Grit and determination
On Sept 6 th it will be one year away from my last cigarette and it has gone so quick. I thought I would jot some notes of the journey. Cathartic for me and hopefully helpful for others
Decided to give up after 53 years of smoking after my wife had triple bypass and I had three stents due to angina
Took a selfie of my last cigarette and decided to go cold turkey
Ate bag loads of toffee eclairs and took real deep breaths when the cravings came on
Lost two teeth through gum desease by eating too many eclairs.
Put on a stone in weight
At first the cravings were almost unbearable but they diminished after a couple of months
Joined icanquit after a couple of months and it really helped as I felt less alone
Began to have a clear chest and the coughing fits stopped
Couldn't sleep well and had bad dreams
Issues with early life came back and haunted me. I dealt with them for the first time.
Saved over £3000 and bought a new Gibson guitar.
Sleeping really well.
Losing weight gradually
Wife a lot happier.
What an experience. Thanks Icanquit and all regular posters
Congratulations Dobbin, what an amazing achievement - so close to 1 year. You are such a wonderful role model for the whole quitting community and I thank you for your posts and help
What an inspiration you are. I want to be able to tell my story one year on and give others that knowledge like you have. So good to read
Hi Dobbin, enjoy the countdown to the passing of a year. It is an important milestone. Hope you continue to feel in more control of any cravings because I am very confident that your habit is a thing of the past and will never be a feature of your life in the future. Enjoy strumming that guitar.
Thanks all. Yes Lia enjoying the guitar thanks. And thank you for your posts and encouragement. It is good that you are sticking around and helping others. 14 months I believe ?
You are a true inspiration Dobbin, congratulations on your Amazing achievement, your story shows me that if you truly want something better for yourself,no matter how hard, that you can do it. 😊
Congratulations on a fantastic achievement and for sharing your journey with us. You are an inspiration - celebrate and enjoy life. I can't wait to say 30 days then a year....
Its my very first day today...after several failed past attempts this time i am pretty sure and more determined to kick the butt...
Hi Akash. Genuine good luck on your journey. There are plenty of good tips here. For me the really deep breathing when the pangs came on seemed to reduce cravings. I seemed to need sugar substances. ( not necessarily recommended but gorged on toffee eclairs for a while ). After a while the thoughts that I just may beat it became stronger and stronger. Stay here and keep posting.
great story and we all appreciate it as its real and we need real as smoking was unreal so truth is key and well done and thanks for helping me not smoke today.
IC
So good to hear your news. It's not an easy path we have chosen but that uncomfortableness is completely accepted here. You inspire us to keep up the battle.