One year ago...

[nsd_user663_4821]

One year ago, at the start of my quit, I wrote down my reaons for wanting to kick the habit. They remain as true now as the day I wrote them...

It feels quite personal to share this - it brought a little tear to my eye to read it again today. But it's an emotional journey quitting smoking and we're all in it together, so here goes...

[*]I don't want to die young.

[*]I don't want my familiy to have to watch me suffer a slow and painful death.

[*]I want to have healthy, happy children.

[*]I don't want to be a bad example to my children.

[*]I want to be able to smile confidently when I walk into room - not worry about how much I stink of stale tobacco.

[*]I don't want to keep spending my hard earned cash on a slow suicide.

[*]I want to be able to taste a kiss again.

[*]I want to prove to my Mum that it can be done and inspire her to quit - I don't want to see her life taken by tobacco.

[*]I want my Grandad to be proud of me.

[*]I want to run. For miles and miles and miles...

[*]I want to be able to fill my lungs completely. It often feels like I can't breathe in all the way and that scares me.

[*]I don't want to feel like a social outcast anymore.

[*]I want freedom - cigarettes control my life. I can't go anywhere or do anything without first considering where, when and how often I will be able to smoke. Why should a stupid ****ing plant have a say in my life - these should be MY choices!

[*]I don't want to stand outside on cold, wet and windy winter days because I need to get my fix.

[*]I'm fed up of my clothes stinking of smoke.

[*]I don't want to look old before my time.

[*]I can't stand the guilt I feel almost every time I light a cigarette.

[*]I've lost more hours than I care to remember crying over how powerless I feel to smoking.

[*]If I could turn back time and change just one of my actions, I would never have taken that first cigarette - I'm still paying the price for it ten years later.

[nsd_user663_20558]

ANGIEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

WELL DONE!

I've been saving a seat for you at the penthouse bar. Pint and a game of pool?

So pleased for you. It's a great feeling, no?

Helen x

[nsd_user663_4821]

It's fantastic Hels! I feel elated!

You've been such a great support, as have many of the others on this forum. Thank you.

X

[nsd_user663_23148]

Great OP. My first post in this 'Reasons' forum was:

So, I've decided to give it a go...

A few weeks ago I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. This has been a real eye-opener. Now that I have drastically improved my diet and lost some weight, it's time to give up the fags.

My main worry is my health later in life. With having diabeties, there may already be complications later on - so I really do not want to make these any more likely by continuing to smoke.

I am 31 just now and started when I was 16. I'm a 20 per dayer. Stopping using the NHS scheme via the chemist, which seems will suit my lifestyle. Pop in once per week and collect more patches - they are a 2 minute walk from my flat, open until 8pm seven days per week and I get my other prescriptions there anyway.

I tried going via the doctor, she referred me to a clinic which would have meant time off work which I cannot afford to do (I have enough time off at the moment with hospital appointments). I also tried calling NHS smokeline and they refused to help me unless I agreed to go to these stupid classes - I explained that I have no interest in them and that I did not feel it would help me. They wouldn't listen. Surely they should be helping me to quit the way that I want to? It's me that's doing it after all!

Anyway, the chemist has given me 1 week supply of niquitin clear 24 hour patches and a nicorette inhalator with 42 10mg cartridges. My quit date is Monday.

Here goes...

So the opposite of you - my reasons have changed significantly. Being diagnosed diabetic was the kick start I needed, it was not actually the reason that I thought it was.

While health is still a major factor, it is now more related to the new active life that I have and love. In the gym every day, met loads of amazing people there and just love it so much! I feel so much better than I imagined I would too and would not want to give that up.