giving up smoking.....

[Nini74]

Ok, so i know there's a lot of you who hate smokers and i really don't want anyone coming on here telling me that i was scum before i made this decision - but i'm trying to give up, and have just started a course of champix (i'm on day 4) and so far my actual quit date has been set for next wednesday. it occurred to me that i may need a little support from friends on AB over the next few weeks so if any of you have any positive vibes to send my way, any advice or support would be gratefully received xxxx

[ladybirder]

I don't know about anybody else but in my experience cutting down does not work. Oh yes you'll cut down while you're feeling good about things but as soon as you have any stress - whoosh, you're levels are back up again. While you're still taking nicotine into your body the dependency is still there and you're feeding it. I believe, other than for the very few exceptions, that you either smoke or you don't. No in between. Fingers crossed you are one of the exceptions.

[coccinelle]

When i packed in the first time I found it so hard to have a cup of tea or a glass of wine without a smoke so before packing in the next and last time (7 years ago) I was already out of that habit. When I smoked I smoked and did nothing else; this really helped me the second time. I must say first 3 days I felt really bad and I told myself no way would I go through those three days again. When you feel like a smoke go and brush your teeth this occupies your hands and gives you such a fresh taste in your mouth so you don't want to smoke. I had this lovely feeling after a week that I was on a snowy mountain breathing in clean air and that feeling helped through the following weeks. Good luck! You'll never regret it.

[beso]

Some advise to avoid the term "giving up" because it implies the loss of something of value. Instead think of it as avoiding a dangerous toxin that will ultimately kill you if you keep doing it.

[tiggerblue10]

I gave up around 5 years ago. Best thing I ever did and it was a good job that I did as I fell pregnant 2 years later.

[coccinelle]

How's it going Nini? Never find an excuse to have just one, that's the little monkey on your shoulder talking....