Giving up smoking - come and advise me, join me or tell me how bad I have been!

[callmeovercautious]

I am stopping in the Morning. I am all geared up with my gum and a to do list that would keep anyone busy for a year

I have a 2.5 DD and I know I spend time smoking when I could be with her.

I sit smoking in the evenings rather than doing positive things.

It costs a fortune and we want to move house.

I have tried and failed so often but this time I know I can do it with the help of MN

Anyone want to offer positive stories or join me? Also feel free to offer any horror stories and scientific evidence on why I should stay off the fags. I have a tough skin but will need it in the next few weeks/months.

So you've had your last cigarette? Well done you.

Not yet EnterStageLeft Thanks for replying.

I was recommended by the NHS advisor to set a date. That is tomorrow morning. i.e. I get up and do not smoke. I have been doing all the preparation stuff they advise too.

I anticipate being OK until lunchtime - I will be here then!

No no no, you still there??

What difference does it make? Make that fag you had 20 minutes ago your last one.

You've been a non-smoker for 20 minutes ( or whatever it is). Take that packet with the last ones in and chuck them in the bin. then cover in ketchup. Yeah, what a waste of £5 but think what you'll be saving tomorrow and again the next day.

When I gave a full, unopened packet, plus one remaining one, went in the bin.

Not one more, not ever. Enjoy being a non-smoker, revel in it, how proud you are of yourself.

Thanks again - I am sat here considering how I can possibly smoke all the remaining ones tonight I think in my head I am done with it already.

Not sure though - I have had a glass of wine to go with my last few fags and they seem very tempting right now.

A glass of wine and no fags? My, what a non-smoker you are!!

Seriously, you've decided you don't want to smoke. So why would you smoke 8 (approx) more fags tonight?

Away, away with them, you don't want them. Rip them apart and chuck them away, make them somehow unusable so you're not tempted to go back tomoroow afternoon to retreive them.

Think how great you'd feel if you woke up tomorrow morning knowing you had't had a cigarette since half ten last night, and you'd finished off your wine without smoking.

Why smoke when you've decided you don't want to?

Hope you're not out the back havin' a fag calmeovercatious

I can understand the recommendations about throwing them away right now. But, if you don't, I suggest this - on your very last cigarette, smoke it in front of the mirror and really look at yourself while you're smoking it. The point is that most cigarettes we smoke don't even really register on our memories - make the last one stick in your mind as the ridiculous drug habit that it is, and that you don't have to do it any more.

I used to smoke, and one day at work I left a cig burning on top of a filing cabinet whilst I done something else.

When I returned later the cig had almost burnt out and there was a load of sticky tar on top of cabinet.

I used a tissue to soak it up, and from then on I vowed I would never smoke again.

The tissue was never thrown away and the sight and smell of the tar was enough to stop me lighting up again.

I started a few years later, went to Quitters and used Zyaban.

It was amazing and really worked.

You can do it.

I had my last fag at midnight tuesday/wednesday - so am on day 4!!

I went cold turkey and it was quite hard. I was irritable, restless and had trouble sleeping - but today I feel great!!!!

Think about what your triggers are and at first avoid them/distract yourself. When you feel 'the urge' slowly count to 15 - by the time you reach 15 the urge is gone.

Plan nice stuff so that you don't feel deprived, and take it an hour at a time!!

Good luck!!!!

Thanks so much everyone.

I had gone to bed enterstageleft! I decided you were right and thought - well either sit here smoking fags I don't want or go to bed and wake up a non-smoker. Which I now am

No fags at all today, and even though I had not asked DH to stop as well he smoked one this morning then stopped as well. I did kind of spring it on him, 2 days notice this time. Other wise he teases me that I won't do it etc.

He is chomping in my ear though - flipping gum

Have done lots of counting and deep breaths. Had to push the pushchair the whole time we were out - I never push and smoke! I also spent more time with DD which was lovely.

This morning I was heading out the back door to get her slide etc out so we could play out after she had finished breakfast, she pottered up to the back door and asked me was I having a "gets". That really hit home