I had a quick look for a UK based quitting forum and this seems like as good a place as any to seek a bit of advice on quitting, so here goes...
Basically, I've been smoking 20 a day since I was 17. I'm now 33, sick of being totally dependent on fags, sick of feeling almost obliged to follow every meal or accompany every cup of coffee with a fag and to be perfectly blunt, sick of spending an inordinate amount of money on something that's ultimately going to kill me. This is the first genuine attempt I've ever made at quitting.
I'm currently sitting typing this out with one of them inhaler thingys hanging out of my mouth (it's working, by the way), a bizarre blue and black thing called a "Tangle" wrapped round my wrist (handy) and a box of gum for later use, all obtained from my local friendly pharmacist earlier today. All a bit pricey and I realise the "Doctor" route might have been a tad cheaper but it's the NHS...they can't get me in for ages. Swines.
If anyone gets the reference, I'm feeling a bit "Renton from Trainspotting" such is the extent of my addiction with all this paraphernalia...although you'll be glad to know I'm not using his methods.
Anyway, I just posted here to a) get all that off my chest and b) find out exactly what the hell i'm letting myself in for!
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No one can really tell you what you are in for because everyone has different experiences.
For example, I seem to be one of the lucky ones who has not struggled too much. Would not be as glib to say its been easy. You will find other people who are really struggling and some on second, third, fourth attemps. We all have one goal in common and that is to stop smoking. You will find loads of support and info on these pages. Suggest you just spend an hour or two scanning through the posts and you will soon get the idea what sort of things to expect.
I'll be honest and say I'm determined but at the same time quite tentative simply because of the amount of time I've been smoking. Saying that (and after having taken your advice) I've had a look through the forum and noticed lots of people have managed to quit after they'd been smoking a lot longer than me. A bit obvious I suppose really! All quite inspirational though.
I also noticed you've cracked it using the gum. A few people I know have done it that way but have also advised me to use Champix which has also been mentioned on this forum. I guess ultimately I'll find my own "best way"
Can't really comment on Champix as I have never used it. I know a couple of people it worked for.
I got up one morning and my chest was so bad and had a terrible cough. I still tried to smoke but it was awful so I said thats it, I am stopping and have not had one since. I found the gum gave an instant hit and it worked for me. I managed to keep it down to 3 or less tablets per day. I kept taking them until I ran out then didn't bother anymore.
I think feeling so bad brought it home to me what I was doing to my body. Think it frightened me a bit and that has given me a positive attitude to stopping.
The first few days a probably the hardest. You need to stay focussed, tell yourself you can and you will stop. Keep telling yourself over and over, it does help. You will be suprised how quick the days go.
Good luck and look forward to seeing your posts in week 1, 2 and 3 etc
Welcome and don't worry about the length of time you have been smoking!! At 33, if you quit now, your body will go back to that of a never smoker, so there's an incentive!! For us a bit older, we won't get that but still feel a lot healthier for not smoking, and quickly too!! So it is so worth it!! Use whatever aids you need to get you through. I am on Champix, which suits me, but it is not right for everybody.
And read, read, read as much as you can, it does help. Whyquit.com is good and if you can read Allen Carrs Easyway it does help cos it changes your mindset. No good feeling deprived when we are quitting, we need to realise we have escaped from a trap!!
Wishing you all the best with your quit, its hard at times, but the good times make you feel so great, trust me :D
You've been smoking about the same amount and the time as me. For me the realisation came that I'd been smoking just about half my life and it made me think enough was enough.
As Aitch said everyone finds it different. I actually had an attempt two years ago on NRT but I've found this time easier cold turkey, I'm more determined. Although it can be hard at times I just remind myself I've smoked all my adult life and it will take more than a few months to retrain myself out of all the smoking triggers I have. Just taking it a day at a time (or a minute at a time if needs be) and slowly but surely racking the days up.
Welcome to the site, and great decision to quit. You are officially already doing great
This is a great place to find support and help. For what it's worth, I wrote a mahoosive post for new quitters the other day... you'll find it in the 1 year + section of the site. It might help, I hope it does.
Quitting is, almost entirely, a subconscious thing. Nicotene addiction is part of it yes, but the bigger part by far is the habit. So keep focused, keep your chin up. Try to understand what it is that triggers your desire to smoke - each trigger broken is a step in the right direction.
And remember, one crafty fag will send you right back to that prison, do not pass go, do not collect £200. Don't let it happen!
At 17 years smoking you're a mere amateur compared to many of us!
There's going to be ups and downs and there may be side effects such as sleep disruption, constipation, bleeding gums and some sense of loss, boredom and irritability etc.
I'm not trying to put you off, I'm trying to prepare you for what to expect.
Forewarned is forearmed and all that.
None of it is too uncomfortable and all of it is beatable. There are plenty of long term quitters on here which prove that.
Just take it 1 day or 1 hour at a time if you have to. Keep saying that you'll stay smoke free for 1 hour or 1 day more etc.
It's surprising how you start to rack up the days and weeks.
Will there be wobbles? Yes. Can you beat them? Yes.
Zoemac - About my body going back to being like a "never smoker"...this morning was the first morning I can remember not waking up feeling like I'd had a breeze block on my chest all night. Not sure if that's standard given I'd only been on day 1?!?
Helsbelles - I didn't come across your post for new quitters but I'll search it out after I've posted in the "Day 2" thread.
Midmale - The "hopeless case" thing I can really identify with. For ages I've thought about quitting but always ended up with the mindset of "meh, I've got no willpower anyway so what's the point in even trying"...I've obviously decided that was an idiotic way to think!
Go for it mate. There are alternatives that may be much more help when quitting smoking that aren't prescribed by doctors and you can get in Scandinavian countries much like doctors don't prescribe hypnotism for smoking but it can help some people.
Why do you persist in trying to push a product that is illegal to be sold in the whole of the EU outside Sweden and Denmark?
Why do you find it necessary to have the name of the product in bold in your signature?
Why don't you go to one of the many forums who are interested in the product you use? There are lots of them.
People who register on this forum not only want to quit smoking, they also want to quit tobacco and nicotine.
Your constant pushing of this product is not helping them at all. Neither is your user title "Enjoying Nicotine".
Go to a forum that embraces the product you like, stop pushing it on here.
Why are you posting on this forum, apparently your cured, you are using and promoting an illegal nicotine based product. You are upsetting genuine people who come here for support, all we see is you clogging up the forums and confusing and misleading new quitters when they are at their most vulnerable.
IMHO you are a d**k, go post on another site where you would be appreciated, broadmoor for instance, as I have said before you should be ashamed of yourself.
Moderators you should also be ashamed for letting this a**e post for so long, do your jobs ban and delete him.:mad:
I had a quick look for a UK based quitting forum and this seems like as good a place as any to seek a bit of advice on quitting, so here goes...
Basically, I've been smoking 20 a day since I was 17. I'm now 33, sick of being totally dependent on fags, sick of feeling almost obliged to follow every meal or accompany every cup of coffee with a fag and to be perfectly blunt, sick of spending an inordinate amount of money on something that's ultimately going to kill me. This is the first genuine attempt I've ever made at quitting.
I'm currently sitting typing this out with one of them inhaler thingys hanging out of my mouth (it's working, by the way), a bizarre blue and black thing called a "Tangle" wrapped round my wrist (handy) and a box of gum for later use, all obtained from my local friendly pharmacist earlier today. All a bit pricey and I realise the "Doctor" route might have been a tad cheaper but it's the NHS...they can't get me in for ages. Swines.
If anyone gets the reference, I'm feeling a bit "Renton from Trainspotting" such is the extent of my addiction with all this paraphernalia...although you'll be glad to know I'm not using his methods.
Anyway, I just posted here to a) get all that off my chest and b) find out exactly what the hell i'm letting myself in for!
Well done. You made the RIGHT CHOICE to quit the fags. I'm over 2 yrs now since i quit and it feels good. It is hard at first and for me the only way to quit is to mean it.
Be strong, stay positive, get loads of powerful affirmations going in your head to instantly change an, 'i want a fag' thought to an, 'i love my freedom', etc, make up your own, ride it out, its so worth it. I'm 33, glad i quit 2 years ago, so damaging to your health. Good luck.
Sorry but your post seems to have been Hi jacked. Please do not be put of posting. There is a lot of suport here for you.
I am starting to get quite concerned by the way peoples posts are being taken over in this way. I have no problem being informed about anti smoking products but I don't like it being rammed down my throat, it seems to me that there is an agender here. It now seems new quitters are being specifically targetted which can not be right. I am not sure of the motive or why this person is pushing this product so heavily. This persons posts are strange to say the least, always one liners with little substance and always pushing his product.
I think it is about time the moderator took a fresh look at what is going on.
Why are you posting on this forum, apparently your cured, you are using and promoting an illegal nicotine based product. You are upsetting genuine people who come here for support, all we see is you clogging up the forums and confusing and misleading new quitters when they are at their most vulnerable.
IMHO you are a d**k, go post on another site where you would be appreciated, broadmoor for instance, as I have said before you should be ashamed of yourself.
I am starting to get quite concerned by the way peoples posts are being taken over in this way. I have no problem being informed about anti smoking products but I don't like it being rammed down my throat, it seems to me that there is an agender here. It now seems new quitters are being specifically targetted which can not be right. I am not sure of the motive or why this person is pushing this product so heavily. This persons posts are strange to say the least, always one liners with little substance and always pushing his product.
I think it is about time the moderator took a fresh look at what is going on.
I wonder how many of you agree with me?
Still waiting for a response to the complaint I sent to Mod 3. Could be a long wait :rolleyes: But meanwhile I am tobacco and nicotine free so who's the winners???? Us of course :D
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So it is so worth it!! Use whatever aids you need to get you through. I am on Champix, which suits me, but it is not right for everybody.
First month smoke free
1 day smoke free, day 7 champix 
