Need some encouragement (quit smoking) - Page 2

[Caneel]

Good for you OP!

I forgot about how my sleeping changed for the better.

[workjw]

Thanks so much for the continued support. I'm officially on day 11 and still cigarette free!

I have to admit that the weekend was super hard, and I came really close to cheating Saturday night. I actually went home early and went to bed just so I wouldn't have to think about it anymore. Luckily my SIL is preggo and volunteered to drive everyone home later for me since I was the dd. It's just really hard to watch everyone drinking, smoking and having a good time when you know you can't join in. I think it may be a while before I enjoy that type of social setting again.

On the plus side, I've lost 4 pounds in the last 11 days! Not really sure how that even happened, but it was a pleasant bonus (maybe its all the pacing! ) I do really feel a ton better now than I did when I first posted. I still struggle at certain times of the day, but overall I'm not really craving them anymore and it's getting easier. I still miss them, but I'm not nearly so angry about it anymore (at least not usually) and it's not all I think about now. It's nice to be seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. I know I could fall back into it at any moment, so I'm still staying off the booze and taking it all one day at a time, but I'm pretty proud of being on day 11!!!

[Caneel]

You should be proud!

In the past, I had used nicotine gum when I quit smoking so that was my crutch when at a party or around drinking. (For me, there is no better combination in the world than a beer and a cigarette)

During this quit period, I decided to not use the gum.

It has been a little over two months and we were at a party Saturday and I noticed I didn't think about smoking at all until right before we left and walked by someone smoking.

Point being, the social aspect does get better. Hang in there.

[ms.shell]

I am so happy to see you made it through the weekend successfully!

That is SO AWESOME that you are done with the nasty sticks.
I am joining you. I hope so much that it is true that I smoked my last @#$%yucketyyuk@#$% a little while ago. I am not buying more. I am not buying more. I am not going to get any when I go to the store. Why on earth would I buy bad things? I am not buying any more. I hope I can follow your inspirational lead!
Did you stop cold turkey?
Last time I used the patch and didn't start feeling better and it didnt get easier after more than a week. I wound up failing that time and I read that going cold turkey gets the nic out of your system after 3 days and that you start to recover more quickly, while using nic replacement prolongs the addiction. this makes sense to me. But, then, if it is so incredibly hard to want to smoke in those first days...and teary etc....it seems impossible for me to think of that being harder.
So I put on a patch, as I had some. But maybe I should wear the patch only today (or 2 or 3) days and then go cold turkey.
That is why I am asking you, because you are successful at this. Are you using a patch or something else or did you just stop by your strength?
Have a great day!

[operamommy]

Congrats!!! I'm so proud of you!

I quit 3 years ago this month after smoking for 17 years. (I can't believe I smoked that long ). It was truly the most difficult thing I've ever done, but soooo worth it. I don't smell gross all the time, I don't waste money, and I'm healthy!

Keep it up!

[workjw]

Originally Posted by ms.shell

I am so happy to see you made it through the weekend successfully!

That is SO AWESOME that you are done with the nasty sticks.
I am joining you. I hope so much that it is true that I smoked my last @#$%yucketyyuk@#$% a little while ago. I am not buying more. I am not buying more. I am not going to get any when I go to the store. Why on earth would I buy bad things? I am not buying any more. I hope I can follow your inspirational lead!
Did you stop cold turkey?
Last time I used the patch and didn't start feeling better and it didnt get easier after more than a week. I wound up failing that time and I read that going cold turkey gets the nic out of your system after 3 days and that you start to recover more quickly, while using nic replacement prolongs the addiction. this makes sense to me. But, then, if it is so incredibly hard to want to smoke in those first days...and teary etc....it seems impossible for me to think of that being harder.
So I put on a patch, as I had some. But maybe I should wear the patch only today (or 2 or 3) days and then go cold turkey.
That is why I am asking you, because you are successful at this. Are you using a patch or something else or did you just stop by your strength?
Have a great day!

Good for you! You can absolutely do this! I was never sure that I would make it this far. Obviously I'm still a novice non-smoker (day 12 ) but I am definitely on the easier side of it now. DH and I were just talking this evening about how much better I'm feeling. And not just about the cravings, but also that I'm just feeling better about me, feeling healthier and stronger. Don't get me wrong, I still really want to smoke, but I don't feel like I need to smoke so much, and somehow that is really powerful. Like I'm finally starting to control it instead of it controlling me.

I used the gum for the first 3 days. I chewed 2 pcs the first and second day and 1 the third. While it did make the misery better for a few minutes, I felt like I was just drawing it out so I only used it when I was seriously on the edge. After chewing the gum, I didn't want to smoke for a while, which was good at first, but my body still needed the nicotine. After the first 3 days I just went cold turkey. I figured I would be miserable either way so I wouldn't draw it out anymore. I still carry some gum with me for emergencies, but haven't had to use it yet.

I know you work in the garden (love your blog btw... that chicken chili sounds delicious!) and working in the garden has been really good for me. My garden has never been this weed-free. The physical activity seems to help and keeping my gloves on makes smoking less accessible. Just stay really busy for the first few days if you can. Good Luck! You're gonna do great!

eta: I am also putting my cigarette money in a jar. I have almost $60 already!!! That is very motivating for me to stay quit.

[workjw]

Just had to say....

I've made it TWO WHOLE WEEKS!!!!!

[workjw]

Just wanted to update and say that I've officially made it THREE WHOLE MONTHS! I can't believe that I've actually made it this far!

I wish that I could say everything was peachy and wonderful now, but I can say it's gotten much easier. I do still want a cigarette everyday, but at least now it's not the first thing on my mind every morning. I don't feel as much like I "need" it, just more of a longing for it, and even that is getting a little better with time.

I do feel physically better, and too be honest I feel like I have a better relationship with my family which is a huge bonus and makes it all totally worth it. I'm not always sneaking off to smoke anymore, and it's made a difference. I also don't have that guilt hanging over me all of the time, and that's made me a happier person in general.

So anyway, just wanted to update and say thanks again for the support early on!

[DeerMother]

Congratulations on three months! You are an inspiration to me. I've quit a million times, the longest being when I was pregnant. How I wish I hadn't started again. I know there is never a good time to quit, but I'm in a transitional period right now and afraid to add the stressor of quitting to my long list. I've had the open ended quit date of when my divorce is finalized.

[Caneel]

Originally Posted by workjw

Just wanted to update and say that I've officially made it THREE WHOLE MONTHS! I can't believe that I've actually made it this far!

I wish that I could say everything was peachy and wonderful now, but I can say it's gotten much easier. I do still want a cigarette everyday, but at least now it's not the first thing on my mind every morning. I don't feel as much like I "need" it, just more of a longing for it, and even that is getting a little better with time.

I do feel physically better, and too be honest I feel like I have a better relationship with my family which is a huge bonus and makes it all totally worth it. I'm not always sneaking off to smoke anymore, and it's made a difference. I also don't have that guilt hanging over me all of the time, and that's made me a happier person in general.

So anyway, just wanted to update and say thanks again for the support early on!

Good for you!

I know what you mean about the longing. DH and I both felt like that this weekend. As more time has gone by, I am less angry/sad about not being able to smoke. The longing is still there but I can shrug my shoulders and move on.