My craving monster is throwing a major tantrum.....

[Pinkiezoom]

I see the craving as a naughty child and right now it's throwing a paddy from hell... Throwing itself on the floor with legs and arms flailing, and screaming until I give in .... Luckily I keep putting it on the naughty step, but I feel it brewing in my tummy for some reason!

I am surprised as I am still getting nicotine,that the craving is so tough for me!

I have finished reading the easyway book about quitting and the guy who wrote it says no nrt! As it makes it harder, and I see his rational but if this is what I am like with it.... I would have definitely caved by now without it.

My son said today over breakfast that he was so proud of me which I am keeping in my mind.... But I found myself eating spaghetti Bol at 1am this morning!!!! I am normally really strict with my eating as I get chubby really easily

This whole journey is one massive learning curve as the first time I quit was when I was trying for a baby so had other things to focus on, and the only other time was with champix which made me not care about anything, and didn't make me one a smoke! This time seems to be all the bells and whistles but at least it feels like it is my own doing.

Babbling over.... Just needed to distract myself until the craving tantrum was over!

Right sorry to bore you all but feel better.

Off to make some bread

X

[Lenne LONG TERM WINNER]

Hey Pinkiezoom, you're never boring so no apologies please

I've also read the easyway book and as soon as I read "no nrt" I said "jog on, treacle!"

Nrt is there for a reason, its not a weakness to need a help stepping down gradually. Some people work better cold turkey, everyone is different. I guess the point the dude who wrote the book is making is that eventually you will have to fly solo and not rely on nrt, just yourself, but I think it's up to you to decide when it's best.

I got fat when I quit smoking. I made a concious decision to stop worrying about my diet and just focus on one thing at a time. I wish I started working out when I quit, it would've been helpful in so many ways. Instead of feeling a craving and heading for the fridge to walk around the block (do we call it blocks in the UK? I am having a serious brainfart at the moment) or do 20 jumping jacks.

Basically you gotta do what you feel is right for you in your quitting journey Keep your chin up, we got your back, you aren't alone in your battle! xxx

[jillygirl Administrator Queen Bee in reply to Lenne]

Love that "jog on treacle"

[Lenne LONG TERM WINNER in reply to jillygirl]

I'm so articulate *cackles*

[Hidden]

Hey Pinkizoom, don't give in now, you've been doing so well. Do more than send it to the naughty step - give it a good slap and tell it to bog off! We'll get on that wii fit and keep the pounds off.

I read the Easyway book and went cold turkey and it wasn't so bad but if ecigs are working for you why not? It's the other poisons in smoking doing the harm.

[Pinkiezoom 26 Months Winner]

Awwww thanks everyone. Going to go and see if I can get second hand wii fit now rozi

Leanne thanks for your reply, makes sense to hear someone else re affirming my ideas. I nearly stopped reading the book when it got to the no nrt bit myself.... But decided to stick with it. I don't normally crave food bad have a set routine for my meals ( OCD strikes again ) but was just pacing around in the early hours lol!

X

[EmJay Partner]

Hey Al, the good news is that how you are / were feeling when writing your post is all part of the normal process of stopping smoking. This feeling may come and go a number of times, but I promise you that it won't last

Seeing it as a 'naughty child' is a good analogy

Remembering that you have to allow the time for those nicotine receptors to die down, regardless of whether you are using NRT or not. Even by using NRT, you are not feeding yourself with as much or as often as you would when you smoked, (see how I said 'smoked'?! ) so those receptors will be noticing a difference in your change of use of nicotine.

When using the e-cig try and make a conscious effort to only use it as and when you feel a craving and don't fall into the trap of having it in your hand constantly - this makes it more tempting to use it much more than you would if it was a regular cigarette.

With regards to the Alan Carr book, it contains some really good hints and tips but I think that you just have to find the bits that work for and suit you... A bit like going to the supermarket shopping, theres something for everyone but you don't go in and buy everything - you get the things that you need Take what information from the book that stories a chord with you and use it

Remembering that there are two stages to becoming smokefree;

1. Stopping smoking

2. Staying stopped

They have to be done one stage at a time and in that order.

You're successfully moving in the right direction within the 'stopping smoking' stage and it won't be too long before you've successfully landed in the 'staying stopped' mode.

You can do this

[Pinkiezoom 26 Months Winner in reply to EmJay]

Thanks emjay, I only allow myself 20 goes on the ecig a day, as I was a 20 a day smoker, maybe crazy logic but my friend uses hers all the time and I just think it makes coming off it so much harder! I even have a tick count on my kitchen notice board so I can make sure I don't go over lol.... Sad I know, and I keep it in a top cupboard so it's an effort to get to, I am vertically challenged lol! Only seem to have between 12-15 puffs on it a day which I reckon is less nic than when I was smoking. One fill up lasts 4 days which equates to 10 fags in nicotine terms!!! My god I am a geek lol!! X

[yellowsnowdrop]

Al,I guess the nicotine monster is gone hopefully by now.It's giving you a bit of a rough trot at the minute.Damon thing just when you feel you're in control it rears it's ugly head.Don't even think about ditching the NRT,if you need it that's what it's for.I only stoped using my ECig because of being in hospital(I was sucking on the thing for grim death right up until I walked thru those hospital doors!!!) You are a non smoker,how good does that sound.Don't worry about the eating,I'm with Lenne on that one,I'm fatter now than I've ever been but the difference is I'm a fat non smoker of 5 months !! Stay focused,I'm rooting for you every step of the way(I'm the hippo in the tutu with the cheergirl pom poms !!!!) EEEEUGHHHH what a thought! Hel x

[Pinkiezoom 26 Months Winner in reply to yellowsnowdrop]

Thanks Helen I think sometimes too much info or conflicting info makes me worried! I am not coming off the ecig as by now I would have def given in. I also know I won't smoke again, I did it with drink, just got up one day and went no more booze for me, and that was that. So I know I am capable. Just lol!

P.s I think you would look just fine in a tutu x

[yellowsnowdrop]

Not fine in the tutu but not gonna worry ! I think you're pretty amazing & don't worry about the Ecig,you have the right attitude so it 'll all come right in the end.Will post those pics asap.

[Rainbowlilybet 9 MONTH WINNER]

You are doing great Al. Part of the solution is recognising your cravings so you are really getting there

My nicotine cravings have been replaced by banana angel delight cravings. Very random

[Pinkiezoom 26 Months Winner in reply to Rainbowlilybet]

lol Rainbow how funny, although to be fair banana angel delight is tasty X

[Rainbowlilybet 9 MONTH WINNER in reply to Pinkiezoom]

The big problem is that banana seems to be the most popular so supermarkets have every flavour but. I was driving from supermarket to supermarket frantically searching last week

[Pinkiezoom 26 Months Winner in reply to Rainbowlilybet]

LOL god that made me burst out laughing! awww bless. x