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Quitting Smoking
19 Answers
I am attempting to quit. I say attempting because whenever I have told myself I have stopped before, the defiant cow in me makes me reach for the ciggies. If I tell myself that I am allowed one if I want one, for some reason the craving isn't so bad and I can go without.
Anyway, the last cigarette I smoked was Sunday night and now I am feeling all light headed and giddy. Anyone else experienced this? It won't go!
Anyone got any tips? Ta very much x x
Anyway, the last cigarette I smoked was Sunday night and now I am feeling all light headed and giddy. Anyone else experienced this? It won't go!
Anyone got any tips? Ta very much x x
Answers
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You will feel a bit odd ..it's the nicotine come down. It will feel better after a few days.Drink plenty of water and when you feel that craving go and clean your teeth.Sip iced water .Suck on those Chubba Chub lollies .,
All smokers panic if they have no ciggies ..it's the crutch they rely on even if they don't smoke them.. they know they are there ..just in case ! When there are none it's panic stations.
I speak in the past tense because I have managed to pack it up after being a heavy smoker for over thirty years.
You CAN do it .I'm not saying I will never smoke again but I don't smoke at the moment ....one day at a time ..good luck
All smokers panic if they have no ciggies ..it's the crutch they rely on even if they don't smoke them.. they know they are there ..just in case ! When there are none it's panic stations.
I speak in the past tense because I have managed to pack it up after being a heavy smoker for over thirty years.
You CAN do it .I'm not saying I will never smoke again but I don't smoke at the moment ....one day at a time ..good luck
Hi Natalie!
I smoked for 31 years and I stopped almost 5 years ago. I smoked 40 a day for most of my life but 80 a day for twelve years when I was running my own business (pressure, no food or sleep etc).
I tried various ways to stop smoking after selling the company (the doctors said I wouldn't see 40!) I tried cutting down gradually, patches, dummy cigarettes and that awful gum. None of it worked as I always wanted a smoke.
In the end I managed to stop by setting myself a target date 5 months ahead. The target was the eve of my 40th birthday. That gave me time to get used to the idea without fear of suddenly finding myself without a cigarette. After about 2 months, I found I was losing interest in smoking and I started looking forward to the target date! I also told everyone I was going to stop on that date as I couldn't have suffered the indignity of being seen to fail. When the date came, I made a big deal of smoking my last cigarette, and then I went to bed. I never touched another one.
I did have a very light head the first day but that had gone by the second. However, I was very surprised how little I craved! I think it was due to my conditioning myself to the target date five months ahead and then I had no trouble sticking to it.
It may work for you Natalie but everyone is different and you'll have to find exactly what your key is. Good luck.
I smoked for 31 years and I stopped almost 5 years ago. I smoked 40 a day for most of my life but 80 a day for twelve years when I was running my own business (pressure, no food or sleep etc).
I tried various ways to stop smoking after selling the company (the doctors said I wouldn't see 40!) I tried cutting down gradually, patches, dummy cigarettes and that awful gum. None of it worked as I always wanted a smoke.
In the end I managed to stop by setting myself a target date 5 months ahead. The target was the eve of my 40th birthday. That gave me time to get used to the idea without fear of suddenly finding myself without a cigarette. After about 2 months, I found I was losing interest in smoking and I started looking forward to the target date! I also told everyone I was going to stop on that date as I couldn't have suffered the indignity of being seen to fail. When the date came, I made a big deal of smoking my last cigarette, and then I went to bed. I never touched another one.
I did have a very light head the first day but that had gone by the second. However, I was very surprised how little I craved! I think it was due to my conditioning myself to the target date five months ahead and then I had no trouble sticking to it.
It may work for you Natalie but everyone is different and you'll have to find exactly what your key is. Good luck.
Thanks so much everyone - your comments are really helpful x x
Well, I didn't cave, and I kept myself busy last night so I am now going into my third day without. It sounds really lame out loud, but two full days is actually quite good I think, considering that the other 3 members of my household are heavy smokers who have no intention of even cutting down so there is no getting away from it for me!
The giddyness has passed but I am surprised at how thirsty I am! Anyway.... day three....here we go...... :-)
Well, I didn't cave, and I kept myself busy last night so I am now going into my third day without. It sounds really lame out loud, but two full days is actually quite good I think, considering that the other 3 members of my household are heavy smokers who have no intention of even cutting down so there is no getting away from it for me!
The giddyness has passed but I am surprised at how thirsty I am! Anyway.... day three....here we go...... :-)
Natalie, please don't give up. I know it's hard. I will be celebrating my 3rd non-smoking anniversary on 26th November after smoking for nearly 38 years. I tried all the usual things but just couldn't quit so ended up going to the doctors for Zyban. I was monitored regularly by the surgery nurse because there can be side-effects and I ended up with high blood pressure, but as I was 3 weeks down the line with not smoking I stopped the Zyban and haven't looked back since. I feel fitter now than I did 20 years ago - truly. I even go to the gym 3 times a week and have much more energy. And although I have never been a skinny bird I can honestly say that the few pounds I put on through stopping smoking soon disappeared. Good Luck.
I agree with you Ed Strong Natalie - stick in there. I'm coming up to my 5th anniversary of stopping now and I'm still counting. At first you count in days, then your first week, then month, then year etc.
As Ed says, I feel twenty years younger too. I'm nearly 45 and I used to put all my painful legs, breathlessness etc down to creeping age. Now that I've stopped smoking I can suddenly breathe properly again. My legs no longer keep me awake as what I put down to walking aches must have been bad circulation. I suddenly discovered the world of smell too as I started smoking when I was 9 and I'd completely forgotten. I still remember the shock of smelling blossom and flowers for the first time which occurred about three weeks after I stopped.
Then there is the money. My wife stopped smoking at the same time as me. We now religiously put 100 pounds every week in a separate account as that is what we used to spend on smoking. Then, every three months or so, we have a week's city break somewhere in Europe with the money. It covers our spending money too. Next month we are going to Gibraltar.
That's our reward to ourselves as we would only have smoked the money. Suddenly, we have no worries about bills either. Try putting the money you would have smoked into an account every week Natalie. Its astonishing how it suddenly multiplies and you do wonder where the money is coming from. And treat yourself as your reward. You'll probably be able to buy yourself any clothes you want, buy a car or have a holiday. That will be your reward and it will keep you going.
As Ed says, I feel twenty years younger too. I'm nearly 45 and I used to put all my painful legs, breathlessness etc down to creeping age. Now that I've stopped smoking I can suddenly breathe properly again. My legs no longer keep me awake as what I put down to walking aches must have been bad circulation. I suddenly discovered the world of smell too as I started smoking when I was 9 and I'd completely forgotten. I still remember the shock of smelling blossom and flowers for the first time which occurred about three weeks after I stopped.
Then there is the money. My wife stopped smoking at the same time as me. We now religiously put 100 pounds every week in a separate account as that is what we used to spend on smoking. Then, every three months or so, we have a week's city break somewhere in Europe with the money. It covers our spending money too. Next month we are going to Gibraltar.
That's our reward to ourselves as we would only have smoked the money. Suddenly, we have no worries about bills either. Try putting the money you would have smoked into an account every week Natalie. Its astonishing how it suddenly multiplies and you do wonder where the money is coming from. And treat yourself as your reward. You'll probably be able to buy yourself any clothes you want, buy a car or have a holiday. That will be your reward and it will keep you going.
I really recommend the Allen Carr book 'The only way to stop smoking' by Allen Carr. I was desperate to stop smoking bcz I found that I was pregnant. Nothing worked before, but this book worked like a dream.
I know he sounds smug, narcissistic and conceited but I still think he's done so much good by writing that book. It's really sad actually bcz he's got lung cancer himself now, though he quit years and years ago.
I really really recommend that book. You can get it from Ebay or charity shop or anywhere for around a fiver.
Good luck!!!!
:)
I know he sounds smug, narcissistic and conceited but I still think he's done so much good by writing that book. It's really sad actually bcz he's got lung cancer himself now, though he quit years and years ago.
I really really recommend that book. You can get it from Ebay or charity shop or anywhere for around a fiver.
Good luck!!!!
:)
Thanks so so so so so so much to everyone for their kind words and comments - it really is helping a lot :-)
I am now on my fourth day without a cigarette and am feeling loads better, the physical withdrawals seemed to have lessened and I am beginning to get used to not smoking.
Last night I was at home alone and knew that if I wanted to have a cigarette I could have done and nobody would have known, but still didn't because I just didn't want one and feel so proud of myself today for not givning in yesterday!
I am now on my fourth day without a cigarette and am feeling loads better, the physical withdrawals seemed to have lessened and I am beginning to get used to not smoking.
Last night I was at home alone and knew that if I wanted to have a cigarette I could have done and nobody would have known, but still didn't because I just didn't want one and feel so proud of myself today for not givning in yesterday!
natalie,
i have given up smoking 14 yrs now.
i had tried several times before i did manage it.
i used to get up in a morning and smoke 3 ciggies
before breakfast, i really enjoyed a smoke,
but i started getting rubbish on my chest and i had developed the dreaded smokers cough.
the night i gave up i was watching wogan on tele, he had a doctor with him who said he had told a 46 yr old man that morning that he had terminal lung cancer,thats when i decided
to stop. although it was hard after 6 mnths
my chest was completely clear.
i aqiured a audio tape teaching relaxation
and telling the hard facts about smoking,
things i did not know.( really helped me )
anyway i look back now and its the best thing i have ever done. so natalie stick with it kid
you will be rewarded. all the best xx
i have given up smoking 14 yrs now.
i had tried several times before i did manage it.
i used to get up in a morning and smoke 3 ciggies
before breakfast, i really enjoyed a smoke,
but i started getting rubbish on my chest and i had developed the dreaded smokers cough.
the night i gave up i was watching wogan on tele, he had a doctor with him who said he had told a 46 yr old man that morning that he had terminal lung cancer,thats when i decided
to stop. although it was hard after 6 mnths
my chest was completely clear.
i aqiured a audio tape teaching relaxation
and telling the hard facts about smoking,
things i did not know.( really helped me )
anyway i look back now and its the best thing i have ever done. so natalie stick with it kid
you will be rewarded. all the best xx
Hey Ed - thank you!
Yep, fifth day today and no cigarettes! I think this must have been the right time for me to give up because although I have found it hard to get out of the habit, it is not as hard as I have found it before.
I am not thinking about lighting up every minute at least!
I think the weekend will be tough because I keep myself busy during the week, but if I can do five days then the next two should be a doddle .... then it will be a whole week!
Yep, fifth day today and no cigarettes! I think this must have been the right time for me to give up because although I have found it hard to get out of the habit, it is not as hard as I have found it before.
I am not thinking about lighting up every minute at least!
I think the weekend will be tough because I keep myself busy during the week, but if I can do five days then the next two should be a doddle .... then it will be a whole week!
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