The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

MissGolightly

hi all

just popping onto new thread to say hello, and posting my quit time to encourage any newcomers, you'll soon start stacking up the months too i'm sure! no cravings whatsoever over christmas/new years, ate way too much, so now i've curbed the smoking, time to sort the eating! haha.

misskaytee

What great timing!!

My trip to book in at New leaf has coincided with a shiney new thread! :T

Oh & i have decided to give up smoking, We have booked in with New leaf for the 10th of Jan, so not currently stopped but working ourselves up for it!

Hope you don't mine me tagging along.

~K~

determined_new_ms

misskaytee wrote: »

What great timing!!

My trip to book in at New leaf has coincided with a shiney new thread! :T

Oh & i have decided to give up smoking, We have booked in with New leaf for the 10th of Jan, so not currently stopped but working ourselves up for it!

Hope you don't mine me tagging along.

~K~

Hi misskaytee . congrats to you and ur oh on deciding to stop smoking :j I'm very new on here myself but everyone has been so welcoming & warm & encouraging which has been brilliantly helpful.

I totally get needing to psyche yourself up before stopping. Someone on here suggested trying to smoke every other one in the lead up to quit day. So each time I wanted a cig I then would wait a min 90 mins before having it, was easier than I thought!

Nym_Mcfroglet

determined_new_ms wrote: »

Hi misskaytee . congrats to you and ur oh on deciding to stop smoking :j
I totally get needing to psyche yourself up before stopping. Someone on here suggested trying to smoke every other one in the lead up to quit day. So each time I wanted a cig I then would wait a min 90 mins before having it, was easier than I thought!

Well done Miss and you'll be grand

I put the lowest patch on for the week before I quit, and found that by the end of the week I was only smoking 5 a day and not really enjoying even those, so that helped me. Oh and I made sure I went to the pub and had at least a couple of pints without having a cigarette break so did that pain first while I could have a cigarette when i got home, then when I completely quit with the top patch I didn't feel it having a drink at all!

I don't know if the companies recommend it that way but it certainly worked for me

Well done to all for another successful day breathing goodish air rather than smoke

Mat_Lock

I started today, seeing as yesterday was still a holiday. Not felt any urges as yet. Will be tested later when I go home and my flatmate would be smoking in his room and that smell would be teasing my nostrils.

I won't faulter this early on but it doesn't help he won't give up at the same time.

Good luck everyone.

debie_2

Hello everyone

I am back with tail strongly behind me, I was on the patches but before the Xmas some how ended up back on the ciggies, which was silly thing to do and I was quickly back on 20 a day.

I am now trying again and intend to succeed this time. I am doing it Cold Turkey and have not had one since 11.30pm last night and so far it is not too bad. I am drinking lots of water. I know this evening will be trying so I am going to try and keep myself occupied with housework and cleaning. I have also done cold turkey before and hoping that once I get through first 3 days it will get bit easier as nicotine will be out of my system.

I am very chesty at the moment which has given me the kick up behind to stop the smoking. Sadly I think there is part of me that actually enjoys it, but I have to realise what it is doing to me. I was saying to myself this morning "I am setting myself free" kept saying it over and over again.

Sorry for the woffle.

D

jammy_dodger

a very warm welcome debie, mat lock and k
youve found the right place to beto helpon your new found road to freedom and hope you have been reading the most recent of posts from giving up smoking 2 thread

your in good company with folk at all different stages of their quit , but lots of new starts to share common felt experiences
we are a friendly supportive bunch with the wonderful sue-uu at our helm giving the words of wisdom and support when we need it most she is a treasure


debie i know how you feel having give up for 9 months and before you know it are back smoking full quota after the " just one " it drags you in quickly so pleased of your desicion to pack it in for good ..keeping busy is a good strategy (its what a lot of us here have been doing ) please vent on here any thoughts we all wish you well, am sure sue uu will pm her email with thoughts and hints and KEEP READING ON HERE a wealth of information and support

mat-lock wont be long before the smell of your flatmates room repulses you and you'll be glad you no longer smell that way too :Dand who knows may join you when they see how much healthier and richer you are for not handing over your hard earned coffers to go up in smoke

misskaytee not sure what new leaf is but sounds like something to do with smoking sessation ? it may be a paper making course am not sure your in the right place to free yourself from the evil old nic welcome on our journey to freedom

jd xx

Sue-UU

Strewth, I'm not THAT bad or good, am I determined new ms! The way you're explaining your feelings about last night describes the affect stopping has on the majority of us - but - as you've noticed it's not a 24 hour thing, just creeps up on us now and again and hits us. However, you've come this far and you don't want to return for sure! Ride the more turbulent times of the storm, DNMS and you'll get through it. Yes, by the end of today the nicotine (of all those going cold turkey) the nicotine will be gone from your system! Just don't be too surprised if now and again old nic tries to stay in your head and make you 'think' you're craving as you're NOT it's just that we've smoked for so long that a little of the habit remains in the head, but as soon as one comes in knock it straight out by thinking..doing something that will take your mind straight away from it. Focus on something entirely different, something that takes your mind and your hands/fingers to do...the most powerful tools, as well as the mind, that you have - use each and keep them active! Whenever you're tempted with thoughts of "I can't do this!" just remember that IF you were to return to it all again - how long would it be before you truly regretted it and need to start up all over again? Would you truly wish to go through the last 2 days again??? I don't think so. Smile...kick him in the teeth and move on with a grin to have sips of a glass of water, a apple, Ice Pole, sweet, a walk/shower/bath run up the stairs - anything! JUST DON'T GO BACK to a way of life you detest!!!! How about having a bath/shower before bed, not too hot or you'll be restless afterwards anyway..then have a milky drink NOT tea or coffee. Then get into bed and read something gentle ...or say "hello" to hubby! Heck, if it takes your mind to a different place - why not!! Best to be relaxed from the onset!!

Well done, jinty, not much to say yet, but no doubt you'll update us!

Sorry to hear you're struggling, heretolearn, you're obviously stressed with work as well and that isn't helping you, but no fag on earth could ever help, it only helps build on stress creating more than you have already. Is it possible to keep a glass of water by your work place? If nicotine gum's making your mouth sore, would ordinary gum be better or is it just the act of chewing that's hurting? How about some sweets to help, even if it's just for the short term. I quite agree with you that it's the hand to mouth action you're missing most...but breathe slowly and deeply at the worse times...and place your thoughts somewhere away from your work place and fags - even if it is only fleetingly as sometimes it only takes seconds to get your mind away from them. For night time before you go to bed, change your routine a little, and look at this that I put on for DNMS: "How about having a bath/shower before bed, not too hot or you'll be restless afterwards anyway..then have a milky drink NOT tea or coffee. Then get into bed and read something gentle ...or say "hello" to hubby! Heck, if it takes your mind to a different place - why not!! Best to be relaxed from the onset!!" I like almost all of your reasons for quitting, but you are doing this for YOU first and foremost and though it'll please your hubby to have you free from it, be careful it doesn't push you into becoming too worried about quitting for someone else to a point where it becomes too much. It's not selfish to think that this is for you. Having said all that if doing it for him does really help you - go for it and be happy for you both!! I know my hubby had always wished I could quit, though he was never ever pushy at all, he simply wanted me free from all the fears it gave me...couldn't ask for more than that now could I!!

determined_new_ms wrote:

In the past I've found that when I stopped smoking I didn't take breaks the same way I did as a smoker, so until 3 days ago I would stop, down tools (so to speak) and go outside have a cig and a chat & totally step away from work for 5 or 10 mins 3 x a day. As a non-smoker you don't this.

I think its helpful for the process (and not to mention working effectively & efficiently - but that's another whole story) to make sure you still take these breaks. Hths

I couldn't agree more with those words of determined new ms (congratulations!!!) and if you can have time to 'step away from things for precious moments, heretolearn, then please do!

Hi Penelope, good to see you. With going home, try to change your routine just a little, go for a walk first before going in doors, go in the back way instead of the front or vice versa. Have a walk round the garden...or be blown around it...or make prints in the snow!! Don't frighten yourself by routine when changing it will help. :A

Don't worry, SmellyOldSock ....you still have that to catch up on, but you will and will make it. Keep the sense of humour, it's precious.;)

jammy_dodger wrote:

Am sure sue-uu will explain more if I have missed anything out

Jd xx to all those newly posting and have quit am sure Sue wont mind me asking on her behalf ? Could you put in the title bar how long you have been stopped and what method used it does help when offering support , and maybe helps others who are lurking to "identify" a posters journey if they are thinking of using the same method

Am sure sue-uu will explain more if I have missed anything out

Jd xx

Mind??? :eek: She loves you for it!!! Jammy you don't know what a treasure you honestly are!!! I searched for that last night...didn't find it..then never had the time to write it anyway as I was sooooo late yes I do sleep to DNMS honest! Thank you sooooo much Jammy!!!! :kisses3: Please everyone, do take note!


Hi itselliebell and thanks to you too for putting your date and quit method, well done on your time, you've done fantastically and are able to show everyone, along with Catherine that it CAN BE DONE!!!:T:T

Hi and a very warm welcome, misskaytee, it's good to have you join us. Go to threads 1 & 2 if you're looking for inspiration!! You know what you can both do with your money when you're giving up don't you??!!! Seriously, it does help to see it mounting up. Let us know how you're going and when you quit.

A very warm welcome Mat_Lock, have a read through the 1st & 2nd threads for help if needed, though this one's in full swing now. By the way, if your flat-mate has any thoughts for you at all, then he WON'T be smoking inside anyway!! :mad: Have a gentle word with him as he too may need help one day, I hope! If he refuses then go out of the room whilst he has it and waft the door around (so he freezes) when you come back in!!!!


Welcome home, debie and well done on coming back to start again!!! :T A great idea with the housework tonight, keep busy and keep focused and well done with the water! Let's hope it'll be this time that you succeed, debie..you really want rid of chesty problems so you've everything to lash out at old Nic for!! You can BEAT the blighter!!

Sorry, I'm so late everyone, but a busy day and a 9.00 am start (whoops!) keep as strong as you are everyone, but keep gaining strength wherever you're able.

Love to all, Sue x

Mat_Lock

haha thanks for the words of advice already. I'll make him come round, we used to smoke out side of the house as landlady said no smoking in the house. Then all that cold weather arrived and he started doing it in his bedroom. Then it moved to the lounge. So need to put my foot down now.

hattiefats

Evening all! Day 4 today and it was flippin hard work! I really wanted a cig break at work but I didn't!! Have got my exercise class tonight which will keep me busy though! Although now I'm home I'm not bothered about having a smoke! Good job I'm out as I've eaten a lot of sweeties today!!! Hope everyones feeling fabulously fag free!