730 days today
This site is where I started my journey and every now and then I check back in. The single thing that kept me going was that counter that tells me how many days since my last smoke. I could not bear the thought of going back to day one. So here I am at 730 days. I still have the ocasional dream about smoking and the ocasional sheer joy when I wake up and realise it was just a dream. My life has changed in so many ways as a result of quitting. I no longer get any cravings. My advice to anyone just starting out....... Believe that it does get better and that being able to leave the house without worrying whether you have your smokes in your bag is amazing. Not to mention not having to plan where you can sneak off to have a puff without anyone noticing..... One other thing. Chewing those mints or gum and spraying perfume or body spray really is a waste of time...... If you smoke everyone can smell it.....You are not fooling anyone..... Good luck :-)
How long before cravings mostly went away for you? I'm on day 50 off all nicotine going cold turkey. I've read it takes about 2 months to mostly get over this.
I wake up craving a coffee rather than a cigi now which is bloody wonderful! The stress of computer games is now my number one trigger for a craving. These urges only last 1 minute or less though. I probably get 5 cravings a day which is way better than every 5 minutes.
For me, it was the first 72 hours being by far the hardest. after that it really gets so much easier...
Thank you Starbuck, love to hear stories like yours, congratulations! I can so relate to everything you said, like worrying about when I could sneak off for a cig because I was so ashamed. And then worrying about if everyone could smell them on me. I finally decided to quit and with the help of champix I am on day 33 and feeling pretty good. I am worried about being in a social situation with smokers and having drinks so I have been avoiding anything like that. Do you have any tips for handling these types of tempting situations? And again congrats what a huge, life changing accomplishment!
Hi Wade
I would say the cravings were well and truly less at 2 months, however would still get the occasional urge and that was when I would come back to this site and look at that counter. I think it was more a case that I was missing the habit rather than the actual smokes. Suddenly I began to notice that I would go days without even thinking about it. Coffee was definitely a lifesaver for me. Keep up the great work. Keep looking at that counter and most of all, don't take so much as a drag..... I gave up originally for over 21 years and had 1 drag and that was it I smoked for another 12 years before giving up this time.
Hi Kam
I related smoking to working. A small group of us used to sneak off like naughty children and chain smoke our way through our breaks. I quit while on a months leave. When I went back to work I rarely took breaks initially as the temptation was too great. Sometimes, however, I would sit next to someone while they smoked just so I could inhale their fumes. Then one day I noticed just how bad they smelt and the rest is history. You are at day 33! That is huge and means you will never go back :-) Well done
Thank you. You are an inspiration and the fact that you are still mentoring all of us newbies shows your dedication.
Thanks for the inspiration Starbuck. I'm on day 1 and doing ok so far. I stopped very easily before after eading Easyway by Allen Carr, but then started again, and just couldn't quit! My mind is in the right place now though and people like you make me believe again!