Day 1 no smoking

I am on day one of quitting cold-turkey. I have thrown out my tobacco and anything smoking-related. I am working from home today so will be home alone all day, when I get a craving I'm planning on drinking a glass of water, I've also got healthy stuff to snack on, any other tips?

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free]

Well done Jenna, water was my saviour, keep the mind occupied at all times for the next week or so. If you get strong and severe cravings, take time out and some deep breathing inhaling and exhaling for 5 seconds 3 times. Have early nights and be kind to yourself 🚭🛁🛏🌬

[Hidden in reply to RoisinO1]

Thank you!

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to Hidden]

Link to a pinned post worth a read if not already done so Hidden

healthunlocked.com/nosmokin...

[Hidden in reply to RoisinO1]

I agree Roison deep breathing is one of the best things to do . I’m also practicing yoga in the mornings and that’s teaching me to breath .. so many benefits !

[Chinnup 1 Year Smoke Free]

Keeping yourself occupied is so important, keeping the cravings at bay. In the early days I would plan healthy snacks, thinking about good things I could eat to prevent being tempted to eat unhealthy stuff. I still do actually, but it's just a good habit now I would eat nuts and fruit, oily fish, porridge and tinned fruit, toast with olive oil and marmite, salads with tomatoes and leafy greens, cups of black and green tea, lots of water. Someone told me about a drink which supposedly helps to lift the mucus from your lungs too - it's quite delicious and refreshing and can be sipped as a change from plain water. Dissolve some honey in a little hot water, add some lemon juice, half a teaspoon of grated ginger and top it up with iced water. Balance the lemon/honey amounts to suit your taste.

I found that planning and preparing these things both took my mind off the craves, and helped me to develop a healthy post-smoking lifestyle, it might help you too

[Hidden in reply to Chinnup]

Thanks very much for the advice, much appreciated.

[Hidden in reply to Chinnup]

Thas great Chinnup I love ginger and honey I purchased the raw honey last week and take it as a shot at mid morning the same as your recipe ..I was actually reading about raw honey helping to sleep better not matter how sweets it is it soothing and comforting actually it has detox benefits and slow down the production of cortisol and that’s amazing !

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to Chinnup]

Great post there Chinnup - the honey is definitely great for the lungs, didn't hear of the ginger before and will definitely give it a try, thanks for sharing

[JamieSw32 1 Year Smoke Free]

Good Luck and congratulations on quitting.

I'm on my 8th day now. The first few days were easier than I expected. I drank loads of bottled water and did some light exercise when I felt things were getting tough.

Cravings last for minutes and soon pass.

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to JamieSw32]

Welcome to our community JamieSw32 and congratulations on 8 days smoke free, well done!

You appear to be in a great mindset which will stand to you. Perhaps create a new introductory post sharing your story and get some support and recognition you deserve

[Hidden]

Best desition ever Jenna !! One of the most important tip to control the urges to smoke for beginners , is to get busy at the moment of the urge in order to distract your mind .Practice changing the direction of your thinking when you feel like smoking ..

We are all different, but frozen fruit was very good for moments of tension it just made my throat insensitive to urges and tasted delicious too Water is important for obvious reasons ..

Another one is to read articles about health and smoking as soon las you feel like smoking .I think reading helped me to fully understand how cigarrets were damaging my health and mind .

First month have at least 5 things to do list when you feel tense ..If you read our stories we all agree that things get easier after that and you will see how amazing is to be smoke free ,

There is more tips on the pinned posts !Visit this wonderful place we are all here supporting each other ..You can do this 💕

[SheenaL Valued Contributor]

Jenna,

Ice cold water, and deep breathing really does work like others have suggested. I listened to their suggestions when I first got to this community and 9 months later I am still smoke free. The first few months were tough for me mentally, but it wasn't unbearable. I went to the gym (it really helps) and also chomped on cinnamon gum. I actually still love my gum lol guess that's my new addiction. Anyway, stick around the community too when you have an urge. I used to come on here and read everyone's posts. Good luck and God bless

[Hidden]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I'm afraid I fell at the first hurdle... made it through all day without smoking but then a friend came over and after a couple of glasses of wine I lost my resolve Rather pathetic effort! So am dusting myself off and starting again today - this time no wine for a few days I think!

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to Hidden]

Sorry to read Hidden - are you back on the horse and over day 2? Alcohol is very dangerous for many who stop and drink early on in the smoke free journey, as long as you learn from every attempt is all that matters

[Rjg45 500 Days Smoke Free]

Yep ..that’s a plan ...

make sure all the tobacco is actually thrown out of its packet yes ...

on the day I got home from hospital and being told I have to quit .. it all went in the bin .. tobacco, papers etc. I also had a sub ohm vape ...

later that day. The nicotine addiction demons told me to get it all back out the bin and put it away somewhere as I may need it when I’m better !!!

I had pneumonia.. was coughing up blood , pus and in horrible pain with a massive shadow on my right lung ...on industrial strength antibiotics and I’m giving in to nicotine demons !!

So it just goes to show how strong the addiction is ..

I had to get a grip .. take it back out the drawer I’d put it in plus the vape , throw the tobacco out of it’s pouch into the bin ... smash the sub ohm vape to bits ...

Yes Drink water Do things , keep active , occupied...

it’s hard to start but suddenly gets easier once the receptors realise it’s game over and your not giving in ...

the weight gain is the crap part .. but we’re all different .. I see some took to gym etc straight away as a focus ...

I didn’t think I was doing any binging etc but have put some pounds on ...

am planning to sort this now with exercise , diet ... I think now this is going to hard but surely cannot be as hard as stopping smoking after 25 plus years 🙄

I’m about 7 months now I think ... don’t think about them hardly ever ... hate the smell , proper anti smoker lol lol 😂 ...

good luck ... keep doing what your doing and what works for you and stay focused 👍

[Hidden in reply to Rjg45]

Well done that's brilliant - 7 months! I too have gone rooting through the bin for tobacco that I had thrown away away the day before - definitely the sign of a powerful addiction! Thanks so much for your encouragement

[Rjg45 500 Days Smoke Free]

Lol , I’m sure we’re not the only ones 🙄

Yes , very strong addiction indeed ..

tbh though , and as said to others on here. I found first couple of months easy , but probably as was recovering from being ill and was the last thing I wanted in my lungs ... even though retrieving from the bin an dputting it away for a rainy day , then throwing it again ..

I think it took me to get Ill to stop ..

even though I wasn't really enjoying smoking as many of us get to , I still think I’d be puffing away now if I hadn’t got Ill ..

I hate the thought what goes into your lungs now as what I see coming out when I was Ill !!!

I work airside at a very busy airport , and know also , that can’t be good breathing in all those fumes ...

but my lungs feel so much better now with no horrible wheezing and crackling noises .. just nice and clear and feel clear ..

as said .. keep strong as there’s going to points here and there where you’ll miss it ..

that’s down to you now you battle that ... but it’s doable lol ...

Always feel free to ask anything that will help ..

this is a great site for encouragement...

[casinolife 1 Year Smoke Free]

Hey Jenna.

Welcome. I am 1 month, and 3 weeks in. Talk about willpower and strength. This is your test.

I tried Col turkey and made it 1 month before I failed. Couldn't get it off my mind and said, oh well, I am weak, I need a smoke.

Had to begin again feeling disappointed in myself.

I needed assistance so I got the patches. They itched and burned when I started them, whenever I craved, I did something productive, I cleaned the drawer or wiped down the bathroom. I washed curtains, I got on this site and reached out.

Use this site to express how you feel, that takes care of the mental state. Do productive things for the physical. I joined a gym and go whenever, I know its there.

I now hear smokers with the small throat hack. I smell the smoke on people, I see the smokers and wonder if they know what the addiction is doing. Oh, I crave but oh, I enjoy living more. I breathe better, eat better and house /car getting cleaner. Lol.

Be proud of yourself for trying. Keep trying and look at 1 hour/day at a time.

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to casinolife]

Great reply casinolife - good to hear from you and that you are plodding along nicely.....keep in touch and updates on your progress