Giving Up Smoking

Another month has passed in a flash but not the flash of a cigarette lighter! Only 2 months to go and it will be a year since I stopped smoking, I never believed that I would last this long without cigarettes.

I’ve got to admit that there have been times that I’ve wanted a cigarette. Sometimes it’s stressful at work and when I see others go to the back door for a fag I’m tempted to join them. But when I pass close by the smell puts me off – maybe I’m turning into one of those intolerant ex smokers!

I’ve dug out my electronic cigarette a couple of times but I’ve stopped short at taking a drag by thinking that I will be spoiling months of effort. Away it goes again and I make myself busy to stop wanting what I can’t have.

Over the last 10 months quite a lot of those around me have tried to stop smoking but so far I’m the only one to last out more than a few weeks. That’s a shame but it goes to show just how difficult it is to quit. Like me beforehand they probably just haven’t found the right method for them, but for many of them they will one day.

I was babysitting my 4 year old grandaughter last night. Out of the blue she asked me if I smoke. I said “No not any more but I uesed to”.  Saying that made me feel almost as good as the hug that I got.

A couple that I know live in Spain and went to their doctor when they stopped and wanted help. They were asked if they wanted to die happy. Their doctor thought that they would be miserable if they stopped smoking, obviously not believing that this couple wanted to live a longer, healthier life and feel good. and that might make them happier!

My total savings now taking into account the cost of patches and e-cigs is now at least £900. I’ve already used the savings to put towards a new Sony Viao laptop, it looks a lot better than a stack of cigarette packets that I would have gone through doesn’t it? I haven’t decided what I’m going to treat myself next with saved cigarette money. I’ve been thinking about getting a guitar and learning how to play it, or maybe even put it towards a holiday.

To view the rest of my giving up smoking diary click here

If you have previously read my stop smoking diary you will know that I used electronic cigarettes to help me to quit. I heard this week that the British government are now considering banning e-cigs yet they allow the killer tobacco cigarettes to stay on sale. Please sign the petition at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/ecigarettes/