DIARY OF "NO" SMOKING signals

[Batwoman]

Right as most of you know there are a few of us here on this board who partake in a filthy habit or two.

After taking up smoking again for over a year now I am "quitting" again...yawn, yawn you have all heard that before.

Baloo heard about my plan at the last diners anon:
My intention was to stop smoking on Feb 13th - the main idea being that starting Feb 14th I would be a non smoker. Valentine's Day would be a day I would always remember (I hope) and as it is the day of love what better way to give love to myself than the gift of clean lungs.

With that Baloo & Crackers agreed they would go along with me for a week and I quote Baloo "Well, if I can stop for a week. I can stop forever"

We will be posting a daily journal of how we are getting on.

I will be be using the following aids to help me along the way:
Support group of friends via SMS.
lan Carr's Stop Smoking the Easy Way for the odd page of re-assurance (which I have read before and it did work)

[Morrolan]

good luck, Batty!

[Fuzz]

Bravo and all the best for the next steps on your no-smoking journey, Batatouille!

[slinky]

Sounds like a fabulous plan! So, today is the 15th, how's it going?? (Baloo, we haven't heard from you at all yet......)

[Batwoman]

DAY 0 - Weds 13th Feb 08

Feeling a bit under the weather today and subdued (not sure if this is apprehension over tomorrow) - did not go training tonight but instead had a few drinks with Noah after work. Had 5 left in an old pack and had to buy another pack mid afternoon to cover drinking time with Noah.

By 9.00pm my throat is sore and showing definate signs of a cold coming - this is going to help immensly with loosing the desire to smoke

Went to bed around 10.00pm after throwing what was left of my packet away (10 smokes), along with all lighters etc.

Total cigarettes smoked: 15

People wanting to kill: 0


DAY 1 - Thurs 14th Feb 08

Not a bad day , think I have eaten rather more than I usually would but can honestly say I have not missed the actual smoke at all - it is more the needing something to do. Busy at work so not much time to really think about it.

After works drinks was the only time I did think about smoking as people on the table next to us lit up but this soon passed.

Have a pack of mints to suck on should things get desperate.

Total cigarettes thought about smoking: 4

Total cigarettes actually smoked: 0

People wanting to kill: 0

[baloo]

Are you going cold turkey or have you got your patches on ?

[Batwoman]

Cold turkey

[slinky]

it is more the needing something to do

I think this is what I've heard the most from people trying to quit. Sounds like the mints are a good idea - what about keeping a bottle of water with you to drink? Guess I'm thinking it would help you avoid eating - maybe?

Edit: eating (junk) food, not the mints - I doubt those would be a huge problem - lol

[baloo]

Cold turkey

Good stuff. I'm resisting for as long as I can and then slapping a patch one when I am tempted to go outside a mug a smoker.

[Mabel]

I quit a couple of years ago (and yes, I do need to do so AGAIN) and found this site to be really, really useful and encouraging: http://www.quitnet.com/

Good luck to you, and congratulations.

[sundaymorningstaple]

You both have my good luck wishes and support. It now just over 3 years since I quit cold turkey. Laid 'em down and walked away and never looked back (after a 37 year habit). If I can do it anybody can do it!.

[baloo]

The only fear of quitting is the usual weight gain associated with it. I'm still too fearful of gaining weight again.

[canuck]

agree with you SMS, is more than three years since I quit, read whatshisfaces book, he made a lot of good points, continued smoking for another two weeks, then just quit. told no one, even N didn't realise I had quit for two weeks.

Every time I would think I wanted a cig I just remembered that it wasn't something that was really good I was giving up, that it doesn't really taste nice, or made my life any better, so why bother....

good luck Bats, best tool to fight it, is to remember that you are not giving up a good aspect of your life but rather one you know is bad for you,, goes for you too baloo

I never had the food issue because I didn't look to replace a bad habit with another habit, but rather reveled in the fact that I didn't have to go outside the restaurant/pub/work/to smoke anymore, I also reveled the realisation that I didn't have to worry about where the next pack was coming from, how much tax was going to be added or having to stand outside to smoke.

Consider quitting a step towards freedom, not a step away from something good

Here's to Freedom!

[sundaymorningstaple]

The only fear of quitting is the usual weight gain associated with it. I'm still too fearful of gaining weight again.

I hear that! You did it the hard way around. One is a modification of existing behaviour, while the other is complete stoppage which without the ability to snack is even more difficult. My way was the easier one for sure. But the weight gain was bad. Losing weight is different as you could always pick up another smoke to ease the pain although I'm not having any problems at the moment.....and thanks!

[baloo]

.....and thanks!

No need for thanks. You're doing great. Just pass on the message to those that need it.

[Aliya]

Possum? I believe you have agreed to stop smoking at last. In you go!!!

[Possum]

Well done Bats I’m very proud of you xox
ho hum...the problem is I have trouble sitting still so getting up and going outside for a smoke is no hardship and often needed. The common ground of partners in crime tends to open communication channels and has lead to some great conversations with people I may not have had a chance to chat to otherwise. That all said, I know that for my own health and the feelings of people I care about that I need to quit. I’m in the process of developing replacement activities now….

[Spike]

My suggested method. 1) Don't buy any fags 2) If offered one don't stick it in your mouth and set fire to it. Simple

[Fat Bob]

lan Carr's Stop Smoking the Easy Way for the odd page of re-assurance (which I have read before and it did work)

Didn't work too wel!:D

After taking up smoking again

best of luck, it can't be easy as it is an addiction, but yes, there are many reason not to do it. One is to piss off the government as you'll be giving them less money, living longer and requiring more specialised, longer-term medical treatment!:D

[sluggo]

ho hum...the problem is I have trouble sitting still so getting up and going outside for a smoke is no hardship and often needed.

What Poss doesn't understand that there is a big difference in going outside to smoke in Singapore and going outside to smoke in Canada

[canuck]

Sluggo: yeah I know bbbrrrr,, anyway I know what she means, I was loathe to let go of my 'smoke breaks' at work, because sometimes you need to go outside, need to get away.. but I realised that I could still do that, but instead of smoking I would go outside and just chat to the smokers or pop down the street and grab a cuppa.

after all when you were once considered a smoker and took breaks outdoors no one questions you anymore but really, how can they call you on it when the smokers are out there?

[slinky]

I once worked for a guy who was a major chain smoker & he used to call or continue meetings outside so he could light up - I used to HATE it because I'd be stuck out there with all the smokers <cough, cough> (I think I needed the barf smiley there....)

[Batwoman]

Realised you may all be dying to know what happened over the weekend but possibly not:


DAY 3 - Sat 16th Feb 08

Saturday is usually a busy day for me with either a long lie in or the food shop/pottering around the house (so boring) and then off to Dragon Boat training.

Was okay until about 12.00noon when I was bored, bored, bored. Was not at all interested in actually smoking but needed to kill the ants in my pants so got my trainers on and went for an hours brisk walk along the East Coast.

Had lunch and then went DB training for 2 hours, this was followed by a BBQ at a friends where there was only one smoker (my usual partner in crime). Funny as she said she was beginning to feel like a leper being the only smoker sneaking off in a corner and is seriously thinking about stopping herself.
Not much energy towards end of evening that I left party at 10.30pm but was not even interested in smoking all night.

Collapsed into bed around 11.00pm totally worn out - no energy to even think about smoking let alone light one!

Total cigarettes thought about smoking: 1 (I am counting the morning ants in pants as one thought)

Total cigarettes actually smoked: 0

People wanting to kill: 1 – The slow checkout girl at the Esso


DAY 4 - Sun 17th Feb 08

Early morning walk followed by cinema and then lunch with friends. Two smokers and not in the slightest bit interested in joining them smoking. Sat with them at smoking table but made sure I was not being smoked over.

Total cigarettes thought about smoking: 0

Total cigarettes actually smoked: 0

People wanting to kill: 0

DAY 5 - Mon 18th Feb 08

Busy filming office corporate video today so feel like a film extra from Pride & Prejudice – eat your heart out Kate!

Realised I have totally forgotten to keep the diary update for the weekend so think this is a sign that I have not really been thinking about smoking have also written this up before the end of the day but don’t believe this will be an issue.

Have also worked out I will have saved over $1,000 by the 9th May – not sure what this means yet???? Lol

Total cigarettes thought about smoking: 0

Total cigarettes actually smoked: 0

People wanting to kill: 0

[Blossom]

Keep up the great work!

When my ex gave up smoking he had some program on his computer that would tell him how much money he was saving each day by not smoking. It also gave he a running total...I think that was the main factor why he didn't start smoking again.

[sj23]

Wow Batty, good on you! Keep it up!

And Baloo too. Nice work guys.