26 Days

26 Days of not smoking.

I smoked at least 40 cigarettes a day for 40 years, I had just had enough of paying around 350 a week.

I used a cutdown method for 2 weeks, using patches and increasing the time between cigarettes by 5 minutes each day. This was supposed to be over an 2 month period but I found after a week that I could go longer between and was down to 10 a day, by the end of the second week I was down to 3 a day. Thought I was going great until the last day of this period, then I somehow smoked 17 in a four hour period without actually realising it (on phone most of that time).

I made a decision to not buy anymore. So its 26 days since I last took a puff of a cigarette, I am still using the NRT Patch and my GP has said he is happy for me to use them for an extended period. The first 2 days were incredibly difficult, I spoke to my GP who said to combine it with Nicorette Inhaler. Best thing I ever did. I only used 1-2 capsules a day for the next week. Less and less reliance on it every day. Have only used it twice since the 26th Jan the best thing is, I keep it and a new capsule i my wallet, so if I have a real craving that escalates I can always use it, I know its there but most of the time the craving disappears before i really need to get it out.

My biggest problem is motivation and concentration levels, so if anyone can help with these strategies I would be grateful.