Becoming a Non Smoker

i do keep checking for the update and I know she can do it....

Have been a non-smoker for more than a year now. Me and a couple of friends decided to quit cold turkey as a new years resolution and I was the only one who did it. Lol. Although its kinda hard drinking and not smoking.

Never been a better time to stop. Shunned by everyone, made to stand in cold, damp bus shelter type buildings is not my idea of a fun night out. 

Changing your habit and general routine was for me, the hardest thing to do given I am such a creature of habit. I would always smoke exactly 4 cigarettes on the way to work. The same on the journey home! 

Now 3 years plus, as an ex smoker, I now challenge all forum users to quit.... 

Cor when I think about when I quit it seems like another life time ago ..was around 22 years ago around when my daughter was born ,heck that makes me feel like a old git lol ..

As the saying goes there is nothing worse than a ex smoker as I absolutely hate the smell of smoke  and I even go as far as holding my breathe when I have to walk though it ... It also lovely how you can walk into a pub these days and not have to be inundated by smoke

Well done to everyone who has given up. I did it cold turkey...must be 12 or 13 years ago now?! It's like a lifetime ago tbh! Having no smoking in pubs and restaurants is lovely. It's strange to think the generation growing up now will never realise you used to be able to smoke everywhere. I used to work with an ad agency where they smoked at their desks, no joke for the non-smokers!

no joke for the non-smokers!

i also remember the time when the non smoker was the outcast, everyone smoked at work, at thier desk and if anyone complained they were branded as the whinging wierdo who was always moaning about something. How times have changed..

well done to those who have stopped, keep trying for those yet to achieve the non smoker status, you can do it... We all have and it is worth the effort. 

I was one of the whingers ... amongst other failings I was rude enough to politely ask people smoking in the coach seat next to me whether they could stop for a bit as I'd had eye surgery the day before and the smoke was hurting my eyes.  I was wearing a surgical eye patch at the time. These smokers ignored my request.

The no smoking law couldn't come in fast enough for me!

Originally Posted by sjr4x4

“Wahey, seriously? You going for it

This is going to turn into a reformed smokers forum at this rate lol. Come to MLF and get cured

Next week it's chocolate ”

well did it ever..... turn in to a reformed smokers forum that is?

I was prompted to look at this post again today. Don't know why but I went right back to the start and read some of the 260 or so messages, how grumpy was I..? However, the genuine support and advice freely given by forum members has left me speechless. When I look back at the journey and in my trade we call this reflective practice I can actually see the milestones.. all captured electronically for all to see.

What a great and wonderful forum this truly is...

Great people, fantastic site, now lets have a go at all of those chocolate lovers (but please leave the beer alone).

I've been a non-smoker for the past 6 years. I quit cold turkey and never looked back. I did not have to think about it, I did not have to use willpower to resist smoking urges - there were none.

A family member gave me a book on quitting smoking by Allen Carr. I read it, I dropped all the excuses and I realized that I would have to be sober until my skin gets thicker and I can drink and not smoke. And for that, I'd have to quit hanging out with certain people for some time. After a couple of months of being sober and not smoking, I was able to go back to my drug of choice - whiskey, and not smoke.

Oh man, the difference it makes doing sports.

I suggest that book to everyone. It's not magic! It just takes you by the hand through all of your excuses and shatters them to pieces.