Hi all

[nsd_user663_59044]

Hi all

So this is my third day of quitting. Has been a hard slog. Nothing new though. I must have tried 10 times in the past to give up. So tired of all of it - smoking, worrying about my health when i smoke, the worry about giving up smoking, giving up smoking, the trauma involved, the sneaking feeling that I'll never give up even when I have quit.

On day 1 I dropped my kids off at school and then went to the swimming pool. I used to swim well - for county, that sort of thing. Couldn't manage more than 6 lengths without stopping. I wanted to cry!

Anyways, day 3, hope day 4 will be better. Just need to believe that this can be the last time I ever need to go through all this again. The only truly great thing is I can look at my children and not feel a deep sense of guilt and shame, which I felt every time I had to excuse myself from playing with them to go and have a smoke. Awful right?

PS Is it me or do all the smokers come out on the first day you quit and blow smoke at you on purpose?

[nsd_user663_59044]

Hi Kat

Thanks for your message of support. It's morning time -need to get out and about. I find that when I sit and either work or watch the box, the urge to smoke is overpowering. Going for a walk, swim, run, whatever, helps me a lot more.

To think that I won't have smoked for 4 days at the end of today is a great thing - when I was smoking before, that would have seemed an impossibility.

Thanks again.

By the way, I see that you went back to smoking after a massive quit. What happened?

[nsd_user663_54332]

Hi Matt and welcome!!

It is scary how smoking affects us isn't it?

Haven't ever been sporty or anything and didn't think it affected me but it really did. Where I live there's lots of hills that used to make me out of breath, or at least breathe hard through my mouth that now I have no problems at all walking up

You're doing fab!!

Day 4 is a great start and we're here to help you get smoke free

The usual story, I'm afraid, thinking that I could "just have one with a drink" - I truly have no idea how social smokers actually do it but I've proved I can't! It started out fine, just a ciggie or two on a night out, but within 12 months I was back to smoking full-time - what an idiot!.:mad::mad::mad: So I've definitely proved the validity of our mantra of NOPE - Not One Puff Ever!

I was the same

Had an 18 month quit that I lost because of a row - went out and smoked a couple, then kept the packet for nights out. Before long i was smoking more than ever :/ You really can't have "just one"

Do understand social smokers though 'cos I was one from 13-16. They don't smoke enough to get hooked, would smoke up to half a packet of 20 one day then not touch them for weeks and didn't get hooked until I smoked full time. In reality though there's a lot of "social smokers" who are either very social or in denial!!

But!! It's like an alcoholic - once you're an addict you're *always* an addict!!

Sounds a bit heavy I know but it's true.

[nsd_user663_54332]

Hi Matt welcome and well done fella for getting this quit up and running-each time you feel wretched,say to yourself that you will never,ever put yourself through quitting again and make this the one and only quit you need :cool:

That's a very good point - and of course if you cave all the feeling c**p will have been a waste :eek:

Heck of a motivation that!!

[nsd_user663_59042]

Hey Matt, not sure we are on the same quit date but hey... Hang in there. Your kids sound like mine. Their mantra is "Smoking is bad, Mummy". Very clever kids, no? I felt guilty about spending time smoking rather than playing with them. So I know how you feel.

[nsd_user663_59044]

Hi

Not sure if I should still be posting here or at day 5. Which is where I am now! So it's going well. Just been to the pool and swam hard for an hour. Totally knackered myself but at least when I got out I thought that the last thing I wanted to do was smoke. So sport works for me.

I've identified that the crisis moments for me are after food of any kind. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. The desire is getting weaker, I feel it, but it's still pretty potent. I wonder if anyone else has the same triggers?

Thank you all for your messages of support and advice. This forum is ace.

Have a good day.

Matt

[nsd_user663_54332]

Hi

Not sure if I should still be posting here or at day 5. Which is where I am now! So it's going well. Just been to the pool and swam hard for an hour. Totally knackered myself but at least when I got out I thought that the last thing I wanted to do was smoke. So sport works for me.

I've identified that the crisis moments for me are after food of any kind. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. The desire is getting weaker, I feel it, but it's still pretty potent. I wonder if anyone else has the same triggers?

Thank you all for your messages of support and advice. This forum is ace.

Have a good day.

Matt

Well done Matt!!

Exercise is great 'cos it releases endorphine and of course you can feel your body healing - bonus A lot of the craving is (IMO) because nicotine mimics feel good hormones (which is why we liked it at first) and your brain is getting used to making its own again and adjusting to not having pesticide doing it.

Definitely had some of the same triggers as you!!

First thing I'd always have a fag (like get up and out the kitchen door :/) and I missed that, plus the kickstart it gave me, and after tea 'cos I always "enjoyed" a fag then, plus alcohol of course Didn't seem right not smoking on a girls night out. It definitely fades though!!

Keep going - you're doing fab