Holiday Warning !

[nsd_user663_27261]

Hi everyone, I hope you are all well and enjoying the Summer.

I've been away for the last couple of weeks and prior to that was feeling very relaxed about my quit; I mastered the immediate habit of smoking after dinner, on the way to work, in the car, when out drinking etc after about 7/8 weeks so I felt quite comfortable.

2 weeks ago I went on holiday which entailed a very long flight.

I'd done a fair bit of traveling as a smoker so know that losing the association of visiting airport smoking rooms/chaining half a dozen before going through security would be a challenge but I beat this quite easily, however the biggest challenge was yet to hit me.

Lying by a pool/on a beach I found painful for the first 2/3 days, for the first time in weeks I genuinely entertained the thought of smoking.

I saw others laughing and enjoying being at the bar/in the pool smoking, I saw couples walking romantically along the beach holding hands and yep, smoking ! And looking so happy.

I took a count one night, 17 smokers at the bar and 15 of them laughing/smiling alot and the other 2 looking were very relaxed and enjoying themselves

I calculated every option, do I give in ? Do I buy some cigars and not inhale (something I did on a previous quit), do I fight this and risk an unenjoyable holiday and upsetting the family ?

I fought it and I won, but believe me this was the hardest fight of the last 4 months - I can honestly say this was harder than day 1, 2, 3 or any of the previous 75 days.

I want this to act as a warning for anyone about to go on holiday - I don't believe I became complacent but I do believe I didn't plan well for my holiday as place and situation association is something I've always been aware of and mindful of their power.

Please, anyone about to hit the beach, plan properly and have a plan B, I hope it's not the case but you may well need it.

Good luck all and enjoy your hols

[nsd_user663_20558]

Glad you didn't cave! The smokers looked happy because they were on holiday. Back home, they're still just smokers, and miserable ones too

I am off on holiday soon but I don't think it'll be the same for me. Because I always hid my horrible habit from my kids, I never smoked openly in bars, on the beach etc. We go to Eurocamp places and i used to always have to 'take the rubbish to the bins' or some other excuse, or send the kids on an errand and hide behind the caravan.

I'm actually looking forward to being able to relax with the kids without all the subterfuge.

I do get where you're coming from though. I had a mahoosive attack of craves a couple of weeks ago, for other reasons. It's always good to have a plan in place for when they come out of left field like that, whatever the trigger.

Good to see you're still going though Horse, that's brilliant.

H x

[nsd_user663_20978]

Glad you didn't cave! The smokers looked happy because they were on holiday. Back home, they're still just smokers, and miserable ones too

I am off on holiday soon but I don't think it'll be the same for me. Because I always hid my horrible habit from my kids, I never smoked openly in bars, on the beach etc. We go to Eurocamp places and i used to always have to 'take the rubbish to the bins' or some other excuse, or send the kids on an errand and hide behind the caravan.

I'm actually looking forward to being able to relax with the kids without all the subterfuge.

I do get where you're coming from though. I had a mahoosive attack of craves a couple of weeks ago, for other reasons. It's always good to have a plan in place for when they come out of left field like that, whatever the trigger.

Good to see you're still going though Horse, that's brilliant.

H x

oh hels

i can so relate to the hiding around caravans etc i never smoked infront of mine either haha and taking the rubbish to the big bin perfect oppurtunity for a fag i feel like a right saddo now

at home if i was desparate and the kids wouldnt go and play i would pretend to sort the freezer out in the shed and have a sneaky one omg i go in the shed now and it cobwebby dirty cramped and in the winter bloody freezing but i was such a sad desparate smoker i would sit in there

now it seems so down and out, at the time i was just pleased i had found another sneaky way to smoke, i could just kick myself over and over for being such a saddo but that wont change anything i just have to look forward, enjoy my new quality of life and make up for lost time

i really dont think i would have time to take up smoking again lol it just ruled my life now i rule my life not nocotine

[nsd_user663_20978]

and sorry

hi horse nice to have you back on here was wondering where u had dissapeared to

hels is right they werent happy cause they smoked they were happy to be on holiday

and if they knew you had been quit for the last 4 months they would all be jealous of you [ i was always jealous of someone that had quit i always thought to myself they will gain weight and start again and sometimes they did start again and it made me feel better justified me smoking]

now tell me they were all genuinely happy cause they smoked

[nsd_user663_27261]

Yeah I have no doubts you're right, at the time the demons in my brain were telling me that all smokers were happy and that smoking was enjoyable, of course we all know different but for 3 days my brain wasn't working properly !

Glad you're all still going strong, and Hels I hope you have a great holiday and don't suffer the same weak thoughts I was plagued with.

Take care

[nsd_user663_27848]

Still its different for everybody, I was expecting hard time on my holiday but it was even easier than at home for me.

I also think it matters what kind of holiday are you going to - sightseeing, mountains, to party or chill out on the beach. I guess the more lack of movement the stronger cravings you'll have.

But good work passing another test!!! :cool::cool::cool:

[nsd_user663_31133]

Going on holiday with me champix

Hi Horse

All my smoking and cravings to smoke takes place in my dreams!! I wake regularly between 3 and 4am then dream like mad 'till I get up.

Day 18 for me and I'm doin' fine so far.

Thanks for the warning re: surprise mental attack. I shall be on guard!!!

[nsd_user663_23724]

Still its different for everybody, I was expecting hard time on my holiday but it was even easier than at home for me.

Same here, i quit in January, back then i thought bet i start on holiday, but i didnt. flight was 5 n half hours and seeing people light up as soon as they got off the plane made me think no way from the start no matter how trollied i get!

We had 2 yr old with us and we got along with another couple with a 4 yr old, there were loads of occassions where this lad would come up 2 his mam / dad & say words to the effect of "come play with me", his instant reply was wait till we have our ciggies - it was quite disturbing to then see the saddened look on the boys face... waste of quality time...