The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

jo1972

DC & BW, never give up giving up! I must've tried to quit smoking 100s of times in my 20 odd years of smoking and some quits were more successful than others, it's a bit like my drinking habit that I'm trying to quit now, some days you have more strength than others. But keep going, eventually it will stick. xx

MumOf2

:jJust wanted to say well done to everyone who is now a non-smoker - keep strong and keep on reminding yourselves of the many, many benefits to health, clothes and wallet.

Latest readings:
Smoke free: 3W 2D 18H 41M
Amount saved: £142.67
Cigarettes not smoked: 475

Am continually surprised by the lack of cravings or even thinking about smoking in the context of me and cigarettes - was perfectly sanguine about standing with a group of smokers last week, in a bar overseas with a friend smoking and even with someone smoking in my kitchen (am determined not to be holier-than-thou-verging-on-bigotted about this). I didn't even really notice it.

Still drinking loads of water and am walking rather than eating (weird to feel true hunger again!). Have rejigged my budget for 2010 - the £2,000+ not spent on cigarettes is going half into savings and half to a fab skiing holiday. It's like a £3,000 instant pay increase - how wonderful is that :j

MumOf2

greenpixie_2

Day 5 of no smoking.

Did anyone slightly get the shakes when quitting? Thanks for your support everyone.

now that the boyfriend knows i'm taking this seriously and for myself as well as him he's trying to make it fun and is giving me presents at different stages. Though if i have more than one relapse i have to start all over from again and miss all the presents that i've already had.

Well done mumof2! Must be so much easier than the first week!

mollie123_2

I've now been off the cigarettes for 5 whole days (it'll be six by the end of tonight) and I really, really want one!!!!! I thought it would start to get easier after the first few days. Thought I'd pop on here, enjoy a bit of peace (got a house full of kids - perhaps that's why I want one!), look for some success stories and stay calm.

Well done everyone. Now I'm off to kick the cat, stomp my feet and anything else I can think of the get rid of my frustrations!

Does any one else ever feel like this?

sar050680

mollie123 wrote: »

I've now been off the cigarettes for 5 whole days (it'll be six by the end of tonight) and I really, really want one!!!!! I thought it would start to get easier after the first few days. Thought I'd pop on here, enjoy a bit of peace (got a house full of kids - perhaps that's why I want one!), look for some success stories and stay calm.

Well done everyone. Now I'm off to kick the cat, stomp my feet and anything else I can think of the get rid of my frustrations!

Does any one else ever feel like this?

I did for the first week or 2 Mollie, I think the trick is, as you say, staying calm. Oh and the " Now I'm off to kick the cat" comment made me lol.:rotfl: Try and stay strong.

Paul.

mollie123_2

sar050680 wrote: »

I did for the first week or 2 Mollie, I think the trick is, as you say, staying calm. Oh and the " Now I'm off to kick the cat" comment made me lol.:rotfl: Try and stay strong.

Paul.

Thanks Paul - I'm trying!!!

mollie123_2

I think I just have to accept that I'm having a really bad day today. The urge to smoke is still here so I think I'm just going to call it quits soon and go to bed.

Funnily enough though, I had a really good weekend with no real strong urges. I went out on Friday night with friends. None of them smoke and I wasn't drinking so it was a very relaxed first night out as a non-smoker. I then spent the weekend with my in-laws and although I'd never dream of smoking in their house, I'd often pop outside for a crafty one. And I've got to say that spending time with them was very calming. I found that I wasn't constantly thinking of when I could sneak in my next fag - deciding not to smoke took away the pressure of wanting to smoke, if that makes sense.

Same on Sunday - we went shopping in a big centre and instead of looking for escape routes outside to light up, I was actually able to enjoy browsing around the shops.

It is bizzare - I always, always smoked when under pressure but by being a smoker, I was actually creating pressures for myself and I never noticed until this weekend.

Still planning my days - it really does help. One reason I had loads of kids round tonight was because there is no way that I'd ever smoke in front of my daughter and her friends. I think I'll finally feel as though I'm making headway when I no longer have to do this - when I take the day as it comes.

Any way my non-smoking highlights of the weeked - watching a pantomine with my daughter, mum and in-laws and enjoying a coffee at the break instead of rushing outside for a quick one and wearing lipstick (wouldn't normally bother because it would soon wear off onto the cigarettes). My daughter thought I looked really glam - she always nagging to put on a bit of lippy!!

Feel as though I'm rambling now, but it really does help.

All the best to everyone.

Mollie x

irishwexford

After a tense game of bowls tonight I decided to buy some ciggies on the way home as OH is at work so he would never know but somehow I just drove home and had a coffee instead. I was ok all day but I do miss a ciggie when I get home from bowls. So pleased with myself but i thought I would have finished with the cravings now although they are not so often.
I have a voice in my head telling me I really need a ciggie now and then and I don't know how to shut it up.
On the positive front, my skin looks better, no more wheezes, more cash and sleeping like a log.
Thinking of everyone sharing my journey and wish you all the best of luck

Sue-UU

Oh, so very well done Irish!!!!! :T You made it and instead of cheating on OH, yourself more so though (!!) you looked forward to, and enjoyed, a cup of coffee instead, brilliant! Always look for something very enjoyable or a treat of some sort to help you get over those habitual times that have connected in the past. Little by little you'll forget all about them, go and play bowls and look ahead to that lovely cup of coffee with your feet up. BTW, you're not craving in the proper sense as, if memory serves me correctly, you're not on patches so are nicotine free. What you are most likely feeling is a sense of missing something, to help you get over that; as soon as it happens fix a beautiful memory/thought into your mind and build on it and all the things connected with a really lovely time you enjoyed. You have some wonderful positives Irish,keep them uppermost in your mind!

All the very best Jo :T, keep at it and stay strong and positive! Thanks for all you do here!

Great news MumOf2!!! :TYou sound terrific and getting through it all fine.I know what you mean about not getting "holier-than-thou" at others still smoking, that's their choice after all (or them not quite where we are yet), but at least you can be close to them doing so without it affecting you and that at your relatively early stage is amazing! Your sentence that you're "Still drinking loads of water and am walking rather than eating" was lovely to read as those are really good helpers to ALL of us in giving it up - successfully! Terrific MumOf2, keep it up as you're doing just fine!!! Good for you in looking ahead with your finances and holidays paid for through NOT smoking!!! :j

greenpixie wrote: »

Day 5 of no smoking.

Did anyone slightly get the shakes when quitting? Thanks for your support everyone.

now that the boyfriend knows i'm taking this seriously and for myself as well as him he's trying to make it fun and is giving me presents at different stages. Though if i have more than one relapse i have to start all over from again and miss all the presents that i've already had.

Hi greenpixie and congratulations on remaining as a non-smoker for 5 days already!!! :T Several quitters have mentioned about being shaky for a few days after quitting, though the added problem may also be affecting you, but that'll soon run it's course and get out of your system (so long as you avoid it) - just as the nicotine has already!!! Your boyfriend is being a great support and really helping you by using treats to get you through it all. A great and wise guy there, hang on to him!;)

Thanks a lot Paul, we need more folk like you to help others quit, people who know just what it's like. Please keep it up whenever you can! Thanks Paul, a true saver in the making too! Did you see the Grand Total? Amazing!

mollie124 wrote:

I've now been off the cigarettes for 5 whole days (it'll be six by the end of tonight) and I really, really want one!!!!! I thought it would start to get easier after the first few days. Thought I'd pop on here, enjoy a bit of peace (got a house full of kids - perhaps that's why I want one!), look for some success stories and stay calm.

Well done everyone. Now I'm off to kick the cat, stomp my feet and anything else I can think of the get rid of my frustrations!

Does any one else ever feel like this?

Short answer - yes! However, it's not only the lack of cigs that causes it, and a fair few kiddies in the house brings stress with it so I think you've answered your question there. See it through Mollie, you've a lovely peaceful weekend in calming company and circumstances where smoking wasn't a real issue, hence the calm in you. Then you get back to the normal everyday life areas and you're bound to have sticky days. You said about kicking the cat :eek: but do you have anything aside from tiddles to vent on.... an old pillow or fill a bag full of heavy, but softish materials and hang it somewhere so you can punch he*l out of it!!! :mad: Then, try to calm yourself by flicking through photos of your youngsters or any much-loved photos and know that you're only having a bad day and whenever you do just look toward the next one being a better one! Sipping water at such times does help and breathing deeply and exercising! Make time for a brisk walk, or bike ride whenever possible - and read through MomOf2's post, both are helping her, let her help you!;) You WILL go the distance Mollie and live life without fear - and write on here as much as you need to, it can only do good!;)

There are some really good vibes coming here at present, I really think we have some ex-smokers in the making. Keep enjoying the journey folks - it has a terrific end!!!

Sue

I_Wanna_Retire_Someday

.......I'm still going.....2 months today

Feeling great. One of the things I worried about was concentrating. Now I'm concentrating the same as I was as a smoker, maybe even better! Appetite is now back to normal. I'm now starting to think of my self as a non smoker rather than a smoker who just happens to be not smoking at the momment IYSWIM.

Well done everyone and keep going.:T