"Stoptober"; stop smoking campaign

1st October the challenge is on to stop smoking for one month (source).

I've tried before, failed; tried again, same result. Keep telling myself I need to "soon"; but when, exactly, is "soon"

So, I've now seen this challenge and I think I shall go for it. Anyone else want to join me?

Of those who have been successful, any tips?

 

Congrats on 9yrs smoke free fc and thank you for sharing your experience. I don't know that keeping any in the house would work for me; but, I can see how it worked for you

 

Don't go cold turkey. Use patches, gum, or whatever works best for you personally.

You know its going to be hard, but its hardest for the first full week. The first smoke free weekend is the toughy. Get past that and it gets easier. You still have the cravings, but by then you'll have convinced yourself that you can do it.

Drink loads of water. Your body chemistry goes a bit mental when you quit, and I think this messes with your metabolism. I found drinking water helped me to stay calm and feeling fresh.

Don't blow it like I nearly did by swapping nicotine for caffeine and ending up with my head swimming in the stuff so that as i walked round to the corner shop to buy some baccy, I honestly don't know how I got there without falling over or being run over or something. (that set my efforts back by about 3 months until I tried again, and succeeded).

Don't make it your mission to keep your mind off smoking. Don't avoid your smoker friends/relatives. All that will happen is you'll put so much mental effort into not thinking of smoking that subconsciously it will be all that's on your mind.

If you haven't already done so, put a total ban on smoking in your house, even for your guests. Once you quit, even for a few days, you'll start to notice just how much cigarette smoke stinks and how the smell lingers for days, no matter what you try to do about it.

Don't visit Teesside. Sometimes it gets so stinky round here that I actually consider starting smoking again just to kill my sense of smell Then I remember how unfit I was as a smoker and how my son rarely bothered to engage me in his childish games because he knew I couldn't be bothered to run or play fight because any activity beyond lumbering about was a physical effort. Now I feel 10 years younger (literally). Only a couple of weeks ago I climbed a tree from a running start while playing hide and seek in the park.

 

I have read quite a few good feedback about electronic cigarettes
(http://www.theelectroniccigarette.co.uk/products/starter-kits/joyetech-ego-c-products.html)
and a friend of mine uses them and he is quite happy about it. As I understand it they are not totally nicotine free but they contain very little amount of it and they are very enjoyable.

 

If you go down the route of E-Cigs, opt for E-Lites. They are the only Manufacturer to make their own E-Cigarettes and can prove the quality of the content of the tips.
At all costs avoid those types where you are required to refill them yourself. They are prone to leak and can be more dangerous than the cigarettes you are tring to get away from.
E-Cigs should be free from Tar and noxious chemicals that can affect the lungs .
The are also free from smells and have no passive smoking effects.
www.cignal.co.uk
www.e-lites.co.uk
There is information on these sites that can inform more fully

 

If you prepare yourself mentally you will be successful. Decide 100% that you want to do it and keep telling yourself you CAN do it. If you can get the mental determination it will be much easier.

 

I quit the coffin nails over 10 years ago . We had a stop smoking course where I worked. Basically the method suggested was :-
Pick a day a few weeks of when you will quit , so you are mentally prepared , 1st of October is great !
On that day get rid of all your smoking paraphernalia , lighters ,ash trays , packets of fags........bongs , bubble pipes.
Use an aid like patches or gum or what ever else is going these days. I found the patches made me feel a little sick and were itchy for the first 2 days , after that no problem.
Get a wine bottle and every time you would buy a pack of 20 , put a £5 note or £10 for 2 packs in. This is another discipline you need to keep up . Its amazing how quickly the mazuma builds up You need to carefully break the bottle after a month, and count the cash !
And last of all good luck, it does make a huge differnce
PS: When you have cracked the habit , don't become an anti smoking fascist , Like some of my friends have !

 

You'd better use a CLEAR bottle or someone will helpfully toss it into recycling (tidying up/being helpful?).
Thats likely to send you straight back to the fags!

 

I gave up in August 2004 after smoking for nearly 30 years.

Never touched another one until yesterday, after imbibing quite a lot of alcohol. Regretting it this morning though cos my mouth tastes vile and I can't get rid of the taste Won't be doing that again in a hurry!

When I did give up I used an inhalator, which was great for me because I still got that nicotine hit in my mouth so didn't feel quite so much like I was giving up. Would recommend it.

 

Well Done Mum For For takeing this Opp & too Every One Who Has Quit
Treet it a Just For Today!!!! when you STOP

Just for today NO MATTER WOT HAPPENS I WILL NOT SMOKE ONE CIGERET

NO MATTER WOT HAPPENS TODAY I WILL NOT HAVE THAT 1st One

I Do This with Drink & Drugs just for TODAY I Will NOT Pick up that 1st Drink or Drug No Matter Wot Happens Today I Can Not Safely Take that 1st Drink or Drug!!!

Soon is TODAY Yesterday is History Tommrow is a Mistery that leaves us with Today we have only Got TODAY!!!

If You Find it Hard to Do a Full a Day start with an Hour turn that Hour in to 2 Hours 3 and so on With the Motto Just For Today NO MATTER WOT HAPPENS I WILL NOT PICK UP THAT 1st cigarette Use Patches spray Wot Ever Suites You

REMEMBER YOU ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT IN THE WORLD YOUR LUNGS AM WORTHEY OF A CLEAN LIFE

Your No 1 Priorty is NOT to Pick up that 1st Cigarette if you DONT PICK UP LIGHT UP THE 1st its Impossibull to pick up the 2nd

As a Recovering Drug Addectied Alcholic 8 years CLEAN n SOBER Now Working Volentry in Local Hospital Carrying the Message to The Still Suffering Addecit and Alcholic Even if My Back Side Drops off I CAN NOT SAFELY USE DRINK OR DRUGS

JUST FOR TODAY!!!! Its Hard in the Early Days but the Days Get Eaiser

Dont Get Me Wrong Iv Had Some Tuff Trying Days and Months in the Past 8 Years

I Watched My Mother Die a Painfull Agonizing DEATH As it Happens from Smoking
just Over 3 Months For the Cancer to Ravage Her Body and Eat Her Away

How Easy it Would Have Been to Say Oh Dam it I Cant take watching My Mom Suffer Like This Just One Drink or Just One Line of Coke will Take the Edge off it For Me!!! Poor Me Poor Me Poor Me Another Drink

Truthley I Did Not Want to be an Alcholic Big Drinker Sounds Better

An Addict Oh No Party Animal Sounds Better Recreashnall Drug User Sounds Better

But Truth is I Am a Drug Addicted Alcholic Clean n Sober Just For Today

The Message I Carry to You Mum IF I CAN DO IT ANY BODY ON THIS PLANET CAN DO IT!!!! This Includes You Flower

A Good Insentive Save the Money From Day One Do Not Spend One Penny of the Money For a Full 12 months you will be Amazed at the Treet you Get at the 1st mile stone

I Am Aware Today I Stand to Lose My Pride and Joy if I Return to Drink n Drugs £20.000 worth of it I Stand to Distroy My Relanship Iv Built up with my partner For the Past 5 Years I Stand to Lose The Lovely Friends Iv Made on Here @ GC

A Tip When Quitting Do Something You Dont Want to Do!!!

Clean the Car Polish the Floor Walk the Dog Anthing that Occpies Your Mind

Do NOT SWOP THE Smoking Addection For Somthing That Could be Just As Harmfull Eg Chocklot Sweets eat Plenty of Fruit take Long Walks if Poss Enjoy Your Clean Lung Time

I Only Got in to Gardening by Accdent By Stoping Using the Above and being maade redundant

i built this in the garden haveing never layd a slab let alone a brick Iv been Tought I Can Do Anthing I Chose to Do Apart From Pick up that 1st Drink or Drug

I Will Wish You All the Luck in the World in Quitting

BUT IT AINT ABOUT LUCK!!! Its about Hard Work Effort AND Setting your mind as cats spoke of eariler in your threed

Merl Dust Your Self OFF Keep Brushing your Teath to Get Rid of the Taste

i have to Remaine Aware if i go in a Pub I Have to Keep My Guard up
I Ask for Tea or Coffee I Dont want to Pick up the Wrong Glass I Have to Remaine Focused Keep My Eye on the Ball Because its Easy to Fall Slip or just think oh Sod it Surley One Wont Hurt Now After 8 years

Its the 1 that Does the DAMAGE!!! YOU CAN DO IT Mum TODAY

Treet it Like a Train Jurney Today you Are Going to Choose to Get of the Train From Smoks Vill Rembering if You Chose to Stay on this Train the Last Stop is the Grave Yard Gates!!!

There is No Scair Tac tick implyd Here they call it Toughf Love

TODAY IS YOUR DAY!!!! TOMMROW NEVER COMES

Love Folly Mon Xx

 

Oh Folly Mon! You post has brought me to tears!! What an inspiration you are Thank you!!!

I still need to stick to 1st October but I'm going to print off your post, laminate it and hang it in my back porch (where I smoke) and another by my bed so that it is the first thing I read each morning.

Totally value you sharing your experience and wisdom

 

You Am More Then Welcome

I Have to Give it Away to Keep it Good Luck YOU WILL SUCCEED YOU WAS BORN TO SUCCEED