Quitting tomorrow

[Darkginger]

I've almost finished reading Allen Carr's book, and am fired up and ready to quit my 27 year, 30 a day habit tomorrow. I would have done it today, but my partner, Carl, is home today, and he smokes. I'd rather stop on a day when I shan't be surrounded by smoke all day, and when I can make sure there aren't any ciggies in the house - so tomorrow it is!

I know I'm going to get physical withdrawal symptoms, but I've read a few threads here, and reckon that they only last around 3-5 days. I'll probably come here ranting about them - so please keep telling me that I can get through it!

That's it, really, just wanted to make my intention public, so I'm accountable. Wish me luck! I'm actually looking forward to it....

Jo

[Louise V]

Good Luck Jo!!!
You can do this, I smoked about 40 cigs. a day for 22 years and for 2 months no more, I went cold turkey no patch or gum, and I do think this is the best way to go....
The withdrawals are worse the first 3 days, but just keep yourself busy and before you know it the time has gone, I washed all my walls and curtains the first 3 days.
I think this might be a harder for you than it was for me, my DH has never smoked and I was the only smoker out of all my friends, so I'm so rarely around it that it is less tempting....
I chew a lot of sugar free gum this helps.
Keep us posted and the best of luck to you!!!!
You can do It!!!!!
Louise

[razzle]

The best of luck to you! I can't imagine a better gift to give yourself. :)

[Darkginger]

Thanks both for the encouragement! As the day has progressed, I'm feeling more and more scared of what lies in store tomorrow - it's almost like waiting for an execution, although the truth is, it's exatly the opposite!

Carl has volunteered not to smoke in the house from now on - he's a marvel, I didn't ask him to do it, he just suggested it himself. That should make things much easier. I'm still scared, though - but the Allen Carr book talks a lot about fear, so I'll have another read of parts of it in bed tonight.

I'm planning to get on the exercise bike every time I get a craving tomorrow - so hopefully I'll be helping the weight loss as well! I've got a mental picture of sweating out the nicotine - hope it helps me!

Oh well, only another four and a half hours of being a smoker - I'm hating every cigarette I smoke at the moment - with luck I'll remember that tomorrow!

Jo

[Darkginger]

Well, I'm feeling fine so far - light headed, but no real cravings, just occasional instinctual reaching for something that isn't there! This is the best I've ever felt when trying to quit, and possibly the longest I've ever lasted without some sort of replacement, like a patch.

I'm almost convinced that this is going to work this time - I almost feel giggly with delight at the prospect!

Please keep your fingers crossed or me!

Jo

[aisha]

Well, you lot have inspired me to have a go too.
The "forum" method....

Gave up alcohol in August 2000, started the AtKins diet on May 1, this year and strange as it might sound, when I smoke a fag it gives me a thumping headache.It also tastes pretty different harsher, bitter. Im not worried about overeating either on this diet plan

My Problem is that from exercising 5 days a week, running 40 mins and 1 hr weight training I have since May1, been so listless from Inducting I have no energy in the gym,in fact I have done absloultely no exercize --yikes !
I had thought it would have worn off , tried eating more cals, but the quitting will also prompt me to go to the gym and sweat out the nicotine toxins....I have always kept fit and ran the Singapore Marathon aged 40 in 4hrs.

I've smoked 20-30 a day since I was at boarding school in England when I was 14, Im now 44. Hell that's 30 years...mmmm !

I have tried to stop masses of times the most for 3 weeks in a stretch, for me it is triggered by caffeine so now I drink alot less it'll be easier....
So here goes today my last one was at:
6pm Hong Kong Time 20 May 2002.
Its now 10pm , been for 4hrs already, Im munching on a sugar free Airwave gum.
I'm gonna do this cold turkey, no gum no patches.
Keep you all posted
Richard
:thup: :D :D :D

[Darkginger]

Welcome aboard! I'm doing it cold turkey too...unless you count having the odd bowl of strawberries and cream! It's now been 16 hours, and I'm still fine - sort of waiting for the hard part to start - LOL! Perhaps it won't!

All ashtrays now washed and put away - house smelling of lily of the valley and lavender. Will have a bath and hairwash in a while to get rid of any residual smoke.

Am sipping water every time I miss doing something with my hands - and I've done 5 miles on the exercise bike so far today. I've noticed I'm nibbling more than usual - small pieces of cheese, the strawberries, salami slices. Anyone got any suggestions of carb free nibbles? (Can't find sugar free gum that doesn't have carbs from sugar alcohols) The last thing I want to do is put weight on, but I reckon I can give myself a little leeway in the first 3 days of quitting...

Maybe a few prawns next....

Jo

[aisha]

Jo ,
Great to hear I have a companion along the way, let's keep in touch, I tend to have a bit of cheese usually Hard Parmesan if I get hungry or macadamia nuts..
Good luck hope we can do it simple huh, just dont put a fag in the mouth or light it !!
Good luck
Richard :thup:

[Darkginger]

Sunflower seeds and Jarlsberg here! I'm practically swimming in water at this stage - think I'm on litre #4 today! Just about to go and create dinner, since Carl's decided he's going to the pub on the way home from work, and isn't hungry anyway.

Chicken stir fry or chicken curry? Not sure which to go for - probably the curry, as it takes more concentration and time) to cook, and so I'll be occupied that bit longer!

No ciggies in the house right now, nearest shop 2 miles away - and to be honest, I'm not in the slightest bit tempted.

It's good to have someone to share this with - must be coming on for your bedtime now - sleep well, and check back in in the morning! I have an entire evening to get through - but hopefully there'll be something good on the telly to distract me!

Tomorrow is another (smoke free!) day!

Jo

[Louise V]

Hi!
Just popping in to see how you are doing...Sounds like your doing fine.
I did chew sugar free gum, and I haven't gained any weight since I quit smoking, the first few weeks I chewed 8 pkg of gum in a weak now I'm only chewing 3.
Get through the first 3 days and you'll see the cravings will be less. I haven't found it to hard at all....It's also a state of mind.

I just think to myself if I ever take another puff I have to start over to square one again, with the withdrawals. NO THANK YOU, I'd rather not go through it again, so that keeps me in line.
Keep up the great work, to both of you!!!!!
Louise

[aisha]

Hi Jo,
Had a good work out today at 2pm for 2 hrs to take my mind off the crave which came at around 10 in the office, then went to get my hair cut --another 2 hrs gone (half day for me today, tomorrow I'm off)I work weekends...

Think I'll take Honey my Lakeland Terrier for a LONG walk in the National park, i'ts now 810 pm and Im watching BBC world service and the weather in Ireland looks pretty OK, I am originally from Hampshire --(Portsmonth )and I have a chronic headache, must drink more water..Chicken curry sounds excellent, think I'll have the same ,with some boiled eggs and a few spears 2-3 of steamed choy sum.

Hang in there Jo.

Richard
What crean do you use...its hard to get clotted cream here and I am always worried that there will be sugar in it if I dont whip the cream myself.
:daze: [B][I][U][SIZE=3][FONT=century gothic][COLOR=orangered]

[Darkginger]

I'm still an ex-smoker! Day 2 is a bit more of a struggle than Day 1 was, but I'm hanging in there! The weather isn't as good as all that here - it's raining right now, though not as windy as it was yesterday. Got wet when I took our 4 dogs (Cain, Clipsie, Max and Hobbit) down to the beach this morning.

I'm originally from Sussex - Brighton (well, Hove actually) - small world, huh? I'm supposed to be a housewife, but I'm hopeless at housework - feel more like a dogsitter and catfeeder really! Oh, and I do some web design from time to time - used to make my living at it, back when all you needed to know was HTML.

The cream here is just double cream - and that's literally all that's in it - cream. I don't bother whipping it, I just pour it over the strawbs, and it's lovely! I've run out of strawberries now (which is probably a good thing!) and am back to the cheese and sunflower seeds.

I think I'm going to try the local gym tomorrow - just to get me out of the house. I've got an exercise bike - have done 30 mins on it this morning, but I fancy trying some of the other machines - plus finding out how to do some upper body/weight stuff. I thought Carl might be interested in coming with me, but it seems he's not - LOL! Couch potato!

Glad to know you're out there and doing this with me - it makes a difference!

All the best!

Jo

[aisha]

Jo do you enter your calories on www.fitday.com
I find it helpful, 30 mins on the bike is good, did you sweat?
If you go to the gym ask for a trainer to set you up on a basic programme, try and do 40 mins and just make sure you break a sweat, then do a few upper body weights to BURN the muscles.
I will try the cream we used to have it that way at school, I went to a boarding school on the IOW
-Bembridge for 9 years when my parents liked in Tanzania and Ghana...thats where I took up smoking
Now 10 05 and no craving --cool huh, the chicken curry was GRRRREAT did the trick, i ate 6 drumsticks !!
Keep the faith
R

[razzle]

keep it up jo! If it's anything like getting off sugar, by Day 5, it'll be much easier. :)

[Pandora24]

Hello,

Congrats on you choice to quit smoking. It seems your doing great.:thup:

[Darkginger]

Yeah, I always make sure I break a sweat on the bike - takes me about 10 mins to get to that stage, but I think it does me good!

Still ploughing along without a cig - had chicken curry again tonight - much yumminess!

Sometimes I use fitday - but more to find out how many calories/carbs are in a particular thing, rather than to track my daily amounts. I seem to be able to manage that OK in my head - at least, it's worked until now!

I'm being 'kind' to myself this week, 'cos of the not smoking. If I feel like nibbling something low carb, then I do - not worrying about amounts this week. I'll start being strict again next Monday.

I'm feeling good again this evening - had a few dodgy moments earlier today when I was craving nicotine - but they passed, and I'm still an ex-smoker....phew!

On to tomorrow - Day 3!

Jo

I have chosen not to smoke for 1 Day 19 Hours 16 Minutes 46 Seconds. Cigarettes not smoked: 54. Money saved: €13.52.

[aisha]

Going well, end of day 2, phew, no cigs, went for a 2 hr cross country run, managed to avoid any cravings.

Had a few strawberries the first fruit in 22 days
strangely enough I have not lost any body fat, and my weight is exactly the same, even though I followed induction riguroulay , however I did no exercise for 20 days untill yesterday as I felt so weak.
I am sure I have lost muscle mass as I can feel and see that my mussels have shrunk and thats all, well lets see what happens as I have started exercising again.
Main thing is I have not smoked today..
R

[Darkginger]

Great to see you're still sticking with it! I'm impressed by the 2hr run - can't remember the last time I ran for more than 2 minutes!

Just got back from a cycle ride into the village and back again (for more cream!) - which was around 5 miles in total. Did another 7 miles on the exercise bike this morning (it was raining again!), so I'm feeling virtuous. I couldn't believe how easy the ride into the village was, though - I really used to struggle with it (hills) - but today wasn't hard at all! Either I've got a bit fit, or the not smoking has made a HUGE difference already!

Oh, did I mention that I weighed myself this morning and I'm down 4 lbs? :D

Hardly any cravings today - life is good!

Jo

I have chosen not to smoke for 2 Days 15 Hours 53 Minutes 15 Seconds. Cigarettes not smoked: 79. Money saved: €19.96.

[aisha]

Jo thats brilliant 4 pounds huh ?
Also the exercise is going really well.
Still its 11.15 time for bed, tomorrow is a working day DANGER...zone.
I tended to smoke in my office when on the computer, suppose I'll have to just do something else instead, I will put an aromatherapy device in my office instead, stocked up with chewing gum..
Keep your fingers crossed.
R

[Pandora24]

It seems ya'll are on a roll. I haven't smoked and this is my third day on this diet but i am trying to get motivated to exercise?
Can't seem to though. I felt really great when i was walking and i do have all day to do what i want until my classes start. I just cant get in the groove ,any ideas? :q: I 've lost my will to exercise. :eek: That cant be good.
It sounds like yall have beautiful places to exercise.(in the hils to the village) Must be nice. :) I live in the country but nothing breath taking. Anyhow sitting at the computer isnt going to get me walking. lol :wave:

:yay:Pandora

[gwilson38]

To everyone posting in this thread you are doing an awesome job of being a non-smoker! :cheer: As of today it has been 9 weeks for me! I feel great, in fact I even jogged the other day instead of walking. My main concern was weight gain since I worked so hard to get into maintainence. So far the scale says I am up only 5 pounds and since I have added resistance training the last 6 weeks it is more than likely muscle than fat. Keep up the hard work everyone, we can do this!!!! :thup:

[aisha]

Pandora,
My attitude toward exercizing went fro 100% to ZERO overnight when I started the A diet, I was not eating enough calories --so I'm told.
I started again 2 days ago ...today I ache all over but I do have to push myself, after the first 8-9 mins its not so rough after that--.
I live right next door to a gym and 2 swimming pools, plus alot of mountains and trails, so I suppose you could say I am spoilt for choice,
My weight loss progress has not really been that evident yet.22days

No cigs today--its now 1.45pm on a work day--remarkable, going strong.
:spin:

[Darkginger]

The funny thing is, until recently, I used to think that exercise was for other people, and not for me. At 205 lbs, I felt totally daft being seen on a bicycle. I'm not sure what changed.

I know I started cycling when I was about 2 weeks into a stall. I just wanted to see the scales moving again, and it worked! Then, I couldn't seem to stop - because I remembered how difficult it was the first day (when I did a whole 2 miles!), and I didn't want to have to go through that again, so I didn't dare miss a day after I'd started.

That was why we got the exercise bike. The weather took a turn for the worse here (and has stayed consistently yucky since!) and after one wet cycling episode, I wanted to find a way to maintain the little fitness I'd achieved, without getting soaked or blown over...

Now I dare to have a day off from time to time - and at last I'm noticing an improvement in my fitness level - which is so encouraging! It also makes cycling outside a lot more enjoyable - I don't tremble at the prospect of every little hill any more...

I think the key is finding something that you enjoy - cycling was it for me because we have pretty countryside around here, and it was nice to get out and see it. If I'd started with the exercise bike, I think I would have given up long ago!

I think I'm beginning to scare my friends - I've gone from a couch potato who loved to eat, drink and smoke to someone who exercises, is getting smaller, doesn't smoke, and drinks only in moderation in the space of 3 months!

Even I wonder what's happened to me.... but if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone - just believe in yourself and you ability to change yourself (after all, you're the only one who can!).

Oh, and I recommend Allen Carr's books (he's got ones on weight loss, alcohol and smoking) to help change attitudes. I started reading the smoking one as a total sceptic, and ended up finding it not to difficult to stop....

Hope some of that ramble above helps someone!

Jo

I have chosen not to smoke for 3 Days 8 Hours 11 Minutes 32 Seconds. Cigarettes not smoked: 100. Money saved: €25.06.

[aisha]

Jo, Another day bites the dust--had a real urge at
around 7pm but resisted the temptation, Im fine now..had some sunflower seeds then cheese and then dinner. Im starting a journal...
keep going Jo
Richard

[Darkginger]

Hi again Richard!

I'm still doing fine - had a nasty moment earlier when I found almost a whole pack of ciggies and 5 lighters under the bed - but I burned them all in the fireplace! Phew!

I still can't believe this is working! Time for another bowl of strawberries, I think - yum!

Jo

I have chosen not to smoke for 3 Days 15 Hours 21 Minutes 6 Seconds. Cigarettes not smoked: 109. Money saved: £27.30.

[razzle]

whoo hoo, jo! I'm SO impressed with that burning the cigs--that's like finding a chocolate bar and shoving it down the garbage disposal. :) you go!

[Darkginger]

It was a bit like having an out of body experience - I was 'watching' myself do it, and marvelling! Let me tell you - cigarettes do NOT burn easily, either...LOL!

Anyway, here I am on Day 5, still smoke free - definitely fewer cravings now, and other people's smoke is smelling horrible. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I can see this leading to me not wanting to go to the pub any more - 'cos it's smelly. This could cause problems socially and relationship-wise, as it's the social hub....

Next battle to fight is probably the one where I try not to become one of those rabid ex-smokers. I can hear myself now: 'if I can do it, anyone can...' (which is true, but I reckon you also need to have read the Allen Carr book!)

I'm not saying that my quit is a done deal, but I really have no desire whatsoever to smoke at this stage - it feels as though I could just forget all about smoking now and get on with my life. I'm probably wrong, and there's a massive craving hiding around the corner...LOL!

How're you doing, Richard? Cravings fading? I've had a few 'smoking' dreams, where I smoke when asleep... guess the subconscious is alive and well and still a smoker.... luckily the conscious knows better now!

I am so pleased with the way this week has gone so far. If anyone is reading this and thinking about quitting (like I read loads of threads before I started stopping!) - then believe me, it can be done, and it doesn't have to be awful!

Can you tell I'm feeling really positive today? ;)

Jo

I have chosen not to smoke for 4 Days 7 Hours 35 Minutes 28 Seconds. Cigarettes not smoked: 129. Money saved: £32.37.

[aisha]

Hello Jo
Richard checking in, I had a very busy day today.
quick bfst of macadamia nuts and cheese..

My excom meeting was 2 hrs, then a lunch with another GM non-smoker(no problemo).

I had an all protein --fatty, Thai sliced grilled beef and pork and Thai chicken curry with coconut milk with a couple of lettuce leaves 3 perrier waters. He ate all the rice and had fruit yuck.

Then checked my email before going into a 5 hr meeting from 2.30-7.30 pm with the property owner a chain smoker---My God how I loathed the stench---and in my own way pitied him and secretly bet he wished he could do what I had done just stopped, he smoked a cigarette every 20 minutes --no kidding, he's Chinese!

Any way I had made sure the room I booked for the meeting was very big so that the air was sucked out.

Then I had a 35 min run in the gym a work out,the solarium for 20 mins and just devoured :

3 chicken pieces, 1 cup of lettuce, 3 slices of tomato 1 tbsp mayo and a small handful of sunflower seeds mixed with organic bran --yuck like horse food...will need to work out the nutritional combo of that lot...
:p
My desire is to just stick with this new way of Dr Atkins living I cannot attribute it to anything else Jo, I quit alcohol Aug 2000, and did the whole 12 step programme , and thta was nothing compared to quitting the fags...
I craved last night at 7pm and so I went to the gym instead....My running seemed easier --honest and the weights a sinch to push,my skin is looser too...odd huh?
Jo thanks so much for your help..
I have chosen not to smoke for..
4 Days - 10 hrs and 41 minutes
Not smoked 90+ cigs
Saved 157HK dollars or 20 US Dollars or 15 British pounds and 70 P
:wave:

[aisha]

This is my 4th day 11 hrs and 29 mins. I had to get out of the office as I was really dying for a smoke today...was in a foul mood with a couple of my senior people, I think its the withdrawl, I feel better now that Ive eaten something. I told my mum who called from the UK she's so happy I quit...I never gave it this much effort before..
How you doing Jo?
Richard

[Darkginger]

I'm doing fine! I'm on Day 7 (well, it's 3 am on Sunday - not sure why I'm awake, but I am!), so I'm almost a whole week smoke-free! I'm still staggered by it all - never thought I'd be able to quit!

Did 8 miles on the exercise bike yesterday - it's still raining here - and it seems to have been raining for weeks now.... I really want to get out on the 'real' bike, but I don't fancy getting soaked...

I'm thinking about smoking less often now - still eating sunflower seeds, but not as desperately as I was!

It does seem to get easier with time, though. I think it's a matter of not having new triggers popping up all the time - I've been through most of what I normally do without a ciggie, now - but if I do something I haven't done since I quit, then I get triggered to think about it again. Like yesterday, I had a glass of red wine, and immediately thought about smoking.

Did that make any sense? I'm half asleep here - in fact, I think I'm going back to bed now...

Hope you're feeling good, too, Richard - I'm really impressed with both of us! LOL!

Jo

[aisha]

Today is Sunday, its 9.47 pm im munching on raspberries and cream. Had alot of one on one meetings in the office and had alot of trigger situations ...then I thought just one wont hurt and then a split seconds later NO why waste all the days and hours that I have got under my belt...and the thought quickly went away...its extraordinary the power and decietefulness of the nicotine drug...and its really a terrible drug.
The diet went really well today too
Bfst: smoked salmon with cream cheese
Lunch: 4 oz burger with a slice of cheese
Dinner: 8oz tenderloin steak small lettuce and tomato salad, mayo
snack: 3 macadamia nuts, 3 slices cheese, 3 slices parma ham, raspberries devonshire clotted cream

Went for a workout for 1 hr at 5.3o
followed by a body massage 1 hr

Feeling great had NO coffee today gradually weaned
off of it and am on Green Tea now.
Wow i feel really clean inside..
Keep going Jo, Im really impressed with you and you know you are my inspiration i will always be indebted to you , lets do this thing together..
when I feel weak I say the serenity prayer in my head...:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,the courage to CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN.....and the wisdom to know the difference..
the courage to change the things i can and the
Richard

[Darkginger]

Coincidence! I've just finished a small bowl of raspberries and mascarpone cheese...

No real desire to smoke today - I can't believe it's almost been a week! Breakfast was 2 fried eggs, 3 rashers of bacon and a large mushroom - then I had a prawn salad at lunchtime, and I'm roasting beef for dinner right now. Will probably have it with salad - though Carl's asked me to make him a Yorkshire Pudding today - first time he'll have had one since February, so I could hardly say no...

Anyway - I've been pretty lenient with myself as far as food goes this week - I haven't worried about portion sizes, and I've had a few luxuries like low-cal chocolate drinks (at 5.5g carbs a time!). So, I'm not weighing until next weekend, and I'm going back to strict Atkins induction levels this coming week.

The exercise has been going quite well, 'cos I find it takes my mind off smoking (or the lack of!) - but again, I'm going to try to increase it this week, to a minimum of 40 mins/10 miles a day on either the exercise bike or - weather willing - the real bike. I am sick of this never-ending rain!

We're having friends round for a wine and cheese (or water and cheese in my case) evening on Tuesday (sounds posh, but it's just a couple of mates coming to watch DVDs and indulge in smelly cheese), and then we're being taken out for dinner on Weds. I'm going to remain on plan throughout! Thursday, we finally get to check out the local gym - Carl's agreed to come with me!

This week I've got to decorate our spare room - my Dad comes here for a week on June 6th, and it has to be finished by then - so will get extra exercise with all the humping, dumping and painting!

So - onward to the second week of being smoke free - I'm SO happy about it!

Jo

[aisha]

Hi Jo
I've got myself a journal,check it out.
How are you doing its tuesday and its 5.00 PM
that means I week and 5 hours ...I have put on 3 lbs though yikes !!
Will start induction again.
How's it going????
R

[aisha]

Jo --still going very well, the trigger thoughts have just GONE, I feel better especially in the mornings, I did put on 3 lbs last wk -all those nuts, cream and berries, so Im doing the KISS
formula its actually OK bags more energy now.
the smoking data
I now stopped for 8 days and 8 hrs precisely
= 160 fags or 8 pkts x 35 HK$ (divide by 10 for uk pounds)280 HK$
long time no hear how's it going
richard

[aisha]

Day 10 and going strong now the triggers have virtually gone, even my secretary cannot believe it. I have been a bit grouchy ggrrr !
But i also quit coffee except today
The diet is also working now. I am really happy now as this is something I have tried to do for the past 10 yrs..
jo how are you doing?/you ok?
Check out Richard's journal...keep in touch
Richard

[aisha]

Sunday,3rd,going strong even had a coffe 1st in 1 week, gave me palpatations..but the smell of tobacco smoke is disgusting dont know how my wife Jenny put up with me for 4 years !
12 days
Jo what happened to you did you pick up??
richard :wave: Jo what happened to you :q: dont worry :p !!!