The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

JennyJewell

Morning all
NTC - I completely agree with you Fab advice

I am bringing up some gunky stuff this morning - don't know if my body is clearing flu germs out or stuff related to smoking? Either way my body seems to be having a little detox today

Jen x

Needstochange

JennyJewell wrote: »

Morning all
NTC - I completely agree with you Fab advice

I am bringing up some gunky stuff this morning - don't know if my body is clearing flu germs out or stuff related to smoking? Either way my body seems to be having a little detox today

Jen x

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: TMI Jenny :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

but whilst we are on the subject of bodily functions I am off to buy some laxatives today as clearly my fags were doing the job before and my body has forgotten how :o

Erme

Needstochange wrote: »

Sorry Erme but i think you have read my posts wrong - I am not saying I have put that weight on this time (that would be going some in 2 weeks :rotfl:) What I am doing is looking to avoid the 2 stone gain I had last time which I totally admit was down to me being "kind to myself" and troughing for Britain It took a while to get back to my normal 9stone and I am merely being conscious of the dangers of "eat what you like you deserve it" mentality for me

I love the gym and drink around 3 litres of water just at work and I would be quite shocked if any diet club allowed me in atm.:rotfl:

Thanks for your thoughts though

Jonny Debt :j:j:j catch you on day 3 aready great news and well done:T

Fundamental. Wow 18 weeks that is fantastic:T
Shadydaz. One year i cant wait to be there well done you:)

Well done to everyone as ever and I cant say thanks to you all enough I am confident that this journey would at best have been more difficult and at worst failed at Eddies first leap Bunch of starts thats what you are :T

Och so sorry I got that wrong NTC...I have a meds change so quite sensitive right now

shadydaz wrote: »

Erme,

Quite happy with the amount that I have cut back, couldn't ever give it up completely, it keeps me going at work!

So all in all, happy with what I have acheived so far with everything.:D

Happier that some of it has rubbed off on the wife, she has been stopped smoking a while again now too (week 7 ish). :T

And sorry if anyone finds this next bit disgusting! :eek: I was a bit of a nail biter in the past also. This just stopped automatically when the smoking stopped! :A I gues a theory to back up why this happened is that smoking actually elivates stress and anxiety levels as apposed to the common misconception that it releives these feelings.

Regards,

Daz.

Tee hee......I could lecture you about the dangers of coffee :rotfl: (i've had most of them ) but I don't think you'd really appreciate it

Needstochange wrote: »

OK Blue this might be shot down as far as advice goes but have you thought that maybe you weren't ready yet? How long were you on champix for? I don't know much about it and i'm sure the people on it will be along to give you some thoughts but is it worth going back to the gp and starting it again?

Course there is another way of looking at your last few days. How many did you used to smoke in 2 days before this? well whatever then congratulations Blue because you have only smoked 2 where you would have smoked X amount :j:j:j Well done you

It took me around a month of smoking a normal amount to really get my head in the right place to stop and to be sure the goal was something I really wanted. I did the whole writing my reasons down, imagining life without my "best friends", getting the quit pack and reading this thread over and over again.

Supposing you decided to smoke one a day and give yourself an absolute quit day in a months time ish. You could spend loads of time getting mentally ready and still actually only be smoking one a day :cool: Just a thought. Like I say I will probably be shot down for this but I do think the key piece is being totally 100% ready to give up and maybe you were not quite there yet

good luck and let us know how you get on

I think this is really good advice personally. Plus not everything works for every person IFSWIM. Like I couldn't go on champix (despite getting a lecture yesterday about how good zyban was? Can you still get that?) and the NRT from the chemist - well I'd had so many fail attempts on that ...not due to cravings either ..due to chemical withdrawal. Now I've found something that works for me :T though it took a while of trying out kit to get the right battery/voltage/cartridges/strength etc....(so many variables I know)...It actually took over a year for that and 3 months of being serious about it (having got the battery 1/2 right)

I can fully appreciate your feelings about 'missing something' Blue and it's perfectly normal..You are grieving for a friend. If that makes sense.

E

Kiwisaver_2

Here is the quit timetable


Within ...

• 20 minutes: your blood pressure, pulse rate, and the temperature of your hands and feet will all return to normal.
• 8 hours: Remaining nicotine in your bloodstream will have fallen to 6.25% of normal peak daily levels, a 93.25% reduction.
• 12 hours: your blood oxygen level will have increased to normal and carbon monoxide levels will have dropped to normal.
• 24 hours: anxieties peak in intensity and within two weeks should return to near pre-cessation levels.
• 48 hours: damaged nerve endings have started to regrow and your sense of smell and taste are beginning to return to normal. Cessation anger and irritability peaks.
• 72 hours: your entire body will test 100% nicotine-free and over 90% of all nicotine metabolites (the chemicals it breaks down into) will now have passed from your body via your urine. Symptoms of chemical withdrawal have peaked in intensity, including restlessness. The number of cue induced crave episodes experienced during any quitting day will peak for the "average" ex-user. Lung bronchial tubes leading to air sacs (alveoli) are beginning to relax in recovering smokers. Breathing is becoming easier and the lungs functional abilities are starting to increase.
• 5 - 8 days: the "average" ex-smoker will encounter an "average" of three cue induced crave episodes per day. Although we may not be "average" and although serious cessation time distortion can make minutes feel like hours, it is unlikely that any single episode will last longer than 3 minutes. Keep a clock handy and time them.
• 10 days: the "average ex-user is down to encountering less than two crave episodes per day, each less than 3 minutes.
• 10 days to 2 weeks: recovery has likely progressed to the point where your addiction is no longer doing the talking. Blood circulation in our gums and teeth are now similar to that of a non-user.

Continues here:

http://whyquit.com/whyquit/A_Benefits_Time_Table.html

Jonny_Debt

Morning all!

Just a quick one this morning.

I went round to a friends for dinner last night - drank lots of wine and managed to stay smoke free! Yipeee! Very pleased!

Have a great smoke free day and weekend.

x

spicyprawn

well done Jonny!

SandC

Hi guys, I used to come on here regularly some time ago.

As you can see from the title I'm almost 3 years smoke free. On 20th March it will be the anniversary of attending a local Allen Carr clinic. And it worked.

If anyone is struggling and you've tried everything else, do consider trying this. There is nothing to lose. If the first 5 hour session doesn't work you can go back for another shorter one, if that one doesn't work then you go for another one. If that one doesn't work your money will be refunded. I never needed to go back after the first time. Don't know how it works but it did for me.

There's a lot of discussion over eating etc. on here I notice of late. The course leader in my clinic told us that when she was a smoker she always had weight problems, fluctuating up and down etc. After stopping she said it gradually sorted itself out to something she was happy about. I remember thinking 'yeah right' at the time.

Well I stopped smoking in March 2009. I am now more than 3 stones lighter than I was then. Now don't get me wrong, I think I may have put some weight on in the months directly after stopping, but that is only down to simply eating more and it's obviously very common. But there comes a point when you know you are a non smoker and you no longer have an excuse to eat more. Your metabolism isn't speeded up THAT much by smoking to be the difference between being thin and fat. If it was there would be no fat smokers, and I was one.

What does happen is you have a new lease of life. Your breathing is better. You no longer feel a fraud doing some form of exercising and finishing it with a fag. You are essentially free of something that was holding you back. I swear smoking made me lazy.

What I'm saying is once you've quit the weed then everything else opens up for you. You will be surprised how much time you wasted sitting around smoking.

Good luck everyone. Believe me when I say I was fag ash lil. You can do it.

Sue-UU

Hi Blue Elephant and a very warm welcome to the thread, and hopefully to a whole new way of life! You've already been given wonderful advice by Chrissie, NTC and Jenny so I hope that's helped you out. Most of your fear of stopping is due to the fact you're frightened of losing your 'friend'! This I always refer to as the grieving part that most of us feel even before we stop smoking; we think we're going to miss it so much and never be able to function the same again without our 'friend' nicotine - right?

Wrong! It's amazing just how soon we realise that the sticks we thought were friends have only ever been BAD friends :mad: to us for years!!! That friend has made you go out whatever the weather just to get you a fix. A good friend doesn't make your life hell with making you addicted nor is it a good friend who causes people to risk ruining your health..or worse!!

I may be wrong, but I'm wondering if you've on Champix long enough before stopping?? Be sure to follow the instructions fully and give it chance to get into your system or you're attempt won't be a successful one. Please let us know more if possible. I'll send you a PM in a moment, and even though you're using Champix there are still tips there to help you so please read it through.

All very best wishes,

Sue x

Absolutely amazing news, Jonny Debt!!!!! :T:j:T To be honest I was a little concerned as it was so early after stopping, but having done so well just goes to show the strength of your resolve to BEAT this habit!! Keep at it, Jonny you're doing sooooo very well!!

Sue x

Hi SandC and very many congratulations once again, though this being your 3rd anniversary is TERRIFIC news and such a huge achievement for you!!!! :T:T:T

Thank so much for writing about the Alan Carr clinic and how wonderful it was for you. Thanks also for telling folk about the weight issues you experienced.

Any more holidays recently or ones to come on the money you'd otherwise have set light to?!

So good to see you back, SandC and WELL DONE!!!!!

Sue x

green1970

10 weeks quit - using e-cig

Everyone's doing so well, just had a chance to catch up. Having an awful week as I'm full of cold. The only thing keeping me going is thinking that usually I'd have still smoked my way through it and it would have gone to my chest and given me a nasty cough by now too. Isn't it crazy how we used to do this when our eyes and nose are streaming constantly, madness!

Hope everyone's having a great day without cigarettes and for those of you considering jumping in, make your plans and go for it, you'll feel so much better in the long run. This is the longest time I've ever quit and I have no intention of ever going back to smoking. Thankfully, things have been relatively easy so far and there hasn't been any temptation but I'm always on my guard, ready to bat them off this time.

Blue_Elephant

smileytiger wrote: »

oh and ps - despite what you may think - smoking does not help you deal with stress or problems - it makes you more edgy and makes things worse .xx

Chrissie

Many thanks for all those tips, you would not believe how helpful you've been. You're right it's a mental thing and I just need to overcome that hurdle.

I have a day off work today, so don't have the "normal" triggers so even though it's technically day 3 it hasn't been quite so bad. (I stayed in bed through the first-thing-in-the morning craving lol. We shall see what happens after I have lunch though. I will get through this.

JennyJewell wrote: »

Hey Blue
Welcome hunny

now I am not quitting my lovely sweet-smelling clothes, my clear skin and white teeth, my soft beautiful-smelling hair, my yummy tastebuds, my growing nails and my clean lungs full of fresh air - oh, that is the best part, how I appreciate that clean fresh air so,so much

and that is what I need to remember (copies it out onto a note on her phone)

The craving for that cigarette lasts for just a minute or two hunny - I ate tangerines and other orange citrus fruits, it helps to take away the cravings

We are here for you Blue You can be the Boss of You

Hope that helps you x
Jenny x

Thank you so much!

Needstochange wrote: »

OK Blue this might be shot down as far as advice goes but have you thought that maybe you weren't ready yet? How long were you on champix for? I don't know much about it and i'm sure the people on it will be along to give you some thoughts but is it worth going back to the gp and starting it again?

no shooting down from me! I followed the instructions but set my date from the beginning of the week i could if that makes sense?

I want to be ready so much, I hate that I'm smoking when I do it, but when I'm not I find it difficult
Course there is another way of looking at your last few days. How many did you used to smoke in 2 days before this? well whatever then congratulations Blue because you have only smoked 2 where you would have smoked X amount :j:j:j Well done you

Thank you,

I don't smoke a late on average 10 a day unless I'm out drinking and then I can easily get through 20. But yes, the cigarettes I haven't smoked and the money I haven't spent is starting to add up already. Thank you for the reminder!

Supposing you decided to smoke one a day and give yourself an absolute quit day in a months time ish. You could spend loads of time getting mentally ready and still actually only be smoking one a day :cool: Just a thought. Like I say I will probably be shot down for this but I do think the key piece is being totally 100% ready to give up and maybe you were not quite there yet

having read the timeline and knowing that the nicotine at least is almost out of my system, there is a stubborn part of me that thinks starting to smoke one a day again would mean I'd have to go throught he last couple of days again, so I'm going to continue with trying to have none at all. However, if I do fall off the wagon I'm not going to beat myself up and give up giving up. After all I need to remember all the ones I didn't smoke!
good luck and let us know how you get on

Erme and Sue-UU

I think I am missing that "friend", you know the one who persuades you that breaking the rules is a good idea and runs off when you get caught? :P Will try to remember that it is a fair weather friend and I don't need it. Grieving seems like such an odd word, but it fits with the empty feeling you get when you think about how it will never be a part of your life again. Did you know I even book(ed) train tickets and made sure I'd have enough time for a cigarette at connecting stations? How very sad is that. It's also really depressing to think how much my non smoking friends have put up with from me, from sitting outside in not-great weather, to having to wait for me before entering anywhere - theatres/cinemas/restaurants/taxis... I have the incentive of being a better friend to others here too!

Sorry for the really long post - this is amazing as a distraction method! And thank you Kiwisaver for the timeline!

xx