public declaration...

[scojos]

i am publically declaring that at 12 noon today, i had my last cigarette.
i am now stopping smoking, have patch bit irritable, but doing ok.
i may need your support, but dinner at victoria and albert is on offer by dh if i am still not smoking in 180 days when we go.
thank you for listening
Tracy

 

[natalielongstaff]

good luck Tracy ! hope you do it xxx

 

[mandymouse]

Good Luck Tracy, you can do it !!

 

[CustardTart]

Go for it, Tracy!!!! You can do it - think of that yummy V&A meal...

I don't know if you've thought of this, but my friend gave up 4 years ago via the NHS stop smoking scheme - after trying and failing loads of times before. She really rates it so might be worth checking out...?

 

[~Piglet~]

Good Luck to you!

After many years of failed (half) attempts my Mum stopped smoking 11 months ago, after 40+ years as a smoker. I honestly thought I would never see the day, as she has practically no willpower - but she did it, and cold turkey too. If she can, anyone can!

 

[mumloveseeyore]

good luck, well done for making the first step!

 

[ukstitch]

Best of luck! Just think of all the money you'll be saving, as well as the health benefits

My grandad gave up smoking quite a few years ago now and he definitely feels better from it

 

[Cyrano]

Good luck

Best two pieces of advice I received was don't expect sympathy realise that you are making a lifestyle change so be positive about it
The other was eat lots of satsumas, kiwi fruit as the vitamin c breaks down the nicotine in your system. Now I suspected this was rubbish but I always had a supply and I believed in it

 

[joolz1910]

I gave up my 20 a day habit on 26th April 1999. I went cold turkey. I haven't looked back since - I can say with all honesty that I will never smoke again.

Best of luck.

 

[hildasmuriel]

Good luck - you sound like you want to do it, so you have the best chance of succeeding.

My advice would be to have something to do with your fingers at all times - whether it be a Nintendo DS or a bit of crochet or cross stitch. The habit of smoking is a lot to do with the oral fix.

My last cigarette was in September 1991. I went cold turkey as I was 6 weeks pregnant. I promised myself I would let myself start again once the baby was born. The 'baby' will be 18 in May and I haven't had another one since.

 

[saratogagirl]

Hi Tracy, I'm six days now, pm me if you want to scream honey. Its hard isn't it, but I truly believe the worst is nearly over, you know where I am. good luck xx

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

I wish you all the very best - you are doing a really great thing!

 

[tennisfan]

Good luck & well done on making the step to quitting

 

[scojos]

thanks guys for your support
i will keep updating this, just to keep me sane and give me something to focus on. bizarly last night had a really good nights sleep (v rare for me) think i had drained myself emotionally
cyrano, i dont expect sympathy, trust me from my dh and kids i wont get any, he is an ex smoker and boy, are they the worst. i do like the idea of vit c and fruit, as i am doing ww at the mo, better than polos and other suggestions!
just going to take it hour by hour then day by day, i know i can stop quite easily.. its the not starting again on day 5-6 which is hard. to me
tracy

 

[wilma-bride]

The very best of luck Tracy (although I think the reward of a meal at V&'s is a bit tight - my DH bought me DVC when I gave up )

Only kidding, however it was definitely a motivator as DH promised he would at least consider buying DVC and a certain Mr Stringer suggested that I could give up smoking and the money I saved woud cover the maintenance fees each year.

That was in January 2007, I gave up in February when we got back from DH's 40th Birthday trip to Orlando (having bought DVC while we were there) and, although I did have a few slip-ups at the start (went cold turkey), I can honestly say that it is the best thing I ever did.

I wish you the very best of luck - just take it one day at a time and, to be perfectly honest, the first couple of weeks are the worst so once you are through that, you're doing well.

Feel free to PM me if you need additional support or if you feel you might cave

 

[Tinks1984]

Good Luck Tracy!!

Just keep that prize at V&A's in the front of your mind. And most importantly, how much your going to help yourself and your health in the long run!

Fingers crossed for you

 

[pixiepower04]

I gave up smoking twice.

The first time I used the patches that came with a litte sticker chart on them to chart the progress. Contrary to the advice given I put my patch on when I went to bed at night rather than in the morning because my craving was always worse in the morning so putting the patch on at night banished my morning craving altogteher.

The first week was the hardest but after that first week it was a breeze. I gave up for 18 months and then unfortunately my mum died unexpectedly and I started again. That was in 1995.

However, in late 1997 I discovered I was pregnant and tried to give up but my morning sickness was so bad smoking was the only thing that didn't make me sick.

When DD was two weeks overdue I had to go in to be induced and then I had an Emergency Caesarian so when I came out of hospital some 5 days later I got home and thought, 'okay, let's see if I really need it', so of course I took a puff and I swear I turned green , I put it out and that was that.

DD will be 12 in July.

The fact that DH didn't smoke and never had done helped I think but also I used to write alot, poems, short stories etc so my hands were always busy.

And, bizarrely I cleaned my teeth alot more than normal because I never liked the taste of freshly brushed teeth against the taste of cigarettes so when I had the sparkling clean teeth I didn't want to ruin them!

If you really want to do it you will but instead of telling people you've just given up smoking (where people will always try and tempt you) say 'I don't smoke' and use that as your mantra.

Good Luck, you can do it

 

[irisheyes123]

Good luck

 

[Pinky166]

Good luck Tracy.

I gave up 7 years ago. (30 a day!) I tried the patches for a few days but they didn't agree with me, my arm was all red and swollen so I ended up going cold turkey.

I agree, you sould save the money for a good few months as it will keep you going, when you really want a ciggy have a look in your money jar and think of that next trip to WDW.

 

[scojos]

thank you all for posting the messages of support and your stories, i have just watched ds play football, normally 90 minutes of constant nicotine, eaten loads of polos and kept away from the smokers!
lunch now!
tracy