Ok you quitters ...

[Happy]

Help! I'm on Day10 of being smoke free. I need help to get through the next few days. The cravings seem a bit stronger. Anybody have any tips?

[Scott]

Honestly... Nicorette gum was the only way I could quit. I chewed it for around 20 days then was done.

[Happy]

I'm using the nicotine patch - maybe I should pick up some of the gum to smooth out the rough spots. Thanks for the suggestion. If you think of anything else let me know.

[Scott]

Thew patch didn't do squat for me. I had much more of a psychological addiction along with the physical. Don't do gum and patch at the same time Happy.. that's overload and they warn against it.

[Silky]

[QUOTE=Jolt]Thew patch didn't do squat for me. I had much more of a psychological addiction along with the physical. Don't do gum and patch at the same time Happy.. that's overload and they warn against it.[/QUOTE]

I see someone isn't watching tv. :)

[Happy]

Forgot about the 'overload'. Maybe chewing regular gum might help as a type of substitute.

Keep throwing out suggestions or distractions y'all. Success stories too.

Right now I'm gonna try to sleep away a few of the hours. In otherwords, bedtime here.

[Happy]

[QUOTE=Silky]I see someone isn't watching tv. :)[/QUOTE]

If you are going to hijack my thread you could at least give me a tip while you're at it.

[Silky]

[QUOTE=OneHappyFemale]If you are going to hijack my thread you could at least give me a tip while you're at it.[/QUOTE]

Don't take any wooden nickels...:)

[ldg40]

Ahhhh....sleep. Best way to avoid it all! Can't give you a success story here, (personally speaking) only a warning. Chew that special type gum EXACTLY how it is perscribed! (Invision the 25th drink you shouldn't have had) The patch worked best for me, but then life happened, I didn't work best for/with the patch!

I can't even imagine 10 days!!! You should be EXTREMELY proud of yourself!!!

Here's a success story.... My 69 yr old Father. Smoked 3 packs a day for 40 years. All done now.... If he would have quit at our age, he wouldn't be on oxygen full time, can never visit his only daughter, (cold climate) and could laugh with out choking to pieces. Okay so maybe it was a success story after the fact..... But!! Lord willing, I'll have 10 more years with him in my life!

Best of wishes to you OHF, and do be VERY proud of yourself!!

[Dave]

How to encourage someone to stay off when they're dying for just one cigarette? Not easy! But you don't want to go through those last ten days all over again because you know it made sense to stop in the first place.

Chew sugar free gum (SUGAR is really bad too! It's part of the craving) if you must and if it helps. Find something to do with your hands to keep them occupied and not reaching for a pack of smokes. Avoid those places where you used to smoke. Do something else at the times you always smoked.... read, paint, draw, knit, take photographs .....

No success stories, no failure stories .... how about the one thing you didn't realise as a smoker?

You stank!

The smell of stale tobacco smoke was on all your clothes, in your hair, it hung as an aura around you, it made some people feel sick to come near you. But you never even noticed, now you do and it's awful isn't it?

If you smoked at home your house stinks of it, your wallpaper and soft furnishings are discoloured by it. There's a complete redecorating job to be done .....

The secondary smoking has affected anyone who is close to you, your children, your pets, your hubby (Ha!) .... but secondary smoking is an urban myth isn't it? Just like mobile phone mast radiation wont hurt you.

Now what are the advantages?

Food will taste a whole lot better (except cheese on toast which reeks! LOL) so you may eat more .... be careful! Enjoy having your sensesof taste and smell back :)

You will have more money to spend on nice things like clothes, makeup, jewellery and holidays instead of wasting it on cigarettes. Make sure you put aside the money you used to spend on smoking, save it up and treat yourself to something special at the end of the month as a reward for staying off.

You can do it, the worst is over now, just another few days .... one day at a time! :)

[Dave]

[QUOTE=GraphicallyPut]
Remember the craving is only about 10 minutes so do somethin that will occupy that time:)
[/QUOTE]Sex ..... 5 times! :)

[Silky]

[QUOTE=Dave]Sex ..... 5 times! :)[/QUOTE]

Poor, poor Val! :D

[calamityjane]

I'm waiting to see your success story!!! So I can quit too. Been thinking about it for awhile. And my doc won't let me use the patches or the gum or anything else says just quit. Thys are too dangerous.

I do like the rubber band idea though. Or my mom would be glad to just hit me when I wanted one. I could ask her she'd probably be willing to smack ya around a little....

And they say that if you have smoked in your house to clean the walls, furniture, drapes EVERYTHING but that makes the cravings worse.

Remember this... these days are your hardest... Day 3, Day 10, 2 weeks and 3 weeks.

[Dave]

[QUOTE=calamityjane]I'm waiting to see your success story!!! So I can quit too. Been thinking about it for awhile. And my doc won't let me use the patches or the gum or anything else says just quit. Thys are too dangerous.

I do like the rubber band idea though. Or my mom would be glad to just hit me when I wanted one. I could ask her she'd probably be willing to smack ya around a little....

And they say that if you have smoked in your house to clean the walls, furniture, drapes EVERYTHING but that makes the cravings worse.

Remember this... these days are your hardest... Day 3, Day 10, 2 weeks and 3 weeks.[/QUOTE]
Don't you go relying on someone elses lead .... get those Nike's on and Just Do It! If your Doc is hassling you then there's a darn good reason you should quit!

I'm lucky, I've had two heart attacks, three bridges put into my heart and ONLY take five different lots of drugs every day for the rest of my natural (Hmmmmm hardly natural, without the surgery and drugs I'd have been pushing up daisies for several years now) .

/me stops his ex-smoker hassling (for now)

[calamityjane]

Wow Way to go you!!! My ex had 2 heart attacks his first at 29 and a ballon and quad bypass

[Dave]

You could of course be more like my dad, he didn't have any heart attacks .....

First he lost most of his stomach to cancer, then a lung a couple of years later, then ..... he died! :(

At his peak he'd smoked 60+ untipped full strength cigarettes per day for several years. He'd been stopped for over 12 years when he died.

Please STOP .....

[calamityjane]

:D OK I will definately start stopping LOL

[Happy]

Another day completed smoke free. It was a tough day but plenty of water, chewing gum, and unsalted pretzels got me through some of the shaky spots. I look forward to the day when I stop counting. Until then I hope you can put up with me.

I CAN DO IT!

[burndog]

Well Happy I can not give any decent advice, I tried Monday without alot of success. I at least lasted until I got home from work...how pathetic is that? You are a much more determined person than my self.

I can only offer you encouragement to keep trying. You do sound pretty positive, so I am sure you can do it. If you can make it this far you are serious about it, and my hat is completely off to you!

I know people who have quit and they did say that it does take a while, but after a couple of weeks the cravings are reduced in strength and duration, so believe it or not right now, it will soon begin to get easier. I would like to grant you the wish of time and some relief, but since I can not, I can only say is "Believe in yourself, You WILL DO IT!"

[Dave]

Well done Happy, keep it going!

/me dons his cheerleading outfit (leather boots and a thong)


Burndog - try again next Monday, get through until after dinner this time. It's not easy and you do need willpower to go that extra yard.

[MrRaven]

I'm a smoker but I'll back anyone up who wishes to quit.

I tried quitting once and using the patches, but trying to light them was really awkward!!

I managed to quit for 12 months, but one day I thought just one wont hurt!!! Guess what, I'm back on about 20 a day :S

Oh well, I WILL give up again one day.

[Happy]

Just to keep everyone up to date. Today I started week 3 of being smoke free. Yeah.

now where is my caffeine

[burndog]

Way To Go!!!!!

[Dave]

Rah Rah Rah for Happy!

It's been horrible but I know it's well worth the effort and pain, but you can't relax just yet .....

:)

[Happy]

Thank you for the continuing encouragement! It does help.



Oh and Dave - love the boxers! Nice to see that they get changed once in a while. :D

[Dave]

[QUOTE=OneHappyFemale]Thank you for the continuing encouragement! It does help.


Oh and Dave - love the boxers! Nice to see that they get changed once in a while. :D[/QUOTE]I can't tell you who helped with this particular wash ..... her hubby might be watching :)

[Silky]

[QUOTE=Dave]I can't tell you who helped with this particular wash ..... her hubby might be watching :)[/QUOTE]

Actually your boxers were handled by her hubby. I'm still too inexperienced with ImageReady to get the job done. He was very gentle though. :D

[Dave]

[QUOTE=Silky]Actually your boxers were handled by her hubby. I'm still too inexperienced with ImageReady to get the job done. He was very gentle though. :D[/QUOTE]
That makes twice now, should I feel worried or you? LOL

Thanks Scott!

[PDG]

Studies show that it takes 21 days to establish a new habit. So congratulations...you're entering a new phase devoid of cigarettes. :wave:

AND...you'll save $1000+ dollars per year depending on your level of addiction. You could use that money to take a cruise to the Western Caribbean!!

Plus, each cigarette you don't smoke will add 6 seconds to your life. Just think how important those extra 6 seconds will be when you spend your last moments with your family. I know it's semi-morbid...but it's true. I'd give a lot for 6 more seconds with my Dad. He was taken from me when I was 15 because of cigarettes.

So congrats and keep up the great work.

[Happy]

[QUOTE=PDG]Studies show that it takes 21 days to establish a new habit. So congratulations...you're entering a new phase devoid of cigarettes. :wave:[/QUOTE]

It's been a tough 21 days - but I think I'm gonna need longer than that to break the psychological habit. There are still times I reach for a cigarette before realizing that I don't do that anymore.

[QUOTE=PDG]AND...you'll save $1000+ dollars per year depending on your level of addiction. You could use that money to take a cruise to the Western Caribbean!![/QUOTE]

It's more like $2000+. I live in NJ, though close enough to cross in to PA where they're a bit cheaper. But that was more of a hassle than quitting.

I'm not too sure about a cruise though due to a slight case of water phobia.

[QUOTE=PDG]Plus, each cigarette you don't smoke will add 6 seconds to your life. Just think how important those extra 6 seconds will be when you spend your last moments with your family. I know it's semi-morbid...but it's true. I'd give a lot for 6 more seconds with my Dad. He was taken from me when I was 15 because of cigarettes.[/QUOTE]

Sorry for your loss of your Dad at such a young age.

[QUOTE=PDG] So congrats and keep up the great work.[/QUOTE]

Thanks! I'm really determined this time. I think with my family here at PixelAddiction and their encouragement I will succeed.

:hug:

[Dave]

[QUOTE=OneHappyFemale]It's been a tough 21 days - but I think I'm gonna need longer than that to break the psychological habit. There are still times I reach for a cigarette before realizing that I don't do that anymore.
[/QUOTE]Happy, now for the bad news .... I think you can take it ....

It goes like this ....

"Hi, my name is Dave and I've not had a cigarette for 2 years nine months and one day"

"Hi Dave!"

So can we sign you up to C.A.?

It's exactly the same as Alcohol Addiction .... and going back is just as easy.


I know you can do it, you've shown great will power so far, keep it up ..... Of course you know we'll also totally understand if you give in to the cravings and will support you regardless .... but you're not going to give in! :)

Now where's that Burndog? (thought I'd forget did you?)

[Happy]

Hi Dave!

Thank you! It is so nice knowing that there is someone out there willing to see me through this.



(We can get a nice group going - Come on Burndog, GraphicallyPut, and MrRaven - join us!)

[MrRaven]

Who? what? Did someone mention my name then? :.

[Happy]

[QUOTE=MrRaven]Who? what? Did someone mention my name then? :.[/QUOTE]

No pressure - just letting you know the support group is here if you want it. :)

[Dave]

Now take out your hymn books and sing ....

(falsetto) Shall we gather at the river ....

Oh it's not a temperance league is it? (I damn well hope not!)

[MrRaven]

[QUOTE=OneHappyFemale]No pressure - just letting you know the support group is here if you want it. :)[/QUOTE]

I'm glad to know that there is somewhere I can come to for support. I'm happy to be apart of this community and I know that I , or indeed anyone who requires it, will get support.

I WILL quit smoking one day, of that I am certain. But not until I know the time is right. Now some will say that there is no time like the present, and if you're thinking of quitting then why not start now? Well from a personal point of view, I do not feel in myself that I would be able to quit straight away. The only thing I am certain of is that I will when I know the time is right.

[Happy]

[QUOTE=MrRaven]I'm glad to know that there is somewhere I can come to for support. I'm happy to be apart of this community and I know that I , or indeed anyone who requires it, will get support.

I WILL quit smoking one day, of that I am certain. But not until I know the time is right. Now some will say that there is no time like the present, and if you're thinking of quitting then why not start now? Well from a personal point of view, I do not feel in myself that I would be able to quit straight away. The only thing I am certain of is that I will when I know the time is right.[/QUOTE]

I understand completely what you are saying. You (and only you) will know when the time is right. In the past, I've tried quitting for someone, another time underpressure, etc. But until it was for me (this time) each of those times were bound to fail and did fail.

But I always said I would never quit quitting until I could quit no more.

[Dave]

I know where you're coming from Mr Raven, I've been there myself and there's nothing would have shaken me either .... not then.

[Psyra]

I'm going on almost week 3 of smoke-free. Still sometimes reach for one and crave when I see someone smoke, but I wrote down "NO MORE SMOKING" on my bulletin board in the kitchen and ice-pops still work...also mint toothpicks :) . WE CAN DO IT!

*does "the worm" in celebration of us, the quitters*

[burndog]

You guys are doing great, I am still puffing. I know I am making excuses, but I am just so stressed at work these days... basically all new staff including a new manager. Life is tough enough right now, without cigarettes it would be no fun AT ALL. I know it is just an excuse, but it is still in the back of my mind almost every single day. I do not smoke much to start with so I can not really cut down, but I am trying to eliminate the smokes I have out of routine, but even that is tough, because I only have one every two hours on average, but I try to make it a bit longer, so I have cut down ever so slightly.

I really do wish all of you quitting the best though, I am envious and wish you nothing but success in the least stressful way.

[Psyra]

Can't quit until you WANT to. ;) Even after almost a month I don't think I am in the clear as it is so easy to return to the dark side as I figured out on my last birthday. Thanks for the well-wishing, Burndog. I hope things start to normalize where you are. I am a huge fan of your gallery.

[Happy]

Today, I am starting on Month 2 - that's 30 days smoke free so far. Yay!

[Dave]

[QUOTE=OneHappyFemale]Today, I am starting on Month 2 - that's 30 days smoke free so far. Yay![/QUOTE]Don't kick the alcohol just yet!

:D

Good for you kiddo :)

[123456789]

Wolfgang Gullich said that the hardest part about a work-out regimen was starting it. I think the same applies to most things in life. Change can be unsettling and makes one feel insecure and unsure. It's very much like the feeling you get when you step off the plane and walk into an airport you've never been to, disorienting. But once you get your bearings, everything starts settling into a new pattern, and you can begin to feel like this is what your life has always been like.
March 8th is my STOP date and I'm determined to stop, not just for me, or the memory of my father, but for all of those around me (including all the total strangers I've never met.) Smoking is bad for the environment(poisoning the air, filling the land fills,) for the economy (I don't want someone else to pay the medical bill when I can't breath anymore - re Health Care,) it's dirty, it makes your teeth yellow and your breath stink (which makes you smile less - smiles are contagious, as are frowns) it's just not got anything positive about it unless you're a tobacco company executive (most of whom DON'T smoke) who really needs that 5th sportscar in their stable. Not to mention that smoking a pack a day is like throwing away 3 hours per day (12.5% of your life is spent smoking - think about that next time you hear yourself say that you had no time to do something.)There is no good reason to smoke, but there are plenty of good reasons to quit.
My way has been to brainwash myself by repeating these and many other reasons to myself until I really hated smoking. It has worked (to a point) as I have quit before, but having done sports all my life, and needing to catch my breath after a flight of stairs really brought the point home.
I won't say 'good luck' ('cause it has nothing to do with luck) rather, 'take care of yourselves' to all those who have quit and are thinking about quitting because life is not something to be squandered on something so meaningless and useless as smoking. If you can't make the world a better place each and every day, then you're not trying hard enough, and lighting a single cigarette has the opposite effect each and every time.
Guilt is a great management tool, too.
Hang in there, you've got nothing to lose but everything to gain. Enjoy life, be responsible, and get well now. Eat a lot and eat well (and exercise it off) and you'll live to be free and healthy and old. Smoke and live in shame.
Kudos all around. :) :) :)

[libra]

I have been cigarette free for 3 weeks and 2 days now. I am not going to say 'nicotine free' because I still chew the gum. Not sure how I feel about it yet - will get back to you ;/

[Dave]

Each person has to do it in their own way, whatever way that is in the end it comes down to sheer will power.

Go to it, stick with it if you can and may this be the last time you quit smoking.

[burndog]

way to go gals, keep it up, not much longer and you'll have it beat, and 1-9 you sound like you have a good attitude towards it, I'd wish you luck but will say to take care of yourself instead.

[123456789]

Thanks, is it tomorrow already? Well, here goes nothing. ;)

[Dave]

Good luck 1-9 don't let it beat you!

[Happy]

Progress Report: Day51 of being smokefree and I'm now on day3 without any aids at all. I'm off the the nicotine patch. Things seem to be going very well. (But I do miss the vivid dreams that came with the patch) Tomorrow will be my first work day being nicotine and smoke free. A bit scarey but I'll do well. I've come this far and I can't turn back. :happy:

[Dave]

Great stuff Happy!

When I was in the withdrawal process and working I found I still needed to get outside where I used to smoke .... but go where the air is fresh and smoke free at all costs! Running the guantlet of smokers is not to be enjoyed.

http://www.djherb.btinternet.co.uk/lepre_smilie.gif

[123456789]

Way to go OHF! Keep it up. I know someone who quit smoking 40 yrs. ago and still thinks about it everyday. I don't mean to scare anyone, just that constant vigilance is neccessary. One little slip could lead to disaster. One must choose NOT to smoke every single day. If one can do that, then succees is guaranteed. I've also found that brushing your teeth often helps (sometimes up to ten times a day - this is NOT very good for your teeth so brush gently and quickly, just to refresh your breath.) :)