h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have recently given up (58 days ago) and it is worth it! Sometimes I get a craving but it soon passes.

I agree that the government is being hypocritical about this, especially when some health authorities (like mine) will refuse to treat a smoker suffering from a non-smoking illness.

Oh No! I think I'm turning into a reformed smoker!

The longest I have ever been 'clean' for is six weeks, most recently I had stopped for 2 weeks. The feeling of letting myself and my family down is the worst part. Any tips on how to keep going?

I found the patches helped and I tried to stay out of situations where I might want to smoke. I used by boyfriend as a verbal punchbag so if I felt a craving we would talk on the phone until the craving passed. I recommend a good distraction! I stopped using the patches every day after 3 weeks and only used them when I was going to the pub or a smokey place. I haven't used one even for that for about a month now. I feel proud of myself and in 3 weeks and 4 days I will officially be considered a non-smoker!

I'm affraid I'm one of those smokers who does everything with a cigarette in his hand. Except the obvious like sleeping, sex and showering. Perhaps I should just turn myself into the cleanest, sleepiest f@#%$r in the world.

Seriously though I haven't had a smoke for two days, I think it's time for some serious cold turkey!.

Hey! why doesn'tthe paragraph thing work here.

I think you've every right to be proud of yourself, and you know I'm always available for some verbal abuse! It was good that all your friends were so encouraging when you told them.

If you have gone for two days then try going for 3 but also try not to think about it.

I actually had a dream last night where I smoked and Doug walked out on me! Not nice!

I've had dreams like that, only in mine I let her go and ask her to pass me my lighter on her way out!!! Ooops thats not a dream thats a nightmare. Still, four and a bit days, I think I'm over the worst. I even managed to sit in the pub on Saturday night without one. Perhaps I was just too excited at being out for once, babysitters are hard to come bye these days, and I simply forgot that I smoked, sorry, used to smoke.

I went to see my family this weekend and they didn't even notice that I didn't smoke any more - observant lot. Half of the battle is done if you have managed to sit in a pub and drink without giving in. I also found that it was best to have someone to talk to on the phone if you got a craving - by the time we finished talking usually the craving would have gone!

The only reason I managed to not give in was the fact that my other half - she of the pink healthy lungs - was with me! It will be more of test when I'm with friends especially the friends of the smoking variety. However I would still have to go home to my healthier half and there would certainly be some sort of verbal, if not physical abuse, when she caught a whiff of me. Do you know?, that has to be one of the best attractions to being a reformed smoker, not stinking like an ashtray all day.

The way I have mainly managed to cope is spending more time around my kids or just staying in the same room as them. I,ve never smoked in the house, or in the car when they have been around. And when I have our eldest (8 year old Girl) has let me know in no uncertain terms, "daddy I feel sick and it's that smoking that's doing it". You maybe wondering why it's taken me so long to stop, I wish I knew!!!

I'm the same. I have said for years that I wanted to give up but never did no matter how much I hated it. All Doug did was ask. And you are right about the biggest attraction. It is nice when we are snuggling and Doug tells me how nice my hair smells - before it just smelt of fags!

I've found that Ive turned into a human fridge magnet. Every time the craving appears I find myself drawn to the fridge in search of cheese, which I cut into long thin strips! I have also developed "Irritable Pen Tapping Syndrome", HELP!!! where's the IPTS forum. Sorry, had a stressful morning at work.

I found ordinary spearmint gum worked for me on the cravings. As for IPTS, what the hell-it's not addictive and as long as it calms you who cares if it irritates anyone else!

So how's it going? Have you managed to last? Have you reached the point where your tastebuds are alive yet?

This is the first weekend where i didn't once think about smoking!

Sorry, I,ve been a little tardy in doing this recently. I'm still of them and actually beginning to consider myself a non-smoker. And guess what I actually seem to have some spare cash! I wonder how that happened? Thanks for listening/reading it's helped, how have you been?

I've been fine and Monday was my first day as and official non-smoker. It is 12 weeks or 84 days without a cigarette and it felt pretty good. I too have spare money but I'm going to spend it all when I am on holiday next week! Have your kids noticed the difference?

If you feel like giving in when I am away go and see Vegiman's page as he is running a quit group!

Well done and give yourself a pat on the back!

The kids are kids! they notice you singing Steps songs when their mates around, they notice it's been a while since the last trip to the swimming or Burger King. The just shrug their shoulders and say things like you shouldn't have started in the first place. I know my eight year old is secertly quite chuffed.

Enjoy your holiday, anywhere nice?, of course it is you wouldn't go anywhere you know to be boggin.

Florence is usually described as many things but nice seems to small an adjective! To make your kids understand what you are going through tell them it would help if they gave up something they love too like sweets or crisps - maybe it will teach them how hard addiction is!