The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

Sue-UU

Excellent news on all you've achieved with your day Caz!!!!:T Am I right in thinking that today has been your 3rd day smoke-free? If so, you've really done wonderfully well already ... though that still applies if it's 2 days, though I've a feeling it's 3. You've been so very busy Caz, keep that up and you're doing things in a brilliant way, a way that really does help us get through it all. More money saved Caz!!! :j Keep counting down the days to your chest getting sooooo much clearer and you coughing far less. If the cough is making your throat hurt/sore then try some "Soothers" or something similar. Well done with keeping it lubricated though. You're doing great Caz, keep hard at it!!

Please all, on each day's new post (or every time you come on the thread) could everyone kindly state how long they've been smoke-free and by what means you're all quitting on the title bar of the post please. It not only helps you, but it helps us all to know how long you've all quit for.

ie; on jammy dodger's post she's put 4 and halfmonths mostly will power

Thanks everyone, it really does help us all.

Oh dear jammy dodger, I know just what you mean about Revels and such like, almost staring you out to tempt you, little devils, how dare they! :mad: Why not try some fruit instead, or try "Feedumall's" (another one of our very successful quitters here) great idea of sucking Ice Poles, they worked a treat for her and stopped her whacking on the lbs. :T Still, the main thing is that you're not smoking those horrible sticks anymore, you'll sort the weight out soon enough!

Very well done both, everyone else too! :T Keep staying strong and determined to see this through, it's the greatest gift you'll ever give yourself, grab it in both hands and get to the finishing line! :j:j:j

Sue x

birdlady

Hi Everybody

Can I join please? I wasn't planning on going public but I spend a lot of time lurking on the OS threads and I'm sure the support on here will help.

I've been smoking since I was a teenager and I'm 54 now. I did stop for months a couple of years ago but started again when I was widowed, to be honest I was living on tea and cigarettes. I realised in January that I was a physical wreck and things had to change so I packed in my stressful job and joined a gym. Stopping smoking is part 3 of my rehabilitation.

Anyway I bought 2 weeks worth of patches yesterday and today I stuck one on, can't afford to buy cigs this week now I've bought the patches lol. I have lozenges for any break through cravings as well. I feel fine at the moment (all 90 minutes!) and I'll be going to the gym this morning, I don't think about smoking when I'm there for a couple of hours.

I plan on saving up for a 'smile makeover', 40 years of smoking has ruined my teeth, but just seeing them a bit whiter will be a big improvement for now.

Wish me luck :eek:

Cath

jammy_dodger

hi cath and a very warm welcome from us all on here:j
this is a great place for support and ventilation you sound like you are all geared up for the best decision you will ever make .
the gym sounds like a great diversion , read through posts of other folk at similar stage of quitting and hopefully get inspiration from those quit a little longer just take one day one hour at a time and reward yourself through every craving passed you will get there i wish you well x x

birdlady

Thanks for the welcome Jammy Dodger, I'll probably be a permanent resident here for the next few weeks. Congratulations on your own quit x

Sue-UU

Hi Cath and welcome to the start of, what we really do hope will be, a new and healthier life. I was so sorry to read of the reson why you started up smoking again, little wonder though as it must have such a terribly hard time of life for you. All the very best for you to be able to quit this time and get your life back to being healthy again, after all, it's never too late to quit!:) waccoe (Andrew), has some good advice about the use of patches, on the previous page, alterating the arms each day as well as not using them at night times. Have a look at his post No 32781843. Aha .... great news for Rebecca who starts stopping tomorrow and was so hoping for someone who might be giving up at the same time as her. She's a very lucky lady as she now has you as well as Caz and it really does help all round when you're not alone with feelings and experiences, it's good to share! :j

As jammy dodger rightly says, reading the posts through is marvellous therapy ~ so too will be your going to the gym ~ a sort of 2 birds at once etc. Exercise really is wonderful when you're starting to quit so do all you can to keep it up and you'll get through it far more easily. I've sent you a PM which I hope will help, but please also take a look over the page at my Post No 32796023 for what's best to do when you're quitting smoking. I think there are some very helpful tips there too, ones that I dearly hope will help you to get through stopping smoking and becoming the quitter you want to be. Keep the money you save separately so you can watch it grow in preperation for the teeth you so desire. If ever you have a bad day, or a good one, come on and tell us about it, that way not only will you be freeing it from your own system but it always helps others at the same time to know they're not alone. It's also always wonderful to read about how much better folk feel, so quickly too! Posts like that can be a real boost for you ..as well as the others and those reading through posts but not yet having taken the plunge. Keep as busy as you can too, another good thing to keep you focused and far better able to deal with cravings, as Caz has already found out.

The one thing you can rely on, Cath, is that we all want you to get to a far healthier life ...to get to the stage when you've finally quit!!!! All the very best indeed.

Well everyone, another fresh week beckons and another week closer to the goal you all wish for, keep it in sight at all times, and be so very, very proud of every single step you've taken, they're taking you the right way! :T

Sue x

birdlady

Hi Sue, thank you very much for the welcome, the suggestions and the info. Yesterday wasn't too bad at all, the only really bad time was when I came out of the gym, I would normally light up then (how bad is that!!!),but it passed on the walk home , the rest of the day was a general low level craving but I remembered a dummy cigarette I had from last time and chewed on that all day. And then there was the hunger-I was starving!Ate my way through a tub of cherry tomatoes

Last time I stopped using Neil Caseys book-just stopped, it was amazing and I recommend it to anyone but it didn't seem to work when I read it this time.

Today I do voluntary work at a hospital so couldn't smoke anyway, and I'm ready for the big craving when I used to light up as soon as I get off the grounds :eek:

Rebecca, I see you are planning to stop today, I wish you lots and lots of luck, and Caz I hope your quit is going well. I'll be online early evening if anyone wants to compare notes.

So until later folks,

Cath x

Derby-Girl

Hello all and thank you for the inspirational posts. Special hello to Caz and Cath, my new smoke free buddies.

So I haven't had a cigarette since around 7:00 last night and I feel fine. I'm drinking tea and using the inhalator to fight cravings but they don't seem too bad yet.

Something really helpful for me is to imagine how much better my skin will be once all the muck is out of my system. I bought myself some nice new skincare stuff and plan to treat my skin really nicely, doing facials or even just using an Evian face spritzer that I keep in my bag etc. if a craving hits. I think Cath's idea of the teeth whitening is a great idea. I know internal health is of utmost importance, but it does help to see some concrete physical results of this new way of life

I also find it helpful to think about the amount of healing our bodies do, even after 20 minutes of not smoking.

I hope everyone is feeling good and positive about this new stage in our lives. I look forward to speaking with you on the journey

birdlady

Hi Rebecca, glad to hear you're not struggling too much , you are nearly 24hours quit :T Have you ever tried to stop before, you seem to be taking it in your stride? I am still nibbling cherry tomatoes, hope my teeth don't end up orange from eating too many ! I was thinking more than just whitening, more like the makeovers on 'embarrassing bodies' ---> haha! I reckon it will take 4 years of cigarette money to pay for something like that tho' so might have to settle for whitening for now.

Yes I remember last time I quit how much better my skin got, also my quite slim face plumped out a bit which I think knocked a few years off,(well to be honest my whole body plumped out a bit!!!:eek:) it's great to have these things to look forward to

Happy quitting everyone

Cath x

grandmasam

Good evening all,
:hello:Cathandrebecca
Had a bad day yesterday, and was an evil c*w!!!! :mad: so i thought i would lie low until i felt a bit more like me, i did NOT give in [ but it was a struggle!] pulled wallpaper off with a vengeance, so it was productive, the language ...:eek:

Today better, and have been digging out a large border in the back garden, and replanting a couple of bits, have now filled up the green wheelie bin [recycling] and hopefully tomorrow i'll start moving stuff from the next area to the spaces i've dug .Thats unless i am so stiff i have to spend the day in a hot bath :rotfl:
Thank goodness for lots and lots of water, as this does seem to ease the desire to have a ....!
Anyhow, nearly a week, i cant believe it , keep up the good work
Caz

birdlady

Hi Caz :wave:

I'm waiting for my first really awful day, it's been too easy so far and I know it's just waiting till I'm off my guard. I think you have the right idea stripping wallpaper and gardening, I only have a yard with shrubs in pots which don't really need much attention but I think decorating is a great idea, and must work since you didn't give in :T I hope I will be as strong willed when it happens.

Have a great evening Caz,

Cath x