SMOKERS... LETS KICK the HABIT!!

[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.

[Scorp]

Strappie my boi!

You can do it! Baby steps, take baby steps and don't beat yourself up for not doing it as quickly as you'd like. It's a process and do it at your own pace.

Hang in there brotha!

Originally Posted by 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 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.

[Strappie]

Originally Posted by Scorp

Strappie my boi!

You can do it! Baby steps, take baby steps and don't beat yourself up for not doing it as quickly as you'd like. It's a process and do it at your own pace.

Hang in there brotha!

Thank you Scorpie it means a lot to hear that. Yet at the same time, I've heard it so many times ya know. It's so disappointing to let your friends and family down time and time again.

[hpychick]

All on the path to being smoke-free!!

I would like to extend myself to each of you as support in your cessation program!

I stopped smoking September 17, 2007. I don't regret stopping, but there are times that I miss it.

If you need some support - if you're having a stressed day (b/c let's just be honest - that's when most relapse) - if you just need to talk about some of your symptoms, please send me a PM or post on my wall and I would be happy to be supportive of your cessation efforts!

Here are a few facts (about my own smoking cessation):
Within 3 days after I quit smoking, I didn't wake up congested
I was able to walk up 7 flights of stairs within 2 weeks
I could smell how icky my clothes in the closet smelled from the smoke in the house (and I didn't have the door open)

You can do it! Trust me! I know it isn't easy, having been there myself - but I do know it's possible!

Go Y.O.U for wanting to be healthier and to smell better!

RAH RAH RAH

[gaea]

Originally Posted by 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.

Strappie i am on a sub-lingual b complex i swear im calm as can be not fidgety and im not experiencing those surges your referring too, dude get some bcomplex sub-lingual stuff it isnt meds and it will help.

here for support if you need.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by 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.

Strappie -

Do NOT beat yourself up for this. It IS hard to quit. It is fucking hard!

I know I mentioned here that I used Chantix to quit. I didn't use Chantix the first or second time I tried to quit.

The first time I used patches. And like you, my anxiety was so high that I lost weight and instead of being irritable, I cried at the drop of a hat. I remember day two...getting ready for work...I was actually whistling some tune...and all of a sudden I started sobbing. Just sobbing. It was so whacky. It took me 45 minutes to calm down just to call out of work. My emotions were ALL over the place. I also couldn't sleep and couldn't tolerate being awake. I would come home each night and drink a glass or two of wine so that I would fall asleep by 8pm. I just wanted to get away from thinking about wanting a cig. I last 3.5 months. Which means, I lasted 2 weeks after I finished the patches. That was in my mid-20's.

In my late 30's I tried again. This time I decided to do it cold turkey. I took 4 days off from work over Labor Day and along with my trying to quit smoking g.f., headed to the beach. Cold turkey was horrible for me.

HORRIBLE.

I literally felt like I was jumping out of my skin. Like my skin was crawling. I could not sit down, I was so restless. When it got so bad I would go outside and run down the street at full speed until I couldn't breathe anymore. Over and over again. Probably 10 times a day...and I am not kidding. And I really
didn't care if I looked like an idiot. I really felt like someone who was...well, going through withdrawal!

A week or two after the beach I got on the Chantix, which helped a little, but the withdrwal was over by that point. I lasted a couple of months, I think without cheating. Eventually, I went back. That was about 2.5 years ago (late 30's).

1.5 years ago I did Chantix. I smoked for the first week, quit on schedule and took it for 3 months. I got my provider to agree to give me meds for an extra 3 months. I have been smoke free since that time.

You say you don't want to "rely" on medication. I assure you my friend, you will NOT be feeling that you are relying on it. You will go through the withdrawal, same as usual. The difference is you won't be an anxious wreck, you won't be depressed, and if you cheat it won't give you that "zing" of "hitting that sweet spot" so to speak that all addicts get when they light up a cig after not having one for a while (It will just feel flat and like you are smoking air.). It isn't relying on meds b/c the meds ARE NOT KEEPING YOU FROM SMOKING. You are doing that all by yourself.

The last three days I have been craving cigs like mad. No idea why. Just really crazy bad. I almost bought a pack on Saturday and almost bought a pack today at lunch time. I am glad I didn't. It was hell quitting. Hell.

Know one thing...when you are one of those people who have a really tough time quitting, after you make it on the other side, you will be less likely to pick up again. It is Just. Not. Worth. It.
Hang in there. Seriously consider Chantix.

And if you are like me and connect bars and beer with drinking, don't go out for a while. And only be around non smokers. And switch to hot tea if you drink coffee, or vice versa.

Also, I hear that for many quitting smoking in the summer is easier. For me, that is SO not the case (it is actually probably the summer weather that has kicked my cravings into gear). I seem to connect "good times" and activity with smoking. People think less activity means less smoking. Hell, I used to put my pack of cigs. in my backpack when I would go mountain biking. When we would stop to catch a breather, I would be catching a smoke!

[gaea]

Similar to Dapper i to have quit multiple times with this last one being my last, i will never pick up another cigarette again as long as i am given the breaths needed to sustain life.

The first time i quit back in early 20's was for my "children" , well that dit go well at all, the looked at me crosseyed or cried (they were lil ones then) and wanted a smoke, smoking had become my escape my "me" time if you will.

The second attempt well i had no idea i was going to quit it was one year after my dad had passed and my then ex-partner who was still in my house at the time kept "stealing" my cigarettes and it pissed me off so i went on an "ill show you bs kick" and i laid the cigarettes down. 4 mos later I was moving me and my kids and she called me incessantly from some party she was at talking about happy anniversary i received so many calls from her that night and having my kids complain because i took them out of there home in which i did, however i thought i had to be strong and not break down and cry like i wanted to,,,so i smoked a cigarette...

The above was 8 years ago, had i just cried i would be 8 years non smoker blah blah...perhaps

3 years ago when my youngest granddaughter was born i tried again...I went through all kinds of mental head games and trips and wow i don't think i made it 4 weeks.

So now this time whats so different now? well I prepared my body by increasing my vitamin intake especially my c vitamins as a smoker you lose 50 mg of vit c every time you smoke which is why you cant smell anything....so increasing my vit c levels to 500 mg above what i was depleting every day helped me to begin smelling things especially the tobacco which started stinking everywhere i went and because i was a smoker i stunk too.

I also picked up the "Easy way to quit smoking" by allen carr, great book im still reading it, i also read The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks...these two books along with my want and desire to be smoke free has truly helped me.

Then i read Incubus post and although i had a goal date of 4/19 for personal reasons having read hys post pushed me over the edge a week early and i was done and i knew i was done.

Im leveling out my vit c levels now, still reading both books and smoke free.

Because i want to be...it is after all for me and really it is about me. and f** those that say do it for so an so and blah blah because in reality its all about YOU doing it for you your health your well being etc.

[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

[gaea]

Is helping me to stay calm and not have the anxiousness seriously i take a dropper full every 3 hours and this is working plus my regular vitamins that i take daily.

My co worker quit a couple months ago and she is a wreck i told her what i was doing cause she cant beleive how calm i am so i told her there are breathing exercises as well as get your self some vit b and you will fee better.

On with the breathing exercises, what ive learned is if i hold my breath then fear and anxiety can grow within however in regular breathing you can remain calm or get excited about something, this can be applied to lots of situations regular normal breathing with positive thoughts and you can get through this.

I suddenly have a lot of extra time woo hoo, i calculated the number of cigarettes i haven't smoked by the minutes it took to smoke one and what i came up with yesterday was that i had gained an additional 40 hours of free time in 3 weeks rock on.

[gaea]

ok its been 3 weeks and here is a nifty lil fb ap that says it all

http://apps.facebook.com/quit-o-meter/

i seriously want to vomit after seeing the 400+ not smoked however good on me.

you can do it to!