Day 18 for me today, but i am having a not so good day.
Since i have quit, i have noticed a big trigger for me is doing my weekly food shop in Asda. Before i quit, i always used to have a ciggie in the car park before shopping, and a ciggie in the car park after doing the shopping.
I guess i never really realised how ingrained that association between ciggies and the weekly food shop had become, as Fridays(my weekly food shop days) have become my worst days since i started my quit!
Today has been particularly bad and i have been unable to stop thinking about having a ciggie since 9am this morning, when i parked in the Asda carpark!
Its odd, because i know i am not going to smoke (thats not even an option), and i dont even WANT to smoke...yet i am still thinking that i desperately want a ciggie!?
I just need someone to kick me up the bottom, or give some advice!
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Bad ingrained habits are best replaced with something good and positive, where possible.
I used to look forward to a smoke in the car after, not in a big way but enough of way to miss on some level. Now after shopping I'll eat a bag of crisps and watch the mayhem that occurs in busy supermarket car parks
Does your local supermarket have a cafe? Have a short read of a good magazine and a drink before shopping, or drink before and a 10 minute relaxing read in the car afterwards. I keep a book that I'm willing to read slowly and leisurely in the car for those times that I just want to sit and take 5 before shopping, visits etc.
Often a smoke was more than a smoke..... it was time out. Find something good to fill that time out that is still needed, just in a different way.
I'm at the same stage as you and I am finding the same problems. Its amazing how stong the associations to cetian situations are. Glad your strong enough to remove the option of smoking altogether..thats the bit I struggle with.
For a little while I am going to be avoiding the situations that make me feel like that, just until I am a bit stronger. Could you do your shopping online? Go to a different shop? Do a few smaller shops a week. Just for a couple of weeks. The break to the routine might just help
Hi Claire sorry to hear you are having a bad day but look on the bright side, 18 days is a magic quit and it will and does only get better.
Here are a few options,
option 1 dont shop, this will also help you to stop eating and therfore lose weight because if you are anything like me you will put on a little weight,
option 2 shop online.
option 3 let OH do it
option 4 close your eyes while walking from car and you will not realise you are in the carpark
option 5 have a personal shopper.
OK I am a waste of time for good advice but always there for you, take care and smile a big beamer as you cannot hold a ciggie in your mush and grin xx
2) As said, do something else to fill that void; what about buying something in the supermarket with some of the cash you'd have saved that week not being on the fags? A magazine, etc. Biggest way ahead is to consider yourself a non-smoker who chooses not to take up the habit, not an ex-smoker abstaining.
Bad ingrained habits are best replaced with something good and positive, where possible.
I used to look forward to a smoke in the car after, not in a big way but enough of way to miss on some level. Now after shopping I'll eat a bag of crisps and watch the mayhem that occurs in busy supermarket car parks
Does your local supermarket have a cafe? Have a short read of a good magazine and a drink before shopping, or drink before and a 10 minute relaxing read in the car afterwards. I keep a book that I'm willing to read slowly and leisurely in the car for those times that I just want to sit and take 5 before shopping, visits etc.
Often a smoke was more than a smoke..... it was time out. Find something good to fill that time out that is still needed, just in a different way.
Good luck
Pol
Hi Claire
I'm at the same stage as you and I am finding the same problems. Its amazing how stong the associations to cetian situations are. Glad your strong enough to remove the option of smoking altogether..thats the bit I struggle with.
For a little while I am going to be avoiding the situations that make me feel like that, just until I am a bit stronger. Could you do your shopping online? Go to a different shop? Do a few smaller shops a week. Just for a couple of weeks. The break to the routine might just help
Keep strong, you are doing so well
Hi Claire sorry to hear you are having a bad day but look on the bright side, 18 days is a magic quit and it will and does only get better.
Here are a few options,
option 1 dont shop, this will also help you to stop eating and therfore lose weight because if you are anything like me you will put on a little weight,
option 2 shop online.
option 3 let OH do it
option 4 close your eyes while walking from car and you will not realise you are in the carpark
option 5 have a personal shopper.
OK I am a waste of time for good advice but always there for you, take care and smile a big beamer as you cannot hold a ciggie in your mush and grin xx
1) Try a different supermarket.
2) As said, do something else to fill that void; what about buying something in the supermarket with some of the cash you'd have saved that week not being on the fags? A magazine, etc. Biggest way ahead is to consider yourself a non-smoker who chooses not to take up the habit, not an ex-smoker abstaining.
Thanks for all the advice and help you guys, its been really useful.
Lol @ jam, brilliant ideas, can imagine me walking through the carpark with my eyes closed!!
The best thing is that it will pass by the end of the day, and i will wake up tomorrow happy in the knowledge that i am a non-smoker!
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