Quitting cold turkey CAN be done.

[voddiekeepsmesane]

Just want to give a big call out to those who are wanting to quit cold turkey and say it CAN be done no matter how long you have been smoking. I smoked between 20 and 30 a day for 30 years and as little as 8 months ago would have sworn there was no giving up for me. I got really ill with sinus, ear and chest infections between October and January just gone. 14 WEEKS!! So many times I went to the doctors and I don't think I was ever really taken seriously when I wanted further tests, was always referred back to smoking being the cause. I swore that never again if I got that ill would I be fobbed off with smoking being the issue. I went cold turkey 18th January the first 2 weeks were a little rough but my mindset was in the right mode so didn't seem all that bad. Almost 7 months on and all is good. I really do feel that anyone can get to their own point of realisation but only your own mind is holding you back. I hope this story may help someone own their own path.

Thisgirlrides, what i found has worked for me is that everytime I get the pang, I tell myself that if I still want one in an hour I will have one. Once the hour has passed its forgotten about.
Telling myself I will not have one does not seem to work for me.

I've stopped smoking so many times I've lost count. Tried each and every way and some have lasted longer than others. Once went 2 years.... So jaded with this horrible addiction.

Now on day 7 CT and determined to do it once and for all this time. Well done to everyone else who have stopped. We can do it, other people have.

I have started running 😱which is something I have never really done before. I can't say I love it but I am determined to get fit and this really motivates me to not have that one ciggie. Also I seem to have become addicted to Satsumas as I have one every time I feel like a fag 🤣

Hello can I join?
I gave up for 5 years following hypnotism but for the last six months it's crept back in now I can't stop! Got re hypnotised and it didn't work and I can't afford a repeat. I have no idea why I find it so hard. I hate the little voice that just says to have one.
I'm really going to try again on Monday. Any tips?

Look up The smokers Vow, by Joel Spitzer. Is funny but chilling.

Hi, how's everyone doing?

Whole month done  I'm definitely thinking about smoking in day to day life far less now. Certain situations still require willpower (drinking with smokers!) but the fact I've done this far reminds me I do actually have that willpower. @elvislives2012 have you started? My advice is go cold turkey & tell as many people as possible and have them support you especially oh if you have one. Be prepared for a really tough day 2-4 so remove all temptation but then it gradually gets easier and you'll be smoke free again before you know it. Really not missing being outside on these cold winter nights!

Thanks for asking. Starting 5 feb with my friend and a CBT app. Fingers crossed

Past the 2 week mark. It's great when I realise I've gone a good spell without thinking about smoking and hope this will become normal soon.

Still getting the odd pang but it's been an easy quit so far. Hope everyone keeps on going.

A whole month done 😊 I'm actually really proud of my self.

I did cold turkey as well and second everything that escorted says above. I also googled the positive effects of stopping, so I had something to motivate me when I was wavering. I mustered all my willpower and just kept in my mind something I read, that the nicotine cravings should stop after a week or so and then you had to combat the habit cravings - this really helped me. Good luck

Well done arrowminta, woohoo Sarahlux!!! 👍👍

Can I join?! I’m on day 3! I’m having a lot of cravings, especially with OH being a smoker but I’m managing and now I find he stinks lol. I’m early pregnant, with history of losses so I wanted to quit cold turkey instead of struggling and blaming myself for my losses. Hoping I’ve given myself the best chance for a healthy pregnancy, feeling quite happy with myself right now despite how stressed and anxious I’ve been I’ve managed to quit!

Day six tomorrow!!!!

How are you newbies getting on? The first week is hard but fingers crossed you're holding off as it's so lovely to realise days have passed without thinking about it anymore (6 weeks in for me) and I'm really starting to notice the financial benefit as £10 in my wallet actually lasts more than a day!

Done a week! Had a wobble today though dammit. Keep going!

It's 3 months today smoke free! I still can't quite believe I've managed it as I have never made it past a day or two on previous attempts. Starting to feel really healthy now 😀

Anyone still here?

Kitcat122 Hi there, I'm not an original poster on this thread but I've watched it and found that reading everyone's stories, tips and encouragement has helped inspire me to quit recently.

I have been free of cigarettes for 17 days, I used the Allen Carr Easyway books so no NRT and I feel great for it. I no longer have to have a big coughing session each morning, my breathing is vastly improved and that chesty 'cold' I'd been trying to throw for months has miraculously cleared up.

Thanks to the op for starting the thread and to everyone who contributed.

Stella, brilliant well done on 17 (longer now) days you are passed the hardest bit. Can still be tricky at times but never as hard as the first week. 😀

4 months smoke free, feeling really good and can feel the health benefits now. Started exercising when I first gave up which was a struggle but feeling quite fit now and have lost nearly a stone. If your just starting with your quit please stick at it, you will get there and boy does it feel good 😀

That's fantastic Kitcat122, well done you star.
My smoke free app tells me I'm 23 days, 16 hours and 42 minutes smoke free, I've saved £212.86 and the number of cigarettes I've not smoked is now 473. I feel great and my mindset has changed - I don't crave cigarettes and I firmly see myself as a non smoker.
What exercise are you doing? I walk my dog daily but I'm looking for something else as well, I can't bear the thought of going to a gym though.

Thanks I feel really good, still fancy a cig sometimes but only fleetingly. The app is great isn't it? Crazy how much money we spent, I've saved over £900 so far 🤑. I hate the gym so have been running 3 days a week. At first it was hell but I can really feel my fitness improving now so quite enjoy turning up the music and going for a run. It has really motivated me to stay off the smoking as I feel fitter than I have for years. Well done 24 days is amazing you are over the worst, just keep saying no to that little voice that pops up in your head xx

I had a blip but I’m back. Only 6 hours or so in but it’s a start.