Quitting Smoking One Day at a Time

[AgentFelix]

I took my last puff at 23.59 and I am not going to smoke for the rest of the day, or the day after that, or the day after that ...

Bit of a blow at 00.00 when I gathered up my ashtray, lighter and 4 remaining cigarettes to find I had an unopened pack of 20 hidden on my desk. DP now has the somewhat crappy job of distributing said pack somewhere in the neighbourhood. I was going to post them through a (smoking) neighbours letter box but I don't know her very well and thought it might creep her out.

Does anyone want to buddy up?

I'm going to make myself accountable to this thread. Support is very welcome.

DP has just come back and assured me he has left fags where I won't find them. I just hope that the person who comes across them hasn't just started their own quit.

[scarfaceace]

Just thinking about you all and wondering how you're all getting on.

[ruralreynard]

Coming up to 24hours without a cig. Been puffing away on the e cig most of the day. Not sure if has helped but it has given me a headache.

[scarfaceace]

Good Luck Rural. I hear that e cigs are a huge help. Am I right in thinking that the actual craving only lasts a few minutes? If that is so, it's a matter of just getting through those few minutes - one craving at a time.

You know what? You're all amazing for doing what you're doing and I'm with you every step of the way, encouraging you and urging you to keep at it. You'll be so pleased with yourselves if you can do this. Please report back so we can all see how you're getting on.

[ruralreynard]

Last cigarette last night like you ace been smoking about 35 years. Lots of quit attempts over the last 20 years. Longest 9 months about 3 years ago. Helped along by a couple of major surgeries which meant had to try to quit.
name hope you got through last night.
On e cigs this time, first experience of these. Doing absolutely nothing to deaden the craving so far . Oh well onwards and upwards

[scarfaceace]

Keep up the good work ladies. I really feel for you and am sending you all loads of encouragement. What a great job you're doing - feel proud of yourselves.

I gave up nearly five years ago after smoking very very heavily for 35 years, so I really know what you're going through. Stay strong.

[namechange74]

bumping for the quitters!
Encouragement welcome folks - feeling the strain!

[namechange74]

Hey sapphirestar did you manage to stop? I stopped on Sunday too and am having horrible anxious moments every hour or so but happy i'm nearly 2 days off the fags completely

[sapphirestar]

Is this thread still going? Can I join?
I want to stop smoking, thinking Sunday will be the day.
Saturday I will be working with a smoker and seeing my sister, also a smoker so that would be a bad day to stop.
Next week I'm working 5 full days so hoping that will keep me busy, worried about tea and lunch breaks though, what will I do instead of having a fag??
I've just bought a new car and the money I will save will cover the monthly payments and give me some spending money.
None of my family other than my sis know I smoke so no RL support.
Have got an ecig and just downloaded an app onto my phone, what else should I get?
Most of all I'm worried about being a bad tempered bitch and taking it out on my daughter if she won't get dressed, go to bed etc.
Can't believe how anxious I am!

[TreacleMoon123]

Is it ok if I join you ladies? Today is day 2 for me and I really really want one.. I'm finding it tough but trying to keep busy.
This is my 2nd attempt, I was off them previously for 7 months.

[whatiswrongwithyou]

Oh wow - just saw this thread and was on it originally toiletbrush then.

Over 6 months for me now since I last smoked and the one thing I've learnt through my many attempts at quitting is that you really have to want to give up.

There are some good apps to download to your phone which really helped me. Watching the money I was saving, and still am each week is very motivating, but best of all I'm no longer a slave to the fags, don't have to worry about people smelling it on me and my chest and sinuses have really improved.

Good luck to you all and stick with it. The cravings will pass!

[weaselwomble]

Marking place too, hoping for some support.
Been trying the last two days and failed, cut down a bit though.
Giving it another go tomorrow so will check back.
Good luck you two!

[Tillyscoutsmum]

Just marking my place. About to have my last ever cigarette Will be back to read (and possibly moan) tomorrow

[Kickit84]

Hi folks,

I just found this thread and read through. I'm in the process of quitting properly for the second time. Stopped for a year and it was amazing but for one reason or another I ended up with the ball and chain again.

I just wanted to share the one thing that really helped me for that year for which I gave up cold turkey having been a 20 or more a day smoker. Prior to that I had done stints of 3 days, 5 days and once two weeks. The feeling that your body and mind so craves is never anywhere near as nice as you think it's gong to be. It will make you feel just so awful having put in all the effort for nothing. Just remember when your at your lowest ebb, smoking that fag WILL make you feel worse.

Out

[tashbartell1]

hi - im in the process of giving up - its hard but I found this on Itunes and it helps - it sends me reminders about not smoking and makes me aware of places to aviod where i used to smoke. Lots of willpower still needed tho. Good luck everyone. itunes.apple.com/gb/app/smoke-alarm/id588344270?mt=8

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Wannago that is awesome! Congratulations. I remember when I first quit and you were about a week ahead of me and that seemed like a lifetime... well last Saturday I was 8 weeks; Thursday will be 2 months for me - I'm catching up to you Funny how we both dream about smoking, I wonder how long that will last!

I'm finding today a bit of a struggle actually - being back at work - I associate work with smoking a LOT. I'm going to start coming off the patches this week though.

[WannagotoDallas]

Ooh just realised, exactly 2 months today since I stopped! But I think I will call it 9 weeks tomorrow as it sounds better

[WannagotoDallas]

Well done for staying on the wagon Hearts! Must have been tough at times with the alcohol flowing and being relaxed. I still have an issue with drinking minus cigs. I am slowly reintroducing a glass of two of wine once a week, but still feel there is no point to alcohol without nicotine.

I still dream of smoking too, then wake up feeling awful and guilty, then I remember I no longer smoke...

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Mummy hope you managed to power through!
Last day of our lovely holiday today and back to reality tomorrow.
I had a dream the other night that I had bought some cigarettes and was smoking all of them. I was relieved and sad when I woke up.

[mummyplonk]

Aaahhhh, just ahhhh. Am having a tough night really want a cig but am on day 12 am not going to give in now, when does the feeling go that you really want one when things go bad.

[Oopla]

Mummy - me n my DP were just saying how we've never seen the first 2 mins of any episode of fireman Sam, batman, Spider-Man etc etc as we were always at the back door puffing away! Scandalous!

Hearts have a wicked holiday , it sounds lovely and you deserve the treat after all your hard work saying no to fags! Wish we were all there too although of course we're positively tropical here
50 days smoke free today woooo!

[mummyplonk]

Ahh one of my oldest friends has suggested a couple of nights away in the summer holidays, I said sounds fantastic, now am all worried as she still smokes and this is going to be a major test and may change our usual, wine,tapas, smoke in the sun fun. Any tips greatly appreciated.

[mummyplonk]

Ahh, have a fantastic holiday hearts, you say so many things that make me think. WhAt you say about sneaking out and being anti social is so true for me. In my past, am feeling guilty how many times I gave the kids a treat and popped them in front of the tv just so I could have a puff. And at family parties, I never thought what must people think when I am desperate to leave mid conversation. Am on my own tonight, think DH is half expecting to come home to me puffing, but after a week now I would be a total fool and can't wait to get to where you are Hearts. My morning one is the one I miss most, but I have also read is the most dangerous.

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Mummy you're doing great. I remember the first time I got to about 8.30am before I even thought about smoking - so about 2ish hours after the smoking me would have had the first fag of the day. Got up, coffee, got dressed, kids fed & watered, school run, almost all the way to work before it even crossed my mind. I think I even posted about it up thread. It felt AWESOME and I was so proud of myself. Major breakthrough!

I think I'm down to thinking about it say half a dozen times a day now... and that's just thinking, not really a proper craving. Hopefully that will be you soon too!

I think it (smoking or more accurately, not smoking) occupies a lot more headspace at first compared to when you were smoking just because of the effort involved. I mean when I was smoking I would think " ooh lets have a fag" and then I would have one, done. But while quitting it's more like "ooh, a fag. No, mustn't. Oh but wouldn't it be nice. NO, stop thinking about it. But but but. No! Distract yourself. Ok this is just a craving. Just this once though? just a little puff? no, you can't, you know that" Etc etc ad fucking nauseum!!!

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

I'm sooo happy for you strong bunch of women, happy for me too. On hols right now in Turkey and drinking loads, (well ok I'm a lightweight so 2 glasses of wine and a vodka = loads) but doing really ok on the smoking front. None of the crowd we are with are smokers, and the kids around all the time, so that really helps. I'm loving the little things, like not having to sneak away from the table at the restaurant this evening for a quick fag - so much nicer to stay with my friends and family and join in the laughs and conversation. I am really only realising now just how anti social my smoking made me.

Lees and oopla and others (sorry am on phone so can't check back!) you lot are a huge help too. I love coming on here and seeing others in the same place. Onwards and upwards people!!