My 29 Year Addiction.

Hi All,
I'm Lee and I have decided to quit smoking cigarettes.

It's been 29 years since I started smoking as a 12 year old. I began smoking weed at the same age and I'm still not quite ready to give that up yet.

I'm currently on my 2nd day no ciggys, I've stopped smoking my normal joints and instead I'm having a couple pipes in the evening.
Today was my first day in 8 years not smoking at work, it was pretty good actually.. I used a vape at morning coffee break and once our concrete truck arrived I had a piece of nicorette (or similar) gum and found there to be no cravings.
I should mention that when i decided to quit I have promised that the money saved will be put aside and will pay for a family overseas trip to Indonesia next year for our friends wedding. I am really keen to rid myself of this addiction and enjoy more things in life with the money saved. I'm a compulsive gambler that has not gambled in over 6 years now, so I guess I'm ticking off the addictions one by one and slowly getting my money back..

I guess I'll just take it one day at a time for now,

Cheers, Lee

Day 4 almost complete!
Feeling strong.
Haven't been able to get much more than 2 hours sleep before I wake up. This is very unusual for me I have never had problems sleeping. I woke up in a cold sweat the first two nights, but not last night.
Once awake I have had a little bit of food and slept on the couch for another couple hours before returning to bed for another couple hours.
I have still only been using a vape a couple times a day and have had one to two nicotine chewing gums per day.
My motivation is increasing after being quite flat the last couple days. Oh well I'm about to have a beer and a pipe, cheers, Lee
One day at a time.

Good Morning Day 6!
Yesterday was a good day. We had friends around for a BBQ and drinks.
One or two years ago all 6 of us adults there were all heavy smokers, now there is only 1 active cigarette smokers left. When she sparked up a smoke I could barely smell it and it didn't bother me or trigger me at all.
We were all using vapes throughout the afternoon and a few joints got passed around, I had a few puffs and hoped that it wouldn't trigger me to crave a ciggy too bad, it didn't!
Off to work now, have a good day all. Cheers, Lee
One day at a time

Almost the end of day 8,
Now officially the longest ive been without a cigarette since 1994.
Been using my e cigarette vape thingy a little bit more the last couple days, but still not too much. I don't really enjoy it but it does seem to keep any cravings at bay. Especially after I've had a pipe.
Work will be tough tomorrow as I will be working in a concrete crew with at least one heavy smoker guaranteed. Will definitely remember my nicorette gum...
Cheers,
One day at a time

Congratulations and it is one day at a time. I gave up smoking & drinking both together because I always did both together.
It is important to know the triggers. It was more than 'cutting down', I had to stop it all at once.
Do I think about it? Yes, less often now than I used to. It does get easier as clean-time is accrued.

I found that if I kept my hands busy, there was little chance of being able to pick up a smoke. Deep breaths through my lips helped me to think I was haviving a smoke. Mints & candies helped. Distractions helped.
I got a real sweet-tooth after stopping drinking, but that is more under control than when I first became sober. My body had to adjust.

I have learned a lot and seen a lot. Watching someone die while not being able to catch there breath or having their organs shut down from alcohol isn't pretty. There is a point of no return.
Being around it isn't as bad as it used to be. Family & true friends were aware of what I was trying to do & supported me.
12 step programs helped me meet people who were trying to change their life for the better. I wish you the very best of luck. Keep doing what you are doing. There are rewards.

Good morning on day 12!
Cheers Wally for the reassurance and support.
I have been having a bit of trouble with my back and neck the last week or so and have been in quite a lot of pain in the last two days. I've just woken up at 4am unable to get back to sleep so having a pipe and a quick puff of my vape.
Had a few stronger cravings Friday and Saturday where I seriously considered getting a ciggy from somewhere. The thought only lasted a few seconds but it was the first couple times I've caught myself thinking of smoking.
My wife has given up tobacco now too she's on about day 7 now. She didn't smoke many cigarettes but she used to mix tobacco in with her weed and smoke spliffs. She is just smoking straight joints now and she is noticing a massive difference in how much of her smokers cough has disappeared almost instantly!
I've somehow managed to lose 1 or 2 kg in body weight in the time I've quit smoking. I thought it should have been the other way around..
Anyway I'm going back to bed, cheers all
One day at a time

Hi all,
Almost at the end of day 15...

Been going good with it all, no strong cravings to speak of.
I have been weening myself off of the nicotine gum and have only had 1 piece per day the last two days.

I have still been using my vape a bit. I find I use it most when I'm driving to and from work and after I smoke weed. I don't enjoy using them much so I'll try and slowly cut down over the next two weeks and get down to barely nothing. Then I might need to stock up on some lollies and snacks to have instead.

We are off on a short holiday on Friday with two other families to a beachside town. There's going to be plenty of drinking and partying and hopefully no cigarette smoking...

Speak soon, Cheers
1 day at a time

G'day again,
Back from a small trip away and feeling recharged and relaxed. Slipped up last night and smoked 1 cigarette.

Didn't enjoy it that much and won't be rushing out to have another one anytime soon...
On a brighter note I have already got $200 saved in the bank towards our 2024 family holiday.

Cheers
One day at a time

I kept a bag of mints or cinnamon candies in the center console. It helped. So did rubbing my forehead to massage the knotted muscles. Get the tension out.

There is a lot of free support out there for people wanting to quit. It helps to hear what other people do to change behaviors. Relate, don't compare. We all have our story to tell.

Quitting may be the wrong word to use, as it can sound like you are losing something. You are gaining back your health, saving money, becoming more productive & you don't stink.

Howdy again,

Been going good with the no smoking, haven't had any more since Saturday's little hiccup. Have been hardly thinking about ciggys at all and not using the e-ciggarette any more than I had been.

I am still having 1 or 2 nicotine chewing gum while at work and I'll probably look at stopping them at the end of the month. Then I'm going to allow myself one more month with the e-cig. We have a holiday booked for late April so I will stop using it when we get back home.

I forgot to stock up on lollies at the lolly shop we visited on our last little getaway. Well I got some peppermint chocolate frogs, but my youngest son and I demolished them pretty quickly.... I'll have to get down to the shops on the weekend and get a few different types of snacks/lollies to munch out on as I drive and work.

Anyway take care, cheers
One day at a time