The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

spg1

Hi

Posted here occasionally in the past and will hit six month mark this week. CT and not had a puff since.
It has been hard at times but for those in the earlier stages, it does get gradually easier and you do start to stop thinking about them all the time!
As someone who has tried quitting before without success, the key things I found which have helped me this time are :

1) Accepting that it is going to be hard at times. There is no magic wand that makes giving up a long term habit and addiction easy but it is doable and the benefits are obviously worth it.
2) Not getting hung up on being determined that you will never have another cigarette - in the early stages that would have been too depressing a prospect for me. Just take it day by day. In the first few weeks, just telling myself I could have a cigarette tomorrow if I really wanted one (and meaning it) instantly helped me feel happier!
3) Exercise - I've been riding my bike/walking almost every day which just makes you feel better
4) For me, dealing with my emotions has been difficult at times. I don't think I've been bad-tempered generally past the first couple of weeks but I have noticed that on odd occasions I do get angrier about things than I did when I was smoking. I think this is because in stressful situations in the past I've used cigarettes as a coping mechanism; just something I need to adjust to
5) Everyone is different and there is no right way to give up. For me, gradually cutting down on cigarettes and moving to ultra-low nicotine ones in the weeks before I quit made it easier. I have used NRT in the past but for me it just maintains the nicotine addiction and prolongs the withdrawal from that.
6) I do feel the smoking ban has made it easier; unless you live with a smoker you can pretty much avoid being stood or sat next to one and the obvious temptations that brings.

I've now survived most of the trigger events where I could barely imagine myself not smoking (holidays, weekends away with smoking friends etc) - provided I can get through Christmas hopefully I'll be well on my way to a year.

Good luck everyone!

Sue-UU

I'm so chuffed you found the camera, Erme, that is great news.

Re you not getting the instant email notification of someone posting, have you checked in your UCP that it's 'open' to allow them. If that's all ok click the thread doofer above right on the green bar. Hope it works.

Sue xx

Congratulations spg1!! :T:T:T You're doing excellently and I have to admit to agreeing with all of the points you have above. I went with your thoughts on No 5, I cut down lower and lower til I reached just 2...whoever could carry on with just a pitiful amount - so I didn't - and am now nearly 13 years away from it all.

If I ever see anyone puffing it doesn't affect me in the slightest, the smell, well that absolutely repulses me at present, thought there are times when I think "ooh that's nice" then I simply ignore it as it just doesn't affect me at all.

Taking it a day at a time is by far the best way too and stress is NEVER made easier by giving into one puff/cig! Move away from the stress area and breathe deeply and hit a pillow a few times to give vent to the stress.

With Christmas looming large, do your best to steer away from alcohol as that can be a demon to some, but providing you keep your intake low and don't let others persuade you (cos they do try!) you'll be ok and still be counting long after Christmas is gone and you're into 2012! Don't let a few days knock you from getting your health back to where it should be.

A brilliant post, spg5 and excellent news!!!!

Sue xx

Erme

Nicorette going really well this am...

Only had one lot of sprays since 4am...okay so had a wee bit too much (like it went all over my hands ) went changing the carto (first time in a week so thought it was wise. But still with the tank they are lasting longer. Better than having to change the carto every day ) and the refilling. Sure part of my tank leaks so will have to get a new one when I get some monies (or send it away to get repaired)

But then was having sprays every hour yesterday :eek:...just craved so much for some strange reason . Nothing eased it....

So yeah - just cut my hair ...with cheap scissors from amazon (£5) though think (again when I have the monies) I might invest in a pair that's £10-15 (3 hair cuts) to last the year...didn't seem to like damp hair for some reason - then I blow dried it. A little wonky but nothing major....Mostly even - not bad for a first attempt.. I just divided it with a hair band then took it in about 1cm sections :j

Anyhow all my news. My geek chaplain is not happy about cloud backup - says it won't work...but it's simple file transfer. Most of my apps are like downloaded (free) or like on the mac OS....:mad:...just need documents, photos and videos

E

daveys_2

Yep 10 weeks and a day!!!:j

I've had very few cravings, in fact the only serious one was in the pub after work on Friday, and I was in the company of a *very* annoying person. I haven't been using the patches as much, and usually stave of cravings with micro lozenges, but of course on this occaision I couldn't find the lozenges, so I had to 'waste' a patch.

Do you rememeber that laptop I bought a couple of weeks ago? I'm still about 2 1/2 - 3 weeks away from paying that off out of ciggie-savings. I'm going to wait until them before deciding what to buy next. However on the basis that I'll need to buy a new (2nd hand) car in about 18 months, it is likely that I'll have to start putting some serious money towards that.

Good luck everyone - Oh Erme, don't rely on the cloud for permanant storage. It can work, but I worry about security

Sue-UU

Erme wrote: »

But then was having sprays every hour yesterday :eek:...just craved so much for some strange reason . Nothing eased it....

So exactly what did you try to stop the cravings, Erme??

Are you still using your 'peace pipe'? If so, then surely you shouldn't be using the Nicorette, am I right?

Please, do let me know (in proper wording) exactly what you are using now? Thanks a lot.

Sue x

Very well done with those payments Davey!! You're doing so well, goes to show what you're capable of doing/buying when you throw fags, and all they entail, out of the window.

No wonder you craved when faced with the type of company you're better off without!!! :mad: Still, you didn't do anything about it and that's great.

All the best, Davey and whatever happens ~ NEVER ~ give in!

Sue x

Erme

Yeah I hear what you're saying about using the 'peace pipe' and the nicorette but really there's barely any overlap - one or the other...Sometimes like first thing in the am I'll use both or when I have really bad cravings...

Alot of place like my cafe and church I can't use the 'peace pipe' so I use nicorette then....

Hence I still have the nicorette...

Hope that explains stuff Sue

E

smileytiger

Evening all

Daveys 10 weeks +1 is just fab..well done you :T

Had my second appointment at the stop smoking clinic tonight. I was so chuffed - blew into the little box - no Blackpool illuminations this time - no red or amber - just 1 little green light - only 1:D

The only downside is i've been nibbling - so that'll be fun when i get on the scales at WW in the morning.;)

However i have a cunning plan which involves keeping plenty of water n fruit around - specially at work, for when the homemade biscuits & fab food start calling me and most of all keeping busy - i think the dogs are going to be avoiding me before long when i pick their leads up!

Otherwise all is good - as i said to the nurse i'm kinda worried i'm doing so well, keep expecting something terrible to happen - if that makes sense..because at the moment i really just don't want to smoke at all and in a funny way that worries me - as i've not wanted to it seems wrong somehow..anyway am rambling again sorry:)

take care & keep up the good stuff

Chrissie .x

rubytwilight

Hey all

Starting to feel a bit more postive as the smoke free days start to increase.

Had been feeling a bit sorry for myself as this time last year Id been off cigarettes for 18 months and then had a lapse earlier this year.
But reminded myself that Ive escaped the last few winters without my usual chest infections and bronchitis and you got to start somewhere!

Off for one of rizla's hot milk and rum drinks. nite

Erme

Och sounds good. I'm in clean mode...Just hoovered (again!!!) and I have heaps to do today so not much cleaning is going to get done today

Macbook still sick.....But tis life..

Smoking wise though mega cravings are over - phew...and I've discovered that the cheap 27p tea bags aren't that bad (better than old blue ones - well YKWIM - that M had @ his place last night) :j...

Coffee wise I had a whoopsie last night with one @ 2.30am :eek:

So yeah should I start a decaf thread?

What do folk reckon?

E

daveys_2

Erme wrote: »

I've discovered that the cheap 27p tea bags aren't that bad

Urrm you're not smoking them are you???
:rotfl: