Cravings, light smoker not smoked since 27/9/14

[TeamScotland]

My smoking history: For the past 4 or 5 years I've only smoked a few when having a drink. In the past year this has increased to regularly smoking 2 or 3 a day, the first one being with my morning coffee. I occasionally go up to two weeks without, but smoke more on a night out, particularly if other smokers are around. For the 6 years before that I had stopped completely. For the 10 years before that I was 2 or 3 a day and more on a night out. Prior to that for about 15 years I was a 20 a day heavy smoker.

Without really thinking about it, I "stopped" last week, simply because I'd run out of cigs and couldn't be arsed going out to get more.

Now I'm 10 days in, not squiffy but right now and for the past couple of hours I've been really, really fancying a ciggy. I'm resisting but wondering if I should go and get an e-cig or try to ride it out? I was fine all last week, including the weekend when I had a few wines.

Hi Team, well done!

I think whether you do the ecig thing or not depends very much on why you want to stop smoking.

Vaping will mean you don't smell, you get rid of 95% at least of the health risks, most of the cost and you can still enjoy nicotine on a night out. Also you won't have to suffer any cravings, but you will still have an addiction.

Riding it out will mean you don't smell, you get rid of 100% of the health risks and all the costs and you will be free of nicotine. You might be one of those people who always has occasional cravings though and a sense of something missing on a night out.

A third option would be to try a 0% nicotine ecig - they work for some people, especially if it's just an occasional thing and the nicotine is already out of your system.

How were you during the 6 years you stopped altogether - did you hardly ever think about it or was it something you missed quite frequently?

Thanks for replying. I got over the hump today by having a couple of wines with dinner and snoozing all evening on the sofa.

When I stopped over the 6 years (pregnancy and young children) I didn't think about it at all, even when on a night out. I can't even remember how I got going again if I'm honest.

If I'm having bad cravings tomorrow I might go into the e cig shop to see what's what. I have no idea about what to buy. I'm thinking if I test some out that would probably give me enough of a hit to keep me going for a few days .

Update, I just went ahead and got an ecig. I'm happy with it and it will be for occasional use when I really want a stinky. I got medium strength nicotine as the thing I like about smoking is the hit I get from it.

My auntie, who is usually my smoking partner in crime is going to get one too. Now just to persuade my cousin, who smokes like a chimney.

Oh that's brilliant, sounds like you've started a thing