The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

Erme

I enjoyed my wee wander round the charity shop..

Bit worried about monies for various e-cig things coming out this week but still...

Might have to cancel an order or two...

But found tanks in the states for $5 and mine is leaking and I'd been putting off paying £30 for a new tank for at least 6 weeks so ordered two :j

E

Sue-UU

taj wrote: »

Just hope if your starting off on this too...read the posts for encouragement...I did back in march and have a glass of water by you keep drinking it... it does help. Good luck

Marvellous taj!!! Thank you so much for coming and telling your story, it gives folk the incentive and lets them know that it really is possible!

Many congratulations on having come such a very long way! The further along your journey you get you'll realise that the 'feelings' get far less and last far less.

All best wishes!

Sue x

Hi Erme, I'm glad you were able to get some fresh air. Just think one of these days WHEN you do get right down and don't need any help, you'll be able to save and save well.!!!

Sue x

jacflash

Hi Sue and everyone,

Room for another newbie? I guess you'd say I'm in the process of quitting - still smoking, but fast approaching readiness to stop. There's been an almost poetic convergence of things, seemingly random, that have led to this point. Not before time. I started smoking at 16 and am now 43, and have been what could be described as a "committed" smoker. I have stopped for various lengths of time 3 or 4 times, but have always started again. (Note to self: beware of alcohol and major life crises).

So here I am: lone parent to two girls, work full time, struggling financially, a bit socially "shut down" for various reasons, prone to depression. Smoking is a crutch, it punctuates my day, I (wrongly) perceive it as a little bit of "me" space and time.

The truth: I am playing Russian roulette with my life, I can't afford it, I am in denial about the extent to which I carry the smell of it on me. I "only" smoke in my bedroom at home, so it very literally takes me away from my girls. I feel a slave to it.

The thought of stopping scares me, and I'm a master procrastinator. So here I am baring my soul. Time to be free, to feel healthy and clean. Tomorrow I make the call to the stop smoking service and take this bull by the horns, hoping that posting here will help with the impetus, motivation, determination.

Sorry for the length and weight of this post, but even the writing of it has helped. Just reading through the last dozen or so pages of this thread has inspired and moved me (and knackered my eyes!).

Well done to all those that have managed to break free - you are an inspiration and encouragement and I can only hope and pray to be joining you in posting my smoke-free days soon x

webitha

hiya guys ive not read the thread
but i wantewd to let people that I have not had a ciggie today, i would have normally have had about 5 by now
the first time for 20 ahem years that i have not smoked.

they started tasting horrid the kids kept giving me evils lol and i read allen carr and suddenly a nlot of things makes sense


this is hopefully the start of the new me....and i am scared yet excited, especially as i will be the only non smoker (apart from the kiddies) in my entire family

alibob_1986

Yesterday was good, only one of us that was out was smoking in the end, so she was whinging and moaning that I had left her alone and now she was going to have to go outside by herself. I just smiled and said sorry about that! And off she went. As we were leaving she also said "Why did you quit now, they have a nice smoking area here!"....1, it's the first time we have ever been there so not like I would get much use out of their nice smoking area anyway! and 2, i don't really base my decision on whether to smoke or not on the quality of smoking shelters!!! Lol.
I will get out and buy some ice poles at some point,although right now it's so awful out there I think myself and the small one will be having a nice lazy day and staying in

According to my quit app on my phone, I have now been 4.38 days without a cigarette, I've *not smoked* 65.84 (?!) cigarettes and have saved £18.43 and 6.5 hours of my time. And i have also stayed warm and dry through all this horrible weather we have been having instead of having to stand out in it to smoke And my hair and clothes smell better. And I can breathe better. But other than that, nothing much has changed

RainbowDreamer

#QuitNow! Since 02 January 2012: 3 days smoke free, 34 cigarettes down, £11.1 and 0d 3h 24m saved!

Onto day 4. I made it past day 3 and am so chuffed. I did have a wobble in the afternoon, so went to gp and asked for a repeat of nicorette spray. She agreed if I book in for another smoking appt with her. So there next Thurs.

Have only used the spray 3 times since yesterday afternoon. Only using it for crisis times.
Today feeling very ill and run down. Maybe my body getting used to not smoking?

Still not had chance to read the links as I'm on my mobile and 2 little ones running round. But I will

Sue-UU

jacflash wrote:

Sorry for the length and weight of this post, but even the writing of it has helped. Just reading through the last dozen or so pages of this thread has inspired and moved me (and knackered my eyes!).

Hi jacflash and webitha and a warm welcome to the thread to you both!



We've all used smoking as a crutch and it's what you're both still thinking each time you try to quit, if you can only concentrate your minds on the fact that it's really no crutch at all, but rather just the 'thought' that it is then you have the chance to push ahead.It's evil and it will wreck your lives IF you let it!! What crutch is that!!!!



For additional and really, very vital help, why don't you both seek more help from your cessation Nurse at your Drs surgery, the physical actions of going regularly to see and talk to someone helps keep you on your toes much more. Also, the Alan Carr books/cds are very helpful and we have at least 2 people on here now who swear by his method - why not give it a try?!



I'm sending you both a PM to read through, and you will definitely find help there with the 'crutch'. Please read through the thread as there are some amazing stories, help and advise for you to work with, it also gives the mind other thoughts and ideas to work with.



Meanwhile webitha, please, please don't smoke in your bedroom, it's far better for you to be smoking outside than trapped in the same smoke as you've breathed out; you must absolutely wreak of it, your bedroom too!!!!! That may well be why your kids are giving you the evils, because in a nutshell......you smell awful!!!! :eek: Sorry, but it must be true!



What you've written (the amount) in your post, jacflash and what I've quoted above tell a lot, write more - and even if you don't post it, getting it all down on paper and out of you can be such a help as you've now found. Please read more of the posts and keep write and in contact with us.



I couldn't wish you BOTH any more than I do and I'd love it if you could free yourselves from this evil, filthy nicotine! You both know what an ashtray full off grubby, smelly stubbs smells like, use your minds to condense the contents of about 3 of those ashtrays into a jar, add a little water and visualise and smell it every time you feel a craving. Also use the Quitters Pledge over the page; you CAN do this!!!!. Grab your willpower and let this year be the year you say at at to it for good!!!!!!!

Breathe deeply and breathe in pure, clean air. Keep in touch!

ALL the very best, Sue x

It's so good to read your posts, Ali, you always sound so very positive. I wonder if the situation last night may just make your friend stop and think about following in your footsteps, I certainly hope so.

Keep up the fantastic work, Ali, you're a real fighter!! :T

Sue x

Sue-UU

RainbowDreamer wrote: »

#QuitNow! Since 02 January 2012: 3 days smoke free, 34 cigarettes down, £11.1 and 0d 3h 24m saved!

Have only used the spray 3 times since yesterday afternoon. Only using it for crisis times.
Today feeling very ill and run down. Maybe my body getting used to not smoking?

RainbowDreamer that is massive news!!! Congratulations on such a HUGE achievement. :T :T

Your Dr is very wise indeed, she's thrown you a lifeline here, RD, grab it and pull yourself through this evil addiction!!!

I'm absolutely delighted at how little you use your spray, brilliant news!!

You're quite right about the reason why you're feeling very ill and run down, it's a massive shock to our system when we quit, we've smoked for a long time so it's little wonder some of us feel like that. Ride the storm which will only be a temporary one, I promise you. You've so much to look ahead to RD, all of your own making!!! VERY well done indeed!!!

Sue x chuffed to bits!!! :grinheart

viv0147

YESSSSSSSSS Hi everyone a Happy New Year to you all ! A new milestone reached today 100 days smoke free and feeling great. I am looking forward to 2012 it will be wonderful to be a non-smoker for a full year, and that's something I will make happen, So good luck everyone, and to the new quitters welcome to the world of FREEDOM.

daveys_2

Happy New Year everyone!

As it says above I'm up to day 116, and I'm still stashing all the cash that I'm saving. Since I bought my camera soon after I stopped, and my laptop just before Xmas, I've built my savings pot for shiny toys up to £155.

There are a few things that I want, but I'm going to save hard and count the figures going up for the time being...there's a danger that I may have to buy a car over the next few months (MOT due on my current car), and don't want to dent my emergancy fund too much.

As far as the quit is going, I'bve hadly had any cravings over the Xmas period. In fact I still have a week's supply of patches left over from the last batch I was given by the NHS Quit Clinic, as well as a load of lozenges.

Well done to all the longer-termers who have got through the festival season, and a big hi to all the newbies...you can do it, and there's a great support network here if you feel down or feel as though you're starting to struggle.