(Quit Smoking – Weight Loss) 6 months Side Challenge

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

06/01/2009 07:09:27 PM · #77

Hi everyone and congratulations. For me today is day 13 with no smoking. Is it too late for me to join the group?

cynthiann

Nikon D810

06/01/2009 08:07:40 PM · #78

The cravings are coming in waves for me. Funny story, halfway home from work I turned around and went to CVS for some bubble. I heard it supposed to help. So I was buying these bubbles and waiting for the very slow cashier to ring them up while I was staring at the cartons and cartons of cigarettes. When she finally got done I practically ran to my car and ripped open the bubbles and started blowing away. I can imagine what it looked like... a grown woman in a car in a parking lot in the middle of town blowing hundreds of bubbles and not even looking very happy at all. LOL

Funny aside, I'm hanging in there so far. I'm glad the family is away so only the dogs get the full force of my withdrawal. Poor little guys.

Little things that are helping me other than bubbles, which at home on my back porch is actually helping, are shelled peanuts, lemon water, and hot peppers. I have a little habenero pepper... when I nibble on it just a touch it burns my mouth. Nobody wants to smoke after eating something spicy. It just makes it worse.

Oh, and that link

farfel53 posted helps a whole lot too.

23 hours, 7 minutes and 2 seconds. 9 cigarettes not smoked, saving $2.53. Life saved: 45 minutes.

Thanks Ameed, for the inspiration!!

BAMartin

Apple iPhone 5

06/01/2009 08:29:12 PM · #79

Originally posted by printer4u:

Hi everyone and congratulations. For me today is day 13 with no smoking. Is it too late for me to join the group?

By all means, the more the merrier. Welcome to our little group.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

06/01/2009 08:41:50 PM · #80

Originally posted by printer4u:

Hi everyone and congratulations. For me today is day 13 with no smoking. Is it too late for me to join the group?

I'd love to hear how you're going, and when it got better for you - I'm on day 2

Thanks Cynthia for the laugh - that must have been hilarious to watch, the grumpy woman blowing bubbles in a closed car, lol. Don't you wish you had a photo of that?!

cynthiann

Nikon D810

06/01/2009 08:54:31 PM · #81

Originally posted by jettyimages:

Originally posted by printer4u:
Hi everyone and congratulations. For me today is day 13 with no smoking. Is it too late for me to join the group?

I'd love to hear how you're going, and when it got better for you - I'm on day 2

Thanks Cynthia for the laugh - that must have been hilarious to watch, the grumpy woman blowing bubbles in a closed car, lol. Don't you wish you had a photo of that?!

I'd love to know about when you decided it was getting easier, too! I'm coming up on 25 hours and not liking it one bit. I asked my daughter to take my cigs a couple of hours ago and on her way out, she said she left me one just in case. I made her go back and get it. I'm glad I did.

And yeah, I do wish I were on the outside looking in at me. The bubbles were blowing out of the window by the hundreds. LOL Must have been funny. I do wish I had a picture. :)

I'm out to blow some more now. They'll start calling me the bubble lady here in the neighborhood instead of the bird lady like they do now. LOL

jotaga

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

06/01/2009 08:55:05 PM · #82

CONGRATULATIONS EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

06/01/2009 09:04:51 PM · #83

Originally posted by cynthiann:

Originally posted by jettyimages:

Originally posted by printer4u:
Hi everyone and congratulations. For me today is day 13 with no smoking. Is it too late for me to join the group?

I'd love to hear how you're going, and when it got better for you - I'm on day 2

Thanks Cynthia for the laugh - that must have been hilarious to watch, the grumpy woman blowing bubbles in a closed car, lol. Don't you wish you had a photo of that?!

I'd love to know about when you decided it was getting easier, too! I'm coming up on 25 hours and not liking it one bit. I asked my daughter to take my cigs a couple of hours ago and on her way out, she said she left me one just in case. I made her go back and get it. I'm glad I did.

And yeah, I do wish I were on the outside looking in at me. The bubbles were blowing out of the window by the hundreds. LOL Must have been funny. I do wish I had a picture. :)

I'm out to blow some more now. They'll start calling me the bubble lady here in the neighborhood instead of the bird lady like they do now. LOL

I'm with you there, it really is crap. I did find crying helped this morning, it somehow released some of the tension. And walking really fast. Do you feel as though you have a passion inside you that just can't be let out, can't be fulfilled, and all you want to do is scream, but you know that won't help either, it will just make you want to smoke more?
Aren't we all idiots for ever getting into this position. And if everyone else has managed to give up, we can do it too, don't stop now.

cynthiann

Nikon D810

06/01/2009 09:21:46 PM · #84

I know exactly what you're talking about! Every word. I had a good cry, too. Last time I tried to quit certain people took it the wrong way. LOL One reason this was a good few days to quit... being alone. But, like you, I've got a puppy, and he is definitely NOT helping.

Looks like I'm going to make it for the first full day. woot!

BAMartin

Apple iPhone 5

06/01/2009 09:24:01 PM · #85

You ladies are my heros!!! I was in your position just 60 days ago and if I can do it so can you! You have my utmost respect right now, hang in there.... one moment, one hour, one day at a time.

06/01/2009 09:32:12 PM · #86

Originally posted by cynthiann:

Hey Cynthia, well done girl! If you've made it through the first day completely smoke free, you can feel angry, grumpy or whatever you like, but you have also succeeded. And if you survived that day, you will survive tomorrow too. I'm on 'tomorrow', its bloody awful, but its NOT worse than yesterday. I'm just grumpier, lol. And my free study score really sucks, I feel like yelling at everyone that they have no idea what emotion is, lol.
Have a good sleep and enjoy your grumpiness tomorrow - feel free to yell in this direction, i can yell back at you and we'll both get it out of our systems :-)

Barbara, thank you :-) xx

06/02/2009 01:57:21 AM · #87

Originally posted by AmeedEl-Ghoul:

Guys, things to expect in day 1, please note that these symptoms might vary from a person to another.

Things to expect:
1- Headache. Like Ice hand squeezing your brain.
2- Some hot/cold sensation going through your body.
3- Chest pain '' don't misinterpret this as unhealthy sign '' it is your body crying from craving.

Things to know:
1- Headache will go away, lots of water will help.
2- The ho/cold sensation will go, it is your brain not used to the poisoning nicotine in it. It will recover.
3- The chest pain is due to the craving, it will go away, you will breath better and will be better person VERY SOON.

Things to do:
1- Drink lots of water and breath.
2- Get busy, don't give your self 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 ALL CAN DO IT.

Ameed I am so glad you put this here. I've been suffering from really awful chest pain for a few hours, its not at all nice, and when I breathe in its worse. Glad to see I'm not the only one! No headache, but absolutely yes to the hot/cold sensation!

06/02/2009 03:33:42 AM · #88

Sorry to be posting so much on this, but I expect you'll all be writing tonight while I'm asleep. Or you should anyway, its good for the whole process.
I had a really hard day of it, but you know what? About half an hour ago I realised that I was actually having a GOOD moment, and I really enjoyed it. I had become used to feeling grumpy, physically awful and angry at the little aliens in my head - so much so that when I finally had a good moment, I grabbed it with both hands and thoroughly enjoyed it. I am now officially a non smoker, in my mind and in reality!!!
I celebrated by driving into town with ZZ Top playing at full volume (now that really is weird for a classical musician.....), ran into a dress shop and bought myself a nice new sexy top to wear to the pub on my girls nights out, with the money that I would have spent on smokes in the last 2 days. Well, 3, I gave myself an advance, lol.

I feel good!!!! Yay!!!!!
So guys, if you're feeling like crap, you have the end of day 2 to really look forward to. Turn the music up loud, feel the small relief you might actually notice, and enjoy it!!!!

06/02/2009 04:05:32 AM · #89

Originally posted by jettyimages:

I feel good!!!! Yay!!!!!
So guys, if you're feeling like crap, you have the end of day 2 to really look forward to. Turn the music up loud, feel the small relief you might actually notice, and enjoy it!!!!

Congratulations Trish!

Try and remember the whole feeling of buying the top and how you felt prior to that it will help you be strong if you need to recall it in the coming days / weeks / months. Giving yourself rewards definitely works and I remember using the same tactic to great effect, it helps also if you have something specific in mind that you will use as a reward - not too expensive that it seems like it will take forever to save for.

That feeling when you label yourself a "non smoker" that's a HUGE step so seriously well done!

06/02/2009 04:17:54 AM · #90

Originally posted by Mark-A:

Originally posted by jettyimages:
I feel good!!!! Yay!!!!!
So guys, if you're feeling like crap, you have the end of day 2 to really look forward to. Turn the music up loud, feel the small relief you might actually notice, and enjoy it!!!!

Congratulations Trish!

Try and remember the whole feeling of buying the top and how you felt prior to that it will help you be strong if you need to recall it in the coming days / weeks / months. Giving yourself rewards definitely works and I remember using the same tactic to great effect, it helps also if you have something specific in mind that you will use as a reward - not too expensive that it seems like it will take forever to save for.

That feeling when you label yourself a "non smoker" that's a HUGE step so seriously well done!

Thanks Mark. Yeah, i know I will probably regress and have more bad times - but I've decided that if I approach the whole thing with the knowledge that I am going to feel terrible most of the time, then the good times will continue to stand out. I know tomorrow will still be hard - that was my downfall the last time I tried, I couldn't believe how awful I felt for the 4 days I was giving up. But my situation is different, i don't have a partner anymore, which actually makes it a little easier. No-one to become oversensitive when I become edgy, lol. I have committed myself to being grumpy and horrible for a while yet, and will rejoice every time I feel great - which I still do now. I've just tested myself with half a glass of wine - thats a really dangerous thing to do, and of course I felt like lighting up immediately, but it was much easier to tell myself that just isn't going to happen. Having said that, I'm not going to do anything insane like put myself around smokers or go out to the pub or anything! Not yet.
So my new top is ready to wear, and it doesn't smell of smoke, which is so nice. And my energy levels are incredibly high.
:-)

06/02/2009 04:26:20 AM · #91

Heh feel free to go and give all my images negative comments when you are feeling low and edgy I can take it :)

Chocolate is a great indulgence that I fell back on regularly in the early days, haha sounds terrible I know (hence the weight problem LOL) - I just wish I had had photography back then as I reckon getting out with the camera and shooting would have helped.

06/02/2009 04:39:57 AM · #92

Originally posted by Mark-A:

No way, i love your work!

I did chocolate when I gave up once before (yeah, stupid me took it up again - twice) and my bum doubled in size. Not going there. Actually thats the only problem, I'm terrified to eat, so I'm craving AND hungry, lol. I have been eating chicos though - they're chocolate jelly babies, no fat - can't be too bad....and I've been walking my poor little puppy's legs off in the mornings ;-)

06/02/2009 04:50:19 AM · #93

Well before I was successful I must admit I tried so many times I cannot remember the number, but I can tell you that the one thing that was different when I finally won was that very early on I considered myself a non smoker just like you have done this time, I never had the feeling or mentality in the failed attempts, I really think you have won the biggest part of the battle as it sounds like mentally you've already made the switch! Good luck and stay strong.

printer4u

06/02/2009 07:24:06 AM · #94

Originally posted by cynthiann:

Well, I haven't seen it mentioned here at all but I went and got hypnotized. I picked a quit date then called and made an appointment. I had about 3 weeks of smoking before my quit date. I was a 2 pack a day smoker. The first week was actually pretty easy. 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. I find I have "moments" usually, and they come and go. The hardest times for me are from mid-morning to almost dinner time. Early mornings and evenings are no problem at all. The important thing for me is to keep busy. I work from home and I'm self employed so this would usually be no problem but lately business has been terrible. I am trying to focus more on sales but the tough part is that is when I always smoked the most was when I was on the phone with clients.

So how do I feel? Great! I notice big changes. I go to bed earlier...not because i am craving a smoke but because I feel like it. I wake well before the alarm clock and I am wide awake without a coffee even. I have less desire for coffee in fact. Overall I would say I am much more relaxed. I do find that I have a hard time concentrating during the day when I miss it the most.

Today is day 14. So far I feel good and in fact writing about it seems to be a help. I don't really talk to anyone about it including my wife because I never wanted to make a big deal about it for personal reasons.

06/02/2009 08:03:16 AM · #95

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.

I wonder if this is to do with the hypnotherapy wearing off (not even sure if it can?) I definitely remember it getting easier as the days / weeks passed not harder and I did it with nothing like patches or hypnotherapy (I did have chocolate though as I said already LOL).

Intelli

Nikon D300

06/02/2009 08:49:01 AM · #96

Day 2 morning..

Well I made it through day one. I honestly would not be doing this if it wasn't for ya'll, I would of already smoked by now. But, I don't want to disappoint ya'll, and if I tell people I'm gonna do something.. I'm gonna do it.

A tip that has helped me.

Breathing Exercise:

Take a slow deep breath (count to five while inhaling), when your lungs are full, hold it for 3 seconds then slowly release. Repeat. This helps for those cravings.

06/02/2009 08:49:09 AM · #97

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

ShalomDementia

Nikon D90

06/02/2009 08:59:25 AM · #98

I know I'm a day late, but I would like to join in as well. I don't smoke, but need to lose weight badly. I'm new to the site so I didn't see this till today. And if I can't formally join then I'd still like to come here for some support if that's alright. =)

06/02/2009 09:07:17 AM · #99

[quote=printer4u]
Well, I haven't seen it mentioned here at all but I went and got hypnotized. I picked a quit date then called and made an appointment. I had about 3 weeks of smoking before my quit date. I was a 2 pack a day smoker. The first week was actually pretty easy. 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. I find I have "moments" usually, and they come and go. The hardest times for me are from mid-morning to almost dinner time. Early mornings and evenings are no problem at all. The important thing for me is to keep busy. I work from home and I'm self employed so this would usually be no problem but lately business has been terrible. I am trying to focus more on sales but the tough part is that is when I always smoked the most was when I was on the phone with clients.

I hear you re the phone calls. Thats the one i find the hardest - I am always here editing in the day and would always smoke on the phone. I've found that I can't work at the moment without the cravings becoming bad, so I'm just giving myself a few days off and going out when it gets bad. Being here is useless, I can't work if I'm feeling bad, and allowing myself to let the work backlog for a few days won't kill me. I'll just have to work at night, when phonecalls don't happen anyway.

printer4u