Cigarettes & I

[RadicalEdward]

I, as of Monday 2:00pm, have not picked up a cigarette
... and in a desperate attempt to keep myself accountable I would like to let everyone know

It has been just on 48 hours since my last, and while it is getting easier - I still really want one
I'm fidgety, easily irritable, unfocussed.. but I know it'll be worth it in the long run, but.. Grrr!!

On the upside though - I took 8 minutes off my commute this morning

Any suggestions to help continuing to avoid them?

My partner is still a smoker.. so I can't avoid them completely, he's not quite ready to quit, but I've increased water intake to help stop the increase in hunger
I don't have any 'emergency supplies' stashed away anywhere

[salsabike]

Walk around the block when you get the urge. It'll fade. Honest. Always walk first and see if you can fade it back.

[Susan]

Hard when your partner still smokes!
But be sure, even if you don't believe it at the moment, there will be a day in the near future when you will not even think about smoking. The beginning is hard because you still have the urge to smoke and think about it - this won't last. The longer you don't smoke, the less you will want to smoke, keep that in mind! Every cigarette would put you back on the start again - you don't want that.
Think about yourself as a nonsmoker from now on - not as a smoker who doesn't smoke "at the moment".
Try to do some sports everyday - it will make you feel better emotionally and you can really feel that you can breathe now
If you miss your smoking breaks, try to find a better habit to replace them if you have to - make yourself some tea or whatever you like.
Try to avoid triggering situations, like, when you are used to smoke when you have a drink or similar, try to avoid it until you feel more secure. Maybe you partner can support you by trying to not smoke in front of you.

As former smoker I can tell you that some day, you will be able to write all this without wanting to smoke even one bit That you will realize how disgusting smoke smells and how it hurts your lungs and eyes, even if you can not believe it now. And the only thing that you will wish is that you had stopped sooner or not even started in the first place.

You can do it!

[Kiwi Stoker]

Congratulations on making that step to be smokefree.

Something you may want to try (and they are starting this in NZ prisons as they will become smokefree later this year) is using carrot sticks as a replacement.

Healthly, cheap and it might just work!

[Catrin]

You can do this, and congratulations on taking the step! Yeah, another smoker in the house does make it difficult, but you CAN do this

I did this almost 20 years ago - it does get easier and eventually something changes and it no longer smells good...

[Dogmama]

Been about 25 years - before patches, gum, pills, etc. Here is what helped me:

Write down all the reasons you want to quit on a 3X5 card. Keep it in your pocket & pull it out when you get the urge.

Water & vitamin C - flushes the nicotine out of your system faster & you become healthier quicker. I don't know if there is scientific evidence, but that was the story back then & it helped.

As others said, when the urge hits, walking helps. Doing anything active - yoga stretches, deep breathing ("ah yes - I can breath deeper now that my lungs are healing!")

Do something aerobic every day. Even if it is just a walk around the block. Keep those endorphins up.

You CAN do it. The urges become less frequent & less forceful each time you move past one.

[withm]

I quit about 35 yrs ago. Every time I wanted one, I went and brushed my teeth instead. When your mouth tastes like toothpaste it wipes out the cravings.

[RadicalEdward]

Aww!! You guys are Awesome!

Not so easily irritable today, not feeling the cravings anything like I was yesterday
From now on in I guess it's more the habit breaking that needs to be done

("ah yes - I can breath deeper now that my lungs are healing!")

^ I'm holding onto this for dear life

Based on everyone's suggestions I
-Went out and bought my favourite block of chocolate (80%.. mmm...) as the 'smoke-break' alternative, which so far has done the trick
-Carrot & Celery have saved my sanity, and probably the lives of some the kids in my team -interesting about the NZ Jail system going smoke-free though, it'll make for some interesting situations, are they going to treat it like contraband?
-Also, Tea - Grabbed some Lemon/Ceylon blend, and sip that throughout the day - still rewards the hand-mouth fixation, and it's warm (and while I Love coffee.. if I drank that much coffee in a day I'd be driving everyone up the walls)
-and each crazy-urge I grab a some gum and go for a wander around our building

-I Will definitely ask the Big Mister to stop smoking around me, he's been acting odd about the whole thing anyway, I think some additional conversation would be beneficial

[skhill]

Another ex-smoker here-- my last cig was Wed. 6:30pm. So it's been nearly 39 hours... I really, really want to make my time goals for Monday's 10k, and clearer lungs will surely help.

Anyway, I've been making minimal use of the nicotine gum, 3 pieces yesterday and one so far today. My teeth have never been brushed so many times in one day-- that's a great suggestion! And I'm going to get over to the yarn store today, hopefully there will be some sock yarn in the clearance bin.

It's not been too bad so far; I even managed to deal with a flat tire on my car yesterday without lighting up! I did have a huge coughing fit while waiting a stop light on this morning's run, but once I started running again, it was ok.

All you ex-smokers are inspiring! Thanks

[Dr.Doo]

Go you skhill. Hours become days and days become weeks. You can do it. Have you tried giving up before?

There are no good reasons to start smoking again, only excuses!

Keep the faith and don't give up giving up.

[RadicalEdward]

You can do it! Good Luck!!
I'm so happy for you!!

All you ex-smokers are inspiring! Thanks

You've joined the ranks!!
You can call yourself a non-smoker after 39 hours (more by now!! I'm sure!)

I hope you found some nice yarn! Sock or otherwise.. Both! Sock yarn doesn't take up ANY space in our house.. Nope. None at all. It's for socks, so it's non-stash -therefore requires zero storage

It's Monday (here anyway..) - make sure you post how you go in your 10K
I have everything crossed for clear lungs, strong mind and body

[skhill]

Still not smoking-- it'll be one week this evening. I'm off the gum, as well, and got my first good night's sleep as an ex-smoker last night. Not sure if it was withdrawal waking me up, or the cats freaked out by fireworks...

[RadicalEdward]

WIN WIN WIN!

Make sure you celebrate your milestone - one week is a huge achievement, I shudder to remember those first few days...
~And no more Gum!!
~AND a Full Nights sleep

Congratulations - it's easier the next week - Promise!
And seriously - Reward yourself, you deserve it, it's hard, and you've done a wonderful job of it

[Dogmama]

When I quit (25+ years ago) a nurse looked me piercingly and said, "This is the singularly most important thing you can do for your body." I'll never forget that.

So, congrats to all of the quitters!