Thinking about giving up smoking? Look no further than our discussion boards for some motivational reasons to quit the evil weed

• 'I woke up one morning and could smell cigarettes everywhere; on my hair, clothes, furniture and the clean washing in the airing cupboard. Then I smelt it on my kids and that was the last straw for me. It was as if I'd had a party going for a month and everyone had been smoking non-stop. I don't know why as I'd never smelt anything like it before. I decided to give up there and then.'  annb



• 'I've been through the mill with it, but I feel a bit better in my overall health and never have that dirty early morning raspy throat now. I am breathing better and not out of breath so much now.'  jg10123



• 'Staying at a friend's house and hearing her mother coughing and coughing at 5am because of years of smoking, I thought "I just don't want to end up like that". Unfortunately, she died a few months later. Sorry to sound so morbid but it just brought it home what smoking really does. It wasn't easy to quit but once I had got through the first couple of months I knew I wouldn't smoke again.'  kristi_37



• 'For anyone doubting the health benefits of giving up, I should tell you that my husband - who gave up at the same time as me (3/10/05), and who had a terrible cough before we gave up - spent two months coughing up revolting black stuff after he stopped. His cough is completely gone now. He also had really bad varicose veins on his feet which he said he got from cycling when he was younger. They have also completely disappeared. We went hill walking a month or so ago and when we got to the top of the hill he said that was the first time in years that he had done a climb like that without his chest hurting. He is doing so brilliantly. I am very proud of him. Stick with it, it's worth it!'  vanlea73



• 'After a weekend of total nicotine overdose due to friends staying, too much to drink and way too many cigarettes, I have finally decided enough is enough.'  dizzycleo



• Last September, I think my husband and I had both had enough of it. We ran out of excuses - as if having three kids, one with occasional asthma and one with a terrible, persistent cough - wasn't enough. My husband was made redundant from a job he hated and at first we thought it was end of the world, but then he got a training place and he's now in a job he likes. He thinks that helped him because he got away from the habits and people who he would share a cigarette with.'  xpicklesx



• '10 Reasons why I want to give up:
  
  1. So I can stop panicking that every tiny twinge is the onset of a deadly illness I've brought on myself.
  2. So I will be able to breathe more deeply.
  3. I will smell nicer.
  4. I will no longer smoke myself silly or sick on a big night out. I think I like to smoke when I'm drinking, but the reality is I chain smoke till I'm dizzy and then get a worse hangover.
  5. It will stop the damage to my voice that smokers get.
  6. I will have better skin And be fitter.
  7. I will save money.
  8. I'll have a better chance of having healthy kids.
  9. I'll have more time to think about other things, not always be planning when I can smoke.
  10. I will improve my relationships with my non-smoking family, who I always walk out on after a couple of hours because I'm so desperate for a cigarette.'  silver_a



• 'My main reason for stopping is my wonderful, beautiful children. They are my life and I can't bear the thought of not being there for them because of smoking.'  Cookie334



• 'I am 21 weeks pregnant and still a non-smoker. I am so proud of myself and so thankful I gave up for my baby.'  jojouk1983



• 'Remember, you can only stop smoking for yourself and it doesn't matter what anyone else says, it's up to you to do it. And if you do fall off the wagon, there really is no point in beating yourself up about it. Learn from it and get on with things.' cl-jj

Want to give up? Take the iVillage Stop Smoking Challenge