I had my last ever cigarette. I know I've said it before (this time yesterday in fact) but I mean it this time.
I'm known amongst my family for being a stubborn cow so now I'm going to use that to my advantage and turn my pig-headed-ness into will power.
I am a mum of four and for me the main incentive to quitting is that each of my 20 a day cigarettes robs me of at least 17 minutes with my kids. I think that adding up to 340minutes a day (ALMOST 7 HOURS!!!!!!!) is a damn disgrace and I'm ashamed to see that in front of me.
Secondly Being the single minded individual that I am, I want to go into work in a couple of weeks and be the best (I'm more than a little competitive too) How can I chastise others for being lazy if I'm off having a fag break at every opportunity? I have recently been offered a promotion and am damned if I'm going to be shown up by someone of the same "rank" who is 12 years younger than me, I will work harder and faster than him and thus gain bigger bonuses and I feel that being an ex-smoker will help me do this.
Right now I guess I'm coming accross and strong, possibly a cocky and more than a little psychotic. The truth is I'm 100% fired up. The difference between saying this last night and tonight is that last night I was "quitting in the morning", right now I have quit and it's now been 30 minutes.
This morning I woke up and my first thought was is the corner shop open? Sad, pathetic and selfish. I didn't matter I'd just gone 8 hours without a fag, I was going to just have one. Well, we all know where that leads and two 10 packs later I have quit. For what I spent i could have gone to the cinema this evening after hubby came home, I could have met a friend for a drink or two, I could be sitting here eating 442 of my favourite penny sweets lol
So here I am, an ex-smoker. And I will stay this way.
P.S. it's 35 minutes now
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Sounds like pure determination to me. Your quit is like a ride on the rapids, you keep your focus right down that centre-line as you ride that white water, and no matter how tough that course is, you keep focused on your goal.
Your spot on with how you see it, keep this energy up, and use it to win.
i was just like you determined to stop , but i had one bag of tobacco left so i went down fighting and smoked the lot , then i stopped at midnight deep down thinking i will buy some in the morning , but you know what im 22 days smoke free in minute's ,you know ive saved £70 towards another car my other one's getting past its best so ive set myself a goal in getting another car , if i can do it so can you
I know I've said it before (this time yesterday in fact) but I mean it this time.
when i saw the 1st past i said in my mind, good good ha
2nd part mate
we all know how hard it can be (as it is for me still) but all you need is the right support (ie this site) and alot of will power and you will be on ur way,
try checking out the tips section for some extra help to help you out
so good luck and well done for deciding to quit man
i got ur back and needless to say everyone else here has to mate
Thank you all for you kind and supportive words, it's now been 11 hours since I quit, I've been up for 2 hours and now I REALLY want one. We live two doors away from the shop, it'd be so easy but thought I'd have a look here first and after reading your messages I'm not going out.
I'm almost halfway through day 1 and hoping my will power will hold out, So glad I found this forum, even reading my own first message has reminded me how strong I felt yesterday.
I guess it's just an hour at a time for me now.
Thank you all again, you saved me already from it, I guess it was the supprt I've been missing on myother failed attempts
Good for you! Keep strong today. Keep reading on here and posting. I didn't think I could do it. I was an olympic smoker and I would pretend I had quit to others but would secretly buy smokes and hide it. I am over 6 months smoke free now thanks to the support and education on this forum xx
With that determined and stubborn attitude you'll be just fine and you have some good reasons in your post remember them and if/when you hit a rough day they'll really help you through it
Take it day by day, hour by hour whatever gets you through is fine doesn't matter how small those steps are you'll get where you want to be
Below is my standard welcome and advice post which I try and give every new member
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
Post often to let us know how you're doing, to rant, rave have a moan whatever you like pretty much anything goes on here OK
If nothing else, think of your kids, and your reasons for quitting. Early days yet.. keep your focus despite the obvious distractions. Ignore the temptation and when the going gets a little rough, grit your teeth and weather the storm.
You go one hour, you stretch it to two, from two to four .. and from four to eight.. each is a mini-objective.. then if you can do eight, you go 16.. then its a day.. 2 days.
Don't look too far ahead just yet, deal with the here and now, and try to relax whereever you can. If you feel your mind wandering, get some distraction going.. and my old favourite.. a stress ball... or something else you can squeeze just to channel any tensions on is always good.
Keep it real though, don't be afraid to post on here as you go, quitting is not a walk in the park and you are among understanding friends on here, who appreciate more than you realise.
Keep re-reading your initial post too, i like the fire and determination i saw in that.. don't lose that .. its important.
Firstly a massive congratulations for wanting to quit and starting. Reading your message and seeing how much working out you have done regarding hours and it sounds like you are a very strong woman If you put all your fantastic qualities into quitting you will be fine. Good luck and keep us posted
Well done for coming back - it certainly does take grit and determination to quit, and then to stay quit, but it does get easier over time - so stick with it!
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and I feel that being an ex-smoker will help me do this.
