The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

Sue-UU

linen53 wrote: »

Actually Sue I am an American. I found your website through Boardreader.com. And my story is real. It was very hard for me to quit and I want to be up-front about my experiences I had when I quit both times. But the underlying message is you can quit no matter how hard it is!!

So it may have been a real experience, linen, but there was no need to make it sound quite as you did as it really is enough to put folks off!! We have a lot of people on here at present who are doing amazingly and soooooo quick too! I do not want others like them, thinking of quitting, put off by such a (to my mind) OTT individual experience! We're all individuals and where some find amazing willpower others have very little, it pays to give both sides of the picture IF you have it, if not.....!

The reasons I thought you were a spammer still apply as genuine posters do not put the name of an NRT at the end of a post, especially when they're from another country.

Sue

Sue-UU

Erme wrote: »

I found this post really helpful.....(sorry Sue) because normally (depending how long folk stay) I don't let people smoke unless they are staying longer than 30 mins....Last night I had a heavy smoker over and found it really hard to say no (not that he offered but he would have given to me if I'd asked). He was smoking near enough one after another like I used to. Quite an eye opener and it stunk!!!. Everywhere stunk after he'd been. He stayed for an hour or two. I might well send him out to the balcony on Monday when he comes..... (to help me blitz)

I wasn't even referring to that part, Erme, I for one totally agree with not letting people smoke in the home..not if they seriously do want to quit. The poster had some helpful points, I'll agree, but just how many people have you seen on here during the last few weeks who have said how easy it is?!! Yes, quite a few, especially the ones using the Alan Carr book.

I'll always give credit where it's due, but a lot of this poster's words make it all sound as though it's barely worth bothering with to the weaker-willed which would most likely make them not bother.

You, Erme, found it all so very difficult before and at the start of stopping and I think this may just have knocked you out of a good frame of mind. Apart from anything, this poster came on purely to put a name at the very end, which isn't right.

Sue

NickJW

Hi All

Well done to everybody - and lets hope we can all keep at it.

It's the start of day 8 for me now, so I've had a whole week of not smoking! :T

I'm still on the patches - not sure if I really need them, but I bought them and the quit kit says to use them till the end of the course, even if you don't feel cravings, to ensure you don't relapse, so that's what I'll do to be safe

I'm feeling remarkably relaxed, and having been exercising a lot, which is really boosting my energy levels. I'm also using my 'cigarette and coffee' time in the morning to have a coffee and breakfast, which I NEVER had (and have always hated). I'm making sure I have a variation of breakfast available - different cereals, porridge, muffins, toast, jam, peanut butter etc, so I don't get bored.

I'm also having fewer after work drinks. I used to always have one or two pints every evening after work to wind down, but I don't now. Not because I don't want to not smoke, but because I'm at the gym instead and this where I get rid of the stress

So not only am I not smoking, but I'm eating healthier, drinking less and exercising more as a result of this! Got to be good right?

People are starting to notice that I'm not smoking - obviously because I'm not going out all the time for a ciggie break at work. The vast majority of responses are good, but there does appear to be some competitiveness with ex-smokers. When I say that I'm using patches they go 'Oh - I just stopped smoking', 'Hmmm - if you really want to smoke you'll just stop. You don't need patches'. I'm sure it's not intentional but they are making me feel a bit like I'm second class because I'm not doing it like them.

Oh well - it's working for me, and I'm not in the slightest tempted. It certainly helps that I'm keeping myself busy and I'm noticing I'm enjoying my new life more than being anti-social on my own having a smoke!

Erme

But with all due respect Sue I'd tried countless times pre e-cig....

And always gotten sick within 20 hours or less....

E-cig like I said has been a lifesaver....

Yeah point taken hun..Blessings

E

Little_bit_dizzy

Hello everyone.

Tomorrow evening at 5.30pm I'll be up to a week of non-smoking! Still cold turkey, and still (surprisingly) ok. I've had a couple of 'Oh, I usually have one now' moments but nothing too tricky just yet, though from previous experience I know that the cravings will come. For me it's usually about 10 days in...

Well done to everyone who's remaining fag free and yes, Erme you're dead right, it does stink! I had the pleasure of a smelly collegue yesterday that reminded me of 'eau de ashtray'!

Fundamental_2

Sue-UU wrote: »

I wasn't even referring to that part, Erme, I for one totally agree with not letting people smoke in the home..not if they seriously do want to quit. The poster had some helpful points, I'll agree, but just how many people have you seen on here during the last few weeks who have said how easy it is?!! Yes, quite a few, especially the ones using the Alan Carr book.

I'll always give credit where it's due, but a lot of this poster's words make it all sound as though it's barely worth bothering with to the weaker-willed which would most likely make them not bother.

You, Erme, found it all so very difficult before and at the start of stopping and I think this may just have knocked you out of a good frame of mind. Apart from anything, this poster came on purely to put a name at the very end, which isn't right.

Sue

I must say that I agree with Sue to a large extent. When I read the original post by linen53, I too thought that it was unduly/unnecessarily negative in it's tone. I can, of course, appreciate that it is foolish to espouse the view that giving up is all sweetness and light and a walk in the park; in addition, as pointed out there were some good points made in respect of allowing smoking in the house and other coping strategies.

However, at the end of the post I was left with the feeling that if I had been preparing to give up, then I had to be ready for 18 months of torture until the cravings were completely eradicated. I consider that this is certainly not the case for the majority of those getting free and the post was unusually harsh in its attempt to 'prepare' one for a long, hard-fought and very difficult journey. The comment 'It was tough for me as I am sure it will be for you' was an unfortunate generalisation but to be fair it is better to be over-prepared for the challenge- just so long as the description does not dissuade one from giving up in the first place.

Hence the quote:

'This won't be another pat-on-the-back post so buckle up. You've got some hard work ahead of you.

...seems to tick the American cliche box for me (and maybe just for me )

but the quote

'Absorb this though: "It's going to be very difficult but I'm up to the challenge and it's going to work this time.'

..is certainly useful (without the 'very')

Perhaps there is just something lost in translation here.

Good luck all

FDM

Sue-UU

NickJW wrote: »

It's the start of day 8 for me now, so I've had a whole week of not smoking! :T

I'm feeling remarkably relaxed, and having been exercising a lot, which is really boosting my energy levels.

So not only am I not smoking, but I'm eating healthier, drinking less and exercising more as a result of this! Got to be good right?

The vast majority of responses are good, but there does appear to be some competitiveness with ex-smokers. When I say that I'm using patches they go 'Oh - I just stopped smoking', 'Hmmm - if you really want to smoke you'll just stop. You don't need patches'. I'm sure it's not intentional but they are making me feel a bit like I'm second class because I'm not doing it like them.

I'm not in the slightest tempted. It certainly helps that I'm keeping myself busy and I'm noticing I'm enjoying my new life more than being anti-social on my own having a smoke!

Many congratulations on just over a WHOLE WEEK, Nick, you're doing incredibly well and have so much to be chuffed to bits with!!!! :T:T You're right to be wary of stopping the patches, Nick, you'll know as and when you don't need them. I put a message to you 3 or 4 days ago regarding them, that IF you do decide to try without do make sure you have some by you that you can quickly turn to id needed!!

Whatever you do though..don't let others lure you into thinking going cold turkey is the manly thing to do - that's rubbish and everyone needs to do it the way that feels best for them....as individuals! You wanted to safe-guard yourself by having that little extra help, whereas they either trusted to luck or were extremely fortunate! I went CT, but not until I got right down to 2 a day!!! Not too great a sacrifice at the end, but still a sacrifice for me which took a lot of doing. You be PROUD Nick and never let them make you think you're inferior to them!!! Who knows how many they smoked in the end, and...was it their first attempt? I bet they wouldn't have told you anyway!! BTW, it's found to be easier for men to quit than women (hormones etc), so you may well have been able to do it by CT, but who can knock you for wanting to make darn sure you CAN do it!!

All in all, with breakfasts, gym time, relaxation time and being smoke-free you're doing brilliantly and turning yourself into a really healthy young man. Stick to all your new ways of life, Nick and enjoy being getting back to the healthy you that you were before you took up smoking. :grinheart It's marvellous to be a teeny part of people's journeys!

Sue x

Excellent work, Little bit dizzy!!! :T Isn't it a fantastic feeling as you near that first complete week of being freed!!! The 'Oh, I usually have one now' moments are so natural, and just because you've had cravings at about 12 days before doesn't mean the same will happen this time! Get yourself something to really concentrate on, a hobby, something you love doing and grab it as soon as yo need it.

I suggested to someone a couple of weeks ago that they write down a list of beautiful memories from the past and plans and dreams for the future so they had them to bring straight to mind as soon as 'one' struck and really indulge yourself in them so there's no room for anything else. Also, if you detest the smell so much, visualise a jar filled with stinking fag butts and a little water, not very appealing is it! You know what to do then IF you even need to!

Sue x

I completely agree with that, FDM, I do not like generalising and that applies to what others thought about Nick's quitting (above) too. We're all different and I wouldn't dream of trying to second guess the success rate of every single person that comes, I have no right...and neither does anyone else! You're right with the word 'very' in that sentence, left out it would have been fine.

Sue x BTW..superb news on your quitting, you're doing soooooooo very well!!!!

geordiekev

Erme wrote: »

How often are you on here GK? Do you follow MSE addictively? Yeah love the e-cig..has been my lifesaver...

E

Hi Erme been a member for years and picked up loads of handy hints and tips and created a handy page on my website with some of the most successful money saving tips for those that aint heard of cashback, shock horror.

GK

lobbyludd

fab thread, I am on day 12 of my current (and hopefully last) giving up smoking effort.

Feeling fine, not really craving anything at the moment. Had one slip at the weekend, but straight back on the wagon.

Have given up COUNTLESS times before, often for years at a stretch and have given up using many different techniques - patches, inhalators, Alan Carr, pregnancy (!), counselling, CDs (!) cold turkey etc. The most successful way for me is to give up cold turkey as I don't really suffer with cravings, I used to find them really really painful and distracting, until I discovered that if I consciously "relaxed" in to them (don't know how else to describe it) rather than fighting them they more or less disappeared.

For me the worst bits of giving up (pain, irritability, anxiety etc) are all my reactions to the cravings rather than the craving themselves, and when I make an effort to relax my sholders and breath etc, all I'm left with is a slightly nagging feeling that I could just have a cigarette now and give up tomorrow instead - nothing overwhelming. It helps me to try and work out and describe exactly what I am feeling and pin point the feeling on my body, because sometimes I find it is just those pesky nicotine receptors pulling the wool over my eyes and when I try and focus on the pain or discomfort, actually it doesn't exist.

But it's different for everyone I think, and I've found it different each time. I take some medication that seems to interact with something in cigarettes, as the first time I gave up and was on it, I went through the odd 10 mins here and there where I felt high as a kite and couldn't stop giggling! (I'm 40, this was very embarrassing at work) This time (touch wood) I haven't had that, but my feet keep tingling all the time: I'm hoping that is circulation getting back up and running and perhaps some nerve regrowth.

good luck everyone. This is a clear win thing to do.

xanti

Just love all the tips on here, thanks everyone

Day 3 for me and harder than the first two, but nothing I wasn't expecting. If I can get through the first weekend I'll be really proud of myself

Good luck, stay strong!