HOW I GAVE UP SMOKING

This is quite a long note but I did originally write it to someone who had an old flame that was a smoker and she was missing him and therefore might also be missing smoking (recently stopped) as they smoked together in the Good Days.......Someone thought the posy might help others so I am posting it as a post from me - well it is, but you know what I mean!.....here goes: -

If I "told" you to jump off a cliff would you? If you saw Lemmings running off a cliff would you? Nope! and all because you know its wrong and it is bound to hurt! So we have common sense and the ability to understand the risks we take -even just crossing the road. I used to smoke 50/60 a day and my wife 20/35 a day. That on its own was costing a fortune to sustain and I knew that too. However, when I was in the services and getting duty free cigarettes, it did not hurt. When I felt and had a reasonable job it did not hurt. Then coming up to retirement it was beginning to hurt and I was beginning to get tight chested and did cough a little. Then one day I decided to give it up and went to the chemist and saw the pharmacist and joined a NHS help stop smoking programme as did my wife. At week three she fell apart and said she was not ready but now only smokes 10 a day. I carried on and with the aid of patches cracked it. It was not so hard but only because I really wanted to stop because of the money and that I was now diabetic and liked to look at my feet! I also liked life and did not want to voluntarily endanger my health. I have looked back and remember smoking and enjoying it but those times were few and far between and di not cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to experience! I live music from the 60's and 70's with so many happy memories however my days in platform boots, and flared trousers are long gone. As are the days when I got out of a club on the Isle of Wight, missed the last bus, walked across the island through the night to get the first morning ferry and be back in Portsmouth in time to get back to my ship to begin the working day. We change, perceptions change and you never know, the old flame is probably bald with a pot belly by now. Think of all the clothes you will be able to buy, and the perfume, not to hide the awful (and it is) smoke smell but to enhance your beauty and confidence. Save and buy a new ca, a holiday, something nice for the house or jewellery just for you. If you think of a positive for starting smoking again, think of five for not. No smell, money in bank, healthier, no cough, better breathing with more stamina. Think also of how much you have added to your life and not succumbing to the horrible diseases associated with smoking. Since a recent health scare, my wife has seen the light as lucky that she has a second chance and has now stopped. Motive? Fear of ill health. I have mentioned my motives, yours should be just as strong. One thing the pharmacist said to me is that giving up smoking can be as difficult as someone giving up heroin and is why you will need assistance from someone - mine was the pharmacist every two weeks when I went to get the next lot of patches. Good for you for getting started - never say I can't because can't means I won't. Keep going, you and all your friends will congratulate you for doing it -even the smokers. Sorry for this being a bit long, but well worth the effort to advise and support you

[Corrina125 LONG TERM WINNER]

Hi ticking-ticker, thank you for sharing your post, it is amazing and I am sure many will benefit from it. I know you've been quit sometime but if you could let us have your quit date we can add you to our database and assign you with a winners badge!

Please keep in touch it was lovely to hear from you!

[Hidden in reply to Corrina125]

I stopped smoking on 10 April 2014 and since I am diabetic, used to record my daily readings and amount of insulin into a Microsoft Spreadsheet so it was just as easy to record my daily savings from that date. It can get boring but in the first year I actually saved £6804! which is an amazing amount of money to actually believe I used to enjoy burning.

Just as further food for thought, I had read that if a diabetic was to go on a strict diet they might be able to reverse or at least lower the amount of medication being taken by a significant weight loss towards achieving a good BMI. I am a handsome 5'8" tall and in April (is's always April) of 2017 I began a rather restrictive diet in an attempt to lose some of my 18.5 stone. This was mainly because of the health issue and constant increasing of insulin with the only firm promise of losing toes or feet or a leg or a kidney - the list is frightening and just as dangerous as smoking. Anyway, both my wife and I began the diet and began to lose weight week by week - also recorded on the good old spreadsheet and by April 2018 we had lost a considerable weight loss - my weight today is 11 stone 4 lbs and my wife down to 9 stone - from 16.6! The really great thing is that I now take no medication for diabetes and have no restrictions on my driving licence. I still test my blood about three times a week but thats a hell of a change from at least three times a day.

To get back to smoking - At the May bank holiday of 2017 I had a heart attack and was taken to hospital as an emergency. Five days later I had a triple heart bypass since my arteries were almost totally blocked - because of smoking. However, had I not stopped when I did and lost the weight I did during the past year, I would not have survived the heart attack or the operation. I am now fitter than I have ever been and a weight I was when I was 17.

As previously mentioned, nothing is impossible and I really do believe that if I say I can't do something it means I will not try - and when it comes to my health and out life together (corny? no!) I will fight for the opportunity to get the very limit I can out of my allocated time. Scottish you see, never want to lose out on anything....sorry for another long one

[jillygirl Administrator Queen Bee]

Hi there tt. Very informative and encouraging post thank you so much. I am sure this will help others. If you have no objection I will add your story to the success stories in the pinned posts. Thank you once again.

xx

[Corrina125 LONG TERM WINNER in reply to jillygirl]

Hi Jilly, I was just going to ask the same thing! Great minds eh!

[jillygirl Administrator Queen Bee in reply to Corrina125]

Its the Yorkshire in us .

I hope you dont mind I entered the details in the database. xxx

I am getting ready for that Pizza Party our Tubby is having. xxx

[Hidden in reply to jillygirl]

No problem at all, just hope it helps

[Briarwood Administrator Ducky]

Hi ticking, thank you so much for your wonderful post, I’m sure this will inspire others👍🏼

Delighted you’re doing so well with everything and can be very proud of your achievements, well done🚭✅🌻xx

[Bonnielala LONG TERM WINNER]

Fabulous and thought provoking post, thank you so much for sharing xx

[MarionKnot57 5 MONTH WINNER]

Great post! Thank you!