The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

waccoe_2

Hi Sue-UU
Thanks for your support and advice.
I passed a big test for myself yesterday. I spent the afternoon watching a local amateur football match and then to the clubhouse for a few beers, after a few too many beers I walked 2 miles home. Plenty of smokers around and loads of chances for a quick cig, I never came close to giving in.
18 days smoke free and just got up after a good few beers last night but I feel great, no sore throat, not smelling of stale smoke and I didn't come near to having one.
The 3 things that are helping me most are,
Nicotine patches.
A really deep intake of breath when really craving.
Not telling anyone that I have stopped, then I feel I am doing it for myself and there is no pressure and no one to blame.

It took 10 days before my wife asked me if I had stopped and my 5 children are still pretending they don't know.
I think they are all really pleased. (and so I am I).
Good luck everyone, keep on keeping on.
Andrew

ectoplasm

Thanks for all your support and encouragement. I really enjoy walking and it gives me time to think, so its a very good idea Sue-UU. I eat a lot of fruit and veg any way (as I am a vegan) and I felt guilty about smoking on my personal ethical grounds. I am also contacting walking/hiking groups to join in Austria when I move there in exactly 2 weeks time now.

I am also very thankful that you have addressed some of my irrational fear of linking "bad luck" with "giving up smoking". You see each time (except in 2005) I tried to stop smoking I received bad news regarding my parents'. Sadly my mum passed away in 2008 and my father who is 78 years old has had several strokes.
I am prepared that whatever comes my way is a part of life (it may be completely out of my control or it may be a result of my own actions). As you say Sue-UU everyone has stress and at times we have to face unfavourable/unwanted circumstances. I wish to face life with dignity and thought. I am hoping that the new start is enough to break the irrational link between "bad luck" and "giving up smoking". Keeping positive and not lingering on the past. There are also good times in life, aren't there? :j

Each day not smoking is a step closer to deprogramming the old and harmful psychological mind set and programming a healthier one. It takes effort and I think whoever achieves this is a very strong and a remarkable person. So well done everyone and thanks for supporting me.

Good luck!!

Sue-UU

waccoe wrote: »

The 3 things that are helping me most are,
Nicotine patches. A really deep intake of breath when really craving.
Not telling anyone that I have stopped, then I feel I am doing it for myself and there is no pressure and no one to blame.

It took 10 days before my wife asked me if I had stopped and my 5 children are still pretending they don't know.
I think they are all really pleased. (and so I am I).
Good luck everyone, keep on keeping on.
Andrew

You're very welcome Andrew, and very well done indeed on another day free from smoking and all that it leaves our bodies open to IF we don't quit! So many new quitters choose not to tell their loved ones, and I agree, I think it's far better that way as everyone treats you normally and doesn't '!!!!!-foot' around you and you every move. It's you who's the most important one where stopping is concerned and the least pressure you're under the better itt is. Great news about drinking and NOT succumbing to the evil weed as that will obviously be apart of your 'clean' life, so, so long as you're ok with it then keep up normal everyday life but be careful not to exceed the number of bevvies that keeps you in control of your head as many have 'slipped from the wagon' due to intoxication ....though that wasn't the phrase most used!! :eek:

To help us out (you too!) Andrew, ectoplasm and everyone else, could you please put the amount of days (weeks or months) smoke-free as well as the means of quitting on the title bar of any posts you put on? ie, 18 days patches/cold turkey/ lozenges/inhilators etc. It helps keep you in mind of exactly how far you've come on this great journey, it also helps everyone else to help you at times that you may need it. Thanks a lot everyone, much appreciated.

Excellent ectoplasm! You seem to have worked everything out in such a logical way, the way which, if you always bear what you've written in mind, will see you through to being exactly where you want to be ~ completely smoke-free and delighted you did! There is a wonderful life after smoking and you and Andrew have started out on it very well. Always stay positive and strong! By the way ectoplasm, many commiserations on the loss of your mother, I can well understand why you slipped there, all the very best for your father.

Almost the start of another fresh week everyone. Keep up the wonderful work you've started and always stay positive. Whether it's only a few minutes you've stayed cigarette-free for so far, or a few days, weeks or months, you've started something truly wonderful and deserve to reach your goal. and breathe in that FRESH air!!! Stay strong everyone, you CAN do it.

Sue x

emilyka

Good Morning All,

It's been a while since I posted on a quitting smoking board and last time I did I was enquiring about cessation aids.

This time I am posting to update, I am on my first day of taking Zyban in a bid to quit smoking. I have been advised to smoke for the first week to ten days, trying to cut down as I go. I am very excited about the prospect of life without being a nicotine addict

I took the first tablet at 9am this morning and as we speak am feeling a little bit floaty- but not unpleasantly so!

I shall post any progress on hear and am very interested to hear about others quiting smoking, motivation and a bit of friendly competition is bound to help!

Emily

waccoe_2

Welcome Emily
I only joined this forum a couple of days ago, everybody is so friendly and helpful. I can't wait to find out how you go on with Zyban as I have heard good things about it. I am on patches myself and everything is going fantastic, far better than I could of imagined after a 40 year addiction.
I wish you really good luck and keep letting us know, you can do it Emily!
Andrew

larmy16

Emilyka I quit with Zyban very easily. Unfortunately I still held some attachment to nicotine, so talked myself into smoking again. Don't be like me please......I had no side effects atall.

I was too embarrassed to go back to the doctors, even though she had said I could try the other one, which escapes my mind at the moment.

I finally quit just using patches for a few days, then found I was forgetting them and before I knew it (with the help and support on this forum) I was coming out the other side - free!!

What a great journey you are on.

larmy16

Well done Andrew. Just keep it up and before you know it you will forget you even needed nicotine. Well actually we should never forget as it is such a marvellous achievement.

bluedog

It is a very long time since I last posted on here too. I wish was here telling you all that I've been quit for "x" long, but I'm not.

I was going great guns, but after some horrendously shocking revelations, I started again..... it was only going to be a "one-fag-blip"..

For reasons that I just still cannot fathom, I have struggled to quit again, apart from figuring it may have been a kind of self-punishment in lieu of the revelations?? :shrug:

I've been able to smoke or not smoke for about 6 weeks now ... and I've finally snapped today and said enuf is enuf! :j
I had my last ciggy at around 9pm tonight. I've got inhalers and a few patches to start me off and I know I'm at my most serious now as I'm back in here!

And I'm sooo glad too!

Sue-UU

Good to hear from you again Emily, and all the very best with Zyban!

It's great to see you're still going strong Andrew. :T

Lovely to see you larmy, every day a step closer to that YEAR!!!! :j

Keep it up everyone, you CAN do it, and it's all so very worth the journey! Anyone thinking of joining us, please do, you never know how thrilled you might be once you've quit and stayed that way. It's at least worth trying. Give it serious thought, it's so worth it!!

Sue x

Sue-UU

Apologies bluedog, we must have been posting at the same time. I knew I recognised that name as soon as the notification came into my In box. Well done indeed for having another go and being so chuffed that you're doing so, it's wonderful to hear! Please don't mull over the why's and wherefores of what happened previously, just let it go and move on with NOW! Just always bear in mind that there's no such thing as "just one puff, or just one fag". At times when temptation creeps in, breathe deeply just as you would if you'd been doing it for real, there's no difference really after all. Then go on out and have a good walk.

All very best wishes bluedog, you CAN do it and you know you can, just remember that whatever comes up in life, a fag WON'T make it any better!!

Sue x