I'm looking for all the positives

[HappyHappyy]

About giving up smoking please . I'm on day 2 today, feel good, and ready for it which is important. It would be nice to hear from people who have successfully stopped and all the good things that came with it, so I can look back at this thread it if/when I need the all the good energy 😀

We went from no holidays a year to 2 holidays a year plus weekends away when we gave up smoking.

We also have savings in the bank now which we never had before.

I gave up twenty years ago.

The best thing is freedom. When I smoked I was chained to the ciggies, lighter, somewhere to smoke. Now I can go anywhere, do anything, because I don't have to think about it.

It's great. I mean, no one ever wishes they'd smoked for longer!

DP's Mum was a smoker for years and then developed COPD.

Her 'golden' years are now spent housebound and on oxygen. She literally can't leave the house bar a very rare occasion.

She now has to live downstairs and they've adapted the bottom floor so she doesn't have to go upstairs.

OP

I have never smoked but my parents did.

My dad did not 'give up' he just decided one day he would see how long he could go without a cigarette. He's at 40+ years now.

Also I worked in a cardiorespiratory department.

Look out for weeks 2-4. This is when a lot of people start again.

The cilia in your lungs are what waft out bad things, when you smoke these become paralysed and you take a lot of gunk in. About 2 weeks in they 'wake up' and, well, basically they do a spring clean and start wafting gunk out of your lungs and it takes about 2 weeks for them to get your lungs clean(ish).

If you can make it to 4 weeks you are a non smoker.

Get a money box or a jam jar and, in cash, put in what you would have spent. At the end of the week bank it, maybe in a new account so you can see it build up.

Good luck.

Money - you just have more.
No more coughing in the morning.
You don’t smell of fags - you don’t need to take chewing gum and perfume every where you go.
You have nice hands and nails.
You can go long distance flights to Australia without getting all anxious.
Your skin looks so much better, not so much now when we’re just coming out of a long winter, but at the end of summer when you also have a bit of colour.

Things that helped me:
A fidget toy.
Having an app on my phone that tells me how much I saved and how my health is improving.
Temporarily cutting out alcohol - for me it was a smoking trigger.
Brushing my teeth when I had a craving.

Good luck! Just take it one day at a time.

There are so many positives- the financial impact means I have saved over 5k in the 5 years I have been a non smoker, and I only ever smoked less than 10 a day.
My children hated it, even though I only smoked outside, and that made me feel horrible.
I can easily smell who is a smoker, however careful they are with hygiene, and my own sense of taste and smell is much sharper.
My life isn’t dictated by where and when I can find somewhere to smoke, and I don’t feel embarrassed being in the grip of an addiction .
I can walk uphill more easily and I don’t have a cough or keep having to clear my throat. Colds impact me much less.
Keep it up OP, you’ve made a great choice.
My one tip would be, don’t make any exceptions, don’t succumb to the odd cigarette at a party. If you think alcohol will weaken your resolve, then don’t drink for a few months. Don’t think “ just one won’t hurt”, because it will make it so much harder. Get rid of all the paraphernalia and don’t have any emergency spares in hand. It’s easier not to mix with smokers until you are used to not smoking.

Given the huge amounts of money you will save, put the cash in a separate account at the end of each week that you don't smoke and plan something fabulous with it. A very luxurious holiday might be a good idea. Celebrate your success.

There are only positives;

Not smelling of smoke
Not having the panic of nearly running out
More money
chest infections clear up quicker
easier to breathe
Food tastes better
Not having to go out in the rain
No cats bum mouth wrinkles
whiter teeth

I gave up 14 years ago, for it's not being chained to a packet of cigarettes and finding somewhere to smoke.

Going on holiday stressing about the last fag before boarding the plane
I'd rather forget my phone and purse than my fags
Being one of the only smokers at work and being judged for it
Money is an obvious one
Not stinking

Thank you everyone,

All of these resonate - especially the being chained to it - I've spent my life planning around when I can smoke, finding the smoking area, having that last one before a flight, making sure I had one before I took the dog out because good forbid I'd have to go one hour without one.

And the smell. I'd had it all, gum, perfume, besides that I'm sure my hacking cough gave it away. But the smell must've always been there.

I definitely feel ready this time, late 30s, just changing a few small habits / behaviours should carry me through. I've been getting into bed really early to stop snacking or standing outside the back door smoking. And will be avoiding alcohol for a few months at the very least! Definitely a trigger for me.

Well done to all of you who've quit, that's the energy I wanted to find

My husband quit.

It took a few attempts and it wasn't easy for him.

In the end he just decided he didn't want it in his life anymore.

He's giving himself a better chance every day of a long and healthy life, which is the best thing of all.

Plus winning the battle in terms of the money, the smell, the furtive disappearing, the stress, the guilt, the judgement, the addiction.

@HappyHappyy
How are you doing? Are you still going?
I've had the most hideous chest infection for 4 days and have been bedridden. The thought of putting cigarette smoke in my lungs makes me want to be sick..... but the awful craving is still there. I'm bargaining with myself constantly. I know it would knock me on my ass, but my addict brain is telling me that that would be a good thing 🙄

So, as it is- day 4.
I know this awful cough would have cleared up much quicker were I not a smoker. I need to remember feeling this crap as motivation to keep going.

Any tips? Drinking and driving (not together obviously!!) Are triggers. Oh and the early morning cup of tea. The excuse for a quiet space and after eating.

Need to break the associations.

Hope you're doing well OP, and congrats all above who have smashed the chains.

Hi @glindathegoodbitch thanks for you message. Are you feeling better?

I'm on day 29 now, so over the first 4 weeks. Feel great, but yes, alcohol a trigger so that's had to go completely for now, and the mornings are the most difficult.

But I've saved nearly £400 so that's the part that's been really motivational. Plus I have so much more time. Had to keep myself busy so the house is really clean & organised. It has been a huge positive & I was so ready. Pleased not to be using a vape either, just patches.

I contacted our local NHS stop smoking service & they've been a great support - it keeps you accountable. Let me know how you're getting on x

Well done OP, keep going!

My parents were both smokers when I was growing up and I hated it. They both stunk of stale smoke no matter how many breath mints they ate, and my clothes used to smell which was embarrassing when I went to school 🙁

In addition they both got cancer in their early 70's - dm died but DF is recovering (he no longer smokes!)

@HappyHappyy
Yay!! I'm so happy that you're still going.
I think I needed a little 'it's possible' inspiration. Well done! Have you read any books or used an app etc to help?

I still have the god awful cough, but I'm wondering if now, some if it is from giving up smoking. Doing lots of research on how I'll feel and when so I am forearmed. Downloaded an app that tells me what part of me is recovering, why and how quickly- which is fascinating.

I'm now completely nicotine free, so all cravings are in my head. Very helpful to know in a weird way.

@therealjohnmajor I am so sick of stinking. And my children have become very aware that I smoke. Time to kick it to the curb.

Booze has had to hit the shelf. Hoping giving up booze at the same time will counteract the potential smoke-free weight gain.

Glad you are still going OP and the others, you can do this.

Do you like exercise at all?

Going out for an early morning (or any time) run/swim/gym/cycle helps tremendously.
Anything that makes your lungs work hard. It clears your head and your mind.

You feel so good and know you are doing the direct opposite to when you are stood in a shelter puffing away.

I gave up years back after several failed. attempts.

It was so hard. I even hallucinated at one point 😮

I got through one hour at a time in the early days.

A few hints
Each time I got a craving and didn't have a cigarette I'd count it. At the end of each day I'd record the count in a spreadsheet.

Every time I walked past someone smoking I'd count that too

I had a spreadsheet that had the price of a box of cigarettes and my count. Every time I wavered I opened it and it recalculated the cigarette savings in numbers of fags and £
I saw how much money I wasn't spending on fags and held onto that.

We put our cigarette money in a savings account.

DH gave up at the same time.

After 18 months we had enough to take the kids on holiday to California. I shit you not. That holiday was amazing and all paid for by what we would have literately burned.

So, keep count of, and mark each little victory. Count the savings. Save the cash. Spend it on something truly amazing.

You can do this.