Ok, I want to stop smocking...I'm really decided...just tell me...

[Summerfruit]

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Sorry - serious subject I know - but smocking! LOL.

At least if you do put on weight, you can make a nice smock to cover up.

Kidding.

OK, massively beneficial to stop - that's what you focus on. Why do you assume you will put on weight?

Put the needle down and walk away from the thread

What about one big-bang health attack? Introduce some (more) exercise into your life - stuff you can manage like walking to bus stop or whatever - plus lots of healthy snacks. Buy a new cookbook for inspiration. Have veggie sticks in the fridge. DO NOT stock up on any chocolate or crisps. Accept it IS hard to quit (yes, I do know from experience) but that once you have been through the first few weeks it slowly gets easier... Good luck.

Have you tried NHS NewLeaf plan or whatever it is called? Attack it from all angles!

Boogalooblue, get thee to the Suffolk Meet-Up thread please!

Summerfruit, I have been a non smoker for just over a week, tried everything and eventually went to hypnotherapy, and feel great, even went to a couple of parties over the weekend which were rife with smokers and no problem. Be brave do it, DH also given up and between us we now have £100 more in aour bank which we would have.

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Even if you do put on weight, it will do you far less harm than the smoking will.

Good luck, it is the best possible thing that you can do for your long term health.

Quit first, deal with any weight issues later on

My DH gained a stone when he gave up (40+ a day for 30 years.) But the reason he did so was that he replaced fags for Cadbury's Chocolate fingers.

Lots of people start exercising instead of smoking and end up much lighter (you'll be fitter anyway with the not smoking).

One thing that I know helps some people is every time they want a fag, have a drink of water. This stops any urge to eat instead.

Good luck, you are doing the right thing.

I quit smocking and turned to cross stitch a few years ago btw, have to have something to do with my hands being a non-smoker

No, no, Summerfruit, not a tw*t at all. When you get to the stage of really wanting to quit, you are not too far from actually doing it - it's that last hurdle of will power. Very good luck.

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I think it's a big fat FIB put about by cigarette companies that you put on weight when you stop smoking. I honestly do. Lies. Falsehoods.

When I stopped smoking I lost weight more easily and have kept it off.

It's a whole healthy lifestyle change. I exercised more. I smugly ran up stairs instead of taking the lift. While giving up, I deliberately didn't go to places where I'd be tempted, so no pub + beer + crisps.

You can do it and your skin will glow and your hair will shine and you'll be fitter and sleep better and you'll recoil in horror when you pass someone on the street and think "OH MY GOD I USED TO SMELL LIKE THAT AND THINK IT WAS OKAY"

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Agree Broccoli - I didn't put on weight either. Actually, I am quite thin now whereas I spent my mid twenties weighing about a stone heavier.

Good luck, it may not be easy but if you manage to give up you'll feel more in control and it should get easier.

Do it and don't think about what might happen if you stop. I think I may have put a few lbs on - but quickly lost, and in the grand scheme of things is pretty inconsequential.

Go and see your doc and ask for patches on prescription which really helped me with the cravings.

Think about when you smoke and what you're going to do instead - ie walk up and down the stairs when you have a craving. Take a different route to work if you used to smoke when walking etc.

Like BrocolliSpears I avoided the pub etc...(although I guess now with the ban it probably doesn't make too much difference)

Good luck!

Well you've already made the hardest secision; to stop.

It is easier than you think. I never really thought much about giving up smoking - I just concentrated on the very next cigarette and was unshakable in my determination not to have it. Make the next cigarette not an option.

I also found this sort of information quite encouraging.

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These people are great. I gave up a year ago using this and they were fantastic......YOU CAN DO IT

Good luck

chew gum & drink lots of water when you have the urge and avoid pubs/social drinking/coffee etc.......basically allthe usual triggers.

They say after 5 days the headache and nicotine cravings subside, after 10 days, most nicotine is out of your system and breathing improved so going cold turkey is the right way.

Good luck.

I did put on about a stone when I quit, but I feel like the extra weight is better than the smoking and now that I have definatly kicked the habit I can focus on losing that weight.

Herbal cigarettes worked for me. I just smoked one when I was desperate and it got me off the nicotine

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How are you getting on?