6 yrs, 5 mths ago

Benefits of NOT SMOKING

Guys, after many many years of puffing like the proverbial Dragon, I have had a run at giving away the ciggies, and have almost completed day four. Sheesh, I’ve been feeling sick, but have kept on course thinking about health benefits and a padded bank balance. If any of you out there have given away the dirty smoking recently, or in the past, please post your best tips for getting over the early days, and any beauty long term benefits you’ve noticed. Just a little mutual motivation would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!!

25 comments 32 voices

Replies

  • 4 yrs, 7 mths ago

    Smoking damages your skin as well 🙁

  • 4 yrs, 10 mths ago

    I fell off the wagon back in February but now I’ve just quit again (2 days ago) and this time I’m doing it very different from the other dozens of times I’ve tried it… I’ve actually set myself up for success instead of failure. I used to just quit cold turkey, maybe use patches for a few days and just expect myself to fail anyway eventually, really.

    This time I’ve joined Quitline (which means talking to a quit counselor frequently), I’ve got patches for 3-6 months, I’ve got nicotine gum, I’ve got a vape, I’ve got essential oils and herbal teas, I’ve got all kinds of failsafes… I’ve even enlisted my best friends for support in the sense of “if I’m about to have one, I have to call you first, even if it’s the middle of the night”. I’m not giving myself any excuses to fail this time and I am confident it’s going to work.

    The only thing that worries me is that I feel like I’ll still forever be in love with cigarettes, even if I never smoke again. I have such positive associations with cigarettes (I really don’t care how many times people say they stink, it never bothered me before smoking either, I like the smell) that I feel like I’m going to be restraining myself for the rest of my life… but if that’s what it takes.

    I have already noticed really positive changes again after just 2 days. I keep forgetting how good it feels physically to quit. I never used to feel it but now in my 30s I just do. I sleep better. Less headaches. I feel more hydrated. And it’s a great license to pamper myself – anything to not smoke, right?!

  • 5 yrs, 1 mth ago

    Better skin and less wrinkles. Better teeth. There are a few people I know who smoke amd their skin and teeth are shoking. I’ve never smoked. Please try your best to give up. Get some nictotine patches.

  • 5 yrs, 2 mths ago

    It’s not a fail, Nell. You’ve said it for what it is and although I’ve never smoked I can well see why you needed to so soon after quitting. Good advice from the members and we’re plugging for you! Looks like you need to take yourself off on a holiday to get away from everyone! Shame it isn’t that simple.

  • 5 yrs, 2 mths ago

    Oh my gosh, the smell of smoke causes my sinuses to play up, psychologically just reading this is causing my sinuses to feel congested. I am so allergic to the smell of smoke, even bush fires – I can smell them while they are many miles away. Yes, Miles! I start having breathing difficulties even when someone is a smoker, not smoking, but the smell lingers on their clothes. Sadly, my father was a heavy smoker, smoked in the house too, and I had to go into my room with the door closed. Early exposure didn’t help. He passed away aged 61 from emphysema and lung cancer, a horrible way to go. My son is also a very heavy smoker and I so worry about him and his health but it is a terrible addiction and the government doesn’t do enough to help those who realy want to quit. Good luck Nell, you can do it with lots of support, at least from us at BH.

  • 5 yrs, 2 mths ago

    I mentioned briefly on the “Lift Esteem” thread that I took up smoking from the stress of my mother’s health (& another family drama bubbling in the background). It was either smoking, drinking or pulling my hair out – I don’t cope well with stress, I was having days & days of migraines.

    Mum’s over the worst of it, with a few comparatively minor procedures to go: she’s doing well. So, the stress is manageable now. I smoked from November to last Friday, 18 Jan. It’s cost me a lot of money! I won’t be buying any more.

  • 5 yrs, 2 mths ago

    Well done, Nell. Congratulations!!!

  • 5 yrs, 2 mths ago

    I finally actually quit 3 days ago – by that I mean I’m not dragging my feet, I’m not looking for excuses not to quit, I’m not deliberating it or holding my breath… I have actually quit. It feels like a lifetime to be honest but what is really motivating me is the money I am saving. Being able to look at my bank account without both my balance and stomach constantly dropping.

  • 5 yrs, 8 mths ago

    I was a smoker and I had tried to give it up in the past but never could. Each time I became pregnant I would give up smoking but then go back to it after Id had the baby (stupid). My husband also smoked. Then one day when I was 36 I received a phone call from my Dads partner who informed me that she had something to tell me on behalf of my Dad. Dad could not tell me himself. He had been diagnosed with cancer and was given 6 mths to live. As soon as I got off the phone I reached for and lit up a smoke. I took one puff and then looked at it….looked at my kids and then stubbed it out. I gave the rest of the pack to my husband and I never touched another smoke from that day on. In that moment I knew that my smoking had to stop because I never wanted to have my kids going through all the emotions I was going though over Dad. I never craved a single smoke and I think that was because my mind was too occupied with Dad to think of much else. Dad lived for a further 5mths and I really felt ripped off and so badly wanted that last month that the Docs had said he might have. It was a really tough way to learn that my smoking and my health impacts more then just me so because I gave up smoking for the love of my daughters that made it so much easier for me.

    Good luck with it. Just dont give in to the urge. There is nothing at all positive about smoking. Your skin will start to look so much better soon and you wont stink. You might not think that you smelt but you would have…all smokers smell like smokes. Soon you will notice that your partner reeks of cigarette smoke. And of course as misfortune8 said…think of the money saved.

  • 5 yrs, 8 mths ago

    Oh man, the money.

    My hubby and I just realized yesterday we’re letting $800 a month literally go up in smoke. THE THINGS WE COULD DO WITH THAT MONEY! How are we even justifying this anymore.

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