Monday is the day.

[nsd_user663_4703]

Hi all,

I have made the decision to stop, my stop day is Monday. The reasons and I guess the reasons I am here, having read some of the threads are very similar to other member’s reason for stopping.

I am 49, smoked since I was a teenager that would be some thirty years. I would class myself as a heavy smoker and to be honest am viewing Monday with a mixture of dread and excitement as I really want to do this. I am giving up for many reasons. My children are the most important reason and have for a number for years been giving me a hard time because of my habit, as have my co workers offshore.

Today I went for my routine two yearly medical and was told, not advised, I need to give up, as my lungs were functioning at 80%. The doc lay it down in no uncertain terms that I was damaging myself.

So all taken into account the decision has been taken, I have the patches and have set my date, Monday. Hopefully I will have a positive post on Monday.

Thanks for reading, stateofgrace.

[nsd_user663_1733]

Welcome to the site

you have come to the right place for great support and advice. the first few days are the worse so just take them one day at a time dont worry about tomorrow or next week just get passed each day smoke free. Things get easyer really soon read as much as you can lots of members have links in there posts. Come here and post when ever you lke and try and keep busy and before you know it you will be giving advice to others. it can be done i was a smoker for 35 years 40 a day at the end. Its so worth it Just to be FREE.xxxxxx

[NicFirth 10 Years Smoke Free]

Hello and welcome.

1st off those reasons are good but get it straight in your mind you are giving up for yourself, its you that does it and its you that will benefit!

Quitting is a mind game, although we smoke(d) because we are addicted to nicotine the chemical withdrawal is much less tricky to deal with than the psychological withdrawal.

Over the years we build association of smoking as a reward, to relax, to wake up, to deal with stress, to relieve boredom and so on. In reality smoking never changes any situation it is just that in order get through the situation your body wants the levels of the addictive substance - nicotine- to be maintained at its desired levels before you get on with what you are supposed to be doing.

Unfortunately because we have built up these associations we need to practice those situations as a non smoker and get used to dealing with them without a cig in our hand. But as is often said practice makes perfect.

Quitting is a positive process, gaining back control and health it is not a sacrifice. If you constantly feel you are depriving yourself you will find it harder to resist.

Good luck for Monday.

Nic

[nsd_user663_3728]

Hi StateofGrace

Welcome to the forum and well done on the decision to quit possibly one of the most important you will ever make and you will be losing nothing but you will regain control of your life and that has to be good

You will find all the help and support you need on here as we all help each other just like a family we are here for you every step of the way cheering the good days and sympathiseing with the bad but the good far outweigh the bad

Read the posts on here you will find a lot of tips and advice and in the signatures of a lot you will find links to other sites just click on them Here are 2 I find very good to start you off whyquit.com and woofmang.com Read, read and then read some more as the more you read and learn about why you smoked and about your addiction the easier your quit will be

Try not to dread Monday I promise the thought of quitting is worse than quitting

But remember that you'll be losing nothing but an addiction and you'll gain so much,your health, control of your life and have more money in your pocket to mention a few of the benefits you can enjoy

Best Wishes

Marg xxx

[nsd_user663_4703]

Thank you for all the welcomes, tips and support.

I guess between now and Monday I just want to become aware of my smoking habits. It is something that I haven't really thought about as it is something I have done for as long as I can remember.Between now and Monday I will be restricting where and when I smoke. Not stop but cut down just to become fully aware of the times and places I smoke.

I realise that when I started to smoke it was actually acceptable but over the years I have to acknowledge that it is no longer this acceptable. The smoking ban did bring it home to a certain degree. Standing outside the pub, especially when it is raining, having a cig is not really that enjoyable and on many occasions I have wondered what on earth I am doing.

Recent events have simply reinforced this and brought it home that smoking really is no longer the done thing. Not only is it anti social and expensive but it really is having a detrimental effect on my health.

And yes, you are all correct I need to do this for myself. This will be by driving force on Monday.

Thanks, stateofgrace

[nsd_user663_4177]

Hi StateofGrace

Welcome to the forum it is a great place to be. Like you I was scared but excited a the same time about stopping smoking, I have had my ups and down and learnt a lot about myself along the way. I am 47 and had been smoking 32 years and know what you mean about how we could smoke any where in the 80s but when I look back at myself as I was then, I regret that I didnt knnow what I know now. If I had half the knowledge I have learnt from this site and links provided I would have stopped in the 80s.

You will do it