The Giving Up Smoking Thread!!

little_lily

Hi all,

Thanks for all the advice about long-term cravings - you're quite right, I'm getting ahead of myself and am panicking unnecessarily. If I can bear it now, it can only get easier, right?

So day 5 for me - and it's going really, really well. I have found the Easyway Allan Carr book so helpful - whenever I feel like a ciggie, I grab my book which is completely dog-eared and filled with highlighted sections and massive exclamation marks and stars all over the place that I put by 'lightbulb moment' sections. Once I've re-read WHY I feel like smoking, and which 'monster' (physical or mental) is trying to trick me, I am absolutely fine. Craving gone and feeling so elated to be 'free from the slavery'.

Sorry if I sound evangelical, but the book really is miraculous. To anyone who wants to quit but is scared about doing so, I cannot recommend it highly enough.

I am not complacent though - thinking I had kicked it and ignoring all advice about the odd cigarette is what got me back into this mess in the first place.

And one other boost- a mum at school this morning said to me "Ooh, you smell really lovely". Can't stop grinning about that!

hethmar

Yes that is one of the bonuses - hair not smelling of smoke also, skin clear and glowing, teeth not brown .........................:)

simbalou

hethmar wrote: »

Sim, can you give an example to the newbies of what your silkquit meter is reading after 5 months please?

I was on cheap rolling baccy so I've not smoked 2394 cigs, saved £420 and
life saved is 1 week, 1 day. Hope that helps you

bigsmoke

hi everyone

thanks sue-uu for the advice, you're absolutely right and, now that i have made the decision to 'keep on quitting' (if that makes sense?) i feel no different to how i did before. it was one cigarette and then i was back to the real me, smokefree

i have decided not to drink at my work christmas lunch next week: a) it will be wine served with the meal and wine agrees with me rather too well, don't want to embarass myself (again)! and b) i like the smokers at work functions. i like being able to use it as an excuse to sneak out of conversations that i'm finding awkward, and i enjoy spending time wiht the people who happen to be the smokers (as in, i enjoy spending time when they're not smoking too!). so it's going to be a real challenge for me but i feel better about it now that i've made the decision not to drink.

it's also my kung fu teacher's last lesson teaching at my gym that night so it means i'll be able to stay for the main part of the party, then head off to the gym which i know i'll really enjoy, and be hangover/post-booze-paranoia free at work the next day. for once!

who knows, maybe the drinking less 'thing' will stick even once i am more confident about the cigarettes!

thanks again for welcoming me back and not chastising me!

and little lily - that's a wonderful story, what a boost for you well done

Sue-UU

Well done bigsmoke, you've taken the best attitude by far and it was so good to read you'd just picked it all up again as though nothing had happened , I sincerely hope Mintoze has done the same.

No problems about us chastising you bs, we've all been through where you are now, so we have no right; but helping you is a real pleasure as we want to see you come through it all and be so very, very proud at your success. If you can achieve that it'll be such a wonderful gift to us all, and the gift of LIFE for you - and for ALL of you!

Hi Lily! What a comment you had and oh how it boosts that confidence and will-power! You're not sounding evangelical about the book at all, so many others have sworn by it for their great successes, let's hope you too will be one of those that achieves what she wants due to it!!! :j

All best wishes everyone! Keep strong and strengthen your resolve daily.

Sue

bigsmoke

morning everyone, and thanks for that encouragement Sue-UU! as you say, it really does feel right this time, i just need to get far enough down the line to be able to face boozy nights out

i have to say it's really given me a boost to be healthier in other parts of my life as well - i know that when i excercise regularly i tend to mind my diet a bit more (perhaps something about feeling like i've wasted all that time at the gym if i fill my face with choccies!), and this has got me keen on both of those fronts, and cutting down on alcohol as well - long may it last!

thanks again for the kind words Sue, it really means a lot to have that kind of support - a gift of life indeed, fingers crossed!

bs x

little_lily

Morning all,

Just to let you know that I am now on day 7 and feeling fine! Massive boost this morning as my SilkQuit now reads '1W 9h 48 m 47s' - that 1W makes all the difference!


Sleeping well after a few broken nights, smelling gorgeous (even if I do say so myself!) and managing the cravings by repeating to myself "I didn't smoke because I enjoyed it, I smoked because I was a drug addict"

So far, so good and thanks one again to all the kind people on here for their support and motivational messages. :T

Maybe, just maybe, I've cracked it this time (fingers crossed, touch wood etc etc !!!!)

schmickleicklepickle

Well done everybody on all that you have achieved.

How great that we can all start the new year as non-smokers rather than going to bed on New Year's Eve thinking that we are about to give up as our resolution!!

I am now 6 weeks and 1 day as a non-smoker but really struggled this week with my brain playing tricks on me. Several times a day I say to myself, "Oo I'll just do such-and-such then I'll have a fag". I even said out loud to my hubby yesterday as we were about to go out "I'll just have a cigarette.....". Physically I'm absolutely fine but I am getting very annoyed with my brain!!!!

Keep on fighting everybody we are FAB!!

HHH_2

I am THINKING of giving up smoking. have got as far as seeing doc and been referred to stop smoking clinic but am too scared to phone and make appointment. have smoked all my life and cannot imagine being a non smoker. have already tried patches, hypnotherapy, cold turkey and various books including alan carr.basically im very worried about failing but also i actually like smoking. any advice please?

Waspeze

Hi all ..

Good to see everyone still as determined as ever (albeit a couple of little blips )

Saw a funny sight this morning on the drive to work .. a load of ducks chasing a squirrel, the squirrel got away easily though and looked like it was tormenting them from a tree :rotfl: .. wonder if it had gone for the ducks' nuts or something?

HHH, i was the same, have smoked for longer than I haven't and still liked smoking just knew I didn't want to smoke... looking good so far this time (will be 4 weeks on monday)

I had tried patches, gum etc but nothing seemed to work (stopped for a day or two but never more than that), might have been because I was still getting nicotine?

Anyway a friend of mine who I always knew as a heavy smoker suggested champix and both times I've given up (properly) i've used it and has worked miracles ... first time I gave up for 3 months and just got complacent, this time I know better and will always be on my guard for the subconcious power of suggestion!
Might be worth asking your doc about it? (i've heard they don't offer it so much now but if asked for they will talk about it .. not sure how true that is though?)
For me (the first time) I didn't actually realise that i'd reduced my smoking from 15-20 odd down to 5 within ten days such was the "power" of it..

It is not for everyone though and can have side affects!

Also, as hethmar says, one of the quit meters are quite good to have.. I had the silk quit one last time but use one from whyquit this time.. always nice to see your accomplishments :cool:

I have stopped nicotine for 24 days, 11 hours, 42 minutes and 50 seconds (24 days).

Anyway.. hope everyone's doing fine this thursday morning (nearly afternoon)

:j :A :j