Hello everyone.... Monky (sorry meant Pete ??), Jillygirl, Sinfree and other familiar names... Would like to say faces but pictures.... they do seem to change...
5 months, 12 days.... and apart from one rather sneaky puff of a ciggie at Glastonbury whilst totally intoxicated by Somerset cider... (rather disgusting taste may i point out - the ciggie that is, not the cider) I've resisted temptation...
I'd just so love to be writing a post tonight saying how wonderful I feel....
But oh my, I do still struggle... Despite completing the challenge I set myself on quit day (racing a 10k run for cancer research) sometimes I could just kill for a smoke....
Although actually that's not exactly true.... What i mean is..... I could kill for some nicotine...
Not literally of course... I'm sure you all know what I mean....
Last couple of weeks I've resorted back to using an inhalator, well actually just the inner tube (lost the plastic cover months ago an refuse to buy another ! ) Thinking downward slope.....
Think maybe I should be visiting this site more often if ok with u ladies and gents... You helped me through the first few months so much, please can I ask for your support again?.....
Written by
Bellabella
18 Months Winner
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Its great to see you again gal and Heyyyyy, flippin 5 months and 12 days flippin whoopy dhoopy flippin doooooooo gal Ace, just Ace Suze, gosh gal, I can only dream to getting that far quit
Jimigolf's been on here too, cos he's had a near miss with the cigars, so he's had to go back to the NRT !! so you see, your not alone
Look gal, we've been smoking for a long time, its not just the nicotine, but its the habit as well, isnt it, so maybe it will take some of us a bit longer, sooooo we stick with it, and together, to give each other support when we need it You come on here and flippin shout gal, cos i dont mind and am sure all the others dont either we will give you as much support as you want
Speak soon, Pete
Well long time, no see. Wondered where you'd disappeared to ages ago. Was it you that had something to do with farming or animal feed or something? Aww its nice to see old faces come back. Same here, still struggling along, I don't even know how long, I don't much bother counting anymore. But yes still struggling same as you. I wouldn't go back to smoking I don't think but just cannot give up the lozenges and also have the odd puff on an e-cig but don't really like it. Maybe struggling is the wrong word now as I've just resigned myself to sucking lozenges to the extent I don't think about them much anymore, just shove 'em in at will so to speak. Anyway lovely to hear from you.
Hi ya Sinfree, erm, am just wondering gal, what flavour the lozenges are ?? cos am thinking, it may just be habit now maybe try some low sugar sweets of some kind !!
They're just plain old not any flavour, but even though they're supposed to be sugar free they are still quite sweet. Its very difficult to tell whether its habit or not. I have to have one within half an hour of waking in the morning though, and even though they take about three quarters of an hour to dissolve I will still have one before my breakfast. They're even worse now I'm on a diet because they do actually make me more hungry but I just don't seem to be able to give them up. I tried once a few weeks ago. I managed to go all day but it was really hard, then by evening I couldn't stand it any longer and gave in so I think am definitely addicted but do wonder if its nicotine or something else in them. If there's no sugar and they're sweet then there must be some kind of artificial sweetener in and am wondering if that is addictive.
Hi Bella,and WOW ..well done ..as said by Monky,its not just the nicotine you've quit but the habit and yes its bound to feel uncomfortable and grrrr at times..but look youve done 5 months youve run a 10k and i bet you smell and look much better for it..so keep doing what you're doing you're winning this race :)) well done lass big hugs to you ..oh and be kind to yourself you deserve it x
Thanks for your kind words everyone. You are right, it's a great achievement, just now hope that niggling urge to fill a large gap in my life would disappear... NRT does seem to help and definitely prevents me reaching for that ciggie... Just ordered an e-cig online, gotta bit better than wandering round with an inhalator inner tube in my hand as lost plastic cover!!!!
Weight... So conscious of putting on any... So off to the gym for me!!!
The fear of gaining weight can be a major psychological hurdle in any attempt to kick the nicotine habit. The cigarettes you are smoking have made controlling your weight easier although the reasons why smokers, in general weigh less than non-smokers are not well understood.
Let’s weigh up the facts. The dangers of smoking to your health are well documented. Giving up smoking will significantly reduce the risks of major heart diseases and cancers. Putting on a few pounds in weight as you kick the habit pales into insignificance when you recognise the overall health benefits of giving up. It’s far easier to shed a few pounds in weight than face a fight against a major illness.
Not everyone gains weight after giving up smoking. In reality, few put on more than a few pounds. A little knowledge will give you the power to minimise possible weight gain and enjoy the benefits of being a new, healthy you!
Why do some people gain weight after giving up?
Nicotine and Metabolism
Nicotine acts as both a stimulant and a sedative. Immediately after a puff of nicotine there is a rush of adrenaline which causes the liver to release glycogen (sugar) which raises the blood sugar levels slightly. Remove nicotine and your body slows down your metabolism. You are expending fewer calories. Consequently, if you eat the same number of calories as before, your body is using less and stores more as fat.
Nicotine and Appetite
Nicotine can reduce your appetite by directly affecting the activity of serotonin and dopamine, which are substances that control neural transmission in areas of your brain, that turn your appetite on and off. Nicotine elevates the activity of these substances in a way that is similar to what happens when you eat a sweet. For a period after smoking a cigarette you feel less hungry.
Comfort
Food can act as a comfort factor. You crave foods to replace the relaxing feeling and buzz that nicotine was providing.
Habit
Holding and lighting cigarettes is a well-developed habit. Remove the cigarette and what are you going to do with your hands? You can feel the need to occupy your hands – picking and snacking on food fills this gap.
Put Yourself in Control
Be Positive
Focus on the positive aspects of giving up smoking. Remember all the reasons why you want to kick nicotine out of your body with all its negative health consequences.
Food Diary
Keep a food diary. This will help you to identify the times when you are eating more and snacking as a replacement for cigarettes. This knowledge means you will be aware of the ‘danger’ times and have plans to deal with them. (You can use the food diary in WLR free for 24 hours.)
Eat Healthy
Try to eat regular meals and reduce the need and desire to snack. Plan ‘healthy’ meals to encourage your new health kick. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables. Remember smoking has drained your body of many essential vitamins and minerals, particularly Vitamin C. Stock up on lots of healthy and nutritious snack foods.
Occupy Your Hands
Make plans to occupy your time and your hands. What can you do to take your mind off smoking – puzzles, crosswords, jigsaws, doodling, knitting, drawing…
Get Moving
Be as active as possible. Perhaps the most important thing you can do to avoid weight gain is increase your physical activity. This will balance out the effects that nicotine had on your metabolism. Make definite plans to exercise more. Set aside times in the week for 30 minute sessions of exercising – walking, gym, swimming, cycling…As your lungs recover from the effects of smoking you will find exercising easier and will enjoy it. Feeling fitter and healthier you will be more motivated to keep to a regular routine.
Reward Yourself
Use the ££’s saved from not buying cigarettes to buy something to reward your efforts – a treat at a health spa, some new clothes, some sports equipment, days out, etc
Gaining weight was always my biggest biggest fear about giving up smoking. And as it happens, I may have gained a couple of pounds, but nothing to be too concerned about. Problem I'm now having is not about gaining weight, but loosing it. I was my heaviest ever in February when I gace up (well apart from now that is!) and I'd so like to get back to where I was 12 months ago. Half a stone, it nothing, but oh my its hard to shift. I power walk up quite a decent sized hill every morning with my collies, watch my diet, I cycle, go to the gym....
But every now and then... I snack.... Hula Hoops my current downfall, Oh and a regular glass of rioja! Relatively harmless compared to smoking, but heres the problem. Maybe I should accept the fact half a stone isn't so bad.....
bellabella, Well done for only putting on half a stone on, in six months I put on two stone!!!!!!!! Started smoking again two weeks ago after my dad died, Smoking is really making me feel ill,so will stop again very soon. Dont let yourself fall down the slippery slope towards nasty nic. You have done really well so keep going
monkyAdministratorCake sniffer outer in reply to nixy
Aup Jan
So smoking again's making you feel ill, so rite then gal, lets get you ready for your next quit eh When your ready that is, cos it has to be you that makes that decision, and nobody else
Dont you ever forget, we are all here to help each other, and we will Here's a starter for you !
Thinking about stopping smoking, stopping and staying stopped - its all a thinking game...
Posted by EmJay ROY CASTLE
20 Jan 2013
Stopping smoking isn't just always as simple and easy as making a decision to stop, putting out that last cigarette and then that's it, job done. If only.... There's a whole process to get through, not only leading up to quitting (preparing), there's also a 'middle' part (stopping) and then of course there's afterwards (staying stopped)
Depending on your reasons for wanting to (or sometimes having to) stop will determine how the process will leave you feeling - before, during and after.
For some people, giving up smoking isn't necessarily about the positive health benefits it can gain. It can quite often be to try and save money for a particuar reason, a holiday, more clothes, nicer things in life etc... sometimes it may simply be that this habit is no longer affordable and there are other important aspects of your life that the money needs to go towards.. Bills, food, clothes, etc
Sadly, if the reason for quitting is because it's become less affordable, then the person who is stopping smoking will quite often 'miss' smoking and feel that they really have 'given up something', as though they have had to sacrifice 'something' to get 'something' better
I think maybe if we can help this type of person to find another reason to stop smoking, a more selfish (in a positive way) reason so that they want to stop because they 'want to' rather than having to stop because they 'have to'... If that makes sense?
If you are of this kind of quitter, and you are doing it just for the money, say you win the lottery this week (fingers crossed, as you never know!) would you be more than likely to carry on smoking....?
If this is the case, then although we can help you to stop and you may never smoke again, it will be highly likely that you will always feel that your missing your (so called) friend. This means you'll never be totally free from smoking
It's really important to try and think about 'why' you smoke and 'what' you get out of it? What reasons can you think of that leads you to believe that smoking is something that you want to do for the rest of your life?
What do you actually enjoy about smoking? Remembering that the word 'enjoy' tends to lean towards something pleasurable. Is smoking really a pleasure? Some people actually think it is
Thinking about the financial and health benefits if quitting; The financial gains to quitting is quite unbelievable. Smoking is so costly these days. A 20-a-day smoker can save over £2,000 a year. However, the health gains are amazing and you definitely couldn't put a price on these benefits. Physically and mentally, the benefits are endless. Physically, the way your body makes a speedy recovery from the damage that smoking does to it is unbelievable. Within 20minutes things start to happen... Mentally, smoking makes us believe that we 'enjoy' it, it leads us to believe it makes us think straight, alleviates our depression, makes us happier... When really smoking causes us all the opposite of these problems and can lead to you feeling far worse.
Thinking about stopping smoking and staying stopped, it really can be just as simple or as hard as you make it...
Just the way you 'think' about it can determine how your journey goes....
Thank you monky, have read the above and taken it all in. My chest is really bad so it wont be long befor I join you happy non smokers. Just the thought of going through it all again is enough to put me off. I wasnt one of the people who found giving up easy, thought about nasty nic most of the time. Anyway it is something I really have to do and as soon as possible. I will be back !!!!!!!!!!!!. Thanks for your support x
My chest was terrible as well & hurting from all the smoke + I have / had asthma. The breathing has all got so much better & very quickly ... so hope the same for you + sense of smell & taste have come back (so weird at first). As for stopping well "yes" for some of us it is a nightmare ... but it has to be done - GOOD LUCK
By the way I have quit twice now at funny times 12 noon one day & 7AM the next attempt - so you do not have to wait until the next day to start (and then keep putting it off) !!
This is so true, both times a gave up it was after my most pleasurable ciggie, - the one first one of the day.... sounds mad but it worked for me, possibly helped me throught the first day at least!
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Still here!!
I've just found this on facebook
Still here and fighting the urge!
Still here but tough times 
Just checking in...
