The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

Kiwisaver_2

determined_new_ms wrote: »

Kiwi so impressive your cost of living challenge - has it been hard & are you glad you've done it? If you get to the end of the year with $5k left will you have a blow out? I see you've also done more than half of your olympic challenge, will you be debt free then? x

I need to update it for the end of the month, so it may be staying quite as good as it presently appears. Anyway, I did the Frugal living last year with the same budget and does seem a lot easier this year; despite price increases being massive over the last year and our VAT going up by 2.5%, I am spending far less on food. Of course, my not smoking has helped, but I fear I have over compensated on the cheer myself up spends. Manicures, new shoes, chocolate and other pick me ups have probably come to more than I spent on smokes, but I don't care. Like always we soon find other things to spend the money on.

However, I guess I am about $800 ish ahead of the game so far and it probably seems a lot more than it actually is to me in NZ dollars NZ$800 is less than 400 quid and I will probably do that (and some) with the winter power bills coming up for the next four months at least. :eek:

The Olympic challenge is just about to be blown out of the water, as I just got paid for a long-running pay dispute. :T I have been HRed to death by the jobs [STRIKE]worth[/STRIKE]-size squad for many weeks, because I was acting up into a role for the past eighteen months that was not meant to be mine and finally they've agreed to pay me the rate I should have been on. :T Sadly, I won't be debt free and still have a fairly mahoosive mortgage to contend with.

spider_girl

Hey guys
I must admit i've not read the whole thread :eek: but just want to say 'keep it up guys'. I'm wanting to quit smoking and have decided NOW is the time! I'm hoping that the prospect of coming on here and admiting my 'failure' to quit will keep me going.
I'm stocked up with nicorette inhalor and gum so heres hoping.
Just wondering if there is anyone on here that has managed to quit who has had a partner who is still smoking? That seems to be my down fall every time, having them readily available!
Any advice would be appreciated!
Many thanks
Oh and i'm planning on putting my daily cigarette spend in a sealed tub and saving!

Kiwisaver_2

Erme wrote: »

So here's to get back up from off the floor and try again....

I admire your determination Erme to keep on trying. :T I know there's lots of controversy still with e-cigs being a tad too much like smoking but our Ministry of Health in NZ has done some studies and recently said that they will look into more trials and that they believe people can just as likely stay quit after using e-cigs as any other type of NRT - although the equipment is not legally allowed to be sold here. I think the pragmatic thought is that it's safer to get the nicotine any way other than from smoking tobacco and that if it works for some it is worthwhile investing further time and efforts into doing trials.

Our Government is far more anti-smoking than the UK and has been on the anti-smoking campaign for far longer, probably because we had a lot more work to do than most other Western countries. :eek: We have high populations of certain groups of Asian and lower socio-economic Polynesians who have much higher prevalances to unhealthy lifestyles and smoking than most.

Smoking indoors in public places was banned probably around 2005 and shops are not allowed to display them in view of children, they're shut away in a cabinets or under the counter and now smoking in parks and recreation grounds is on the hit list. I think the latest target is to ban smoking and the sale of cigarettes and tobacco completely by 2020. :eek: So they're really stepping on the gas and will seemingly consider all methods to achieve this; including increasing the price of tobacco and ciggies by 10% per year.

landybabe

Staring week two today without a cig, i am so pleased, we had a couple of beers (one to many) and we nearly caved in lucky for us the shop was closed. We also havent killed each other .

I have started a 1000 piece puzzle that has kept me busy this weekend, and other half has done quite afew diy jobs.

Hope everyone else has had a good weekend

Erme

landybabe wrote: »

Staring week two today without a cig, i am so pleased, we had a couple of beers (one to many) and we nearly caved in lucky for us the shop was closed. We also havent killed each other .

I have started a 1000 piece puzzle that has kept me busy this weekend, and other half has done quite afew diy jobs.

Hope everyone else has had a good weekend

Well done you Landybabe...Got a really bad craving cos I had 8 small rollies about 7 am (well 4 @3.30am and 4 @ 6.30am) so like it's mid morning. trying desperately to get back on track and keep to my daily rollie limits and it's so hard....

The only time it's likely to get any easier is after about 8pm tonight...that's a long way away .....about a full 9 hours :eek:....

So yeah - not really thinking about the ultimate of full quit right now but just taking one step at a time. Slept okay last night so today's step is one every 2 hours. (after ams and eves. Tend to smoke more first thing and last part of the day...or basically when I get tired :eek:).... then the next stage (about Fri or saturday) is to really cut back on the ams and eves before final stage before quitting - one 3-4 times a day....

So I'm thinking if all this goes to plan I should be quit in about 2 weeks. I'm reducing and transitioning onto e-cig every 2-3 days because it takes 2 days for your nicotine levels to adjust. Hence the first day is often easy for folk - it's just days 2 onwards that it gets tough because you're body has just NRT/no nicotine. Basic science if you ask me

E

Kiwisaver_2

Erme wrote: »

Tend to smoke more first thing and last part of the day...or basically when I get tired :eek:).... then the next stage (about Fri or saturday) is to really cut back on the ams and eves before final stage before quitting - one 3-4 times a day....

Do you smoke inside your home Erme or do you go outside? I could be wrong but I am guessing yo are smoking indoors and just wondering if a self-imposed ban from smoking in your home would make you think twice, especially if you're prone to just sitting smoking one after the other without really thinking about what you're doing.

Those habitual and mindless smokes where you find yourself lighting another straight away because you have no real recollection of smoking the previous one. If you have to make a concerted effort to get up and go somewhere else or outside to smoke I think it can help to deter or certainly delay the next smoke a great deal. I remember the days not so long ago, probably early 1990s when we were still allowed to smoke in offices :eek: and I had an ashtray on my desk, in fact everyone had an ashtray on their desk and we would just smoke continually; hand to mouth one after the other. Oh dear, how bad was that?

I am a bit like that with eating these days, hand to mouth constantly. There seems to be no end to my appetite some days.

Erme

My worst times are when I'm tired or just like on the phone. The phone really isn't a prob now - quite happy on e-cig. But really struggled last night when tired and stressed (time waster off classifieds)...I really have to keep to my therapy routines for a few weeks on this one.

Also over the weekend when tired I find social situations very overwhelming. So even though Saturday's bbq was outside I deliberately went out the back gate and round the corner for a cig to get some head space (and partially cos if I'm in a no smoking environment or a non smokers house I don't like smoking in front of them.).....so yeah it's a combo...

I'm more determined first thing in the morning irrespective of how tired I am but right now it seems impossible that I'll achieve my transition plans. I've worked out I'm putting 27mg per whatever it is (10ml or 1ml I have no idea) of juice in my e-cig which is not fab but okay. I dilute this down from 36mg with glycerine. when I'm ready to reduce the nicotine again (a long way off!!!) I can dilute again...

But I know I can't do the transition for too long else my resolve will wain and I'll just go back to the cigs. So regardless of how well I do I'm all quits and 100% e-cig by not this Sabbath (sunday) but the next one. Total transition time = 15 days...

Thanks for the input....You guys on this board have been fab cos I think everyone that knows me knows the risks with me going 100% NRT (voices and potential self harm) so like yeah it's appreciated...Also my church have been really good about it (going on about baby steps for the past 6 months) even though they want me nicotine free as fast as anyone..

Noticing today smell is improving. Everything smells so greasy!!!...and that's just Day 5 on 1/3 approx smokes....So even if you aren't ready to 100% quit yet you'll be encouraged if you just cut down..

E

Kiwisaver_2

Erme wrote: »

Also over the weekend when tired I find social situations very overwhelming. So even though Saturday's bbq was outside I deliberately went out the back gate and round the corner for a cig to get some head space (and partially cos if I'm in a no smoking environment or a non smokers house I don't like smoking in front of them.

I would do the same Erme, it's not just you. I used to feel really awkward and embarrassed about my smoking, especially more so in the latter stages. I could go hours without smoking in social situations among predominantly non-smokers, even if some non-smoking friends 'pitied' me and said 'Oh, I don't mind if you want to smoke' I never would.

Keep on trying Erme, take each day as it comes and try not to think too far ahead as it does seem impossible. I couldn't think past the next half an hour on the day I first stopped, just be in the here and now and remember to keep busy and be kind to yourself. Eat some good healthy food, so that your'e in the best possible frame of mind and some fresh air and exercise would be good for the spirit as well as your lungs.

Erme

I had this really weird experience today. I was in the convenience store paying my electric and spied the tobacco behind the counter (I never notice tailor mades. Can never afford them) and auto began comparing prices. Then stopped myself and thought 'I've bought the last of my tobacco. Soon I won't need that stuff.....really weird!!!

Today has gone well so far. Way better than expected after yesterday's mountain. I'm tired but even in a derriere up situation I'm down to around 15 small roll ups today....it doesn't have to be 10 till Friday so that's fine by me... I will reduce again tomorrow by a few ready for friday...

This is obvious cos I still have a good 1/2 oz or so of tobacco left and it was (on first reductions) lasting 2.5 days....I have calculated it should last all of tomorrow till the evening as well...

And I got some carts from china I'd ordered a week last friday. With all the charger fiascos last week I practically had a signed for parcel every day...this has been about my first one this week which is good. I can recommend the site but folk will have to pm me..

GP is thrilled to bits. I'm really noticing my progress now I've got confidence in my equipment. The first few days I wasn't sure and took it very gently...Now it's full blown transition. Game on!!!. But like I've said I've tried the transition programme (again if folk want it pm me) in the past and I've given myself way too long on stage 1 then gone back to the cigs (finished stage on yesterday). So that's a word of caution anyone thinking of following suit.

Sure you could do it with any as required NRT not just e-cigs....spray, gum, lozenges, inhalator. All I have is a strong and posh fancy electric inhalator in reality...but sure you could do it with any other form of NRT.....Depending on how much you smoke a day (I was a 40 tailor mades/60+ roll ups a day gal, so a very heavy smoker. And I know that cos now I'm counting roll ups per oz and an oz used to last me 1 day...Now it lasts 2 or more days easy..)

Hugs.....This is all done by the power of God..I have no ability in myself to do this. If you find my journey helpful then like give the glory to God. Please DON'T press the thanks button

E

Erme

I don't know what's up with me? I woke up this am feeling really down. Don't know if it's just a bad day or the no smokes. However I've done so well I'm determined to keep on with the e-cig. Yesterday I only had 13 rollies and only chain smoked once (2) so really chuffed with self. Tuesday I had a bit of weepiness and what not but yesterday went so well I can't see how extra cigs can help me today? Like I said I may just be having a down day (haven't had one for a few weeks apart from Friday when I was tired)..

So maybe extra exercise today or challenge myself to fix this puncture on my bike tonight...I don't know...

I'm thinking of joining a gym once I've gone about 4 weeks no smokes. I think there's one in town that has a heap of classes (so it said) and is about £15 or £20 a month :j.....just to enjoy being smoke free. It was out of budget before and impossible...

Or even if it's a nice day I might just go down the wildlife garden @ Uni this evening and chill. Don't know...

Blew £4 odd at coop last night cos was so tired I just wanted crisps and chocolate for tea - oops. Menu plan needs to be done this am

Blessings and hugs and prayers needed

E