The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

KatieShopstoomuch

Thanks Sue for the private message! I'll keep reading over it when i get a weak moment! I still feel really deprived it's so annoying when i was smoking i hated it and so wanted to stop and now i've stopped i feel like i'm missing something but i KNOW i'm not. Raghhhh can't wait until i'm over this bit lol

SandC

Hi guys, glad everyone is doing so well.

Nik, I had to go to the clinic before Allen Carr worked for me - the book didn't do it - the audio might have done. However I echo what you have said - if we could explain how it works then you wouldn't need to follow the instructions but if I know someone is in the right frame of mind then I will recommend to them, try the book first, try the audio, try the DVD and then try the clinic. So many people I know now smoke roll ups so can't justify the clinic expenditure in their minds and I do get that but for me it was money well spent.

Went to a bbq on Sat and loads of people were smoking and I was just fine. It was my first situation of drinking and a place where the drink could go hand in hand with the fag (as opposed to being inside and people nipping out). I know I will not smoke again. It just doesn't appeal to me any longer and there is something about the Allen Carr method which teaches you that you do not feel like you are missing out on anything, whch is what normally happens in a cold turkey way.

3XsAlady

Hi everybody,

Still doing well & thankfully still finding it surprisingly easy. The biggest problem I now have is WINE GUMS, it's a wonder I'm not 'drunk' on them. I'm buying them by the lb at my local supermarket & demolishing them within 2days (Sorry Sue but they taste better than apples & water) but I know I'm going to have to wean myself off them sooner rather than later or I'll have no teeth left.

Good luck to everyone else in their quest to be smoke free. WE CAN ALL DO IT!

missmilly

Hello everyone,

I don't know how I have made it to day 43!!! The last couple of weeks have been tough to say the least. Since my little episode in hospital I have been a bit scared of using my NRT, but have since checked with my cessation nurse and she thinks it was probably nothing to do with NRT. She has now given me 16mg patches to try, but, as yet, I am doing without. I haven't used any patches since 30th May, but have just gone back on the gum.

Last week we had a series of smoking visitors, one of whom insisted on pushing his pack towards us, both DH and me, ended up having a couple :eek: :mad::mad:, and we felt really dreadful, and it certainly wasn't worth it!!! Still that's all behind us now,onwards and upwards. I am eating loads of apples and drinking lots of water, but.............. I'm sure you all know exactly how I feel, but I wish it would hurry up and pass.

I should be on holiday now, but was advised not to fly (or drive) until the hospital has finished checking me out, the good news is that the airline have allowed us to postpone our flight, so we can rearrange anytime before the New Year :T. I have to go back to hospital next week on three separate days for more tests, which is really difficult as I can't drive there at the mo, but heh ho, better safe than sorry.

I seem to have put on about 7-8lbs in weight, hope that doesn't continue, does everyone have that problem and will it stop soon.... please, please let it.

Thanks to you all for your inspiration and help.

Dreamingalound

Hi all, glad to see some old names still going strong. I thought i would give an update. I am approaching three months soon, i stopped smoking on the 18th March 2009. My fiancee stopped exactly a month after me on the 18th April 2009. We are now both going strong and only really speak about smoking every once in a while.

It does get easier, and because it gets easier it also gets tougher at those moments. When you only have one moment a day when you are thinking about smoking it makes it harder to overcome as you haven't had another one all day! But keep strong and remember that if millions of other people can stop smoking then you can too!

Good luck everyone,

Dreaming Aloud

Sue-UU

kindofagilr wrote: »

Yes Sue, I am determined to not smoke on holiday, I think it might be harder than it is for me here, cos I do love smoking on holiday, and my only concern is what I am going to do throughout the day? as I dont know where to put the patch when I am sunbathing lol, I can put it on my butt cheek or on my boob (under the bikini) but i've heard they fall off when they get wet once you have been swimming etc?

I was thinking maybe I could do with just the inhalor throughout the day, then once I have been showered and ready for the night time I can wear the patch?

Congratulations kindofagilr, making it to your first week so very successfully is marvellous, praise yourself really well as you so deserve it!!! :T Well done to you for making your weekend such an active one, good for you! Keep it up when weather permits. I see your dilemma with the patch? I know nothing about them, but is it possible to remove it, go for a swim and stick it on your butt intermittently?? If not then I think the inhalor by day, patch by night is a great idea.

Hi Katie and well done so far! Focus on the following <<"when i was smoking i hated it and so wanted to stop">> Try to get that in your head and KEEP it there...as smoking is NOT going to get the better of you as YOU won't let it!!! :mad: You can do it Katie, you know you will as you're determined to stay in good health!!!

Brilliant SandC, you made it through and did so amazingly well, congratulations on that AND having been a non-smoker for THREE MONTHS!!!!! :T :j :T You are one very determined lady who's set her heart and mind on the goal and will NOT be swayed, amazing work - and rewards!!!:D

....:D one way to look at it 3XsAlady if you do lose your teeth at least you'll curb those gums to sucking only!!! :lipsrseal If they're working for now then don't worry too much, but try to have an apple or something to your liking every now and then or you'll be loking like a gum soon!;) Very well done indeed on keeping up as a non-smoker, a couple more days and you'll be at 3 weeks!!!:T Actually, I wish you hadn't mentioned those blessed gums, I could murder one now!!! :drool:

Moving swiftly on to missmilly. Oh dear, oh dear! OK, it was just a couple so call it a blip and keep moving on from 42 days. You've been marvellous in getting there anyway, so as you say, onward and upward and never be tempted...or let him visit again!! :mad: "We don't smoke any more, thanks you!" However tough it's been Milly, you've done brilliantly in getting to 42 days and should be so very proud of yourselves!! How about you both having a meal or something that would be special as a treat to you. It might just help to reward yourselves, you deserve it.

I'm delighted to hear the holiday is still on for sometime in the New Year, far better to get your health in check first. I hope everything's ok now and that was just an unexplained wobble....I have them all the time! :rolleyes: Eating loads of apples and drinking lots of water will help you not to put weight on. It made me giggle when you asked what to do about it. On an episode of "Doc Martin" a woman asked "What's an alternative diet?", his gruff retort "Keep your mouth shut!" :rotfl: Keep at plenty of fruit and veg and it will soon get better for you. Doing something to take your mind off food always helps to, so long as you enjoy it. How about stepping up the exercise, 2 birds with 1 stone etc!

All the very best you've ALL done absolutely marvellously and the pride should be overflowing. Keep strong, it won't be long and.....you ARE non-smokers anyway, enjoy the title!

Sue

KatieShopstoomuch

Hey everybody! I fell asleep this afternoon i feel soooooooooo tired i don't remember being like this last time i stopped or maybe it isn't releated? I seen a friend earlier and she was having a smoke and it actually didn't annoy me as much as i thought it would i was glad i was able to say nope don't want one, it seems to be when i'm sitting at home doing nothing that i crave!

Sue-UU

Hi Katie, no need to worry too much about that. You're still back in the early days again and need to push yourself to get thoughts of not smoking out of your mind. Also, we've got warmer weather which can be naturally tiring.

However, you've most probably been battling so much with so many thoughts with the cravings that you're physically and mentally exhausting yourself. How long have you quit for so far this time? If it's more than 3 days then the nicotine will be out of your body and what you perceive to be "cravings" now aren't really that at all. It's all down to your mind still playing tricks on you, what you have to do is fight it off!! As soon as anything like it enters your mind....push it out fast and replace it with beautiful memories of scenes, or holidays. If you have a cam-corder and holidays recorded via it, then play them and enjoy them (so long as you weren't smoking in them!) Get out photograph albums or do some sewing, painting, sketching? Anything you enjoy and can immerse yourself in to. That way your hands and mind will be taken up with other ways to enjoy life.

Your sentence <<"it seems to be when i'm sitting at home doing nothing that i crave!">> spells it all out, as most of us would be like that. Try and keep as active as possible by walking, gardening, cycling, swimming, tennis or similar. It doesn't need to be strenuous just something to get you out or focused on things and activities. If you go for walks, start off at a gentle pace, then if you feel able, pick up speed a bit and breathe deeply so you're filling your lungs with clean oxygen.

Deep breathing alone can make you so much more alert and I know I go on about it, BUT so does water!!! Tonight, have a bath/shower and relax, then have a hot drink and when feeling cool enough go to bed. Never get into bed if you're feeling hot as you'll find yourself tossing and turning, if you're cool and can mentally see beautiful scenes, chances are you'll soon drift off.

Water, apples, breathing deeply! Go on Katie, you CAN do it!!! PM me if you wish!

Sue.

Sue-UU

Hi there Dreaming Aloud! It's so good to see you - AND - to see that you're both still getting on excellently!!! You've really been great with it from the start and now have so much to look forward to in life. Thanks for the good advice for everyone above, keep us up to date with how you're going won't you!

Sue

Wesker

Hi all, i'm still here

3 weeks today and i'm still doing ok, i have good days and bad days but i think the bad days are getting fewer :rolleyes: just got to stick with it
Well done to everyone else, you are all doing really well :T keep it up