My Quitting Smoking Diary - yours too!

Kizzy01

Hi anablle hope your doing ok ! This is just a blip so please stay focused and strong ! try a warm bath or any activity to take your mind off this feeling. It will be ok and you are doing so well x

Sue-UU

Afternoon everyone! So sorry not to have got here with the post earlier. I wrote an entire post out...then mishit (:idea: that may look wrong, but.....you'll forgive me in a mo) a button and lost the bally LOT!!!!!!!!! :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad: Still, bless him, DH said "leave it, have some lunch and do it again" :kisses3: so here I am.


Brilliant motivating advice, determined! Many thanks and well done on your own time - FAG-FREE!!!! :T

warez wrote:

5 days, 7 hours, 32 mins!

Had a hideous day yesterday, bad tempered, tearful and didnt sleep at all last night. But didnt want a fag.

Going to take the dog for a walk and keep myself busy.

If I can get through yesterday, I can get through anything.

Started to read Allen Carr's book again. It has definitely helped, but I am not getting the sense of enjoyment he says I should be getting stopping smoking.

Sue UU - I had a bit more water yesterday, which I think helped.

Anyway, good luck today everybody. It helps me to think of you all going through similar experiences to me. So hope that works both ways.

5 days, 7 hours, 32 mins is amazing, warez!!!!! :T So sorry to hear you had a rotten night, but s you say, tire yourself out, drag the dog several miles...the exercise will do you the world of good, seriously, however far you go. The sleeping better will soon sort itself out, our bodies just have to adjust, but they will and soon, but busier is better!

Alan Carr's the sense of enjoyment will hit in, quite possibly out of the blue it'll just dawn on you, but it has to be easier to experience when you're more used to it.

I'm so pleased to hear you found the water helpful, keep at it even if it's sipping, but the colder the water the better. Some folk even suck ice cubes!!!! :eek: You could try it....maybe. Also one of the girls PMed me last week to say she found eating grapes from the fridge immensely helpful. If it feels as though it might help...then whatever it is..try it!!

I love your final paragraph, it sums group quitting up perfectly - everyone knowing what each other are going through - which also pulls you ALL through. Onward and upward for sure, warez and you too are being so helpful!!!

Good thinking with the mp3, it's bound to help.

Sue x

Kizzy01 wrote: »

I really need to find a way to change my routine of wake up, bathroom , downstairs, kettle on let dogs out have cig on step make tea, have another cig, and maybe another one. Morning is definitely when I smoked the most.

This morning I had a small breakfast. re read pm from sue-uu and tips on not gaining weight, and gave myself a severe talking to! I actually had my last cig 36 hours ago and cravings aren't so bad...Not physically anyway ....mentally it's very very tough for me ...but onwards and upwards and thank you all so very much. I would have cracked yesterday if it wasn't for you all and your support.

You've got it, Kizzy, alter your routine, even if it's doing things a different way round it helps a lot with the 'habitual fag thoughts'. Drink a glass of cold water then clean your teeth asap, it freshens the mouth and whoever wanted to smoke then!

Well done with the breakfast as it'll help keep your blood sugar levels up, try to have brekkie every day as it's not breakfast that puts the weight on, it's the munchies to 'try' to compensate that do that, so eat plenty of fruit. BTW Kizzy, you're a a totally different person today - because you're now into it and yesterday it was simply the thought of it all that messed you up.

Stay strong and focused and BTW, you too are doing a great job helping others - it soon happens so naturally doesn't it. Well done!!

Sue x

besha wrote: »

I can see this thread is going to provide a lot of inspiration to me.

One thing that has always terrified me about stopping is not knowing what to expect, and the stories of weight gain etc but as was said above temporary weight gain is a lot better than a lifetime of smoking! I think the trick for me is to keep myself as busy at all times as possible as it's mainly when unoccupied I find myself reaching for my baccy. I have quite a busy period at work at the moment and will be working longer hours than usual so fingers crossed this can help in that respect!

Hi besha! As you've already found, the thread is crucial, especially when so many are stopping at roughly the same time, it's the sharing of all the symptoms that benefits everyone, and you all start to help each other so quickly which takes your minds off yourselves and the sticks!

Make the most of the busy period at work as it'll be the perfect time to stop with least affect. Please don't worry about weight-gain (there is a piece about it in my last post above), as long as folk don't overdo it then it should be only minimal. However, do more exercise than normal and it'll help kickstart your metabolism; while we smoke, nicotine speeds up the metabolic rate so when we stop smoking many of us slow down. Try walking or jogging by going for 60 seconds at the normal rate, then a burst of 60 seconds as a faster rate; do that all the way round and you'll soon feel the benefit and NOT the pounds!!!

Keep busy, besha and keep strong, you CAN do this!! :grinheart

Sue x

Debs2009 wrote: »

I would love to stop smoking, I have smoked for 20 years although at one point it was just at the weekends. In the last few months I have smoked alot more than what I had previously.

My planned day to stop is tommorow (monday the 7th) when I am back at my main job. While at work I don't go for a ciggarette and manage from 8.30am till 3.30pm without one. I would usually have a few in the morning before leaving and then when I come home till I go to bed have quite alot.

I hope I can do this.

Hellooo Debbie and a very warm welcome to a far healthier life!!!:) You may have had lovely Christmas gifts, but to stop smoking when so many others are too will give you the greatest gift you could ever give yourself - the gift of LIFE - YOURS!!!

As you find the work hours much easier then, hopefully, the rest should be easier to master, especially if you keep busy. If you drive did you smoke in the car? If so, clean it out and be sure to wash the ash trays so the smell isn't lingering long after you've stopped.

Be sure to do as the others are - come to read through the threads to motivate yourself and write all your feelings in posts so we can help. You'll soon be helping others which in turn helps you as your mind will be too busy concentrating on other things.

All best wishes, Debbie and remember, we will all be rooting for you!

Sue x

Oh dear anablle! Please don't think you sound dramatic as you're not, you're just writing your feelings down as we encouraged which has to be good. I do so sympathise with you and the temptation if you go. Have you not got a friend or friendly neighbour you could call upon or a local youngster to earn a few pence? You've done absolutely splendidly in your 4 very successful days!!! :T Though of course IF you were to go, grab the sugar, pay and dash back it would be the proverbial monkey off your back, so to speak.

Be careful and if you go then come on back to us here, we all understand your dilemma and will help you through! I just wish with all my heart that I could get it for you. To answer your question though - YES, you will most certainly smile again - even more broadly than before at the excitement of having succeeded in beating old Nic :mad:!!!! Meanwhile anablle, visualise old Nic and knock him off wherever he is and trample all over him!!!! :mad: You can do wonders with your mind.

You could always remember the mantra IF you go to the shop "Today I promise not to smoke any cigarettes! Tomorrow - if I wish - I may do.

Try and get some fresh air and a walk, then walk briskly to get the endorphins into your brain to make you feel a whole lot better. Whatever you do, keep active. Be happy, anablle, your getting your health back - your LIFE too!!!!!

Hugs, Sue xxx

Brilliant advice, Kizzy!! :T

Sue x

Hi there, Rising, good to see you back - and 12 weeks and 2 days FREE from the curse of old nic!!!! :T:T You're right about the thread, so many folk helping support each other - fantastic!!! :j

Well done, Rising and how apt your name is with the ashes part!!! :rotfl:

Sue x

Keep motivated everyone and stay strong...together you can all do this and so much easier with all the support going. Onwards with this journey of a lifetime!!!! :j

Sue x

Please note everyone! Could you all kindly pop your days free and method used on your Title Bar to make it easy for everyone to help you and for others to help see which method might be best for them. See my Title Bar above.

Thanks so very much. Sue xx

determined_new_ms

Hi everyone just popping on to say hi and how amazing you are all doing feeling very inspired by how strong you guys are! As you probably have read I was a complete mess for the first few days. Annablle its completely ok to feel whatever you are feeling. Be ultra kind and you will come out the other side I promise x

Warezz sorry I didn't mention you yesterday not sure how I missed you!

Debbie welcome and good luck for tomorrow, its not as bad as you think it will be right now. Like jumping off of the cliff and discovering there is a bouncy castle the other side! :j

Thinking of you x

Kizzy01

Hi everyone I've been busy again today keeping myself occupied. Have not been feeling well this afternoon though, a bit shaky and very hot....it's weird and I wonder if its part of quitting rather than an impending illness as I don't feel poorly if you know what I mean ! I've been out with some friends this afternoon and as only 1 person in the group actually smokes now I really noticed the smell when she came back in, mind you she wasn't all that supportive and seemed quite annoyed with me as we've always been smoking buddies before !feeling more positive today ...more positive I can do this good luck for tomorrow everyone will be thinking of you, and as I'm back at work tomorrow too will face more challenges then I'm sure !

Debs2009

Hi Thank you everyone for the warm welcome and also the support.

I have a few ebay parcels to wrap up to post tomorrow and then I am going to start to read this thread from the beginning.

Good luck to everyone that is also quitting and to those who have already done so.

Thanks Debbie

warez22

Kizzy01

I am glad you have got through today. I think it is quite common for smokers to not wish you well. I don't know why, maybe it gives them less validity to carry on? Also there is this supposed camaradarie between smokers 'us against the world' sort of thing.

Anyway, don't think anything of it, you never know, when she sees that 'even you' can do it, she might give it a go herself. Let's face it, she is probably jealous that you have the guts to go for it.

Well done in ticking another challenge off your list.

anablle

Got through another day :j had a few tears at work :eek: but got over it , I'm feeling so tired my eyes feel so heavy all the time not sure why because I slept more then usual last night . Well I didn't get my suger so no cuppa in the morning couldn't risk it here's hoping tomorro is a better day well done to everybody on doin so well and goodluck to those starting tomorrow were all behind you and a special thanx to determined and sue and to you kizzy :-) because it truly does help the support you all give , without u and this thread nic probably have beat me today x

Money_maker

Hi to all the new non-smokers joining this thread and those soon to be. All the tiredness and emotion you're feeling in the first few days are part of the process. I found a webpage which makes mention of the similarities between grief and quitting smoking here http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/nicotine-smoking/171190-stages-grief-while-quitting.html

When I quit, I found it comforting to know that it was part of a normal process and I just had to follow it through to the acceptance stage.

I stopped with the Alan Carr Easyway book which at least made me stop when I finished it otherwise I may have dithered around for ages. Like warez, I haven't experienced the euphorbia (is that how you spell it?:D) of quitting although I do enjoy telling folks I'm a non smoker.

Please remember you can get a Quit Kit from your local pharmacy. Few interesting bits in there plus the tangle toy which will keep your hands busy.

Well Done everyone.

rachhh

Hello all!
I'm 20 years old and have smoked since I was 14, I'm currently living at university, but went to stay at home for 3 weeks over christmas.
This prompted me to decide to quit, my mum's never known that I smoke, and I didn't want to be having to try and sneak away all the time and hide the smell etc. Also, the £21 a week I was spending could be put to far better use, such as a summer holiday!

I went cold turkey the day I went home, 14th December, and since have had only 2 cigarettes total. I was on about 8-10 a day before.

I've come back to uni today and I'm really fighting hard not to smoke, as it's a habit. Feeling very tempted tonight, but determined not to ruin this progress. Have felt so much healthier and fitter since stopping, and I smell much nicer! Thought I'd come here and type this to help keep me going and remind me why I'm doing it!

Sue-UU

rachh wrote:

Have felt so much healthier and fitter since stopping, and I smell much nicer! Thought I'd come here and type this to help keep me going and remind me why I'm doing it!

Hi rachh and a very warm welcome to the thread! It's fantastic to hear you took advantage of the Christmas break and have kept away from those horrible sticks, and all that's in them, for so long already (bar the two which we'll call a blip)!!! :T

Keep in mind all that you've written in the quoted part above, especially how much healthier and fitter you've felt since stopping! You're obviously still young, far too young to risk your health and life on a future of smoking...so please work through the worst of it and get over all that smoking threatens because, believe me, it's just never, ever worth it!!

Be strong, rach, and keep reminding yourself of that holiday you'll be able to afford - IF you keep free from fags! Start each day with the Quitters Pledge

Quitters Pledge

"Today I promise not to smoke any cigarettes, tomorrow - if I wish - I may do."

Renew the pledge every morning on waking. This helps in not making quitting feel as though you're planning something lifelong, it helps trick the mind in taking it all one day at a time. The lifelong part you determine for yourself when you're ready.

All best wishes from us ALL!

Sue x

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Kizzy01 wrote: »

Have not been feeling well this afternoon though, a bit shaky and very hot....it's weird and I wonder if its part of quitting rather than an impending illness as I don't feel poorly if you know what I mean! I've been out with some friends this afternoon and as only 1 person in the group actually smokes now I really noticed the smell when she came back in, mind you she wasn't all that supportive and seemed quite annoyed with me as we've always been smoking buddies before! feeling more positive today ...more positive I can do this

Well done for coping so very well, Kizzy!!! Another day behind you and you made it through VERY well!!! :T I'm sure you're right with how you're feeling being due to stopping, you wouldn't be the first to feel that way. Mostly it's your body's reaction to you not giving it what it's so used to, but stay strong and you'll be over it so soon, and you're body will get used to the healthy life - and love you for it!

Another problem you have is your 'friend'! Ask yourself if you think she might just be feeling guilty about still smoking herself (knowing all the dangers), but that if she can pull you back as a smoking mate she'll feel much better and have a far better reason for continuing on smoking herself....as, you also will be at risk too! She will get passed this and come to realise it when you tell her firmly "I don't smoke any more!" You never know, in time you may just set the example she needs in order for her to stop also, let's hope so.

Sue x

Debs2009 wrote: »

I have a few ebay parcels to wrap up to post tomorrow and then I am going to start to read this thread from the beginning.

The perfect thing to do, Debbie! There are so many that will really inspire you. Meanwhile, always remember - you have the support of a lot of people here, each urging you on to regain your health and be far happier without ciggies in your life! :grinheart

Sue x

anablle wrote: »

Got through another day :j had a few tears at work :eek: but got over it , I'm feeling so tired my eyes feel so heavy all the time not sure why because I slept more then usual last night.

That really is amazing to hear, anablle!! :T You can be so terribly proud of yourself for not buckling under the pressure, I'm sure also that, aside from me, there are most of us feeling so proud of you tonight!

Keep giving way to the tears, it's doing you good. The tired eyes, I'm sure, are all due to stopping smoking (read what I said about that to Kizzy above). It won't last long though and is a small price to pay when you compare it to how you'd feel after years and years of carrying on smoking! You're doing things right and sticking to it, marvellous!!! Usually, after a rough day comes a better one, let's hope that's just how tomorrow (today) turns out.

Sue x

Hi determined and Money maker and thank you so much for all your wonderful help. You're a Godsend to me and so many others.

Sue x

Have a good day today, everyone, be patient and kind to yourselves and remember all your new 'friends' who are 'with you' in every way. Keep focused...and healthy! :j

Sue x