Anyone around who wants to quit smoking?

[julirama723]

Re: Anyone around who wants to quit smoking?

Sens, congrats on being smoke-free! That is a huge accomplishment. It's good to see you back.

[Uk Girl]

Re: Anyone around who wants to quit smoking?

Hey well done Suzanne!


I have stopped for 3 months now - it was funny when I went to the doctors the other day it said 'NON Smoker' on the computer screen - wow - the nurse must have changed it when I went for my cholesterol test.

I still have a mad craving on the rare occasion - which is odd as I can't stand the smell of stale smoke when customes come in my shop smelling of fags!!

I have been very careful to spend my fag money every week on something nice!!
anj

[Carbaholic]

Re: Anyone around who wants to quit smoking?

Hey - congratulations on wanting to give up! Really wanting to quit is THE most crucial part of this.

I gave up over 4years ago now and I haven't even had a puff since then (now I'm a horrible reformed smoker...!!!). It's one of the things I'm most proud of (now if I could only kick the junkfood...;-p).
I realised that sooner or later I would have to give up, and it is only going to get harder the later you leave it. Looking at all the smoking elder ladies with a cigarette hanging out of their mouths, their lined yellow skin, and scowls, really gave me an idea of what I'd end up looking like if I didn't stop.
It was also beginning to cost almost £5 a pack, (and I was almost getting to 2 packs a day) - which I really resented (considering all the nice things I could have bought for myself instead!)

I fully understand the anxiety you're feeling about the potential for weight gain as you give up (and truthfully, I still sometimes feel kind of restless, like I need to do something with my hands). My friend gave me the idea of getting cross-addicted to something else that's more healthy - so I chose the gym (I figured if you added up what I was spending on ciggies, it was much more expensive than the gym!). Another friend also found knitting/crochet a really good way to occupy mind and fingers (and this was you can make loads of gifts for friends and family!)

I opted to give up on holiday so I wouldn't be in my normal routine (I was also with my parents and family - in DISNEYLAND - so would have felt just awful lighting up). I consulted my doctor and he prescribed me loads of nicotine patches which helped as I would not have been able to afford to buy them all!

I went out the night before I was giving up and drank loads and smoked loads (bear with me...!) so I felt awful and smokey and gross the next day which in turn made me not want to reach for a cigarette!

I found that knowing that I had the patch on and that because I did, I would feel sick to my stomach if I did cheat helped (and also I could pick at it to help with fidgetty fingers!) - but beyond about 4 weeks I felt that I didn't need the patches.

Another useful tip is to get rid of ALL your smoking paraphenalia - to rid yourself of all associations of it.

After a few weeks, you realise how awful and smokey you must smell to others and wonder how you didn't notice yourself! I found that once I had got beyond 3/4 weeks, I felt a whole load better, and beyond 3 months was a wonderful milestone. Once you stop counting in days is a good sign!

If you can find it (and I will look too) there's a website that breaks down for you how each milestone signifies little improvements in your health over time - this can be a great motivator!

Whatever happens, I wish you the VERY best of luck - we'll all support you every step of the way!! Just think: in a few months from now, you can describe yourself as a non-smoker...

[sensfan1960]

Re: Anyone around who wants to quit smoking?

Hey everyone...Carboholic...UK Girl....julirama...tryingagain and validrouge.
Thank you so much for all your support. It means SO MUCH to me.

I'm on day 32 and it's not so bad. I'm certainly eating more and not of the right foods but I'm trying really hard to motivate myself to get back to the Atkins way.

Before having to quit smoking I had gotten rid of 16 pds...I've since put 11 of those pounds back on when I weighed myself on Tuesday.

I'm trying to figure out why I can't seem to get motivated and then I think...sheeshh...don't be so hard on yourself...you've just quit the worst addiction in the world cold turkey that you have been doing for 33 years!!!! but I also want to get rid of this fat!!

Do any of you have any advice on how to motivate myself to get back into making my lunches and cooking again like i was...making my breakfast...my lunch...suppers...snacks...I WANT IT BACK SO BADLY!!!

Big hugs to all of you and thank you so much for being here for me.

Suzanne

[sensfan1960]

Re: Anyone around who wants to quit smoking?

Well here are the stats of my quit:

Time Smoke-Free: 35 days, 5 hours, 53 minutes and 7 seconds

I'm so PROUD of myself!!
And what I'm so proud about is I woke up this morning totally motivated to getting back to this WOE!!! I'm so HAPPY!!

I weighed myself and then took my measurements. I'm back at the weight I was when I initially started on March 15 but the most IMPORTANT thing is that I'M NICOTINE FREE!!!

Suzanne

[sensfan1960]

Re: Anyone around who wants to quit smoking?

Just thought I'd stop in and update you...
56 days Nicotine Free!!! I'm so proud!!!

I've received my diagnosis from my CT Scan and I have a lung disease called histiocytosis X...my doctor says it's VERY mild however I have it.

I have an appointment with a Pulmonary Specialist on Jun 26th and will go from there. The number one thing to do with this disease is quit smoking...only smokers get this disease...go figure...quitting arrests it and can regress it...so the news although not the best beats emphysema and cancer...

Hugs to you all and I hope your quit is going well.

[ValidRouge]

Re: Anyone around who wants to quit smoking?

Sens...Congratulations on your quit! You're doing great. Sorry I didn't see your posts over the last few weeks until today.

Wow, sounds like something somewhere was TELLING you to quit the smokes....even more HOORAH for doing it. Keep us posted.

[sensfan1960]

Re: Anyone around who wants to quit smoking?

ValidRouge...thank you {{hugs}}