Anyone giving up smoking for 2020?

[Murphs1]

I’m on day 4 no smoking in patches. Anyone else giving up for 2020?
I’ve smoked since I was 17 except when pregnant x2 and am now 45!! Time to knock it on the head. Would be great to hear from others who are taking the plunge!

Well done Francis, 3 weeks is a fab achievement. They say you’re over the worst by then.
Mimi I’ve done exactly the same as you in the past. I’m managing better on the patches but am looking at it differently this time in that I have to do the whole course, not wear a patch one day and take it off the next to smoke. I think I’ll look at the max Kirsten app, anything that helps!
Spoonsmum, it is hard and I am THE serial quitter. You haven’t failed as long as you want to keep trying. Don’t beat yourself up

Hi everyone! I also use Max Kirsten’s app, mimi, definitely helped alongside the Champix. I’ve found the last week a bit up and down, had some major cravings due to stress (I’m on day 34) it has made me realise that it is a journey and it’s still going to be difficult even though I’m nearly 5 weeks in. Keep going spoons! You can do this! Maybe asking your work colleagues/friends not to offer you a smoke might help? Well done to everyone else! Mimi, Francis, Murphs, Rocking, all still going strong?

“Serial quitter” is exactly it. People at work don’t take me seriously I don’t think. But yes. I will tell them to not offer me any. And I really think a break from drinking will massively help. I don’t drink a LOT but it’s just the association in my head
Well done everyone :)

Can I join please?! I decided I didnt want to smoke anymore and was feeling great about my decision. I put out my last cigarette last night after reading allen carrs book and thought I'd be fine.
I was doing really well up until about 2pm and then I was crying and all sorts
I have gum and a fake fag thing but I feel like using these is cheating myself as it's still nicotine. I really dont want to smoke but I feel awful. Bot at all like I expected from reading the book. Please throw advice at me lol.

Welcome Hawkins! Firstly, well done for making the decision to stop smoking, you should be so proud for getting to this point! Secondly, don’t feel bad about Carr, in my personal experience, stopping smoking is not as black and white and simple as he makes it out to be, you are certainly not alone if his method isn’t working for you. I found his book changed the way I think about smoking but it certainly didn’t help me stop for more than a few days. Finally, everyone is different and if gum and a fake cig will help you stop then go for it and let go of the guilt. I have only managed to stop through taking Champix, using a hypnotherapy app, seeing a stop smoking specialist and a lot of willpower! The main aim is to stop so use whatever is best for you. I wish you the best of luck! Keep posting on here, this forum is a great support.

Yes good luck! I read that smoking is just as addictive as class a drugs (don’t know how true it is but the fact that we can stop even for a short time is pretty amazing )
I’ve been reading books recently about habits, and they suggest that getting rid of a habit is nearly impossible unless you replace it with a different thing. Not sure what to use though.... very hard when I work with people who all smoke :/

Murphs, how did you get on with the Max Kirstin app?
Purple, glad to hear the app helped you too! I’m still going! Day 21. I dropped down my patch dose a few days ago and all was fine but the cravings have been a bit frisky today so might have to start the occasional lozenge again too!
Hakuna, welcome! The Allen Carr book did nothing at all for me - and I read it a few times. Don’t beat yourself up on that front because it really doesn’t work for everyone. I’m using patches and I felt like I was cheating compared to some of the willpower ladies but I’ve made peace with it now.
Spoons, it really is hard. I think we forget that - and people who don’t smoke don’t get it at all! I’m familiar with the idea of swapping habits but I honestly don’t know what a good replacement would be. Maybe a quick breathing exercise would be the most beneficial thing despite it being a less obvious replacement than, say, a carrot!
Everyone is doing so well. It really is hard. Keep going, gang.

Sounds like everyone is doing really well.. keep it up! I'm on day 46..not that I'm counting...much! I have taken up walking once a day as really need to lose weight and I'm finding my breathing is so much easier. I used to hate exercise before as would get so out of breath! I still have cravings but not as strong and not as often. I'm down to the last 3 of my stage 2 patches then it goes to the lowest level for another 2 weeks then that's it..I'm on my own!

So glad everyone is doing well! Well done! Thank you for all the supportive messages. I am now on day 4 and am using patches and lozenges which has stopped the crying lol. Feeling much more energised when I wake up in the morning which I wasn't expecting!

You still good, Hakuna?
Day 25 for me, ladies. Still feeling physically ropey (I think I mentioned previously that I’m not gliding through that side of things) but still going strong otherwise.
How’s everyone doing?

Oh and, Denman, GOOD JOB! You can totally do the next bit on your own. And then I’m right behind you. I’ve got about 5 more of step 2 and then I’m dropping down to 3. (I’ve ended up truncating stage 1 because I wasn’t sure if the patches were contributing to my chest tightness and anxiety.)

Day 25! That's amazing well done. I hope the ropey feeling goes soon. I am on day 7 now. Last day of stage 1 patches. I'm a bit worried about when I completely stop all nicotine but just taking sach day as it comes.

Everyone is doing amazingly well! Such an achievement for us all. I’m on day 43, I’m going on holiday tomorrow and have bought myself a little vape with 0mg nicotine oil. I think it may help with cocktails and feeling relaxed when away, has anyone else used nicotine free vape? I’ve found the last couple of weeks difficult, I think about smoking a LOT and it’s driving me a bit loopy. My husband says I’m in mourning which is probably true, I wasn’t expecting the habitual/psychological side to be this hard at this point. I think it’s easy to forget the negatives of smoking also. Have you all had a lovely smoke free day?

Well done everyone! We are going to smash this!
I know what you mean Purplepenny about mourning not being able to smoke. So weird isn't it. It helped that for the first month I stashed the money I would have spent in a pot. TakIng it out at the end of the money and then imagining chucking it all on the fire was a very good motivator!
On the eve of day 50 I have saved £625... which is frankly ridiculous to think I was just burning it. I'm saving for a trip to Oz and will be flying business...that is my motivation right now.. I keep looking at the pictures of the lovely lie flat bed!!
Do you have something to aim for to treat yourself? It may help.

Thanks Denman! Yeah holiday tomorrow and we will go away in the Summer too, great motivators! My app tells me how much I’ve saved and I look at it whenever I’m feeling tempted. I’m amazed I got this far and feel determined to keep going. Business class to Oz will be fabulous!! That’s a fantastic way to spend your savings and celebrate!

Hi all,
I’ve not been back as I smoked AGAIN after all this time and felt too ashamed to come back.
I’ve now chucked away the patches and have gone cold turkey with the max Kirsten app. How are you all doing?

just wanted to say purplepenny500 your posts are very motivating x

Hi Murphs! Ah, thank you! I was worried I was just moaning/grumbling most of the time! Try not to feel ashamed, we are all here to support! You have always been really supportive and offered advice when other members have started smoking again and we are all here for you. It’s done, in the past and you are doing the right thing in moving forwards! Anyone can slip backwards, I think we all know how crazy difficult this is. Well done for dusting yourself off and trying again. Keep us updated!

Can I join please?

I've given up a few times in the past. Used the champix tablets. Stopped for 2 years. Stopped with patches and inhalator, then started again.

I really want to stop for good. I NEED to stop!

Hi all, Murphy, please dont feel embarrassed! It's bloody tough and there are going to be days when we succumb. It's like being on a diet which is far easier, yet I still manage to eat crap on that as well. Don't beat yourself up. Just start again.
I'm on no patches now...finished the 3 step programme. I was a bit scared on day one but it was ok. I have felt crabby today however And despite trying to diet have eaten crap all day as starving and grumpy!

Murphs, not Murphy.. sorry

Hi everyone! Day 64 for me, I’m officially over the two month mark. I have saved a lot of money but don’t feel like I have if that makes sense? Maybe I’m overspending on other things! How is everyone doing?

And welcome to buttonmoon if you are still with us!

I am 24 hours in lol and I would literally snog one out of any of your mouths 😂😂😂😂