Stopping smoking!

[efc]

I finally took the plunge and decided to stop smoking. I've smoked 20 a day for 20 years! On Saturday I bought some patches and started using them Sunday morning. However, this morning didn't even remember to stick a patch on and went out to work without one. I only remembered once i'd got home!
I can honestly say that i've not even been tempted to have a cigarette. Think about it occasionally but certainly am not craving for one.
I don't know why I didn't do this years ago! I know it's early days yet but is this usual??
Anyone got any tips for if the cravings suddenly take over?

[mgba_78]

I dont know the answer to your question but just wanted to say well done for giving up and stick at it.

I think you can go to meetings about giving up smoking a bit like AA!

[whiffy]

I gave up using nicotine chewing gum (Nicotinell 4mg fruit). It really does help when you get the occasional urge. 2 years later I am still on the gum, but anything is better than smoking. It sounds as though you are having an easier time than many, and very best wishes. Be sure there are no fags in the house ever.

[efc]

Whiffy I threw out the ashtrays, lighters etc. I now won't allow any smokers through the door, well not while their smoking anyway! I've tried stopping before and only ever lasted a day. I think i was more determined this time and it's made it easier. Lets hope i'm still saying this in another week! Might buy some gum just to be on the safe side.

[alijangra]

Its likely that a stressful situation will be a trigger for a craving. Try and think of a diversion plan you can use if this happens. Maybe keep a note of all the reasons you want to stop in your wallet and take it out to remind yourself and hopefully the distraction will help.

[Mammar]

Hey efc!
Good on you!
I had a friend who'd smoked for 40 years and she cracked it about 3 years ago. We were SO proud of her.
She had a combination of patches etc and the help of a great clinic nurse at the doctors.
She told her to put away the money she would have spent on cigarettes into a jar and every month she got through without cigs to go and buy herself a treat. After several pairs of shoes and a few frocks it now goes towards their holidays in France.

[shivvy]

I'm off the fags for just over 2 years. I didn't find it too hard either even though I was 20per day B&H smoker.
I really do believe that it is so much to do with your state of mind. It might seem obvious but if you give up but still (deep down) want to smoke, then you will end up smoking again.
If you really do want to give up, then it is relatively easily achieveable because you need to tell yourself that you aren't sacrificing anything. You have made a decision to give up, so stick to it.
It is suprising how quickly you forget/get past those cravings.
PS - because my head was in a good place about giving up, I didn't feel the need to replace smoking with anything else. Therefore dealing with cravings was not an issue.

[divegirl]

Hi, well done you! I stopped 8 weeks ago and am using patches. Alijangra is right, watch out for a stressful situation, that's when you're most likely to crave a fag. I've caved in once and that was after a really bad day, but I'm saving all the money I would have spent on taking my kids to the Caribbean and was so gutted that I'd wasted money on fags...... I know I won't be doing it again! It didn't make me feel any better or smell any better......lol

Good luck hun.....

Lisa x

[RATTER15]

I gave up 40 a day 18 months ago, I didn't find that those patches helped a bit!!

I found the first few weeks the easiest, the difficult part is when you become complacent and think you have successfully quit!! then you are tempted to "just have the one" or having a pint with mates.

I still have a strong urge for a fag, but I am fighting it, my Mother gave up 20 years ago, she also still craves a fag!!

Just don't drop your guard, not even for one cigarette!!!!

[RATTER15]

Good luck!!!!!!!

[hartley]

A useful tip for when you get cravings is to be calm and inhale (fresh air!) deeply several times. When you inhale cigarette smoke you still pull in a lot of air as well. Deep breathing imitates this part of smoking without the smoke. There have been suggestions that its actually the deep breathing action that calms a smoker in a stressful situation rather than the fags - I don't believe that myself but I guess it might be part of it.

Also, this might help;
http://www.bupa.co.uk/health_information/asp/h ealthy_living/lifestyle/smoking/why/stop.asp
Its good to realise that every hour you're not smoking you body is getting better.

Good luck!

[crete]

well done efc, keep going.

[efc]

Just wanted to say thank you for all the support and advice. I'm trying to avoid any situations that may tempt me into smoking. Even told the girls I wasn't going out drinking with them on Friday!
Put myself in quite a stressful situation on Saturday by doing a 240 mile round trip to watch the blues scrape a draw. I survived it though!
Haven't had a cigarette for just over a week and not using the patches either. It's great to hear other peoples success stories.
Thank you