Rob

Good video, but when I smoked, I felt that scare tactic videos don't work and encouraged me to smoke more (I think this was Allen Carr's view as well). I'd look at these advert and think, "oh dear, another anti-smoking campaign clearly created by a bunch of folk who have never smoked in their lives". In retrospect, this type of campaign should stop someone smoking, but smokers are immune to shock tatics. It would be good if a campaign that can really not alienate, but relate and communicate with smokers in a way that they can appreciate. Just me two cents :)

NOPE!

Thanks guys! Hope everyone enjoyed a great smoke free day :)

Hi Brenddy Congratulations on your decision to quit. I'm right at the start of the journey with you. I stopped a few days ago. Therefore any advice below is probably not as valuable as some of the more experienced quitters! About your worry about starting after a few days, the best advice I can give is that you prepare yourself mentally. If your head, make a firm commitment to not cave in. Clear any traces of cigarettes related things like lighters to reinforce that this is a firm and final decision. Imagine your life 5 years from now and how proud you and happy you are with your smoke free life, and how it feels quite foreign and strange that you used to smoke. When you get a crave, dismiss it ir let it take its course. They come less and less and become quite easy to manage. Like you I've relapsed in the past. I'm glad I did. Why? Because this ultimately helped me get to a stage in my life where I know I'm done with it for good. Best of luck, and congratulations again!

Thanks Evelyn & Faye! Day 5 morning now, and I'm feeling great! Suddenly I can breathe a lot deeper, it's weird and really pleasant! No morning craves this morning either. I think it's all mentel rather than physical from here on out. The world seems great this morning. I'm relaxed, energetic, and confident that this is the best decision ever. Morning!

NOPE!

Thanks Doreensfree! There is definitely a good sense of community here. And thanks Martin for taking the time with your lovely long motivational post, it's appreciated! I'll be sure to follow your advice and distract myself when I have a day like that again! I've watched a couple of Joel's videos and they're quite good - I'll watch more soon. I'll come up with a few new habits, like trying different teas. So far don't seem to have the physical cravings of yesterday. More of a lowly feeling sorry for myself and missing smoking and wishing I could go outside and smoke with my flatmate... But NOPE, not going to happen, I know that's crazy and temporary junkie talk and not part of this permanent and rational decision.

NOPE!

Thanks all! Day 4 now, bring it on!! So far I've noticed:- * I have a lot more energy - I wake up earlier. * Sense of smell is working again! (Not always a good thing haha)

Thanks Laura! I'll be sure to post on the NOPE board in the morning. Thanks Lennonluvr and congratulations on your quit as wel - all the best!l :) You're right, it's definitely better to be smoke free now than to still be smoking after later on. Will definitely try some different tactics tomorrow, like going for walk etc.

Thanks everyone! I'm sure the proces of staying quit will be a lot easier with a community like this!

I've been lurking in these forums for a couple of days now, and finally have taken the decision to register. It looks like you have a really good community going here, and some of the posts like the analogy of falling of the quit train are great. I'm Rob, 29, from Scotland and living in London, and have smoked since my last year in high school (18, so 11 years in total). Cigarettes have been there through the best days of my life: school, university, holidays, going out drinking and having fun and whilst making new friends. I've had one attempt in the past to stop which lasted about six months (alcohol, and I was convinced then that I didn't need to smoke anymore as it was so easy at that point not to smoke). This attempt was about 6 years ago. I've been planning to stop since before new year, and told myself I would as soon as I run out of cigarettes. So, I finished my last pack three days ago and I am officially now a quitter for the last three days!! It's great timing. I've started a new job so no longer have my old smoker buddies. And - the biggest motivation - I've been promising myself for years that I'd not be smoking by the time I'm 30. That's in six months, and I want to keep my promise to myself! The first couple of days went okay. A few cravings here and there but nothing I couldn't handle. Short lasting. Outweighed by the happy feeling of my commitment to lead a smoke free life. Today has been the worst day by far, and it would be so easy and comfortable to smoke right now. But I won't, I'm confident that that part of my life is over now. But ooooh how I've felt crap today. Imagine a craving that's constant has lasted all day. The feeling of being angry and short tempered all day. Uncomfortable, anxious, and feeling like I have a cold, and that I'm itching inside (I imagine this is what having crazy high blood pressure feels like). And I've easten a bucket load of unhealthy foods today - almost binge like - as to replace one bad habit with another. I guess there is light at the end of the tunnel, but I really hope days like today are a rare occurrence. And on that note, nice to meet you everyone!!