General Chat

Well done Ang for getting this far. I have now been a 'non smoker' for nearly 8 weeks, 4 days without patches and feeeling fine. Like everyone else, skin, hair, everything feels, looks and smells better. Keep it up everyone. Caz

Hi Ang Have you tried asking your Doctor about stopping smoking, there is help available on the NHS, there is a help line and it is worth checking out the local library to see what is on free, our local programme offers 6 Weeks of patches. Perhaps Debs or Joanne could post the address of their glove box so you can have one as well. Well done to all and a special well done to Ang going cold turkey. James

Oh dear I've cracked!! Sorry guys, Last night before I went to bed I took my patch off as I haven't been sleeping well for the last two nights, so decided to take my patch off to see if that was the problem. Well I slept great, but got up this morning and bang the cravings hit so bad,I gave into them and so far today have had two cigs. Have got a patch on now so I'm hoping it may give me a kick up the backside and get me back on track. Joanne

Hi Joanne, Hopefully you only had the two cigarettes, you are fighting a powerful ADDICTION Nicotine, better to have a few sleepless nights and keep the patches on, and your guard up at all times. You have got to take it slowly one day at a time it will get better. It is a powerful habit you are breaking, your friend after 3 years of not smoking still has the habit subconciously. Even I still occasionally think about having a cigarette. You have done so well up to now, so back to the no smoking. James

Joanne, You have NOT cracked, you just slipped up! So you know the problem is not wearing a patch? Wear it, I promise you it really isnt much longer before you start to get a good nights sleep. I was driving back from the grocery store this morning and turned to hubby and said ' I really fancy a cig' BUT the difference is I really wouldnt have one, what I am trying to say is because you are not smoking it doesnt mean the cravings go away. You have done fantastic so please dont give in, the way I look at it is, I really wouldnt want to have to do these weeks again! Tonight is 8 weeks for me and if I can do it then anyone can do it.. Dont worry hun your doing so well. What is 2 cigs out of the 100's you have not had? Debs xx

Thanks James I'm sat here now thinking shall I have a cig or shall I not? Even I can't give myself the answer, my OH is so upset with me, even though he hasn't stopped, he says that he has been so proud of me and now I'm giving in. I think the best thing for me to do is to say ' right no more' or 'right I'm a smoker' I need to make my mind up and quickly which one I'm going to pick. Will have to go and decide as this is no good just sat here making myself unhappy Joanne

You have manage three weeks it is the NICOTINE speaking nothing else it wants it's FIX that is all you have got this far carry on the good work, you do not really want one the Nicotine wants you to have one, James

Joanne, Listen to what James is saying - It isnt you its the nicotine that is calling your name!! I could go and have one but I wont because im going to have a beer instead.. I understand what your hubby is saying, mine says the same, I know he didnt really thinl I was strong enough, he wont admit that though.. We are here for you remember.. If you want to rant and rave how pi**ed off you are about wanting one but not giving in then I could call you or you could email me and do all your ranting and raving.. BUT before you decide to light up honey remember how proud you have been of yourself, just read back on here. Debs xxx Off for a beer in the garden and will check back in case you need me. x

Hi guys I have well and truly slipped and feel really annoyed with myself about it all. Three and a half weeks wasted as all it took was one cig to get me hooked again. My patch is going back on right now and I'm going to try and get back on track. Will pop back in later to let you know how I'm doing Thanks to you all - I needed a kick and you have given it to me Joanne

Hi All, Well the last two days have been a little easier. I managed to drive long distance with no ciggies! I could not believe when on the Ferry I managed to get all the smokers sit near me (I could never find a smoking area when I did smoke) At first I thought that smoke smelt lovely but tried a bit of reversed psychology and decided it smelt disgusting & that I should pity those poor nicotine junkies!! Here are a few tips people have given me; Put some cigarette butts in a jar of water, just open that & smell when you are tempted , it is disgusting. Eat raisins/currants/dates instead of sweets when you feel the nicotine urge. Soon you will be too busy on the toilet to worry about smoking! Clean your teeth when the nicotine monster comes calling. Joanne Please don't abandon all hope, its just a blip. Most of us ladies have been on a diet at some point but manage to give in to a choccie bar! I had a failed attempt before & it took me another 5 years to try again. Don't know if you have read Allen Carrs book or any other for that matter. Might help to try & re-inforce a few things. Ang x

Hi Carole / Ange You would not believe the headache I have! I'm sure it is because I put Nicotine back in my body and it wasn't used to it, the pain is making me want to vomit to be truthful. Just preparing dinner and have a bottle of ice cold water to hand to help me through the day. I'm also going out tonight and going to sit and smell how disgusting my friends are to remind myself how bad I smell as well when smoking. Already reading Allen Carr's book and it does help - also taking sniffs of hubbies ashtray - this is what is making me ill and not helping my headache but I now have to be cruel to be kind Joanne

Good Morning All, Hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend and enjoying it as a non smoker.. Hope your ok Joanne??? Debs x

Hi All, Today .has been fine :-) I am only hours away to claim one week smoke free. I am beginning to think that it can't be this easy & something will go wrong. Tomorrow may be more difficult as its back to work & lots of smokers . One day at a time I guess! The next problem will be in a weeks time when I go away on holiday. I am afraid of what I will do with all that time on my hands. Suppose I could jump in the pool everytime I get an urge! Ang x

Hi Ang Well done when you go back to work take pity on your fellow workers who are not strong enough to pack in the smoking especially when their have to go out when it is raining!!! Joanne, It is not uncommon to have to take a couple of attempts to stop smoking. You know you can get past three and half weeks, as I said earlier you body has started to get used to not having NICOTINE and when you take a cigarette then it is not used to the concentration of NICOTINE and it rebels making you sick. I look forward to you getting back on the no smoking wagon, Think of the stink, how much better your hair and skin were, the fact that you where not getting breathless when you did the housework James

Hi Carol, I am fine honey thank you, no not given in either, been off the patches for a week and on Thursday it will be 2 months and I love the way I feel. Upto walking 3 miles in the morning in about 50 minutes and so far lost 3.5lbs this week so well chuffed. The sun is shining and the forecast is 92 today! Had a wonderful long weekend just lying in the garden and it was really weird having a beer and not smoking! So you rolled a cig? But you didnt light it did you? so you proved you can touch without smoking, well done. Joanne how are doing? James - How are you? Did you have a good bank holiday weekend? Ang - Keep up the good work your doing so well. Caz - 8 Weeks, isnt it a great feeling??? Debs xx

Hi all Debs had a quite weekend and keeping well Carol you have been stopped smoking for 4 months, how long was you smoking? so 4 months is a tiny piece of that, the habit is ingrained and is not giving up with out a fight, any sneaky way it can when you are not expecting it, it tries to strike, but you realised and put the temptation away, does OH use filters? otherwise all that tar is going straight into his body, if he uses filters he should look at the stains on them. Ang & Janet & Cas you are doing so well I have PM Joanne as well, prehaps you can as well to show she is not being forgotten and she is not getting away easy!!!! James

I'm still here guys!!!!! You don't lose me that easily lol Well and truly back on track I have even been out on Sunday night and sat with the smokers and drank water to try and get used to been out with smokers but without the drinking that I associate with smoking. Went out again last night as well and this time had a drink and wasn't tempted in the slightest even when offered one by a friend who didn't know I had quit. Feeling much better and probably stronger than I did before as I now know I can do this and still be sociable without a cig in my hand-the Nicotine had been trying to convince me otherwise Nearly done a month with little blips so I'm really pleased with myself Joanne

Joanne, Your so right about the nicotine trying to tempt you.. Imagine you have a smouldering ciggie sat on your shoulder saying 'go on, take a drag, just think how nice I make you smell! and that lovely gooey stuff I leave in your lungs!!' I think thats enough to put anyone off. I tried last year to pack it in but after 3 weeks I crumbled and just dissapeared off of the thread, so hands out to you for jumping back on the wagon. WELL DONE Debs xx

Hi Everyone, Oh what a day I have had! It is not easy being the Boss & trying to give up smoking :-( I will not bore you with the details but one member of staff nearly drove me to Nicotine today!! In my smoking days I would have left the office & paced up & down while chain smoking. Today I said some very unladylike words, followed by some deep breathing & a nice packet of chewing gum! lol If I can get through these moments then the rest should be easy! Although I do not wake during the night I am waking up really early & getting annoyed that I can not get back to sleep. Tomorrow if it happens again I will get up & walk the dog. I am sure he will be more than happy about the consequences of my none smoking! Joanne So glad to hear that you are back on track, it will be worth it eventually. I have been there myself several times & know how that failure feeling eats away at you. Just remember failure is sucess turned inside out, see easy when you think about it. Almost to 8 days & feeling good! Ang

Hi Ange I have had a few days like that when work has nearly drove me back to the cigs, it isn't easy on those days. I spent all yesterday cleaning out my Dad's house ready for him moving in a few weeks time, not once did I get out of breath even though I was lugging furniture around and up and down stairs like a yo-yo, I was surprised at how much I got done without sitting down every hour for a cig and a cuppa. Apart from my blips I have not smoked roughly 680 cigs in the last 27 days - I'm amazed I ever found time to smoke that many or had the spare cash to buy them!!! lol, spare cash however is now still been found to treat myself to new clothes Joanne