Almost 11 months completed
Quitting smoking turned out in the end to be one of the easiest tasks that I have done considering that I had been smoking for 20 years. The last cigarette that I had was on the 1st of January this year. I wanted to stop in January and I didn’t set a date – just happened to be that date. I was at home for a few days and didn’t smoke and when I went to buy one just decided not to. So there was no plans of savouring a last cigarette, plans to smoke out the last one with friends – and it did work out.
The first 2 weeks were the toughest – cravings every day every 3 – 4 hours. Each craving would last around 5 minutes and then go – just had to get past the cravings. I find that eating food or drinking water helped me. I also stopping drinking coffee since that made me crave even more. Afterwards the months came in and it just got easier and easier.
When I drink a bit too much I still feel like having one , but it’s just passing feeling and I brushed it off. Its been 11 months now and I still haven’t touched a cigarette - it helps that I don’t surround myself with anyone who smokes as well – that plays a big part.
Good luck to all of you out there trying to quit!
Well done Roland and thanks for your insight, it's good to know that there is life after smoking, I don't have much choice in the 'hanging around with smokers' stakes, my wife and daughter smoke, so I just remain a healthy distance away from them both if I'm feeling vulnerable, I've promised myself I'm not going to try and lecture them into giving up, just hoping to lead by example.
Just scraped into my 13th day so I'm a newbie, it's strange trying to find things to occupy yourself after 30 years of smoking, you realise how often you smoked just for something to do and trying to not think about smoking seems to make you think about it even more.
I'm doing ok though I'm quite impressed with mysle fconsidering I didn't really set out to give up, I just stopped because it felt right on the day and I'm still going.
Thanks Roland .... I fully intend to, don't want to go through the first few days again EVER if I can help it.
Thanks for your post Roland. 11mths, just fantastic. I too didn't set out to stop, it just happened. Like you Meanie, I don't have much choice in the 'hanging around with smokers', my husband smokes & some of our close family & friends. It's actually not bothered me too much. I too am not going to lecture as I cant stand an ex smoker who does. It's boring! Life's too short to whinge, - even though ours has now gotten longer.
Hi Roland, Your about to close your 1 year anniversary, too exciting, i could relate to the coffee drinking and the alcohol, although i never drank much, if i had a beer i just had to have another and so forth, and with that a smoke
So when i gave up the smokes i also gave up the booze, I'm back in the gym and looking great again.
Not to mention the sleep quality!
Just would like to say how grateful i am that you came back to say g'day and visit the others on their journey, how very noble of you thanks again!
That's great Roland.
I gave up disgustingly huge diet coke habit at same time as smokes so was very sleepy for the first two weeks!
I think though you have to stay aware forever - well I know I will anyway. Last serious quit attempt lasted 14 months. Then I was made redundant and it all went up in smoke. So to speak :-)