Ok guys. i am ready to give this another try. I am posting here although today is not officially day 1 for me. The reason I say this is that I am replacing cigs gradually with Quickmist spray and the patch. I have been in work since 8.40 today and had a smoke just before coming in. I am currently on my tea break which is when I usually have a smoke but I used the spray and don't actually want to go for a smoke. The big test for me will be lunch time.
The difference with this way is that I am not putting any pressure on myself to quit. I am going for the bit by bit method and see how far I can get over the next few days. If I smoke I smoke but that's ok because later in the week I will be stopping for good.
I am looking at this in a different way and feel that for me this is the best way to go. Since I have made so many friends on this site I would like to keep you all up to date on my progress as I know you will be interested and will be there with words of encouragement. I also know how important it is for new people to see the different ways and methods that people use so that they can make an educated choice on their own quit method.
I look forward to reconnecting with everybody on the forum and to making some new quit buddies along the way.
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Hi Mark, it's great your giving it another go. On my quit I'm using Champix, but still felt I needed to cut down first before quitting completely. I didn't actually stop smoking until 3 1/2 weeks into using Champix. Cutting down makes sense to me because although I think it lengthens the period of withdrawal, the cravings and other effects are less intense. It's the intensity of the cravings which tends to make me cave in. Good luck on your quit.
Good luck it's my first day and I have made it through half the day although haven't done much work except web surf all day.
I am quitting using the combined method of Allen Carr and Champix tablets although I am a bit concerned about the Champix after having learnt all the bad side effects.
Anyway hope all goes well with the lunch time challenge for you.
I love to hear about peoples innovations. I haven't used champix this time. Don't worry about side effects unless you get them. Lets face it, nothing else has such serious side effects as smoking but we all did that for years!
Since I am cutting down over the next day or 2 I am really not worrying about stopping. I have 9 cigs left and I don't intend to buy any more after them. I have had one ciggie since I got into work and it just wasn't enjoyable at all. I think I will stick to the spray as much as possible and smoke the occassional cig to get rid of them. In this way once they are gone they are gone. I will not be going to the shop to buy any more and I will get through it.
Even when I have finished the cigs I am not going to worry about it. Sure, I may have the thoughts in my head constantly but there is no use in working myself up about it. I like to think that I am approaching this quit in a calm, relaxed manner and then I can gradually wean myself off the nicotine. I don't want to go back to the champix as, although they did me good and minimised the cravings, I don't like the way they made me feel.
As long as I have the forum and my own sanity (lol) I can do this and can actually enjoy it. I will continue to post updates as to my progress.
Thanks Karri. I fully understand what you mean. I am actually looking forward to finishing the pack I have and then going for it. I know it won't be easy which is why I am using the NRT in the short term but I also know that once I get into it it will get easier. I probably said this the last time but it does feel different going into this one. I know that it won't be plain sailing but I also know that every hour I get through without actually smoking will be an achievement. Although the plan at the moment is to use NRT in the short term I am fully ready to change this and use it for as long I need it but I would like to be completely free of nicotine sooner rather than later. I appreciate your advice a lot because I think we are similar in many ways. We both keep trying and we will both get there. And we will one day sit in the penthouse laughing at the failed attempts we had, maybe share a glass or two of champagne while we do
Ok, so to give you an update on how things are going.
1) I deliberately finished the cigs I had yesterday. Smoked the last one before going to bed.
2) I have patches as my main NRT - I do not have a patch on me. I do have the pack but they are in my coat pocket.
3) I have the quickmist spray to use when things get really bad or a back up is required - I have the spray in my pocket but have not used it.
I haven't had what I would call acraving as such. It's just felt like something is missing. I even had a breakfast this morning and it was great. Its amazing the simple things that we take for granted.
I am feeling happy and positive now but I could feel different later today. I won't be complacent but at the minute any time I feel a slight feeling I just tell myself that I am a non smoker. That has done the trick so far today. I even smiled through the last one and it felt great.
If I can stay this positive then there will be no issue at all with quitting. I will be free and will be able to enjoy the busy christmas and new year rush.
I think I am swinging more towards Allen Carrs Easyway method this time. I promised myself that I wouldn't smoke. I said to myself "self, you are stopping smoking whether you like it or not. There's no point in getting annoyed about it. may as well just get on with it and don't panic or bitch about it."
I also remember the headrush, which has just started to happen. I love that moment. That's when you know it is working yee haa!!!!
Staying as positive as I can do. What's the worst thing that can happen to me if I don't smoke? I'm enjoying this as much as possible and hopeful that I don't need to use NRT, but ready to use it if I have too.
Thanks and good luck to you too. I am also depending on Allen Carr at the moment and you know what I think out of all the methods his makes the most sense.
So once I am over this I can sort out my newly acquired Chocolate Addiction. I actually wish I could have been addicted to something more glamrous but wait I am.........shopping and now I don't even have to interrupt my shopping to go stand outside for a smoke. Wow now that's a thought.
Allan Carr always made sense to me but there was something about his method that never seemed to click in my head. This time I re read the book and decided to just go for it. If it wasn't clicking properly I had the patch and the Quickmist spray to help me. I still think that there is something to click but I am feeling so positive about this quit and am looking forward to getting further and further into it.
And to think I was going to use NRT and completely disregard what I had read in Allan Carrs work. I'm so glad I gave it time to sink in and that I actually thought about it. Although it doesn't feel like ot has all fallen into place I would rather just get on with it and either it will click or it won't. It still doesn't make a difference if I follow all the instructions in the book. And it's cheaper than paying £240 for a spot in a group session.
I think you have to read his book a couple of times I keep it with me. I think the junkie part of us is the part that makes Allen Carr not click. We don't really want it to deep down inside.
Its great to hear you have not given up on giving up; everyone has to find their way of doing it!
I just need to find the way thats gonna work. I was fine while I was in work yesterday but as soon as I got home then massive massive cravings and I caved. The incentive is there and I know that if I keep going then finally it will happen for me. I'm sitting with a low strength patch on (step 2) and my spray but had a msoke just before coming in to work. So I now make a further attempt to see how far I can get. I am currently on tea break and have no desire to go for a smoke at all. I think I just need to get through a night and I will be fine again. I used to think the mornings were my big problem but now I'm not so sure.
I'm not even classing today as day 1. In fact I won't comment on days at all. I tend to work best when I break the day into sections and get through each one so I will do that but again I am not going to put any pressure on myself. Eventually I will get there. Just gotta keep trying.
I just need to find the way thats gonna work. I was fine while I was in work yesterday but as soon as I got home then massive massive cravings and I caved. The incentive is there and I know that if I keep going then finally it will happen for me. I'm sitting with a low strength patch on (step 2) and my spray but had a msoke just before coming in to work. So I now make a further attempt to see how far I can get. I am currently on tea break and have no desire to go for a smoke at all. I think I just need to get through a night and I will be fine again. I used to think the mornings were my big problem but now I'm not so sure.
I'm not even classing today as day 1. In fact I won't comment on days at all. I tend to work best when I break the day into sections and get through each one so I will do that but again I am not going to put any pressure on myself. Eventually I will get there. Just gotta keep trying.
My bad time is 7-9pm, I started jogging and that really helps! The anger is awful tho isnt it!!! Keep at it Mxxx
I really have cut down on the amount that I was smoking, even compared to only a few days ago. I can go for long periods of time without even thinking about it. I'm finding mornings and evenings to be a major problem so what I may do is go to bed with a patch on so that I have less of a craving in the morning. I'm just gonne keep trying different things and eventually something will take for me.
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