SMOKERS... LETS KICK the HABIT!!

[gaea]

Originally Posted by Incubus

Go you gaea. My hacking smokers cough stopped the instant I gave up tobacco. I thought this was very odd and asked my Doctor why I haven't coughed up all sorts of nastiness......she said "Why? Do you want to?"

Hah @ 'negative nellie'. She's easy to dimiss along with cravings when you've had that change of mindset. Do you just 'know' you'll be successful this time?

I wish I could have had that whole return of senses of smell and taste but alas I was born without a sense of smell at all and errrm differently-abled tastebuds. What I do love though is that every morning I wake up with a 'clean' mouth. I had never noticed how horribly 'dirty' my mouth felt in the mornings until I discovered the alternative.

I'm so chuffed (Brit speak for real pleased) for you that you're sticking in there. You won't regret being a non-smoker.

Fantastic news blush, it's scary when one gets so ill because of being a smoker. 8 months is a great achievement, I do believe the fear factor is a great addition to the NRT's we take or stick on....go you!!

WoooooHoooooo JustG, brilliant going there. I never did it cold turkey any of the times I've tried, I know myself and I know I couldn't do it.....big up to you for that.


Dealing with cravings - I found holding my breath for as long as could a couple of times worked.......Lord knows why but it did.
I spent a lot of time doing things in the house instead of putting them off when I was craving tobacco or missing the time consuming 'ritual' of rolling a joint.
Walking or going out on my unicycle was also good distraction.

yes, incubus, i know i will be successful because i already am and yes i have a different mindset this time. i had a goal of 4/19 anyway and your story bumped that up by a week thank you for sharing that. i also spent some months increasing my vitamin c prior to quitting as opposed to after sure has made a difference. Im sorry to hear you have a non working smeller, i promise you every time i take in the scent of fresh flowers i will think of you along the way.

I dont think i could wear the patches long term im thinking 6 weeks max, one more week on the 21mg then 14mg for two then 7mg for 2 then done with those as well.

The glorious part about the patches i have they are more than 6 mos expired its more the mind trick for me.

Originally Posted by gaea

yes, incubus, i know i will be successful because i already am and yes i have a different mindset this time. i had a goal of 4/19 anyway and your story bumped that up by a week thank you for sharing that. i also spent some months increasing my vitamin c prior to quitting as opposed to after sure has made a difference. Im sorry to hear you have a non working smeller, i promise you every time i take in the scent of fresh flowers i will think of you along the way.

I dont think i could wear the patches long term im thinking 6 weeks max, one more week on the 21mg then 14mg for two then 7mg for 2 then done with those as well.

The glorious part about the patches i have they are more than 6 mos expired its more the mind trick for me.

Woooohooooo you really have that changed mindset. It makes the job so much easier. It takes the 'fight' away; or it did for me. It meant I just gave myself over to quitting no matter what it took.

Awwww, how cool knowing that thousands of miles away someone is smelling a flower and thinking of a fellow non-smoker who can't smell flowers.

As you have read I took Champix/Chantix and took them for the prescribed amount of time which was 12weeks, two of which were before stopping the ciggies. I was apprehensive about finishing them but there was no need to worry it wasn't so hard. I still kept hold of my plastic inhalator thingy but very shortly after didn't need that either. I don't think it's a terribly good idea to take or stick on such things for longer than is recommended, they can just be another 'addiction' or crutch.

One thing I did which might not suit others but worked for me is that I had (and it's still there a year later) the makings of a ciggie left in the bottom of my last packet of tobacco. I needed to have the choice if I was ever so desperate. Despite the stresses and strains of a pretty bad year it was never needed.

[gaea]

Originally Posted by Incubus

Woooohooooo you really have that changed mindset. It makes the job so much easier. It takes the 'fight' away; or it did for me. It meant I just gave myself over to quitting no matter what it took.

Awwww, how cool knowing that thousands of miles away someone is smelling a flower and thinking of a fellow non-smoker who can't smell flowers.

As you have read I took Champix/Chantix and took them for the prescribed amount of time which was 12weeks, two of which were before stopping the ciggies. I was apprehensive about finishing them but there was no need to worry it wasn't so hard. I still kept hold of my plastic inhalator thingy but very shortly after didn't need that either. I don't think it's a terribly good idea to take or stick on such things for longer than is recommended, they can just be another 'addiction' or crutch.

One thing I did which might not suit others but worked for me is that I had (and it's still there a year later) the makings of a ciggie left in the bottom of my last packet of tobacco. I needed to have the choice if I was ever so desperate. Despite the stresses and strains of a pretty bad year it was never needed.

i have a choice on every street corner and at every store i ave been too in the last week and the gas station as well, im choosing not to today. just as you are..

thanks for being an inspiration

[gaea]

I have been taking extra vit b for this and extra b12.

Last night i had my first upset and i ended up calling a friend who is a smoker and actually helped me through the upset. Seriously visualizing bubbles. im smiling still however for those involved in this thread.

How do you handle your upsets. your cranky moments etc. ?

I told my kid i was feeling cranky she kept poking no i didnt smoke, no i dont want to smoke.

What do you do when feeling a bit cranky?

Originally Posted by gaea

I have been taking extra vit b for this and extra b12.

Last night i had my first upset and i ended up calling a friend who is a smoker and actually helped me through the upset. Seriously visualizing bubbles. im smiling still however for those involved in this thread.

How do you handle your upsets. your cranky moments etc. ?

I told my kid i was feeling cranky she kept poking no i didnt smoke, no i dont want to smoke.

What do you do when feeling a bit cranky?

Wooohoooo! Yesterday was my one year anniversary of giving up smoking tobacco. I'm seriously chuffed with myself.

I had a tough year last year gaea and when times were bad I just rode them out in my usual non-smoking grumpy fashion, having a rough time is merely an excuse to smoke not a reason. I probably drank more alcohol though which is not the answer. Grumpiness was dealt with mainly by learning to ride a unicycle. You just can't remain grumpy when you're having wheel fun.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by Incubus

Wooohoooo! Yesterday was my one year anniversary of giving up smoking tobacco. I'm seriously chuffed with myself.

I had a tough year last year gaea and when times were bad I just rode them out in my usual non-smoking grumpy fashion, having a rough time is merely an excuse to smoke not a reason. I probably drank more alcohol though which is not the answer. Grumpiness was dealt with mainly by learning to ride a unicycle. You just can't remain grumpy when you're having wheel fun.

CONGRATS, INCUBUS! This is no small feat!

[Strappie]

HI Thread Stalkers and Do'ers!! lol

I have to apologize to each of you. I admit that after I had troubles with the e-cig. I was discouraged again and fell back to my old habits.

I have to tell you that it's FUCKING HARD and all you peeps that have kicked it, I can't tell you how PROUD and HAPPY I am for you! I wonder why the HELL can't I do it?? I know I can, I just haven't to set my mind to it. However, that is part of my problem.

When I quit smoking I have such bad anxiety I can't focus on anything while people say they gain weight from quitting I lose it because I can't stay focused enough to sit in one spot for more than 5 minutes with out losing my mind. I'm up down up down and then I "run" to make it thru the "surges" you know the ones, they only last 10 minutes but to me it feels like it lasts hours. I know some of you have suggested meds. I'm very scared of them to be honest. I have NEVER had to rely on pills, in most cases I don't even take the pills the Doctor prescribes for me for pain or being sick.

I know I have to do this it's something I've talked about and tried doing since entering my 30's and now I'm 45 and here I sit, still a smoker and NOT proud of that.

[gaea]

Originally Posted by Incubus

Wooohoooo! Yesterday was my one year anniversary of giving up smoking tobacco. I'm seriously chuffed with myself.

I had a tough year last year gaea and when times were bad I just rode them out in my usual non-smoking grumpy fashion, having a rough time is merely an excuse to smoke not a reason. I probably drank more alcohol though which is not the answer. Grumpiness was dealt with mainly by learning to ride a unicycle. You just can't remain grumpy when you're having wheel fun.

so the cranky came and went i cried myself to sleep (ugh) i couldnt go anywhere it was late, i woke up in a sour mood...felt better at around 1pm after venting and venting and venting the what happened to get me to that state...continuing on with my quit because its for me, my health, my quit.

I don't like being cranky at all.

I noticed several thing already
I have more energy
My clothes smell pretty now
So does my hair
I just feel better all the way around.
Im calmer, as in no more anxiety
I have more heartburn i also have stock in anatacid's at the moment this will pass and the antacids are a heck of a lot cheaper and last longer
I have a quit buddy or two or three

[Just_G]

Strappie, don't worry about "letting down friends and family", dude, you have to do it for YOU, not anyone else. They are your support system, not judges....do it for you buddy!

I never really get all that cranky....but I am sure I have my moments. When I am having anxiety, I do something good for me. I do something that I know I enjoy. I used to go for ice cream, but that was not the best idea... I go walk on the treadmill, do zumba, or go play with my dogs. Things that make me happy...that snap me out of that lull of a crappy mood....it works for me!

Originally Posted by gaea

so the cranky came and went i cried myself to sleep (ugh) i couldnt go anywhere it was late, i woke up in a sour mood...felt better at around 1pm after venting and venting and venting the what happened to get me to that state...continuing on with my quit because its for me, my health, my quit. *

I don't like being cranky at all.

I noticed several thing already
I have more energy
My clothes smell pretty now
So does my hair
I just feel better all the way around.
Im calmer, as in no more anxiety
I have more heartburn i also have stock in anatacid's at the moment this will pass and the antacids are a heck of a lot cheaper and last longer
I have a quit buddy or two or three

Well done for riding out 'the cranks' gaea. Does it make you feel more positive about giving up when you ride out some bad stuff and come out the other end not having given in?

* There in lies the secret gaea...when we quit for us; when it's entirely for ourselves and we take control of our own quitting then it becomes manageable and the bad stuff is sooooo much easier to ride out. I suddenly had more energy too - all that extra oxygen in your body creates energy and a certain calmness - I was manic for the first few months though, the calmness came some way down the line but I put that down to a mixture of quitting and hitting major messed-up man-o-pause symptoms at the same - some guys get all the luck huh?

Strappie, I never thought I'd give up either, it was always too hard but then I went and left it too late...would you rather it be a choice or a necessity?... Don't give up giving up. It really does get easier to manage the anxieties and other more negative aspects of giving up after a few months.

Thank-you DapperButch, your congrats are much appreciated