27 days and counting

[Nudge]

Well - I have not touched one in 27 days - and to be honest - I feel both good - for giving up and horrible - all I want to do is sleep!!!

I am on Champix - not bad stuff - but for me it is constantly a mental fight. I did not want to quit - but my wife of 43 years got told she had to quit because of moderate Emphysema in both lungs - so I said I would quit if she did. The irony of it is she is still smoking - about 2 or 3 a day (her reward).

For me I am sort of holding my end of the bargain - and admittedly getting the rewards (I think) - but I am just taking this one day at a time (I am nearly 65 years old smoking since 14 (would you believe under doctors advice - menthol for sinus)..so that is my story.

[Nozmo Valued Contributor]

Hello nudge,

Well done on reaching almost a month on the quiet! That's a LONG time to be smoking so it's no wonder it's a mental fight as it's been part of your life for so long. I still want one occasionally and I only smoked "properly" for about 15 years. It does get easier, honestly, so keep it up.

My aunt was also advised to smoke menthol cigarettes to help with her asthma...unbelievable!

[mushen Valued Contributor]

Hello. You are doing brilliantly! I am 46 and have smoked for more years than I care to remember. The mental fight for me, was the hard part. However, this is a fight you can win. Just keep pottering along, one day at a time.

[Nudge 2 Years Smoke Free in reply to mushen]

Many thanks for the response - the mental thing is odd - and I can honestly say that I am probably obsessing over the it - to the point of counting the days since I quit.

I am thinking that I'll be a bit happier with myself when I am not so focused beating this thing. Don't get me wrong - the cravings are becoming less frequent and shorter - but I find myself going somewhere or doing something and all of a sudden the thing - almost like muscle memory kicks in and you have to tell yourself - "no that's silly - you quit" - if that makes any sense.

Oh well - again thankyou for the support

Nudge

[mushen Valued Contributor in reply to Nudge]

Apparently a lot of it is to do with association. Everything you did while you smoked will produce a trigger the first time you do it again without smoking. Then it gets easier ....😉

I have had a cold all week and the last time I was ill, I smoked. Guess what the first thing I thought about was?!

Keep at it. These thoughts will ease up, I promise. ☺

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free]

Welcome Nudge and congratulations on the best decision you will make in quitting. You are almost there at your first major milestone of 1 month, that deserves huge recognition and something to be very proud of after smoking for so long

Yes, the mental battle has well and truly begun as your brain and body begins its gradual recovery process. Be kind to yourself, the tiredness is normal and your energy levels will be up and down for the first 6 months of your quit. Try to get a bit of exercise daily out in the fresh air, even if just a 20 minute walk, drink loads of water.

I am over 14 months quit cold turkey - I have never felt better but took time to get here, have patience

Wishing you strength and success, you CAN do this and 'your rewards' are endless and arrive on a daily basis at the early stage of our quits - keep a diary of them, biggest thing for me was I got my sense of smell and taste back to that of when I was a child, enjoyed a summer with wonderful memories that I had not experienced in years - post as often as you need to - we look forward to reading your progress

[Nudge 2 Years Smoke Free in reply to RoisinO1]

Many thanks for the response - the mental thing is odd - and I can honestly say that I am probably obsessing over the it - to the point of counting the days since I quit.

I am thinking that I'll be a bit happier with myself when I am not so focused beating this thing. Don't get me wrong - the cravings are becoming less frequent and shorter - but I find myself going somewhere or doing something and all of a sudden the thing - almost like muscle memory kicks in and you have to tell yourself - "no that's silly - you quit" - if that makes any sense.

Oh well - again thankyou for the support

Nudge

[Nudge 2 Years Smoke Free]

I started sending this to everybody who posted a comment - THEN realized that I could do a general response - opps!

So if you already have this I apologize

Many thanks for the responses - they do help and congratulations for being such a strong group - I wish success, health and happiness for all of us!

The mental thing is odd - and I can honestly say that I am probably obsessing over the it - to the point of counting the days since I quit.

I am thinking that I'll be a bit happier with myself when I am not so focused beating this thing. Don't get me wrong - the cravings are becoming less frequent and shorter - but I find myself going somewhere or doing something and all of a sudden the thing - almost like muscle memory kicks in and you have to tell yourself - "no that's silly - you quit" - if that makes any sense.

Oh well - again thankyou for the support

Nudge

[Nozmo Valued Contributor in reply to Nudge]

I know EXACTLY what you mean about the "muscle memory" incidents. I found this the hardest thing to deal with as it comes out of the blue.