Yep Paulie it certainly is a big relief. I'm sat here while my husband has gone out to get some paint, I know he'll be gone at least half an hour and before, I would have listened for the car to drive away and been outside in the garden like a shot - not now!! Oh and yesterday I took the dog for a walk - why??? because she needed a walk.... and NOT because it was a good excuse to be out of the house and puffing away!! Freedom is sooooo good.

Nancy, I felt so amazed that someone else was the same as me, I'd felt so alone in my misery for a long time and hadn't really considered that there were more people like me, locked away in hell. I had so many hiding places for the butts and was terrified someone would discover them, I too hid from my friends, I have only one friend who is a smoker and she also helped me to hide from other friends how childish, I have told her I have quit and she is very supportive - next step is to convince her to stop, do you know what is crazy though? I also hid it from her how much I smoked on the quiet. I think it had become so ingrained in me to be secretive.

Even after just 16 days I feel better, one reason is because I too eat better, I used to skip meals all the time, simply drink coffee and smoke, then eat in the evening at weekends and wonder why I felt rubbish!! I'm also more active, lots of walking and plan to start and exercise class with my daughter. Life is good!!

I have been reading other peoples stories for a long time now but this is just amazing, you are all responding to me... my own personal situation and it is so incredibly supportive, I feel stronger and more determined than ever.

I now plan to spend a lovely day with my hubby - without trying to find a few minutes alone to smoke - alone thats a key word isn't it how sad was I - and how happy now.

Lucie
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