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.

Having a proper stop day is really useful, because you just can't (well you can but...) go back on it! Make sure you've got good stuff to do that day and post here...loads!

Waterlego you have a start date, great. Do you know about the ActiveStop website? It's a Nicorette thing and they do kind of try to push their products at you, but you can ignore all of that and just do the program. You log on every day and it tells you interesting factoids (about health benefits etc), counts the number of cigarettes you haven't smoked, gives support and asks questions. It even calculates the amount of money you have spent. I really like it.

Oopla a whole WEEK! Very well done!!

Emin I haven't had a drink either - which do you find harder?

JRock it's funny isn't it, the different times of day? I have found so far (day 5) that late afternoon is the hardest time for me, 4ish to 6ish.

*amount of money you have saved, not spent!!!

I'm finding the smoking harder to maintain :(

Me too. Tons harder.

I have an idea. Let's all list a benefit or advantage of NOT SMOKING.

I'll start:

My DDs don't have to hug a stinky, smelly Mum and they will stop associating the smell of smoke with cuddles.

I had the most horrific bout of bronchitis last christmas and I never want it again :(
DD cries when she sees me with a cigarette

"Let's all list a benefit or advantage of NOT SMOKING."

The savings. So far I've saved a whopping £270.98, and I'm only on day 17. I was spending almost £6000 per year on cigarettes .

I'm glad that cigarettes are so expensive in the UK. If they were cheaper I wouldn't have much motivation to quit.

waterlego I felt like you before I quit. I've had so many attempts before this one and I thought I'd never be able to do it. The idea of not smoking filled me with dread, but the idea that I'd never be able to quit made me feel seriously depressed. I was shitting myself about day 1 but it was ok. Day 2 was bad and day 3 felt a little better and each day after that got easier and easier.

I still want one every now and then but I remind myself that I can't have 1, I have to have them all. I can't have that lovely cigarette after dinner without having the other 39 every day that make me cough and wheeze, that make it hard to breathe when I climb the stairs, that make me stink of smoke, that cost almost £16 a day, that are ruining my health and will very likely put me into an early grave, that are inconvenient and anti-social. It's all or nothing for me, and I would rather go without that 1 cigarette that I really want than open the door for all the other rotten, stinking, expensive, ones to follow.

Have you been to the Why Quit website? Joel Spitzer's daily quit videos really helped me and the tragic experiences of others will make you want to stop before it's too late, or very glad you have already stopped and, for me personally, stopped any cravings immediately.

Good luck for Friday, you can do it because you want to.

Well done everyone else.

Brilliant post Felix

Felix, your post was just what I needed to read. I am so tempted at the moment. Had a crappy day at work and am really tired. Also, am at my DM's house for dinner and there's an open packet in my proximity. Feel like I need to sit on my hands!

Not having smoked for 6 days has meant I am feeling the cycle ride to work t be a lot less painful, I am determined to carry on with my C25K programme and my children don't spray the room and me everytime I come back in the house!!

Not smelling like a dirty old ashtray is a huge benefit!

JRock be strong!

Hearts and JRock, thank you

I can't take the credit for what I posted. I found it on the Why Quit website and it had a mega impact on me. I just rewrote it in my own words. It has got me through every crave; it stops them dead actually when I think about all those shitty cigarettes that I smoke without even thinking about what I'm doing.

JRock, I really do sympathise. I have been lucky so far; nobody I socialise with smokes. A couple of days ago I was chatting with a smoking neighbour and I wanted to join her with a cigarette very badly. It was hard! I try to look at these situations as punching a new hole in my belt. If it's hard and I get through it; go me! These situations are only new once; after that it's just an opportunity to practise being an ex-smoker!

I thought I'd do an update for everyone that's posted on the thread with their results, sort of Big, Slim ? stylee.

AgentFelix - Quit 20/05/13 - Cold Turkey
angusandelspethsthistlewhistle - quit in February 2013 - Cold Turkey
Elderflowergranita - quit in 1998! - NRT
toiletbrush - quit 18/05/13 - How's it going TB?
6monthson - quit 05/12/12 - Champix
maudpringle - quit ? - Champix
NoobyNoob - 21/05/13 - NRT - how are you doing? Please don't let one stupid cigarette stand in the way of stubbing out these disgusting disease sticks for good. Please post and let us know you're back on course.
QueenOfCats - 22/05/13 - Cold Turkey
LalyRawr - quit 24/05/13 - Electric Cigarette
southeastastra - quit in 2009 - NRT
lynne999 - quit 13/05/13 - Champix - how are you doing Lynne?
Curranycake - quit ? - NRT - How are you Curranycake?
SpringtimeFoHitler - quit 27/05/2013 - You ok springy?
Stressedtothehilt - quit ? - Electric Cigarette
Oopla - 28/05/2013 - Electric Cigarette - Love your posts!
HeartsTrumpDiamonds - 01/06/13 - NRT
Eminemmerdale - 31/05/13 - NRT - Everything ok?
waterlego - 07/06/13 - Method: tbc - keep posting waterlego, we will all help you and it isn't as hard as you think it is
Elibean - quit ? - method ? - I'm sure I know Elibean from other addiction threads and she's a fantastic support. Please pop in for a chat every now and then Elibean
JRock - 03/05/13 - NRT - Keep going through the cravings. You can do it!

From Monday 17 June 13 I'm going to upgrade the above statistics, so please post before that if you want your stats to be included. I will only post your stats if you post between now and 17/06/2013.

I want to wish everyone the best of luck here. It feels very wrong to say "good luck" but I don't know how else to say: "go on,, give it a go, it's great, it could save your life, it costs nothing, it's easier than a every other 'get fit; initiative that I've ever heard of, you don't need a subscription, you don't have buy anything - you don't have to DO anything. It's soooo fucking easy"! Just don't smoke!

I want everyone to join us here! Non/ex/current smokers are all welcome. Please support us in our bid to quit smoking for good!

Thanks felix, I like the list.
I did not smoke last night. I'm proud of my self for that. Although, after the initial craving went away, I kind of realised I didn't really want one. I hope that continues!
Well done to everyone - I think you've all done so well. You're inspiring me to keep going!

I love the list I'm ok, but have a funeral today - my aunt who I haven't actually seen for years, but my mum wants to go which is fine. The issue is going to be that my sister (who hasn't spoken to my mum for over a year) is also going and she is in a state about it as it is bringing back awful childhood memories having to see my mum again (v v v toxic mother who has no idea that she is..long story) Anyway, I'm worried i may pick up a cigareet just to ease the stress. Hopefully i won't..Bloody families!

eminemmerdale, hope it goes ok today and sorry for your loss.

Be strong, don't give in to the nicotine monster!

Felix, thanks for the great list. I'm soooo impressed that you are going Cold Turkey after a 40-a-day habit.

Hello quitters, so encouraging to see everyone doing so well.

emine I am sorry for your loss and hope the funeral is going/has gone ok. The sister/mum situation sounds awkward though and I hope it hasn't brought you too much extra stress. :(

I am changing my stop date (please don't hate me!) because OH and I are going to the pub tomorrow evening to celebrate some good news. I don't drink very much these days and so it is a bit of a treat. We rarely go to pubs so it is a bit of a one-off and I will want to smoke with a pint. After that, I am unlikely to drink again for quite some time so will be able to avoid the alcohol-nicotine connection for a while.

So I am going to stop on Saturday instead. I promise I won't look for an excuse to shift the day from Sat to Sun!

But in the meantime, I am still reading and admiring you all and soaking up your inspiring words.

Hi all - it was all fine. Very sad - even though I hadn't seen my aunt for years, seeing my grown up 6'3" strong tough cousin in tears was really hard. mum/sister thing ok, but :( I did have one which i cadged off my sister. Bugger :(Back on track i hope now.

Oh, poor you. Hope you're not going to beat yourself up about that one. It was an extreme circumstance and it's done now. Onwards and upwards and some un-MNy hugs for you (((())))

thank you Off on another run tonight so that will refocus me I hope!

Yay for running :) I was into it a few years ago but then got into some different forms of exercise. I have just started it up again in the hope it can help me beat some MH problems. I am going to a running club tomorrow morning for the first time. Eeeek!

Hello everyone. Thanks for the mention agent
Sort to he's about your aunt emin, really glad your enjoying the running though, I've just started too and it's fab for me to de stress, sleeping loads better. Water hope your running club is good, you'll have to let us know how it goes.

I rang the national stop smoking nhs number today and try put me in touch with someone locally and I'm booked in to start a seven week group course on Monday. So will meet up with some real life quitters DP doesn't want to come isn't his thing so looking forward to an hour away from the kids and to strengthen my resolve a little

Keep up the good work everyone xx

Sorry to hear about your aunt* that should sayxx

The time I gave up for three years was due to a support group - it really did help. Run was good - I am doing it with a friend from dd's school - it really helps!