The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

Voyager0001

Thank you for your kind words as always Sue! Yes, I have done a fair bit of research into COPD and both myself and DH are aware of what can and probably will happen to him if he continues to smoke.
But I can't make him quit, can I? I have been doing as you suggest and trying not to say anything and hoping that he will eventually come to his senses.

Warez - I totally agree with what you say about not doing things together as much as before and starting to drift apart. We used to sit together outside and smoke - now I am inside and he is outside and he does stink when he comes in! We have never smoked indoors anyway.

I am ashamed to say that I was a tiny bit tempted to join him in having a cig today. I don't know where that feeling came from after all this time - but my common sense has kicked in and I haven't!

Stay strong. X

caracara

well done everyone

my mood has chilled out a bit now had a friend round last night who smokes she went out for a couple and i still managed not to be bothered. felt good to not smoke too.

its funny but i get palpitations and have changed to caffeine free tea/coffee and my second reason for giving up which should probably be the first (rather the embarresment of snoring) was to see if it could stop the paplitations. they have amazingly reduced (touch wood)

had even gone as far as having a ecg before i had to admit to myself that i may not be helping situ by smoking i do a fab impression of an emu (head in the sand)

thanks for the support sue

Voyager0001

Isn't it funny when you stop smoking and smell someone who has just had a fag you notice how much they reek? But when you were smoking yourself, you never noticed the smell
(yes, DH has just come in from the garden!)
Just thought I would share that tiny gem of wisdom with u all!

warez22

Hi all,

God it is getting harder and harder. I actually got so far as asking my OH for a fag yesterday (after getting a fixed penalty notice through the post!) and he said 'you have come this far so no' I hated him for it at the time and I am not sure if I would have smoked it had he given me one but I am SOOOOOOOOO glad he didnt.

It is weird but up until now it sort of felt that I was playing with giving up but now the novelty has sort of worn off and I am left with the hard slog.

I am still determined but find it very draining as it is all I think about. I just want to jump to the bit where you don't think about it anymore and not smoking is just normal.

I am going out for my run today so I am hoping that this helps.

I know that all the nicotine has left my body so it is now not a physical thing but a mental battle that I am having with myself.

Good luck everybody today, I think we are all doing pretty damn fine!:T

Voyager0001

Warez - I totally agree with you about it being a bit of a "novelty" in the early days of your quit.
I found exactly the same thing. Once I had been quit for a month or so, I used to think that I had conquered it and it wouldn't hurt if I just "had one".
This is your mind playing tricks with you and it is when your willpower has to work twice as hard.
I promise you it DOES get better and although I am still around cigarettes (same as you with your DH) I can't really imagine ever actually smoking one myself.
Good luck X

alibob_1986

TWO WEEKS TODAY!!!!!

woo. very pleased as lognest i have quit on all my recent attempts (and there has been a few!) is 15 days so am going to smash that this time, cos i am never smoking again!!!
Congrats to everyone else too, we are all doing so well. Also big thanks from me to Sue as well, your posts are very motivational so thank you!!!

myonlysunshine

Hi all, I came accross this thread by accident and wanted to post a huge congratulations to all who have managed to quit smoking! :T

I quit smoking in October last year after a really bad chest infection..at the time i was physically unable to smoke so i just stopped cold turkey..the first week wasn't great but i slowly crawled out of the pit and go my bum off the couch and all i can say is it is the best thing I ever did. I have had a very difficult year and got through my mum dying in march without smoking, she was 61 and died from lung cancer.

I know as an ex smoker how much we can put the horribleness of smoking related illnesses to the back of our minds while we carry getting our nicotine fix, but if you have just stopped and need a new resolve sometimes we need to remind ourselves what will probably happen if we continue to smoke, seeing a loved one die from lung cancer is simply tramatic beyond belief...i never want to put my two boys through that, my dad is a broken man and my 7 year old son keeps telling me he cant remember what grandma's voice was like

Anyhow, im waffling on I just wanted to say well done, take it day by day and treat yourself if you can.

The best advice i got was that you are not losing anything at all by stopping smoking, just hopefully extending your life and being healthier. :)

warez22

Morning all,

Woohoo 7 days! Feeling quite good today. Went for my run last night. Wouldnt say I breezed it but it was much easier.

Am slowly not thinking about smoking all the time and am finding that my mind is coming back and I can concentrate on other things.

Good luck today everyone.

Happy days:T

myonlysunshine

Hi warez22,

You have done a whole week without smoking thats fantastic!:T

The first week is definately the worst, the nicotine is all out of your system now so as you said yesterday, it really is just a mental battle from now on.

I read alot of articles of what smoking does to in the first few months and kept them bookmarked to read as and when i needed too. I found one online about comparing cigarettes to being your friend and why we 'romance' smoking...i was guilty alot of that at first, i kept thinking i was happier smoking and a better person, in fact, i was constantly outside at the back door smoking saying to my little boy 'i will be with you in a minute' same half an hour later, and half an hour after that...i was also very anxious and was suprised when i felt much calmer quitting.

I know this may sound like a cliche too, you mentioned that you wanted to skip the part when you dont think about smoking anymore...i was desperate for that too, but it does feel like a bit of a journey to be honest, you learn to deal with situations differently and approach things more head on as you dont go off for a cig to count to 10 or 100! Generally it gives you time to calm down and not do what perhaps you should have.

You WILL notice it getting easier, every time you ignore a craving you will strengthen your resolve.

Well done again your'e doing great!
Mel :T

Sue-UU

Very many congratulations, Ali!!! You've done marvellously and 2 weeks smoke-free is amazing!!!! :T:j:T

I didn't think you'd find it quite so easy as you have, especially to begin with, but I'm sure it's mostly all due to your great determination - as well as - putting yourself into making the cardi for your little girl that's given you the stength and courage to forge ahead!!!!

You've kept yourself focused and kept yourself busy - the 2 things we all need to make the journey become far esier to cope with. Carry on the same way and a day at a time, Ali and you have every chance to quit for GOOD! It's still early days, but treat the next 14 as you've treated the last and you're well on your way!!! Be proud and don't forget a little treat would do you good.

In awe of you and all youve put in this far!

Sue xxx


A warm welcome to the thread, Mel and many congratulations on having been smoke-free since October!!!! 10 months or very close to it is excellent!!! :T:T:T:T Many commiserations to you and especially your Dad over the sad death of your dear Mum. She will be so proud of you having achieved such a wonderful goal and will be willing you on with the rest of your journey! Bless your little one with his very touching remark, but in time I'm sure Grandma's will return to him.

My dear Dad-in-law suffered the same dreadful illness as your poor Mum and it's terrible to watch them in agony, yet know we can do nothing for them apart from give them our love. It's sad that all too often it takes the illness or passing of a loved one to push us to KNOW we just HAVE to stop too or we could be inflicting so much misery on ourselves and own youngsters and that's wrong!

I quite agree about smoking being viewed as a friend and we need to see it's been such a bad one! :mad:.....and kick it out of our lives once and for all!!!

Good to see you helping out here..and a hug for your little darling, please. BTW, this is the 3rd Quitting Smoking thread since 2008 and we've had so very many successes, but we always want more!

Sue xx


Oh, warez, you've done terrifically in reaching that first and HUGE milestone of a WEEK free from fags!!!!! :T:T:T I'm absolutely thrilled to bits for you!!! I know you haven't found it a breeze, but nothing worthwhile in life comes easy, but this is one of the hardest things you'll ever do, so keep in mind that if you can keep this up and quit for good - you can do anything else!!! It's so good that you're now able to concentrate on other things and to learn that your runs are even getting easier! Life'll get even better for you if you keep up the courage you've found!

Sue xx


Such good thinking for yourself and great advice given to warez, Voyager, very well done!

BTW girls: could you kindly all put the amount of time passed and the means used to quit with on your subject lines each day please.

ie 1 week 4 days cold turkey

Thanks a lot, it helps us all to keep up with you, you too as it's a great reminder to keep you enthused.

caracara wrote:

its funny but i get palpitations and have changed to caffeine free tea/coffee and my second reason for giving up which should probably be the first (rather the embarresment of snoring) was to see if it could stop the paplitations. they have amazingly reduced (touch wood)

Fantastic news, caracara!! It's really is true that smoking makes us so stressed, and in doing so, gives a lot of us palpatations; but once we stop - it goes - and so quickly too! Kee looking for other changes such as better breathing, far better looking skin and teeth too. Keep at it and stay focused caracara and you'll soon find that, when looking in the mirrror, there's a new woman looking back at you in the mirror! Sile back at her, she'll like that!

Sue xx


I hope everone's having a wonderful weekend and chalking it up as a brilliant smoke-free one!!! Be proud knowing there's so much in life to look ahead to...much better health being the most improtant one!

Sue xx

" To get through the hardest journey we need take only ONE step at a time, but we MUST keep on stepping."