Hi, I'm Jack and I don't know where to introduce myself so I thought I'll just jump in here as I have not smoked now for over three weeks.
I am 63 and I have smoked since I was 11. I had my last cig at 10pm on 2nd Dec. I never thought I could go 3 hours never mind 3 weeks and 5 days, yep day 26. Just briefly I want to tell you what happened.
I'm a Driving instructor of 30 years and when my pupils were away on test I found myself smoking one after the other just to pass time or must grab a fag between lessons. On 2nd dec I had 5 driving test one after the other which meant I was standing doing nothing for ages. I decided I would try not to smoke and went from 9.30am through to 3.30pm without smoking 6 hours. I went to have another one at 4.10pm and put it out after a couple of puffs then thought I wonder if I can go another 6 hours which I did 10pm that night. That's when I had my last one because the next day I kept setting myself another target time getting to it and then going to the next one until 10pm. I had gone 24 hours and I decided to take one day at a time from there.
Now? well yes I am going through some days where I could scream and kill for a fag. But I still have the cigs in my pocket from the day I stopped and I feel great with myself this will be the biggest thing I have ever done for myself in my life. And perhaps, I'll have a longer life.
I hope this story is not too long but what I have found has helped me is telling people, even people I don't know. When they say well done it makes me feel so proud I want to tell the world.proud
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You have every right to feel proud for doing so well with your quit so far. You're post was not too long, infact it was really good to read it, so thanks for making a decent introduction.
Welcome to these forums, i'm sure you'll find them as useful as we all tend to, and don't worry about writing long posts, if it helps you get through 'a moment' then please do
After smoking for so long and now you've achieved what you have, its amazing isn't it!, what a difference this will make for you both in health and well-being and thats before you even mention cost savings.
Best of luck with the coming days and weeks, you've certainly come a long way already, so keep this up!!!
Excellent Jack. I really admire the older people on the forum who give up. It's hard enough for me and i've only smoked for 18 years- fifty years of doing it must be much harder. The days will slowly turn into weeks, and you will soon start to feel the amazing benefits. You will probably lengthen your life for sure, and knowing that your risk of smoking related illness will soon be much improved must be good.
It's so nice to to get praise but I think reading some of the messages on here that there is so many others who deserve the praise for trying to give up the slavery of smoking. Because that's what it is I think I saw this somewhere in the thread by StuartH 27/04/2009 and I totally agree i have been a slave to it for many years with make sure you have enough to last you until you get to a shop to buy more. Or what happens during the night and do you have enough if there was an emergency and you up all night with no fags.
Stuart after reading your thread I can assure you I will go back and read it many more times when I'm sure I will need the help to keep going.
the days do turn into weeks but dont be fooled by thinking u can have just 1
sue xx
Hi Sue, once a smoker always a smoker. I don't believe I could have one now and then go another 26 days. Days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, months turn into years and I hope to be on here in a years time helping others to stop.
It took me years to make this decision and I would hate to give in now.
Maybe I should have introduced my self as I'm Jack and I'm a smoker.
Well done you over 3 weeks quit is great keep it going
Sorry you're having bad days but every one you get through it gets easier in my standard post below is some links have a read of them they really will help
Below is my standard welcome and advice post which I try and 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 sympathising 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
Welcome and well done Jack, loved your story. Read plenty of the posts and the websites in our signatures, being aware of the addiction helps us to stay stopped which is the really important part.
Hi Jack. I'm 55 and smoked at leaST 20/day since before I left school. I've just completed 9 weeks without a ciggy. You've done 3 weeks so the hard part is behind you. Congrats to you, smoke free Christmas, and in a few days you'll be saying "I quit smoking last year". How good does that sound?
You know yesterday I went on google and I typed in "stopping smoking forum" and this came up. I read some of the threads and stories on here and decided to register.
I can tell you now if I know of anyone stopping or thinking of quitting I will guid them here.
Although I had probably made up my mind to quit before comming on here I am very happy I did because I'm not on my own anymore. Now I have people whom I can turn to if I feel the need to talk, people going through the same as I am.
It's also nice for the short time I have quit to go on some of the other threads especially the ones who are just starting and give my support to them for what it's worth.
It may help just like you guys who have quit a lot longer than I have are already helping me.
So BIG thanks
Marg I hope to join you in that penthouse oneday. and Jackie haven't managed to read any of these links yet. But I'm sure maybe even tonight when I'm sitting on the comp I may leave the spider solitaire alone and read them.
Dave thanks for support it's a big well done to you too 9 weeks seems so far away but I suppose come the weekend I'll be half way there.
Jack, Welcome to the forum! You should be very proud of quitting smoking! It is a terrific accomplishment, probably the most difficult one of all! Keep going strong! Be sure to read the links you will find on peoples signatures. The more you educate yourself about nicotine addiction, the better! Keep posting and letting us know how you are doing. Jody
Thank you Jody I am very proud and very determined. I am also very happy to have found this forum because I believe I still have a long way to go and I know there will be help and encouragement from here.
Everyone on the forum should be as proud as one and other for what they have acheived.
Thanks Christine I'm already loving it. Before coming on here I believed I could stop smoking, now.... I know I can and feel absolutely great right now.
Welcome you have come to the right place you will get great support and advice here. i now it has helped me there are some lovely people here. Look forward to getting to know you.xxxxx
1 year and one month boy that feels like forever away but very well done. I just realized earlier tomorrow will be 4 weeks for me. It worries me when I see some people have gone for months and started again. I only hope that's not me I'm too old to keep starting and stopping. Well maybe I should just make sure I don't start again YEA!!
Thanks for the welcome you'll probably all get fed up of me after a while cos I just keep posting.
I am not too far ahead of you (6 weeks in on Friday for me) so still a little difficult for me. I enjoyed reading your story of how you quit as it reminded me of of my step-dad as he did exactly as you did -seeing if he could go so long each day and he has been quit for 15 years. My mum who is 79 quit 10 years ago. She was watching the budget one day and cursed when tax was once again added to fags and just said bugger that they are not having anymore money out of me lol. Just shows it is never too late to quit no matter how old we are as she is enjoying a good healthy lifestyle without huffing and puffing like she used to when she smoked.
I have quit before and relasped but found it so hard as my OH still smoked in the house but this time round we have quit together so feeling so much better and more positive. This site is a godsend as it helps to know others are going through similar cravings but are coping and getting on with it.
Someone told me a craving is like riding on the crest of a wave where you just have to hold on for a few minutes until it has passed and I find that quite useful to hold on to.
Firstly well done for quitting, like you I just decided to go with it, had enough of trying to decide when, where or how. Well thats 2 months ago, have just enetered month 3 forum here tonight !!!! Never thought I would manage this far I can tell you, I was a very hardened smoker of at least 30 a day in the end and couldnt drive,or do other things wihout smoking, and thanks to me and this fab forum I am still here going strong. I have spent the day with my sister today (dont see here a lot as she lives 250 miles away) and she smokes and I was really worried about it, but I am here booking in fine and non smoking.
Well done Jack, keep at it. we are all behind you.
Thanks to you all, we have to admit first and foremost that we are an addict.
This was something I would not admit to but I know now I am and always will be. So 4 weeks as a non smoker the rest of my life as an addict, I know it will only take 1 puff so if I have to get my family to tie me to the floor and sit on me to stop me smoking, I'll get them to do it.
Jasmine nobody in my house smoke so that makes it easier, it would be hell if I was sitting here with someone smoking right beside me. No way I would not even have tried to quit I hope the OH sticks with you through it. Or you do what I had to do, tell the OH outside mate in the cold.
Keep it up cos I'll be stalking you and you can do the same to me.
Hi Dee, you were very brave to travel 250 miles just to find out if you could be around a smoker and handle it well to see your sister a or did she come to you? Does it really matter which way round I thihk you have just went over a big hurdle I'm very proud of you. I was in the town centre Christmas eve and was dodging people who were smoking, if I smelt smoke I ran into a shop.
So well done Dee, well done Jasmine keep it up we're in this together.
Welcome and well done on getting this far. The hardest part is behind you. The desire to smoke becomes less strong and in my case, it was more of a 'I should be having a cigarette when I do this...' rather than actually wanting one.
Keep postings and reading as much about it as you can. You're right to be proud of your quit - enjoy that feeling, you're achieving something special.
Hi Sue, I think the hardest part is I know that one day this feeling will leave me, what would be great if it was possible for someone to tell me exactly when.
I know no one can I just have to keep going untill it happens because all are different.
Thanks for the welcome and you seem to be doing not too bad yourself.
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but this time round we have quit together so feeling so much better and more positive. This site is a godsend as it helps to know others are going through similar cravings but are coping and getting on with it.
