Diary of a smoker

[ColinJ]

Well done Pete!

I'm one of those rare but annoying ex-smokers who gave up overnight and didn't experience any cravings. I think the reason that I found it easy was that I never really considered myself to be a smoker, despite averaging 20 a day on weekdays and often 30-40 a day at weekends! I didn't think of it as an addiction, but as an indulgence which I could simply choose to stop indulging in, and that's what I did.

I decided to pack it in in my mid-20s after smoking 60 B&H at an all-night party and feeling like death watching a great Wimbledon Men's Singles final the following afternoon. It suddenly dawned on me that I was the same age as Björn Borg but he was super-fit, while I was killing myself with my unhealthy lifestyle.

I went to the pub with my mates that evening and made a big thing of tearing up my last packet of cigarettes in front of them. I was too proud to fail after that, having promised all of them that I wouldn't smoke again. It worked. For a while ...

I didn't smoke again for a year, but jokingly lit up a cigarette on the first anniversary of giving up. That was me started again, and it took me another couple of years to give up for good. I reckon it took about 5 or 6 years before I really believed that I wouldn't be tempted again. BE VIGILANT - THE DESIRE CAN EASILY CREEP BACK!

No chance of me smoking again - I really dislike the smell of smoke now.

 

[BrumJim]

THE HILL

Did the hill .... and i did recover much much faster, so i am very very happy.

Great news. Only getting better from now on.

 

[Peteaud]

Well done Pete!

I'm one of those rare but annoying ex-smokers who gave up overnight and didn't experience any cravings. I think the reason that I found it easy was that I never really considered myself to be a smoker, despite averaging 20 a day on weekdays and often 30-40 a day at weekends! I didn't think of it as an addiction, but as an indulgence which I could simply choose to stop indulging in, and that's what I did.

I decided to pack it in in my mid-20s after smoking 60 B&H at an all-night party and feeling like death watching a great Wimbledon Men's Singles final the following afternoon. It suddenly dawned on me that I was the same age as Björn Borg but he was super-fit, while I was killing myself with my unhealthy lifestyle.

I went to the pub with my mates that evening and made a big thing of tearing up my last packet of cigarettes in front of them. I was too proud to fail after that, having promised all of them that I wouldn't smoke again. It worked. For a while ...

I didn't smoke again for a year, but jokingly lit up a cigarette on the first anniversary of giving up. That was me started again, and it took me another couple of years to give up for good. I reckon it took about 5 or 6 years before I really believed that I wouldn't be tempted again. BE VIGILANT - THE DESIRE CAN EASILY CREEP BACK!

No chance of me smoking again - I really dislike the smell of smoke now.

The mother in law gave up over 30 years ago, she says she could still light one up even now

 

[TVC]

Stay away from the scales, gaining a bit of weight is normal and will sort itself out in time.

Congratulations on your ride. Climbing hills never gets easier, look at Brad Wiggins, he's always flat on his back after a mountain finish . Perhaps though you might find you get to the top a bit quicker, and the time to recovery is the sign of cardio fitness.

 

[Peteaud]

Well done Peteaud,

"My name is Lawrence and I am a smoker..."

I also quit NYD - not planned, just thoughts of quitting had been getting stronger over last few months (particulary since taking up cycling) and woke up on 1st Jan with one cigarette that was in a crushed up packed and all bent and thought sod it, nows the time.

Failed a few times in the past after setting goals eg, when I hit 30, or when son is born, longest time stopped was 3 years and it only takes a night in a bar thinking 'I could just have one' to having to start all over again.

Been quite easy so far to be honest - the habit is the hardest thing - getting in the car or after meals are the hardest - it's also a ritual that i've noticed leaving the house or work, checking for keys, wallet, phone, fags? oh...

I wouldn't thrown your tin away just yet - I take quite a lot of satisfaction knowing there is a cigarette there if I want it but choose not to... If I didn't have that I'd probably panic buy a packet smoke just one then the rest in guilty disappointment.. ;-)

I haven't used any support tools such as NHS direct or patches although a couple of times I have randomly gone on little rides (even in the middle of the night) to take my mind off it - that works really well - I have also the NHS app smokefree on my phone which I open up every now and again to check time and cost savings... so far 6d 16hrs 16mins 15secs saved £30.70 (15 a day).. Although haven't planned anything might treat myself to something nice when it gets to a decent figure.

I thinks its the habit, almost more than the nicotine, and your the same as me, panic if not baccy/fags. With regards to walking in the middle of the night, if it helps you then nothing wrong with it. Plan to treat yourself with the money saved, it gives you a goal to work to, thats working for me anyway.

Good luck with it, keep us informed.

 

[oldfatfool]

I gave up after 15 years of 20+ a day, B&H, Capstan, Park lane, Woodbines all the really good ones .The wife kicking me out in the middle of winter if I wanted a smoke because she was 'with child' soon did the trick.

I too was one of the annoying ones, I could go for months without a fag and then just smoke on a night out with no cravings. I did start again after 10 years of abstenance, seeing Bennies at a quid a go in Cz and being able to smoke anywhere made them a bargain! After smoking for about 12 months mainly rolling up I quit again about 4 years ago and haven't bothered since, just realised there was no pleasure in it.

All the best and keep at it.

 

[Monsieur Remings]

Wish I'd seen this thread sooner.

All the very best to you mate, what a great decision to give up. I started smoking when I was 15 too, am now 38. I gave up when my first was born, 3 months short of 4 years ago. But, I did use a hynotherapist who I think probably was finding me quite a challenge, I wasn't very supportive of my other half during her pregnancy - we both had smoked before - and I smoked throughout which was completely unfair.

I've found that the urge to NOT want to smoke has grown over time but it wasn't that straightforward for me (and I have to mention this because it wouldn't be honest of me not to) namely because I was always a weed smoker ...... A lot of people I knew at the time were convinced they weren't addicted to nicotine but I knew different, because sure enough when I had no weed, I still smoked roll-ups and no surprise so did they! So, I did carry on using a pipe for a while after giving up tobacco and gradually phased that out too, until in the end it just wasn't an issue and I felt no compunction to smoke at all. Of course this stuff, anything that you smoke is, carcinogenic so don't start smoking weed whatever you do! Just my route, which was a different one but it worked out good in the end.

As for the cycling, well I remember just getting back into road cycling when I was still smoking and believe me, I was hopeless. I actually felt as if the whole cycling thing could become seriously dangerous after a night on the fags and booze - heart attack, stroke, that kind of thing, coughing up crap, blood vessels bursting, red face, out of breath, no power. Where now I feel a surge of fresh air entering my lungs, I felt then as if something was invading the sanctity of my unhealthy ones, causing me to feel like shoot. Clean air was like a messenger and I didn't want the message.

I'm fitter now than I've ever been and whilst it's sad that I'm no spring chicken anymore, I'm not the type to regret anything as you shouldn't. Give it a few months and you'll be clear my friend and you will not look back because your fitness will go through the roof. Fitness and good health becomes addictive like a drug in itself - the fitter you are, the better you get, the faster you ride, the more endorphins work their magic without having to sift their way through an unhealthy vessel smoking itself to an early death.

Today I popped into the office (and no they shouldn't be smoking there but they do) and I lasted all of about 20 seconds before I wanted out. Even passive smoking begins to have an effect on your chest and you smell and begin to detest it. Trust me, it won't be long before you go through this.

All power to you...

 

[Peteaud]

Wish I'd seen this thread sooner.

All the very best to you mate, what a great decision to give up. I started smoking when I was 15 too, am now 38. I gave up when my first was born, 3 months short of 4 years ago. But, I did use a hynotherapist who I think probably was finding me quite a challenge, I wasn't very supportive of my other half during her pregnancy - we both had smoked before - and I smoked throughout which was completely unfair.

I've found that the urge to NOT want to smoke has grown over time but it wasn't that straightforward for me (and I have to mention this because it wouldn't be honest of me not to) namely because I was always a weed smoker ...... A lot of people I knew at the time were convinced they weren't addicted to nicotine but I knew different, because sure enough when I had no weed, I still smoked roll-ups and no surprise so did they! So, I did carry on using a pipe for a while after giving up tobacco and gradually phased that out too, until in the end it just wasn't an issue and I felt no compunction to smoke at all. Of course this stuff, anything that you smoke is, carcinogenic so don't start smoking weed whatever you do! Just my route, which was a different one but it worked out good in the end.

As for the cycling, well I remember just getting back into road cycling when I was still smoking and believe me, I was hopeless. I actually felt as if the whole cycling thing could become seriously dangerous after a night on the fags and booze - heart attack, stroke, that kind of thing, coughing up crap, blood vessels bursting, red face, out of breath, no power. Where now I feel a surge of fresh air entering my lungs, I felt then as if something was invading the sanctity of my unhealthy ones, causing me to feel like shoot. Clean air was like a messenger and I didn't want the message.

I'm fitter now than I've ever been and whilst it's sad that I'm no spring chicken anymore, I'm not the type to regret anything as you shouldn't. Give it a few months and you'll be clear my friend and you will not look back because your fitness will go through the roof. Fitness and good health becomes addictive like a drug in itself - the fitter you are, the better you get, the faster you ride, the more endorphins work their magic without having to sift their way through an unhealthy vessel smoking itself to an early death.

Today I popped into the office (and no they shouldn't be smoking there but they do) and I lasted all of about 20 seconds before I wanted out. Even passive smoking begins to have an effect on your chest and you smell and begin to detest it. Trust me, it won't be long before you go through this.

All power to you...

All i can say is what a fantastic post, thank you.

And yes, ive done the weed as well, many times, although long ago in my mispent youth.

 

[Monsieur Remings]

All i can say is what a fantastic post, thank you.

And yes, ive done the weed as well, many times, although long ago in my mispent youth.

I blame punk rock and girls.

 

[ColinJ]

A mate of mine smoked from about the age of 11 into his 50s. He was pretty fit and swore blind that smoking wasn't affecting his health because hard efforts on his bike made him 'cough out all the crap'!

Eventually though, he saw sense and gave up after about 3 or 4 attempts.

It's about 3 years since he last smoked and he admits that he now feels better in his late 50s than he did in his 40s when smoking. He too has crossed the threshold from reluctant ex-smoker to keen ex-smoker. Each time he gave up but then started again, he found himself getting less pleasure from the smoking he did. He gave up after half a cigarette the final time because he was getting no pleasure at all and it was making him feel sick. You know - just like it did when you forced yourself to start in the first place! (What a weird thing it is to persevere with smoking for weeks to get yourself hooked, when it feels so bad when you first do it!)

 

[Peteaud]

I blame punk rock and girls.

Been there, many a punk gig, to much beer (gold label barley wine if i remember) and a pack of smokes at the brixton ace or 100 club.

 

[Bicycle]

I stopped after about 10 years of 20-a-day.

There were no patches or ciggie substitutes in those days.

I was given an OUTSTANDING piece of advice:

When offered a smoke, don't say "I've given up". Say "I don't smoke".

That was a number of years ago, when more people smoked and offered, but it might still have a positive effect.

Every time you say "I don't smoke" you'll like the sound of it and you'll find it more credible.

20-ish years after giving up I occasionally quite like the idea of a smoke, but I prefer being able to run up stairs and cycle hard up big hills.

It sounds like BS, but it works.

 

[wildjetskier]

Well done give yourself a MASSIVE pat on the back. I gave up 2 months ago now after smoking for 30 odd years and believe me when I tell you that giving up smoking was far harder than giving up class A drugs and alcohol, and I know that I can never touch another drink again. I have the same mentality with cigarettes, If I smoke I will die .... simple. Also cycling getting fitter and enjoying life to the full makes up for it. Carry on doing what your doing as they say in recover one day at a time and if need be, break that down ...... one hour, one minute etc. IT WILL GET EASIER I promise. Also I have a "saving plan" I used to spend £50 odd a week on fags that goes straight in the pot and pays for my gym membership and bike bits and pieces. So again WELL DONE and keep it up

 

[gbb]

Another late entry into this one, hope its still going well Pete.
I'm just going through it myself...4 days now and only smoked 1/2 a fag.
My story ? 53, light smoker, maybe 10 a day for the last 3 years...after packing up for 20 plus years !!!
'Why' you ask ? A few very very high stress days working abroad...it seemed like a good idea at the time and it did help break the tension, but at a cost of course.
Wife has always smoked so the temptation has always been there. Even at 10 a day maximum, its hurting me and ive noticed a gradual drop off in my cycling performance since i started so ive been mythering for the last few weeks, wanting to stop, trying, then failing etc etc. Funny, it hurts me in the chest, it always did, but i get hooked so easily and have very low will power. Every minute i'm thinking about them (not literally, but you know what i mean).
So, a fearful virus got me this last weekend, since Friday night ive spent all weekend in bed, crawled to work monday, feel a bit better today but still bad....and ive used the lack of desire for fags to my advantage, this is it !!! (gawld i hope)
One bad craving today (the first actually) and i could go one now, but i wont.

Talking about performance Pete, when i packed up years ago (although i was only an occasional cyclist then) the only way i noticed some improvement was, if you imagine inhaling fully as a non
smoker, you could fill your lungs, then it seemed a little extra pocket at the end. As a smoker, i always realised that little extra had gone. It took me years to get that back, years.
I guess recovery will be quicker, just because the oxygen your putting in isnt tainted with smoking.

Gotta keep busy, while i'm busy it helps enormously but sadly i am my own time manager...and not a very good one ...

This is all very helpfull, to use you as a marker.....so dont let me down...

 

[Peteaud]

Still an EX SMOKER

Not getting any easier to be honest but using pure bloodymindedness to get through.

gbb - if you need a smoke try the drink of water cure, ive found it helps.

To all the others who are now non smokers (hopefully) how are you doing?