Lurking no longer

[nsd_user663_61320]

My first post though I've been lurking around hoovering up all your good advice, so it's time for a very big thank you. I quit on the 1st of January. Not my first attempt obviously! You don't smoke for 30 years without thinking 'You know what I might need to stop doing this now.'

I've done patches, cold turkey and Alan Carr but always caved in after 4-5 weeks. This time I'm using lozenges which are good but the biggest difference is reading the posts here. Every situation or concern that I feel is written about somewhere here and always with lots of encouraging replies. I feel like I've got hundreds of people rooting for me.

My bloke is a non smoker so although he's supportive he doesn't feel my pain, that's so melodramatic but you all know what I mean and that's why I love reading the threads.

I think my favourite piece of advice is NOPE, and it's become my new mantra.

I'm starting week 7 tomorrow depite a horrendous last 2 days in work which I know I would not have conquered without being here. Starting to wonder what I ever saw in that smoking lark. Thanks to everybody but especially those who've fallen off the wagon and carry on posting so that others don't make the same mistakes. You are brill.

[nsd_user663_49415]

Good luck Sue, certainly come to the right place for some encouragement. Like you I'd made various attempts, all doomed to failure, to quit over a lifetime (40 years) of smoking. Something just clicked for me on this quit after about a week and this place really helped to keep that newfound certainty, of not needing or wanting to smoke anymore, right at the forefront of my mind. Hope it has the same effect on yourself.

[nsd_user663_61196]

Hello Sue, and welcome.

7 week quit all on your own, that's a huge achievement. You will find loads of help on here.

ditto all Max says, Not One Puff Ever, and SMOKING IS NOT AN OPTION when those difficult moments rear their heads (because that's all they are really "moments", they will pass).

We are all behind you Sue.

[nsd_user663_2681]

congrats on your quit Sue you are doing brilliantly, keep up the good work x

[nsd_user663_60964]

Lovely to meet you Sue and many congratulations on your quit. You really are doing amazingly well.

Another future penthouse inhabitant I think!

[nsd_user663_61320]

Lovely to meet you Sue and many congratulations on your quit. You really are doing amazingly well.

Another future penthouse inhabitant I think!

Oh I really do hope so and thanks for the warm welcome.

[nsd_user663_61320]

Hi Sue well done so far and welcome to the freedom fighters x

Cheers, your freedom fighters have been a big inspiration to me.

[nsd_user663_61320]

Good luck Sue, certainly come to the right place for some encouragement. Like you I'd made various attempts, all doomed to failure, to quit over a lifetime (40 years) of smoking. Something just clicked for me on this quit after about a week and this place really helped to keep that newfound certainty, of not needing or wanting to smoke anymore, right at the forefront of my mind. Hope it has the same effect on yourself.

You are so right. It's the certainty that you need to keep right in front of your face at all times. My previous quits have always failed because of 2 reasons.

Reason 1 : I only really miss the one when I leave work so I'll just smoke that one. I can control it!!! Yeah.... Result back to 20 a day within 3 hours!

Reason 2: I started to think a cigarette would be nice and once THAT thought gets into your head and it doesn't get crushed it gets bigger and bigger on you til you cave. Then I sit there smoking this supposedly wonderful thing realising that it's awful and i've been hoodwinked.

Another thing I've realised is that none of my previous attempts have been in vain. Each time I've learnt a little bit more about the monster and this time I truly believe I'm going to win. Who needs to spend a fortune on a product that makes you smell awful, kills you and makes you stand out in 80mph winds. So glad I don't have to go crouch in my back garden tonight. It's wild out there.

[nsd_user663_61320]

A very big welcome to you Sue D

As you can tell one of the probs with giving up is that you can be wide awake wanting to take your dog for a walk in the middle of the night.

Other than that everything is fine for me

Very well done on your quit. You have done brilliantly so far

J d

That made me laugh, yeah my sleep pattern is shot to pieces. My other half now knows that I'll be in the spare room in the morning as there's no way I can lie still for 3 hours while he snores happily by my side. Looking on the bright side I've got loads of time to read the forum so it's not all bad!