The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

kahunababy

OK, confession time

I fell off the wagon! I became a member of the 'just one won't hurt' club.:eek: I was doing great until we had an 'unexpected' night on the drink with a few friends who dropped by. I did end up smoking the whole weekend (and some of the week too). However......

I am back on track now and more detirmed than ever!!! On day 2 of cold turkey and I am aware of one or two 'danger' points that I hadn't really expected last time.

I went out last night and bought a new toothbrush, toothpaste and a small mouthwash to keep in my bag. Everytime everyone in work goes for a smoke I go and brush me teeth! I will have pearly whites if this lot keep up :rotfl:I haven't smoked since 11pm Tue evening now and I have already developed that tickly little cough. I know this is my body's way of healing itself so instead of seeing that cough as a nusiance I now smile every time I cough as I know it's doing me good.:)

My danger areas are evenings and after dinner so I am changing our routine so I don't have time to think about smoking. This is also helping me be more organised and spend more time with my kids (big guilt area when I was smoking) so, for now, everything is working:T

Wow, I feel better now thats off my chest! Hope you are all doing well and a big thanks once again to Sue for all her words of wisdom.

P.S. It's me who has the free gym at work:D

Erme

I didn't realise till last night that cigs actually have MAOI's in them - that's anti depressants...

So if ya a bit down now you know why ...

Anyhow one day cig free and it's going fine....

Only I either have a bug or am very chesty and I don't know why....Just a hurting painful chest.... Not coughing up anything......just anxious and like feeling a bit sluggish

Reduced anti anxiety meds last night and feel okay. No more anxious than last night....or yesterday and know distraction and routine can fix this....

And gradually reducing my dependance on the recovery team. Not phoning them first thing now.....

Just don't think I'll be able to get out jogging now till 5mg of the haloperidol or lower as it makes me so stiff!!!

And batteries for the VV are £20 each and I'll need 4 :eek:...I can get them cheaper but I don't think they'll last two minutes...I can get them for about £3 a pair on ebay...

Might have to invest next week

Also repairs for the one I dropped last week are likely to run to £15 - why is my money going down the pan LOL

Sorry to hear of your blip kahuna but you're stronger now and you can do it...

I need something...coming off anti depressants can be dangerous for me....I need to be careful....not least with quitting the cigs....

E

Sue-UU

kahunababy wrote: »

I am back on track now and more deterimed than ever!!!

kahunababy wrote: »

Everytime everyone in work goes for a smoke I go and brush me teeth!

kahunababy wrote: »

My danger areas are evenings and after dinner so I am changing our routine so I don't have time to think about smoking.

kahunababy wrote: »

Wow, I feel better now thats off my chest!

P.S. It's me who has the free gym at work:D[/QUOTE]


Very well done for coming back and fessing up with exactly what had tripped you up, kahunababy. A real shame, but at least you've learned what NOT to do in future, well done you!

I liked the following bit "Wow, I feel better now thats off my chest!" please folk take note as it's imperative to unload and can really help you.

Well done with the brushing of the teeth.....very wise when puffers are within the vacinity.... ...so too is altering your routine at critical times. kahunababy..it sounds as though you really are so very determined to do this and you've made my day let alone your own life!!!!! :j

Thank Heavens we've finally found out who the 'gym at work' person is, thanks a lot kahunababy..I thought I'd lost the plot!! No comments to that!

Have a look at the nicotine demon calling you v logical reasoning below, put on here a couple of weeks ago by AZ. I love it and it could really help EVERYONE to get through difficult times.


'Every Little Helps'



Smoky Thinking :mad: I just need one cigarette to take the edge off these cravings



Clear Thinking Cravings become weaker and less frequent with every day that I don’t smoke. Even just one puff will feed the cravings and make them stronger.



Smoky Thinking :mad: It’s been a long day. I deserve a cigarette. Clear Thinking I deserve a reward after a long day, but there are better rewards than a cigarette. A favourite meal, a funny movie, or a hot shower will help me relax without ruining my quit attempt.

Smoky Thinking The urge to smoke is just too strong. I can’t stand it.



Clear Thinking Even the strongest cravings last less than 3 minutes. The urge will go away whether I smoke or not, and smoking now will just make it even harder for me to quit later. I can find something else to do—anything—until the craving goes away.



Smoky Thinking :mad: I blew it. I smoked a cigarette. I might as well go ahead and finish the pack.



Clear Thinking I am still learning how to be a non-smoker. It’s normal to make some mistakes. But I don’t have to smoke that next cigarette. I can learn from this mistake and keep going.



Smoky Thinking :mad: I can’t deal with never being able to have another cigarette for the rest of my life.


Clear Thinking I only have to deal with today. Quitting happens one day at a time, sometimes one hour at a time! The future will take care of itself.

Well done kahunababy, you're back on track and I'm really chuffed for you, bet your family are too!

Sue xx


Hello there Erme and excellent news!!!! :T:T That REALLY is good work!

Please don't just focus on the MAOI's that are in fags...there are no end of chemicals in them and who knows what affect they might have. Affects of the MAOIs will only be short-lived. Also, we're all individuals and what affects one doesn't always affect another. Feeling down mainly comes from the 'mourning' of the so called 'friend' that's been with us for so long - but that does NOT last long either....once we've mentally knocked that friend :mad: from our lives.

Stay strong ERME, like everyone else, you too CAN DO THIS and be free from them! I had a lot of depression (and other) problems too, but was not prepared to let them get the better of me any more.

Hugs to you Erme.

Sue xxxx

Kiwisaver_2

Sue-UU wrote: »

Keep a diary of what you eat and excerise done and you'll definitely become as your signature suggests!!! :j I haven't a clue what Olympic Contender means but will have to check it out.

Ha ha :rotfl: an unfortunate connection, being an Olympic contender has nothing to do with any physical exertion or my chances at getting beyond week one of C25k. It's an ongoing MSE challenge for folks off pay off debt before the London 2012 Olympics. I finished mine already though, mostly cos I ain't been buying any fag-er-oonies for the past seven months or more. :T

Erme wrote: »

Yay go you Kiwi...you can do it girl...Don't worry about other folk looking at you...can't be any worse than me turning up on Monday drenched showing full sports bra under t-shirt with a crowd of about 20 waiting for the lift...everyone (and I mean everyone) turned and looked :eek:

Thanks Erme, I can't help feeling self conscious when the most I have ever run in the past ten years or more, is to cross a road in a hurry. I can't even claim to have run for a bus. :eek:

Yesterday I just did the up-tempo walking bit again to build up some stamina and have dropped the NHS podcast in favour of the original Coolrunnung dude. I'm much preferring the funkier music and longer intervals; it's much more uplifting and motivational than that dreary NHS woman. I'll try a run in the park at the weekend, and hoping I will do much better with some new earphones, that won't keep falling out.

Triangle my issues with overeating have stemmed largely from filling that missing smoking in the car gap, with eating in the car. It was a big pull for me to see my car and immediately think smoko time. The car was my sanctuary, the only place I could hide from people, the wind and the rain and smoke in peace at the end of the day. My car still smells bad: despite having been cleaned, polished and air-freshened, Febreezed and everything several times. This week I have mini bags of prunes and apples in the car to chew on the way home from work, rather than bags of sweets or a Mars bar.

Triangle

Sue - thank you so much for your reply yesterday, it nearly made me cry as I felt that little bit less alone!

I took your advise and went out to buy a new air fresher shortly after. It has helped no end today :T Tomorrow is my non work today so plan to give the car (and the house...and my clothes!) a good old scrubbing! I can't believe how much everything stinks and its so bizarre, I've never noticed how much smokers stink before It's like having a whole new sense of smell!

Kiwi - thanks very much for fruit tip. I have absolutely scoffed everything in sight the last few days. I do slimming world and have so far lost two and a half stone - I'm kind of letting it take a back seat until I feel comfortable as a non smoker but I realise I do need to keep a check on it.

In short - a very good day so far with one slight craving which quickly passed Late last night I had a bad craving so took the dog round the block for a quick jog - it lifted my spirits no end so I'll be doing that when the urge strikes again. And my doggie is wagging his tail at the thought of all those extra walkies!

T

Sue-UU

Oh bless you, dear Triangle, but don't worry because as long as you're coming to this thread - you are never alone - and you can always imagine all the others who, just like you, are going through the exact feelings you are.

That sudden realisation of how terrible we've smelled to other people is a total shock to us all as our sinuses clear and that wicked stench of smoke fails to keep chimneying up our nostrils and into (and out of) our mouths!!!! :shocked: I can't imagine however my husband managed to live with me all those years!

Never mind, you and thousand of others are clawing your way back and every time you pass a smoker you'll be thinking "thank the dear Lord that isn't me!" Having said that....sometimes you may also think "that smells nice" or the complete opposite, it's strange how it filers through to us so differently. I still have those 'nice' and 'obnoxious' times after 12 & 1/2 years, but NEVER do I think for a moment that I'd like one, quite the opposite in fact.

All the best with washing the clothing, soft furnishings and cleansing of the car. We all do it and, aside from Kiwi :idea: , we all revel in the new found scents of freshness! Oce you've cleared the smog and got yourself something to snack on.....try some nuts to nibble on whilst driving.....you'll be happily driving again.

Very WELL done on taking the dog on out when you had a 'moment', I love it when folk really do help themselves...it shows such great promise!!! :j

Don't worry too much about weight, but just be aware wen buying snacks. Try Ice Pops/Poles that you can buy in boxes in supermarkets then take home and freeze; suck on one of those when you need a snack, it's a far better option, the same as apples and oranges or any fruit. I doubt you'll ever put the weight back on that you've lost, keep a check on it and you'll soon be feeling so much healthier having lost so much AND said cheerio to fags as well.

Onward to another fresh day, T, another day further away from that old lifestyle! Don't forget to save the money you would have spent, it really helps motivate you.

Thinking of you very, very much and sendng hugs,

Sue xx

kahunababy

Just a quick one to check in! Yesterday was a good day, only really had one craving (after dinner) which I was expecting so I just busied my self and before I realised I had forgotten all about wanting to smoke!

Called in at the libary yesterday as I want to learn to crochet! I'm not from a very crafty family and have never been taught to sew or knit or anything like that but my DH's family are the craftiest of crafters (in the nicest possible way) and I thought it would give me something to do in the evenings and keep my hands busy. Anyway, picked up a book to teach me the basics and another book jumped out at me, Allen Carr's Stop Smoking Now book. So I got them both out. Started having a read through the smoking book and it seems pretty simple, read, digest, understand, never smoke again. Worth a go anyway, even if it only helps with the cravings. It comes with a free relaxation CD so going to get my DH to try and put that on my ipod so I can listen to it when I go to bed, if anything it should help me sleep.

I realised something this morning, I woke up and my first thought of the day wasn't to go downstairs for a fag. I was half way through my breakfast before I realised I hadn't even thought about smoking. Now that is something for me.

I can certainly relate with Triangle about the smell. I wore my coat today that I haven't wore in a couple of weeks and it is honking!!! I have never noticed it before but how on earth did my poor DH & kids put up with that smell. I couldn't even stomach it and had to take it off half way to work and just go cold. Will be straight in the washing machine tonight me thinks.

Anyway, thanks for all the inspiration and good luck to everyone with staying away from the deamon fags and enjoying a clean & fresh day xKBx

frugalpam

Hello Sue-UU, and all! I've not been on here for a very long time, but am pleased to report that I am still a NON SMOKER - it is now 2 years and 7 months!!!
This is a great thread for motivation and support, and Sue is brilliant! Keep on everyone, it is so worth it. I LOVE being a non smoker!

Sue-UU

You are doing so very, very well so close in Kahunababy and you're doing all the things I'd suggest to anyone to take their mind off it, this far in and I'm already feeling so pleased for you! I love the way you just get up and do something whenever you have a 'moment'. Onward kahunababy!


A great step on getting a book on crochet - don't forget - if you need to see a particular stitch you can also get a LOT of help from YouTube, sometimes it's easier to understand if you watch things being done. Enjoy your new venture! Great news about the ACSSN book! You did really well with getting the relaxation CD too, putting onto your iPod will be great. Do use it as anything like that really does do us all good......YOU too Triangle!!!


To realise this morning that you didn't wake up with fag-related thoughts is a heck of an achievement, in fact it's HUGE so e eally proud of that, kahunababy. All best wishes in freeing yourself and your home from the terrible pong of fag smoke, wicked!!!

So very well done kahunababy, keep up the GREAT work!

Sue xx


Hiya Pam!!!!!!! :wave:It's really wonderful to see you one of our star quitters :staradmin...and........whoever would have thought you'd hit 2 yrs & 7 months ALREADY!!!!! :eek: Good Heavens, I honestly have got a job to take that in and if anyone had asked me I'd have estimated it was around 18 - 20 months. My, how time flies! I love it when 'old faces' return and to see you is marvellous.

VeryMany CongratulationsPam :T:T:T:T:T:T:T You truly do deserve the success you've given yourself.

Thanks so much for coming back Pam, you really have done brilliantly and are welcome on the mat any time! So good to see you.


Sue xx

Keep determined everyone, as you'll see from Pam's terrific achievement...it CAN be done!!

Sue xx

caracara

i am doing a little well done me dance got through week at work. cycled in rather than getting the bus as thats been a problem in past standing around bored leads to anxiety leads to running to shop before getting bus.

please dont be fooled into thinking that i am fit becuase i cycled though its all down hill there so just sit and roll and walk up the tough bits on the way home

sue your such a good person helping everyone, thnks:A