Smoking

[Kiwi Pete]

Glad to hear you're still going strong and not giving in! I've also noticed taste is a lot better and you appreciate it more.
How long have you been off them now?

I actually can't remember!
It will be close to two months I'd say at a guess?
I think I had my first meeting with the lady late in October, once I had the patches and mint lozenges I was fairly quickly down to a couple a day.

Will happily admit I was a proper fiend for the first month - my wife had a bit of a relapse but has kicked them also, which really was our downfall last couple of attempts at quitting.
I do have a vape which is great for that morning ritual, or bored moments, or those times when you're going somewhere and feel the need to have something in the pocket.... but I don't use it much anymore.

It's just yet another thing to become hooked to and I see it as such!
As a parent you soon see the merits of not providing kids with addictions - have seen countless small kids who believe they can't sleep without teddy/tigger etc.... it is all routine.

 

[phillipe]

Still smoke free at this end

Thanks for the reminder about the thread...

Had a few lads around over the festive season quite keen to see if they could tempt me into smoking but I didn't, quite happy to sit in a smoky workshop with them and not be biting all my fingernails to the quick.

So hopefully I'm now in "ex-smoking", thanks to giving up at the right time this time around

Last few attempts I realise I liked the idea of giving it away but wasn't ready to.

This time I realised it was time, have finally managed to put on 2 kg, which is the first weight I've put on in 24 years of trying!

Really appreciate the extra sense of taste now, apparently we replace our tastebuds every 10 days (a useless fact) but even potato is exciting now

Top work that man ,it gets better every week

 

[dstudent]

This is the stage I m right now

 

[phillipe]

This is the stage I m right now
View attachment 620546

Dont worry ,it will get so much better ,dont give in now your winning

 

[dstudent]

Dont worry ,it will get so much better ,dont give in now your winning

Thanks I really appreciate your kind words.

 

[phillipe]

Thanks I really appreciate your kind words.

As you know i have the tee shirt,stick with it ,you wont believe thet you were daft enough to smoke in the first place

 

[Ramrod]

It’s seven years next week, used patches (wow big dreams) and kept a packet in cupboard, as didn’t like to think I couldn’t get one at any time it’s still there, and I still carry a lighter all waking hours

 

[Ramrod]

Perhaps didn’t ought to say this, where people are considering stopping, but at certain times I could eat one never mind smoke one!!!!

 

[Stuart1]

I haven't had a proper craving for one yet, was out last Saturday night and didn't even crave one. However I am using a vape pen thing the odd time, usually in the morning. I hate using the vape pen tho, personally I think they are as gay as Christmas.

 

[dstudent]

Perhaps didn’t ought to say this, where people are considering stopping, but at certain times I could eat one never mind smoke one!!!!

Kudos for resisting temptetion though

 

[dstudent]

Another sleepless night
I already hardly sleep anyways but this this is torture. Still when I would normally be smoking one fag after another I m instead in bed counting sheep
Unsuccesfully it seems
Maybe a should count cows
Never mind me, lack of sleep and ciggies and coffee is driving me mad

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Another sleepless night
I already hardly sleep anyways but this this is torture. Still when I would normally be smoking one fag after another I m instead in bed counting sheep
Unsuccesfully it seems
Maybe a should count cows
Never mind me, lack of sleep and ciggies and coffee is driving me mad

Yes that's what I found too, up at all hours.. luckily we have an international farming forum

As above, don't let yourself give in, every day gets better.
I actually had a drag on one last night at a BBQ/beer event with wife's uncle.. I will never try that again, amazing how quickly the taste and smell become repulsive!

We will get you through it, if I don't answer I could be working, but you have support and you will achieve your goal.

 

[dstudent]

Yes that's what I found too, up at all hours.. luckily we have an international farming forum

As above, don't let yourself give in, every day gets better.
I actually had a drag on one last night at a BBQ/beer event with wife's uncle.. I will never try that again, amazing how quickly the taste and smell become repulsive!

We will get you through it, if I don't answer I could be working, but you have support and you will achieve your goal.

Thanks Pete
PS I ll give it an hour then I ll start the washmachine......if I can t sleep...no one else should either

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Gee that's ok.
I certainly would have been unlikely to succeed without a bit of moral support here and there.
If giving up was east then there wouldn't be many smokers in the world, I still kinda miss it but not enough to go through all the cravings and moods again.

To paraphrase our mate @Farmer Roy "nobody ever said it was easy"
But if you can survive from 10pm til 8am without a smoke then you can survive from the 10th of January til the 8th of never again.
It is time, not nicotine, you just need to wait for the number of receptors to wane and suddenly it's all good.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

If you think of your poor mind as a bar, with racks of wine glasses (your nicotine receptors)

The wine glasses are only happy when full.. when they are empty they aren't rational, they think the bar is closing, the world is about to end and make lots of noise when nothing is in them - this is where nicotine patches pills lozenges etc are so helpful.

Basically it is a matter of ignoring the cues to smoke, once pub management realises that nobody drinks wine, and takes down the wine glasses, then it is smooth from then in (relatively speaking)
First days are the hard yards, believe me.

Every actor on tv smokes
Butts in ashtrays
Gutters
Empty packets
Lighters
Meals
Waking up
Bedtime
Setting out to begin doing stuff
Driving
Hot drinks
Cold drinks
Friends who smoke..

 

[d williams]

I wanted to stop and on Christmas Day just past I decided that was the day. 15 days now and I feel so much better, don't feel bunged up like I did. First thing in the morning is probably the hardest for myself but I get out the door and straight into work and usually it's fine then. How're you doing Hollywell & Kiwi Pete?

Same here cash in pocket not been as hard as thought so far but still early days I sopose

 

[phillipe]

Another sleepless night
I already hardly sleep anyways but this this is torture. Still when I would normally be smoking one fag after another I m instead in bed counting sheep
Unsuccesfully it seems
Maybe a should count cows
Never mind me, lack of sleep and ciggies and coffee is driving me mad

Try something alternative ,when the oh gave up she couldnt sleep she got some teabags

Worked a treat just before bedtime

 

[phillipe]

Well done people ,its not easy ,but i gave up 10 years ago ,i think i am fitter , healthier,stronger,work better,have better concentration than ever,i can taste and smell everything.and one of the thing's that make me smiles the most is when out somewhere ,somebody walks by you who stinks of fags and i think i must of smelt like that

 

[jade35]

Another sleepless night
I already hardly sleep anyways but this this is torture. Still when I would normally be smoking one fag after another I m instead in bed counting sheep
Unsuccesfully it seems
Maybe a should count cows
Never mind me, lack of sleep and ciggies and coffee is driving me mad

Keep going @dstudent we all want you to succeed and @Kiwi Pete

Not sure if this will help but I read 'somewhere' (wretched brain ) that, instead of counting sheep, you imagined shopping at your local supermarket. Apparently trying to remember the aisles and what are on the shelves is quite mentally exhausting....................................... but if it works!

 

[dstudent]

Thanks @jade35 very much appreciated
I ll def try that