51 days off cigarettes!

dontbemean

Just writing to lend support to anyone who is currently quitting, or thinking of doing so! It is so worth it.

I've been off cigarettes 51 days now and I feel better than I have in years! Here are the benefits I've seen so far:

My skin is glowing.
My voice has improved (I sing).
My joints don't ache when running.
My apartment smells better.
Boyfriend says I smell better.
I waste less time sitting around smoking - I'm starting to do new things.
Crazy increase in physical energy.
More restful sleep.
Reawakened taste buds. Cooking new exotic dishes to try
More mental clarity.
Less anxiety.
More emotional strength (If I successfully quit the fags, then I can surely handle other difficult situations).
No coughing.
I'm SO much richer! I'm saving money for first time in ages.


I read a blog called Zenhabits which stated that it generally takes one month of solid effort to truly form a habit. And I did find that after the three/four week mark, the cravings really started to disappear. I replaced my 'trigger situations' (times I would usually smoke) with others such as walking, yoga, running, even just taking a shower. Of course I still get cravings (especially when socialising or stressed) but they're getting smaller and smaller all the time.

I can't describe to you how happy I felt when I realised I was over the worst of it, and that the cravings no longer felt like life or death.

I quit smoking one Sunday night when I saw that I was at the end of a pack. I always said I would quit before 30 years old, and I am 27 now. My flat stank, my hair stank, I was subjecting my boyfriend and my pet to second hand smoke damage. I'd become the sort of smoker who loathed herself during and after every cigarette.

I wrote down my reasons for quitting, printed them out & stuck them on my bedroom mirror. I decided that I DESERVED to be a non-smoker, to have my health, to spend my hard-earned money on things that did not harm me.

Cravings are a temporary state and are easily surmountable compared with the massive burdens other people have to bear (war, famine, inequality). That's not to say cravings don't SUCK - but only at first. It really is all about our state of mind when quitting. We need back-up to drown out the 'junkie thoughts' telling us it's okay to have one drag of a friend's cig, that we can always quit later, that we are missing out by not being out in the smoking area.

I found it helpful to look on quitting as a hugely POSITIVE step that I was taking in my life, not that I was now lacking or avoiding something hugely pleasurable. If we are browsing this forum, it can be assumed that the pleasure of smoking evaporated long ago for most of us. If quitting is good, then coping with ever-decreasing cravings is a mere stepping stone to living a better life.

I hope some of these positive thoughts inspire someone to keep trying. I never thought I could do it but here I am. Very best of luck to you! :cool:

thror

Well done dontbemean! That's an incredible achievement, I hope I will have the same attitude at the same point as you..!

Currently 11 days into it, and finding it... OK. Mainly, I have no urges or cravings, and when I do I find I can take my mind off it fairly easily by drinking water. Have started up a bit of an exercise routine and am eating well. After a dodgy few nights at the beginning I am sleeping well again, and it seems to be a better, more restoring sleep too.

The problem starts when I think about just HOW easy it has been and then have a bit of a panic that I'm "not doing it properly" or that I will find it tougher at a certain point and won't be able to cope. Silly thoughts I know, especially the former - how can I "not be doing it properly" when I haven't had a cigarette in 11 days - that's the whole aim! Amazing how irrational one can become.

In the same vein, I've been reading old threads here, and while they (REALLY REALLY!) help, I sometimes wonder whether reading so much about smoking doesn't make it more difficult sometimes to stop thinking about it. Seems to be OK so far though.

Your thread couldn't have come at a better time - here is to the next 40 days - hopefully by MY day 51 I will be able to copy and paste your post as if it was my own!

Cheers.

dontbemean

thror wrote: »

Well done dontbemean! That's an incredible achievement, I hope I will have the same attitude at the same point as you..!

Currently 11 days into it, and finding it... OK. Mainly, I have no urges or cravings, and when I do I find I can take my mind off it fairly easily by drinking water. Have started up a bit of an exercise routine and am eating well. After a dodgy few nights at the beginning I am sleeping well again, and it seems to be a better, more restoring sleep too.

The problem starts when I think about just HOW easy it has been and then have a bit of a panic that I'm "not doing it properly" or that I will find it tougher at a certain point and won't be able to cope. Silly thoughts I know, especially the former - how can I "not be doing it properly" when I haven't had a cigarette in 11 days - that's the whole aim! Amazing how irrational one can become.

In the same vein, I've been reading old threads here, and while they (REALLY REALLY!) help, I sometimes wonder whether reading so much about smoking doesn't make it more difficult sometimes to stop thinking about it. Seems to be OK so far though.

Your thread couldn't have come at a better time - here is to the next 40 days - hopefully by MY day 51 I will be able to copy and paste your post as if it was my own!

Cheers.

Thanks for the reply thror, I need the support & positive words just as much as you do.

Eleven days is a long time, and I can assure you days 11 - 50 will be easier than days 1 - 11 if you keep doing what you're doing!

It's interesting what you say about not having strong cravings. I don't believe you will have a difficult time in future if you haven't already been through hell during the first two weeks withdrawal (looks like you're one of the lucky ones...). There is a sort of mythology attached to quitting smoking which makes one believe that it will be incredibly difficult, that you need nicotine replacement products, that you will likely fall off the wagon. This is true for some people but not necessarily for others - and you are proof of this. Quitting is made seem a lot more difficult than it actually needs to be. These myths also help further the cause of the corporations who want us to stay hooked, or fail at quitting permanently. The image of those fatcats getting my money was a major inspiration for me in giving up - I try to visualise where my money is going every time I think of buying a pack, or when I get nostalgic about smoking. We're not missing out on anything. Our money should stay ours, to spend when we choose on things that will actually help us.

Drinking water, exercise and good sleep will be helping hugely with the detoxification process. I've been using water and green tea which not only help detox but also give you something to 'do' with hands and mouth while a craving occurs. I also take nicotine gum in social or stressful situations, but I've been tapering these off lately as obviously it makes little sense to treat nicotine addiction with more nicotine. The sooner I get used to socialising/stressing without any nicotine, the better. I have a friend who has been addicted to the gum since giving up smoking twenty years ago.

Here's to freedom!

Claire101

I am so annoyed with myself I quit for three months but I got very stressed doing an assignment for college and said one cigarette won't hurt. Here I am 6 months later back on 20 a day. So I now have no cigarettes and am starting again. Well done for going so long. Don't ever think one cigarette won't hurt because it will. Keep up the good work

dontbemean

Claire101 wrote: »

I am so annoyed with myself I quit for three months but I got very stressed doing an assignment for college and said one cigarette won't hurt. Here I am 6 months later back on 20 a day. So I now have no cigarettes and am starting again. Well done for going so long. Don't ever think one cigarette won't hurt because it will. Keep up the good work

Hi Claire, you might find this article useful. It's on how to cope with falling off the wagon!

The stress is so hard to cope with, I know. College, or for me, it's work. I chew nicorette gum like a mofo at those moments my boss decides to make my life hell.

Don't forget that three months is still a huge achievement (I'm only off them two months myself) and you should be proud. Don't let a slip-up knock you off course - you can stop again any time you want.

Eli Nich

dontbemean wrote: »

Just writing to lend support to anyone who is currently quitting, or thinking of doing so! It is so worth it.

I've been off cigarettes 51 days now and I feel better than I have in years! Here are the benefits I've seen so far:

My skin is glowing.
My voice has improved (I sing).
My joints don't ache when running.
My apartment smells better.
Boyfriend says I smell better.
I waste less time sitting around smoking - I'm starting to do new things.
Crazy increase in physical energy.
More restful sleep.
Reawakened taste buds. Cooking new exotic dishes to try
More mental clarity.
Less anxiety.
More emotional strength (If I successfully quit the fags, then I can surely handle other difficult situations).
No coughing.
I'm SO much richer! I'm saving money for first time in ages.


I read a blog called Zenhabits which stated that it generally takes one month of solid effort to truly form a habit. And I did find that after the three/four week mark, the cravings really started to disappear. I replaced my 'trigger situations' (times I would usually smoke) with others such as walking, yoga, running, even just taking a shower. Of course I still get cravings (especially when socialising or stressed) but they're getting smaller and smaller all the time.

I can't describe to you how happy I felt when I realised I was over the worst of it, and that the cravings no longer felt like life or death.

I quit smoking one Sunday night when I saw that I was at the end of a pack. I always said I would quit before 30 years old, and I am 27 now. My flat stank, my hair stank, I was subjecting my boyfriend and my pet to second hand smoke damage. I'd become the sort of smoker who loathed herself during and after every cigarette.

I wrote down my reasons for quitting, printed them out & stuck them on my bedroom mirror. I decided that I DESERVED to be a non-smoker, to have my health, to spend my hard-earned money on things that did not harm me.

Cravings are a temporary state and are easily surmountable compared with the massive burdens other people have to bear (war, famine, inequality). That's not to say cravings don't SUCK - but only at first. It really is all about our state of mind when quitting. We need back-up to drown out the 'junkie thoughts' telling us it's okay to have one drag of a friend's cig, that we can always quit later, that we are missing out by not being out in the smoking area.

I found it helpful to look on quitting as a hugely POSITIVE step that I was taking in my life, not that I was now lacking or avoiding something hugely pleasurable. If we are browsing this forum, it can be assumed that the pleasure of smoking evaporated long ago for most of us. If quitting is good, then coping with ever-decreasing cravings is a mere stepping stone to living a better life.

I hope some of these positive thoughts inspire someone to keep trying. I never thought I could do it but here I am. Very best of luck to you! :cool:

Grats, You definitely are one of those thousand or million people including who are somehow not able to accomplish such achievements

Missy Moo Moo

dontbemean wrote: »

Just writing to lend support to anyone who is currently quitting, or thinking of doing so! It is so worth it.

I've been off cigarettes 51 days now and I feel better than I have in years! Here are the benefits I've seen so far:

My skin is glowing.
My voice has improved (I sing).
My joints don't ache when running.
My apartment smells better.
Boyfriend says I smell better.
I waste less time sitting around smoking - I'm starting to do new things.
Crazy increase in physical energy.
More restful sleep.
Reawakened taste buds. Cooking new exotic dishes to try
More mental clarity.
Less anxiety.
More emotional strength (If I successfully quit the fags, then I can surely handle other difficult situations).
No coughing.
I'm SO much richer! I'm saving money for first time in ages.


I read a blog called Zenhabits which stated that it generally takes one month of solid effort to truly form a habit. And I did find that after the three/four week mark, the cravings really started to disappear. I replaced my 'trigger situations' (times I would usually smoke) with others such as walking, yoga, running, even just taking a shower. Of course I still get cravings (especially when socialising or stressed) but they're getting smaller and smaller all the time.

I can't describe to you how happy I felt when I realised I was over the worst of it, and that the cravings no longer felt like life or death.

I quit smoking one Sunday night when I saw that I was at the end of a pack. I always said I would quit before 30 years old, and I am 27 now. My flat stank, my hair stank, I was subjecting my boyfriend and my pet to second hand smoke damage. I'd become the sort of smoker who loathed herself during and after every cigarette.

I wrote down my reasons for quitting, printed them out & stuck them on my bedroom mirror. I decided that I DESERVED to be a non-smoker, to have my health, to spend my hard-earned money on things that did not harm me.

Cravings are a temporary state and are easily surmountable compared with the massive burdens other people have to bear (war, famine, inequality). That's not to say cravings don't SUCK - but only at first. It really is all about our state of mind when quitting. We need back-up to drown out the 'junkie thoughts' telling us it's okay to have one drag of a friend's cig, that we can always quit later, that we are missing out by not being out in the smoking area.

I found it helpful to look on quitting as a hugely POSITIVE step that I was taking in my life, not that I was now lacking or avoiding something hugely pleasurable. If we are browsing this forum, it can be assumed that the pleasure of smoking evaporated long ago for most of us. If quitting is good, then coping with ever-decreasing cravings is a mere stepping stone to living a better life.

I hope some of these positive thoughts inspire someone to keep trying. I never thought I could do it but here I am. Very best of luck to you! :cool:

Great post! I've re-read this several times anytime I feel the urge to smoke! Just wondering how long before you noticed an improvement to your skin?

dontbemean

Missy Moo Moo wrote: »

Great post! I've re-read this several times anytime I feel the urge to smoke! Just wondering how long before you noticed an improvement to your skin?

Hiya Missy, I'm happy to help.

It took about a month before my skin really started to look better. I also detoxed my skin by drinking water, getting more sleep and upping my consumption of fruit & veg. Honestly I used to wince when I'd catch a glimpse of myself in a shop window while coming home from work. Now it's the opposite, I'm actually surprised by how okay I look after a long day's work.. not blowing my own trumpet or anything, I just don't look like TOTAL crap any more

gramar

I've been a light smoker for many years - probably over 20. Never smoked a pack a day or anything like it. As the years have gone by I smoke less and less and that's probably a large part of the reason why I've never seriously considered trying to give up. I've often gone 3,4 of 5 days without smoking and
never given it a second thought but my weakness is when I drink. I don't drink much but I go to the pub 2-3 days a week and as soon a drop touches my lips I'm helpless to resist the urge.

Last week I went to the pub twice and resisted it but I failed at the third attempt and smoked a couple on Friday. I was at a wedding Saturday and had a few more but didn't smoke yesterday and I probably won't today.

Any tips on how to go to the pub or having a can at home and not smoking or not having the urge to smoke? If I could manage that I'd be smoke free.

dontbemean

gramar wrote: »

I've been a light smoker for many years - probably over 20. Never smoked a pack a day or anything like it. As the years have gone by I smoke less and less and that's probably a large part of the reason why I've never seriously considered trying to give up. I've often gone 3,4 of 5 days without smoking and
never given it a second thought but my weakness is when I drink. I don't drink much but I go to the pub 2-3 days a week and as soon a drop touches my lips I'm helpless to resist the urge.

Last week I went to the pub twice and resisted it but I failed at the third attempt and smoked a couple on Friday. I was at a wedding Saturday and had a few more but didn't smoke yesterday and I probably won't today.

Any tips on how to go to the pub or having a can at home and not smoking or not having the urge to smoke? If I could manage that I'd be smoke free.

Hi Gramar, I've read that it helps to stop going out and/or drinking for at least a few weeks while the strongest cravings pass. I know that's not an attractive idea but it worked for me! Also distancing yourself from friends or family members who smoke will help during the first few weeks, though I know that might be difficult to do. At the very least, don't follow your smoker friends into the smoking area.

I'm not going out so much any more due to saving money, but when I do I find that having an e-cig really helps trick your brain into thinking you're smoking. You can buy disposable e-cigs in Spar, Centra etc.

I should add that I try not to smoke e-cigs at home or at work because I'm trying to get off nicotine completely (e.g. no nicotine replacements) because if I keep using the crutch I'll never actually get off it. I read somewhere that using an e-cig can mean that you stay mentally addicted to that hand-to-mouth motion that we associate with smoking cigarettes. Ideally you want to be completely rid of any hint of the habit.

It's taken 70 days but I now feel like I can sit in a pub or club and not need a smoke. I get the odd twinge of envy watching my friends smoke in front of me, but I remember everything I've gained and how much they're sacrificing just to be smokers. It ain't worth it lads!

dontbemean

I forgot to share this one (possibly TMI but maybe it will help someone). I'd like to let the women reading know that I suffered badly with period pain during the 12 years I was a smoker. I would be on Nurofen Plus for two days a month and sometimes couldn't get to work for the pain.

But since giving up, I've had no period pain WHATSOEVER. I was initially weirded out but did some research and apparently smoking can cause painful periods in some women. So that's been one of the most noticeable effects so far.

gramar

dontbemean wrote: »

I forgot to share this one (possibly TMI but maybe it will help someone). I'd like to let the women reading know that I suffered badly with period pain during the 12 years I was a smoker. I would be on Nurofen Plus for two days a month and sometimes couldn't get to work for the pain.

But since giving up, I've had no period pain WHATSOEVER. I was initially weirded out but did some research and apparently smoking can cause painful periods in some women. So that's been one of the most noticeable effects so far.

I'll tell the missus about the period pains!
It sounds like giving up smoking for you has been a miracle drug.

As for me I had one last night. Beer again being the culprit. It was a nice evening so I sat outside with a can after doing a bit of gardening and couldn't resist. We'll see this evening.