My Quitting Smoking Diary - yours too!

iamashoppingaddict

and its 10 weeks and 3 days!

Sue-UU

iamashoppingaddict wrote: »

Quite excited actually. I don't really miss them anymore which is a relief.

I was watching a programme last night where people were smoking and I thought to myself, that would be nice and then I remembered the horrible feeling of coughing and the horrible taste and I decided that it wasn't nice after all!

You sound wonderfully happy, IAASA, and it's a real delight to hear!!

Very Many Congratulations!! :T:T:T:T

I reckon you'll be fine, but if not, keep on reminding yourself of all the bad things about smoking - is it really ever worth it?! Best to stay quit now and look forward to much healthier living rather than the risks of all the ill health that may head your way if you start up again!

You're strong...now stay strong as you CAN DO IT!!!!

See you when you update. BTW, keep saving the money you would normally have spent.

Well done hugs,

Sue xx

So sorry not to have been back before now, sadly a much-loved relative is dying.

rizla01

Hi Sue,

So very sorry to hear things are not so good for you right now.

Unfortunately death is not something you or I can prevent (Wouldn't want to really) but it is still very painful nonetheless.

And the more you have loved the more you will hurt.

Its not selfish to grieve. Its a mark of respect.

For the record. I'm still an ex-smoker (Sept will be 2yrs, thanks to you).

xx

spg1

Hi

Very occasional lurker here (I only post at milestones!) but thought it might help others to update on progress. I have just reached 2 years after giving up CT after many years smoking and for those who are struggling, it does get better.

Reading and posting on this forum (thanks for your support Sue-UU!) was one of the things which has helped me get this far. Everyone is different but the following things which helped me may help others:

1) Gradually cutting down on cigarettes and moving to ultra-low nicotine ones in the weeks before I quit made it easier. I have used NRT on previous quits but for me it just maintains the nicotine addiction and prolongs the withdrawal (and in my experience I ended up being even more addicted to nicotine).

2) Just accepting that it is going to be hard at times. There is no magic wand that makes giving up a long term habit and addiction easy but it is doable and the benefits are obviously worth it. But I also needed to be mentally prepared for a long haul. The focus on the fact that nicotine leaves the body after 72 hours etc, perhaps gives people unreasonable expectations that things get much easier that soon.

3) Not getting hung up on being determined that I will never have another cigarette - in the early stages that would have been too depressing a prospect for me. Just take it hour by hour, day by day and keep in mind that the longer you stay off them the easier it gets. In the first few weeks, just telling myself I could have a cigarette tomorrow or at the weekend etc if I really wanted one instantly helped me feel calmer. After 24 months, I still don’t dwell on whether or not I will have a cigarette ever again – I just deal with today.

4) Get a quit counter like Silk Quit. In the early stages I looked at it all the time to remind me of my progress. Now I look at it once a week or so and there is always another milestone crossed or in near view (money saved, life saved, cigarettes not smoked etc). I think it just reinforces how much achievement Iwould be giving up if I went back to smoking.

5) Exercise –I made a conscious effort to ride my bike/walk much more which just makes you feel better and takes your mind off smoking.

6) I did spend a lot of time in the early weeks and months reading posts on various giving up smoking forums and medical forums. Spending a few hours on some of the COPD and lung cancer forums is very sobering and I think consciously and sub-consciously helped reinforce my decision that I had to quit. While I am (as far as I know) in good health there are an awful lot of people around of the same age as me (46) who have developed life-changing/ending illnesses because of smoking.


7) The smoking ban has made it easier; unless you live with a smoker you can pretty much avoid being stood or sat next to one and the obvious temptations that brings.


8) Coping with trigger events (having a drink, meal, holidays, weekends away with smoking friends, Christmas etc) - one by one as I got through those it gave me strength for the next time.

9) I have now reached the point where I am not tempted to smoke but smoking was something often enjoyed and inevitably there are positive associations that will last a very long time. The occasional pang is a very small price to pay for being free of having to smoke.

10) Weight gain – I did put on about 10lbs (although I am quite a big person anyway) in the first few months. But giving up smoking has encouraged me to exercise more and I now weigh pretty much the same as I did when I smoked.

I think my biggest tip is to embark on something else to focus on during the first few key months other than just quitting smoking. Take up running, cycling, swimming, power-walking (and summer is the best time to do that!) - just something to take the edge of what for most people is going to be a tough time.

Anyway, good luck to everyone trying to give up!

Sue-UU

rizla01 wrote: »

For the record. I'm still an ex-smoker (Sept will be 2yrs, thanks to you).

xx

Hello again rizla! It's so good to see you and I'm really chuffed you're 2 years free. Excellent work.

Thanks for your lovely words, you're so right and at 92 we wouldn't have wished to hold her back, but it's just so very hard to let go. Actually those last few words sound a lot like letting go of a certain white stick!

Lovely to see you, you take care and stay free!

Hugs, Sue xx

spg1 wrote: »

Hi

Very occasional lurker here (I only post at milestones!) but thought it might help others to update on progress. I have just reached 2 years after giving up CT after many years smoking and for those who are struggling, it does get better.

Reading and posting on this forum (thanks for your support Sue-UU!) was one of the things which has helped me get this far. Everyone is different but the following things which helped me may help others:


I think my biggest tip is to embark on something else to focus on during the first few key months other than just quitting smoking. Take up running, cycling, swimming, power-walking (and summer is the best time to do that!) - just something to take the edge of what for most people is going to be a tough time.

Anyway, good luck to everyone trying to give up!

Helloo ,spg1, and wonderful to see you back too! Another at the 2 year mark, truly marvellous news!!! :grinheart

Thank you so very much for taking the trouble to write your experiences throughout quitting, I've no doubt that it'll help many as they too seek to be where you are.

I must admit that most of your experiences match mine, especially lowering the amount of ciggies before we stopped, that helped me no end. To keep as occupied as possible is a huge advantage!

Thanks soooo much spg.....

....and very many congratulations to both you and rizla for a terrific job and keeping hold of your health.

:T:T:T:T

Hugs, Sue xx

determined_new_ms

Hi sue and everyone :wave: sorry I haven't been around recently.life as ever has been extremely busy! Kitchen now renovated, spare room almost finished (should be doing this now ), various other projects started, i started a new job a couple of weeks ago and i am about to become a grandmother! You've been in my thoughts though.

Sue so sorry to hear of your loss. I hope you and your lovely family are all pulling together through this. Life marching on reminds me of how important it is to spend time with loved ones while we can x

S I am now at the 9 month mark. Now it is very much easier. Best thing I ever did! And am so glad I went through those difficult times at the beginning. I still ever now and again have the thought in my head, it can be a kinda feeling in the background and is probably due to being bored actually! But I know I will never ever return to it. I looked at my silk quit yesterday and it says I am £750 richer! I really couldn't have done it without the support from this thread. At whatever point you are at guys it is worth it so stick to it x

Sue-UU

determined_new_ms wrote:

So I am now at the 9 month mark. Now it is very much easier. Best thing I ever did! And am so glad I went through those difficult times at the beginning. I still ever now and again have the thought in my head, it can be a kinda feeling in the background and is probably due to being bored actually! But I know I will never ever return to it. I looked at my silk quit yesterday and it says I am £750 richer! I really couldn't have done it without the support from this thread. At whatever point you are at guys it is worth it so stick to it x

Hi there, Determined!! :hello: It really is so good to see you back, you've been sorely missed.

9 MONTHS AWAY FROM SMOKING!!!!!

I'm so terribly chuffed for you, D, you really have done brilliantly this time round and it's a pleasure to 'see' your pleasure in having done it!!! :T:T :j :T:T

What an amazing amount saved too!! :eek: You've certainly needed that with all the renovations etc.

It's marvellous to hear you'll never go back - after all - what would be the point!

Wonderful to hear you're to be a grandmother too! What a fantastic post to read. I hope you enjoy the job and all goes well with it, the house too. Keep us updated on the baby front please. :A

Thanks so much for your thoughts, D, it means a great deal, it's been very tough, but is all part of life, sadly.

Soooo good to see you, D.

Hugs, Sue xxx

Denis_UK

Hello Sue
Have not forgotten you,how could I,the support I got years ago when I first quit will not be forgotten.

OK I relapsed but 16-8-2011 I became a non smoker and found the Silk Quit Meter this tool will ensure I will never return to fags.How can I,saved £4457,not smoked 16509 cigs YEUK.
I will keep in touch Sue but am struggling to get to grips with my MacBook.

Wish you well keep up the good work

Sue-UU

Denis_UK wrote: »

OK I relapsed but 16-8-2011 I became a non smoker and found the Silk Quit Meter this tool will ensure I will never return to fags. How can I,saved £4457, not smoked 16509 cigs YEUK.

Helllooooo Denis!!! It's wonderful to see you back again and know you've made it through in such a GREAT way!!!! :T:T:T I truly am so very proud of you as you've never given up trying which goes to show that "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again!!

Terrific news about the Silk Quit meter, so many swear by it. What a saving you've made!!!

Do please keep in touch as it's always a joy to hear from you. BTW, I never give up hope of Beryl joining you.

Hugs, Sue xx

iamashoppingaddict

Hello just wanted to post an update.

Its been 19 weeks today since I stopped smoking. I just had a quite flick through of my posts around that time. God, you can just smell the panic and fear coming from them can't you??!! I don't really struggle day to day now. Every now and then I'll say to myself that I miss smoking but other than that I do good.

The hardest bit for me was when I went on holiday to spain a few weeks ago. Sitting in the sun with a smoke on the go was one of my favourite things when I used to go on holiday and for the first part of the week it was super hard. Smoking is obviously not as frowned upon there as it is here and you could smoke pretty much anywhere and most people did! So it was strange that I wasn't and it took a shed load of will power to stop myself going to buy 200 and smoking the week away. However I knew that if I started I wouldn't stop when I got back home and I'm liking that I'm saving some money!

Anyway just thought I'd check in. :-)