Quitting Smoking

[xud]

I have posted on here before about my previous (and failed) attempts to quit.
The time has cometh again and I'm now on day 3

Only this time I have, purely by chance found a brilliant way to take my mind off cigs in the evening - READING

Normally, during the day at work I am not too bad but the evenings are torture for me. I have changed my routine and even taken up unusual hobbies such as hoovering up, washing the dishes, cleaning my car, tidying my shed etc etc

The day I quit coincided with the delivery of a book that I ordered online. That fisrt night smoke free I stared reading and did not think about cigs at all.

I don't know if any other AB'er has had this experince but it could prove to be a valuable tool for anyone who has recently quit, or thinking about quitting.

Mike

[Misky]

Well done you - but don't let reading stop you doing all those new unusual hobbies you took up!

[mccfluff]

well done;, I'd of done 9 weeks tomorrow :-)

the alan carr book its good. the hardest bit for me was getting over the 3 day bit, once i did that, i haven't looked back

downloading apps that chart your progress are good incentive builders as well

[Barmaid]

I'm at the Quit service later today.........

[ummmm]

BM - get the Alan Carr book. It does work.

[mccfluff]

dont use NRT - its a con :-) its keeps you addicted to nictotine

[xud]

The harderst part I have found in previous attempt has been how to deal with the urges, which are guaranteed to come some time.
NRT I do believe softens the blow in this respect, as I am using patches at the moment - the strongest ones of course.
Yes I am still getting the nicotine but not the other nasties. It is the least worse situation.

My wife, who is also a smoker has also quit, albeit the day after me. This will help enormously to get over it.
At 44 it's only a matter of years before it's payback time (if it isn't already)

Playing football with my son was diffcult due to being out of breath.

The weekend is fast arriving and this will be a good test. I have stocked up on patches and mints in an attempt to come out the other side clean.

I have even dusted down my mountain bike which has been sat in its cosy shed for months. I intend to go riding on the canals over the weekend to try and get back to at least some kind of fitness.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I stopped drinking AND smoking on the same day, both of which I did too much. The drinking I can take it or leave it but I have been astonished at how fast the savings mount up after just 3 days.

I estimate the savings to be a jaw dropping £2500-3000/year, and that's being conservative.

[islasmum]

I think that you are doing brilliantly - great idea to keep yourself busy, and think of the nice things you can do with the money you are saving. I hope that all keeps going well for you - have a nice bike ride!

[mccfluff]

good luck

i don't agree with you re the patches, the problem is the nicotine addiction but each to their own as they say and good luck!

[daffy654]

Very well done! I know from personal experience it is very hard to do. I stopped last September 30th (for Stoptober) after 30+ years of smoking and have been off the cigs since. Reading was one of my crutches too, as were puzzle games on the PC such as Bejewelled and word search type games.

[WELSHYORKIE]

Well done, xud i'm 13 years this month and gave up at the same age 44.

[peternik]

good to hear that, hope that by today you are still on this!

[RosaX]

I smoked quite heavily for about 25 years and tried several times to stop, without success. One day I decided to stop inhaling the smoke. After a few weeks I found my need was starting to lessen. Eventually, I wasn't actually enjoying smoking very much and after a few months I stopped completely. I haven't smoked since. This method might not work for everyone but certainly did for me.

[puddle-duck]

Well done on quitting. I love your list of unusual hobbies. :)

Anytime I've tried to stop in the past I've had to try and keep myself busy to try and keep my mind of it. Eating something minty worked for me if I had a craving, I didn't like the taste it left in my mouth if I had a cigarette afterwards.

[Sam1960]

good luck xud. I was quit just over 4yrs ago. Never looked back.

[BlueToffee]

Reading the answers to a question on washing up/tidying up I saw your thread as a related one, and see that you posted it in May.

Just wondering, 6 months later, how you got on. Hope you managed to succeed.