The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

flossieflipflop

Thank you for making me feel so welcome.

And thank you for the supportive and useful pm's too. I'm hoping to read through all the posts and the old thread once my son is down for his nap.

I will also do as you suggest and edit my post to focus on reasons to give up not why it'll be hard.

I'll let you know later how my 1st day has gone!

Flossie

Sue-UU

flossieflipflop wrote: »

I will also do as you suggest and edit my post to focus on reasons to give up not why it'll be hard.

Fantastic news Flossie! Once you've done that, keep having a look at that very 1st post so you keep the reasons to quit in mind. They're excellent ones and will keep you motivated to battle on.

You now have the chance to do it, day be day, step by step.

Well done so far today!!! We all know what that feels like, be proud of every hour achieved!!! It's a pleasure to make you feel welcome..we're a friendly lot so lean on us when or if you need to.

Sue x

UnionGirl

Day 1 13hrs 15mins Inhalator & NRT Chewing Gum

First day of not smoking (apart from being ill and not fit to smoke) for at least 16 years!

Going well so far actually. Drinking lots of water, have had about 3 puffs of the inhalator but not touched the chewing gum so far.

Good news is in Scotland that you get the NRT free on prescription now so no excuse not to try and give up!

Have realised for the first time though that it's not just addiction to nicotine, I think I'm going to miss the "action" of smoking. When I use the inhalator I am using it like a cigarette - the way I hold it in my fingers, the inhale and exhale. Hopefully I'll get past that. In a good, optimistic frame of mind about it all just now - I'm sure that will change over the next few days lol.

Maybe a bit cheeky of me, but could I possibly ask DundeeDoll to post the links from WhyQuit? (I think). I've just finished reading this thread and don't want to go back through trying to find the relevant links. I think they gave an explanation of withdrawal symptoms, etc.

Congratulations to all who are still not smoking - you are a great inspiration - and hopefully I'll meet a lot of you over the next few weeks/months and maybe even years!

Sue-UU

A warm welcome to the thread UnionGirl! It's good to see you hear and trying hard to rid yourself of anything to do with fags. Well done on the water it'll help in many ways. It's amazing the false comfort feeling we all get from that stupid habit of perpetually puffing and the hand to mouth actions that accompanies it. A word of warning: Be careful with that inhalator that you don't find it very hard to stop using it because of the same thing, using it to tide you over the worst is what they're meant for! Remember, you're still inhaling nicotine for as long as you're using it, use it wisely and you'll be ok.

Great news about the free NRT presciptions! At least they're keen to get folk off the darn things, good on them. Och a canny lot fer sure.:D I do hope you're soon feeling a lot better, though it does come in handy when kick-starting us to stop!

I'm sending you a PM which has many useful tips in, please read it all as, all being well, you'll benefit from many of them. Have a look above at my post (1811) to Flossie about the morning pledge, it could help you too.

If you're trying to get links from DD then Edit your post and highlight her name so she sees it otherwise she may not.

You know where to find us UnionGirl, please make use of this great meeting place and remember - you're never alone!

All best wishes on a great fresh road ahead.

Sue x

For anyone looking in and wondering it YOU could do it...come on an give it a go and see. There's nothing to lose, but sooo much to gain!
Sue x

UnionGirl

Thanks very much Sue. I've read all the posts in this 3rd thread so have more of an idea of what to expect.

Think I'm going to come off the inhalator tomorrow, still use it but not put a nicotine cartridge in it. I now realise that the quicker I get off NRT, the quicker the 3 days will pass.

I'm sweating already and it's only been almost 18 hours since my last cigarette. I think it's good that I'm sweating out all the toxins already though.

Thank you for the great welcome.

dundeedoll_2

This is the PM that I try to send to people joining the thread. It contains the links to whyquit.com

It DOES contain some graphic pictures and stories, which can be scary to some people, but the links I have actually included are for the advice, not the stories of people.

Stopping (NOT giving up as depriving yourself!) smoking
Hi,
Well done on the decision to stop smoking - it will be the best decision you've made!
Here are some links for you to help.
The blood sugar one is very very important for you to read - it will be most helpful in the first few days.

http://whyquit.com/

is a site I've used a lot............scary, but does the job. Lots of stories on left hand side :eek:

And in the middle some links.............where I took the ones below from

Here's a little selection from there...........read right to the bottom of the links.

http://www.whyquit.com/joel/Joel_03_21_blood_sugar.html

http://www.whyquit.com/whyquit/LinksIWeight.html

http://www.whyquit.com/joel/Joel_Ind...ight_Gain.html

http://www.whyquit.com/joel/Joel_04_11_Smokers_Vow.html

http://whyquit.com/joel/Joel_04_16_just_one_puff.html

http://www.whyquit.com/whyquit/A_Thoughts.html

http://www.whyquit.com/whyquit/A_NicodemonsLies.html

---

http://nosmokingforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=9921

http://nosmokingforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=11261

http://nosmokingforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=10225

http://nosmokingforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=10284




Hope they help. Pm me anytime for help/advice/support

DD x

PS NEWBIES:

Accept that you have given up nothing and taken up living.
By quitting you are not making any great sacrifice.
Any duration of time without nicotine is a gift......not a sacrifice.

Once your mind set switches from 'quitting' to 'having quit' the challenge lightens.
There is a difference between being in the process of quitting and having quit.
12 momths ago I would never have thought it possible to go this long without.....I was worried about getting through the first morning.
Today it honestly takes no effort at all. Yes, sometimes for a millisecond I think I might fancy 1 and that's a mental thing, NOT physical and I don't remember the last anything I would call a bad crave.

There is light at the end of the tunnel and it is different for everyone...........but the constant in this equation is that it is possible to live your life nicotine free.

All you have to do is decide you want to..................

dundeedoll_2

Another post that may be of some help...........

(post 414 on here - January 2011)

5 months 11 days willpower/ this wonderful thread



Welcome to all newbies!

A lot of you have mentioned being scared of actually quitting..........I posted this last year.

I thought it may be of some help............I have now stopped smoking for 5 months 11 days without any problems.

Go for it...............try it for a day............and another.
It's the best thing you can do for yourself (and your loved ones)

QUOTE:
If I decide to stay a non-smoker then there is a chance I MAY:

experience a craving which will last seconds........minutes at the most and cravings are NOT guaranteed!
That is the ONLY negative.

it is guaranteed:
i will feel so very very proud of myself
have less chance of any of the things below happening



If I decide to become a smoker again then there is a very high chance that it will: (in no particular order )

affect my sinuses (and the suffering is torture)
make me have a hacking cough
feel the cold more because of bad circulation
have a very negative effect on my teeth/gums and lead to loss of teeth
affect my skin
affect my lungs/breathing
increase my chances of cancer
increase my chances of suffering a stroke
increase my chances of suffering a heart attack
increase my chances of thrombosis
increase my chances of gangerine/amputation
force me to come off of my HRT patches

it is guaranteed it will:
cost me between £60 & £70 a month
make me and my clothes smell horrible
make me FREEZING when I have to stand outside to smoke
make me anxious having to worry about when and where I can smoke (was a secret smoker)
make me anxious having to think whether I've got enough/am running out
make me feel very disappointed with myself

Hope that makes sense................X

dundeedoll_2

Last post.......I promise:o

Union girl

Although I did do the 'deep breathing' in a 'relax' way, I realised I missed the deep 'IN' breath that you do when having a ciggie


1) When you get that: 'I could so do with a ciggie' feeling.............have 1! Just don't do it with a cigarette :rotfl: Do everything else the same..........hold two fingers to your mouth.........nice DEEP drag......HOOOOLLLDDDDDDDDDDD it.......and blow out.
Ordinary deep breathing helped me at times to relax, sleep, but I was missing that real deep breath in.

2) Lots and lots of carrot/celery/apple sticks..........lots of water/peppermint tea. I gave up tea/coffee as I NEVER had a ciggie without a cuppa/cuppa without a ciggie

3) If you get a craving, imagine you are having a ciggie..........as you drag on it, it's like bonfire smoke, making you choke, splutter and cough.
Now, daft as that sounds, it worked for me. Got it from Paul McKenna I think.

Links to Paul McKenna
http://www.itv.com/lorraine/health/m...smokingaudio1/
www.itv.com/lorraine/health/medicalmatters/quitsmokingaudio2/
www.itv.com/lorraine/health/medicalmatters/quitsmokingaudio3/
www.itv.com/lorraine/health/medicalmatters/quitsmokingaudio4/
http://www.itv.com/lorraine/health/m...smokingaudio5/

Sorry to have hogged the thread

flossieflipflop

Well I haven't had a good day

I haven't had a chance to read all the posts and links as my little boy has been screaming his head off all day (nothing serious just teething). Literally he hasn't stopped. I got so stressed out I really wanted a cigarette. I held out all day but once hubby was home with his tobacco I caved and had one. Feel so disappointed with myself as it's only the first day. I hated it and didn't enjoy it and suprise suprise it did nothing to make me feel less stressed so now I'm even more annoyed with myself. I just had one and really hope I can come back from this. Will post more later but going to go swimming now to take my mind off things. So annoyed with myself

dundeedoll_2

Yes yes, I know I said I wouldn't hog the thread anymore, BUT I just HAVE to reply to flossieff

flossieflipflop wrote: »

Well I haven't had a good day

I haven't had a chance to read all the posts and links as my little boy has been screaming his head off all day (nothing serious just teething). Literally he hasn't stopped. I got so stressed out I really wanted a cigarette. I held out all day but once hubby was home with his tobacco I caved and had one. Feel so disappointed with myself as it's only the first day. I hated it and didn't enjoy it and suprise suprise it did nothing to make me feel less stressed so now I'm even more annoyed with myself. I just had one and really hope I can come back from this. Will post more later but going to go swimming now to take my mind off things. So annoyed with myself

Aaw....sorry to hear about your little man. Although it's a long time ago, I DO remember it very well!

Please don't see having 1 today as a complete negative. Reading your post, I actually thought it was a positive thing!

You say that:
I hated it and didn't enjoy it and suprise suprise it did nothing to make me feel less stressed

You know this now, if you hadn't had that 1 today, you'd be thinking:

'Oh God, I really want a cigarette......I would really enjoy it and it would make me feel less stressed.'

So, at least from now on you KNOW you will NOT enjoy it and it will do absolutely NOTHING for your stress levels.

Can't remember if it says on the links I've posted (think it does) to be aware that caffeine will have a MUCH stronger effect on you if you're not smoking.
People sometimes think it's not smoking that makes you feel all jittery, but a lot of the time it is the caffeine in tea/coffee.