Quitting smoking....

I can honestly say the only ciggy I missed was this morning otherwise, I haven't wanted one! I'm so hoping this gets easier because yesterday I was a bit of a mess with jitters. Day 2!!

We just need keep up the positive attitude!! You're so right Julianne, just one day at a time!

Congrats to all of us!



Today I will not smoke

Originally Posted by lil maggie

I can honestly say the only ciggy I missed was this morning otherwise, I haven't wanted one! I'm so hoping this gets easier because yesterday I was a bit of a mess with jitters. Day 2!!


Today I will not smoke

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It will definitely get easier! I miss my morning one too. That is ok...I acknowledge and accept it...but I dont smoke. That one was always my favorite. You can miss all you want...as long as you don't smoke

I want to have a smoke everyday. ONE smoke that is. Problem is...if I have one, it will lead to twenty (a pack) that day, every day, and so on...forever.

SO....I will not smoke TODAY.

I don't know if timing quitting with surgery was a good idea or not. But I am going to continue since I've already started.

I did end up having 2 cigs yesterday.

I made one mistake, got the patch but got too low of a dosage.....since I've already started using them, i'm not going in and getting the higher dosage. I'm hoping in a couple days it will be better but for now, I can accept if I need to have 1-2 cigs untill my body is used to the dosage of the patch.

In a way I do feel like I failed, but I'm trying to take it one day at a time and I want this quit to be my final quit so I want to do it right so it will last and know full well if I don't quit right, this won't be my final quit.

Originally Posted by Snake_Lady

I don't know if timing quitting with surgery was a good idea or not. But I am going to continue since I've already started.

I did end up having 2 cigs yesterday.

I made one mistake, got the patch but got too low of a dosage.....since I've already started using them, i'm not going in and getting the higher dosage. I'm hoping in a couple days it will be better but for now, I can accept if I need to have 1-2 cigs untill my body is used to the dosage of the patch.

In a way I do feel like I failed, but I'm trying to take it one day at a time and I want this quit to be my final quit so I want to do it right so it will last and know full well if I don't quit right, this won't be my final quit.

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Don't feel like you have failed, you "slipped" a bit is all. I do think it's going to be a bit more difficult for you by timing it with your surgery since both are a strain, but if you can do it, we'll all be here to urge you on to that great finish line.

Originally Posted by Yosemite

Don't feel like you have failed, you "slipped" a bit is all. I do think it's going to be a bit more difficult for you by timing it with your surgery since both are a strain, but if you can do it, we'll all be here to urge you on to that great finish line.

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Thx Linda. You are right, I haven't failed or relapsed into my old habits. I've slipped and had 1-2.....

Tomorrow I am going to have little goals (ex. I will not smoke between 8am and 12pm) and just go from there.

I'm not in near as much pain today as I have been, so that is not an excuse

Cat, how are you doing?

Good to hear you're not in as much pain today Chris! You're right about having little goals because you can achieve your goals a bit easier making you feel better about yourself and keeping yourself motivated! Trying to go after one huge goal, when it comes to being addicted, is overwhelming.

I can't believe it's the 4th day being smoke free! There are a few side effects however. I'm a very laid back person that rarely if ever loses my temper but I had a few words with my mom today over, of course, something stupid and I apologized. She was ok with it knowing I've just quit smoking but that's no excuse. Also, I'm not eating so much as food picking at everything out of nervousness. I've been trying to keep busy and as active as I can. I think I'm finally over the jitters I was having

How's everyone else doing?



Today I will not smoke

Originally Posted by lil maggie

Good to hear you're not in as much pain today Chris! You're right about having little goals because you can achieve your goals a bit easier making you feel better about yourself and keeping yourself motivated! Trying to go after one huge goal, when it comes to being addicted, is overwhelming.

I can't believe it's the 4th day being smoke free! There are a few side effects however. I'm a very laid back person that rarely if ever loses my temper but I had a few words with my mom today over, of course, something stupid and I apologized. She was ok with it knowing I've just quit smoking but that's no excuse. Also, I'm not eating so much as food picking at everything out of nervousness. I've been trying to keep busy and as active as I can. I think I'm finally over the jitters I was having

How's everyone else doing?



Today I will not smoke

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I was the WORST with my gf when I quit as well. Anything and everything irritated me and I'm a laid back, even tempered person. I think I was irritable for about a week but my gf is telling me it was more like 2 weeks, lol. I felt bad and apologized whenever I got out of hand of course but she is wonderful and understood. Congratulations and keep going forward.....don't look back!!

Originally Posted by lil maggie

I can't believe it's the 4th day being smoke free! There are a few side effects however. I'm a very laid back person that rarely if ever loses my temper but I had a few words with my mom today over, of course, something stupid and I apologized. She was ok with it knowing I've just quit smoking but that's no excuse. Also, I'm not eating so much as food picking at everything out of nervousness. I've been trying to keep busy and as active as I can. I think I'm finally over the jitters I was having

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I am sooooooo proud of you How are you feeling though? Can you take deeper breaths? Does food taste better now?

Great job Cat.

GrooveRite you're absotively right! It's amazing how after you quit smoking what little things can make you irritable and want to lash out!! My worst is probably slamming a kitchen drawer b/c I don't want to say something hurtful to anyone that I don't mean at all. The words I had with my mom were just a small disagreement over the verticals in the family room that only lasted 2 min - phew, I caught myself and admitted I was wrong.
Thanks GrooveRite for the support and the knowledge that it WILL get easier!

And many thanks Chris, if it wasn't for you setting a quit date and letting me join you, I'd still be a walking chimney! I really appreciate all the suport you give me!
I still get a bit light headed taking a deep breath but I feel soooo much better AND I don't stink like smoke! Yep, food tastes better too. I fixed some grilled ham and cheese tonight and could hardly wait to eat. Even the smells of food are way better. I'm definitely going to have to watch what I eat now! But, a few pounds sure (forgive the pun) outweighs the health risks of smoking!

And how is everyone else doing?
Julianne, it must be about a full month since you quit, how are you feeling?
MiaMaria, hows that nicogum? Have you quit yet?
Megan and babygirl? It must be around 10 days for the both of you, you're still hanging in there?
How about Whiskey'sDad and ScottF, you still with us?

Many to everyone for all the support!!!!


I will not smoke TODAY

I've been trying to keep up with the thread and I just wanted to drop in and say "good job" and "keep it up" to all you you quitters. Despite what they say, quitters DO win sometimes.

I quit about 2 years ago, so I have some appreciation of the pain you're experiencing. I found focusing on the positives helped a lot. For example, the first time I passed someone in a store who had just smoked it was really a revelation -- "Wow, that guy stinks. Glad I don't smell like that anymore." Another nice time was my first long airline flight after I quit. As a smoker, one of those long 8+ hr. flights is a nightmare. It was nice sitting there thinking how nice it was to not be going out of my mind for a cigarette. There are many others as well, like not having to go out in crappy weather for a smoke, not having to roll down the car window in January, getting more done at work, etc.

Quitting is a hard row to hoe, but don't let it get you down. Even though I've officially been off the cigs for over 2 years, I have backslid a few times. The most recent was New Year's Eve. The important thing is that I woke up the next morning, realized I had messed up, and then continued to be a non-smoker. I have also realized that drinking a lot at a party is almost always responsible for backsliding, so I try to avoid that situation now. Weight gain is another problem. It's probably inevitable that you're going to gain a little bit, but it sounds like most of you have a good plan here. Reaching for something like gum or a low-calorie hard candy instead of a chicken leg will help a lot, and I suspect nicotine patches would help as well. It's a lot harder to start off with bad eating habits (chips and candy) and change later than to start with good ones initially.

So, I just want to offer to all you quitters. It does get easier -- much easier -- as time goes on.

Originally Posted by lil maggie

And how is everyone else doing?
Julianne, it must be about a full month since you quit, how are you feeling?

Many

to everyone for all the support!!!!

I will not smoke TODAY

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Well , 1 month along

And it was the best thing I did!

The only advise I can give is that it gets easier, but watch out for the anniversary's they are a killer! I found it was easy during the week, but fridays (my quit day) were terrible!

You are doing amazing - keep it up!

I'm doing a bit better now. I went and got the stronger patch and it takes away the physical cravings all I have to deal with is my "wants".

It's going to be harder tomorrow because my hubby is going away again till Thurs. and that is stress in itself.... I don't like it, and with him not here to "babysit" me, I have a harder time not giving into my wants.

I know this hasn't been the quit I wanted or "planned", but I am still going forward with it. If it takes weeks with me smoking 1 a day, so be it. I just want to do it right so that it is my final quit.

My goal for tomorrow, 1 cig or none. I plan on taking my girls to the conservation area for a nice walk/picnic if the weather is good. At least there, not too many people see me walking with my hand on top of my head ( even 5mins of my hand by my side makes it swell considerably, and dr. does not want me slinging it because of my elbow probs and it will tighten those tendons up if I keep it up for any length of time.....so I alternate between holding it against my chest, on my head, or straight up )

anyways, point of my walk is that after a nice long walk, I feel "healthy" and don't want to smoke

hope noone minds, but I plan on continuing this post untill I successfully quit. It's great to have a reminder....

even now, I am not wheezing any more.... 2wks prior to surgery, I was finding that my breaths were wheezy after having a smoke.

I am very fidgitty tho, which stinks.... I want to do something with my hands.....crosstich, make bracelets, something and that's so hard one-handed, so I get frustrated.

Walking will be a good thing....

I was proud of myself yesterday. I had a cigarette in hand, then put it off for awhile while doing some outdoor work.... something happened and I got highly aggitated and upset... grabbed my smoke and walked inside (planned on going out the front door and having a smoke) but inside I sat down on the computer, had my little cry and did some emails... didn't end up smoking till later......

Originally Posted by Snake_Lady

I was proud of myself yesterday. I had a cigarette in hand, then put it off for awhile while doing some outdoor work.... something happened and I got highly aggitated and upset... grabbed my smoke and walked inside (planned on going out the front door and having a smoke) but inside I sat down on the computer, had my little cry and did some emails... didn't end up smoking till later......

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I'm proud of you too! Even through all that stress, you put off smoking! Sorry to hear you were upset enough to cry though It's much harder for you because you have to go through so much more stuff than say, someone like me. Just having surgery, having kids (I don't have any so I don't know how stressful that is), your hubby gone for days at a time. Having to do things one handed would drive me up the wall! So heck yeah, I'm real proud of you!

I'm glad to hear you got that stronger patch I'm hoping that relieves most of the cravings. Just keep in mind that it's different for everybody. Some people have no problems quitting while some have to set little goals to get them through the day/night. Whatever works for you and if you slip up and have one or two smokes, I think that's still a major improvement! Keep up the good work! And never be hard on yourself, I know it's a struggle.

I know what you mean about keeping your hands (hand) busy. I usually only crave a smoke when I get really frustrated with something I'm doing. But, sometimes like reading posts on here, my hands aren't busy. Earlier, I subconcioiusly picked up a clickable pen and drove Maggie nuts clicking up a storm. lol I'm still chewing lots of gum, snacking on all kinds of raw veggies and drinking water and tea until I feel sloshy. This is day 6. Yes, it's very hard quitting but I'm trying

Anyway, please keep us updated!



I will not smoke today

Originally Posted by lil maggie

I'm proud of you too! Even through all that stress, you put off smoking!

Sorry to hear you were upset enough to cry though

It's much harder for you because you have to go through so much more stuff than say, someone like me. Just having surgery, having kids (I don't have any so I don't know how stressful that is), your hubby gone for days at a time. Having to do things one handed would drive me up the wall! So heck yeah, I'm real proud of you!

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thank you.
It was a situation that normally would not have upset me but that day it did.
Moodiness from not smoking I think.

I'm glad to hear you got that stronger patch

I'm hoping that relieves most of the cravings. Just keep in mind that it's different for everybody. Some people have no problems quitting while some have to set little goals to get them through the day/night. Whatever works for you and if you slip up and have one or two smokes, I think that's still a major improvement! Keep up the good work! And never be hard on yourself, I know it's a struggle.

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It seems to take care of the cravings, the NEED to have a smoke. Now if only it would take care of the want to have a smoke. Yesterday, I can honestly admit that I did NOT need to have the cigarettes that I did have. I wanted them, and really didn't get much out of them.

Hubby's gone till Thurs. ( would be till Friday, but I go get my stiches removed and physio on Friday so he has to take me ) and he has my cigarettes. I gave him what I had left, and he keeps them in his work van and I asked him for one when I wanted/needed one. The asking is a pride thing for me, so it helped.... my pride is stronger than anything else LOL. btw, this was my choice, to give him my leftover smokes and have to "ask permission" for one. Since he's gone away, I did take a handful and put in a pkg for while he's away. I took 10, and am planning on having leftovers when he comes home on Thurs. The hard part: knowing I have cigarettes here to smoke if I want. So I'll really be pushing myself to not think about them. I put them in his cupboard, so I still associate them with him.

I know what you mean about keeping your hands (hand) busy. I usually only crave a smoke when I get really frustrated with something I'm doing. But, sometimes like reading posts on here, my hands aren't busy. Earlier, I subconcioiusly picked up a clickable pen and drove Maggie nuts clicking up a storm. lol I'm still chewing lots of gum, snacking on all kinds of raw veggies and drinking water and tea until I feel sloshy. This is day 6. Yes, it's very hard quitting but I'm trying

Anyway, please keep us updated!



I will not smoke today

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You are doing so well Cat.... from a 2pk a day smoker to 6 smoke free days and going strong.... I am sooooooo proud of you Honestly, it brings tears of happiness to me.... You are one heck of a strong woman. I am so very proud of you.

I am almost 3 weeks smoke free now. I have had a few bumps in the road these past few days because my ex is giving me trouble but I keep thinking about my almost 2 year old nephew and he gets my back on track.

Originally Posted by Snake_Lady

Hubby's gone till Thurs. ( would be till Friday, but I go get my stiches removed and physio on Friday so he has to take me ) and he has my cigarettes. I gave him what I had left, and he keeps them in his work van and I asked him for one when I wanted/needed one. The asking is a pride thing for me, so it helped.... my pride is stronger than anything else LOL. btw, this was my choice, to give him my leftover smokes and have to "ask permission" for one. Since he's gone away, I did take a handful and put in a pkg for while he's away. I took 10, and am planning on having leftovers when he comes home on Thurs.

The hard part: knowing I have cigarettes here to smoke if I want. So I'll really be pushing myself to not think about them. I put them in his cupboard, so I still associate them with him.

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Good psychology and a great plan! If it works...do it!
so you won't touch that handful and hubby gets to see that you haven't smoked them!



babygirl - 3 weeks!!! Good job! Any reason to quit is a perfect choice!

7 days smoke free I would have typed 1 week but 7 seemed like a bigger accomplishment!


I will not smoke today

7 days is a big deal! WTG !

My doc was always like "It's just two weeks of discomfort then it's over!" Yeah right, like she has any idea what kind of two weeks that can be. I told her it was like being in deep labor for all of two weeks - what's the big deal?? It's ONLY two weeks!

(and for many ppl it is much longer than two weeks. "Different", not exaclty "better")

^ Thanks so much! Your support is also a big deal!

I agree about docs. My family doc, since he never smoked, doesn't understand why I just don't stop it LOL Why didn't I think of that? He's not totally in the dark about it because he prescribed Wellbutrin the last time I wanted to quit. The drugs worked fantastic but also made me flighty. I'm goofy enough on my own without purposely taking something. I haven't been to see my my doctor since I quit but I know what he'll say...."See, it wasn't that hard was it?" LOL I think quitting anything addictive is unbelievably tough, just like being an alcoholic or addicted to street drugs, even caffeine. It takes a huge amount of will power and strength. I give so much credit to all that have quit or trying!!! > I've also been patting myself on the back


I will NOT smoke today

Originally Posted by lil maggie

....I've also been patting myself on the back

...

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I pat myself on the back EVERYDAY!! lol To this day today.....I still can't believe I was able to do it! It was such a part of my life that I found it hard to understand what a day would be without one. Once you get past that....its pretty easy though!! lol I found that having anger/frustration towards it helped out a lot in the end, for me personally.

Even now, after a month, I still congratulate myself every night before I fall asleep

I tell myself 1 more day without a cigarette

Excellent work Lil Maggie

And vibes to Chris, Babygirl - you are fabulous!

Keep it up team