stay a non-smoker

Am now 1 year and 5 days a non-smoker! Gave up on Christmas Day 2007 and although I KNEW a few months in that that was it for me, I am still thrilled to have made it to a full year. I have saved (hmm..wish I could find it now!) around £1060, which is not to be sneezed (or coughed!) at..

I did it ‘cold turkey’ (well, it was Christmas..)and used self-talk to manage the cravings (i.e. told myself to SHUT UP! and stop sabotaging myself). My only advice to those who have given up; I think I have said it before – NEVER, EVER think you can have ‘just the one’! You will be on the B&H again within days and it will be all over for another few years! Keep going, it is so worth it..

Smashed the 6 month mark on 24th June ‘08 and next week will be 7 months. Feeling groovy.. Still noticing weird little things that I hadn’t related to smoking (possibly stupidly) – like, the brown marks on my lips have gone (thought this was age!) Also, in one eye, the ‘colour’ appeared to be ‘bleeding’ from the iris – and is now normal; again, I thought this was age.

Now I very, very rarely think about smoking. Occasionally, the old ‘flash’ of desire goes through the mind, but I gently laugh at myself and just ignore it. Never strong enough to act on and there are a million reasons not to if I really had to convince myself. Not least of which is an extra 100 squid a month to spend on shoes, heheheh!

So, good luck to everyone out there still ‘trying’ – just tell yourself over and over ‘I am a non-smoker; I don’t smoke; I am a non-smoker – smoking DISGUSTS ME!!!’ Sounds mad, but if it worked for me, it might work for you!

Three months. I think I have this licked, as they say. Am sitting at the pc and there is a full pack of Bensons right in front of me (my partner’s). I am unmoved.

Suffered the strongest temptation this month since I quit – a very, very stressful period at work. I recognised that I was just experiencing more ‘triggers’ than normal (I would have been smoking heavily) and just continued to ignore them.

Have been debating with myself whether I should have said I will count this ‘done’ after a year. I feel it’s ‘done’ now. I learnt the lesson the last time I quit that you can never have ‘just the one’. I KNOW this now. How long should I really count for? Should I consider it done and move on, smoke-free?! Advice welcome!

You know what – I’m done! I will check in one year from my quit date and confirm I am STILL a non-smoker. But I am counting this as ACHIEVED!

Two months. Heeheeeheeeheee!! I now have pink gums again. And I can get up in the morning without feeling/looking like the living dead. Early days still, I know, and I don’t want to tempt fate; but I am feeling so good I can’t see why I would ever be tempted to have the ‘just one’ that would be the road back to ruin. I am (trying) not ‘counting the days’ so much anymore – non-smokers don’t do this, so I shouldn’t either! But will commit to ‘achieving’ this goal in one year from my quit date (Christmas Day). I managed 6 months the last time I quit, so I need to go through that and beyond!

35 days = 350 not smoked, £101 not wasted. Feeling very pleased to have reached and passed the one month mark! Am not missing it at all, despite the odd craving; easily ignored. I am less tired and stressed, my skin looks much better and my eyes are clearer; it’s good to have my face back!

24 days and counting.

That’s 240 Benson’s not smoked and £69.60 not exhaled in a cloud.