Comments Please - But No Spam!

I’ve had quite a few people commenting on my posts at Help Me Quit Smoking recently. I’m always pleased to hear from anybody who has enjoyed reading or been inspired by my experiences of quitting smoking and I enthusiastically welcome new comments. But regrettably there are a lot of people who are simply ‘spamming’ and using the success of this blog as a promotional medium for their own (quite often dubious) Web content.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all in favour of promotion, but there are a couple of things that really wind me up and are guaranteed not to get published here.

For example I have no intention of publishing a comment which says something like; “I also have a blog about quitting smoking. It is at www.etc...” or even worse; “Hey dude! Check out my [money making affiliate link]!” (And if you think I’m exaggerating a little there then believe me I really do get plenty of them – including the exclamation marks.)

So, just to make things clear: If you have a genuine and worthwhile comment to make then I’ll probably publish it – including the link back to your site if you have one – but please, please, please make it something on topic and of value to readers who are interested in giving up smoking. Oh, and preferably more than half a dozen words too. Fair enough?

By the way, I will soon be celebrating my 4th anniversary of quitting smoking. Yes really, FOUR YEARS since I gave up the cigarette habit and I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever. I am healthier, wealthier, and happier too.

So if you are currently trying to become an ex-smoker and want to follow my example then don’t quit on quitting!

Back To The Beginning...

If you are visiting this blog for the first time then thank you! I appreciate the number of people reading my experience of quitting smoking and I hope that in some way it helps. If even one person is encouraged or inspired to stop smoking, or perhaps just to keep on trying, then my time writing hasn't been wasted.

Actually, I wouldn't ever consider the time wasted anyway, because at the time it was a very effective and helpful activity for me which definitely improved my chances of quitting successfully. And I would highly recommend any prospective 'quitter' to consider keeping their own diary or blog both to record the experience, and as an outlet for some of the challenges they might face.

Now, if you have found Help Me Quit Smoking in the hope of finding some useful tips and advice about how you can stop smoking yourself. Then you have come to the right place; I don't pull any punches and tell it exactly how it is / was. This is my real life genuine experience of quitting smoking and I wrote it as it happened from day to day. But you will have to go back to the beginning to get a proper idea of how the process pans out. So may I suggest you travel back with me to December 2005 when I was still a smoker? Click here to go back >

Happy To Help You Quit Smoking

When I started writing Help Me Quit Smoking more than two and a half years ago, I was focusing day to day on how to manage without cigarettes in my life and couldn't really imagine how I would feel as a genuine non-smoker. Now the battle is won - I am an ex-smoker and most days don't even consider life with the dreaded weed at all. Which is why I don't post here as often as I used to: The fact is; it doesn't even cross my mind. That is a good thing in my opinion as it proves that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Lately I have received quite a few comments and messages from people who are just starting out on their journey of giving up smoking, or are sometimes only several days down the line. The fantastic thing for me is that they find reading about my own experience of quitting helpful and often encouraging. Perhaps knowing that what they are experiencing is 'normal' for a quitter, or simply that they are not alone is all it takes to keep going for just another minute, hour or day.

So, do I have any tips for quitting? Well, read about how I conquered the addiction and remember, you only have to quit one cigarette at at time. Just don't give in to the one you are craving right now and the rest of the battle will follow one cigarette at a time. Take your mind off it; go for a run, take a shower, eat an apple, chew some gum, whatever it takes to get past that craving feeling - it only takes a minute and you could probably even hold your breath for that long. So do you really need to spoil your efforts so far by giving in?

Finally, you could also start your own blog or if you want to keep it to yourself perhaps a personal diary. One thing I know is that writing things down in whatever form you choose really helps - it makes you more committed to the cause and gives you an outlet when things seem grim or impossibly difficult. And who knows? In another couple of years you could also be getting messages from people who find your thoughts helpful in their own journeys to become non-smokers.

Thanks for your comments and keep them coming. Life as a non-smoker really is healthier and happier. Good luck!