General Chat

well done everyone. Its amazing, but if one of the guys in my office has been out for a smoke i can smell it as soon as he walks back in, before he is anywhere near me. To think i used to smell like that....... urgh! I've managed 6 months now and hubby almost 9 months. Yep still get the occasional fancy of one, but know there is no such thing as 'just one cigarette' We are all stars!

Hi All, If (it should have been July 07) and when I come back (looking likely - sob!) I would love to meet up with you all, we could have a smoke free lunch and boozy afternoon Carol - You have come far too far to give in now and your willpower and pride wont allow it.. Joanne - where are you? and thank you, James and Carol kept me going so to them I owe my thanks. James - Yes he is in the Navy, think I have resigned myself to the fact that its going to happen earlier than expected but not sure where too though we have a good idea and lets just say its not where I wanted!! Keep up the good work everyone, I wonder how many on GR have packed in smoking because of threads of encouragement??? Debs x

Hi Deb's I'm in Sheffield, pretty central for most places - anyway must run got to get my skates on as work is calling. Joanne

Hi Joanne, for motivation, get a calculator, take the amount he spends per week on cigarettes X by 52 = yearly cost. There is also the cost of lighters, the holes burnt in clothes, the cost of redecoration, check ceiling where he sits, see staining, same with car look at roof lining, the smell, just a few ideas!!!! How many breaks can you go on for 'FREE', not paying the Government all that tax!! These can appliy to anyone who has QUIT the WEED and wants to work on O.H, colleagues etc. James :<)))

Hi Joanne, three packets of Crisps - how many calories - have to report you to Carol , ( Wags finger) at Joanne!!!!! James

Hi All, Joanne have you hit your 2 weeks yet or is it tomorrow? I have just been out for my 2 mile jog/walk (more walk I would say) but at least I can do it and still breathe, I cant believe that on Saturday at 10pm I would have been off of the weed for 7 weeks and I feel great.. Still waiting to see when we will be back but so looking forward to meeting some of you. Hope your keeping well Carol and not being tempted by the smelly cigs.. Hi James hope your well too. Debs x

Hi all Debs - yes it was two whole weeks at 2.45pm today, went and bought my second lot box of patches, anpther £33 but well worth it. Seriously thinking about going down to the 10mg patches after the next two weeks and see if I can manage on a lower level. Brick wall's Glove Compartment Todays Date: 5/17/2006 My Milage: My Quit Date: 5/3/2006 Smoke-Free Days: 14 Cigarettes Not Smoked: 366 Amount Saved: £70 Life Gained: Days: 1 Hrs: 6 Mins: 56 Seconds: 7 And I love updating my glove compartment - great motivator to see how many I haven't smoked and how much money I have saved Joanne

Hi Joanne, Don't rush into the lower patches take your time. Have you enquired at your Local library or your Local Council to see if there is any groups on non smoking, We have one that is offering 6 weeks of patches to save you money Debs how long did it take to cover your two miles? Keep up the good work James

Joanne - I am now on the 14 mg and sometimes forget to put them on, though around 3 or 4 pm the family notice my behaviour change and then I realise its because I have not put the patch on, so dont rush it hun, you will have rough days still (dont want to sound like im lecturing) but like this evening I really wanted one, dont think I would have had one but really fancied one.. You keep up the good work, you have come such a long way from those first 3 hours! James - I have it down to 30 mins and trying to improve, there are hills (only slight but still there) and a highway to cross so and I have to cross it twice, pavements arent popular here like the UK.. But really love the fresh air and listening to my Ipod blasting away, as long as I have tunes with a good beat im away!! Debs x

Hi Joanne, I think the quit date in your Glove box is wrong, it should be 3/5/2006 not 5/3/2006 Month-Day-Year, I do not know if you can change it, be careful of the packets of crisps very high calorific value even plain ones are high around 500 cals and X 3 pkts = 1500 cal and as there is a tendency to put on weight it all adds up. Its weird, I cannot find post with You and Carol eating crisps!! unless it was on the weight watchers one. James

Carol - Must admit to starting to chew the sugar free gum also.. You will hang in there because you know you can and your lungs feel better.. and you dont smell!! LOL James - the reason the date reads differently is because the webiste that she uses is American and they do month/day/year, dont worry I still have to think when im writing checks or going between dates in the UK and USA!! Debs xx

Well done to all those who have made it this far without succombing to a little drag. Keep it up. The rewards will be evident later.!!! Brighter skin & hair, fresher breath and more energy. ANDDDDDDDDDDDDD a longer life to boot.

Oh what a day I've had - just awful, I could have killed for just one ciggie!!! really really bad in the morning, by dineer I was ok until the early evening when 14 year old daughter set me off and again I really really wanted one!! WHY WHY?? Yesterday I was brill, go to t-time and I hadn't had a craving all day, it was a great feeling. Joanne

Joanne, At 10 pm my time tomorrow night I will have been smoke free for 7 weeks, BUT it doesnt mean I couldnt kill for a cig im afraid, not sure why, think it could be all the stress at the moment (suppose if I put a patch on it might help LOL have not had one on for 2 days! - so its my own fault really) but at least we havent given in.. not sure why or even when I fancy one as I feel the craving just smacks me in the face.. But we are better than that to give into the craving.. Debs x

Hi Joanne, shows how much willpower you have got, you coped with tremendous pressure and did not give in. Another day passed, You could not have done it a two weeks ago. Hi Debs I do not think you ever really are free of the temptation but you have resisted it James

James, Your right, off out soon for a few drinks so thought I had best put a patch on and be on the safe side. I wouldnt have one though, as that would put me back, I suppose what I was trying to say is the tempation will be there for a while. Carol, Thinking of you for Monday, let us know how you get on. Joanne, 2 and a half weeks is really good, well done. Debs xx

Carole/Debs/James I have a confession to make - feel so bad and so guilty!! Went out last night and was fine for about three hours and then thought 'Oh one cig won't hurt' Got one off a friend - or should I say took one without anyone seeing and lit it and took three puffs!! I felt sick, dizzy and it confirmed why I don't want to smoke - it was vile I threw it away and vowed that I would have one again - it didn't make me feel better all it succeeded in doing was making me have a crap night out as I was riddled with gulit and just wanted to go home!!!!! Not going to go back to day one with my quit meter though - going to learn a big lesson from it and never ever do it again!! Sorry guys Joanne Brick wall's Glove Compartment Todays Date: 5/21/2006 My Milage: My Quit Date: 5/3/2006 Smoke-Free Days: 18 Cigarettes Not Smoked: 458 minus three puffs Amount Saved: £90 Life Gained: Days: 1 Hrs: 14 Mins: 49 Seconds: 6

Thanks Carole, just feel so bad and as though not only did I let myself down I also let down the people who have supported me such as my family and you guys on here - But those three puff's confirmed to me that I don't want to go back to smoking ever again - YUK!! I still gag at the thought of it. Carole - much love and positive thoughts for tomorrow - will be sending positive vibes to you all day xxxxx Joanne

well done for not heading straight back to smoking. On Sunday hubby and me both said how easy it would be to start again, but if we did, we would be so stupid and so skint! Its over 6 months for me and 8 for him. But one thing i know is that there can never be 'just one cigarette'

Hi All, Carol - You did so well to get drunk in a room full of smokers and not be tempted. I know what you mean about having one though, I could have one, but I wont, so glad you had good news today. Joanne - So you had a tiny set back, the good thing is you realised it and didnt go on to smoke the whole cig or 3 or 4. Willpower is a great thing isnt it? And dont beat yourself up over it, glad you didnt like it though. Have to say, I would feel just like Joanne did so I know its not even worth me going down that road! How good is she to be honest with us and herself? Well done. Melanie - From what I hear and believe your so right, you always long to have one, but if you do you could go back to it like you never quit. Debs xx