I quit smoking

[cat_mioux]

7 days ago.

Don't talk to me. Don't even look at me.

*cat stomps off into the kitchen to eat to eat something*

[sandypas]

When I gave up smoking, I was in hospital and had been there for 6 weeks.  I was coughing up this black stuff and thought it was blood from my ailment.  The specialist told me it was nicotine from the bottom of my lungs.

Things definitely have more taste and smell.  Put the money you would normally spend on cigarettes in a box and treat yourself to something you've always wanted ..... and it does get better.

Congratulations for giving it a go.

[electric*mayhem*band]

Good for you, OP. Been there and failed miserably..

[cat_mioux]

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@sandypas wrote:

I was coughing up this black stuff and thought it was blood from my ailment.  The specialist told me it was nicotine from the bottom of my lungs.

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Oh that explains a lot. Thanks 🙂

Well done on quitting too!

So many people are finally quitting. It's good to hear. It can take a few quits for it to stick for some/most people.

I recommend Allen Carr's book.

[imastawka]

 *cat stomps off into the kitchen to eat to eat something*

Noooo.  Don't do that.  The kilos will pile on before you can say 'yum'

First 2 weeks are the hardest.  Change your routine. 

Cravings really only last 3 minutes - really

Take a deep breath, do something not related to smoking -

 I did a lot of knitting and gardening.

Drink water when you feel a craving, but most of all

make yourself busy.  The craving will be gone before you

know it.  Soon everything will taste and smell sooo much better.

Best of all you will be able to do so much more.

Breathing will be much easier.

Congratulations on being an ex smoker

[joz*garage]

one of the most thoughtless approaches would have to be to 'advertise' it

[cat_mioux]

Thanks ima.

I'm not really eating too much, just a little more than usual because I used to feel satisfied with a coffee and a cigarette for breakfast (terrible I know!).

[ten*teeny*tiny*toes]

I recommend the Allen Carr book as well. I quit about 6 years ago and haven't looked back.

I know this time I will never smoke again, in the past I have always been one cigarrette away from being a smoker. I had to work at not smoking.

It is different this time because I have changed my thinking.

You can do it cat_mioux 

[fourandsixpants]

I agree. Going to food is natural thing to do-replacing to put in mouth to comfort but don't do it *yeeks!

Well done cat. Keep on keeping on

For those wanting to give up a smoking habit hope following helps you.

Name a day and time for quitting, mark it on the calendar - a few weeks or months ahead. Plan and aim to smoke each smoke less - in drags and length. Put 'finished' butts into a sealed jar with water. Each time you want a smoke lift the jar lid and breathe in the aroma! Helps a lot. Over the next few weeks cut your number of smokes down and the amount of each cig that you smoke (just smoking a third or a quarter by time you are about to quit is good-makes it easier)

Go cold turkey on your 1st day. No ifs buts or maybe's.

I found first 10 days hardest. I got rid of all ashtrays and smoking implements.

Put away all coffee, tea.

Bought 2 15L containers of spring water.

Armed myself with lemons,- many, many lemons.

Went out and bought 3 different varieties of toothpaste and a big soft toothbrush.

Bought 3 bars of triple milled bath soaps.

First craving, each time - have a drink of water.

2nd craving, each time - clean your teeth.

3rd craving, suck on some lemon until the cravings go.

On bad days have as many showers as you feel you need to feel 'right' about yourself.

Hot as you can stand, warm and then finish with as cold as you can bear for 2 minutes. 

Running water over your body is very calming and healing and of course cleansing.

Avoid people for up to 2 weeks. Avoid social occasions for up to a month-it helps.

Avoid coffee and tea and alcohol for as long as you need to keep the cravings at bay (can take months)

Drink plenty of fresh water every day at regular intervals.

All the best and good health.

[the_great_she_elephant]

Well done, Cat. And next time you crave a cigarette, think of all that gunk you are coughing up and remind yourself that having a smoke will simply  tip it all back down your throat.

[imastawka]

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@joz*garage wrote:

one of the most thoughtless approaches would have to be to 'advertise' it

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joz, I found it worked for me to tell everybody when I gave up.

People were so pleased and helpful,  I didn't want to see

the look of disappointment on their faces if I lapsed.

So, in my case, I let other people help me