It can be done.......stick with it.

Miss_Ellie

I realised earlier that I quit cigarettes 10 months ago today!!

I was ill with a hangover - and somewhere through the haze it realised that I hadn't smoked that day....and survived.
So I decided to see if I'd survive again the following day - and I did.

There are times when it's hard. But if definately is mind over matter - keeping those nicotine demons in your head at bay.

I'm never saying never.....but so far so good.

There is nobody more shocked than me that I haven't had a smoke in all that time.

So, stick with it. It's so worth it!!

Orion

Any time I had a hangover the first thing I did was reach for a cigarette

Congrats on your 10 months. I look forward to the 7th June for your first anniversary

mitsybaby

well done ellie..

Miss Fluff

10 months is great, well done! You should plan to really treat yourself when you hit the year mark and do something special!:)

deaglan169

well done ellie im just starting my 3rd week of them and finding it really difficult because my mind is playing tricks on me and im thinking will it always be like this even in 3 months will i be saying god id love a fag:rolleyes:

Miss_Ellie

Hi Deaglan,

I know it can be difficult. And the thing is it is just mind games. Finding a distraction for the craving is key.....go for a quick walk, turn on the radio and dance to a song, phone a pal, clean the bathroom, go to bed and read a book - whatever it takes!!!

It does get easier - I promise.
What you will probably find is that you will have a time when you really crave a cigarette. Mine is when I am totally relaxed.....I'd chew my arm off to have one!! Even now.

But I don't beat myself up over them. I take one day at a time.

I hope that helps a little. You're doing great!!!!!

del88

gave up 12 years ago......30 a day.

CoalBucket

I gave up over a year ago, 14 months to be exact, I used Champix for a month before I gave up and a month after. Giving up was no problem really. I still think about them every now and again but never tempted. Although strangely, I do smoke in my dreams at night and wake up feeling guilty

If anybody is thinking about giving them up, go for it !

deaglan169

thanks for help and support im determined to give them up so i think thats a big plus what im thinking of doing is learning guitar i bought one before christmas and it has sat in corner ever since would be good fag distractor:D

Morlar

I think that is one of the best times to give up, in the middle of a hangover where you smoked way too much the night before. I am off them (again) now heading for a month & it's not too bad. Gum and patches when needed and no major probs. I think it helps to stay away from people who do smoke for the first while, also away from pubs where the temptation may be higher.

EI111

I'm 10 weeks in. Still get the odd craving, but nowhere near as intense as they were after say 2 weeks and much more infrequent.

The key for me is realizing how sick smoking a full cigarette would make me feel- much much worse than putting up with the cravings, which at this stage only last about 10 seconds thank god.

Orion

EI111 wrote: »

I'm 10 weeks in. Still get the odd craving, but nowhere near as intense as they were after say 2 weeks and much more infrequent.

Good stuff. The cravings will come back again - when you least expect it. Last month I got some mad cravings and this postdemonstrates one explanation as to why.

A friend of mine is a non-smoking smoker for about 10 years now. He tells me that the cravings never really go away. They do weaken considerably but every now and again he sees someone smoking and feels a fond memory for his old friend. But it's only a fond memory rather than a strong craving. So stick with it brother

Gallagher5

Stick with it!

Loopy

Great post Macros42;)

Im 6 weeks off them now..
Everyday is hard but distraction is the only thing that works.
e.g. I now knit when I have friends over for dinner/drinks..
I look like a plonker but don't care.
I'm amazed that I haven't put on a pound in weight either.
I made a conscious effort not to change my diet (just cos I was off the fags) and it seems to have worked.

partyfeet

I quit about 6 years ago ,, oh the freedom .
And the jogging, the missing stink (sorry) and
all that money saved . Easy peasy way to go .
Well done yourself Hun.

mig mag

I can't count how many times I've been off the fags over the last few years and I constantly end up back smoking
I've tried patches, gum (yuk), acupuncture I've even had 'I promise you' tattooed on my arm in Irish as a promise to my kids not to smoke again.
I kept that promise for a few weeks and it still haunts me wen I have a fag now:mad:
I need to quit and stay quit!

Miss_Ellie

When you 'fall off the wagon' with smoking you just beat yourself up more and more.
Then you go into panic mode.
Then the little nicotine gremlins become your best friends - cause they're telling you 'see you will always fail and we'll always be here waiting. You're friends and family will give out to you and be disappointed but we'll always welcome you back'.

You DO know that's all a ploy.
Seriously, the most difficult part of quitting is in your head.
You need to ready yourself. Think about your smoking - why you do it, when you do it, where you do it. Analyze it over a period of time.
Think of the benefits from it. Think how you feel before, during and after.

I was off cigarettes for 5 months in 2008. Then I went back on them....I called it a 'relapse'. It lasted 12 months!!

When I went off them last time I just decided to try and see how I'd do.
I take one day, one hour at a time.
If I want one I tell myself I'll have it in an hours time.....do you know I've never wanted one when the hour passed.

You must be ready to do it. You need your strength to fend off the gremlins.

You are actually drawing away from them....they know that.....that's why they keep pulling you back. Tis like tug'o'war!!!

mig mag

I'm gonna set a new giving up date. I think Monday is good cos it def won't work over the weekend. Fingers crossed this time!
(kinda hard to hold a fag with ur fingers crossed eh?)

Miss_Ellie

Best of luck with Monday mig mag.
Let us know how you get on.

Try to find an ex-smoker pal who can reassure you when things get tough.

Or pop on here - I'm sure somebody will be around to give moral support.

EI111

When I quit i drank 4 cans for the first three nights off the cigs, because my enthusiasm was so high at the start i figured i could do it.
I think it helped as i got used to having a few drinks with no cigs at the start.
Different strokes for different folks though.

mig mag

EI111 wrote: »

When I quit i drank 4 cans for the first three nights off the cigs, because my enthusiasm was so high at the start i figured i could do it.
I think it helped as i got used to having a few drinks with no cigs at the start.
Different strokes for different folks though.

Well it's the first time I've heard of that approach, But it kinda makes sense
Just as long as I don't end up swapping one habit for another! lol

Ticktactoe

It is most definitely a mind over matter issue.
You have to discipline yourself and learn to say no.

I am off the cigs 64 days. I found it extremely difficult in the first week. The second week was hard too but I find now that I am no longer constantly thinking about them. Initially, everything I did involved a cig whether it was receiving bad news, or good news, having a cuppa, after eating and the cig was the finishing touch.

You have to stick with it. As a previous poster said - if you relapse, just think of it as a hiccup but be determined to stay off them.

If you really really want to, you can. If you need help its there but you need to also have the co-operation of your mind as well. Good luck to all.

CoalBucket

Ticktactoe wrote: »

It is most definitely a mind over matter issue.
You have to discipline yourself and learn to say no.

I am off the cigs 64 days. I found it extremely difficult in the first week. The second week was hard too but I find now that I am no longer constantly thinking about them. Initially, everything I did involved a cig whether it was receiving bad news, or good news, having a cuppa, after eating and the cig was the finishing touch.

You have to stick with it. As a previous poster said - if you relapse, just think of it as a hiccup but be determined to stay off them.

If you really really want to, you can. If you need help its there but you need to also have the co-operation of your mind as well. Good luck to all.

You're still counting in days

Couldn't agree more though, it's mind over matter

mig mag

Ok so Monday didn't go so well. I found myself having a fag while I was trying to think of something to do to distract myself!
Just got off the phone with a hypnotherapist tho and I have an appointment for 10.00 Tue morning.
One 3 hour session and apparently I'll walk out of there and just not want to smoke!
Hope it works, I'm running out of ways to try and nothing else is working.
I'm looking forward to it tho and I'll let ye know how it goes

Well done to everyone who's managed to go off them and best of luck to those who are thinking about it

Ticktactoe

CoalBucket wrote: »

You're still counting in days

I know! Its because of the site www.giveupsmoking.ie
It counts in days, otherwise I would have no idea how long I was off them now..... which is a good sign i think

mig mag

Hi guys, So I had the hypnotherapy at 10am on Tuesday and I haven't had a fag since! yippee!
Its been fairly easy actually, or at least easier than I was expecting.
Been having like 2 second pangs of 'this wud be fag time', but no real cravings.
Had a fight with husband today and he smokes so the fags were handy but I just cracked it and threw it in the bin, I didn't even think 'what a waste' which I usually would have.
Hope all is going well with ye. Best of luck

rizzee

I'm off them since Sept 21st 2009... I remember because I was at a gig the night before:) 1 week before I started college too, I thoughtnow or never. I smoked a packet a day for 3 years whilst in school (i know thats nothing compared to some people) bujtits worth it - I can workout properly, don't smell etc etc. Keep at it everyone, its hard at the start but if you've the support of friends and family it gets easy. Perhaps join a gym or take up a hobby to keep your mind off things? I'll never EVER smoke again... i find it easy on nights out drunk or not, my gfs mate smokes and we'd go to the smoking room to say hi and i'd be out of breath in a few seconds.... best desicion ever, IT CAN BE DONE!

Edit - over 7 months and it feels like years

edit 2 - I went on the inhalorabout 2 years ago, workedfor 3 weeks and was like feck it its still nicotine so went back on the smokes then... I don't believe in those nicorette gimmicks but if it helps your cravings then go for it!

edit 3 (sorry ) - If anyone asks you do you have a smoke dont say '' i gave them up'', say ''i stopped smoking''. A great bit of advice I got.

Ticktactoe

rizzee wrote: »

edit 3 (sorry ) - If anyone asks you do you have a smoke dont say '' i gave them up'', say ''i stopped smoking''. A great bit of advice I got.

Excellent advise there rizzee, thanks. Am going to say that anymore. I gave them up makes you feel like your missing something. I stopped smoking makes you feel it was your decision and your happy with it.

rizzee

Ticktactoe wrote: »

Excellent advise there rizzee, thanks. Am going to say that anymore. I gave them up makes you feel like your missing something. I stopped smoking makes you feel it was your decision and your happy with it.

Thats exactly it, also feels good to say it to yourself, gives you a boost and makes you feel good about yourself Good luck!!

Matches

Hey all,

I am off the smokes nearly 7 weeks at this stage, it feels weird and I do still want one at times but I not realise that it is my choice not to smoke and it will remain like that for the rest of my life. I chose to smoke for 15years and now I choose not to.

Does that make sense?

Ticktactoe

Matches wrote: »

Hey all,

I am off the smokes nearly 7 weeks at this stage, it feels weird and I do still want one at times but I not realise that it is my choice not to smoke and it will remain like that for the rest of my life. I chose to smoke for 15years and now I choose not to.

Does that make sense?

Absolutely and well done!
You are no longer been controlled by cigarettes and are not wondering when your next cig will be so you are in total control and its your choice!

I am now training myself to be around people who smoke and not let it affect me.... and it is working. When people go for a cig, I go with them.
I would only advise doing this tho if you are sure you are able to as it can be a form of torture if you let it...

desper8hsewife

i love reading these success stories! well done to all! i quit myself, god, around 6 years ago now. twas being pregnant with my son made me quit and ive never looked back and hopefully never will. keep it up lads and well done! you ll feel so much healthier!

F5MWG

I am 10 weeks off the cigerettes today. I took Champix for the first 5 days but after reading up (And also starting to experience) the side effects I decided to give them a miss and go Cold Turkey. In the following days I read Allen Carr's EASYWAY to Stop Smoking and cannot reccommend it enough!! I would of been the first person to laugh at someone suggesting that reading a book can stop you smoking.. but it can! It gives you a whole new outlook on smoking. I still get small cravings here and there, and I know I am only one away from being back on them.. but so far so good! ;-)

Good Luck!

mig mag

Congrats F5MWG, and well done
It's definately one of the most important things to remember I think,
that we're always just one cigarette away from being smokers again.

I learned that the hard way again last week when after being off them for 5 days I smoked while out. BIG MISTAKE!! I smoked a little every day after that and then I had a Hypnotherapy Booster Session last Monday and haven't looked back since

Hopefully I won't make that mistake again!
Best of luck to everyone

unkymo

After smoking for 15 years, I'm now off them for 15 weeks! I had a terrible hangover and decided that I didn't want to smoke anymore and went cold turkey.

Obviously the first few days were the toughest and my method for giving them up was a bit unusual. Basically I moved back home and locked myself into my old room for a few days playing PlayStation and eating rubbish food.

My sister and her boyfriend have giving them up as well after seeing me give them up and they're both 10 weeks off them.

Best of luck to everyone trying to give them up.

New York

del88 wrote: »

gave up 12 years ago......30 a day.

Did you find it very hard to give up? I am on Day 3 now and having a really bad day. THe first and second day were actually not too bad but I know I am tired today and my mind is playing tricks with me telling me how much I want one, i was thinking of having one if I am still this bad tonight.

Let me know if it was very hard for you to give up and thanks in advance.

F5MWG

New York wrote: »

Did you find it very hard to give up? I am on Day 3 now and having a really bad day. THe first and second day were actually not too bad but I know I am tired today and my mind is playing tricks with me telling me how much I want one, i was thinking of having one if I am still this bad tonight.

Let me know if it was very hard for you to give up and thanks in advance.

Fare play on even getting this far! The first few days are the toughest, but once you get a few days down it gives you encouragement to soldier on! Your not giving up anything, your breaking free of it.
Also it sounds like your using the 'mind playing tricks' as an excuse to have one tonight! Just remember how much you would regret having it! Your there now saying how much you want a cigerette but when your having one you think ... How much you don't want to smoke! Bit of a paradox really! All mind games but the fact is you don't actually want a cigerette, it is just to feed the little nicotine monster in you! And if you feed him he will be hungry again 20 minutes later! A never ending cycle (An exspensive one too!). BUT if you don't feed him, your actually killing him off. After 21 days (which sounds like alot but it gets easier!) you rid yourself of the nicotine monster completely! And then its just psychological.

I am 10 weeks off them now and trust me ... You feel much better in the long run! More money... Run further (Well just a little!)... Clearer skin... Feel better ... No more coughing ... And when you smell a smoke filled room or the scent of a person who has just had a cigerette you realise just how disgusting the habit really is!!

Good Luck with it!

New York

Thank you for the wise words. I printed your message off before I left the office and read it 3 times and then realised that it stopped me thinking about having a cigarette. I went for a walk instead!! To be honest one of my main reasons to give up was because I couldn't run anymore and when I saw that you said you can run further now - that was all I needed to hear. Thanks again and may I say congratulations to you!!! Well done - 10 weeks is fantastic. :cool:
You are right about the nicotine just wanting another one after 20 mins so it is like a vicious cycle. I will bear that in mind next time I think that i really want one. One is never enough, thats the problem.
Thats really interestng about the 21 days, I didn't realise that. I will keep that in mind and the fact that you feel much better after 10 weeks. I do notice that my cough is lighter already which is pretty amazing after 3 days.
Bring on Day 4 and thank you.:)

Ticktactoe

New York wrote: »

Thank you for the wise words. I printed your message off before I left the office and read it 3 times and then realised that it stopped me thinking about having a cigarette. I went for a walk instead!! To be honest one of my main reasons to give up was because I couldn't run anymore and when I saw that you said you can run further now - that was all I needed to hear. Thanks again and may I say congratulations to you!!! Well done - 10 weeks is fantastic. :cool:
You are right about the nicotine just wanting another one after 20 mins so it is like a vicious cycle. I will bear that in mind next time I think that i really want one. One is never enough, thats the problem.
Thats really interestng about the 21 days, I didn't realise that. I will keep that in mind and the fact that you feel much better after 10 weeks. I do notice that my cough is lighter already which is pretty amazing after 3 days.
Bring on Day 4 and thank you.:)

Well done New York. A lot of people find it hard after the first two or three days to stay of the ciggs. You really have to get tough with yourself and say no while thinking of all the crap you inhale from a cigg and how you can feel it in your chest - it helps me to think of the negitive things when i get a craving.

The cravings may be every 20 mins now but after the first week it maybe every hour or two and after a month it maybe once every day. Each day is a milestone so keep it up! And well done.

New York

Thanks Ticktactoe. I am going to take your advice and get stronger. Day 4 started hard but a little easier now. Coffee helps me greatly
I made a list of the pros and cons and ad to the pros each morning and that makes me feel good!

I like the advice about never say 'I gave up' instead say 'I stopped smoking', the difference is incredible, so much power in the second statment.

That is interesting about the cravings and I really look forward to week 3 or so when they do get less. But the funny thing is cravings are bad and you come to expect that but the mind is just unbelivable the way it trys to fool u!
Thanks again and you keep up the good work!

ceduffy

its so worth it 5 weeks off them now and feeling great not easy though but well worth it in the end

New York

HI Ceduffy, It is very hard I have to say. I think the mind is quite powerful the way it keeps making you feel that you are missing out - big time! And I know we are not but amazing the way the mind works.

Did it take long for you to go to pubs etc to be around smoke?

New York

Hi F5MWG
Still off the smokes, found Day 5 a killer!! But weekend is here so going to keep busy. I seem to be thinking about smoking a lot which crazy! I am not going near a pub for the moment, too easy to give in me thinks! Good luck going into your 11th week!

Ticktactoe

New York wrote: »

Hi F5MWG
Still off the smokes, found Day 5 a killer!! But weekend is here so going to keep busy. I seem to be thinking about smoking a lot which crazy! I am not going near a pub for the moment, too easy to give in me thinks! Good luck going into your 11th week!

Its amazing the way you will you think about cigs the whole time - eat, sleep, drink, add breaks on tele, leaving the house, driving, doing housework... i found i was thinking about them the whole time. However, the more days that passed the more I found I wasn't thinking about them all the time - it was amazing and was shocked when I could say to myself 'Im not thinking about having a cig now'. It felt good.

I went to the pubs on my third weekend of been off them. I gave myself no option when it came to thinking about smoking, it was simply a no. Discipline is the key - I think of it like teaching a child the word 'No' - you have to be tough!

New York

You are so right, think about it a lot!! I think I might venture out this weekend but take it easy otherwise I am a gonner!! Discipline is really the name of the game isn’t it. I do found myself thinking of how many cigarettes would I have smoked and so far it is approx 200 which makes me determined to keep going!

That’s great that don’t think of them that much at all, good for you J

JuliusCaesar

EI111 wrote: »

When I quit i drank 4 cans for the first three nights off the cigs, because my enthusiasm was so high at the start i figured i could do it.
I think it helped as i got used to having a few drinks with no cigs at the start.
Different strokes for different folks though.

Me too! I was so afraid that I'd associate alcohol (not cans in my case!) with cigarettes that I drank MORE than I usually would. Now I'd better cut down on the drinking

(Day 30 today - no patches or ecigs, just decided to stop.) I smoked about 18 a day, so I've saved €219 so far. And I do notice I've more money in my pocket, and that I go to the shops less often - so I don't buy the silly stuff I'd get just because I was there.

New York

Thats great, day 30 is excellent. Well done. I find the exact same thing, I usually go into the shops and end up buying lots of goodies so I do notice the difference however I should really put the money away like you did. Best of luck over the next few days. I am off them 2 weeks and one day!

Miss_Ellie

Well, I did it.
I had my one year anniversary on June 7th!!

I swear, if someone had told me that 14 months ago I would have thought - 'yeah, I wish, but it won't happen to me, I've got NO willpower!!'.
But I've done it and I'm very pleased with myself.

I still have moments that I would chew my arm off to have a puff. But I now know that is only a craving and will pass once I distract myself - even for a short while.

I have listened to and got advice from pals who have successfully (and sometimes not successfully) quit. There are the ones who help you along....who assure you it can be done and who know how tough it can be.

But it does get easier. SO much easier.
And, at some stage, not smoking is as much of a habit as smoking was!!!

Ticktactoe

Miss_Ellie wrote: »

Well, I did it.
I had my one year anniversary on June 7th!!

I swear, if someone had told me that 14 months ago I would have thought - 'yeah, I wish, but it won't happen to me, I've got NO willpower!!'.
But I've done it and I'm very pleased with myself.

I still have moments that I would chew my arm off to have a puff. But I now know that is only a craving and will pass once I distract myself - even for a short while.

I have listened to and got advice from pals who have successfully (and sometimes not successfully) quit. There are the ones who help you along....who assure you it can be done and who know how tough it can be.

But it does get easier. SO much easier.
And, at some stage, not smoking is as much of a habit as smoking was!!!

Well done, that is some achievement indeed! Im looking forward to the day that I can say I am 1 year off the cigs. I have a good bit to go yet, but am getting there.

I agree completely with what you said in relation to the fact that is does get easier. Im four months off the cigs and it is a lot easier to get through the day without the physical and mental torture of trying to convince myself not to have a smoke. That alone was extremely draining! But i dont give it a second thought now.

I do get the odd times alright when i would do anything for a cig but it is another craving and thats where the self discipline comes back into action!

Again, well done. Its great to hear success stories!

Ticktactoe

Weird thing crossed my mind today.... and im convinced again that my mind is playing tricks on me so that I will smoke..... I basically was thinking of how I was going to leave this world and thought that if I knew how i was going to die and it was nothing to do with my health then I could be smoking my lungs out until the time came! The power of the mind is lethal!!

F5MWG

6 months off them!! :eek: Going strong.

How are you getting on New York?