Messed up... more thought needed

[Tracker2000]

hi to all my new chums and fellow quitters... I have a confession. Even though I am still 3 days from my official quit date I have been preparing and cutting down but have to admit i fell over at the weekend

I cut down the previous week from 25-30 a day to 12-15 a day without too much effort and I guess I got a bit complacent. Long story short a domestic spat on Friday had me back on the vino and back to 25-30 fags all over the weekend. Back on track-ish from Monday but it did bring it home to me that this is not gonna be a walk in the park and I need to have a strategy for such situations, bearing in mind the local fag shop is one minutes walk from my house.

I think I am well prepared initially.. I have NRT in place, I have my list of reasons printed and ready to go, I have an appointment with the cessation clinic on 28th April (soonest i could get), I have created a spreadsheet which tells me every day in BIG text how much money I have saved so far, and I have even got a Spring Clean My Life plan which lists all the things that are bugging me about my life and what I am going to do about each one, smoking being number 1 on the list.

However I was unprepared for how easy it was for my will power to go out the window at the first sign of a drama. I really need to get strategy in place for such situations as they are bound to occur on a regular basis and, as i said before, the fag shops is so close! 

Any advice welcome ☺️

[glolin LONG TERM WINNER]

Hi tracker

Loving your planning that you have done already- it,ya be worth reading the Allen Carr easy way to quit smoking. This book explores how smoking can't and won't make it better we just think that it will.

If you google it - it is a free down load. If you have any trouble , just hollow and I will find the link for you 😀😀👍👍

Another thing - when thing go wrong just log on to this site - vent, chat do what ever you need to do to keep you from lighting up.

Most importantly - remind yourself every day that you can do this - and believe in your yourself 😀😀👍👍

I if I can do it anyone can - 40 yrs of 30 a day and a cold turkey quit.. I started day one and just kept telling myself this will pass....and you know what - it does. 😀😀 the less you think about the better it is, keeping busy, drinking lots of water etc.

You have a very good plan don't start doubting yourself 😀😀👍👍

[Tracker2000 5 MONTH WINNER in reply to glolin]

Hi glolin

Wow, cold turkey after all that time!! Hats off to you and yes you are right, one day at a time. My brother quit by telling himself it was only for one day, then just another day, then lets try it for a week and finally he didn't want to do it any more. It's the "never again" part that is so scary for long time smokers. He told himself he could start again after each stage so he never had the "never again" scary bit to contend with. Smart!!

Forgot to mention in my plan that I have the Allan Carr CDs in my car, have been listening on my long journeys but this has proved to be a bad plan as it ensures I am thinking about smoking for the whole time!!! Am gonna get the book

Thanks for your advice

[Briarwood Administrator Ducky in reply to Tracker2000]

Ya can save your money and download PDF version for free👍🏼😊

[glolin LONG TERM WINNER in reply to Tracker2000]

What I did was carry half a pkt smokes around for probably the first 3 months, the first week they stayed in my handbag, then I left them then in the car...this way...it was me in control....I could have a smoke any time I wanted one...but I was choosing not to smoke....my hubby did the same thing 10 years ago.

I had funny thing week 3 of my quit..I went to put the bird cage outside (big cage with wheels) as I struggled through the bac door, 3 of the wheels fell out and the remaining one broke..fuming - magpies flapping around at my then weeks old cockatiel, I struggle to get the cage back inside ..fixed that up..frustrated as all hell (hubby was away) ok..carm down..I will mow the lawns...get mower out, no fuel...grrrrrr...cursing like no tomorrow- went got fuel.. Pull on the rope a couple of times and the rope cord breaks and is in my hand....I was so angry.....but...could have had a smoke as I had half a packet...but chose not to...I knew that day that I would never smoke again...I was so frustrated and angry, to be honest was even in tears....but still never had a smoke 😀😀

[Tracker2000 5 MONTH WINNER in reply to glolin]

Control.....Choice..... I like those words, will add them to my posters. Look forward to my own "defining moment" 😃

[Briarwood Administrator Ducky]

Smoking is a habit that our brains have learned so it's retraining your brain to cope without lighting up. It's automatic, it's what we do without any thought. So now it's time to STOP, breathe and think what your options are. Write a list of options....... Log on here and shout as Lin has said. 20 press ups or 20 star jumps. That certainly puts the craving on hold😂 Look at the pinned post for 5 mins craving busters. Go for a walk or drink a pint of water. The list you write will help you learn how to cope. Remember that learning something new will take a bit of practise but it will get easier as you do it more often. You are in control and you can do this🚭🚭🚭🚭🚭😊

[Tracker2000 5 MONTH WINNER in reply to Briarwood]

thanks briarwood

i will make a list of alternative actvities

Makes me laugh when so many people say "go for a walk". hasn't stopped raining here since october!!!!! 😂

[Briarwood Administrator Ducky in reply to Tracker2000]

☔️☔️☔️☔️😂😂 yep I got an answer for everything😎

Good luck with that list🍀

[glolin LONG TERM WINNER in reply to Briarwood]

And we all love you for it Briar❤️❤️🌷🌷🚭👍😀😀

[Briarwood Administrator Ducky in reply to glolin]

😂😂😂😂

[glolin LONG TERM WINNER in reply to Tracker2000]

That's why the made umbrellas ☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️ That is a long time of crappy weather...it is actually raining in my part of the world (Aussie) first day in ..OMG...I don't even remember the last wet day. Opposite seasons down under 🇦🇺

[Tracker2000 5 MONTH WINNER in reply to Briarwood]

PS. I love that people like you who are two years quit are still contributing to this site to help others. Humbling.....

[Maddyg]

You can do it, and it sounds like you have a good plan. I had a nhs calender on my wall , and each day it told me what my body was doing /benefiting from not smoking. I use to love taking each day off.  I tend to go for a walk in situations like that and deep breathing, or I come on here and chat. Stay strong we are here for you x

[Tracker2000 5 MONTH WINNER in reply to Maddyg]

Liking the sound of that calendar maddy, i am a very visual person, hence my spreadsheet, love seeing tangible prrof of my endeavours.  Do you know where i can get hold of one of those calendars?

[Briarwood Administrator Ducky in reply to Tracker2000]

nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/iphonesm...

[monky Administrator 45 Months Cake sniffer outer in reply to Briarwood]

Yep, shes got an answer for everything!!

Luvs ya ta bits Briar xx.

[glolin LONG TERM WINNER in reply to monky]

Are you doing the night shift cos by my calculations its around 4am in the UK

[monky Administrator 45 Months Cake sniffer outer in reply to glolin]

Yeah I'm on nights,  just on my break. 

3.55am,  best get back to work now!!!!!  See ya soon Lin.  Xx

[droopyJ in reply to monky]

Oi stop shirking mister monky...😂

I reckon I'm doing flippin night duty with ya... Been awake since just after 2am... Flippin cream crackered 😟💤💤💤💤

[Maddyg in reply to Briarwood]

Thanks briar , sorry Tracker fell asleep x

[Hidden]

Hi Tracker,

Sounds like you're good to go👍🏻   Everything is in place.... I had to remind myself that I will have really bad days and really good days whether I smoke or not ....

Best wishes fom🇨🇦

[Tracker2000 5 MONTH WINNER in reply to Hidden]

Good point Arizona...am gonna make another poster with that on! Tnanks x

[Hidden in reply to Tracker2000]

Way to go🎖 The first month is the hardest.... You will do it... We're here for ya xx

[Tracker2000 5 MONTH WINNER in reply to Hidden]

Hi again, I have spent the day working on my plan... It now has a title and a logo. I call it " Quit Smoking and Get The Things You Want" The logo is a pic of me triumphant after a tough cycle climb with a No Smoking sign superimposed. So now I am a Brand!!! 😂😂 The title and logo appear at the top of all my posters and lists, of which there are many! Which reminds me, I must get blu-tac tomorrow...

I have also changed my reasons for quitting as some were a bit negative and unquantifiable like "reduce the risk of stroke" and the Buy a New Car one was a tad ambitious! So now my reasons are all positive and measureable. 

Have been out and bought lots of fruit and veg and nuts and stuff, am going to make a big healthy smoothie each day and take it to work to sip on when i get the urge to smoke. 

[Hidden in reply to Tracker2000]

Just got your message at work... You are definitely on the right track!!!!  Keep. Up the great work 👍will check in later😊

[Sandie51]

Hi Tracker

With all the good advice you have been given I'm just going to say go for it!!! and if it helps believe me I have had a few stressful things happen so I just throw a tantrum 😡 Break down into tears , and if I think about a cigarette I look at my calendar and see how well iv been doing, I score each day off as I use the technique of one day at a time . Welcome 😃😃

[Hidden]

Hi Trackcer

I printed lists of the benefits from quitting based on the time elapsed which served as mini milestones and I never admitted to myself that I would never smoke again (this always tripped me up in the past, that sense of loss and longing). I timed my cravings with a stopwatch (phone app), wherever it happened, I was surprised at how I was able to handle the cravings by taking them on like this, almost as if i was taking back control of my life in that way (sounds melodramatic now), the cravings also did not last that long. I also consumed vast amounts of tictacs (still do), i in fact had no limitations on eating, this help a lot, i have put on about 4kg (11 pounds) but figured this is part of the bigger play ( i have already dropped some of that). And probably one of the most important things i did was to stay "glued" to this site, reading old posts and the pinned posts, it not only helped to pass time but also helped to suffer with other people, that is very powerful, that feeling of "brotherhood". (The long time quitters really helped more than i could ever imagine, i desperately wanted one of those long term badges)

I am a bit of rebel by nature so i did not tell anyone that i was quitting, the wrong kind of comment would have just flipped me out. Nobody at my work smokes, so that was easy to overcome. I also could not have cigs anywhere near me, as i would probably light up without even realising.

Anyways, before this quirt i had never managed more than 24 hours, so to get to to 4.5 weeks for me is quite incredible and long may it continue. I still tell Mr Nic I might have a cig sometime in the future, but exactly when is becoming vague, and that is good enough for him for now.

Good luck for the quit. 

Karel

[Tracker2000 5 MONTH WINNER in reply to Hidden]

nice to hear from you Karel, i can relate to so much you are saying.. lists and mini milestones are good for me as I am not a stamina person, more of a 5 minute wonder person. Hence when i have quit before i feel great for a couple of weeks then it all gets a bit tedious. i am working on my strategies to cope with those times when they arrive as i know they will. Great idea to log the cravings, will be a good visual to see how many times you have beaten Mr Nic and watch those times mount up, love that idea, makes it into kind of a competition 😃

Like you I will not tell myself never again and I am not telling my friends and family either, they have heard it all before and like you say, one sarcy comment and my rebel will kick in. Much nicer to be able to surprise them abit further down the line when they ask with a casual "Smoking? No,  I haven't done that for weeks!" 

Well done on your quit so far, look forward to seeing the 5 week badge next time we speak.... keep it up new friend xx