Looking forward to a fag-free 2007? Join us here.

[imaginaryfriend]

New thread for old friends and for new quitters ...

I tried to quit last August. At first, the worst time/craving was when I was in a bar and drinking, and the willpower goes.."oh I'll only smoke when I drink" but when I drank I could smoke 2 packets in a night. Since August I have not smoked in the day, at home, only at night/when out.

So far in my attempt to give up - The last time I smoked was xmas eve, I have not had one since, AND I have drank, but at home, not in a bar. Funny thing is, I don't get cravings anymore, I just miss the 'thinking' crutch it gave me. Suddenly it hits me I have not smoked for two days, yet not even thought about it. Its a weird thing. I never know what to expect from day to day.

I used to be addicted to smoking the old maryjane, and whenever I ran out, I would be craving it like mad. But when I stopped smoking it, the need/urge to have it went away, so I am hoping this is what will happen with my cigarette addiction/yearnings.

I just have to accept there will be days when I miss them, but it does not mean I need to spark up. Until those days are over, I am avoiding pubs/bars.

morning everyone! I'm on my fourth fag free day! i was a twenty a dayer, so I'm around £20 up!

I gave up for seven years while i was thinking about getting pregnant and pregnant and birthing etc. started again when my ex leftus (stress!) and have tried to give up a few times since. tried every conceivable type of NRT and I'm now on zyban. I'm a bit snacky, but otherwise fine. have convinced myself that only the weak smoke and I have to give up because of teh children (who i didn't smoke in front of anyway, but thats not the point! I want to see their children and be a granny and that probably won't happen if i continue smoking.

money saved is going towards first family holiday ever!

thanks for the whyquit link.

hi fellow quitters. Know what you mean about the old snacking thingy! I'm stocking up on carrot batons and twigletts

Does anyone know, does stopping smoking mean my metabolism will slow down or does it just mean that I will be seeking 'oral' gratification from other sources other than the fags (ie eating when i want a fag)?

I have an extremely fast metabolism and never put on weight, no matter how much I eat. does stopping smoking mean my current 20-a-day Quality Street habit will have to go too?

hi FMV!!

yes, you and your speedy metabolism WILL slow down, but on average about by 20%, which is nothing if you slow down a wee bit on the quality street, or go for a bit of a brisk walk.........fast metabolism - lucky thing! Mine's is the opposite - just as much as look at a choccy bar and it magically appears on the scales!!!

btw, what is happening with the other thread????

Mucky Anthea, that last sentence of yours admitting you might want one but not having it...thats it...from now on in. Thats what you need to tell yourself in your moment of weakness! Sorted!
I think there is something going on with metabolism and smoking...however you might be moving about more-less sitting to have a fag. So keep going with the quality street til your clothes start leaving marks on your body telling you its time to slow down

so day one so far has been crap (but I haven't had a fag).

Am really really pissed off at dp.
Feel like absolute shite.
My house is a f*cking tip and no one but me will clear it up and I feel to bad to.

My mum wants me to go and stay with her for a while (taking ds with me) and I know I'd get the rest I needed, but when I came back the house would be 10 times worse (they wouldn't even bother to empty/fill the dishwasher).

Arrrghh I just want to scream and go for a fag, but I haven't. Getting through one minute at a time at the moment.

Armadillo - take that frustration and CLEAN!!!!

It works wonders to take your mind off cravings

Try a drink of water if you feel you want a fag.

Lavendar oil is supposed to help combat cravings too. (i smell like an old lady, I have doused myself in the stuff this morning!)

thanks - don't mind smelling like old lady if it helps.

Will get off arse and start some cleaning. Even if its a bit of tidying it will help.

thanks for listening.

fmv - AHH, the breadth of our discussion! Our erudition!!

None of those, it's another thread in Health on not-smoking that CC set up to try to catch more wannabee non-smokers....not clever enough to do links....but go to Health and it will be there near the top....

tatoos thread......placed fist in mouth to stop anything coming out. >

so how long have you been smoke-free, Pann?

thanks IF. I'm definitely eating a little more but am making sure it's things like cereal with fruit for breakkie whereas breakfast used to be a cuppa and a fag , carrot sticks, fruit (am allowing myself a couple of chocs for the difficult evening period which is when I usually smoke more)

You're doing great FMV, keep going. I found the first few days were pretty tough but probably my worst point was about 7-10 days in when I felt like I was going crazy. Really truly I'm barely even thinking about fags right now. And I think I was one of the most 'hardened' smokers I've ever met. I mean if I can do it, anybody can.

Hope everyone still off the fags. I am having a family crisis myself hence my absence but still reading.

CC, so touched that you're thinking of us in the midst of your own crisis. Hope it's nothing too serious, good luck x

Me and dp have split up, not getting on, havent been for a long long time.
And I havent smoked my way through it!

O dear lordy, so sorry to hear that. Had no idea

(but if you can stay off the fags through this....)

oh cc sorry to hear that

CC, since when??? I always thought you and Paddy were solid as a rock. Is it definite and irreversible? Want to email me? Do you still have my address? Lots of love puss cat xxx

We were together forever, not as solid as a rock though...it hasnt been working for ages. It had been shit for so long i think we both thought it would continue forever shit as it was.
But I cant.
I dont want the kids thinking this is normal.
xxxxxx

prop me up here

ok, cc, heading over there now

hi everyone,
i have been following fag free thread for some time, and myself trying to quit smoking.
i was prescribed zyban and started taking it as prescribed.
on 8th day of taking it i stopped smoking.
it is been 10 days, i had difficult times but not much cravings.
for a couple of days a kind of depression is building i know (btw i am a single parent), and today i wanted to smoke really.
-if i smoke 1 i will go back wont i?
-what shall i do?

Do anything but smoke a fag. You want to stop smoking, and having a fag is not going in the right direction.
Your doctor wont give you zyban over and over, this is your one chance..take it!!!
Its not easy, noone said it would be, its a life choice. From then and forever onwards. And nomatter what happens, or how your feeling, you cant and you shouldnt smoke.
try whyquit.com for some mental ammunition.