The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

Fundamental_2

alibob_1986 wrote: »

my friend was whinging cos she had to go and smoke on her own now, and how "I chose a bad time to quit cos the smoking shelter in the pub was really nice...."

That has got to be funniest/dumbest reason I have heard yet. Just goes to show we will use any excuse in the book to avoid giving up- such is the hold smoking has over us. This winter has not been particularly harsh but I remember a few years ago we spent Christmas with relatives who did not smoke and so I had to go outside every time I needed to have a cig. It was bitterly cold and even with coat, scarf and gloves it was still unbearable to the extent that I couldn't wait to get back inside; yet an hour later I was out there again suffering on two counts- once with the weather and once with the dreaded cigarette. Oh how stupid that now seems- why do we put ourselves through that? and for what?

Keep going all

FDM

alibob_1986

I didn't smoke in the house so qould often be outside freezing my bits off or looking like a drowned rat with my cig soaked too, but it had to be done cos I *needed* one! Ha!!! It is silly isn't it

abs1985

Good evening everyone, so pleased to find another corner of MSE that I didnt know existed! (am already a poster/user in competitions)

So tomorrow is my quit date - I chose tomorrow 11/1/12 as for one, 11 has always been a lucky number for me, and tomorrow will be a year since I last quit the dreaded weed! I used patches last year, and managed 4 months smoke free, only giving in after a few too many vinos, and a rather bad day Totally fell for the 'just one won't hurt' and suprise, suprise, was soon back to 20 a day.

So this time I want to go CT but as I have a box of Step 3 patches stashed away, I may just use them for the first week, just for moral support!! I find the patches to be quite a psychological thing for me, I know they're there and therefore they work!!!

I need to do this this time as I want to move house, and learn to drive this year, and that extra £6.95 a day (!!) will make a huge difference!

Anyhow, enough ramblings, I'm looking forward to joining you all aboard the quit bus, and hearing how everyone's getting on!

Wish me luck
Abi

Little_bit_dizzy

So day 3 done. Had a fairly long drive today, two and a bit hous round trip all told and driving was my weak spot. Could plan a journey by how many fags it took!

Today, I turn the radio up, opened the window a bit and sang. Apologies if anyone heard me :rotfl: :rotfl:

It worked though, there and back, no thoughts of ciggies....

Pub tonight, that was fine too. Especially when someone I know pushed past me and my God, they smelt likes six week old ashtray.

Did I smell like that?:eek:

Thanks for the welcome and bring on Day 4! Do your worst nicotine cravings, I'm not giving in!!!!

Sue-UU

abs1985 wrote: »

So this time I want to go CT but as I have a box of Step 3 patches stashed away, I may just use them for the first week, just for moral support!! I find the patches to be quite a psychological thing for me, I know they're there and therefore they work!!!

I need to do this this time as I want to move house, and learn to drive this year, and that extra £6.95 a day (!!) will make a huge difference!

Wish me luck
Abi

A warm welcome aboard Abi! If the patches act as a crutch and make you feel more able to do this, then that's all that matters. We should all do what feels best for US! I understand your reasons with the house move and learning to drive, but how about thinking of your health first and foremost. If you can then you stand a far better chance of sticking to a life-long quit, if you base it solely on money....then finances can alter, I hope you get my meaning. This is your LIFE, do care for it.

You can make the luck part, I'll wish you everything you wish yourself, to quit and never touch one again!!! Best wishes.

Sue x

Chances are you certainly did smell like that walking ashtray you bumped into, Little bit dizzy, but not too worry, he STILL does, you don't!!! :j Well done on having another day chalked up!!!! :T You sing as much as you like, after all you've a lot to sing about now. :grinheart

Sue x


For all those wanting to download a SilkQuit quit meter to keep account of all the fags you haven't smoked and all the money you've saved along with life you're now gaining, click here http://www.silkquit.org/stop-smoking/quit-meter.aspx

Sue x

jacflash

Day 5 here and still going strong!

I also had the experience of sitting next to a friend who had obviously just had a cigarette - oooh, was quite shocked at the smell. Hate thinking I smelt like that for so long! Sometimes it's hard not to look back and regret, but am determined to keep focused on the present and future.

Went to my weekly dance class last night, another first with no longer smoking. Was fine, and I appreciated not having to change into street shoes half way through to go outside and shiver for a cigarette.

On the knitting front, the scarf is coming along nicely. Daft as it sounds, the knitting helps enormously. Where I used to have dinner, then have coffee and a cigarette, I now have dinner then coffee whilst knitting a few rows and having a few puffs on the inhalator. Works for me!

Well done to everyone, there seem to be a few of us in the early days of stopping and it is so good to read and share how everyone is getting on. Here's to being fragrant! :T

alibob_1986

Day 11. Yeah!!!!!!!! Not really doing too badly at all, don't often get a craving, although when i do it's a big one haha. not even really a craving so much as a missing doing it, if that makes sense?! Even though I don't miss it rationally speaking, in an irrational way I do a bit! But still, my savings are coming along nicely, although it will all be gone when I move and I won't have any extra money, but at least I will be able to afford a nicer place. I know financial reasons aren't the be all and end all but for me at this moment its a huge incentive!!!

Sue-UU

jacflash wrote: »

On the knitting front, the scarf is coming along nicely. Daft as it sounds, the knitting helps enormously. Where I used to have dinner, then have coffee and a cigarette, I now have dinner then coffee whilst knitting a few rows and having a few puffs on the inhalator. Works for me!

You're doing sooo well, jacflash!! Regards what you've written about the knitting, it's not daft at all, it's a great hobby and is especially good for keeping the hands in motion as well as keeping you focused. You've also helped yourself by doing a few lines at what was a vulnerable time for you, a marvellous way of altering your life just that little bit to make the difference which is what we advise people to do.

Onward with Day 5 and well done!

Sue x

Is the word you're looking for "slight grief" when you have the thoughts, Ali? I used to find that, though I hadn't a clue how to describe it way back then.

I know the money will be a loss when it's gone, but what a positive way to look at that when it will have helped you move from where you hate being!!! Keep looking ahead, Ali!

Sue x

alibob_1986

Knitting was great for me last time I quit as well!!
Yes, slight grief is probably a good way of describing it! I just had to venture into the garden to put something in the big bin out there, picking my way across fag ends, cannot believe how many are out there actually it's quite disgusting I absolutely cannot wait to get out of here and if giving up smoking gives me another 100+ a month to add to my rent then it's more than worth it! I have 4 viewings lined up tomorrow (on my birthday!) fingers crossed!!!

katyboo123

I quit on 10th August 2011, using Nicorette patches (15mg+gum1 week, 10mg+gum 1 week, 5mg+gum 1 week, gum only 1 week). I got the patches off Amazon as they were cheaper than paying for my prescription believe it or not (they only had a short date on them like, but hey, I was determined!).

My problem was I didnt WANT to quit, I LOVED smoking and I still do. I just knew for my health (asthmatic) and my purse (borrowing end of every month to maintain my habit), that I needed to quit. August 10th was a good day to quit for me as it was after a few days away for my partners birthday and I knew I didn't have much socially coming up (aside from a trip to Kent at the end of August) and so I decided it was time.

The patches helped me loads. In fact, I had tried them before and they made me feel ill and my skin broke out in a rash, but I don't know if Nicorette have changed the adhesive in them or what, but this time they worked out ok. I had been going to the gym for about 3 months before I quit and I noticed right away that I could work out for longer (5 minutes rather than 3 hahaha!) without feeling the need to use my inhaler once I'd quit which spurred me on exercise wise.

After those 3 weeks of using a patch, my motivation came from the 'Quit Now' app on Android phones (there is one for iPhone too). It basically tracks my smoke free days on my home screen and I see it every morning when I wake up and turn off my alarm, and every night when I set my alarm. It motivates me every day and keeps me motivated now, months on. Plus it was free. I really, really rate it.

So far, right now as I type this, I've been smoke free for 153.68 days, I've NOT smoked 1536 cigarettes and I've saved £485.73. That's like giving myself a grand a year payrise! I've not physically put the money away which I really regret so I've joined the sealed pot challenge this year and am going to put some money away - BUT I have noticed there's no more scrabbling around at the end of the month to try and scrape up £3.16 for 10 fags.

Finally, I haven't used my inhaler in over a fortnight. AT ALL! I was using it at least 10 times a day (2 puffs each time - over a 24 hour period).

I just feel so good and positive. Oh and I've had some dramas during this time - and my partner still smoked until New Year. No matter what cr*p is going on though, I just look at my app and think if I light up now, look at all the hard work and effort I'd be throwing away! I've literally found myself on my front door step (my old smoking haunt) taking deep breaths in times of crisis and found it to help. I miss it most when driving - I know it's not good to drive and smoke (possibly illegal - please don't arrest me!) but I loved it on long car journeys. Now, instead, I put on something awful and cheesy and just sing my head off - or take Opal Fruits for longer journeys to munch on

I've also started dieting now too. I am following the weight watchers plan and helping out at class to get my class fees paid for me. I am doing so well not missing smoking or snacking and I just can't physically see what could happen to make me want to undo all this hard work!

My advice is this - whether you want to or not, you can do it and there will be some benefit somewhere (money, health). An app, smoking aids, or cold turkey can help you. Quit procrastinating and JUST DO IT! Good luck everyone X