The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

firestronaut

Thank you for the welcomes, everyone

Having slight trouble adjusting to nicotine free life and must admit... had a crafty one of my mum earlier. But... I've learnt through losing weight that it isn't failure, it's a blip.

Using the new 25mg invisi patches... meant to be 16 hour but I keep the same one on through the night too, so help with the morning craving.

Any one have any tips for dealing with triggers that are unaviodable (eating, closing the front door, leaving the supermarket for me)

jojododd

I am attempting to lose weight at the same time! The only advice I can give you is keep up with the not smoking but, dont be too hard on yourself about the weight. Lots of people on this thread suggested clemintines for the vitamin c and of course you peel them it takes your mind off it. Good luck with everything. x:j

firestronaut

Thanks!

That's a great suggestion!

Will definitely top up the fruit bowl tomorrow

Sue-UU

MumOf2 wrote: »

Solution - grit teeth and keep them clamped together! omg this must be the worst - how on earth to get through this?

MumOf2

Hi MumOf2, (please bear with me in the hope that my cursor doesn't fly all over the place and prevent me from finishing the post). I was so sorry to read your posts and see how you're feeling now, especially after how marvellously you've already done. However, you may well find that tomorrow is so different and puts a far better face on things. Don't forget the water, even in sips it'll help. Fruit too, especially apples which take a good while to eat, carrots are much the same. Also, whilst you're unable to go for that very valuable walk that's done you so much good so far, try exercise dvds! Belting up and down stairs helps too and so do relaxation dvds/tapes. If anything appeals then try it!! If your body feels like a darned good cry, then go ahead and let the tears go. Your brain is still being plagued by the blessed nicotine, even though the actual chemicals have been gone after 3 days, don't let it win! It WILL pass MumOf2, I promise you, but for now you need to stay strong, and please don't worry about the family, they'll have had it all explained and after you've reached you journey's end will be so grateful to you for going through it all, really they will. They can cope with the now, you can also! You'd be horrified IF you gave in and went back to the you that you chose to leave, the you that wanted to get to a healthy lifestyle again, the you who wanted to quit for good, for you and for ALL the family! You've been doing brilliantly MumOf2, PLEASE keep up the quitting and stay strong, you know you can - we all know you can too!!

Love, Sue x

Luvly.cuppa.T

Ooooo the tangerine thing is a great idea!

Just wanted to congratulate everyone in their quest to be smoke free, and to offer support- hoorah! I myself have reached the errr, I think 8 week mark now? How laxidasical am I? I'm not that laid back though, I assure you- I just kicked the habit when I reached that point of "Right, let's do it!" I find it works better that way (for me anyway).

I didn't give details of myself and my habit before- I smoked in the region of 12-15 ciggies a day, although when out for the night, or working on a deadline (I am a student) I could up that by twice the amount.... and then some....
I am also a mother of 3, started puffing when I was 14, and became hooked fast, without realising it. Heh- you only realise you are hooked when you actually try to give up, that's the reality of it usually!

I posted on here a few weeks ago, saying I came off the Champix and was finding it hard to deal with the cravings. Well, I managed a night out with me uni mates really well- had no cravings at all, and as someone else said it really really helps that smoking is banned indoors now in clubs and pubs etc. It also helped that one of my 3 mates was also a non-smoker (see what I did there?), but I took some delight watching the other 2 trot off out into the freezing cold lol. And then the drunker I got, the more I didn't realise they were off smoking, and was oblivious to ever having been a smoker. However, I have to admit, I reckon I had Champix still in my system at that point. B*gger.

A week later I got amazingly drunk (good happy drunk) at home with my partner, and the craving was immense! It didn't help that he smoked (he still does- pah).... I fought it well, ate loads of pringles , watched the OH go out into the garden and back in again and then out and then in.....and then caved in at the end of the night and smoked about a half a ciggie. And you know what I blooming loved it, and almost had an orgasm from smoking it!!!!

I can't lie! I sat there like someone jacked up from heroin, buzzing away in heaven. But my lungs did squeal with hurt from the inhalation, even when lightly done and I couldn't take any more than the half.

I woke the next day with suffering lungs (that extra 25% of lungage had gone, from being smoke free), but I didn't want a ciggie. I didn't get mad with myself, or berate myself as I thought I would, I just shrugged my shoulders and said "you faltered, you are sorely and truely addicted to the stuff, and you really don't want to go there again, so lets move on with life". My partner was more gutted for me, but I think it's down to him feeling guilty for being a smoker in my face. And yeah I reckon it is his fault . But you know what, I don't think I was mad with myself, as I knew it was just a blip, and I was still free from smoke, whereas he is still hooked to it. Anyway, after about 40 hours, I got my lovely lungs back to their full capacity, and I managed to get on with my life as planned, smoke free. Yay!

I did continue to have many strong cravings, I reckon partly from coming off Champix, and partly from having a few puffs, and partly from having a general dip from being an ex-addict. But after stuffing myself silly over Christmas, the cravings are getting less and less. And also, just simply saying, I'm not bending to your whinning- the answer is no and no it remains- I'm not going to debate it with you, or give you my energy or time on this, it's a simple no. (Think child asking for biscuit before dinner type scenario- depends on how firm you are, I guess in the end, if the child gets the biscuit or not )

It was great to enjoy Christmas in all the non-smokers' houses and not have to sneak out and smell and be all conscious- I didn't have to move from my seat, and I hardly thought about cigs to be fair.

Heh- one thing that would make your life easier in giving up is getting yourself non-smoking friends and family! I am so amazed that some of my non-smoking family and friends managed to put up with me and other smokers for so long! they really deserve medals. :T And so does everyone else for kicking the cigs to the kerb! :T

Ooo, don't know if this would help anyone, I still have the last few cigs remaining in the last ever packet in my drawer. I did this as I didn't feel ready to let them go- it has too much symbolism for me at the moment. It is my strength to see them there, to know that they were the ones that got away lol, also for me to have to deal with seeing packets of ciggarettes and break the response I have in seeing them. They also offer me security, in that should I ever have the urge to smoke, so bad that I feel I will die without one (:D:D anyone been there? lol) I have them to hand. This means for me, less panic and anxiety. I was one of them smokers that always had to have ciggies in stock for fear they would run out, and that feeling didn't leave me even when I was ready to give up, so I keep the packet at the moment for this comfort reason also!

It also shows me that I am determined to be free from smoking as I didn't do the "have to smoke the whole packet before I can give up" thing.

Anyway, another long post from me... you're all doing really well, get your mind set straight- no means no thing- avoid the dreaded one puff thing and if you do forget it and move on and have yourself occupied in better things.

Happy fresh new year to you all!

glodh1973

Hi everyone,

well managed to get through day 3 so fingers crossed will be ok.. i am already liking the idea when i have got through today i have managed too save £20 instead of smoking it away.

Well popping too shops to get a new arial one i had in room stopped working on 30th september when we all had too rescan everything ... with money i have saved so that i can escape to my room and not inflict my rattiness out on kids they r all old enough to fend for themselves if i want too escape for me time upstairs got relaxing cds up there as well so should be a haven once sorted tv out.

also gonna get a load of fruit today the chocolate was sooooooooooo tempting yesterday but don't wanna put loads of wait on so didnt give into it...

well going now good luck everyone and will report back later

glo x

larmy16

I am going to use the tangerine trick too in a bid to eliminate my ever present extra 10-12 lbs!!!

MumOf2

Many, many thanks for all your encouragement. I got through last night without giving in and now it's another day. Feel overwhelmed by lots of issues to deal with at the moment and under-resourced with coping mechanisms. Don't want to make a drama out of this but feel exhausted and drained from it all. Didn't go to the office this morning but am working at home - will go in this afternoon if I feel like it.

Now on 6 weeks 3 days. The thing that really stopped me from having one last night was the memory of my yellow eyes staring back at me from the mirror (that sounds so horrible, and it was...). £268 not spent; 893 not smoked.

Keep going everyone.

MumOf2

Tippytoes

Hi all

Feel so much better today. Managed to get hold of some patches (just gone 2 days without), and seem to be back in control again. Perhaps going 2 days with nothing should tell me something? i.e. I didn't give in. Have to say it's much more manageable with a patch than without - at this stage, at least. Now at day 2, week 3. Hope this inspires others. Sue, thanks for the PM - you're a diamond.....and thanks to you guys, I'm still a NON smoker:T

Sue-UU

MumOf2 wrote: »

Many, many thanks for all your encouragement. I got through last night without giving in and now it's another day. Feel overwhelmed by lots of issues to deal with at the moment and under-resourced with coping mechanisms. Don't want to make a drama out of this but feel exhausted and drained from it all. Didn't go to the office this morning but am working at home - will go in this afternoon if I feel like it.

MumOf2

Tackle the issues on at a time MumOf2, it's the only and best way really. Don't let any of it get you down - after all where's the point in doing so. Sounds as though there are many things making you feel exhausted and drained at present with the underlying "whatever I do I MUST stay quit". Try and take things a little easier and keep an 'eye' on those eyes! Think of your lungs getting pinker now too and all your bronchials feeling so much better without all that filthy smoke and chemicals whizzing past them! Get plenty of sleep and take some 'Kalms' if you need them. Let the tears flow, you'll be amazed at the affect that can have. Keep up there where you belong MumOf2, you've done brilliantly!!!:D

Back as soon as I can folks, the battle I'm having with this ****** cursor is exasperating!

Love and non-smoking wishes for you ALL.

Sue