Stop Smoking Day 56 - Friday March 7th 2008

I have certainly been feeling much better over the last few days. I think it was a mistake to come off the Champix, and I guess I'll need to discuss this with my doctor. I mean, it's such a new drug, who knows what happens when you stop taking it?

I haven't been to see him yet. I was going to go yesterday morning, but I just imagined myself sitting there and telling him I was depressed. It made me feel a bit stupid so I didn't go. I know it's ridiculous thinking like that but it is a hard thing to do when you are faced with it.

I will have to see him anyway within the next couple of weeks, because I'll need some more Champix. I think I'll leave it until then to talk to him.

I had a great night out with the "lads" from work last night. We went to a pub and had a few pints while watching a UEFA cup match. Then we went to another pub but we didn't stay there long; it wasn't our sort of pub as it only had men in it! Then we went for a nice Indian meal and a few more pints.

I didn't think about smoking hardly at all, which is good. Also after a night out like that in the past, I used to feel terrible for the whole of the next day. However, although today I have a bit of a hangover, at least my mouth doesn't feel like total shite! I used to get through two whole packets of fags in just one night!

I am now almost certain that I will never smoke again.

Saved so far £462.00

Stop Smoking Day 45 - Monday February 25th 2008

A bit better today. Went to a football match this evening, and I always seem to find it easier when I've got something like that to occupy myself with, rather than just lazing around watching TV or something.

The general feeling now though is, not so much that something's missing, more that I'm missing out on something in life I found pleasurable. It's just such a shame that smoking is so damaging to your health. However, that feeling is still being outweighed by how much better I feel by not smoking so my resolve is still there.

I just wish I knew when I will start to feel "normal" again though. I certainly couldn't bear to go through the rest of my life feeling like this.

Day 24 - Monday February 4th 2008

I've been feeling a lot healthier since I stopped smoking. I've noticed my breathing is a lot easier for one thing. I used to wheeze a bit sometimes when I was trying to get to sleep, and I would continually try to clear my throat. Well that never happens anymore so I'm sleeping a lot better.

I've also noticed lately that I'm starting to feel more energetic (perhaps I shouldn't include the word "more", because that suggests I felt a degree of energy before!).

Another bonus is that food tastes so good now. Although I'll have to be careful because I'm eating a lot more, but I'm not putting on weight at the moment.

Sometimes when I really want a smoke (it happened again tonight while I was drinking some brandy) I think of those things and it helps me to resist the temptation.

I've now started to think that although I would like a cigarette and the satisfaction that goes with it, the consequences (i.e. the wheeze, the sleeping, the energy and the food taste) are too high a price to pay. And that's without thinking about all the other stuff like heart disease, cancer, etc. I suppose when there are visible benefits, it becomes easier to not smoke. I mean, all smokers know about cancer, but I bet most of them think "Yeah, but it won't happen to me". That's because they can't see it until it's too late.

It's a shame there isn't something that gives the same satisfaction as a cigarette, but without the health risks. If ever that was invented, it would make somebody very rich. Let's get working on it guys!

Mind you if I invented it, I wouldn't be surprised if the government kidnapped me and destroyed all my research. They would lose too much in taxes (especially in this country) and wouldn't be able to afford to pay the state pensions to everybody who would now live longer.

Maybe I watch too many movies.

Saved so far £198.00

Day 13 - Thursday January 24th 2008

Not much happened today really. I'm still having those "pangs" quite a bit, but I've decided that although it would be nice to satisfy that pang, I don't want to do it by having a cigarette. Doing that would just make me feel worse again, i.e. my cough would return, etc, etc.

Saved so far £107.25

Day 12 - Wednesday January 23rd 2008

I've been feeling a bit depressed today, and thought about having a smoke. But would a cigarette really cheer me up? The answer is it might for a minute or two, but then what? I'd be even more depressed that I had given in.

I've also noticed that my breathing has been a bit easier of late. I hadn't really noticed before, but I'd been clearing my throat quite a lot. Not coughing as such, you know, just a little (I don't know what to call it!). Anyway, that seems to have gone now and I don't want it back so no smoking for me then!

Saved so far £99.00