The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

Derby-Girl

I was so pleased to see a response when I logged in this evening! Things got tougher in the afternoon and I started thinking maybe I should be cutting down rather than stopping all together but I've done 24 hours now so don't want to have to do the whole thing all over again. Watching makeup videos on YouTube makes me stronger as I think of saving money for makeup and having nicer skin!

In answer to your question Cath, I once gave up a few years ago. Totally cold turkey and it seemed easy...sadly I had a big upset and went straight back on the fags. Rubbish! I see you have tried giving up before too. How long did you last? Also, I think spending that money on your teeth is an excellent idea, even if it is expensive, you deserve it.

Caz, it's amazing you have gone nearly a week! You should be so proud of yourself I'm thinking (for me) it will get worse before it gets better but you've already gone so long, do you feel like the worst is over? You are an inspiration.

My boyfriend has very sweetly bought a bottle of cava to celebrate my first smoke free day, at first I was worried about having it in case my resolve weakened but I think the giving up smoking is going to help with cutting down drinking too.

All things positive on my side, hope you ladies are feeling the same

Rebecca

Vashda_Nerada

Hi all
First time posting on this thread, but just wanted to share my experience (previously a 20+ a day smoker).

I simply cannot afford to smoke anymore, and I have so many nice things planned over the summer that I don't want to sacrifice for a bunch of little white sticks.

I made the decision a few weeks back but I didn't want to force myself to go for a certain "quit day", to me it just adds pressure and makes me feel like I'm stopping something that enriches my life in some way.

I bought some patches and lozenges and stashed them away for the special day, then the time came where I knew it was over for cigs, so I slapped on a patch and off I went.
Keeping the whole thing casual has really done wonders for me, I think sometimes we place too much emphasis on "quitting" when really we just don't smoke anymore. I don't do a lot of things anymore and I don't get upset about any of that so I couldn't see my I should treat cigarettes any differently. After all, they've caused me to stink, crippled my finances and generally controlled my life for a decade now. I'll be darned if I let them control me anymore.

To be honest, I can't say I've found it anything other than a really happy and positive experience. I refuse to use the quit word, I think it's a psychological thing with me. Quit seems like I'm giving something valuable up, and let's face it cigs don't actually give you anything of worth, not really as it's all an illusion.

The one thing that has really set this time apart from all the failed attempts is most definetly my state of mind. It all suddenly snapped in to place for me, I realised what cigarettes had taken from me over the years, things I didn't even know I'd lost. Now, I feel positive, in control and my god, I actually have money to spare!

Hopefully this will show people in some small way that no longer smoking doesn't have to me a horrible, drawn out and painful experience. You can make it a happy and positive one :beer:

birdlady

Congrats Rebecca! you got to 24 hours :T

I think last time I stopped I lasted about 4 months, I truly didn't think I'd ever smoke again and if I hadn't been widowed I like to think I never would have. It was long enough to start feeling much healthier and to start looking much better (albeit fatter!) I'm hoping to keep my weight under control this time with the gym, I'll go 6 times a week if I have to instead of 3!

Enjoy your Cava, I made veggie rissotto (distracted me for ages chopping up all the veg) so I'm off to eat.

Cath x

birdlady

Hi Vashda :wave:

Welcome, I think you hit the nail on the head about state of mind, many times I have struggled to last even an hour without smoking, this time I didn't really think about it just bought some patches and got on with it. So far so good.

Congratulations on stopping for a whole week :T

Cath x

Vashda_Nerada

birdlady wrote: »

Hi Vashda :wave:

Welcome, I think you hit the nail on the head about state of mind, many times I have struggled to last even an hour without smoking, this time I didn't really think about it just bought some patches and got on with it. So far so good.

Congratulations on stopping for a whole week :T

Cath x

Hi Birdlady :wave:
Thank you for the congrats Same back at you, you seem to be in a similar place mentally to me which I think makes a world of difference.

waccoe_2

It is great to see so many of you joining us and especially how you are all advising and supporting each other.
A special mention to Vashda, your first posting, I could have written that, it is me to a tee. That is exactly how I went about it and just how I feel.
Come on, we are all in this together, we can all do it!
Love and thoughts to you all and don't listen to that little gremlin in your head!
Andrew

jammy_dodger

Hi all
just popping by this evening ( been a long day at work ) how wonderful and inspiring to read all these fab possitive vibes on here :T:T:T:T

great to read so much support you are all doing brilliantly ,vashda you hit the nail on the head , many on here have spoken of their "click " moment ( me too ) the time was just right to stop once and for all and regain control of their lives ..
Its not a giving up but a gaining of so much more , well done caz for coping so well ,
prepare and plan for those moments when you think thtat craving will be at its peak initially try and avoid or give yourself a diversion if unavoidable . I PROMISE it does get easier

stay on this wonderfully liberating journey , wish you all , us all well x x

Sue-UU

Hi Vashda and a warm welcome to the start of, what we all sincerely hope will be, a new and healthier life. You have a great way of viewing stopping, but to you, Caz, Rebecca and Cath please focus on all that you'll gain as a result of giving up rather than what you'll lose. There really are only benefits to be had from finally reaching that "I just KNOW I've cracked it" day! :j

You've done so well in having got through your first week Vashda, keep looking ahead - but not too far too quickly.

Keep going as you are Caz and you too will have a whole week behind you, the first great milestone to my mind ! Keep venting on the wallpaper or something similar, that really is the way!!! :T

Keep going Rebecca,and give yourself a HUGE pat on the back for getting through that first day, a huge accomplishment!!! :T Your sentence "Watching makeup videos on YouTube makes me stronger as I think of saving money for makeup and having nicer skin!" is a great idea and such motivation, keep looking through and enjoying what you see and what you'll look like soon enough! :jAnything that'll make you feel good is great therapy.

Don't worry about your feelings when leaving the gym Cath, it's always the habit forming times that hits us a bit, until you realise you're now a non-smoker! You walked it off too ...doesn't that tell you something for the future! I've never heard of Neil Caseys book, the only one we hear so much of here is Allan Carr's book which gets great praise from so many. Things such as the cherry tomatoes will help you, though I'd vary it a bit perhaps!

Brilliant work Andrew, advice too. 40 days is brilliant!!!! :T

It's terrific to hear you all 'chatting' to each other, I think for each of you the motivation will be amazing. All the very, very best to all of you, you're doing fantastically!!!

Sue x

birdlady

Just a quick good morning to everyone, hope you all have a great day. It is a very beautiful morning here in manchester. I forgot to take the patch off before I went to bed and dreamed that dna testing had proved I was the real mother of a friends baby :eek: , I will definately remember to take it off in future lol!

Good luck to everyone today on their smoke free journey,I will be online this evening . Hope you don't have a hangover from the Cava Rebecca!

Cath x

larmy16

Hi all.

Lovely morning here. Well done to all the quitters (I know it's a state of mind but will have to use that word to communicate!) - great to see so many newbies all supporting each other too.

I agree that it definitely is a state of mind which makes stopping more or less difficult. However as lots of us know, just because we feel great in the beginning, there may be a tough patch ahead where positivity seems to abandon us, so just take care and be vigilant.

Be ever on guard but relax at the same time!

Well done Vashda, Birdlady and Caz.

It is truly wonderful to be free of the addiction.:j