Daily Chat : Wednesday 5th September 2012

Good morning Pete

It's lovely sunshine here today.. I'm just pottering round before I go to work!! Don't much want to go today however I'm aware this job needs finishing and it's already dragged on much longer than I would have liked.

Will pop back in a bit later x

Good Morning Everybody

It's Wednesday already, which means we are halfway through the week again! Weathers not as nice here as it sounds there Pete, I hope it us in Blackpool though for Jillygirl

You're now into your 2nd week of being smoke free Pete, stay strong and keep on welcoming those cravings in as they arrive. Remembering that once you fill your cravings bucket up, you can gladly empty them down the drain and feel as strong as ever

Lisa-Jane, I've not received any message from you at all, if you want to resend your info, I ll sort everything out for you once I get back into the office. It's a shame that you are paying full price for your NRT now when you could be just paying for the price of your prescription. (same goes for everybody) Having your CO reading done too will keep you motivated

Chris, how are you dong today? What as been the most trying part for you so far and how have you overcome it?

Andi, are you away out cycling today? I don't think I've ever known anybody who has been as motivated to take part in as much exercise on different days as you. Maybe you could share with everybody how you eased yourself into running in the way that you have

I hope everyone else is okay. Will pop on again once I am back in the office later this morning

Hi all - beutifully sunny here in Ldn too. Hope you're all doing OK. Thnaks for the tips on the breathing exercises yesterday, they helped.

EmJay - the most trying part I think has almost been a mourning over not being able to smoke & when get stressed about stuff, thinking about sitting outside in the sun with a nice fag. When not stressed its a lot better but family life & all - it stil all just goes on so really just have to try and block it out and believe it will get better. Have cut down on the coffee big time now and that helps

Plus find I'm going to bed a lot earlier now than when I smoked which is probably good as well

Good morning everyone, it seems we are having an exceptionally warm autumn which is weird eh!

Just thought I'd check in with you- since my doc's surgery receptionist has a bug up her butt the size of an elephant and wouldn't help me with getting a nurse to call me back regarding my smoking cessation I'm having to go from step 2 to step nowt in the nicotine patch dept until Thursday- apparently it's my fault for being agorophobic and not attending the face-to-face clinics. I am on day 2 of no patches and I am so ANGRY all the time, I feel like the incredible Hulk! On the plus side it's only the rage, not the cravings, that have been the problem and when I do get to speak to my nurse tomorrow going down to step 1 should be a walk in the park

It's been a bit of a tough time. I am trying to find a new flat, and being on disability means that potential landlords don't want me, plus the fact I have 4 cats means that there is more chance of me getting into my size 8 spandex trousers this year than a flat of my own so it's been very upsetting. Still, I have mints, a boxset of Friends, and fingers crossed. xxx

Good morning everybody, busy on here already today - maybe it's our lovely wall-to-wall sunshine!

Had a nice time yesterday but am stuck at home today awaiting a delivery any time from 9 til 5. It's horrible feeling trapped on such a lovely day. Never mind, my sister's taken herself off and I can do a bit of stuff at home and some gardening later. Think I might be having a bit of a minty day today though!

Hola Everyone

The weather has started to brighten up here and it's almost like a summers day... but not quite!

Pete, Each time that you really feel it, try a pint of water, maybe even put a bit of fresh lemon into it. Take a note of the time that you feel the craving coming on you and then again the next time. For it to come back on you, it must have gone away You are doing really well, you just have to learn to stay strong with it.

Chris, the feeling of mourning is very common. Think about it, cigarettes have been your (so called) friend through all your happy, sad, good and bad times in your life. So it's a natural sense of longing and mourning that you have. You can still sit outside and enjoy the sunshine, you just don't smoke with it. Try not to give yourself such a hard time about stopping, focus on the positive. It may even be worth your while trying to establish what it was that you found really nice or enjoyable when smoking in the sunshine... I can't think of anything nice about it at all any more. Thankfully

Andi, going onto decaf is a good idea. Especially during the evening time. It's also worth remembering that when new non-smokers also quit the caffeine, this can also lead to vivid dreams too I hope your delivery has turned up and you can do something nice with your day

Lisa-Jane, not sure if you reposted your message to me, but I haven't received it so far if you have? I hope your work is almost complete

Lenne, you just keep strong, you've come so far so don't let the attitude of somebody who means nothing to you, wind you up. Tomorrow will be here before you know it, just practice your breathing techniques. Maybe when you go along to your appointment, you can ask if they can book your next one in advance. It would be such a shame if you slipped at this point. As Andi has suggested, get one of your cross stitches out

Here's a few things for you all to think about....

1. Remember that you can smoke if you want to, nobody is telling you that you can't. Most people say "I want to stop smoking" and then when they do stop, they turn their self talk against themselves by saying things like "I want to smoke but I can't, because I'm giving up". Change your negative self talk to positive. Say things like "I can do this, I am doing this" or "If I stick this out, this feeling will pass"

2. It is you that is choosing not to smoke, you don't have to do this if you don't want to. However, what's the point in smoking? Really?

3. If you do smoke, you are doing something that you no longer want to do any more. Afterwards, you will probably feel awful, guilty, horrible. Just stay strong and see it through

4. You are stopping doing something that you no longer want to do any more.... remember this

Together we can do this. Just stay as positive as possible along the way

Ring them quick Andi.... :-X

Deep breaths and remember.... everything happens for a reason

hi peeps,smoke free since 29th June gone through the patches am down to the 7 mg started them this week.am past the chocolate phase now,its chockies for being good now but not every day,suffer a little weakness late at night,but by that time the shops/pubs are shut and i got chokcies and biscuits for that,its dooable you all keep up the good work

Hey Kengreen,

welcome to our on-line stop smoking community

Please have a nosie through the different posts and see what you find. Hopefully there will be something to help keep you motivated to stay stopped. You'll also find that there are many other people going through the same as you

I'll pop your name up onto our Wall of Winners, where every quitter is a winner

If there is anything you would like to know, please ask. If there are any hints or tips you have, then please share