Smoking - that old chestnut!

[Poglet]

Help, it is exactly 3 months today since I gave up smoking. (she says whilst still biting down hard on her nicorette inhalator). Does the love and adoration for cigarettes ever leave and do you really ever feel any better, even if you are. I thought my teeth, hair and eyes would shine and sparkle and that I would be the first in the queue for the London Marathon entry forms. But no, feel just as lazy as before, just a stone heavier/fatter! Help.... I need some kind of encouragement to continue, or otherwise of course......

[Blyss]

well done Poglet , you must have fantastic will power , I bet all your family and friends are sooo proud of you !!
~pats you on the back ~
well done
and look I patted you on the back and you never coughed up a lung!

[whiskeysheri]

Congratulations poglet! x

[Poglet]

aaah, thanx guys, love the pat on the back and no lung came out bit.... my next target is 100 days!

[summersoon]

you should be soo proud of yourself, it shows your inner strength!

keep it up!!!

you will see the results, and just think of all that money you have saved! i'd buy myself a medal...or maybe shoes actually...

[ELVIS68]

I gave up for two weeks but as soon as I had a beer I had to have a ciggy

[B00]

Congrats :-)

Not that I want to wee on your parade or anything, but my dad quit for 25 years then started again:-(

The dozy twonk!!!

[Poglet]

summersoon, i have spent what i have saved at least twice! but THE shoes i really want i simply cant find anywhere, they are in every mag i get but not in any shops... help, black patent open toe high heel platforms,.... see simple, cant find them anywhere....

[summersoon]

ohh dear! i hope you find them! make it your challenge! you could buy two pairs in different colours with all the money your saving!

good luck, i know you can do it :)

ssxx

[sithlord]

Ive been given up for 4 weeks (after 23 years). Dead proud of myself, but can honestly say I feel like s--t. Stinking cold, mouth ulcers and waking up at 5 in the morning. Now I read that 3 months down the line its still not that great AAAHH.

ps I've used the inhalators. By far the best replacement therepy.

[dot.hawkes]

You may live long enough to see grandchildren? how's that for encouragement?

[CLOWN TICKLE]

Absoluteley Brill, I used to smoke 40 a day but I was lucky in that I stopped overnight 27 years ago with the help of me boss at work who was a genius and have never wanted it since

Why cant giving up naughty food be so easy

[jake-the-peg]

You can never get the genie totally back in the bottle.

I've been off cigarettes for two years and off of booze for 5 and from time to time I still really crave a smoke and a drink.

The key thing is to look at how long you've been and think about what it'd be like starting from the bottom of that hill again.

Don't give in to that voice that says "only one now and again wouldn't hurt" or "I can handle the occasional one". That's very strong after a few months - First time I went on the wagon that got me after about 8 months - needless to say it wasn't long until I was back to square 1.

You may not be up for the marathon but you'll certainly be a bit fitter and if nothing else you'll certainly smell nicer :c) !

[Ed Strong]

Packed up 2-and-a-half years ago after nearly 40 years. After using all the other methods I eventually went to my doctor and was prescribed Zyban. http://www.nosmokingday.org.uk/smokers/zyban.htm

You have to be closely monitored because there is the risk of side effects and my blood pressure did go up. I also suffered for the first 3 months or so with the toxins leaving my body (spots, feeling like s**t etc) but that soon goes and I didn't put on that much weight. My teeth are whiter, my skin is clear, I now go to the gym (shock, horror) and I am the fittest that I have been for years. DON'T GIVE UP NOW. In fact 4 months after I gave up I had saved enough money to go to Naples for a long weekend! Good Luck Poglet.

[Poglet]

thanks for all the encouragement chaps and sithlord, it does get easier, honest. I had terrible mouth ulcers from the inhalator but they soon went with rinstead pastilles.... and like everyone says, you will smell better, feel better and save loads of dosh x

[Ethmer]

Don't "quit" smoking -- instead become a "non-smoker".

There's a big difference. When someone offers you a cigarette your answer isn't "no thanks, i'm trying to quit" but "no thanks, i don't smoke!"

Psychologically it is difficult to "quit" smoking because your mind and body are accustomed to it and think that they need it. But, deciding and stating that you are a "non-smoker" tricks the mind and body by not letting them perceive that they are being denied something.

Find some kind of hard candy to keep around that you can put into your mouth when you have those oral fixation cravings.

i started smoking at 15 and, using the above method, became a non-smoker when i was 45. i utilized Gobstopper Jaw Breaker candies which are about the size of a marble and take about ten minutes to dissolve in the mouth.

i have been smoke-free now for 20 years. i will admit, however, that i still occasionally dream that i have broken my smoke-free status and end up disappointed with myself. (The dreams are so real.) Then i wake up and am so relieved that it was just a dream.

My benefits are that i no longer smell like smoke all the time or have holes burned in my clothes plus i feel better and have probably extended my life considerably and reduced the chances of contracting smoke-related illnesses later in life.

Good luck! And you do have the willpower -- you just have to exercise it.