Stop smoking 2009

[carbkinky]

Thanks!

[sprinklesmom]

Thanks for the pep talk SugarPop! I desparately needed this today. Today is Friday, the weather is in the 60's it's a beautiful night - just perfect for wine and smokes on the deck. I have been in battle with my willpower since Noontime. Well it's dark now and getting colder. So I think I won this battle.

Congratulations on staying smoke free for 4 months! Great Job! Nice to know the cravings will subside. And believe me I do know what it's like to wake up in the morning with that yucky cigarette stale taste in my mouth. It's like I could just cough up an entire ashtry. Yet I still would get my morning coffee and go out on the deck for a smoke.

Not anymore though. Keeping strong.

[SugarPop]

Good for you, Sprinklesmom, for holding tight. Weekends can be such a challenge. You're doing great.

Today I went to my former house to hang (ex and boys)..........My ex still smokes (of course my favorite brand)........Now I'm at my place and it smells so nice and smoke free. I find I don't really think of them on my own much anymore- but sometimes visual cues can bring you to a place where you gotta work through it - I always feel better for having gotten through it.

One thing that helped for me in the beginning was to avoid coffee and wine, but I can do both now with no problems.

Stay strong, peeps!

B

[Mogget]

Well I got through my first smoke free weekend.... I'm still a bit sick so it wasn't all that hard. Chose a god time to stop really as it has just started to turn cold here and it is not worth hanging around outside in the chill to have a smoke, and it's cold enough that I have shifted my daily routine failry easily away from wanderng outside first thing in the morning for a smoke with my coffee, instead I bring my coffee upstairs and toodle online for a bit. I am also having my morning shower earlier as I know I can and won't stink myself up with smoke afterwards.

Evening are the hardest as a big part my routine in my relationship is sitting out the back and talking for ages with my boy while we both smoke. I don't go out there now bt I miss the chattin' time with my boy free from distractions of TV or computers. Think we worked an alternative solution today that might work... though it doesn't adequately cover the immediate afterowrk session which is our major bonding time. I may just have to hang out with him for a little bit and then go in. I have told him he is NOT to give me ciggarettes even if I ask. If I really want one I have to go to the shop and buy them myself. But I'm not planning to do that either.

[carbkinky]

I am having a problem with chocolate chip cookies to soothe my cravings for nicotine late at night. Oh my....

[SugarPop]

Hey, Carbkinky............how's it going?

You know it's hard not to substitute one thing for another. If you think about it, the smoking thing is a compulsive act. That, in itself, is a hard thing to break. Maybe just being aware of that can help. Maybe pick another less harmful thing - like a sugar free lifesaver. I really think that's the hardest part of it - We became used to having a cigarette after a meal, after we made the bed, after we weeded the garden, after the day was through and it was our "relax" time, when we woke up, when we had a cup of coffee.........These things don't have to go hand in hand, but we've programmed our brains to expect the 2 together. Sometimes it's less about the actual physical addiction and more about the psychological addiction. Try to just be aware of that and know that you CAN separate the 2 - Time to retrain the brain. You can do it, it will take some work, but just being aware is the first step. After awhile you won't need the connection in your mind. It's freeing and that's what this is all about - freeing yourself from cigarettes and not letting them OWN you.

B

[sprinklesmom]

Hi everyone.

Well. I wound up caving on Saturday. The desire just to go out on the deck and have a smoke overtook me.

So I did buy a pack and had a few beers and a few smokes. I called my smoking buddy (former roommate) to tell her what I had done - she told me to go up to visit her on Sunday so we could hang on her deck and smoke and drink. (That was the norm for me off and on for the past 3 years - sitting on the deck outside smoking and drinking)

Well, I probably had about 4 butts. Another friend came over Sat night to watch a movie with me. I felt so sick to my stomach from smoking. (as you know if you haven't had one in a while they taste terrible - almost like you're smoking for the first time again) I felt queasy. I didn't beat myself up for giving in, but I started to develop an aversion to them. I felt so yucky I avoided them all yesterday. I knew I wasn't going back. I still have the pack at home - no desire to go back to it.

I started yesterday morning with a little oil pulling to clean the toxins from Saturday out of my system and went hiking all day with a friend - so that helped too. (decided against going up to smoking buddy's house as I knew I didn't want to be pulled back in so I did something healthy and fun instead - breathing in lots of fresh air)

Think I kind of needed to get that out of my system so that I can remind myself of how sick I'll feel if I take it up again.

[Peacesoul]

Smom, the only way to succeed is with a few fall downs. Don't be so hard on yourself. It's tough to quit. I tried many times and finally had success (one yr ago today for me)
Take it as it comes and you will kick the habit

sending you some "quitting" vibes

[carbkinky]

Thanks.

[SugarPop]

Absolutely, don't beat yourself up. My GF in Wisconsin smoked a whole pack in one day after quitting for 2 months and she said it was the best thing she could have done - cuz it made her wicked sick. Sometimes negative reinforcement can be your best friend.

Sounds like you've brushed yourself off and made a game plan and good choices and you should be really proud. It's all a learning experience - When you cave you learn more about yourself and what you want and don't want.

Looks like everyone is doing good.

Today was a rainy day and I was expecting a phone call from maybe a new employer that didn't come. I wanted to smoke today.......I didn't really, I remember that cigarettes never were as good on rainy days, BUT..........nevertheless, I did have a craving.......Old patterns emerging.

Still hanging in there...

B

[sprinklesmom]

Thanks for the quitting vibes PeaceSoul Yes no cravings whatsoever today. Feeling fine and really need to go to sleep - have to be up early tomorrow - way past my bed time.

I was visiting my sister tonight. She was trying to quit too but isn't so successful. We all have to quit in our own time so I never put anyone down as we all know how hard it can be.

Glad you didn't smoke today SugarPop. Yes. Smoking on rainy days were never good.

Sounds like everyone is doing very well.

[SugarPop]

Happy Earth Day

breath in......breath out

breath in......breath out

Feel your lungs expanding and filling with oxygen, doing what they are supposed to do. Imagine all the goodness and purity that you're giving your lungs with fresh, smoke-free air.

Today is Earth Day..........One aspect of today is being natural and feeling connected to yourself and the planet.

breath in......breath out

breath in......breath out.

B

[SugarPop]

I have a bad cold............can barely breathe.

Was thinking how much worse this would be if I was smoking. Last year I got really sick and smoked through it..........ended up with bronchitis and had to be put on steroids. Seems like I was sick for months........Sometimes getting sick is a good starting point for stopping cigarettes.

B

[carbkinky]

Sorry u r sick. Sleep and lots of fluids! I remember when I had pleurisy when I was a smoker, I sure hope my lungs can come back from all the years of abuse!

[SugarPop]

Hey carbkinky,

You know, I'm much better.......It went into my chest and I have that horrible bronchial cough. The thing is that last year the same thing happened and it was 6 weeks before I stopped coughing - I was put on steroids and everything and nothing worked. I smoked for the first 4 weeks and finally quit for the last 2 (because I KNEW the coughing would never stop unless I did) Of course I went back as soon as I felt better.

Not this time tho.....I'm already almost well.

Jeeze, pleurisy must have been awful.

How you doing, carbkinky?

B

[lindaokc]

Sorry I haven't been here for support the past few weeks. We have been out in the motor home and I couldn't always get wi-fi. We're home now, so maybe I can check in now and again.

SugarPop, glad to see you are feeling better.

Hope everyone one else is hanging in there.

[hummingbird11]

May 1st is First Day of The Rest of My (smoke-free) Life!!

started Wellbutrin today, too.

[lindaokc]

Awesome, Hummingbird. Good to see you here. Great thing you are doing for yourself

[PAULAR42166]

Hi everyone, Just checking in with all of you. I am on day 50 Today!! Cant beleive it ! Honestly had someone told me 51 days ago that I would be smokefree, I would have laughed in their face and went and had a smoke.
But I have not cheated to date. Nor have I missed a dose of wellbrutin either!! I will be the first to admit, I now know the difference between a craving and a withdrawl. Feels like I have acomplished something just knowing the difference ya know ! Well good luck to all of those that are quitting! You can do it!!!! And those who have quit. Keep it up
talk to you soon
Paula

[hummingbird11]

WOW -- congrats Paula!!

Day 1 almost over 4 me!
Not too bad; I think Wellbutrin helps.
But I sure miss my Effexor
Plus it was a rainy; gray day.
Would be yucky to smoke outside anyway

Paula, re: the oil pulling.
when-AM/PM/both?/how often/how long to swoosh/how much EVCO to use?
TIA!
I need to flush some toxins!!

[hummingbird11]

Originally Posted by lindaokc

Awesome, Hummingbird. Good to see you here. Great thing you are doing for yourself

thank you, Linda!

when I picked-up cigs (again) in Sep 08 due to bone cancer scare;
I never realized it'd be so hard to quit and would take me till NOW!

stoopid!!!!!!!!

[carbkinky]

Yep...I now know to NEVER pick up a cig again! Everytime I quit before (6) times, I started back because of stress or my increasing weight. Not this time! I cig or puff leads to 2 packs plus! Its 7 weeks for me....I am free! Godd luck to all!!! YES YOU CAN!

[lindaokc]

Congrats on day 1 being behind you. Wellbutrin is da bomb as far as I'm concerned. It makes the cravings tolerable.
Hang in there, chica.

[lindaokc]

Congrats to you too, Carbkinky You're doing an awesome job!!

[SugarPop]

Yay, this thread is cranking again!!! WooHoo!!!!

I am better and I start my new job tomorrow.

linda, sooooooooo glad to have you back. This thread isn't the same when you're gone.

I got through January, February, March and April SMOKE FREE !!!!!!!

B

[carbkinky]

Thanks everyone! Chantix worked for me. I took it 5 weeks. I think I gained about6-8 lbs. I am using Scarsdale which is very structured to keep me from becoming soooo fat. I haven't weighed since I quit but my clothes don't lie!

[hummingbird11]

Day 2 is proving to be tougher than Day 1.

Had "the urge" several times; but riding it out.

Blogging helps!

[SugarPop]

Hang in there Hummingbird. Take some nice deep breaths and think about filling your lungs with clean pure air.

B

[hummingbird11]

Thanks SP! Day 2 pretty much over; whew! It was tough.

[lindaokc]

Sorry I didn't check in last night. Glad you made it Hummingbird Day 2 is worse than day one and Day 3 can also be difficult. Not something you want to hear, I'm sure. Just be on your toes. It's just a day and will be over this evening. It might also be easier than day 2.