(Quit Smoking – Weight Loss) 6 months Side Challenge

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/02/2009 09:19:31 AM · #101

Originally posted by jettyimages:

Originally posted by printer4u:
In fact the easiest days were the first 2 or 3 days. from there is has gotten harder and harder which kind of worries me.
]

Oh dear. Now I have waves of panic settling in, please don't tell me it just gets worse :-( i was feeling so good tonight..... aaarrgggghhhh

Hang in there, Trish! You're doing a great job!

This is day 2 morning for me. Feel pretty good so far, but I've never been a morning smoker. Last night was REALLY tough, but I made it. I'm hoping things will get better soon, at least before hubby comes home. That will be a test FOR SURE. He's a great guy and a non-smoker, but very high-strung and very sensitive. I'm a very laid back person so him being high strung stresses me out, then I crave, then I cry, then he takes it personally and feels bad, then he'll tell me like he always does, that maybe I'm one of those people that needs one every once in a while. That's sweet, but not the right thing to say, because it makes it easy for me to agree.

That is Friday. Maybe by then I won't be so IRRITATED.

poser

Canon EOS-60D

06/02/2009 09:25:23 AM · #102

Well I weighted today and I have lost a pound. I did a weight loss ritual at the last Dark Moon, so have really been watching what I eat and making better choices. I start a two week road trip next Wednesday so hopefully I'll stay on track. I have been smoke free for 114 days so I don't worry about it as much as I use to. I have always struggled with my weight so maybe this time I'll get the hang of it and do better.

jettyimages

06/02/2009 09:39:36 AM · #103

Originally posted by cynthiann:

Originally posted by jettyimages:

Originally posted by printer4u:
In fact the easiest days were the first 2 or 3 days. from there is has gotten harder and harder which kind of worries me.
]

Oh dear. Now I have waves of panic settling in, please don't tell me it just gets worse :-( i was feeling so good tonight..... aaarrgggghhhh

Hang in there, Trish! You're doing a great job!

This is day 2 morning for me. Feel pretty good so far, but I've never been a morning smoker. Last night was REALLY tough, but I made it. I'm hoping things will get better soon, at least before hubby comes home. That will be a test FOR SURE. He's a great guy and a non-smoker, but very high-strung and very sensitive. I'm a very laid back person so him being high strung stresses me out, then I crave, then I cry, then he takes it personally and feels bad, then he'll tell me like he always does, that maybe I'm one of those people that needs one every once in a while. That's sweet, but not the right thing to say, because it makes it easy for me to agree.

That is Friday. Maybe by then I won't be so IRRITATED.

Oh Cynthia I know what you mean, its so hard when there's another adult to deal with, especially a stressy one. Enjoy the fact that you have the 4 days, they really will be the worst, and by then you'll be feeling victorious and much less irritated. I was feeling shocking this morning and most of the day, but then something happened at about 4pm, it was as though I won the war, and I felt really really good for ages. And any craving thats come my way has simply been a thought, a feeling, but nothing I can't identify and convince myself is ok to pass by. NOTHING like the rest of the day, so I'm thinking its going to improve from here. DO hang in there, it probably won't feel good today, but look forward to that feeling later today when you've beaten those stupid nicotine demons. Are you using patches? I do find it takes the edge, only a very tiny pixel of an edge, but definitely something is better than pure unadulterated cold turkey, lol.

Good luck Cynthia, and to you all, I look forward to waking in the morning to more success stories!

06/02/2009 01:31:22 PM · #104

Ladies and gents,
Today is your second day, and I bet you feel freakin awesome. You are the champions, you are the people who decided to take the challenge and change your life. I bet there are 10s out there watching the progress with jealousy, watching the champion team taking the steps .. changing their life .. to the best .. and thinking how they missed the opportunity and wish they joined us.

The good news is: you are one of these champions, you are a DPC Champion. The bad news is: You get to do the work : )

First of all, I am so proud of you all, truly madly deeply proud of you. You all deserve an awesomeness ribbon and another one for the stick-to-it-ness : )

Day 2
Things to expect:
1- By now you might be having an intense feeling your lungs are shrinking, whatever amount of breathing you do is not supplying enough oxygen. Your breathing is heavy, trying to keep it under control, It is like scuba diving, you have to control the rhythm and keep it going slowly. Breatheeeeeeeeeeeeee
2- Chest pain and headache are increasing, btw here where the dreams should start : )
3- A little aggressive, seems little things offend you, try to remind yourself nothing is really that bad, it is just that demon inside you .

Thinking Positive:
1- By the end of today, you will be 2 days without smoke. You saved 40 cigarettes, you are closer to quit smoking.
2- A little test, simply put that hand you used to use when smoking close to your nose, guess what .. you will be actually able to smell your skin!! Did you realize before that your fingers can smell something else rather than smoke?
3- Reward yourself with a spray from your favourite perfume, today you will be able to smell it for the rest of the day, and it will actually going to last till bed time.

Things to do:
1- Drink lots of water and breath.
2- Get busy, don't give yourself a chance to think about your craving.
3- Don't hang out around temptation, stay in healthy environment and away from smokers.
4- Todays goal is to stay smoke free, one step at the time .. one day at the time ..

You can do it, an May the power be with the reds today : )

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/02/2009 02:58:26 PM · #105

Ok .. I feel like posting again, I am so happy we are reaching this point in general, and in personal today I am 3 weeks smoke free.
I can say that I am almost there, the craving is there but can honestly say it doesnâ��t bother me anymore, I only get craving attacks when I smell smoke, but even though, they are not that severe. Most of the day I am not thinking about it at all, unless when I am reading or updating this thread : )
I think by reaching 1 month, the critical period of time will be over, after that it is matter of maintenance, keep smoke free, not submitting to even a single buff, and keep my guards up and this would be it.

A piece of information Iâ��d like to share: How many people quit smoking each year 7% of 1 million = 70,000
So from each 1 million smoker, 70,000 quit YEARLY. The reason I am mentioning this info, is to let you know there are millions of people quitting each year, if they can do it, we can .. not buts or ifs .. we all on the right track and heading to the right direction.

One more thing, Yesterday my wife and I got invited to Dinner at friends. The food was amazing, but what really caught my attention was my ability to taste has increased incredibly, weâ��ve been served a wonderful salad that is a mix of vegetables and fruits, I was able to differentiate the ingredients, never tasted fruits that sweet, itâ��s like having sugar sticks dipped in honey!! When I commented that it is very sweet, everyone looked at me surprisingly saying it is just fruits no sauce or sweeteners added, so I was eating plane fruits and it tasted like heaven. I used to have sugar craving specially at night, sometimes they are very strong that it wakes me up from sleep. I had one sugar craving attacks yesterday, It woke me up at 4AM, this time I tried 1 peach, needless to say it tasted so sweet that it was super enough for me.

printer4u never too late, you are most welcome to join us, at the moment your status are included in the chart above. Congratulation on your 13th day. I heard about using hypnotism to quit smoking but never got in contact with any one who actually tried it. Also Iâ��ve seen people who used Laser to quit smoking, none of them that succeeded though. I am really curious how did it go, I mean the actual hypnotherapy .. do you recall what happened?

jettyimagesThe chest pain will go away, trust me, give it a few days and it will go. hot/cold sensation as well, you are doing great.

cynthiann you are on your second day today, congratulation .. btw, getting physical work like magic, fast walk etc .. good call for taking out the cigarettes. Keep up, it will get easier in couple of days.

Intelli hang in there, I know it should be very intense by now, but it will go away, trust in on that .. it will go away and you will remain smoke free.

ShalomDementia I sent you a PM.

cosprenks Very well done on that pound, thats the way to go .. one pound at a time .. keep up the good work.

jotaga

Mark-A

BAMartin

VitaminB

nickp37 How is it going with you guys? I hope things are going fine.

Mark-A

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

06/02/2009 03:12:38 PM · #106

Good thanks Ameed, went for a bike ride today, spent about 20 minutes or so out doing a circuit that I have gone round with the kids a couple of times in the last week or so. I decided that I would try and do it continuously peddling as when the kids are with me I spend most of the time freewheeling - I managed that and when I got off the bike my legs were like Jelly :) When the girls found out that I had been out for a ride they wanted to go out so I also ended up doing half the circuit again with them this evening heh.

Feeling pretty good, although my back was very tender first thing this morning from the brick laying probably, soon loosened up though and really looking forward to the end of week 1 when I weigh myself to see if I have made even the smallest progress - a couple of lbs will do me for starters :)

I'm so pleased for all of the members here that are giving up the smokes though you are all doing so well, Keep fighting the fight!

BAMartin

Apple iPhone 5

06/02/2009 03:24:03 PM · #107

I know that my biggest stumbling block when I have tried to quit before has been stress. I will be going along happily not smoking, some huge stressful thing will rear up in my life and I immediately run to the nearest Circle K for a pack of smokes.

Today I had one of those huge stresses present itself in my life. The first thing I thought of was "God I need a cigarette". But I immediately thought of this group of champions, drank a huge glass of water and talked myself out of the cigarette. I am quite pleased with myself at the moment.

Mark-A

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/02/2009 03:31:20 PM · #108

That's brilliant Barbara! Really well done it's so hard to break out of those sort of habitual situations and now you KNOW next time that something like that arises that you have the strength to get through it!

06/02/2009 03:37:27 PM · #109

Originally posted by Mark-A:

Feeling pretty good, although my back was very tender first thing this morning from the brick laying probably,

Please do take care of your back, I feel the pain as I am in the same boat, I've been delaying the gym participation due to my back problem, yesterday I woke feeling I've been run over by a truck, the back pain was really bad in the morning, but this might be for being inactive for such a long time. I'll do some house work today and hit to the gym, even if to subscribe only :)

06/02/2009 03:39:38 PM · #110

Originally posted by BAMartin:

Today I had one of those huge stresses present itself in my life. The first thing I thought of was "God I need a cigarette". But I immediately thought of this group of champions, drank a huge glass of water and talked myself out of the cigarette. I am quite pleased with myself at the moment.

Very well done Barb, you are amazing .. You are doing it .. straight and steady baby : ) very well done and keep up, in few days it will be over, in few weeks will be having a good laugh about it .. hang in there.

Quigley

06/02/2009 03:53:54 PM · #111

Originally posted by BAMartin:

I just asked if I could sneak on to the on set computer and they said yes. I did it to have a quick look at my FS and then off but I saw this and thought I would give a quick WAY TO GO BARBARA you rock the house girl :)

Hang in there everyone I'm pulling for you.

MAX!

I better get off this thing before they call my son and I'm too engrossed to move :)~

Mal37

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

06/02/2009 05:52:46 PM · #112

Originally posted by AmeedEl-Ghoul:

...How is it going with you guys? I hope things are going fine.

Not off to a great start. I gave in today, but I'm not giving up. Tomorrow's another day, and as of this moment, I'm back to staying smoke-free. I'm going to get through this so I don't have to keep replaying this part over and over again. Tomorrow's gonna be hell, but I'm ready. I might have to check in here alot, though...

At least I've been eating better lately, though still little formal exercise. I have been active, though. I have lots of packing to do for an upcoming move.

On another note, the username change went through! Just thought I'd point that out :)

jettyimages

06/02/2009 06:12:56 PM · #113

Originally posted by Mal37:

Originally posted by AmeedEl-Ghoul:
...How is it going with you guys? I hope things are going fine.

Not off to a great start. I gave in today, but I'm not giving up. Tomorrow's another day, and as of this moment, I'm back to staying smoke-free. I'm going to get through this so I don't have to keep replaying this part over and over again. Tomorrow's gonna be hell, but I'm ready. I might have to check in here alot, though...

At least I've been eating better lately, though still little formal exercise. I have been active, though. I have lots of packing to do for an upcoming move.

On another note, the username change went through! Just thought I'd point that out :)

Hey Mal, don't let them take over. This is a brilliant and extremely unusual opportunity for you to meet the challenge of giving up smoking with a heap of other like minded people. We're all going through it at very similar stages, and we are here for you. I am on the morning of day 3 now, and I can promise you, if you get through the first two days, you WILL feel so much better by day 3. Look at it as having a flu (no, not the swine flu, lol) or a sore leg or something. Its going to feel like crap for 2 days, but then suddenly you're going to realise you're not feeling like crap, and you will feel amazing. Get rid of the smokes, in fact get someone else to do it - you will SO regret not going through with it this time if you go back. Be strong, if I can do it (and I'm pathetic when it comes to smoking), then YOU CAN. PM me any time, or write here any time, I want to help you if you need it.

And Ameed - YOU ARE AMAZING :-) I'd almost forgotten that you are still in the early stages of giving up, you have been such a huge inspiration and strength. Thank you :-)

printer4u

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

06/02/2009 06:13:52 PM · #114

Originally posted by AmeedEl-Ghoul:

printer4u ...I am really curious how did it go, I mean the actual hypnotherapy .. do you recall what happened?

I remember the whole thing. I even remember early on in the session when she told me she was going to ask me to raise my arms off the chair I figured i can do this...and I tried before she told me to...couldn't do it. I really thought I was "awake" the whole time which i guess you are really...but your subconcious mind is in someone elses control...at least as far as the power of suggestion goes. I remember "waking up" and feeling totally relaxed and rested but my eye lids were still heavy for a while.

A few things we discussed before the session:

I told her I wanted to redirect the negative energy it took to smoke into positive creative energy. Also mentioned I didn't want to gain weight or replace smoking with food. Haven't really seen the results from either yet. I think i have been kind of depressed (which is not at all like me) and/or lazy when it comes to picking up a camera. I do have a wedding to do this weekend so we shall see.

I remember her telling me the color red would be a significant color to me...that it represented "stop" as in "stop smoking". When I drove home I will tell you that every single little thing that was within sight caught my attention like it was lit up. It's not as strong now but it is still noticeable.

So today was better than yesterday. I had an urge (or thought) about smoking a few times but it went away as fast as it came. I did things for myself today. I visited the venue for this weekends wedding, took some test shots to study, processed some of them...very relaxing day overall.

MemberMal37 - Sorry to hear but that's OK...Keep trying. This is the 3rd or 4th time I have "quit" in my life. I figure it's like riding a bike... or when I learned to snowboard at 40 years old...I kept trying until I got it right.

Hope everyone else had a great day. Sure is nice to have a "place" to come to share.

Rick

06/02/2009 07:15:16 PM · #115

I'm glad the neighbors weren't out 15 minutes ago. My husband had kept me on the phone for an hour, eating potato chips in my ear, telling me everything happening on the sci-fi show he was watching. Talking with him on the phone is one of my smoking times for obvious reasons, but I can't not talk to him.

Anyway, my heart starts racing, my throat starts hurting, and the tears started flowing, he thought it was his fault and having to try to explain ALWAYS makes things worse. He kept offering to stay on the phone! By the time I got off the phone I was ready for a good bawl. So there I was standing on the porch, bawling, and blowing bubbles (silly, but it helps). Do you know the sound it makes when your bawling and blowing at the same time!

I thought day 2 was going to be easier than day 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll make it though, there ain't no way in hell I'm going to have to put myself through this again!

printer4u

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

06/02/2009 07:33:12 PM · #116

Originally posted by cynthiann:

Cynthia - I'm sorry to hear it was another bad time for you. I do understand the emotional thing though. There were a couple of days last week that Ijust felt like crying myself. Remember...this too shall pass.

Rick

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

06/02/2009 07:41:31 PM · #117

Thanks, Rick. Just having a hard time tonight. It passed for the most part, I guess, but damn this sucks!

It's really hard to explain to someone why you are crying when you don't know yourself. Poor Smed is 6 hours away and still feeling the wrath of my withdrawal. lol

Message edited by author 2009-06-02 19:44:21.

Intelli

Nikon D300

06/02/2009 09:17:46 PM · #118

So, I was just on the computer doing some work emails, and finished up. I immiadiatly got up to find my ciggs and go outside for a smoke, and I looked and looked.. then realized I didn't have any ciggs.. I quit! Damnit, I'm getting delirious.. this made me want a cigg really bad. I had to stop for 15 minutes and close my eyes and try and clear my head. I am worried that these constant thoughts of wanting to smoke won't go away.. these 2 days have been EXTREMELY LONG.. and seemed like they would never end. This is going to be really hard if I can't get these thoughts out of my head.. the physical addiction is not that bad.. I think it's mostly the mental addiction that I could stop whatever I'm doing and have a smoke anytime I wanted one. I'm ready for the day when I don't think about cigs.

06/02/2009 09:32:35 PM · #119

I keep reaching over to the end table every time a commercial comes on. Two loooong days is right!

Quigley

06/02/2009 10:05:54 PM · #120

Originally posted by AmeedEl-Ghoul:

Quigley But Max, why do you sound surprised, you are a good person and we all know that, you just don't know how good you are :) You'll be surprised by the amount of encouragement you will receive from strangers and people you just met, or from virtual''online'' friends like my self :) we all are cheering for you .. you can do it. Keep up the good work, you are on the right track. Btw sorry for the MBI mistake, I corrected it locally on my copy and will update it soon till we figure out which chart will be using. Btw Max, what kind of casting is your son doing?

Ameed, Thank you for your kind words. Isaac has a lead roll in a television series called Dino Dan and we've been filming for a year now and he has another year to go on this project, Now there's talk about a motion picture when this is finished and then moving the same group of kids into a new three year project that deals with space facts.

We filmed a movie in your keck of the woods two years ago called A Denice The Menace Christmas.

MAX!

jettyimages

06/02/2009 11:16:32 PM · #121

Oh guys, I really feel for you. Cynthia you made me laugh again with your simultaneous blubbering and bubbling - you'll look back at that and laugh too one day. Just cry, let it out - I'm finding thats the only way. There's this terrible passion that has absolutely nowhere to go, and it can become quite self destructive if you try to fight it. You either end up angry, or imploding, so crying is best.
Nic, I know that feeling of automatically going for the smokes. I just did 3 house shoots, and my usual habit is to pack up the camera, plan the smoke, get in the car, light up and enjoy it before the next house. But I couldn't, and I've been feeling really ripped off, there's nothing else I can do to satisfy that need.

But for both of you, or anyone else thats interested, I have a theory that may help in your thinking. My 3 year very intense relationship broke down on February 2 this year, and it was tough. He moved completely away to another state, and I was left with the remains of our life. At first it seemed impossible, everywhere I looked there were reminders of what had happened, of him, and of our dreams together. Every single inch of the house and city hurt. But as time went by, I started to realise that there is a first time for everything you have to do, as a single person, or as a non smoker. And that first time will really hurt. This is the time you can allow yourself to feel the craving, be angry, or cry. But the next time you experience that, it doesn't hurt nearly as much, and so on until you become unaware of the pain. You claim your life back and make each experience new - for me at the end of my relationship, the 'us' experiences had to become 'me', whether it was a drive in the country, a dinner out, a piece of music that we listened to, or any other experience really. The same applies to smoking - the first time will be crap, then after that, you claim ownership of that moment, such as the ads on tv, or getting in the car after a shoot, or talking on the phone, and you experience it for the first time as a non smoker. I guarantee that if you look at it that way, and don't stop yourself from feeling the intensity and discomfort of the first moment, you will find each and every ongoing time SO much easier. Every step is a major step, every time you experience a craving, you are one less craving towards success. You can only have so many cravings before they stop, so count them, enjoy them, hate them, laugh cry or scream, but know that craving will never happen again. There may be 3000 more to go through, but after your next one, there will be 2999. :-)

There endeth the sermon, lol. I hope it helps though.

now, where's my smokes? lol

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

06/02/2009 11:20:22 PM · #122

Originally posted by Mal37:

[quote=AmeedEl-Ghoul]...Not off to a great start. I gave in today, but I'm not giving up.

Mal37 Its ok, it happens, you are not far away yet, tomorrow is another day and I am sure you can do it, it is very easy once you are passed the first week. I am sure you can do it, you have the support of a wonderful team of champions in here, this chance might come rare. You can do it buddy.

jotaga

Canon EOS-7D

06/02/2009 11:22:37 PM · #123

Hey you all!
I stopped about 60 days ago and I really supported Ameed when he quit... this is my third trial... i tried once cold turkey and another time with patches... Now im with patches again... I like them because they let you handle one thing at a time... you can deal with the "smoking moments" having nicotine in your blood... so you get used to not smoke after eating, while drinking on talking on the phone etc... Well... this is a personal choice... but for me the patches works fine... (and i have some crazy dreams using the patches... they are reallu nice!!)

Im very glad to see you all fighting against this bad (and delicious) thing that is smoke... I like and hate cigarretes at the same time... but after all they are a bad thing that litteraly makes us burn our money while reducing the quality of our lifes... so I am sure that the non smoker is the right way...

I want to say that the cracings always pass... In portuguese a craving would be called "fissura" (just for you to know...). So when the fissura appears you just have to breath, have some water, wait for a while and ok... its gone

Some days later things will got easier... but also more "cheating"... you start to think that you have some control, and start to have strange thoughts like "I can have just one cigarrete after dinner", etd... DONT DO IT!! The cravings will come back at full power... trust me... its better to deal with it day after day...

If it happen... ok... time to restart the fight against the cigarretes, cravings, etc... but keeping on one step at a time, and avoiding ANY smoke rewards/tests is the better way...

As i said to Ameed... someone once said that we just can reach the place that we want starting just from where we are... so keep on going because you all are in the right way!!!

(continuing on the next post... Im afraid to lose this...)