The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

frugalpam

Welcome aboard Catherine :j You'll find this thread incredibly supportive with lots of good ideas.
Having been a serial quitter , I realised one day I had had ENOUGH OF being chained to nicotine, and that I wanted to quit for me. I had a determination and resolve I'd never had in all my previous practice quits, and found it not easy, but certainly a lot easier to keep focused and motivated.
After 19 months my health is so much better and I never want to go back to skulking in corners for my fix! I had a routine dental appt yesterday and my dentist commented that the condition of my teeth and gums were much improved
Read here every day if you can - it keeps up the motivation, and there's nothing better than talking with people who've been there and got the t-shirt.

Pam x

Catherine25 wrote: »

Hi all

Iv decided to try to quit smoking again, this is about my 10th attempt over the past 12 years!
Had my last cig last night and have found today very hard. Especially after dinner tonight, if i had money I think i would have gone to the shop and bought some cigs. I just thought to myself, "i dont know why i even quit, i like smoking!" although i know that is not true, i hate myself for smoking!

I have quit before for over a year in 2005 and again in 2007, both times i was pregnant so think that made it easier to quit. im so annoyed with myself for starting again! :mad:

I have read the allen carr book a few times before. This time I got the DVD which was good.

Im glad iv found this thread hopefully it will keep me motivated, i wil check in again tomorrow

larmy16

Hi Catherine, welcome and the very best to you. Just keep checking in and reading these posts, it helps so much to know you are sharing your journey. In RL people are either trying to tempt you to have one, nagging you to stop, or saying ""For Pete's sake have one of your blasted fags, you miserable Bleep!"

DD I had to smile at your special purse for the lady who smoked!

I used to go to different places (like an alcoholic) to get my baccy and I remember being in one garage and the guy saying "Oh - do you smoke?" ( slightly disaproving) and I said "Oh they aren't for me, they are for an old man I work for"!!!!!! Ha. See I was even ashamed in front of a complete stranger. No wonder I smoked in secret.

That has been the biggest benefit of all for me - the removal of the shame and guilt. Guilt of what I was doing to my body and shame that I had this ghastly addiction.

Even when I was indulging, I could not relax as I was thinking "What if someone (family member) turns up at the door?"

Complete nightmare.

We had another poster Littlelily who was a secret smoker and we quit around the same time. Such a help.

Catherine25

"If you really want soething to take away a rotten craving...look into the beautiful eyes of you little ones, they're depending on you."

The bit in bold above from sue really struck a cord with me, i actually had a wee cry. my beautiful girls are the reason i want to quit, i want to be around for them and dont want them to grow up to copy my smoking. Thnak you for that sue that is exactly wat i will do!


Well today i have been feeling very stressed and have been craving big time, so i came on here and im so glad i did! Thanks so much for everyones support and thanks for all the tips and msg of support.


Well done to all of you who have managed to quit :T And thanks so much again xxx

Sue-UU

I'm so pleased you're ok with it Catherine, sometimes when making that sort of suggestion I'm aware that some folk might not like it. However, to someone who really cares about their little treasures and their own health it can be the sudden realisation of what the truth about keeping it up really means for them and their kiddies and the thing that helps them to finally conquer the blasted things. Thanks for being one of the latter DD. :kisses3: Well, all being well, by now you can add another 4 & 1/2 hours to your time as a non-smoker!!! :T To help you with the stress, take in long breaths and concentrate on doing it for as long as it takes. Also, I know it's pricey but Dr Bach's Rescue Remedy is calming when you put a few drops on your tongue...about the price of a pack of fags which you no longer need...not now you're on your journey to quit for good!!! :j We're with you Catherine, and all of us can relate to your feelings...we might as well be sat in your living room with you! Take care and praise yourself - you well deserve it! :T:T:T

Oh larmy and DD, I had to laugh at you both with your fibs and all you'd do to have a fag. It wasn't just me that lived a life plagued with what others saw and thought then! Thank the dear Lord for that!!! I used too be petrified of someone coming to the door and me not having shifted the ashtray with one or two of my roll-ups in! :eek: Then there were my fingers, especially the index and middle ones with some of that disgusting:eek::eek: brown tell tale muck on them....and the stench!!!! I'd make my fingers so sore each day with rubbing them with a pummice stone or brillo pad!!!!!! They really hurt at times. My hubby and my kiddies were chuffed to bits when I packed it in!!! Me too!!!!:o :j I ask you, all for the love of a blasted fag...never, ever worth it!!


Some marvellous advice there Pam, thanks so much, you larmy and DD also! I wonder how Littlelily's getting on now larmy, I used to wonder about her with the Champix problems she had, but she made it through!!

All good wishes everyone, you have so very much to be so very proud of!

Sue x

dundeedoll_2

larmy16 wrote: »

I cannot get over how similar our stories are.
QUOTE]

larmy16 wrote: »

DD I had to smile at your special purse for the lady who smoked!

I used to go to different places (like an alcoholic) to get my baccy and I remember being in one garage and the guy saying "Oh - do you smoke?" ( slightly disaproving) and I said "Oh they aren't for me, they are for an old man I work for"!!!!!! Ha. See I was even ashamed in front of a complete stranger. No wonder I smoked in secret.

QUOTE]


See, something else in common................and as I think I said to you before, I think we do the same thing workwise too!

You've done so well!

Sue I think the top bit of your message was meant for Catherine but you put DD by mistake.

Thanks for your other comments tho'.

As I said last night, I met up with 4 'friends' - all smokers (and drinkers) who'd badgered me to go out with them to cheer me up. BIG mistake! Won't be going out with them again - at least for a while.

Sue-UU

Shhh DD! :idea: As far as I can see Catherine's not logged in since after she posted...though she could have had a look without logging-on. Oh heck. She'll soon get used to me, I hope.

We'll just keep quiet about it and no-one will notice. :j

dundeedoll wrote:

As I said last night, I met up with 4 'friends' - all smokers (and drinkers) who'd badgered me to go out with them to cheer me up. BIG mistake!

I take it from the above DD that it was just a bit much for you - right? Not that you did anything worse??? I doubt it very much somehow. Anyway, best to play it safe and just keep away from smokers and any alcohol for the time being whilst you're a bit vulnerable. You are doing marvellously and I hope you're praising yourself to the hilt!

Take care and seep well...possibly snoring already. Only daft so*s like me still up.

Sue x

larmy16

DD I stopped drinking on one of my many quits probably about 9 years ago, and apart from one party (champagne and boy did I suffer next day) I have stopped completely.

I used to get awful hangovers (even from fairly lightweight amounts of alcohol) so this is a real bonus in my life.

Another bonus was that when I met my loved one, our relationship was conducted entirely on a sober basis, so anything that was said or done was done with a clear head if you get my drift!

In all my previous relationships alcohol had been a regular feature, hence my not so sensible choices in men! No more psychopaths or lame ducks for me!

My loved one does have a few ciders or lagers when out with his pals but rarely with me. We just don't seem to need it.

He has never smoked either and I was not smoking when I met him, but then fell off the wagon and kept it secret for ages. I could barely wait for him to leave so I could get out into the garden to light up.

Eventually I confessed my problem to him and he was cool about it. So cool, I think it helped me realise I was engaging in a pointless (aside from downright lethal) activity.

dundeedoll_2

Sue-UU wrote: »

I take it from the above DD that it was just a bit much for you - right? Not that you did anything worse??? I doubt it very much somehow. Anyway, best to play it safe and just keep away from smokers and any alcohol for the time being whilst you're a bit vulnerable. You are doing marvellously and I hope you're praising yourself to the hilt!

Take care and seep well...possibly snoring already. Only daft so*s like me still up.

Sue x

No, not too much for me temptation wise.........just made me feel soooo the odd 1 out.
They had 5 bottles of wine between them went outside for the fag fix about 6 times and then kept making comments about me not drinking/smoking.
They are all in relationships too and I just felt that I wasn't 'part of the gang' anymore. Drove home sobbing and have since decided that instead of cheering me up, going out with them has knocked me back and it's best to stay away for a while.
Probably being daft but just the way I feel..............didn't want a fag tho'!!!

Hope Catherine has seen your message and is still as determined.

DD x

dundeedoll_2

Thanks Larmy. My ex OH did smoke so that didn't help me. Perhaps that's why I unconciously thought I'd stop when we finished because I thought it would be easier. I have also realised that Alex Higgins' death had a lot to do with my unconcious decision to stop.

Off to do my domestic goddess bit now..........;)

larmy16

dundeedoll wrote: »

Thanks Larmy. My ex OH did smoke so that didn't help me. Perhaps that's why I unconciously thought I'd stop when we finished because I thought it would be easier. I have also realised that Alex Higgins' death had a lot to do with my unconcious decision to stop.

Off to do my domestic goddess bit now..........;)

It will be far easier to meet a non smoker than a smoker when you are ready to try again. Also I think being single has so many positives that we can often miss them. I was totally single for many years and they were the most contented and happiest times of my life.

Your mates probably all feel really rubbish today unlike you!

Have a good day.