Nearly 24 hours.

Call Me Jimmy

Okay guys after seeing some of you on here get through it and being inspired by the negative impact smoking has had on my appearance I am coming up on 24 hours without a smoke. (Only once or twice before in 8 years have I done that).

I'm writing here to make it more of a commitment because my mam smokes and she'll be home tonight and I don't want to just go straight for her pack. Mine are gone.

Can people encourage me please with some benefits they've noticed from quitting smoking.

Appearance? Skin/hair/nails/.

General healthy feeling? anything!

EDIT: Forgot to mention I'm going cold turkey. Has anyone experience of quitting while living with someone who smokes? Having cigerettes (albeit someone else's) always available?

Dtp79

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

Okay guys after seeing some of you on here get through it and being inspired by the negative impact smoking has had on my appearance I am coming up on 24 hours without a smoke. (Only once or twice before in 8 years have I done that).

I'm writing here to make it more of a commitment because my mam smokes and she'll be home tonight and I don't want to just go straight for her pack. Mine are gone.

Can people encourage me please with some benefits they've noticed from quitting smoking.

Appearance? Skin/hair/nails/.

General healthy feeling? anything!

I quit 6 years ago. WAY more energy, lung capacity. Not feeling lethargic the whole time. Not embarrassed to talk to someone now and wonder if they can smell my disgusting fag breath. All I can say is be strong. I read a book called ... The stop smoking secret by mark Jordan. It literally changed my life. Best of luck

Call Me Jimmy

Dtp79 wrote: »

I quit 6 years ago. WAY more energy, lung capacity. Not feeling lethargic the whole time. Not embarrassed to talk to someone now and wonder if they can smell my disgusting fag breath. All I can say is be strong. I read a book called ... The stop smoking secret by mark Jordan. It literally changed my life. Best of luck

I've been biting my mouth closed for years at this stage! Cheers

Dtp79

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

I've been biting my mouth closed for years at this stage! Cheers

I'd really recommend that book. It simply explains why you smoke and how how simple it is to quit. I know at this stage your probably thinking its impossible but its not. Ignore the voice in your head telling you that you need to smoke. you don't need to you just want to.

Call Me Jimmy

Ok I'll have a look for it. At the moment my tactic is I say I am a non-smoker, and when I think about smoking I am thinking 'but non-smokers don't smoke'.

Call Me Jimmy

Made it through the night and skipped the morning smoke so still goin!

Dtp79

Keep going. Remember to ignore the little voice in your head telling you that u need to smoke.

tayto lover

When I gave up smoking a wise old man who lives nearby told me to -

"Never feel sorry for yourself when you are down as you can convince yourself that the fags are actually good for you".

Your food will taste better.
Your clothes won't smell.
Your breath won't smell.
You will have more money.
You will feel better about yourself.
You will be glad you beat the habit.

Call Me Jimmy

Maybe it's because I have other psychological problems at the moment but half way through day 2 and it hasn't been too bad. Was smoking bout 15 a day john player blue. Apparently day 3 is the worst!

Call Me Jimmy

Going to bed pretty soon so bring on day 3. Was out in the garden where my mam was smoking and was okay. I think my mind is made up but I'm not getting complacent!

R P McMurphy

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

Going to bed pretty soon so bring on day 3. Was out in the garden where my mam was smoking and was okay. I think my mind is made up but I'm not getting complacent!

Good going. Keep going strong. Check out websites like whyquit.org or app like cessation nation

Call Me Jimmy

Cheers! Yea I've been reading up titbits here and there about the different benefits etc.

Never did that before as a smoker but it keeps me motivated.

bgrizzley

money! i've stopped spending E300 per month since giving up.

A friend of mine told me he threw a E10 into a jar every day since he gave up. He has E7,000 inside in it now.

R P McMurphy

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

Cheers! Yea I've been reading up titbits here and there about the different benefits etc.

Never did that before as a smoker but it keeps me motivated.

On whyquit there is good info on nicotine addiction. Is useful to know what you are against. Keep it up in a few days you will be right as rain. In a month you will be away with it.

tayto lover

bgrizzley wrote: »

money! i've stopped spending E300 per month since giving up.

A friend of mine told me he threw a E10 into a jar every day since he gave up. He has E7,000 inside in it now.

What's his address?

Call Me Jimmy

Well into day 3 and still going!

Haven't slept well since quitting but there has also been a bit of an ould heatwave.

Feeling a bit lighter physically than I usually do. Moisture is returning to my mouth/throat.

I can sense the last kick and screams of nicotine in my body today so I'm just gonna stay focused.

Writing here has helped a lot for me!

R P McMurphy

Your sense of taste will be returning to strength as well. The one thing I didnt like was the overly acidic taste of coffee. Thought it tasted a lot better than it does.

Anyway once today is done you are over the worst. Just take it day at a time and today as a milestone

gimli2112

When I smoked the cost didn't bother me. I now look back on it and can't believe I used to spend €400 + a month on them. I think when you smoke your brain just cons you into ignoring all the reasons why you should quit.


Best of luck!

Call Me Jimmy

Well I had some cranberry juice there yesterday and I dunno, I was nearly wincing I could taste it so well. Food and drink generally just went into my mouth which was basically numb.

And already, I'm thinking how crazy I was. It was like I was in a bubble of ignorance.

Have had one or two craves today but nothing major.

R P McMurphy

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

Well I had some cranberry juice there yesterday and I dunno, I was nearly wincing I could taste it so well. Food and drink generally just went into my mouth which was basically numb.

And already, I'm thinking how crazy I was. It was like I was in a bubble of ignorance.

Have had one or two craves today but nothing major.

Ah good going. You will make it so. One benefit I was not expecting was no more snoring. Girlfriend said I wad snoring every night and since I stopped, no more snoring at all. Biggest advantage you will find will be thw freefom you now have, not having to get ip and go out and have a smoke. Smoking dictates a lot of things in your life and you will now have freedom feom that

Call Me Jimmy

As expected has been the toughest day so far. Caught myself a couple of times very briefly trying to rationalise having one (literally 5 seconds) but made sure to keep on top of it.

Physical cravings haven't been too bad.

studiorat

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

Well I had some cranberry juice there yesterday and I dunno, I was nearly wincing I could taste it so well. Food and drink generally just went into my mouth which was basically numb.

I never knew tomatoes had a taste!!

Dtp79

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

As expected has been the toughest day so far. Caught myself a couple of times very briefly trying to rationalise having one (literally 5 seconds) but made sure to keep on top of it.

Physical cravings haven't been too bad.

Just remember there is no rational reason to smoke.

tayto lover

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

As expected has been the toughest day so far. Caught myself a couple of times very briefly trying to rationalise having one (literally 5 seconds) but made sure to keep on top of it.

Physical cravings haven't been too bad.

Do something to take your mind off cigs, preferably a crossword or puzzle which involves having something other than a cigarette in your hand.

AND most importantly -- Don't feel sorry for yourself.
You are doing the right thing.

inforfun

Had my last one last monday afternoon.
My imported Marlboro's, the brand i smoked a pack of every day for the last 30 years, were finished so i ended up with Pall Mall blue.
Almost coughed my heart and my lungs out and that is when i decided: **** it, i will not pay €9.35 for a pack of Marlboro and will not smoke something that almost makes me puke my lungs out.

I have no problems not smoking at work, even go to the smoking area.
At home it is not so much i want to smoke but my hands go to where my cigs and lighter used to be.

€9,35 * 365 ..... you do the math

Call Me Jimmy

Yes and I got through yesterday with slightly more difficulty. Today has been okay - when I catch myself thinking about them I just say '**** that. not happening'.

Sarwal

Good for you jimmy finally biting th bullet, I'm off them 39 days now, still find it hard esp drinking but made the decision once I got past week 3 never to go back, think after the 1st few days its mind over matter :-)

Call Me Jimmy

Great stuff sarwal I was inspired in part by your thread. You just seemed to 'do it'.

Call Me Jimmy

Day 5 already? Really proud of myself so far, especially the mental fortitude which I was unaware I had!

Call Me Jimmy

Slipped up friday night! Had a couple throughout the night. It's a setback but thankfully haven't had any since. So moral of the story: watch out for alcohol!

Dtp79

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

Slipped up friday night! Had a couple throughout the night. It's a setback but thankfully haven't had any since. So moral of the story: watch out for alcohol!

Learn from your mistakes

R P McMurphy

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

Slipped up friday night! Had a couple throughout the night. It's a setback but thankfully haven't had any since. So moral of the story: watch out for alcohol!

Ah get right back on track right away. I almost slipped up as well after two months. Went to the shop yestersay and queuing up to buy some smokes. Haggered auld one coughing and spluttering ahead of me was buying smokes. Was a short sharp shock that I needed to cop on

Sarwal

Alcohol is such a hard one, I've an ecig for that- hangovers are worse tho so be prepared. Good on you tho Jimmy one slip up is nothing as long as you don't go back to old habits

gimli2112

I was on a 3 month course of Champix. Around 1/2 way through I brokedown and smoked maybe 120 over a weekend. That was 3 and a half years ago and I haven't smoked since.

Don't get disheartned ye'r still winning!

Call Me Jimmy

Thanks for the supportive words guys. I amn't too disheartened about the slip up because I haven't had one since, so at least it hasn't snow-balled. Thinking back to just over a week ago where every hour I would have at least one cigerette every day, overall it has been such an improvement that I don't want to let having those few on friday take away from the whole thing.

I can't say I'm off the smokes 'x days' now which is a pity. Had alcohol yesterday and while I did get that pang I didn't act on it so that's another plus!

AgileMyth

Every day you don't smoke is a success. Even if you had a day in the middle where you have a couple. Don't look for milestones eg. 1 day, 1 week off etc. Just concentrate on not smoking right now and you'll clock up the milestones naturally.

'Never take another pull.' Those words go through my head every time I consider smoking (usually just for a second after a few pints in a beer garden). Its so simple when you think about it like that. I haven't had a single drag of a cigarette in 11 months now and its the best thing I've ever done.

Best of luck. Your attitude is spot on. You'll do it.

Call Me Jimmy

Just an update. Still haven't had a drag since my slip-up on friday. I wouldn't even call it a slip-up now that I look back, I actually said to myself 'I will have this couple of smokes (i think it was 3 throughout the night) after the food and alcohol. I said I wouldn't smoke anymore after that and I haven't since.

I am very wary of this becoming a pattern in that, I feel like I could really enjoy one or two cigerettes a week but it is a huge risk I suppose.

Basically I can very easily go without them now, I feel like I almost don't have to even think about it. Sometimes I remember 'oh yea I'm not smoking anymore' which is a good sign of the progress. But I'll admit I do pine for a one at certain times because I know I'd appreciate it, which was rarely the case when I was smoking, it was a mindless thing.

Physically, my skin is flawless, my hair (what's left of it) seems a bit healthier? Question mark because that could be my imagination. I can sing better or at least with more ease. And also playing football the other day there was a massive difference, it was my legs that got tired in the end but I felt fine breathing!

All I'd say to anyone thinking of giving up is that you can surprise yourself with your mental strength and willpower, you'll find you had reserves you never thought you had.

Sarwal

Go on Jimmy, I still on the NRT- trying to cut down but with holidays and a wedding in August not going cold turkey for a few weeks yet, just reading your journey makes me want to get off nicotine sooner- wont do it as I know myself but if I wasn't on hols in 2 weeks would do it!!
Great for you :-)

Call Me Jimmy

Nearly a month! Exluding night-out-mishap

Dtp79

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

Nearly a month! Exluding night-out-mishap

Well done

tayto lover

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

Nearly a month! Exluding night-out-mishap

You should be finding it easier after a month. I did. Keep the focus though.

Dtp79

Nothing should stop you now. You've also got over the novelty of quitting which is usually week 2. Keep it up

Call Me Jimmy

Yes I hardly think about it. I thought at home would be the hardest but so far it's been the easiest, even with my mam still smoking so fags lying around the whole time.

The toughest is alcohol, which I have succumbed to previously. But day-to-day smoking feels like it's in the past forever right now.

Thanks for the support!

tayto lover

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

Yes I hardly think about it. I thought at home would be the hardest but so far it's been the easiest, even with my mam still smoking so fags lying around the whole time.

The toughest is alcohol, which I have succumbed to previously. But day-to-day smoking feels like it's in the past forever right now.

Thanks for the support!

Having a pint was the worst thing for me after giving up the fags.
I had to give up the drink for 3 weeks as I felt i'd smoke in the pub.
The good thing now is that fags are banned in the pub.

Dtp79

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

Yes I hardly think about it. I thought at home would be the hardest but so far it's been the easiest, even with my mam still smoking so fags lying around the whole time.

The toughest is alcohol, which I have succumbed to previously. But day-to-day smoking feels like it's in the past forever right now.

Thanks for the support!

How's it goin now for you?