My Quitting Smoking Diary - yours too!

smileytiger

MotheroftheKid wrote: »

!

This afternoon I'm getting a train to London and it's the first journey I've planned (apart from driving) where I will not be thinking "Where I can have a cigarette before I get on the train? When I get to London I'll step outside of the station for a cigarette before I get on the tube, again when I get off the tube before getting on another train". Unbelievable to see it written down, but that was exactly what I was like!!!!

Sometimes i still stop and think if i'm going somewhere new where i might have to fit a fag stop in - then it dawns on me i don't have to

You're doing amazingly well - keep going:T:T

Hugs
Chrissie .xx

jammy_dodger

good afternoon

what fantstic,inspiring posts:T:T:T

i was at gardening scotland yesterday had a super day, you really notice the niff as you walk about of folk smoking ( and its not pleasant ) so glad i didnt have to think about having one as my hands were full of carry bags :D

i keep saying how much a slave to the cig we were but its so true everything you did was ...when can i have one, where can i have one, not to mention the cost financially and physically

glad to hear good reports keep yourself busy downotout and be proud of your 24hrs free

keep going everyone

we can beat this

JD xx

RainbowDreamer

Will the Zyban still work only taking 1 a day? The instructions say take 2. I have not been advised to cut the dose down, have just done so due to the side effects if I take 2.

Went into town today and was around ALOT of smokers. Sort of thought about it for a minute or so and that was all. Didn't even bother me when someone sat next to me puffing away. I just thought how bad it smelt lol.

Anyway I am loving not having to go out back constantly for a smoke, having to go to the shop to buy more, timing it so I don't run out when the shop closes etc.
And I no longer worry if my neighbours can smell it when their windows are open or if they are sat out back.

My goal is to get to day 52. The I will re-evaluate that goal.
But I know that I can never have a single puff ever again!!

SaLoGo

Finally downloaded silkquit...

Two months, one week, two days, 22 hours, 3 minutes and 12 seconds.
1063 cigarettes not smoked, saving £318.95.
Life saved: 3 days, 16 hours, 35 minutes.

Money_maker

Hope you're all going okay with resisting the weed now. When I read Allen Carr, he explained that it was actually having a cigarette which produced the 'need' for the next one. Refusing the body this cigarette would stop the cravings and allow the nicotine to leave your system.

I think this is what has prevented me from having 'just one' as I know the nicotine monster will reawaken and need feeding. When I analyse closer, I can imagine smoking but not enjoying the experience. Without a nicotine addiction any more, it's just inhaling a smelly substance which sticks to your clothes and tastes yuk. So basically fear keeps me from smoking again in addition to the number of people I know developing health problems and needing inhalers.

Enjoy the Bank Holidays and stay nic free:D

Sue-UU

You're so right, JD, that was how e've lived every day of our smoking lives!!!! Terrifying when you really look at it hard, but blissful now we're FREE!! :j

Sue x

RainbowDreamer wrote: »

Will the Zyban still work only taking 1 a day? The instructions say take 2. I have not been advised to cut the dose down, have just done so due to the side effects if I take 2.

My goal is to get to day 52. The I will re-evaluate that goal.
But I know that I can never have a single puff ever again!!

Hi again, RainbowDreamer, you sound as though the pills are really working for you and doing their job in putting you completely off of smoking cigs, and so long as that's the case and you're happy with the dosage then I don't see why you shouldn't be fine in taking just the 1 pill.

After all, if you're unable to take 2 because of side-effects and 1 pill is doing the trick then you go ahead and be perfectly happy that you're getting your life back and freeing yourself from the wicked addiction of ciggies. In short, if 1 is doing the job - brilliant news!!

You sound so content already, so happy to not be smoking and it's wonderful to read all you've written and know you can get out and still mingle with those poor smokers and not want one! It's a great time for you, RD, start living again and enjoy life...and yes...head for your goal!!!!! :j:T:j

Every best wish, and keep us posted, please.

Sue xx

Fantastic statistics, Sal, so worth viewing. For a lot of folk they become a huge part of each new day, yours too, I'm sure!

Sue x

Sue-UU

Money_maker wrote: »

Hope you're all going okay with resisting the weed now. When I read Allen Carr, he explained that it was actually having a cigarette which produced the 'need' for the next one. Refusing the body this cigarette would stop the cravings and allow the nicotine to leave your system.

I think this is what has prevented me from having 'just one' as I know the nicotine monster will reawaken and need feeding. When I analyse closer, I can imagine smoking but not enjoying the experience. Without a nicotine addiction any more, it's just inhaling a smelly substance which sticks to your clothes and tastes yuk. So basically fear keeps me from smoking again in addition to the number of people I know developing health problems and needing inhalers.

Enjoy the Bank Holidays and stay nic free:D

Hi Money maker, so sorry I couldn't reply to you last night..I didn't even see your post until I'd submitted mine and by then it was just getting too late, I was shattered.

The part in bold is absolutely true as we only reach for that 1st one of the day out of pure habit, nothing else. Deny yourselves that ONE and you've started on the way to saying ta ta to em all for good! I think for many of us that, in truth, once we've turned our back on them fear can all too often be a driving force, as thoughts of ever going back there again are way too much to contemplate!

You've been analysing it all well, Mm, which is what all those thinking of quitting should do as it would really help in getting them to resist the first one, thus making their last one exactly that!!! :j :j

Also, if anyone has had smoking related illness or deaths with loved ones and friends it's another factor in helping thoughts of quitting become reality and finally going for it. I lost my Dad-I-L to lung cancer and it was tragic to watch him in agony for 2 years, and that wicked cough! Then to be with him throughout his last terribly painful night on earth, awful. That is another reason I love to see folk quit for.

You have a lovely Bank holiday too, Mm and thank God we're FREE from it all. BTW, got carried away there: congratulations on darn nigh 4 months of freedom!!!!! :T:T:T

Sue x

splishsplash

Hi Sue,
I've been MIA for a couple of weeks and come back to a shiny new diary:j.
I wish everyone starting out on their quit journey the very best of luck. I gave up using Champix - I took them for a week, stopped smoking on day 8, continued taking them for another 10 - 14 days, and sort of forgot after that, but the die was cast by then, I was a non-smoker. I cannot thank you Sue, and others who have contributed to the stop smoking support threads - I think they were what made this quit a complete success for me. Thank you all so much!

My updated Silkquit stats:
19720 cigarettes not smoked, saving €8,528.95.
Life saved: 9 weeks, 5 days, 11 hours, 20 minutes.
C&P from last thread:

splishsplash wrote: »

Morning quitters and hopeful quitters!
It's nice to see the new thread set up for help and support for those contemplating or starting the ultimate moneysaving venture - stopping smoking.
The spirit of help and support and the constructive advice on these threads were a huge help to me when I quit. I read every post of the Giving Up Smoking threads before I quit, as well as most of the linked sites in Sue's first post on this thread.
Hats off to you, Sue, for starting another thread - I think it's amazing that you are still willing to give of your time and effort to help total strangers on the internet in such a committed and constructive way.

Best of luck to all those starting out on their quit journey - it's soooo worth it!

The biggest change I've noticed since quitting is a sense of relaxation or letting go. It was the feeling of release from addiction and the little anxieties that went with it... having to make sure I had supplies for the next day before going to bed, planning journeys or days out to make sure I could feed my addiction, making sure I could finance my addiction - all the little rituals that just make up part of the smoker's day. Now that they're gone and forgotten about, I have a real sense of freedom which is very liberating - odd as that may sound!

I hope those starting out can take the leap - you can do it, even though you may think you can't - it is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your families :beer:.

RainbowDreamer

Hello again all.

Well done to you all on your fantastic quits.

I have had a nightmare morning. Was feeling under the weather yesterday and all last night. Woke up this morning to puffy swollen lips, and a rash from head to toe along with a headache.

Went to the local walk in centre and it seems I have had an allergic reaction. The doctor things the Zyban is the cause so have been advised not to take it anymore.

So I am not going it alone cold turkey. Hoping it won't suddenly become extremely difficult, but may just pretend to myself its still working lol.

Sue-UU

'Every Little Helps'

Smokey Thinking I just need one cigarette to take the edge off these cravings

Clear Thinking Cravings become weaker and less frequent with every day that I don’t smoke. Even just one puff will feed the cravings and make them Stronger.

Smokey Thinking It’s been a long day. I deserve a cigarette.

Clear Thinking I deserve a reward after a long day, but there are better rewards than a cigarette. A favourite meal, a funny movie, or a hot shower will help me relax without ruining my quit attempt.
Smokey Thinking The urge to smoke is just too strong. I can’t stand it.

Clear Thinking Even the strongest cravings last less than 3 minutes. The urge will go away whether I smoke or not, and smoking now will just make it even harder for me to quit later. I can find something else to do—anything—until the craving goes away.

Smokey Thinking I blew it. I smoked a cigarette. I might as well go ahead and finish the pack.

Clear Thinking I am still learning how to be a non-smoker. It’s normal to make some mistakes. But I don’t have to smoke that next cigarette. I can learn from this mistake and keep going.

Smokey Thinking I can’t deal with never being able to have another cigarette for the rest of my life.

Clear Thinking I only have to deal with today. Quitting happens one day at a time, sometimes one hour at a time! The future will take care of itself.