Nearly at the 1 year mark, and wanted to encourage anyone out there thinking of it

username123

To quit!!

Cant believe I am almost a year on. I keep mentally comparing myself to last year. This time last year I developed a nasty nose/throat/chest type illness that lasted for about 3 weeks. There was no way I was going to my GP because I thought she would blame the smoking so I choked, coughed up stuff, and generally felt awful and I STILL smoked my way through it. Madness.


This year will be the first Christmas morning that I am not gasping for a fag before even giving or receiving a gift.

I feel very very lucky to be free. Thank you to all the good folk here for their encouragement and support, and best wishes to those of you who are also approaching an anniversary.

And for those still smoking - giving up is the best thing you'll ever do for yourself, the year has flown by and I never once felt like throwing in the towel. Thinking about it is a million times worse than doing it.

useeme

Well done. A year for me in January too.

Vizzy

username123 wrote: »

This time last year I developed a nasty nose/throat/chest type illness that lasted for about 3 weeks. There was no way I was going to my GP because I thought she would blame the smoking so I choked, coughed up stuff, and generally felt awful and I STILL smoked my way through it. Madness.

I'm 8 months off them and of all the differences/changes I have felt,the one above is the one I have noticed most.
In previous years(about 20) I would get a cold in the last week in November and still be coughing and spluttering in mid January.
This year the cold lasted 3 days !!:D

username123

Thanks and well done to you both General Motors and Vizzy.

I know Vizzy, I used to get nasty lingering colds, it would move from the nose to the throat to the chest and settle in for the long haul!! I had a 3 day cold earlier in the year, I think it was the first time since I was a child it cleared so quick.

Im off for a run now - something I couldnt possibly have done this time last year!!

not yet

Vizzy wrote: »

I'm 8 months off them and of all the differences/changes I have felt,the one above is the one I have noticed most.
In previous years(about 20) I would get a cold in the last week in November and still be coughing and spluttering in mid January.
This year the cold lasted 3 days !!:D

I can relate to this, I was ''off'' them for a year but smoked in pubs etc. Finally went off them in August. Have the headcold doing the rounds at the moment but unlike other years of it dragging on for weeks, I had it 3 days.

The main thing I have noticed is the freedom, the freedom of not being constantly worried about if I had enough cigs. I can honestly say to anyone reading this who smokes...nike: just do it. You will be amazed at the difference in your life.

quaalude

Just stopping in to say I stopped smoking exactly one year ago today - and the final push I needed to stop was reading the inspirational posts here in the Giving Up Smoking board.
I despise smoking now, and to smoke would be unthinkable.

So thanks very much, posters of this board - I couldn't have done it without you.

Scripted thought

Massive congratulations to you all! I love reading the success stories! I will be 1 week off them tomorrow! So far so good aswell. I find it amazing how much time I am saving by not smoking! I'm doing it cold turkey but have the inhaler in my bag incase I'm having a tough day. Fingers crossed I will be on here this time next year to say I'm a year off them!
Congrats again!!

AgileMyth

If you can do a week you can do a year. No bother to you.

I'm approaching the 6 month mark and I'll still be a non smoker in another 6 months.

rasper

Week off them at 6pm today , feeling really positive , loving the freedom it gives, they really are an evil creation

chavezychavez

Off them 2 years in about a week.

The best thing I've ever done. I'm so grateful that I'm not locked down by the necessity to smoke anymore.

I'm still careful and will never count chickens on this, as I've seen too many people fall back to old ways when they least expect it, but every day that goes by without a ciggie is a big win.

More power to everyone who's giving them up this year.

username123

rasper wrote: »

Week off them at 6pm today , feeling really positive , loving the freedom it gives, they really are an evil creation

The freedom is wonderful!! No more of every single day being dominated by "when can I go for a smoke". Every event, every social gathering, every movie, every meal out, every travel arrangement - all dominated by "when can i?". And then standing out in the cold shivering alone sucking in on a smelly cigarette - I honestly dont know what I was thinking!!! (I was thinking "I need, I need, I have to, I have to" - not anymore!!!)

InTheTrees

I quit on new years day, Five years, seven days, nine hours and thirteen minutes ago. (Thats whats nice about quitting on new years day; you always know to the minute how long its been.)

It does get easier. Eventually you wont be tempted or even bothered about them anymore.

Just hang in there, really thats all it takes.

rasper

A smoker friend of mine said to me on my 1st day that " most people who gave up on new years day failed"
Have to say it incentived me more

Gonzp

A year and a half on Tuesday... Im delighted with myself, only problem is Im about two stone heavier... still would not go back on them for no amount of weightloss... Im now in the process of trying to shift the weight!!!, so hear goes... A sure sign of an addict, swap one addiction for another :eek:....

100200 shih

I am 4 & 1/2 years off them, hate the things now , love the freedom of not smoking

Allround Predator

This is my 13th day of the cigs. I've tried to give up a few times before but never made it through the first week. 2 weeks tomorrow, this will be the longest I'm off them. The other times I tried to give up a went cold turkey but this time Im using 1.5mg Lozenges and they are a great help, I dont think I would of lasted this long without them, plus Iv also quit smoking Cannabis so Im knocking two addictions on the head at the same time. I hope I get through this and never smoke again! Reading these post are a great help and very motivating for me. :)

useeme

Just made it past the year mark.


I feel alive!

wotsit

I have to say all the posts here are so inspiring.
I'm still smoking (25 a day approx) and have been thinking of stopping for over a year now, but keep putting it off.
Apart from the ridiculous amounts of money I'm spending on them, I know all the pros to quitting but just can't do it. I feel life won't be worth living without them - crazy notion I know, as if I keep it up that life is going to be compromised completely. They have totally taken over my life to be honest. Everywhere I go from the minute I get up in the morning they're there, every event, meeting, destination is pre planned in my head as to where I can fit in a cigarette. It's the first thing I do in the morning, come downstairs and have a cigarette with a cuppa.
I hate myself for it, it's destroying my self confidence , wrecking my hair, skin, nails and teeth, smelly clothes, smelly house, smelly furniture. I am so hooked it's unbelievable. As I live with my son who also smokes it makes it all the more difficult to stop. He says he will stop if I do. I stopped drinking four years ago and have convinced myself that I am ''entitled'' to have something I enjoy. But it's a huge trap.
I admire so much those of you that have kicked the habit.

InTheTrees

wotsit wrote: »

I have to say all the posts here are so inspiring.
I'm still smoking (25 a day approx) and have been thinking of stopping for over a year now, but keep putting it off.
Apart from the ridiculous amounts of money I'm spending on them, I know all the pros to quitting but just can't do it. I feel life won't be worth living without them - crazy notion I know, as if I keep it up that life is going to be compromised completely. They have totally taken over my life to be honest. Everywhere I go from the minute I get up in the morning they're there, every event, meeting, destination is pre planned in my head as to where I can fit in a cigarette. It's the first thing I do in the morning, come downstairs and have a cigarette with a cuppa.
I hate myself for it, it's destroying my self confidence , wrecking my hair, skin, nails and teeth, smelly clothes, smelly house, smelly furniture. I am so hooked it's unbelievable. As I live with my son who also smokes it makes it all the more difficult to stop. He says he will stop if I do. I stopped drinking four years ago and have convinced myself that I am ''entitled'' to have something I enjoy. But it's a huge trap.
I admire so much those of you that have kicked the habit.

I too, was a "confirmed" smoker. I quit a few times before it finally worked. But it did.

I couldnt have done it without the gum though. I honestly never thought I could do it at all really... but thats the nature of addiction isnt it? You have a big part of your brain that's actually working against you, weird really.

It can be done.

username123

wotsit wrote: »

I feel life won't be worth living without them

I know exactly what you mean, it was the same reason I put off quitting for years. Now I know - its the addiction playing tricks on you. Your head tells you "but Ill never enjoy another holiday/meal/drink/trip to the cinema/rainy morning/etc... without being able to have a ciggie". But the truth - that your addiction doesnt let you see - is that you will of course enjoy all the usual stuff, but in fact, youll enjoy it even more because you wont be a slave to having to have a cigarette all the time!!

Another great mental trick is to make you think that quitting is so hard that you keep putting it off. Again, the truth is that the quit itself is NOT as hard as you believe it to be - the thinking about it is much harder than the doing of it!

I strongly encourage you to do it. Its not as bad as you think it will be. There are all sorts of supports and things to help these days. I did cold turkey, that might not work for everyone but I was honestly relieved to be free from the end of day 1.

Best of luck, I hope your quit day comes to you soon and you enjoy the freedom and good health that a life free of smelly cigarettes has to offer.

Dead Man Walking

^^^ +1

I think the hardest part about quitting is getting around to quitting. I stopped for a year before and it's taken me about 6 years to doing it again, all the time meaning to. I'm off them two weeks tomorrow, albeit with an e-cig which I can see myself smoking indefinitely for the time being. Haven't even wanted a real smoke which is good. Will wean myself down on nicotine strength in the future but for now i'm happy as i'm passed the hardest part. Quitting.

All the best to all of you and don't let the bastards grind you down.

InTheTrees

username123 wrote: »

I know exactly what you mean, it was the same reason I put off quitting for years. Now I know - its the addiction playing tricks on you. Your head tells you "but Ill never enjoy another holiday/meal/drink/trip to the cinema/rainy morning/etc... without being able to have a ciggie".

Yeah. The most effective weapon that nicotine has over you is the threat of the Great Emptiness.

That horrible dark hole of...loss when you have your morning coffee (or whatever) without a cig.

It really does go away though. A little bit every day.

username123

InTheTrees wrote: »

Yeah. The most effective weapon that nicotine has over you is the threat of the Great Emptiness.

That horrible dark hole of...loss when you have your morning coffee (or whatever) without a cig.

It really does go away though. A little bit every day.

What a wonderful expression!!

I totally agree with you, it does go away. And in fact, its so much nicer not to have to have a cigarette that the Great Emptiness actually becomes the Great Freedom!

InTheTrees

username123 wrote: »

What a wonderful expression!!

I totally agree with you, it does go away. And in fact, its so much nicer not to have to have a cigarette that the Great Emptiness actually becomes the Great Freedom!

Thanks.

I was trying to think back to those days when life just didnt seem worth living without my little cig buddies.

I remember waking up to the feeling of "oh god, another day without my friends...".

Its almost a different feeling entirely compared to the Pain of of the craving but its all the same insidious stranglehold over you.

Hang in there!

CollardGreens

Congratulations to all that quit! Dec. 27th made it 11 years free and I can't stand to smell them. I smoked heavy for just over 25 years ~ it can be done. Nobody died quitting and skinny ppl don't look good in a casket!

Don't use weight or fear or the fact you tried before as an excuse. Sometimes quitting takes practice, you learn what doesn't work.

Just do it! :cool:

wotsit

The posts here have been so thought provoking, also they snap me into the reality of my smoking habit, they're such a big part of my life now I need to make the decision to get rid of them.
I have decided to quit next Monday, this weekend is my dad's month's mind mass, he was 86, and he quit over 40 years ago. He was a publican and the smoking ban wasn't in at that time, so he was still breathing in the second hand smoke, how he had the strength of mind to quit still amazes me.
About ten years ago he took up smoking again, after he retired and as part of his golf he would treat himself to a cigarette always at the ninth hole. He hid this from my mother as she would've killed him stone dead if she knew he had started again.:D
He would buy a pack of cigs and leave them at the golf club only having that one at the ninth which was about three times a week. He asked me several times to quit but I never did.
He died of lung cancer which spread to his pancreas and his liver, but thankfully he didn't suffer for long at all.
If I can't do it for myself then I will do it in his memory.

The decision has been made.

username123

^^ Thats great Wotsit!!

Best of luck on your journey, its not nearly as bad as you thinks its gonna be and the relief of being free is incomparable! Im only sorry I didnt quit a decade earlier!

elnino1977

Best of luck Wotsit and a lovely story. Fair play to all those who have quit this awful habit and indeed those trying to quit!!

I have decided myself to give them up. I have smoked 20 cigs a day for the last 20 years but can honestly say I hate them but yet still continue to puff away knowing the damage it is doing.

I can certainly relate to the thought process " I will never enjoy life" etc or that the damage is done so what is the point of giving up. That is what I am really afraid of , have I left it too late etc...

Mentally for the last couple of months I have tried to get myself in a position to give up and it's so hard. I am going to attempt from NOW to just stop cold turkey and see if I have any fight in me willpower wise to give it a good go. I honestly hate them and so want to stop!!!!!

wotsit

elnino1977 wrote: »

Best of luck Wotsit and a lovely story. Fair play to all those who have quit this awful habit and indeed those trying to quit!!

I have decided myself to give them up. I have smoked 20 cigs a day for the last 20 years but can honestly say I hate them but yet still continue to puff away knowing the damage it is doing.

I can certainly relate to the thought process " I will never enjoy life" etc or that the damage is done so what is the point of giving up. That is what I am really afraid of , have I left it too late etc...

Mentally for the last couple of months I have tried to get myself in a position to give up and it's so hard. I am going to attempt from NOW to just stop cold turkey and see if I have any fight in me willpower wise to give it a good go. I honestly hate them and so want to stop!!!!!

Been reading this online and on other websites today about the immediate benefits to stopping, hope this encourages you today like it has me. http://worldtruth.tv/what-happens-when-you-quit-smoking/
A few weak moments but am just thinking about it one day at a time, and breaking it down like that is making it more manageable.

InTheTrees

elnino1977 wrote: »

I have smoked 20 cigs a day for the last 20 years but can honestly say I hate them but yet still continue to puff away knowing the damage it is doing.

You know when people talk about "when you're ready" it'll be easy to quit?

I never understood what that meant as I tried and failed so many times. Until I was about a month into my final successful attempt when I realized it means you finally really fcuking hate the things and the pain they're causing you.

And at that point the balance tips into your favour. Kind of. It gives you an edge anyway. For me of course... we're all different.