To ask you to tell me what happened when you stopping smoking?

[Looobyloo]

I've smoked for 30 years but I'm coughing a lot more lately so have decided to try my best to give up on the 1st January. I'm also a runner (started 10years ago) so spend the end of my runs coughing and even cough mid run sometimes. Then I think what the hell am I doing! I'm keeping fit then breathing this filth into my lungs.

I'm pretty much an all or nothing person so think just going cold turkey will be the best option. What can I expect? Will I be grumpy? eat more? Anxious? Was it harder or easier than you thought?
Can you tell me your experiences of stopping please?

I'd recommend patches, then psychologically you can know your addiction is still being met, so there's no need to smoke. I found that easier. Good luck!

I coughed a bit for a couple of weeks after quitting. That's all.

Wasn't a very heavy smoker.

Good luck. Mind over matter. Think of all the money you'll save!!

Get the Allen Carr book.
No patches or substitute's required

I cut down slowly and then just stopped. I felt so embarrassed about my habit and about the smell on my clothes - best bit about giving up was no longer feeling that way.
You can do it OP!!

I was a hardened smoker for a similar time to you,OP
Started off with patches+ 2mg gum.
Dropped the patches - now addicted to the gum!

My name is Katinski and I am an addict

I found most of it was habitual rather than nicotine addiction. Once i got my mindset right i found it easy to stop.

For me the Easyway Guide to stop smoking worked a treat, but it only works if you're ready to stop. If you're not committed then this won't change your thinking. The first day i stopped i threw myself into my normal routine, a Saturday night at the pub. Where I'd have my biggest cravings. I got through that and knew that I'd beat it.

Outcomes? More money, less stinky clothes and breath. Even though i stopped 15 years ago i do miss the social routine of smoking and a cigarette when i have a stonking hangover, but otherwise i don't miss it.

Second the Allen Carr book. Never smoked again and didn’t use any patches or gum.

I read a thread on here about giving up - I’d been wanting to give up for a while. I downloaded the app (amazing, totally recommend) bought some Nicolette and a vape stick and stopped.

It’s been 4 weeks now and it’s been fine, I vaped a bit for the first few days and used my Nicorette lozenges for the first few weeks. I psychologically miss it - but I don’t actually miss it, if you know what I mean? I love not smelling of smoke, not being dependent etc - it feels amazing!

Good luck -

I smoked for 15 years, my mum also smoked for 30 and this year we decided to quit together.
We both went to vaping instead. I started on 12mg of nicotine and now down to 3mg and my mum on 16mg and now down to 12mg.
Cold turkey didn't work for us, it was more of the habit that was hard to break than anything so we found vaping easier.

The first month was the most challenging but it did get easier and I rarely crave a ciggie now.

I do find though that I like popping outside for 5 minutes just for air (again I think out of habit from when I smoked) and my mum finds that if she is out in public and smells people smoking she needs to vape as she now strangely likes the smell of it

Also now we vape, we find we don't actually vape a lot? We will take about a puff or two and put it down. Whereas when we smoked we would obviously smoke the whole ciggie as it was a waste of money not to.

Thanks all. I've ordered the Alan Carr book and I already have a vape.
I'm kind of looking forward to it but it's been such a big part of my life for so long I'm a bit nervous.
My fingers are also yellow, how disgusting is that!

My mums fingers were yellow from 30 years of smoking too, within a week of quitting she had no stains on them what so ever!

I smoked for years. Gave up and used the gum, which I'm now addicted to !
I have an addictive personality so I give in far too quickly to what I'm trying to give up.
I feel that i get anxious if I don't have my gum with me all times, but I could probably kick it if I gave it some serious thought.
Good luck !!

I wouldn't wait until New Year. Be a non-smoker this Christmas for the best gift to yourself.

I quit cold turkey on the 28th December 2019 after 20 years of smoking 20 a day.

The first month was hell - I couldn't sleep, I was constipated and I was an absolute bitch!

After that it got much easier, and now I've never felt better!

I did put on a stone though, which I'm still trying to lose - small price to pay for better health though.

Good luck OP

I treated myself to a new perfume the day I gave up so I always smelt noticeably nicer.

I also found it liberating. I didn't realize how much time and energy was spent planning my next fag. Once I gave up it just felt very freeing. I also felt as though I knew I had to give up one day and was really worried about what it would be like but then actually doing it was a weight off my mind.

I didn't notice being grumpy or anything and it's amazing how much better you feel after even a week. Good luck.

Buy Alan Carrs book Easiway to Quit second hand from Amazon, and do it without the angst and will power. You dont need patches or vaping either.
I went from chain smoking to zero overnight. For the first month I kept some herbal cigarettes in for any unmanageable pangs. I have put on some weight, but can walk up the local big hill without wheezing or needing to stop for a fag.

@Imnoh I think i have an addictive personality too. Everything I do has to be all or nothing. I used to weigh 18 stone, got that under control. Started running, now I'm entering ultras. I can't just have one chocolate I have to eat the whole box!

Well done to everyone who's managed to quit. I'm really hoping to be one of you next year!

@DianaT1969 I've got the 1st Jan in my head now.

I went cold turkey after being a 20 a day smoker for over 20 years
I’ve been a non smoker now for similar length of time
I found it was association that I struggled with so after meals (went n washed n cleared up straight away)
When driving (chewed sugar free gum)
Breaks at work - (took shorter breaks with non smokers)
After sex (just snuggle up or sometimes grab a drink)
I did gain weight but managed to lose it after a while
Plus side can climb as many flights of stairs as I want without getting out of breath
Colds rarely end in a chest infection any more
Need my asthma inhalers less

Also an all or nothing person. I quit outright after being a 20 a day person. I knew I needed to do it as I was into fitness but starting to cough a lot after working out. I used extra cup of coffee as a substitute. 10 years down the line I rarely miss it but do allow myself a cheeky packet when abroad on holiday!! Go for it, you will not regret it.

I found out I was pregnant and never touched a cigarette after that second. It was easy because I felt the decision was made for me. I absolutely wasn't going to risk my baby's health. So I do feel like I "cheated" a little because, although cravings were still horrendous, I didn't have that internal battle and bargaining with myself (I'll just cut down/I'll just finish this pack etc) or having to find willpower like I had done on previous attempts to quit. It was just absolutely non-negotiable for me. And I had something huge to focus on that helped me to distract myself.

One thing I would say though, don’t buy into the “once a smoker, always a smoker” thing. I can’t tell you how many times I put off quitting or failed because I believed that I was destined to spend the rest of my life denying cravings and wishing I could smoke. I thought it was going to be a battle every single day and I’d just be miserable so what's the point of quitting anyway. That has definitely not been my experience at all. I almost never think about smoking. I probably go months without it even fleetingly crossing my mind. And when it does, it’s not like a craving. It’s usually “I can’t believe it’s been X years since I smoked now!”. Very occasionally I might think “it would be nice to have a cigarette with this drink” on a night out, but it’s not this terrible craving that I have to battle. I just shrug my shoulders, think “oh well”, and get on with my night. So maybe just bear that in mind - you can be very happy without cigarettes and not spend your days missing them. (You will lament the money you puffed away into the air but I won't dwell on that 😬)

I just stopped, but at the same time I moved countries. This was in hindsight a good idea as there were other changes in my life so it was just another change. I had problems sleeping for a couple of weeks, but I had more energy to do exercise so was able to wear myself out that way. As a result I also lost a stone in weight. My fingers were no longer yellow and in hindsight I realise that I stopped being a smelly smoker!

At first anxiety, fear life will never be the same, I made a decision to walk to vet fresh fruit and veg daily. I've i was craving i dug into easy peeler oranges, J swear they suppressed the longing for nicotine.
After a few weeks my skin was brighter, my tongue was healthy and pink, my breathing improved.
Lots of planning went into it.
I spent the extra time painting my nails etc some tlc.
I got the free audio book with a free tokens from Amazon audio, I found chapter 5 and 6 very effective after i finished it i listened to chaper 5 & 6 on repeat.

I used patches and ice cold bottled water with Allen Carr.

I think i have an addictive personality too
Allen Carr will explain this to you. Download the book today sign up to Amazon audio for a free months trail you get one token use it to download it today.
I must warn you it doesn't work as well the second time, you need to ingest the information and run with it.