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Original poster

DESPERATE TO QUIT FAGS

42 replies

fionagib · 05/07/2004 23:35

Help! We go on holiday tomorrow night. Until a fortnight ago I was all set for a healthy holiday - I'd given up smoking for six months and started running - but I crumbled at a party recently, smokes a few fags, have had the odd one since and now the cravings are back again big style... it's awful, like giving up all over again - all that good work wasted!

Why is it so bloody difficult and how to quit for good? I was so proud and now I'm so rubbish!

OP posts:

motherinferior · 06/07/2004 13:14

Can you link the marathon training (cor wow!) into general admiration of your own Body Beautiful?

Have Alan Carr book lurking around (left behind by ex-boyfriend who has not, as far as I know, managed to become ex-smoker) if you want it...

babysteffee · 06/07/2004 13:54

quitsmokingonline.com and whyquit.com worked for me. Only been stopped since 17th April (and put on three stone!!) but I really don't think I'll ever smoke again, because I've realised there's NOTHING smoking can do for me.

Even if your day is so bad and you think about smoking, just remember that you don't need to because you're not addicted, and all smoking does is relieve the addiction. If you smoke a few, you'll have the cravings again, but what's so good about that?

Smoking CAUSES cravings, it doesn't relieve them.

gloworm · 06/07/2004 14:15

for any of you who are interested you can try the following remedies from a health shop.

Jan de Vries craving essence...helps with any cravings (i have had quite a few customers give up smoking or alcohol at new year and said this stuff really helped)

Bioforce Avena Sativa...supports the nervous system, helps keep you relaxed and calm. many many years ago doctors used this remedy to help addicts come of opium! it can help the body with withdrawl symptoms from any addiction including cigarettes.

they both come in drops which you add to water or juice and take 3 times a day.

Original poster

fionagib · 06/07/2004 14:40

Thanks v much for that babysteffee and gloworm, may try those drops thingies... thanks also for offer of book mother inf but I really don't think I can face reading that blasted thing again, I really cannot stomach the man (tho a lot of what he says makes perfect sense, what's nice is that mumsnetters are passing on the bits that stuck in their minds, the real message of his book without the other 9 million pages of him wiffling on)...

putting on weight is a sod isn't it (I think it was steffi who said this), I have gained about a stone all on backside and belly... don't even eat that much, metabolism has def changed. still I suppose it shifts eventually and if the only way to be thin is to smoke 20 fags a day then am not gonna be thin.

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motherinferior · 06/07/2004 14:54

Running's supposed to be fab for bodies, isn't it? I keep reading articles which merely induce my guilt at not being a runner.

Also, I think you've written about smoking and giving up before, but there's always that 'giving up diary' niche which would, let's be honest, mean you had to stick to it (because of course shameless fictionalising is below you )

Original poster

fionagib · 06/07/2004 15:25

Yeah motherinf, smoking and giving up seem to have ruled my blimmin life for the past several years! And I never never make ANYTHING up...

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Twink · 06/07/2004 16:24

Saw on another thread that Northerner has kept it up for 6 months now !

Take your trainers to France, then if you're feeling weak, leave the kids with your dh and go for a run.

Enjoy your holiday, and remember we'll all be waiting to see how you get on so you CAN'T let us down can you ?!

I'll be away by then dh is connected at the hip to his laptop so I'll still be able to check

Northerner · 06/07/2004 16:31

Hi all. Yeah Twink I gave up for New Year and still going strong. Totally consider myself a non smoker now, although I do still get the odd pang but I'm strong enough now to push it to one side and it's forgotten about. I gave up using Alan Carr's book and can't rate it enough, it is fantastic. However it didn't work for dh, but has given up for 40 days now using Nicorette gum.
Not smoking def alters your metabolism, I have gained about 6 pounds all in all (maybe that's down to eating more on a night time when I normally would have had a fag instead?)

You CAN do it, and you will be so proud of yourself when you do. I heard on the news recently that quitting even in yor 40's, makes you live 10 years longer.

And I now realise that smokers really do smell like an ashtray - gross.

Original poster

fionagib · 06/07/2004 16:33

Oh thank you twinkie! Yes am taking running shoes, hefty sports bra etc...

I know this little issue of mine is v v trivial compared to some of the life-changing and sometimes quite harrowing stuff discussed on mumsnet but it does mean a lot that you've all helped me get over (I hope) what was a real blip there...

Dh went out and got smashed last night and smoked billions of fags - he is in bed now, sweating (yet will still insist on doing most of the drive from scotland to plymouth tonight!!)

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Original poster

fionagib · 06/07/2004 16:35

that's brillaint northener - was reading some old stuff that twink sent me and it sounded like you were really gonna crack at one point! So maybe I can do this too...

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Northerner · 06/07/2004 16:39

You can do it too Fiona. I seem to remember that 3/4 months was a pretty bad stage for some reasons. Fags seemed to dominate my life, I was always thinking about them, or seeing someone smoke, and social situations were really hard. I gave up whils my dh still smoked too and it does make things harder. They are so selfish - if my dh was trying to quit and I still merrily smoked he'd accuse me of not being supportive etc. Dh smoked outside, and I took great pleasure in telling him he stank when he came back in, and refusing to kiss him etc.

Stay strong, and do ask for support when it feels tough.

Good luck.

bzhmum · 06/07/2004 17:25

I don't know how hard it can be, not being an addict myself - but i've got a pretty good idea 'cos my partner has tried to give up at least three times since we've been together, (longest time was 12 months) but relapsed every time. KEEP TRYING - every month you epnd without smoking will boost your body's good health and your resistance.
have you thought of knitting? I'm convinced it would help keep thoughts and hands occupied............. seriously!!!

Nimme · 06/07/2004 19:08

You can do it. The running is definitely a good incentive. Perhaps have healthy snacks around for a while - if you fingers need occupying (I constantly snacked on grapes, apples etc). Break the habit - find something else to do when you would normally have a ciggie. My DH still smokes so I know how hard it can be. I wanted to get pg so had added incentive.

In the end all you need is WILL POWER (and accept like said before - never again just the one). I'm 11 months and counting (which I had actually stopped doing - counting I mean which shows you you will stop thinking about it eventually).

Go for it.

babysteffee · 06/07/2004 23:47

I only quit on 17th April and don't count anymore. I remember counting upto 7 weeks and then stopped.

dh smokes too, which is hard at first, and even later your smoker side tells you to start a fight just so you can hate him for smoking when you can't, but thankfully they're not often.

I think the secret is to not want to smoke. I know that's obvious but it's not the same as wanting to give up. Everyone wants to give up, but they want to smoke too, which is why they do. When you no longer want to smoke, you'll stop.

I know I'm wording this all wrong and coming across even smugger than Allen Carr...

I put three stone on without changing my eatng habits, and now weigh 1.5 stone MORE than being 9 months pg 6 months ago!! Unreal.

Original poster

fionagib · 07/07/2004 01:05

Thanks very much for that folks - you really have made a big difference - I'd been thinking constantly about ruddy fags and sneaking out for one the minute the kids were in bed - but didn't have any at all yesterday thanks to your wise & encouraging words and haven't had or even wanted any today either... it's so nice to hear people say something as simple as 'you can do it'

... so am going to france (in one hour's time!) feeling much more positive and as in control as a mother of 3 ever is. Much much happier. Had a 45 min run today and really enjoyed it.

so big big thanks to all - will raise a glass to you in france (but not a ciggie!) ! xx

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Original poster

fionagib · 07/07/2004 01:21

Oh and was also reading an old thread from Twink - a message from jollymum - realy made me laugh the way she put things like smoking a pen end, anyone hear from her? Hope she's still managing to stay off the weed xx best finish packing , bye!

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Twink · 07/07/2004 01:25

Maybe we should have a pact to enter London next year and see how much we can raise for Cancer charities if we get in !

Get that packing finished !

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