Quitting smoking (HONEST!!)

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Reece

Surely your breathing must have improved Jim? do you have any coughing bouts? even your food should taste better!! A good side benefit would be noticed in your wallet!!

Breathing.....a very small improvement.

Coughing bouts.....don't get them , although the wife does say I no longer cough in the middle of the night.

Food taste....hardly noticeable but that might be because I eat a lot of hot spicy foods, curry, chlilli etc.

Finances....I wouldn't dare state....let us just say I'm well happy in that area.

[AVGWarhawk]

For me:

Coughing is gone. Serious plus here.
My sense of smell is better (I shower more ofter now )
Taste: has somewhat improved
Monetary: marked improvement in finances
Socially: I do not feel like an outcast doing my dirty habit.

[Sammi79]

I managed to quit 5 months gone now, still not too long, still get the odd craving late nights etc...

the major thing I notice is I feel genuinely relaxed now, I hadn't realised how much conscious and sub-conscious thought processes went along with smoking, like every 5 minutes my brain was saying 'about time for a ciggarette?' Foremost in any of my plans was 'tobacco, skins, lighter' - and constant agonizing frustration if any of these items were missing, diverting my whole thought process into aquiring said item. Jeez, I thought nay, truly believed that it helped me to relax!!!

The truth is, giving up by going cold turkey is really not that hard. People just delude themselves that they want to give up when really they don't. Any excuse will do, I had a row with my partner, my job is so stressful etc. therefore I NEED a ciggarette, well 'NOT TRUE' you WANT one you don't need it. Your own brain will try to trick you over and over again but as long as you know this it is pure and simple willpower, discipline or gumption, whatever you like to call it. I tried to give up many times and failed always saying like everyone else, 'well its so difficult, so addictive' just more excuses. Finally I started getting irritated by that little 'hm-h-hhmmm-hhm' mini cough which would come with increasing frequency and never go away, not even whilst sleeping. In the end it annoyed me so much I just stopped dead in anger - I truly wanted to give up at that moment so I did, with no great hardship. Everybody's gonna have their own unique experience though I guess, just for me cutting it out immediately worked easily.

Well, cough is gone, £s are piling up, teeth are clean, much more relaxed, breathing easier and physical endurance/stamina increased. Plus I get to watch my mates shivering in winter when they are forced to smoke outside can't help taking a kind of pleasure in that.

[August]

Sammi. Excellent post!

any of these items were missing, diverting my whole thought process into aquiring said item

I'll bet there hasn't ever been a smoker who hasn't got dressed and gone out in the middle of the night just to buy a pack of smokes, at least once.

[Jimbuna]

Nice one...stay strong

[Sammi79]

@Jimbuna

I will.

Now I'm gonna get dressed an go get some more beer.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Sammi79

@Jimbuna

I will.

Now I'm gonna get dressed an go get some more beer.

Mines a pint

[mookiemookie]

I'm quitting tomorrow. I always said that I wanted to quit by the time I turned 30 and that day is Friday. So tomorrow it is then.

I've got an electric cigarette. Those things actually work pretty well! I quit using the gum before, but missing the whole "hand to mouth" routine thing got to me. I think with the electric, that won't be so much of a problem this time.

I've been "smoking" the electric today...and I only had 3 real ones instead of my regular 10 or so. It's going through its first charge, which takes 8 hours, so I've picked tomorrow as my "no more packs of cigarettes in my pocket" day.

Will keep everyone posted. Wish me luck.

[August]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

Will keep everyone posted. Wish me luck.

Good luck. You will have to be firm with yourself.

[HunterICX]

Good luck Mookie!

HunterICX

[Jack Davidson]

Good luck to you all who are giving up the gaspers.

I've been off them for 8 years now.

It's not easy, bloody hard at first, but if you stick with it it gets easier.

[Jimbuna]

Good luck Mark. I got sick of people telling me "If I can do it, anybody can"

I smoked 40+ per day and feel as if I'm paying the price 'healthwise' now.

Don't go there my friend....be stromg and resolute...it can be done.

I'm heading for my first smoke free anniversary.

Best of luck.

[Reece]

Quitting on your Birthday, you're strong willed! Best of luck! I recommend patches but don't leave on overnight, you don't smoke during sleep.
Cheers.

[AVGWarhawk]

Good luck man! I will be smoke free for one year on the 21st of this month. I started when I was about 12 and stopped when I hit 44. Things to help you quit:

1. gum helped me
2. cold turkey...just do it
3. remember how nasty these things tasted on the very first pack you had? Yep, nasty.
4. these things cause more stress then resolve
5. You smell better, your house smells better, your car smells better, your clothing smells better
6. you will feel better.

[mookiemookie]

The journey begins! It felt odd leaving the house without the pack of smokes and lighter in my pocket. I had that "oh crap, I'm forgetting something" feeling.

So far so good. I'm just telling myself that not buying smokes at $6.50 a pack, I'm giving myself a nice raise.