Didn't quite know where to put this so thought it best here, apologies if it's in the wrong forum!
My name is Tom, I'm 24 and I'm going to stop smoking tomorrow. I have been smoking since I was 14, but regularly since I was 16. I now smoke between 10 and 20 cigs in a day, depending on what time I wake up in the morning!
I first made a 'proper' attempt when I read 'the easyway' by Allen Carr two years ago. I stopped for 3 weeks and then started again. I started again following an argument with my fiancee, but that's merely an excuse. Truth is, I probably wanted to start again regardless.
I've now read the 'only way to stop permanently' and I feel that I'm now prepared to do it once again. I haven't experienced that 'light' or sudden realisation that I want to stop but I'm not worried - funny thing is, I hate smoking, I hate spending money on it and I feel rotten - I can't exercise and I know it's because I smoke - so why do I do it? I do remember when I stopped for those 3 weeks, just how refreshed I felt when I woke up in the morning - you know when people say 'I feel great after a good nights sleep'? Well, as a smoker, I don't - I feel lousy, like my mouth is terribly dry, dizzy and not quite with it. All because I smoke!! But you know that yourselves don't you?
Anyway, I'm glad I found this forum as I will write my thoughts on here, if anything for my own sanity - I do hope to meet some other people in my situation, there's strength in numbers and I look forward to making a success of it like some of you amazing people!
No one in my house has ever smoked, and it's so hard for them to empathize with me and my plight so to find people such as yourselves who are not only going on the same journey, but who have succeeded, I am in awe.
I'm just about to have my final cigarette!
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I think you are being as honest as you can be with yourself about what smoking actually was to you in reality. Once you look beyond the illusion that the addiction to nicotine creates and are flat honest about how it brings no real benefit to you as such, it sure helps you decide.. hey.. enoughs enough.
Glad you've made the choice to quit, i won't say enjoy that last smoke, but welcome you once you've stubbed it out and start the path to what you now have come to see the sense in.. that giving up is the right move.
Thanks for the kind words - I'm sat here and I've still yet to have that final cigarette - although, I'm not sure if I want it....but what if I regret it...such a difficult time...
The morning is going to be difficult, it always is. Numerous attempts by me have always failed in the morning, as I don't eat breakfast and that cigarette kinda sets me up for the day. I honestly believe I could go the rest of the day without smoking another! But, I need to realise that the little tw*t in my head which says 'I want a cigarette' is only there because I smoke - I stop smoking, he/she/it will go away....
I think I'm gonna have a brew, and my last ever cigarette now....I'm not building it up as something to be cherished...it isn't...I need to think of all those times when I've gone to bed at night and thought to myself 'how great would it be if I stopped tomorrow - I'm not going to smoke tomorrow'...and then I did and felt crap. Cigarettes make me feel crap...I don't feel confident in myself and they are the cause, not the solution.
I'm waffling now...it's nice to have somewhere to vent...to literally put my thoughts and feel better....although I feel like I'm spamming lol!!
Right, off now....will no doubt update in 10-15 mins once I've had that last filthy cigarette.
How great it is not to be able to stick those filthy things in my mouth forever
Right...as of now (2.10am!!) I'm a non smoker. I've just had that infamous 'final cigarette' and I'm now sat here thinking realistically about it.
As I lit the cigarette, I took a deep breath in...inhaled it for quite a long period of time...then slowly breathed it out and did the same again. Then I thought I'm going about this all wrong. I was actually looking at it fondly. Like I'm 'giving up'. Bad sign really. So then as I inhaled, I picked up on how I was really feeling. My top lip burnt a bit. The smoke stuck to the back of my throat. My breath stinks and I was cold stood outside, on my own at 2.08am smoking.
Why do I look at it as something I have to do? Why, when I'm sat in the front room watching the TV with my fiancee, and we're cuddled up nice and comfy, do I feel the need to jump up on the ad break, disturb our comfortable position, to go outside alone and smoke?
There's going to be times over the next few days (or weeks) when I'm going to look back and think 'I could murder a fag now' - but I'm going to try my hardest to put things in perspective. Another cigarette smoked is another lot of £ from my wallet, another chance at triggering a disease that's sat there, stalemate, just waiting for a trigger. Another thought of 'I wish I didn't smoke'. Why smoke something that makes me wish I didn't? It's one of the most complex things I've ever come across in this world and I wouldn't wish it on my wost enemy.
It's strange...because I'm taking a deep breath now and I feel like I can breathe again.
I'm going to go to bed, and wake up tomorrow and start a new life as a non smoker. Nothing will change as such, only I won't smoke - and that's how it'll stay!
hi, i am on my day five now, i wish you luck its not easy but you can if you want to. make sure you dont have any cigs at home get rid of the lighters etc. i did not go to the shops for the first few days either today will be my first attempt but i feel a lot stronger today. i still think about them but i dont think its a craving now its more like a friend that has gone. anyway you keep strong and keep us posted you can and you will do it!
Day 1 for you and I hope it goes well for you I have read your posts here with interest and the way you describe how you feel and what you feel is great
Try and remember these feelings they'll help you through if/when you hit a rough day
Below is my standard welcome and advice post which I try ti give all new members
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
Shatter the illusions that nicotine addiction creates, and you will break the chains just nicely. Its an evil drug.. its just a drug addiction, and yet, with determination, a strong mind and encouragement you can beat it.
You sir, do not need to smoke, you've never needed to smoke.. not ever. All the while where you dived outside 'on your own', you've probably seen this all too clearly anyway. I reached that point myself 2 weeks before i quit, and i really started to see what a stupid way to be spending my life and indeed the money i truly needed for other things i'd always said i need (eg. new car, holiday.. or just things around the house) just to burn it in some crazy ritual and all to feed an addiction i don't quite think i even wanted to start in the first place.
You've done right here Tom.. early days you will find it tough going, of course you will, it wouldn't be right if it was too easy.. but you keep your mind strong.. don't let doubt slip in.. this isn't so much 'giving up', you are not sacrificing a single thing here.. you are gaining something. Only the addiction's illusions make you think any different... break those illusions, and you are most of the way to doing this already.
I'm on my 6th week into my quit, and I can wholeheartedly say that even though week 1.. was a challenge to say the least.. it was worth every single bit of extra effort i threw at it.. because when you step out the other side and things do get easier, you'll breath a good breathe of air and think.. this is best move you've ever made.
Good luck, and may you find all the strength and P.M.A. you need for this journey to claim back what is rightfully yours.
Hi all - thank you so much for the warm welcome and the words of encouragement!
I woke up about half an hour ago, and usually by now I'm straight at the back door, eyes half shut and mouth dry, having a cigarette - but I'm abstaining quite well. I don't feel a craving, but I do feel really hungry - usually a fag stifles that hunger, hence why I miss breakfast!
So - instead of a fag, I'm off to have some weatabix!!
Good plan Tom - you will need to eat regularly to keep your sugar levels up - smoking of course is an appetite supressant - be aware sometimes the sort of hunger pangs you feel can actually be cravings as well ! - try and eat as healthily as you can - little and often is good for the first week at least ! - wheat based foods like cereals, pasta, bread etc. are all good ! - enjoy your Weetabix - Peta x P.S. We all find drinking heaps of water is great in staving off those cravings as well
I'm in a similar position to you Tom, same age, same thoughts on cigarettes - realise what a total waste of time it is. I'm stopping smoking at 1500 this afternoon, so not long after you.
Had a few serious attempts to stop before, nothing that's lasted longer than a few months though. This time I'm gonna use forums like this to educate myself into the realisation that smoking is for idiots each time I feel like having a smoke.
well roll on 15:00 this afternoon then. The sooner the better m8y, be a good idea you both egg each other on through this, as you will be going through roughly the same things around the same times. These forums i am certain you will find to be very helpful. We laugh, we cry... we vent, we joke.. but what stays true is our commitment to our objective. To stay quit and prove once and for all we can do this.
Well done you quitting later today so almost the same time as Tom as Jase says why not team up and pull each other through this it has been done lots of times on here
Below is my standard welcome and advice post which I try and send all new Members
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
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Hello all 
Hello All. First post. Day 24
Hello all, new to the forum - on day 19
