I'm such an idiot 🙄

[NotDoingThat]

I haven't had a chest infection requiring antibiotics (or at all) this winter and that's the first winter in about 5! Quit 6 months ago.

I've just read this back and realised how hippy dippy it sounds, but- not smoking did change the anxiety for me:

Chemically they're a stimulant and will tighten you're chest up so basically add to panic attack symptoms, so now it's that little bit better because I don't chain them when I panic!

I think it also changes how you think- i stopped looking for a solution from the outside world to fix what's going on inside- I think I basically used to self medicate with fags. That mindset is gone now and I feel more in tune/ mindful with myself- anx isn't gone but I'm not masking with it, I'm dealing with it.

A good thread- I don't think I'd realised that before I

No sure if someone else has said this but my tip-get the 'smoke free' app- it's a few quid but so so worth it. You can set goals, find out your craving triggers and it shows you the health benefits. It helped me!

[cupcakesandglitter]

@proseccoaficionado don't feel silly, I think we all become slightly naive when smoking thinking we aren't the typical smoker but I guess it takes a lot to see what's really going on x

@NotDoingThat very good point and I agree!! I stopped using smoking as a 'release' and using it to 'help' my stress - sounds so pathetic now but at the time that's what I believed x

[proseccoaficionado]

@NotDoingThat I'm actually thinking now if I'm helping my stress or creating my stress with smoking. Probably the latter. I downloaded the app now too! Thank you! X

[proseccoaficionado]

Ok, I paid the one time buy for the smoke free app! Yay me! Also downloaded Alan Carr's book. I guess this is my last not-even-a-month in my life as a smoker. Rock on, 2019.

[shecamefromgreece]

Start reading the book straight away you're supposed to do it while you're still smoking.
Just think this time next month you won't smoke anymore!

[proseccoaficionado]

@shecamefromgreece I'm starting tomorrow! I also read that he said to not reduce the number of cigs, so I'll keep smoking the usual amount

[FascinatingCarrot]

Ok, Ive bought the Alan Carr book. Smoking since 11 - now 48. Sick to the back teeth of the worry - which makes me light a fag. I am so sick of just worrying about a fag break all the time.
Watching with interest, go for it!