[Pole 2 Pole]

Quit smokin after 25 years last Sunday. Finding it hard today. I find it easier when I'm working. The energy I have already though is incredible. Come on CIU crew. Big me up and get me through today 

[woody1]

i gave up 11 months ago the first week is the hardest best thing i found to help is keep busy all the time and spend time at places where you cant smoke so you dont see people smoking

[Pole 2 Pole]

I'm in the back garden chillaxing. But the waft of the neighbours sparking up is beginning to annoy me lol. I think i'll just shoot them in a mo. That oughtta solve the problem lol

[Jackal]

the first 6 months are the hardest 

[scud]

  I've been packed in 11 years, from 40 a day.

  After 3 months you will have cracked it, BUT the cravings never completely leave you.

[Tom White]

Pole 2 Pole, well done fella.  The first week is the toughest.

I'm about a month of the cigs myself; maybe longer. 

And don't listen to ex smokers telling you how hard it is and all that rollox; we're the worst for sending people back to smoking.  All that (whiney voice) "...the cravings never completely leave you" is rubbish.  Even after a month I don't feel like smoking for most of the time; it's only the odd occasion when I think, "Right, time for a smoke" and then I remember that I don't do that anymore, do I sometimes feel a bit 'robbed'.  And I'm sure that'll pass too.

Have a read of that Alan Car book, Easyway, he explains what ex smokers are like better than me.

And good on you, mate.  You don't have to suffer with low self esteem any more and smoke like some poor loser.  I feel nothing but sympathy for people who smoke; the poor little smelly, stinking oinks what they is! 

[Bay View WCS]

Hi Pole 2 Pole

I will have given up for three weeks tomorrow.  I visited the smoking cessation service and they offered me the patches, gum and plastic cigarettes.  But, she also mentioned the book by Alen Carr.  I went home after the clinic and smoked 2 cigarettes (despite having a patch on).  I thought 'this is ridiculous' and downloaded the audio book  and loaded the MP3 onto my phone and onto a CD.  I then listened to the CD and my phone and can honestly say that at the end I didn't even want to smoke - this was a far cry from previous quitting attempt where, as the above poster says, I still wanted a cig after having given up for 2 years.  The book looks at every single myth surrounding smoking and you end up thinking 'why do i even bother smoking' it really does take you step by step and convince you that there is no point in smoking.  I'm not saying I don't get the odd pang but this time is far, far easier with the help of the book (and no, I'm not getting any royalty!)

You've done really well so far but get the book and that will help a great deal.

I went for a game of golf this morning and there is a hill there that normally kills me to get the to the top- didn't even bother me today so I know I'm gaining the benefits already.

Keep up the good work- you'll begin to notice the benefits real quick.

Nice one

Tom

[bad trippy]

Tosh gotta have his wackey backy via a cake now 

[scud]

Pole 2 Pole, well done fella.  The first week is the toughest.

I'm about a month of the cigs myself; maybe longer. 

And don't listen to ex smokers telling you how hard it is and all that rollox; we're the worst for sending people back to smoking.  All that (whiney voice) "...the cravings never completely leave you" is rubbish.  Even after a month I don't feel like smoking for most of the time; it's only the odd occasion when I think, "Right, time for a smoke" and then I remember that I don't do that anymore, do I sometimes feel a bit 'robbed'.  And I'm sure that'll pass too.

Have a read of that Alan Car book, Easyway, he explains what ex smokers are like better than me.

And good on you, mate.  You don't have to suffer with low self esteem any more and smoke like some poor loser.  I feel nothing but sympathy for people who smoke; the poor little smelly, stinking oinks what they is! 

  Did I say it in a whiny voice? Don't think I did.

   A month isn't really time to tell if the cravings ever completely leave you, 11 years is probably a better time scale to find out.

[Tom White]

Tosh gotta have his wackey backy via a cake now 

The strongest thing I drink these days is coffee, and that's on the hit list of things to stop.

I'm letting go of stuff, see? 

[Jackal]

i gave up 10 years ago and never crave for a fAg anymore,it was hard for a few month but after 6 month craving gone,you have obviously got to want really give up else you will just start up again when you have a beer 1 day,its true what they say about ex smokers i absoluetly hate the smell of it now,discusting habit  

[Pole 2 Pole]

Aw cheers lads. And a special well done to ex drinker n smoker Toshy baby. Well Tosh.....they may take away my fAgs....but they will NEVER take away my beer lol. Just had half a dozen frames o snooker and 4 beers. It was great not having to pop out after every game. It helps having the sunny happy days here too. They just help to make you feel better anyway. I'm trying to have a pint of water for every beer too. if I wasn't married with 2 kids it'd be a breeze lol. But whatever happens I'm tired of quitting. This is it for me. I can start planning my retirement home now :-)

[Tom White]

Aw cheers lads. And a special well done to ex drinker n smoker Toshy baby. Well Tosh.....they may take away my f*gs....but they will NEVER take away my beer lol. Just had half a dozen frames o snooker and 4 beers. It was great not having to pop out after every game. It helps having the sunny happy days here too. They just help to make you feel better anyway. I'm trying to have a pint of water for every beer too. if I wasn't married with 2 kids it'd be a breeze lol. But whatever happens I'm tired of quitting. This is it for me. I can start planning my retirement home now :-)

Be careful you don't over do the beer, 'cos it could weaken your resolve and you'll end up back on the smokes!

I did an Alan Carr clinic about twelve years ago; cost me £100; and I left that clinic a 'happy non-smoker'; I didn't smoke for two days and was great, but then I got bladdered, started smoking while drunk, and couldn't stop again.

This evening I've been out with four-or-five smokers; I still love the smell; it would've been easy for me to say, "Oh go on then, giz a smoke!", but I didn't. 

I still feel like I'm on thin ice, but each day I don't smoke, I'm sure the ice is getting thicker! 

[Klean07]

Its been 4 months today for me. I counted £600 earlier which Ive been putting away daily for last  4 months.

[Tom White]

My lungs feel great! 

[Dave Anderson]

Gave up the booze and smokes 5 years ago (same day) and I do not miss the smokes at all but everytime I'm in the supermarket the wine displays always get my cravings going, despite the fact I was never a wine drinker...they just look so good.

It's funny to see people who smoke go to great lengths to get dressed up for a evening out/occasion then spark up and smell like a ashtray....but hey all us ex-smokers did the same.

Good luck to all give up their 'demons'.

Cheers
Dave.

[Pole 2 Pole]

I just worked out that me and the mrs were spending £4,500 a year on smokes. In the words Peter Kaye.........What's that all about???

[Klean07]

It was £1,800 for me though I'm only 4 months in at moment.

[colin purewater]

right thats it im of the stop smokin clinic after tea, ive been on theese silly little thing for toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo long...

[Perfect Windows]

If you want some important advice, here it is:

You need to be clear in your mind that you will NEVER have a cigarette again in your life.  Every single time you're offered one you will say "no, thanks, I don't smoke".  Engrave that into your mind and you'll never lapse.  I firmly believe that people who lapse have given up but have not adjusted their minds to never smoking again.  They are the ones who have "just one" and are surprised to find themselves smoking again.

Good luck.  And as to anyone who thinks it's funny to try offering you fAgs to test you, you are entirely within your rights to punch them firmly in the teeth.

Vin