quit smoking

[wantitover]

14 days quit smoking, need friends to encourage! Never thought I could give up after 40+ years of happy smoking. ))Very miserable. Any advise on how to control the body weight ? What are your motivations to quit?

[Snackjack]

Whilst I knew for a long time that I should give up smoking, it was when I was diagnosed with Lung Cancer and emphasema that it finally hit home to me and with that diagnosis I really wanted a cigarette more than anything to calm me down but knew that I couldn't have one any more. I tried Gum, patches and E cigarettes and then vaping, you can get zero nicotine liquids, to get me through that constant craving. I still use patches occasionally, not sure if they really work or whether it is just a psycholgical coping mechanism. As to the weight I used to sometimes have a drink of water if I was tempted to snack and I also used to write everything down that I ate so that I could keep a check on how many calories I was having in a day and for me that did seem to help me keep my eating under control. I think we ex smokers have to try to find what works best for us. Try to remind yourself that it is for your own health and wellbeing. Good luck and best wishes. I have always found people on this site to be friendly and supportive. xx

[wantitover in reply to Snackjack]

Dear Snack, your disarming honesty made me ashamed of my silly whims. I hope that quitting smoking helped you to combat your conditions. I haven't been diagnosed but I do know that my lungs are not Ok. I have terrible persistent cough after few bronchitis episodes almost for 10 years now, very occasionally I spit blood which is very frightening , but I am not short of breath and I don't wheeze.

Thank you for your advise on food control, I shall try to see if it will help me. I am diabetic so the weight control is very important to me , God knows what my blood sugar is like now because of the pandemic I didn't have any blood tests for 2 years .

My Grandmother had TB and smoked till her last breath, she passed away at the age of 78 and asked me to put a box of sigs into her coffin ))) Funny and terrible !

Hugs xx

[Spirit-bird in reply to wantitover]

There’s a great app you can use to monitor your food intake called myfitnesspal. Don’t let the name put you off. You can scan barcodes or enter manually. Walking is also great for maintaining/reducing weight, mental well being and a healthy distraction. It’s a good repayment activity. You could also look at taking up a new skill or craft to keep your hands busy

[Hidden]

I think most here are already smoke free, but you may find lots of support from the HU Quit Support group here:

healthunlocked.com/quitsupport

Wishing you every success in achieving smoke free.

[Annie31]

Whilst this forum is excellent for all things lungie, you might benefit from the Quit Smoking support group next door on the Healthunlocked site. They are fantastic and there is a wealth of information on there. They also have started a system of support where you can ask for a quit buddy to share quits with. I quit five years ago and barely ever think of a smoke now. I quit when I developed a smokers cough which is horrible. Good luck!

[ck101]

When your lungs are number one priority putting on a bit of weight is of little importance. Sorry but this the way it is…

[Annie31 in reply to ck101]

Exactly, deal with quitting, then deal with the weight issue later I say!

[Tykelady in reply to ck101]

I was a fat smoker anyway!

[CDPO16]

Hi and welcome and well done for quitting. It will get easier as time goes on. I quit after a diagnosis of COPD wishing that I'd done it years earlier. As for body weight, I have trouble keeping it on so if you are concerned about weight gain I can't advise. The Quit Support group as already suggested will be a good place to look for more help. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[Lemon7]

I ate chocolate when I quit and didn't deal with weight gain till later deliberately. One thing at a time. Well done on quitting,

[HungryHufflepuff]

Hello and welcome 😊 Congratulations on quitting smoking.

[Sonie86 in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

I wish to quit smoking too.Such a supportive peoples here. I am a new member here . lots of love from Singapore.

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to Sonie86]

Hello and welcome 😊It’s great you want to quit smoking. I’m sure you’ll find lots of help and support here.

[garshe]

I was fortunate as once I made up my mind to quit smoking I just stopped. My Granddaughter was 2yrs old when I was diagnosed with severe COPD. She said to me please dont smoke I love you. That was 11yrs ago I never smoked another cigarette after she said that. She is my World and we are so close, she saved my life the day she said that to me. I wanted to see her grow up so that was my motivation. I never used patches or any other device and I just stopped. Wish I had done it years before but never thought about it. Luckily I have never had a problem with weight gain so cant answer that question. COPD/Emphysema is not terminal but is Progressive, you can control how fast it progresses and slow it down.If I had continued to smoke I would not be here today, I thank my Granddaughter every day for saving my life. Good luck and please persevere as you will be much healthier and your breathing will improve. A photo of my Granddaughter and myself, my soul mate my best friend and my Life Saver .xxSheila

Darcy and Me.

[wantitover in reply to garshe]

Dear Sheila, Thank you very much for your support and your story. Darcy looks very much like you! Beautiful young lady! I have 2 Grandkids, unfortunately both live now in the USA with their parents, it is hard when your family is so far away. My husband is very vulnerable and we are shielding for 2 years, no visitors, no friends . I made a financial commitment to help my Grandkids with their education and promised to send money to my Daughter in Law, I think I was smoking my conscience away spending so much money on ciggies. So in the way my Grandson and Granddaughter are also saving my life! God Bless our Grandchildren!Love , Victoria

[garshe in reply to wantitover]

You sound very Positive. Our Grandchildren are our World we are so fortunate.Just remember you can slow this disease down by not smoking and exercising Doesnt have to be the Gym , my excercise is shopping lol. I'm still here 11yrs on and still getting around great. Anytime you want a chat we are here to xsupport you. Good Luck xx🤞🙌👍💕 Sheila .xx

[Anniecheney]

Stick at it. No one took me seriously when I decided to give up but I did it. 8 years now and still smug that I proved the doubters wrong.I did use a vape which was a big help and a crutch. Hopefully you will find something that helps you

[Badbessie]

To be honest you have chosen the best way to give up smoking. You want to. I don't recommend my method of getting bilateral pneumonia and sepsis...lol. I used every method from patches to Ecigs and managed to give up. But I still class myself as a smoker who as not had one for 4 years. One thing I did do was place the money I would have spent in a jar. It paid for a nice holiday and made me realise how much money I had literally sent up in smoke in 40 years. Keep going only those that have smoked know how miserable it can be.

[Karenanne61]

Well done for quitting. For most people it takes a huge amount of willpower. Try and avoid triggers. I. E. That ciggie after dinner, get straight up and clear the table.

[Dizzart]

Must confess I use those tiny lowest dose nicotine pills tucked up under my gum and puff without inhaling a nicotine free vape , so far ok it’s just something to go with a cup of tea to make it seem more like relaxing the way I used to and lord knows how people put on weight when they give up as I wander round and round doing stuff all day to keep occupied . Tell yourself how lovely it is to have white teeth and not smell like an ashtray as I find as a female (70) vanity still works for me. 👍🏻

[stamford1234]

Well done. Drink plenty of water it can help. Good luck, you will start to see the benefit soon

[Poppy2525]

Hi Wantitove, First of all very well done, I can only tell you about I over came smoking. Like most smokers we never believe it would happen to us but I was feeling ill and everyone told me to give up smoking and after 40 x odd years it comes hard and especially when you enjoy it. but I made up my mine and stopped smoking( no patches, no vaping) I was too tight to buy other substitutes and once I got over the first day it became a battle and saving face as everyone said he will never do it and it went on from there. That was 12 x years ago, I still fancy a ciggy now and again but it soon passes and what you have to do is put your energies into some thing else, mine was gardening.Everyone is different but if you have gone 14 x days not smoking then you have cracked the worst part and what I say to myself when a fancy a ciggy is do you really want to spoil all the pain, anxiety you have gone through to get here and do you really want to smell like an old ash tray again and all your clothes smelling of stale smoke!

Of course you don't, I am sure you will make it, best of luck

[wantitover in reply to Poppy2525]

Hi Poppy, Thank you for your very inspiring story. I know exactly what you mean by ''saving face''! I am also afraid that my own husband who gave up 25 years ago will stop respecting me if I fail. I can't afford to continue my financial help to my Grandkids if I relapse, it is a very strong motivation for me, even stronger than my own health!))it was also difficult for me to find ''the right time'' to attempt quitting , it was a spontaneous decision as soon as my husband started feeling better after his surgery! I thought now or never!

I came from the family of smokers, Mum. Dad, Grandmother, only my Grandfather didn't smoke but he used snuff)). I am so proud that my Son chose not to smoke !

Life is strange without ciggs and I am not sure that I know who I am now!

Best Wishes, Victoria

[Poppy2525 in reply to wantitover]

sorry Ihave been so long replying, I am not on the forum everyday but all i can say is well done keep it up. there are still days when I really could have a ciggy but I then think would it really be worth it after all this time. so keep it up you wont regret it

[Anniebeen]

I think quitting is successful once you decide you WANT to quit. That's what happened with me. I used patches and changed my routine. I kept some crackers by phone (used to automatically light up when on phone), I didn't linger after shower (elbows on sink puffing away), etc. I wish you the best of luck in this. It is worth it!

[Thinkhealthy]

Keep going - you will really feel better and when I stopped I was so relieved to be in control - and not have my life dominated by tobacco and the companies that make money whilst we destroy our lungs. I know I am a fortunate one - I don’t crave it. But after seeing my mum (a nurse) die from cigarette smoking - I never wanted another . I felt free. I really hope you can just get through this withdrawal period - it’s so hard !! But it will pay off . Xxxx you are stronger than it !!

[Nicholatracy]

I quit about 20 years ago. Was smoking close to two packs a day. Doctor said I have a spot on my lung but it wasn’t cancer. Decided there and then they had to go. I didn’t use anything to help me, I just carried what was left of my pack around and when I wanted to smoke I smelled the pack. It worked like a charm but it didn’t stop me developing emphysema 15 years later. I did put on about 15 lbs but with exercising i have lost a little. Stay strong 🐞

[Thepainterswife]

My first attempt at quitting was almost 40 years ago and it was much harder to keep the weight off then because there were no “aids “ now with nicotine gum and lozenges it’s easy to finish a meal or replace biscuits etc with one of them rather than tucking into deserts or bags of sweets but I agree with what’s been said -tackle the nicotine first then if necessary ( and you may not even put on weight ) deal with the weight . I made several attempts before quitting for good about ten years ago but I was fit and healthy ( still am) with no cough etc Hubby , on the other hand (now has emphysema ),smoked much more than me and woke the street up every morning with horrendous coughing made the decision 15 years ago and never looked at another cigarette from that day . Good Health is a wonderful incentive ! Do it for yourself and soon you’ll be so proud of yourself , you’ll look and smell better and be financially better off- it’s a no brainer 😃. Ps I’ve worn size 10 jeans all my life and still do ! 😂. Good luck Val x

[Ergendl]

Congratulations on quitting. I gave up after I saw my uncle Eddie die of cancer in 1982, and how he wasted away with it. This fit happy farmer turned quickly into a skeleton in a hospital bed. I could see my grandmother's features in his face and also my own. I gave up a lot of things over the next three years, including smoking.

[Kate124]

I gave up following heart attack last Aug. I had been smoking since I was a child 50 years. I'm still using a small vape called moti. It's been amazing. No big clouds of vapour. As for the weight. Worry about that when your over the worse with the quitting. People will start to notice how well you look and younger. All a bonus to stay with it. Keep at it you can do it. From a heavy ex smoker xx

[Glenys12]

I gave up following a heart attack and I found that the use of two stop smoking aids really helped. I wish you all the best and would encourage you to keep at it as you will get there in the end. It is hard, really hard but will be worth it. I would imagine that a lot of people on here have given up smoking and know exactly what you are going through. I am sure that you will have plenty of encouragement whenever you need it from members of this forum. Good luck