The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

jacflash

Hi Sue and everyone,

Now 12 and a half hours in! Thursday and Friday I smoked a small fraction of what I normally would, and I woke up today and decided to bite the bullet. I think what did it was that each time I lit up on Thursday and Friday I had a real sense of "back to square one", and that the addiction had won again.

I called to get an appointment with the stop smoking nurse at the surgery, and the earliest I could get an appointment was in ten day's time. Too far away - I made the appointment and will keep it, but want to use the motivation that I'm feeling now. I have bought an inhalator this morning and it's better than I expected - it gives the "throat hit" that I was missing. Have also got gum. So far, not too bad. I'm about to do lots of washing (bedding etc) to rid mysef of the dreadful smell.

I know this is the very beginning of the journey for me and that it is bound to be tough at times. This morning I also bought myself some wool and needles and am going to knit a scarf, keeping hands busy etc

Sue, thanks for the PM and also to you and everyone else for posting good wishes and encouragement.

Have a good day x

rizla01

3Mths and 12 days today.

Still hanging in there.

Monday 10am on the 26th Sept was the last fag.

I have just read that its a good idea to get into an excercise routine before stopping which, apart from making you feel good, will prevent those extra pounds from being added - and more women than men start smoking again BECAUSE of weight gain.

webitha

welcome jacflash im on day 3 and feeling and starting to look like crap spots coming out all over my face...and i have never had a spot in my life lol

but in my head i feel great that i am free

i strongly recommend allen carr easyway to everyone either stopping or thinking of stopping smoking

Sue-UU

I know what you mean, Erme, but you still needed to lose the hand to mouth action we were all used to at one time, so whatever you say, I reckon you've done wonderfully...so there! Don't worry abouth tothers!

webitha wrote: »

welcome jacflash im on day 3 and feeling and starting to look like crap spots coming out all over my face...and i have never had a spot in my life lol

I strongly recommend allen carr easyway to everyone either stopping or thinking of stopping smoking

Why don't you buy a copy of Alan Carr's book, jacflash? So many here have has terrific success with it as it alters your mind's way of thinking where smoking's concerned.

Whatever your happy with then that's the way to go, and I don't blame you at all for not waiting that 10 days, far too long if you're motivated NOW!!!!!

Hiya rizla!!! Good to see you and super news about your 3 months plus!!! :T:TRe the bold sentence, I couldn't agree more with the exercise and I'm not a bit surprised about the latter. Keep it all up, rizla!

Just wait til you're at the winning line folks, you will be thrilled to bits!!!:T:j:T:j:T

Sue x

Erme

jacflash wrote: »

Hi Sue and everyone,

Now 12 and a half hours in! Thursday and Friday I smoked a small fraction of what I normally would, and I woke up today and decided to bite the bullet. I think what did it was that each time I lit up on Thursday and Friday I had a real sense of "back to square one", and that the addiction had won again.

I called to get an appointment with the stop smoking nurse at the surgery, and the earliest I could get an appointment was in ten day's time. Too far away - I made the appointment and will keep it, but want to use the motivation that I'm feeling now. I have bought an inhalator this morning and it's better than I expected - it gives the "throat hit" that I was missing. Have also got gum. So far, not too bad. I'm about to do lots of washing (bedding etc) to rid mysef of the dreadful smell.

I know this is the very beginning of the journey for me and that it is bound to be tough at times. This morning I also bought myself some wool and needles and am going to knit a scarf, keeping hands busy etc

Sue, thanks for the PM and also to you and everyone else for posting good wishes and encouragement.

Have a good day x

Yeah I'd love to be on an empty inhalator one day ...just for stress. That's my aim. Don't worry about the throat hit. It's not addictive. I've already just about gotten rid of the throat hit on the e-cig and don't miss it.

You are doing so well Jacflash...Btw sue the e-cig does give you a hand to mouth action and also like some taste which is quite pleasant (though hate with a passion coffee and vanilla - vile )... Can taste a lot better now have quit the spray though After about a week I can only taste that it's sweet but still

Everyone is doing so well..See our friend DNMS has fallen off the wagon but sure she'll get back to it in her own time:)

Hugs for those having a stressful day

E

jacflash

Thanks webitha and Sue - I've just ordered the Allen Carr book from Green Metropolis and look forward to reading that.

Thanks also Erme for the encouragement, it's helpful to know I won't get hooked on the throat hit. I know that there is an argument for going cold turkey and not taking any nicotine in any form, but it seems to me that the shock to my system on so many levels if I did that would diminish my chances of success. As it is, I'm nearing the end of day one and it hasn't been too bad at all. I've felt slightly "high" a couple of times, maybe it's having more oxygen in my poor brain!

My daughter and I just had a little "19 hours" celebration dance in the kitchen!

Katiec950

Hi all! :wave:

Can I join please? This is my 6th day (my 7th will start in a few hours!)

It's been tough today to be honest, I've been really uptight! Still I haven't had a cigarette so that's the main thing!

Hope you are all still smoke-free!

Katie :j

alibob_1986

jacflash wrote: »

Thanks webitha and Sue - I've just ordered the Allen Carr book from Green Metropolis and look forward to reading that.

Thanks also Erme for the encouragement, it's helpful to know I won't get hooked on the throat hit. I know that there is an argument for going cold turkey and not taking any nicotine in any form, but it seems to me that the shock to my system on so many levels if I did that would diminish my chances of success. As it is, I'm nearing the end of day one and it hasn't been too bad at all. I've felt slightly "high" a couple of times, maybe it's having more oxygen in my poor brain!

My daughter and I just had a little "19 hours" celebration dance in the kitchen!

love the bit in bold!!! Well done you
I will have been 1 whole week without a cig come midnight.....feels strange tbh, I haven't found the last couple of days hard regarding cravings at all. I have been a miserable, tired, grumpy, snappy cowbag though...just haven't been craving cigarettes at the same time.
Went to view a house today which i think I may just go crazy and go for....I hate house hunting! My mum came with me. She was going to quit on the same day as me but said she wouldn't cos she still had some in the packet, but I knwo she has bought another packet since then. She keeps hopefully asking me if I am sk=moking again, I know she doesn't exactly *want* me to smoke, btu she doesn't want to be the only one who does. I have noticed that, and read it somewhere before (perhaps here last time I was on here), smokers love other people to smoke too, not sure why but they do.

Sue-UU

Hi Katie and a very warm welcome! Congratulations on having come sooo far already!!! That is massive after being a smoker, so be proud of yourself and really praise yourself!!! Every day will be just a little bit better and the 'thoughts' become fewer and not so long-lasting. In short, Katie - you truly can do this, just take it a day at a time!!! We're here for you either to give vent or for you to be thrilled at your success, just tlk to us and we'll listen!

See you tomorrow!

Sue x

Erme wrote: »

Okay no pressure there then Sue? I figure the slow horse wins the race and the race end really isn't on my radar right now and I don't want to be pressurised into dates etc for the race end. I know I'll get there but it could be year or two....So please no pressure hun

I'm just mega stressed right now and grumpy......

Everyone is stressing me out..(see my posts on Miggy's thread and also London Socialite)

Erme, there was absolutely no pressure there whatsoever, I promise you! I was simply stating the obvious as the cartridges and all that goes with it, costs you soooo much. The last highlighted comment of yours says a lot to my mind, but be sure, you'll never get any pressure from me, Erme, you carry on in your own sweet way, I'm only here to encourage and be helpful IF needed - you just be happy!

" My daughter and I just had a little "19 hours" celebration dance in the kitchen!"

I have to agree with Ali, jacflash, I loved that bit and could almost picture the pair of you! I'm so pleased you're getting the book too and I'm sure you'll find it most beneficial. You DD I'm sure is being an immense help to you and encouraging you so much, good for her! A 19 hr dance isn't to be sneezed at either, not when every single hour passed is so HUGE to anyone who knows what it's like to have started to quit. You dance on and congratulate yourself on every passing hour!!!! :T:T

Ali, my advice would always be to "go for it" re the house and seek to find happiness and a better way of life, and if yu think that's possible.....! Ignore your Mum! She and other smokers like to have "partners in crime"! they know they should quit, but don't want to try so they try t hold others back - NEVER allow her to do that!!!!!

Must dash now folks.

Sue x

NickJW

Hi All

I'm a poster on the forum but the first time on this thread. Can I join? I need to read through all the posts, because I'm sure there will be lots of useful hints and encouragement - lots to read through though.

Bit about myself. I've smoked nearly constantly since I was 15. I'm now 28, nearly 29. There have been periods where I have tried to stop but I've never followed it through. Between 2008- early 2010 when I was seriously paying down my debt I tried many times because I realized that stopping smoking was one of the easiest ways to pay it off. I never really managed anything other than cutting it down though. I resented having to quit something I enjoyed because of money. As soon as the weekend came I used to spark up and justify it by saying I was good all week and 'deserved' a cigarette. Even when I was on patches, the patch used to come off at the end of the day and I 'rewarded myself with one cigarette' because I had been good all day. Pathetic right?

I'm now in the fortunate position to have paid off my debt and being relatively comfortable, but this meant that I stopped caring about the money aspect as much.

Cut a long story short - I've restarted the gym recently. I USED to go a lot but I stopped to save money to pay off my debt. Even though I went to the gym before I managed all the classes (spinning, body pump) as well as treadmill etc, despite smoking, and stay fit and do them properly. Maybe I was younger, or maybe it was because I constantly did the gym. I don't know. When I went back on Tuesday I thought it would be the same, but after 30 minutes on the bike I started getting really bad cramp in the chest and wheezing. That's not right at my age!

So I dug out my old patches and started using them. I've also ordered some patches from Boots for the next 3 months. A lovely poster on another thread reminded me about the NHS scheme, but I just wanted to do it now and £70 is still cheaper than £565 I would normally spend over the same period!!!

Since Wednesday I've been a lot fitter at the gym, and I've been determined to live my normal life. I've been for drinks and haven't been tempted in the slightest. I'm HOPING that this is my true LBM. I haven't told friends or family because I've said SO many times that I am going to quit and never pulled through, so although they are supportive I'm sure, they don't really believe that I will do it. That makes me think that maybe they are right - what's the point in trying.

So that's why I came here I guess. I'm hoping that this can be somewhere where I can keep track of myself, and see others posts to encourage me on.

Sorry about the loooong essay by the way! :rotfl: