topic Re: quiting smoking in Community Spirit

quiting smoking

opmania — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 07:07:25 GMT

Have been a 20 pack a day smoker

For nearly 40 years and stopped cold turkey

On Monday

So have made it 4 days without a smoke

Feel like I am going crazy

And don't want to go near a shop for a while

Until I feel safe to avoid the impulse to buy

A packet

Not easy that's for sure

Re: quiting smoking

imastawka — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 07:24:38 GMT

You're doing really well.

I gave up cold turket 8 1/2 years ago

Drink lots of water, distract yourself with things that are non-smoking related.

That is, things that are hard to do while smoking.

If you distract yourself for long enough, the craving will go away.

About 3 minutes is all it takes for distraction.

Try really hard not to dwell on it and pretty soon you'll find yourself

not thinking so much about it

Congratulations on being smoke free

Re: quiting smoking

opmania — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 07:31:37 GMT

Thanks 8 1/2 years you wouldn't want to go back

After all that time

I am determined not to smoke

Again

I am doing it for my 5 year old Grand

Daughter

And that's why I have come

Back on the boards to take

My mind off smoking

It is working to a degree

Unless I get too wound up

By the goings on here

And will probably make me

Want to smoke more than ever

Lol

Re: quiting smoking

imastawka — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 07:41:22 GMT

I'm never going back. (Have been diagnosed with emphysema.)

I smoked 25 or so a day for 40 years

I hope you have cleared out all the ashtrays and any reminders.

Also throw out the other smokers! No smoking in the house!

Don't care if it's raining or cold. And try not to over-eat. It's easy to

just shove something in your mouth, but don't - have water.

Deep breathing also reminds you how good it will finally be, to be smoke-free.

Soon food will start to taste better. Really.

Good luck

Re: quiting smoking

kopenhagen5 — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 07:52:08 GMT

Good on both of you.

Re: quiting smoking

tulip*place — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 07:53:11 GMT

Hi, opmania. It's been 17 years since I gave up.

You will have to change your routine. If you had a ciggie with a cup of coffee, change it to maybe a herbal tea and have it in a different location.. Have an emery board with you to keep your hands busy. Replace the ash tray with a vase of fresh flowers.

It's not going to be easy. Stay away from other people that smoke. Good luck. I felt light headed in the first few days.

Have you tried giving up previously, if so how long did you last?

Re: quiting smoking

opmania — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 07:53:44 GMT

Has stopping smoking improved

The emphysema

Have got rid of ash trays

And tipped butts out in green

Bin right on top of a pile of

Dog poop.

I thought however desperate

I get I won't be smoking butts

In doggy do

Thanks for the tips

Re: quiting smoking

lurker172602 — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 07:55:03 GMT

Get yourself a nice big glass jar and every time you successfully resist the urge to light up put $1 (approx. cost of each cigarette) in it. Enjoy watching it fill up and use the money to do something special with your grand daughter.

Re: quiting smoking

j*oono — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 07:55:57 GMT

Keep going Opmania. You can do it.

According to my MLC app it is 3 years, 140 days, 5 hours and 46 minutes since I last had a cigarette. I used to smoke quite a lot more than 20 a day, like at least double that.

If you have a smart phone this app is very encouraging. It's called MLC which stands for my last cigarette.

My advice is opposite to what some other people found helpful. For me it was to not try to change anything. Don't avoid coffee because you will then want a ciggie. Of course you will either way. Don't ban other smokers from smoking near you. Get used to it. Don't panic when the kilos pile on, and they will. Breathe deeply, it helps and get some exercise.

Re: quiting smoking

opmania — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 08:01:59 GMT

Wow 17 years do you still feel like a smoke

Sometimes

I gave up when I was pregnant both times

And started again as soon as I stopped feeding

Babies

And stopped for 4 months about 20 years ago

Started eating too much

Had to toss up if I wanted to die of lung cancer

Or obesity

So started again and never even tried to stop

Until now

Re: quiting smoking

opmania — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 08:05:31 GMT

I'm looking forward to being about 15 $ a day better off

Already feel the benefit of that positive

Re: quiting smoking

tasfleur — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 08:29:12 GMT

One day at a time opmania, and you will make it .....

Re: quiting smoking

opmania — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 08:59:00 GMT

Thanks Tas

And everyone for the support and encouragement

My beautiful Grand daughter

Had two nanas both of whom she

Adored

Both smokers both around the same

Age .I was 4 months older

Easter Sunday we sat down

For lunch and got a phone call

That she had a heart attack

And had passed away

She was 59 had 4 children under

30 and 7 Grand Children

My Grand daughter said to me the

Other day

Your My favorite nana

Made me so sad because now I was

Her only nana

So I thought it was very unfair to

Smoke

So now I have stopped and as hard

As it is will never smoke another cigarette

As long as I live

And hope I live longer for this

Re: quiting smoking

the_great_she_elephant — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 09:05:37 GMT

Well done! I've never had to struggle with it myself (pure luck not willpower) but I do understand how indredibly hard it is and have huge admiration for those who manage to kick the habit.

Why not decide on something really special to buy with all that money you're saving and every day- - or once a week - put into a jar the money you would normally spend on ciggies. Put a picture of whatever you are saving for in tthe jar too, then whenever you feel the cravings you can take it out and look at it, and see how close you are to 'winning' it.

Re: quiting smoking

opmania — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 09:24:46 GMT

Thanks she ele

Smoking is so expensive

The first packet of cigs I bought

Were escort 10*s

45c a packet

Now the cheapest pack of 20

Is $15

Hopefully I can put that money to better

Use

Feeling a bit depressed about the

Whole thing today

That's probably coming across

Usually am a bit more jovial

Re: quiting smoking

the_great_she_elephant — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 10:02:07 GMT

It's not surprising if you feel depressed - your metabolism must be turning cartwheels trying to cope with its new poison free state. When you go to bed tonight, count up the extra hours you have added to your life by not smoking today - precious hours to spend with your grandchildren. Remember also what Kopes said about one day at a time. You don't need to worry about getting through the next week or next month all you need to do is get through the rest of today.

And any time you do feel down, come back to this thread; everyone here is feeling for you, cheering for you and willing you to succeed.

Re: quiting smoking

icyfroth — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 10:14:57 GMT

yeah I stopped smoking because of a grandchild too. I didn't want him born into a smoking household, so that gave me the motivation.

That was 25 yrs ago and I've never looked back!

hang in there.

Re: quiting smoking

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 10:25:42 GMT

you will get stronger every day so

hang in there.

Re: quiting smoking

opmania — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 10:26:44 GMT

Quitting a 40 year addiction is never

Going to be too easy

But it is nice to have encouragement

My husband doesn't seem to

Grasp the magnit u de of the

Situation and is saying very little

Maybe he thinks If he brings it up

I'll jump down his throat

He does seem to be avoiding

Me a bit these last few days

On second thoughts

He's doing well by staying away

He's a very sweet man

Re: quiting smoking

azureline** — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 11:23:20 GMT

Congratulations!

Your OH might not be sure what to do.