The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

oldreekie

Hi blueye and welcome to the board. I remember those panic attacks and they do pass. I had to find ways to cope such as deep breathing - in for 3, hold for 3 and out for 3.

You haven't stated your method of quitting - are you using NRT or is it cold turkey? Some quitters who have not wanted to use the patches have used Niquitin minis or the inhalator.....just to get through such moments as you describe.

You may find it helpful to read through the pages and see what methods other folk have used. Lots of cold water and fruit!

Good luck - you can do it!!

oldreekie

Hi everyone - just catching up with all the news. At the beginning, I used to be here all the time but, now, am just too busy being a non smoker.

So pleased that you have put the blip behind you ameliarate :j I do think that the 1 month - 6 weeks is a difficult time in a completely different way to the start. I have been thinking about this a lot over the last few days. At the beginning I was constantly reminding myself of all the reasons why I had to give up ....... I must, I must, I must ...... was the chant in my head. Then came another phase where I was jubilant; on a "high" almost; so pleased with myself and the chant was " yes, I can do this". Now, it is all so much easier and hours pass without a thought about smoking but I think it is a dangerous time. We have to continue to remind ourselves of all the reasons why we wanted to stop now that the circulation is improving, the cough has gone and we smell more fragrant .... well I hope I do!!

At present, I am going through a hard time, emotionally. Someone I adore is leaving the country for a year and I am heartbroken. There are times that I would dearly love a cigarette for the comfort but keep telling myself that it would solve nothing. I stopped smoking for this person though they do not know it ~ but they are thrilled, all the same.

There, I wrote down something I would never tell anyone so thanks for listening :T

Onwards and upwards.

blueye

im not using anything, ive tried them all before i dont think they can help me, i always start smoking again but more for some reason i went up to 25 a day last time i started again so i hope i can do it this time i cant afford to go up anymore lol.
can anyone tell me how long it was before they went a whole day without craving a cig, i mean physical craving

Sue-UU

That's quite amazing ameliarate! :T You're getting on so very well, even sounding so much more positive now too, good for you. Re the gum, wean yourself off it bit by bit; don't chew each piece for so long, then after a while hold off having one til a bit later and so on. By the time you've don all that ....you'll be an ex-smoker!!!!! :rotfl:Stay strong and proud amelia!

Hi blueye and welcome to the thread! I've sent you a PM which might answer some of your queries, though we're all individuals and it takes some longer than others to get to a whole day without craving a ciggie. I can tell you that after 3 days all nicotine will have left your body, that knowledge alone for me was a real incentive. The best thing you can do is to keep as active as you possibly can, and like oldreekie advises, drink plenty of water and eat a lot of fresh fruit. Come on here as often as you wish and pour your heart out ...or shout about your success and how healthy and sweet-smelling you are. Put away the money saved each day, that can be a real bonus. Treat yourself to something you'd really like every now and then, it'll do you the world of good. All the very best to you to quit THIS time round blueye! PS. Read through the posts in this thread blueye, it can really help to read about the success of the others, such as Puzzlebubbles above.

Fantastic news Puzzled!!!!! :T:T:T I was only wondering about you last week and thinking you must be making head way, and here you are so proudly claiming your success and rightly so! Great news!

How wise you are in your thinking oldreekie. It pays to 'keep your eye on the ball', as you're obviously reminding yourself, and never, ever let ourselves become complacent thinking "I'm ok now". Very wise thinking indeed. Good advice for others too oldreekie, you can always tell when someone's well on the way to winning through! Great news on having got 6 weeks free and sounding so positive that you CAN do it!!! :T My heart went out to you on reading about your friend leaving and how desperately you're going to miss him/her. Try looking ahead to when he/she returns oldreekie, by then I'm positive they'll see a sweet smelling and very proud ex-smoker and be even MORE thrilled for you! Keep reminding yourself (sadly) just how fast a year in our lives goes, you'll soon be welcoming him/her home again! Don't forget the internet, skype too, it's brilliant!! Keep that head held high and look to the future!

Keep at it everyone and take on oldreekie's mantra ...that "yes, I CAN do this"!! :j Wishing you all well.

Sue

Leela_G

Hi

I gave up smoking 4 weeks ago, using Champix, although to be honest i only took the tablets for the first two weeks, kept forgetting to take them.

So far so good, however, i am going out for some drinks tomorrow and was considering buying a pack of those herbal cigarettes from Holland & Barrett. I would rather have these with me "just incase" than end up buying normal cigs.

Has anyone ever smoked these?

Sue-UU

Hi Leela, welcome to the thread and congratulations on having stopped for 4 whole weeks already, well done you! :T I'd never even heard of herbal ones, but if you think they might help then try some. The only thing I'd be a bit concerned about is that, it just might be a bit too close to the real thing and anyone new to stopping could be drawn back to puffing 'proper' again. If you're going out for drinks then why not stay safe and stay inside while the others go and have their puffs.

Take care and don't let anyone take you back to where you don't want to be, not these days! Very well done so far!

Sue x

shaven-monkey

My Last Cigarette Smoked.
I'm going to get soooo fat or orange. I've chosen raw carrots as my snack.

H+B herbals gave me a very dry throat + cough but also a deep husky voice, so if you fancy a mariella frostrop type voice...
I'd avoid joining the social smokers outside a pub though. The passive smoke will set your cravings off and if you've had a few drinks the demon will start telling you that "just one" won't hurt.

nervousmother

Im really loving these niquitin minis, i tried them as I did not want the constant supply of nicotine. I just pop one of these in my mouth if i get a craving, I really couldnt have imagined how good they are or how quick they respond to my craving or is it just in my mind. It seems within a few seconds im happy again.
Most of the time Im taking about 4 a day, on bad days I have had 6, although im not limiting myself just taking note.
I do miss smoking, but not half as much as I thought I would. made me laugh at the above post where someone had said they were glad they didnt take a 'fag' break whilst gardening.. thats when I really missed it.. aching back wanting to sit down and have a fag..
£165 saved so far, but thats sinc 21st feb, im only saying 17 days as it was 17 days ago when i had my slip up and had my last one

oldreekie

Hi Leela G and well done on the 4 weeks. I tried those herbal cigarettes some years ago and they tasted awful. They may be nicotine free but not carbon monoxide free, surely?

Well done shaven-monkey :T come and join us. Please do let us know how you are getting on.

Hi nervousmother - I have tried the minis and yes, they are fantastic. Prefer them to the inhalator - hope they are not addictive! I used to love the fag breaks while gardening; time to reflect, escape, solve problems and plan the garden. Now, I am not happy out there so thank goodness the weather is awful today.

1 month 2 weeks 2 days

883 cigarettes not smoked - imagine that pile of fag ends

Life saved 3 days 1 hour 35mins

Leela_G

oldreekie wrote: »

Hi Leela G and well done on the 4 weeks. I tried those herbal cigarettes some years ago and they tasted awful. They may be nicotine free but not carbon monoxide free, surely?

Well done shaven-monkey :T come and join us. Please do let us know how you are getting on.

Hi nervousmother - I have tried the minis and yes, they are fantastic. Prefer them to the inhalator - hope they are not addictive! I used to love the fag breaks while gardening; time to reflect, escape, solve problems and plan the garden. Now, I am not happy out there so thank goodness the weather is awful today.

1 month 2 weeks 2 days

883 cigarettes not smoked - imagine that pile of fag ends

Life saved 3 days 1 hour 35mins

No they are not carbon monoxide free, but i thought it would be better to have one of them than a normal cigarette IF i do fall off the wagon - hopefully it won't come to that. Wish me luck