SMOKERS... LETS KICK the HABIT!!

[gaea]

Originally Posted by DapperButch

F-'em. You ARE a non-smoker!

Keep it going, everyone. You CAN and WILL do it!

It is SO nice being on the other side. Not worrying if you have cigs. Not worrying about when you will get that next cig when you are going into a long meeting. Not worrying if you smell like smoke when you are in said meeting. Such freedom! Seriously, that is what it feels like. FREEDOM!

Do I still crave them? Absolutely. Yesterday wanted one so bad and it has been a year and a half. But, it passes. Just like the cravings any of you may be having right now. Just keep remembering that!

those were my exact sentiments...this is my deal and I am the only one that matters in this at this moment making it day to day.

Ive been a non smoker for a week now loving it and food tastes so different hotwings i love them however i have suddenly found out they are a bit spicy for me, pepper jack one of my favorite cheeses um yea no thanks it burned my mouth wth? lol....

Spring time smells so good right now i cant seem to get enough.

Im not coughing cause im not smoking, i love that.

I love that when "negative nellie" comes knocking on my door she is turned around or when she sneaks in a window i quickly toss her out. I don't have to deal with the negativity and i don't have to feel like crap cause i quit. i actually feel so much better.

I quickly dismiss any cravings or thoughts of smoking this seems to be working for me.

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.

[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.