Start of week 4 and i'm beginning to shape my new identity as a non smoker. Its not always easy, some days are darn hard BUT im probably down to thinking about cigarettes about 16 hours a day instead of 24:D
Anyway, it got me thinking about what we need to do to quit and how it is an individual journey for each one of us. I have chosen to use the e cig and its working for me. Already i am starting to subconsciously cut down on the e cig but quite frankly right now staying off the real thing is my priority.
Now i know the subject of e cigs can be an emotive one, I also know there are lots of varying opinions and some feel that it delays or complicates the quitting process.
The risk here is that if you are only at the contemplative quitting stage or in the very early days, it can be really easy to look for an excuse not to follow it through - "oh well, people told me all sorts of horror stories about the e cig or the patch or whatever, i'm better off smoking"...
What i would say to all those either contemplating quitting or in the early stages - DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU. I guess there will never be a quitting method that everyone agrees on. At the end of the day - if it gets you off the evil weed in the words of Nike... just do it...
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...What i would say to all those either contemplating quitting or in the early stages - DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU. I guess there will never be a quitting method that everyone agrees on. At the end of the day - if it gets you off the evil weed in the words of Nike... just do it...
This is so very true. To those of you at the start of your journey to freedom, or even more so to those still thinking about starting the journey but not sure how to take that first step, now is the time (if you haven't already) to start investing a serious amount of time in reading. It could be one of the best investments you ever make. There is so much information online these days that you could literally immerse yourself for days if you chose to - google is your friend. The more you read and understand, the better armed you are to beat your addiction into submission permanently.
- Understand what products are out there to help you. Understand how they work, understand their side effects, understand the pros and cons of each.
- Understand how addiction works - I had been puffing away for years without really having the slightest idea why I was so hopelessly hooked. Once you really understand how addiction works, you will start to see how it is entirely possible to break free, and already you are well on the way to freedom.
Once you're tooled up with the knowledge, you will be able to choose your path wisely and DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU.
For some reason I couldn't reply on the thread I was on last night, so I have posted here.
I have pretty much smoked since I was sixteen (am 51 now, ouch !) I gave up not long after I married (my hubby has never smoked and I felt sorry for him having to put up with my bad habits), but it only lasted about a year and a family bereavement started me off again. I managed not to smoke whilst expecting each of my three children but started again not long afterwards each time. I then gave up for eighteen months and then two years over the years. This time I want it to be for ever. I have grandchildren and I hate the older two being aware that I have a habit nobody else in the family has !! (I don't smoke in the house but they have spotted me sneaking outside) I'm sick of wasting my money on fags and know from past experience that I will feel fitter if I stop. I have recently come off anti-depressants and am left with a sleep problem so I am hoping that stopping smoking will help me sleep better, too.
Day three is not going too badly but I find myself trying not to have a lozenge as it feels like cheating for some reason, so I am making it harder for myself I think. Usually smoke a cigarette hourly, pretty much, and have had three lozenges so far today. Not sure if this is good or not:confused:
How can using a therapy that is designed to help you quit smoking be cheating?? Some people can quit cold turkey, lots of us, for whatever reason, can`t. That`s what NRT is for - to assist. How can that be cheating? If its what you need to get you off the dreaded cigs then its helping - not cheating. So long as you don`t go over the recommended daily dosage I would say take whatever you need to get you through the day smoke-free. A bit further down the line, when you get into the quit and it feels a bit more secure, you can look at cutting down the strength and how many you use.
After 44 years of heavy smoking I decided to use patches with the lozenge as back-up. After 2 days I didn`t use any more patches but I have consumed a large quantity of lozenges, dropping the strength every 3 weeks. I don`t like mint or sweet tastes so I used the large unflavoured ones. I also wanted something that would stop me eating as a substitute (as a many times failed quitter I have been there done that). Over the last 2 weeks I have weened myself off them. Fine. 68 days no smoking. For me a record. Do I have even the slightest sense that I cheated? Not likely! Cheating would have been having a puff. Use whatever is going to help you get to a smoke-free life. Its not cheating its being sensible. The very best of luck in your quit.
Aw thanks for the support. I know in my head it's not cheating to use lozenges etc it's just I always quit by going cold turkey before but just couldn't do it this time, so I find it a bit strange, that's all. I'm only on the 1.5mg lozenges and am having approximately five a day, and no cigarettes, so I do feel quite pleased with myself, it's just hard to get used to Will be glad to get the first few weeks over.
there is no cheating one should use any or all means at their disposal to help make their quit journey a success after all its really only in the early days that we rely on such things
we are all winners here the smokers are the losers for we have been awakened yes our eyes are truly open and we say go to hell nocodemon
if it helps use it .... if u trip get back up
cheers
gra
One year, six months, one week, one day, 3 hours, 34 minutes and 40 seconds. 33368 cigarettes not smoked, saving $19,020.28. Life saved: 16 weeks, 3 days, 20 hours, 40 minutes.
Ah gotta love the pearls of wisdom from the holier than thou “few weeks” quitters to all the day 1’ers. There way of giving themselves a slap on the back from their high horses. Maybe you’ll be in a position to give advice after being clear 10 years, not 4 weeks eh?
Having read through the thread, I really can't see anything to warrant your post. I don't see anyone patting themselves on the back. They are perfectly entitled to do so.
If we need to wait 10 years before giving advice, we'll have forgotten what it was like so our advice would be useless. We should all try to help others no matter how long we have been quit and your post could discourage that.
Having read through the thread, I really can't see anything to warrant your post. I don't see anyone patting themselves on the back. They are perfectly entitled to do so.
If we need to wait 10 years before giving advice, we'll have forgotten what it was like so our advice would be useless. We should all try to help others no matter how long we have been quit and your post could discourage that.
Well said Una. Comments like this we can well do without.
I was about to say I haven't come across dave_282 before and hope I never do again, then I remembered I have come across him before, when he replied to one of my early posts '...you seem like a prime example of a relapse statistic to me...'.
Well sorry, you nasty little man, but still going along very nicely thank you.
It will be interesting to see if he has the spine to come back with an apology, but I'm not holding my breath.
I've posted a couple of times recently how it is to this forum's great credit that everyone is supportive and there is no putting down of others. There is an exception to every rule, as the saying goes, and here it is - someone on a mission to belittle those at the start of their quit. If you're reading this, dave_282, please go and spread your poison somewhere else, as it really isn't welcome here.
Woah - not been on for a couple of days and just caught up on this which was my thread originally.
Am absolutley gobsmacked to read your comment Dave. Any quitter knows that the first few weeks are the hardest and im sure we all agree that any words of wisdom to ease that initial pain are crucial.
I often think of those people who "choose" to live a negative life - boy it must be draining thinking in that way all the time. Thank goodness I'm not one of them.
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day 4 and not so cocky!!
