Tips on stopping smoking!!!

[Stampy84]

Aghhhh
I’ve stopped to today, I’ve not had one since last night. My smoking had crept up to 20 a day, bloody awful and expensive..
My cravings come in waves, I’m riding them out by keeping busy!! But I’ve realised I reward myself with most things by smoking!
How long does this last??
When does that devil on my shoulder giving me reasons why I’m ok to smoke go away??
Any tips?

My AIBU?
Shall I just stop after lock down?? Or just get on with it and ride the storm, if I can stop smoking now, I have a better chance of staying of them?

[Namedchanged100]

@Ifonly4today know I’ve slipped now - but that’s what I did - would have worked if not for lockdown

[TreadLightly3]

Whenever you feel a craving, stop and take 3 really deep breaths. It’s genuinely amazing how much better this makes you feel and gives you a bit of a high like the first few drags of a fag.

(I used to smoke 20/day am now confirmed non-smoker of 3 years.)

[Ifonly4today]

It has to be an overall lifestyle change once you quit use the extra energy to get fitter rather than fatter.

[IwantToDatePicard]

I quit about 5 years ago using Champix. I put on 6 stone - wouldn't do it again

[ILoveMyDog14]

Well done OP! I smoked for 16 years and LOVED IT. I still miss it but I'm off them six years this week. I didn't 'decide' to give up exactly, I just told myself I wasn't going to smoke one day and see how it went. I carried a box of 20 in my bag for the first year and told myself that if my craving lasted longer than 20 minutes, then I'd have a cigarette. When cravings came, I just distracted myself doing other things until they became less and less. Like I say, I still miss it but I don't regret stopping. I just cringe when I think of all the money I wasted!! FIL likes to say "you smoked a mortgage" 🙈

[supercatlady]

Well done for taking the first step.

I’ve never been a smoker but my husband smoked on and off since he was 17. He gave up age 58 after a hypnosis session.

He said he found it really weird as he craved something but didn’t want a cigarette. 2 years on he says he doesn’t even miss it.

[AnnaSW1]

I read the one for women

[AnnaSW1]

I also read the AC book. It worked instantly. That was over 10 yrs ago and I have never even thought of smoking since.

[Fuckityfucksake]

I'm about to attempt it myself.
outside of pregnancy, I've done it a few times before for 6-8 weeks per time but have always gone back - you know why? so I can go to the loo!!! I kept saying I'm sure tomorrow will be better and my bowel will just work but nope. (*I have digestion and stomach issues anyway)
Pardon the pun but it's shit! I have literally tried everything natural, OTC and prescribed to help me through previously but nothing has worked....that is until I cave, have a cig then can happily go to the frigging toilet again.
I absolutely have to stop smoking real soon, no ifs, no buts! I was warned a year ago after testing positive for HPV and having pre cancerous cells removed and treated that I should stop. I didn't and now it's much worse.
I plan to try vaping. It'll be easier once I'm back to work.
Good luck OP and remember there's so many many reasons why it's a good thing to do.

[FlyAwayLikeABird]

Well done OP! I stopped last year went cold turkey and ate everytime I wanted a fag 🙈🙈 need to loose weight now but so glad I stopped. I went through a phase of having a lot of lollys. Or I'd have a glass of water when I wanted one. Good luck you can do this x

[sushinelove]

I downloaded the smoke free app and went cold turkey. The app was great for keeping me positive. It tells you how your health is improving after an hour, 24 hrs etc. Set it up so you put in the cost of your fags and how many you smoked, it tells you exactly how much you've saved. It's shocking! Day 3 for me was the worst for the cravings. Once I got through that it was so much easier. Good luck

[HellSmith]

Might I add that I’d tried a few times previously, but wanted to kill people so Dr said it was best I started again. I used to follow smokers in the town to get a sniff of them too 😆. God I can sniff one out a mile off now, they stink!

[HellSmith]

I did it with a Nicorette Inhalator in 3 weeks, & no one was more shocked than me because I fucking loved a smoke. That was 12 years ago, I knew that I’d never smoke again.

[MeglaFlop]

My advice is just to say fuck it and jack it in. Don't use vaping or patches you are really just delaying the stress from withdrawal. If you 'want' to quit, you will.

I could still happily start again tomorrow though

[TaighNamGastaOrt]

Well done op. I tried so many times over the years and always failed. I hit 40 a year and a half ago and decided to stop.
It was cold turkey but I found the nicarette lozenges really helpful. I popped one under my tongue every time I wanted a fag. Used them for a month and kept busy.
Still want one but I'm not going back to it! Now I run and smell much better.
I have put on weight tho! But hey, I've good lungs!
Good luck op, if I can do it, you can!

[BlueJava]

Another vote for Allan Carr - amazing!

[EmeraldShamrock]

There was a chat on YouTube I couldn't find it there.
Change the word in your brain, rename the cigarette. If you keep thinking I need a cigarette I need a cigarette you will need a cigarette, Change the word to a hug or some water "I need a hug I need a hug, it changes the thinking making you realise itis just your thoughts you dont need one.

[Choconuts]

I found it helpful not to think about the fact that I would never smoke again and instead just thought about getting through the next hour and then the one after that etc etc.

I also found the Alan Carr book useful and after 3 days it gets a lot easier so don't ruin your hard work so far by giving in.

Good luck - think of how much more money you will have as you must be spending a fortune smoking 20 a day.

[amillionnamechangeslater000]

Oh and my house was spotless - did loads of cleaning and ironing etc constantly .

It’s bloody hard but after about 4 weeks it does get so much easier. You realise you’ve gone a day without even thinking about it.

[amillionnamechangeslater000]

I stopped in January (but have sadly stated again during lockdown). Did the Allen Carr course - so actually the amount I spent on it was quite an incentive.

What worked for me:
Buy a shit ton of sweets - you can worry about the weight later.
Avoid alcohol
Carry on doing the normal things like drinking coffee etc, but go for a walk after meals.
Take up something that occupies your hands - knitting, doing sudoku whatever.
But nice things with all that money you are saving.

Other things I did - joined an expensive gym (know that’s not an option now) helped in that it occupied time and also the financial incentive. Also that I could “feel” how much better I felt.
Went to the cinema - something I avoided before because of smoking.
Drank lots of herbal tea (I don’t usually),

What you don’t do - ever have another one (my big mistake).

I plan to give up again soon. Good luck!

[HoomanMoomin]

Allen Carr too. But you have to have the book sitting in front of you to not slip after few years.

[Onetraumaatatimeplease]

Put a tenner in an ashtray. If you're tempted look at the tenner in the ashtray. Are you prepared to burn it? Because buying a pack of cigs is doing just that. Setting fire to a ten pound note.

[Stampy84]

Thank you everyone, I’m charging round like a bull at the moment- just trying to keep myself busy!!!
I had an absolute craving for one on my way home from the shop, and I’d almost made the decision to go and get a Packet- I’ve come on here instead and I’m calmer now!
Thank you all 🙂

[CoRhona]

I stopped at the beginning of covid-19 when I read that the disease was like having glass in the lungs. Not had one all lockdown.

But I usually start again on holiday as I really like the smell and think 'oh, one won't hurt...'

[OuzoWoozo]

The best tip I got was that an episode of intense craving will pass after about 5 minutes. You may still want one after this time, but the tough, excruciating 'I NEED A FAG!' feeling will pass and cravings should be manageable.

Whoever told me that was right.