Smoking

I was a heavy smoker for 40 years. I had never wanted to stop and didn’t believe I could. 12 years ago my dh & I decided to try stopping when it became so expensive. We set a date, got the patches and the little inhalers. I was so proud of myself when an hour passed without having smoked - then another hour then a day & so on. Only used the patches for about a week. We put the money we would have spent into a special bank account and eventually had saved enough for a new bathroom. We haven’t smoked since. Sadly I stopped too late and a year after stopping I was diagnosed with COPD & Emphysema. I am now 64 and my breathing is terrible. Only 40% of my lungs are working. I enjoy my life and don’t let my disability stop me leading a full life - just do everything slowly and avoid hills!! Giving up smoking was so much easier than I thought it would be. I was actually afraid to try to stop in case I failed. Set a date, get help, put the money in a jar. It can work if you want it to. Good luck with it

I used Alan Carr's book amongst trying all sorts of things and even though I did not stop immediately, I used one main thing out of his book to help me. Whenever I craved a ciggy I would mentally ask myself 'is having this ciggy going to make me feel better/make that problem go away? The answer was nearly always no, so I would refrain most of the time. Don't beat yourself up if you have the occasional blip, just don't let the blip turn into a full on smoking day. The other thing I found, although I didn't mind the smell of people smoking near me, the smell of 'stale' smoke turned my stomach and then I would think 'oh my, did I used to smell like that?', which was quite a wake up call. Apologies to any smokers, but it's not until you give up, that you realise how bad them smell can be! Good luck xx

It depends if you choose e liquid with or without nicotine, which isn't harmful anyway. Its the other ingredients in tobacco which are harmful.

I wish you all well in your quest to stop smoking. It is a horrible habit which risks health and well-being, as well as costing a small fortune over so long.
You can do it, if you really want to. Like many others I did it, over 40 years ago.
Maybe it would help to keep this post going, grans supporting each other. Good luck to you all. You know it makes sense.

I smoked for 40 years. I stopped several times, and then restarted. I really didn't enjoy it at times, and always suffered sore throats and sinus trouble. The cost was another issue.

I found it difficult not to smoke if I had a drink at weekends. It was an association thing.

So I stopped drinking, stopped smoking and joined Slimmingworld. The whole health kick. I lost nearly 2 1/2 stone and felt brilliant.

I had no patches or anything. That was 5 years ago, and I hate the smell of smoke now.

Try think if its an association thing, such as after a meal, stress etc, and get up and do something else until the habit is well and truly broken. Good luck

I managed to stop smoking a year and one month ago, using Champix. Yes, it made me nauseous but took the craving away..... It also put me right off alcohol and coffee! I would do it all over again as I was ashamed of smelling like an old ashtray. I couldn't afford to smoke now and am so glad I stopped. Well worth feeling sick for three months! Vaping with a menthol flavour is an option.

Giving up smoking was the hardest thing i have ever accomplished! Take it one day at a time...you need to get rid of the addiction to nicotine...i went cold turkey...not advisable and retask you brain into doing something else when you would normally have a cigarette...would use patches or chewing gum now. Good luck...i still see myself as a smoker who chooses not to smoke...stop buying them and tell everyone...you need support ...good luck!

Oh I'm so glad I never started as I doubt I'd have the will power to stop - so well done all of you who have or are trying to. My parents both smoked and it was that that put me off, everything stank, I hated it. Don't blame yourself polyester57, I truly thought smoking would die out if we didn't smoke but my 2 older children did, and most of my nephews, thankfully only 2 still do.
Seeing my parents in their latter years (they both lived to mid 80s) and their struggle with COPD was awful so I'm very glad most of them gave up whilst still in their 30s.
Good luck farview, hope you manage it - you're worth it

My partner was a heavy smoker for 40 years and gave it up using Alan Carr's book. He swears by it and always go back to it if he has a minor relapse.

I stopped after trying almost everything on the market without success by every time I wanted a ciggy I would peel and eat a raw carrot . It took about a month and lbs of carrots but It worked and that was about 10 yrs ago
good luck.

Oh my word..having a weep now,I am going to give it my best shot tomorrow,I feel like am not alone now and can keep re-reading all your posts and ALL your advice,tips and success stories..forgot to say have seen three different hypnotists and it didn't work!! Am going to again use patches,gum and dig out the vape thingy give it another go!! Am very thin now lost 17kg probably due to smoking and neglecting to eat but consultant s put me on high fat/high calorie diet so WHEN I stop.. tomorrow... hopefully start feeling good again!! Will keep you all posted,can't Name all of you...but Thank You!

Can't offer advice Farview as I've never been a smoker. Brought up in a house of smokers 7 of them all puffing away!!! Why didn't I start smoking when offered my first fag at 14 .... I don't knows the honest answer ... I just thought they all looked a little ridiculous with lighted bits of rolled up money in their mouths. Weird innit!! Keep they though , you'll be so much healthier for it . And richer!!

.... 'Keep trying'

Don't really know if this will help. I feel for you. I stopped a long time ago admittedly, but what I did was this; Every time I had that thought "I'll have a cigarette now" I laughed! Not necessarily out loud, and said "Oh, I forgot! I don't smoke!" (not necessarily out loud.) I can't explain it, but it worked. Lots of best wishes and good luck, it's so worth it when you get there and you will!

I’ve smoked since a teenager, I gave up 3 years ago after ending up in AE for difficulty breathing they couldn’t find anything wrong. So mine was sheer fright that helped me stop. However 4 months ago I had a few stressful things happening all at once and first thing I did was buy a packet of cigarettes however I’ve stopped once before so I will do it again. Way I do it is get my thought process in the right place first ie I’m stopping smoking on such and such a day then when asked you say I don’t smoke don’t say that you’ve given up. On times you would have one take your mind away to do something else. Good luck.

I remember someone who said,
"Giving up smoking is easy! I've done it loads of times!!"

I too have a long standing habit. I really enjoy smoking despite knowing the health risks. My mum has COPD, it breaks my heart to see her in such distress.
I saw a FB ad asking for volunteers to take part in a study about the effects second hand smoke in the home. Ive signed up for this (a month) and have a device in my house right now. I get daily text messages telling me the levels of second hand smoke.
I only smoke in my kitchen. The device is in my lounge. It's amazing and scary how much transfers and how long it lingers. The purpose of this study is to encourage smokers who look after kids (grandchild for me) to take their smoking outside.
Could this be an incentive for you farview??

We smoked until just after we married on 1963 - well, it was "cool" wasn't it. Then we watched a BBC2 programme about smoking and they showed a blackened and diseased lung in a surgical dish, the result of smoking. They said it takes five years after giving up for lungs to become normal again. Honestly and truly we never touched s cigarette again from that day.

Alan Carr worked for me. The image of the addiction dragon dying a little every time I resisted a ciggy was very enabling.

Such a good idea to keep this thread going silverlining48. When I first gave up I joined an online support group called Stayquit (no longer in existence). It really did help to chat with other “quitters”!!

yes it is a good idea silverlining48 I'm going to use it for sure!!!

I gave up for 2 years using patches, gum and lozenges.
First I stopped the patches, then the gum, but kept using the lozenges.
Its surprising how many people seemed very offended by my still using them.
Stupidly, I convinced myself I could have a cig every now and then, and I could, for a while. Then it gradually increased until I was back to square one.
A mantra to remember is 'one won't hurt, but all the others that follow will'.

I had no intention of stopping smoking,.....I had been smoking since I was 14...I'd tried loads of times to pack it in, but always failed. My daughter bought me Alan Carr's book as a joke one Christmas - I read it on Boxing Day, and have never touched a cigarette since. That was over 15 years ago.

No lectures just the benefit of my experience.
I used Paul mc kenna stop smoking cds for 6 months before I stopped. I also used patches for about a year to ensure I wouldn't start again.
I resigned myself to gaining weight and I did 1 stone but reduced this to half stone after taking up walking. I continued with the cds for another year. Keep using all you can for as long as it is needed and one day like me you will longer want to smoke. There are no quick fixes. Please preserve it is totally worth it.

Keep going, you are doing so well. When I gave up I had tried several times before but I was determined. Two things helped, but it still wasn’t easy. Firstly I bought boxes of fresh orange juice and when I wanted a cigarette I drank fresh juice, secondly I only looked ahead in 5 minute slots. I would say to myself when I was desperate, ‘just wait 5 minutes ‘. Eventually, I think about 3 weeks, I realised I wasn’t having to do either. Good luck, you feel great eventually.