My Journey to here........
Well I think I have found the forum in which i can read similiar stories and share my journey through this experience. I have recently turned 50 and have pretty much smoked for 35 years. Unbelievably, I have remained healthy, however my mom and sister weren't so lucky both passing from smoking related illnesses. You would think that would be enough to stop me in my tracks but that's the thing about this tricky addiction, it makes no sense. I am confident and self assured in all other aspects of my life, business, family relationships, friends etc. But NOT with my relationship with cigarettes. I have tried many different treatments, champix, patch, cold turkey, Easyway to stop smoking and hypnosis. All had reasonable positive effects and some I quit for 6 months to a year but always seem to be boomeranged back to the same spot of buying a pack of smokes and firing them back up again. Very frustrating. What I am doing this time is a combo shot of using the patch to help ease the withdrawals, education and find some like minded people like yourselves to chat with and to keep me focused. I also keep a picture of my 3 kids very close by. For some reason I feel much stronger this time. Wish me luck and I will endeavour to keep posting, if not for my own benefit. I am 5 days not smoking and look forward to saying one week. Join me on my journey and let me know about yours. I will be reading. Thanks Pete
i am 55 and have smoked since i was 14, for the last 10 years or so i was smoking at least 40 a day and just couldnt afford to carry on so started champix and 13 days into it i was so ill i just couldnt smoke without vomiting and so on so thats the day i stopped, that was 6 days ago and i am amazed how well its going, i do get cravings and have to keep busy all the time but i havent had a cig.
Congratulations to you both for not smoking, job well done. Its hard to stop smoking I know I used to be a smoker, now I am not. Quitting smoking is a process so take it one day at a time. I quit cold turkey 5 months ago. I kept myself busy first 2 weeks, working out and drinking plenty of water. Reading everything about nicotine addiction, and how to beat it. It became my ultimate goal, and I succeeded. The craving is gone. I am happy with myself, and very proud ;)
I just want to take care of myself from now on, and be a non smoker ;). Good luck to you both. Be firm, don't give up your quit. You can do it. I did.
Good job to you on your quit. You are just about ready to say one week of not smoking, but you know what you got 5 smoke free days now, how awesome is that. I quit smoking 38 days ago cold turkey. Not my first attempt. I tried to quit twice last year. Learned more about triggers and just not smoking from my previous quit. I smoked for 23 years prior to my quit. I feel pretty darn good day. I have a few struggles, nothing too terrible. If I do find myself in a pinch. I come on here and have also tried to change my thinking, I am a non smoker. This helps me too. You got this!
I am 55 this year and smoked for far too long. I am on my second week now of not smoking. Good luck to you all. I feel strong about this, this time I really want to quit and am determined not to have single puff again. This has been my past downfall One puff = one cigarette = one packet = smoker again. NO MORE. Lets all be non smokers this time next year!!!!!!!!!!!
This is exactly why I knew this place would be good for me. Thank you all for your stories and your support. We all can do it. Had a real wicked craving while driving tonight, just told myself no, and sure enough 30 seconds later I'm not even thinking about it. Someone asked me today if I had lost weight, hadn't seen him in 2 weeks. I haven't, I think it's just that colour is coming back to my face and the bags under my eyes are getting smaller. anyone else experience this type of benefit too ?
Hi Pete, 11 days quit here and going pretty well. It is a really hard addiction to conquer but together we can do this. I've tried many ways to quit during my 30 or so year addiction/habit myself and with each time I believe we learn more about ourselves. And absolutely, I think we just look more healthier and others are trying to work out why...which is fantastic! I know I'm more hydrated too which helps with appearances too. I've also just started pooping again without the help of laxatives. :) A reminder I never want to quit again! (Just had to throw that in because it has been a huge issue for me) This forum is amazing. The people here are just so supportive, inspiring and most of all on the same journey! COMMIT TO QUIT - AND NEVER PUT ANOTHER CRAPSTICK IN OUR MOUTHS AGAIN!!!!! All the best. x
Great additions TH and choose ! Isn't it funny TH, that even though we know that we are getting more oxygen in our lungs we are still remotely tied to this evil weed. I laugh at the stupidity of myself. Choose, i like that Crapstick reference and will use that often. Part of changing my mindset from missing something that i like to OMG this is really is Crap ! Love it. Feeling strong today people, much thanks to you all !!!! Let's do this ! Wait a minute we already are ! lol Have a great day full of Oxygen and no carbon monoxide.
Well done all of you on your quit so far. I've smoked for over 3 decades with so many failed quits it's unbelievable. Well here I am today 40 days smoke free and feeling so motivated and happy. It really does get easier just believe in yourself and tell yourself. Time and time again this will get better and it will. This site has helped me so much and kept me positive. All the best to all of you, we can do this ! :-)
ONE WEEK people !!! Had a reminder today that I'm not out of the woods. Got up made the kids breakfast and their lunches. drove them to school, normal routine right...old routine was to fire up a cigarette after dropping them off. new routine is to not. Well when I dropped them off, the little monster in my head went absolutely nuts for his fix. I could barely drive and certainly wasn't listening to the music on the radio. Ran home and had a big drink of water and put the patch on. Apparently I forgot to put it on first thing. I am still feeding my body nicotine through the patch in order to work on the brainwashing but even though it's one week, I have a long way to go. But can i say, I am really enjoying this, I am feeling more confident every day but I will not lose site of the fact that this addiction is deep and I can't let my guard down, not for one minute. So now I am a non smoker and loving it. Beware of the little monster people, he is in there trying to bring us down, don't let him !! Have a great day, breathe often. Thanks for the kind words of encouragement Fingers, I am positive and yes we can and are doing this.