The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

Sue-UU

Oh, bargainbunny, my heart goes out to you as you sound in a turmoil. Though please, only ever take zyban or any other pills on a full stomach, that of vital importance. I've no idea how old you DD is, but please ignore her as it's you you need to focus on where dealing with the fags is concerned. Do have a word with your Dr or Pharmacist about all the symptoms you're experiencing as only they will know if you're having any sort of reaction to the Zyban; it's far better to find out for sure and be advised there on. Did the Zyban help you to stop before, if so for how long?

If your BF is causing you anxiety then get rid of him quicker than you'd planned as any such stress is not going to help at all. At times when you're craving sip very cold water, wander outside or go for a brisk walk if possible; anything to take you away from the situation, you'll also be distracted by other sights too. If you've got a bike ride it..and if you have dvds for indoor exercise then use it often and get your endorphins working, you'll fee much, much better if you do. Also get some Ice Poles/Pops to suck on, they're long-lasting and cool, helpful too! I'll send you a PM to hopefully help you with cravings. Are you seeing a Cessation Nurse? I guess you must be, but if not then make an appointment to see one asap.

Please don't ever be sorry for rambling on as the more you tell us the better informed we are to, hopefully help you. Right now try not to think that "I must give it up!" or you may find your body (and especially your mind) fighting against it; below is what JD is very wisely advising, please use it daily..hourly if necessary.

Quitters Pledge

Tell yourself every morning "I'm not going to smoke at all today, but if I wish to, I may smoke tomorrow." Repeat that pledge every morning, it tricks your mind and makes things more bearable to do it in bitesizes.

Do please come back as often as you wish and let us know how you're going..and well done for seeking help! A very wise move indeed.

Best wishes bargainbunny and stay strong!

Sue xx

redrobin, you're doing wonderfully..the 18 days success so far alone is telling you that much. Yes, the tea will be driving your system to overdrive, but so too is the fact that you've stopped the cigs. Everything, especially sleep patterns, goes a little haywire for a little while, but it'll gradually get less and less and then will pass off. Just ride the storm between and cut down on the tea a bit and you'll be fine. Believe me, all in all, you seem to be coping with it, fantastically and until (and beyond) that first month benchmark keep extremely proud of all you've done, you're doing great!

Sue x

Hiya Davey and I'm soo very pleased to hear you've now paid for both items - without your CC too, marvellous! You have remarkable GF and I know how much you appreciate and love her and I don't blame you at all for having a period of 'hibernation' together.

Try not to concern yourself about Christmas, it's a time of enjoyment, do try to look upon it as jus another couple of days in the week, try anything at all that helps; what's the point in worrying about it, Davey, don't allow it to stress you, think only of those you hold dear!

All very best wishes to you both, Davey, enjoy each others company over the festive season. Have a wonderful Christmas and a VERY happy and healthy New Year!

Sue x

jammy_dodger wrote:

hi Sue-uu yes the snow is so lovely i made a snow angel for you while out with my dog ..see i do think of you locals must think im mad but i do love it when its fresh and crisp with blue skies overhead...perfect

Ahhhh, that was a joy to read JD, I giggled a bit I can tell you, but just thinking of you doing that was really lovely - BUT - you messed up the snow!!!!!! :rotfl:Its ok JD, I'm as daft as you are, but that's a good thing..isn't it??? Amazing how you haven't a clue what folk look like, but you can 'see' them! Very odd but lovely.

Thanks JD and well done with that wonderful fag-free life!

Sue xx

ooooh caracara, that sounds so very painful!!! At first I was thinking sink plug (don't ask) with the knobbly bit on, but then to think of those pins sticking into your foot!!!!! :eek: Agony Ivy!!! I'm pleased to hear your PC is sorted now, I did wonder why you hadn't been back before but wasn't too concerned. Though thoughts of you fessing up to me (??) if you'd slipped (ooh sorry - foot again!) did make me smile, but if it works then... there you go, I can do angry!!! Don't forget all the little tips for 'moment' like that - I know you've binned em! Tut tut! Water, fruit, exercise (oops sorry foot - again!), doing something beautiful to distract you. Onward caracara and no looking back! Got it! Before I foget, you've been almost 4 months without ALREADY???! I am absolutely thrilled for you, many congratulations caracara!!!! :T:T:T

Sue xx

Oh dear of dear Ruby, you expect me to write after giggling so much at all that you've written??! :rotfl:It all seemed so comical - well, apart from you having snow along with JD and me not!!! :mad: Anyway, back in the real world, VERY well done on being 39 days FREE!!!!! :T:T:T
Sue x

Stay on the right track everyone, you're all doing marvellously!

Sue xx

LittleMissKirsten

This will be my 6th week of giving up, on about 4 weeks properly smoke free (had a couple blips in the first two weeks) and wow I feel good about it. Have had an extra push as have to go into hospital for some surgery in January so really want to be completely given up by then.

kahunababy

Just checking in again. 26 days and not a craving in sight. I almost feel as if someone has flicked a switch in my head!

I had a few drinks on Friday night and the thought of smoking didn’t even occur to me (this is a first). Although I wasn’t with any smokers which probably helped. I am out again on Sunday for a bit of a works doo and I know there is going to be loads of smokers there, along with loads of drink so I am praying my resolve will hold out. I need to keep reminding myself that smoking will not make the day/night out any more enjoyable. In fact it will have the absolute opposite affect therefore I need to stay away from them. Everyone keep your fingers crossed as this is a biggy for me!

Glad everyone else seems to be doing well, don’t know about you lot but I am a little worried about making it through Christmas fag free. I know my downfall is when I have a drink and obviously I will be fully participating in the Silly Season antics! Just need to stay strong.

Congratulations to all, everyone seems to be doing so well although I have noticed this thread seems to have gotten slightly quieter recently. I bet it will be moving at full speed come January.

Take care all and I will check in again soon xx

Sue-UU

You seem to have found the right time to quit, LittleMissKirsten, a few of you are finding so relatively easy which has to mean it's the right time and you can handle it much easier. A good bit of forward planning too with the surgery ahead. All the very best with both and very well done.


Sue x


There you are see, kahunababy...it was your time to quit too! Very well done with the drinking so far Now get prepared with little things such as some keys or similar to fiddle with 'pocket playing' - IF you need it. You're doing just great!

Sue x

Always stay strong everyone and focus on the fact that you DO NOT need fags in your life...unless you wish to risk ruining it. Look above to the Quitters Pledge.

Sue x

caracara

thanks sue -uu managed to get back on the bike as it has been two and half weeks and nearly all better.
i soooo love my bike its cheap , im in control so cant be made late due to bus not turning up and stops me wanting a ciggie.
shows how unfit you can get as i havent been cyccling i had to walk even more of up hill bits than normal

ps thanks rubytwilght for sympathy

Lippycow

Reached 10 months and a £1000 banked, can't wait to reach a year of no smoking my family and friends are sooo proud of me...good luck to everyone you can do it:-)

Denis_UK

Sue-UU wrote: »

I really do see your stumbling point, Denis, any chance of Beryl stopping any time soon? Never ever keep giving up, but preferably right now....DON'T GO BACK!!!!

Hi Sue don't worry about me I am a non smoker.

Beryl supports me but is a committed smoker,daughter Lesley sold her London pad and came home.

Does not smoke before 7PM WHY !!!!!!.

As I write I'm on my own with 2 packs of fags before me,I only noticed them when writing this NOT interested.

My only gripe is I have a stinking cold,not happened for years,have the bugs found a clean pair of lungs?

Sue-UU

Oh that's much better, caracara, you sound so much better today, more relaxed and free - due to the bike for sure. ook how long you've beenaway from a life of torment with the fags though!!! Excellent work and many congratulations on a great achievement!!! :T:T Ride on in all ways, cara! :grinheart

Sue xx

Lippycow wrote: »

Reached 10 months and a £1000 banked, can't wait to reach a year of no smoking my family and friends are sooo proud of me...good luck to everyone you can do it:-)

V e r y....m a n y....c o n g r a t u l a t i o n s Lippy!!!! :T:T:T:T

I'm absolutely THRILLED at how well you've done and so proud for you in the way you've battled on regardless. You're an inspiration to everyone on the thread, truly you are.


Little wonder your family and friends are so proud of you, Lippy, you've done ruddy marvellous!!!! Look at the money saved too!!! :eek: Don't forget to come back and tell us when that magical YEAR is up!!!! Thanks so much Lippy and - very well done indeed!

Sue xx

i couldn't be more pleased about you staying free, Denis. The cold is a way of getting rid of muck and rubbish from the system, a sweeping through if you like!

You daughter isn't alone in being one of those folk who just aren't interested before a certain time of day, a bit like drinkers I suppose; it is strange though, but at least she's better off for being like that. My Mum-in-law was just the same, amazing. Take care of yourself with the cold, but feel a little happy about it as it's doing you good.

Take care EVERYONE and keep yourselves looking ahead and not back at how things used to be; you're in a new and far, far better life now and on the road to much better health!

Sue xx

Farzackerly

Well, I haven't read through all this thread, as I've just discovered it.
I've been trying the nicotine patches for the past fortnight and have slashed my consumption by 50%, from a fairly smoggy 40/day rollups to 20 or less.
Next week I intend (oh what a small word and fraught with difficulties) to reduce it further. I've found the edge has gone - one thing the patches did was almost remove the compulsion to reach for the baccy tin and I can now drive any distance (well, up to 40 miles) on one fag near the end.
I've been using 25mg patches for the first week, the second week its's been 2x10mg patches and next week I'll be trying 15mg patches If I can get them.
Annoyingly, I wasn't a heavy smoker until about 4 years ago - often only ten or fifteen a day, but it started to rise and rise, until I realised it wasn't doing me any good at all.
On and off, I've been puffing away for 40 years, with occasional periods of abstinence - sometimes for as long as two or three years, but the past 20 years have been continually shrouded in a stinky blue haze.

I'll be glad to get rid of it and I've got much better things to spend the money on.

Sue-UU

Hi and a warm welcome to the thread, Farzackerly.

You really have made an amazing start to stopping (sounds weird!) and if reducing it little by little is working well for you, why not continue in the same way until you're right down to a very low amount - but only allowing yourself very few in the late evening. Those are then far easier for you to cut out completely because you're soon off to bed anyway.
That's exactly how I finally managed it and that'll be 13 years ago come Christmas Day.

You've obviously had successful times in the past, do you have any idea at all what it was that started you back into it again - was there a specific trigger?

Work out which ones are easiest to give up in the day and build on it..little by little it is possible to wean yourself right off - and stay off!

For now whilst you have the patches to also aid you, try the following every day, hour or whenever is necessary:

Quitters Pledge

Tell yourself every morning "I'm not going to smoke at all today, but if I wish to, I may smoke tomorrow." Repeat that pledge every morning, it tricks your mind and makes things more bearable to do it in bitesizes.

Do that whenever you wish or is best, it helps so many people here to be able to get themselves free, why not give it a try and see.

For now, there's this thread to get through and there's also threads 1 & 2! Plenty of reading material to keep you going and take up plenty of fag time!

Use the thread to write your feelings down, no matter how you feel, write it down here, that alone can be so beneficial. You could also try using a smoking diary - it may help you to know which ones you feel you need - and more importantly - the ones you do not!

See you soon and do read through the PM, there may be useful tips there too.

I'm wishing you all I'd wish myself to free yourself from them once and for all. Be sure to praise and reward yourself as you go along, that too is important in helping you feel so good and able to say "No" to the next one!

Bon voyage!

Sue x