Shall I or shan't I?

You should keep a blog, maybe it will help others follow the same path to 'smokefreedom' :)

Doing well so far anyway, I'm very proud of you.

I think a blog would help you and others going through the same thing. I know you've had an attempt at quitting before but can't remember how many days you lasted. It'll be a landmark if you can pass that.

Perhaps you should set yourself realistic goals and try to reach them. Maybe count up how much you'd have spent on ciggies over a certain period and when you pass that period put the money into a big glass jar so you can watch it mount up. If you're doing well at that, then I would suggest thinking up something really special that you'd like to save for and use that as a carrot during the weaker times.

If you do fall by the wayside, don't just give up there and then. Look on it as a momentry lapse and get back on the wagon immediately afterwards. Every ciggieless day is a bonus where your health is concerned. Try not to have the evil weed lying around the house within easy reach. Make it very difficult to reach out grab one if you're having a bad day. Best to find another alternative to fall back on. If you're having a bad day, reaching for a fag will only make it a worse day and you'll no doubt feel very annoyed with yourself afterwards.

I can't tell you how happy G and I would be if you make it this time. Anyway, we're very proud of you for even making the attempt. Keep on trucking and, if you need help, come on here and we'll try to talk you out of it. Someone's bound to be around with all the time zones we cover. We'll have to set up a Fag Watch.

A blog sounds like a great idea- will help you let of steam when you are feeling like giving up and will give us all chance to encourage you along.
As I have never smoked (not even tryed one) I can't say I know how it feels but having lived through Neil giving up about 6 years ago I can understand.
Take one day at a time and like MB says if you do lapse don't just give in and carry on smoking, start again. We ae all behind you and i'm sure Taffy will understand if you attempt murder!

Keep going girl- you can do it!!!!

A Fag Watch

Righto, I'll keep you all posted on here. Feeling pretty ok at the moment, no cravings or anything, but there may be one or two murderous thoughts left between now and the time I go to bed

4 days is the most I've ever managed before, so I've already broken records - but it's still early days and I'll be setting myself realistic targets

Already saved myself $30

Well done on getting this far WG . Are you using patches or going 'cold turkey'? You need to plan a good night out with your savings (after you have killed Taffy of course ).

I've tried the patches and the gum but neither worked for me and I could never do it cold turkey, so I tried a relatively new treatment called Bioresonance, you can read about it here http://www.quitsmokingclinic.co.nz/ Sounds a bit quackish at first, but it seems to be working more than anything else I've ever tried (although I could murder a cigarette right now if I'm honest )

Ah well, 2 more days and I can start counting in weeks how long I've quit for, rather than days

Good going on four days! Yesterday I mentioned this to Karin, and she said "well, she's halfway there". I guess withdrawals last 6 or 7 days, so you're even further along now.

If you do attempt murder, please don't succeed - unless it's on some annoying hoon or other pest. We need Taffy around here. Taffy, quick - hide the cutlery!

Hi
I stopped smoking 3 yrs this sept coming.
Me and hubby did it together.After loads of failed attempts,hypnosis even nearly went for acupuncture(even tho im scared of needles)
We tried everything even smoking them herbal cigs yuk
Eventually we managed with the patches
Its all about not giving up trying.
Good luck hun x

You are amazing!!!! Keep going, keep going, keep going!!!!! And yes, yes, you should write a blog, give you something to do with your hands when you fancy a ciggy You should be real proud of yourself - and just keep reminding yourself that you are precious and valuable and that your body and your beautiful self deserve the best. You should be putting only the best into your body because you're worth it, you're worth looking after and cherishing.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming - as said by Dory on Finding Nemo

Hope she can at least hold off until he's sponsored me.

Sorry, Taffy. Don't mean it, really.

wow .. well done. 4 days is fab.

I gave up a few years ago, In fact I gave up loads of times - some attempts were a few days, others a few weeks, but I eventually cracked it.

I used this site here -> http://www.quitnet.com/
Their rule was, when you feel the craving, post and you have to wait for 3 replies until you light up! Worked for me. they also do a special award for x days etc.

Other thing I HAD to do, was take it one day at a time ... just tell yourself you won't smoke today. This helps, as telling yourself you're never going to smoke feels impossible to achieve.

Also, grab yourself a printout of the health benefits of quitting ... after 1 day you'll be x, after 1 week ... then you can tick off where you are, & how your body is benefitting. Have a look - it really helped me. Here you go, http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=33568


all the best, you have my admiration as 4 days is fabulous!!

I quit about 8 years ago, I found that fidgeting with a pen, kind of twiddling it like it was a cigarette helped, I think it kind of tricked me into thinking I was holding a cigarette. Those squishy stress balls were good too. Nothing really helped when I had a craving, but these things seemed to help between times and seemed to make the cravings further apart.

Thank you, thank you, thank you everyone for your encouragement and words of advice - they all help so much. I've started a blog on a NZ quit website, which I pour my frustrations out in, but here I will stick to how I'm doing

I'm on day 6 now and my main problem is I don't know how to act like a non-smoker - sounds really bizarre but you know, things like when I used to finish the ironing or something, I'd make a cuppa and light a ciggy - what do I do now? Just make the tea and sit down and relax? But the tea and a ciggy go hand in hand.... so don't make the tea? So now I have to replace the smoking AND the tea?? Ok, that won't make sense to most people, it's just the ramblings of a very frustrated ex-smoker *sigh*

I nearly cracked yesterday, came so close..... don't know why, just every fibre of my being wanted a cigarette, just the one of course

Will I make it to a whole week? Stay tuned

Ow i had that same problem with the fag and the glass of vodka.the thing is twirl the pen,i done that.Even caught myself trying to get a puff here and then.
Doesnt matter,every day is a bonus and the more you face these situations the easier it gets
Honest cause there was no way i was giving up me vodka x

I'll try that Meadow

One more thought just came to mind - when will I know I've succeeded?.... you know, when can I say 'I'm a non-smoker'? Can I say that already or do I become a non-smoker when I no longer have cravings? What if I always get cravings for the rest of my life (it is possible!)? Will I ever be a 'non-smoker'??

Oh God, I'm panicking now, I need a cigarette

I'd say you're a non-smoker when youfeel like you are. when you feel like you could live without them and someone can stand next to you and you not want one.
Neil found that after about a week of not smoking- he had a lapse and had one cigarette- he never even got half way through- it made him feel ill and said it wasn't nice- ne never touched on since and that was about 6 years ago.

Well done Neil, I have every respect for you now I know just how difficult it is

Do you know what, I'm almost tempted to do that - seriously, it's not just an excuse to have a cigarette, it's just that, well I've never got this far before, and I would love to have a cigarette and be disgusted by it (if that makes sense), so that if ever I had a craving again, I could look back and think well remember how awful it was when you did, what are you thinking of you crazy woman....

On the other hand, there's always the possibility that I could thoroughly enjoy it and that would completely defeat the object!

Decisions, decisons

Perhaps it's a bit early yet to try that, WG. No point in tempting fate. Let's just hope that if a time comes when you do crack and have one, it will taste foul and put you off but, as you say, can you take that risk?

Just remind yourself that others have done this and so can you. Very few people say it's been easy for them so you know there's nothing strange about the feelings you're going through. Get angry with your body and your brain for try to play tricks on you and lead you into temptation. Fight them back and tell them to get off your case. You're aiming for a better quality of life and you don't want them raining on your parade.

If you do crack and give in, don't hide it. Come on here and tell us what happened, so we can analyse what went wrong and think about what we can suggest you do next time that sort of situation arises. Remember it WILL get easier and you won't be suffering like this for much longer. Try to think of a special project to take your mind of it. It's like dieting - when you get bored or have time on your hands you're looking round for something to fill it and that's the dangerous time. How's about taking up knitting or crocheting? That's productive and creative as well as occupying your hands.

Crocheting is a good idea. i can crochet and have made loads of cardigans and hats and scarves and blankets and things for the kids- my hooks and pattern books are in storag eat the min bu twhen I get them back i'm sure i'll et back into it- it's quite theraputic.

I remember learning to crochet when I was in college. I was taught by a right-hander who found it extremely difficult because I was a left-hander. It was quite a painful experience because everything was back to front but, one day, I suddenly got it. By Jove, I got it! After that there was no stopping me and I crocheted myself a lovely red sleeveless jumper as my first proper project. It was perfect. Unfortunately my choice of wool was too coarse and itchy so I never got to wear it.