day 1 part 1,209

[nsd_user663_2817]

it's seriously felt like i've tried quitting that many times. The longest i went was earlier on this year (January until May) before i started up again. This time, i've got to put in a better effort. My girflriend is sick of it and i can't breath half the time. I want to get over the first week hump as easily as i possibly can

[NicFirth 10 Years Smoke Free]

Well done, on making the decision.

As far as serial quitters go I must have as bad a track record, for me the key has been to change the way I think of smoking. This quit has been about taking control, and that quitting is not sacrificing some great pleasure that I'm going to miss and miss out on. Its about gaining a better way of life.

The way to do that IMHO is to educate yourself about the addiction and the withdrawal. These websites are a good place to start.

whyquit.com/

woofmang.com/tales/index.shtml

quitsmokingonline.com/

All the best with it and keep posting

Nic

[nsd_user663_2892]

I too lost count of how many times I "tried" to quit

What makes this quit different is that I didn't "try" to stop smoking - I just did it!

I have been quit for 8 Months, 2 Weeks, 1 Day, 19 hours, 42 minutes and 1 second (260 days). I have saved £1,304.09 by not smoking 5,216 cigarettes. I have saved 2 Weeks, 4 Days, 2 hours and 40 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 17/02/2008 22:00

[NicFirth 10 Years Smoke Free]

What makes this quit different is that I didn't "try" to stop smoking - I just did it!

That is so true, Barbara. I see people say "I'm going to try to quit" and I feel the point is being missed. I made a decision that I was going to become a non smoker, I smoked the last ciggy on July 17th at 1:26 pm and since that point I have been a non smoker.

Not someone trying to quit but someone trying to behave in the way that someone who does not smoke does. I.e. not having the odd puff here and there, trying not to yearn for a fag, trying not to associate smoking with stress relief or pleasure. There is a lot to re-learn but its very doable.

Just my perspective on it, anyway.

[nsd_user663_3633]

It's very easy not to smoke. Just don't put a cigarette in your mouth and light it.

It's really hard not to WANT to smoke - and that's the bit you have to work at before you get to the point some of us (including myself) are at. Read everything you can find on the subject and something will click with you and give you the perspective you need....

Even then, you will still crave - of course you will - but it becomes much easier to say no and to live a life without cigarettes.

I've just had a very rough week with it, but no matter what life throws at me now I will not smoke. I know this because I don't want to.

I hope this makes sense, it makes sense to me

All the best with your quit.

[nsd_user663_3282]

it's seriously felt like i've tried quitting that many times. The longest i went was earlier on this year (January until May) before i started up again. This time, i've got to put in a better effort. My girflriend is sick of it and i can't breath half the time. I want to get over the first week hump as easily as i possibly can

Good advice above about reading and educating yourself. It seems to be one of the main ingredients to a successful quit. However, you already have a great resource at hand...yourself. You didn't smoke between January and May and then re-started. What was your quit like, what tripped you up, what important messages have YOU understood from your experiences? Invariable another main ingredient of the successful quit is getting your head in the right place.

Getting over the first week hump:

[*]sip water a lot,

[*]take in more vitamen C,

[*]develop coping techniques to distract you when the craves hit,

[*]exercise

Just a few suggestions.

[nickywalton]

it's seriously felt like i've tried quitting that many times. The longest i went was earlier on this year (January until May) before i started up again. This time, i've got to put in a better effort. My girflriend is sick of it and i can't breath half the time. I want to get over the first week hump as easily as i possibly can

welcome to the forum - home of many many serial quitters:p...and congratulations on your decision to quit...

and I really hope it is your decision you have to do it for you not for your gf:cool:

presume you are doing this CT? my tips would be stock up on stuff you can put in your mouth instead of the white sticks - that won't pile the pounds on!!! I used sugar-free lollipops (bit girlie I know but needs must...;)) and sugar-free gum - fruit juices water and coffee worked for me...

when the craves get tough take a walk/run if you possibly can, exercise really does help...

good luck you can do it this time...

nicky

[austinlegro 11 Years Smoke Free]

....presume you are doing this CT? my tips would be stock up on stuff you can put in your mouth instead of the white sticks - that won't pile the pounds on!!! I used sugar-free lollipops (bit girlie I know but needs must...;)) and sugar-free gum - fruit juices water and coffee worked for me...

On many of my previous quits (well that sounds awful doesn't it..) I've used one of those "crave-away" plastic fags with the tobacco flavoured filter. Reassuring in the hand, summat to suck on, a useful time-out device and good for deep breathing. Totally non-fat and calorie free too...

[nsd_user663_2783]

On many of my previous quits (well that sounds awful doesn't it..) I've used one of those "crave-away" plastic fags with the tobacco flavoured filter. Reassuring in the hand, summat to suck on, a useful time-out device and good for deep breathing. Totally non-fat and calorie free too...

I've got one of those. Not keen on the taste of it but it does work.

[nsd_user663_2817]

Thanks for the kind words! I posted here a bunch of times back then when i quit to.

I started up in May when i went on vacation with a few friends. At the same time my new gf at the time had left for her own vacation, so i kind of just turned to cigerettes. It didn't help that our hotel we stayed at was known for having excessive amounts of smokers.

Came back middle of may, and from about then to the end of august i was one of those social smokers (only smoking on weekends). From september - october i smoked pretty much everyday, and i recently decided i'd give it up again in November. My downfall always came around alcohol, and i won't be anywhere near that until Christmas time.

[NicFirth 10 Years Smoke Free]

Good idea that staying away from alcohol for a while.

Stay focused, stay positive and this quit will be THE quit.

All the best

Nic

[nsd_user663_3708]

I think the secret is to decide to be a non smoker..like someone else said... dont be someone trying to give up, just be a non smoker... non smokers dont smoke even when they have a drink...so why should you..having alcohol is not a license to 'let yourself go'...you shouldnt want to let yourself smoke...if you are a non smoker you dont smoke??

God..I hope this advice works for me too, has so far I'm on day 12!!!!!