I am not going to smoke today.
I've just added a link to my Facebook profile under "My Stuff" on the left. If anyone wants to have a look and add me as a friend, that would be great!
Well, it was much better today than the last couple of days. I know it's helped me by doing this blog, with you guys out there being an inspiration to me not to throw in the towel. I can't thank you enough. Even if you're only reading and not posting comments, I know you're there and you ARE making a difference.
Saved so far £156.75
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
Day 18 - Tuesday January 29th 2008
I'm finding it easier during the day and harder in the evening for some reason. I thought it would be harder in the day as I was used to breaks away from my desk at work to go for a smoke. Maybe it's not so bad in the day now because the new smoking laws means having to go outside where there's no cover provided. With the weather like it is at the moment, I'm certainly not missing getting cold and wet just for a smoke!
This evening I went to a football match. It was raining so everyone was together under a covered section behind the goal. There were quite a few smokers there so I kept getting wafts of smoke in my face. I found the smell quite nice actually, but it made me realise how inconsiderate it is for non-smokers who must think it stinks!
When I got home, I celebrated our fine 2-0 victory with a bit too much red wine. A fag or a cigar would have been such a nice accompaniment but I managed perfectly well without either, which is good.
Saved so far £148.50
This evening I went to a football match. It was raining so everyone was together under a covered section behind the goal. There were quite a few smokers there so I kept getting wafts of smoke in my face. I found the smell quite nice actually, but it made me realise how inconsiderate it is for non-smokers who must think it stinks!
When I got home, I celebrated our fine 2-0 victory with a bit too much red wine. A fag or a cigar would have been such a nice accompaniment but I managed perfectly well without either, which is good.
Saved so far £148.50
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
Day 17 - Monday January 28th 2008
Well, isn't it strange. After saying things were getting easier, I had a pretty bad time of it tonight and I really wanted one. It wouldn't go away for ages and was awful. Why oh why won't this stop? At least I managed to get through it though which is a good thing.
I very nearly went to the shop for a cigar, but one of the things that stopped me was that not only would I be letting myself down, but also anyone reading this who is finding it inspiring.
Must keep going, hopefully it will be a bit better tomorrow.
Saved so far £140.25
I very nearly went to the shop for a cigar, but one of the things that stopped me was that not only would I be letting myself down, but also anyone reading this who is finding it inspiring.
Must keep going, hopefully it will be a bit better tomorrow.
Saved so far £140.25
Monday, 28 January 2008
Day 16 - Sunday January 27th 2008
A bit of an uneventful day really. I managed to keep myself busy for most of the day so I didn't think about smoking too much. I'll even dare to say, it's starting to feel a little easier at last.
When I look back on some of my previous posts, it reminds me how bad it was. I think when I've tried giving up before, I've forgotten how bad it was for the first few days and it just seemed like it wasn't getting any better. When you're able to look back it does prove that it gets easier, even if it is a slow process.
I've had a couple of comments about yesterday's "brilliant revalation" and it seems the general opinion is that it's not so brilliant after all! Oh well, I'll just keep plodding on.
Now that I know people are reading this, I'd be interested to know what folks think about my earlier ex-girlfriend analogy. If you missed it, I first wrote about it on Day 6.
I'd also like to hear from anyone else who's reading this and is finding it helpful.
Saved so far £132.00
When I look back on some of my previous posts, it reminds me how bad it was. I think when I've tried giving up before, I've forgotten how bad it was for the first few days and it just seemed like it wasn't getting any better. When you're able to look back it does prove that it gets easier, even if it is a slow process.
I've had a couple of comments about yesterday's "brilliant revalation" and it seems the general opinion is that it's not so brilliant after all! Oh well, I'll just keep plodding on.
Now that I know people are reading this, I'd be interested to know what folks think about my earlier ex-girlfriend analogy. If you missed it, I first wrote about it on Day 6.
I'd also like to hear from anyone else who's reading this and is finding it helpful.
Saved so far £132.00
Sunday, 27 January 2008
Day 15 - Saturday January 26th 2008
I had a revalation today, but I'd be interested to know what anyone else thinks of it.
I think one of the worst things when you stop smoking is the thought of getting through the rest of your life without cigarettes. I think that only smokers will understand that feeling because it's not easy to compare it with anything else.
So I suddenly thought to myself "Why imagine it for the rest of my life? Why not just set a date that I won't smoke until?"
So I decided that I'll not smoke for one year. That doesn't seem so bad, I mean a year seems to go pretty quickly these days. So I can start smoking again on January 12th 2009!
Of course, I'm hoping that by the time it gets to that date, I won't want to start again. It just doesn't seem such a daunting task if it's only a year, rather than the rest of my life.
Is this a good idea or not? It certainly has made it seem a bit easier for me. What do you think?
Saved so far £123.75
I think one of the worst things when you stop smoking is the thought of getting through the rest of your life without cigarettes. I think that only smokers will understand that feeling because it's not easy to compare it with anything else.
So I suddenly thought to myself "Why imagine it for the rest of my life? Why not just set a date that I won't smoke until?"
So I decided that I'll not smoke for one year. That doesn't seem so bad, I mean a year seems to go pretty quickly these days. So I can start smoking again on January 12th 2009!
Of course, I'm hoping that by the time it gets to that date, I won't want to start again. It just doesn't seem such a daunting task if it's only a year, rather than the rest of my life.
Is this a good idea or not? It certainly has made it seem a bit easier for me. What do you think?
Saved so far £123.75
Friday, 25 January 2008
Day 14 - Friday January 25th 2008
This is now 2 weeks since my last fag (sorry but that's what we call them in the UK. I know you may laugh if you're from the States, but hey, we think it's funny when you talk about fannies!).
Anyway, back on topic. Sometimes now I think I've done so well that it won't hurt just to have one. Well I know that's not true and "just one" would lead to "just another one, then yet another one", etc, etc.
I've given up before and rewarded myself by having a cigar. It came to the point where I would say to myself "I'll only have a cigar when I go to the pub for a drink". It wasn't long before I found myself going to the pub on my own on a Saturday afternoon for a drink, just so I could have a cigar.
Other times, I've decided just to buy 10 and keep them in the car and only have one when I'm driving. So all of a sudden, I developed a hobby of "going for a quick drive". It's totally ridiculous.
Now of course, it won't be so easy with the smoking laws so at least I won't be able to go to the pub for a cigar. That's a good thing I think.
Saved so far £115.50
Anyway, back on topic. Sometimes now I think I've done so well that it won't hurt just to have one. Well I know that's not true and "just one" would lead to "just another one, then yet another one", etc, etc.
I've given up before and rewarded myself by having a cigar. It came to the point where I would say to myself "I'll only have a cigar when I go to the pub for a drink". It wasn't long before I found myself going to the pub on my own on a Saturday afternoon for a drink, just so I could have a cigar.
Other times, I've decided just to buy 10 and keep them in the car and only have one when I'm driving. So all of a sudden, I developed a hobby of "going for a quick drive". It's totally ridiculous.
Now of course, it won't be so easy with the smoking laws so at least I won't be able to go to the pub for a cigar. That's a good thing I think.
Saved so far £115.50
Day 13 - Thursday January 24th 2008
Not much happened today really. I'm still having those "pangs" quite a bit, but I've decided that although it would be nice to satisfy that pang, I don't want to do it by having a cigarette. Doing that would just make me feel worse again, i.e. my cough would return, etc, etc.
Saved so far £107.25
Saved so far £107.25
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
Day 12 - Wednesday January 23rd 2008
I've been feeling a bit depressed today, and thought about having a smoke. But would a cigarette really cheer me up? The answer is it might for a minute or two, but then what? I'd be even more depressed that I had given in.
I've also noticed that my breathing has been a bit easier of late. I hadn't really noticed before, but I'd been clearing my throat quite a lot. Not coughing as such, you know, just a little (I don't know what to call it!). Anyway, that seems to have gone now and I don't want it back so no smoking for me then!
Saved so far £99.00
I've also noticed that my breathing has been a bit easier of late. I hadn't really noticed before, but I'd been clearing my throat quite a lot. Not coughing as such, you know, just a little (I don't know what to call it!). Anyway, that seems to have gone now and I don't want it back so no smoking for me then!
Saved so far £99.00
Tuesday, 22 January 2008
Day 11 - Tuesday January 22nd 2008
Just received my first comments! Thanks Donna, an inspiration to carry this on because maybe I can help someone else too!
My stomach feels a lot better today so I think maybe it wasn't a kidney thing after all, which is nice! (Still not sure what it is though, it still hurts a bit).
As far as the smoking is going, I'm still finding it quite difficult at times. I know for sure that one day I won't even think about it, but I just can't imagine that day at the moment.
At one point, I even thought "I've got a bad stomach, I'll have a smoke to make up for it"! That is just stupid, and it's the same old thing that's happened to me before when I've tried to give up smoking. I'm just looking for an excuse to start again! There'll always be reasons like that, but it's those moments when it's important to be even stronger.
I keep thinking of the ex-girlfriend thing still and I'm sure that it's helping.
Saved so far £90.75
My stomach feels a lot better today so I think maybe it wasn't a kidney thing after all, which is nice! (Still not sure what it is though, it still hurts a bit).
As far as the smoking is going, I'm still finding it quite difficult at times. I know for sure that one day I won't even think about it, but I just can't imagine that day at the moment.
At one point, I even thought "I've got a bad stomach, I'll have a smoke to make up for it"! That is just stupid, and it's the same old thing that's happened to me before when I've tried to give up smoking. I'm just looking for an excuse to start again! There'll always be reasons like that, but it's those moments when it's important to be even stronger.
I keep thinking of the ex-girlfriend thing still and I'm sure that it's helping.
Saved so far £90.75
Monday, 21 January 2008
Day 10 - Monday January 21st 2008
I didn't write much yesterday. This was because I got a really bad stomach pain and couldn't do anything. Couldn't sleep last night either but at least it took my mind off the smoking.
Went to the doctor's and he wasn't sure what it was but said it could be a kidney stone. It feels much better today but is still quite painful.
On the smoking front, I would still rather like to have one, but I won't!
I was hoping that this Stop Smoking Diary would be an inspiration to others but I'm not sure anyone's reading it. Oh well.
Saved so far £82.50
Went to the doctor's and he wasn't sure what it was but said it could be a kidney stone. It feels much better today but is still quite painful.
On the smoking front, I would still rather like to have one, but I won't!
I was hoping that this Stop Smoking Diary would be an inspiration to others but I'm not sure anyone's reading it. Oh well.
Saved so far £82.50
Sunday, 20 January 2008
Day 9 - Sunday January 20th 2008
Well, I didn't give in yesterday in the end! Feeling a bit better today so let's see how it goes ...
Saved so far £74.25
Saved so far £74.25
Saturday, 19 January 2008
Day 8 - Saturday January 19th 2008
This is horrible. I'm feeling on edge all the time and can't imagine that it's possible not to feel like this without cigarettes. I'd love to smoke just one, right now! Must not weaken ...
Saved so far £66.00
Saved so far £66.00
Friday, 18 January 2008
Day 7 - Friday January 18th 2008
Yesterday was a whole lot better than the day before, so I'm feeling very positive about today. I think the ex-girlfiend analogy is helping a lot. I don't know why I didn't think of it before!
At the end of today, it'll be one week since my last smoke which I believe is quite an achievement and one to be proud of.
It's the afternoon now and I'm struggling a bit again. I keep having those urges, can't wait until they go!
Still had some of those nasty urges this evening, but still just about manageable.
Saved so far: £57.75
At the end of today, it'll be one week since my last smoke which I believe is quite an achievement and one to be proud of.
It's the afternoon now and I'm struggling a bit again. I keep having those urges, can't wait until they go!
Still had some of those nasty urges this evening, but still just about manageable.
Saved so far: £57.75
Thursday, 17 January 2008
Day 6 - Thursday January 17th 2008
Yesterday evening was terrible! I felt very depressed and couldn't be bothered to do anything. That's why I'm writing this today rather than yesterday. I feel a bit better today (although it's only 10am) so let's hope that yesterday was the peak!
It's now 14:30 and I just had a really bad craving. I was thinking of going to buy 10, just having a couple now and saving the rest for future emergencies. That would have been stupid wouldn't it?
Anyway, I had a cup of coffee instead and the craving seems to have gone a bit now.
It's the evening now and nowhere near as bad as yesterday. I was just watching something on BBC4 which had The Jam on it (a pop group from the 80s if you're too young to remember).
I immediately thought "I used to smoke then!". Now, I remember thinking the same sort of thing years ago when I had "lost in love", you know, you've been dumped and you see something and you think "I was still with her then". Everything seems against you and the world might as well end. Well it wasn't and it didn't, and when I think back to those moments now, I think what a fool I was.
Imagine if you could have got rid of those awful feelings by nipping down to the shop and buying her back for a fiver! Sure it would have solved the short-term problems, but I'm so glad I wasn't able to do it, as my life would have been so much worse in the longer term.
I'm now able to liken the experience to cigarettes. They've dumped me so I'll have to get over it and move on. So I will and my life will be better for it in the long-term.
Saved so far £49.50
It's now 14:30 and I just had a really bad craving. I was thinking of going to buy 10, just having a couple now and saving the rest for future emergencies. That would have been stupid wouldn't it?
Anyway, I had a cup of coffee instead and the craving seems to have gone a bit now.
It's the evening now and nowhere near as bad as yesterday. I was just watching something on BBC4 which had The Jam on it (a pop group from the 80s if you're too young to remember).
I immediately thought "I used to smoke then!". Now, I remember thinking the same sort of thing years ago when I had "lost in love", you know, you've been dumped and you see something and you think "I was still with her then". Everything seems against you and the world might as well end. Well it wasn't and it didn't, and when I think back to those moments now, I think what a fool I was.
Imagine if you could have got rid of those awful feelings by nipping down to the shop and buying her back for a fiver! Sure it would have solved the short-term problems, but I'm so glad I wasn't able to do it, as my life would have been so much worse in the longer term.
I'm now able to liken the experience to cigarettes. They've dumped me so I'll have to get over it and move on. So I will and my life will be better for it in the long-term.
Saved so far £49.50
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
Day 5 – Wednesday January 16th 2008
I’ve had some strong urges ‘just to have one’ today but I have resisted. Not sure how I’ve resisted but I keep thinking how crap I’d feel if I gave in. Earlier I felt dizzy, and read that it’s a normal reaction caused by my brain getting more oxygen than it’s used to!
I had a restless night last night and couldn’t get to sleep for ages so I’m tired today. It all seems to be getting worse rather than better! Maybe it will peak soon and then start to get easier again.
Saved so far £41.25
I had a restless night last night and couldn’t get to sleep for ages so I’m tired today. It all seems to be getting worse rather than better! Maybe it will peak soon and then start to get easier again.
Saved so far £41.25
Day 4 – Tuesday January 15th 2008
The worst day so far for some reason. I felt on edge for much of the day and couldn’t seem to concentrate too well. Kept getting that stupid feeling that something was missing from my life.
Saved so far £33.00
Saved so far £33.00
Day 3 – Monday January 14th 2008
First day at work as a non-smoker, but had to see my doctor first to get a new prescription for my Champix. He nearly fell off his chair when I told him I’d stopped, but after he’d composed himself he told me that stopping smoking was the single most important thing I could do for my health and is way ahead of any medication I’m on.
The day went surprisingly well at work and I was pleased that I managed to get through it without being too tempted.
Saved so far £24.75
The day went surprisingly well at work and I was pleased that I managed to get through it without being too tempted.
Saved so far £24.75
Day 2 – Sunday January 13th 2008
Not too bad today either. Managed to keep myself fairly well occupied which I think helps a lot. Went to bed a couple of hours earlier than normal again.
Saved so far £16.50
Saved so far £16.50
Day 1 – Saturday January 12th 2008
My quit day has arrived! It didn’t feel too bad not having my normal 2 cigarettes with my coffee this morning. I think that’s because I’ve been building up to this moment for a while now.
Went to a football match this afternoon with a friend of mine who smokes. It didn’t really bother me which was good.
Went to bed a bit earlier than normal. I think this was so I could get through the day without a cigarette quicker!
All in all, a satisfactory day and I’m well pleased with myself.
I used to smoke about 30 a day on average, and in the UK my brand is about £5.50. So already I've saved about £8.25!
Went to a football match this afternoon with a friend of mine who smokes. It didn’t really bother me which was good.
Went to bed a bit earlier than normal. I think this was so I could get through the day without a cigarette quicker!
All in all, a satisfactory day and I’m well pleased with myself.
I used to smoke about 30 a day on average, and in the UK my brand is about £5.50. So already I've saved about £8.25!
The Build-Up
I’ve tried to stop smoking several times before with varying success. The longest I managed was 3 months but something happened and I went back on them again.
This time I’m more determined than ever to succeed and I think that writing to this blog may help, because if I fail I’ll feel like I’ve let everyone down who reads this (that is assuming that anyone will read it!). Also, perhaps I can help someone else to quit. If both myself and at least one other person quits because of this blog, then it’s all been worthwhile.
My doctor recommended Champix to me, which is available in the UK on prescription and is fairly new. In the US it’s known as Chantix. You continue smoking while taking it for a while (which I liked the sound of) and then stop at a chosen point in the second week.
My understanding of the drug is that it attaches itself to the receptors in the brain that nicotine normally attaches to. Therefore it means that even while you’re smoking, you’re not getting the full effect of the nicotine so it doesn’t seem so bad once you finally stop.
I took my first tablet on January 1st and decided to stop on day 12, simply because that would be a Saturday and I figured that would be easier for some reason. Incidentally, on the packet it says you should pick a day between day 8 and day 14.
I didn’t really notice any difference during the first week, but in the second week I noticed I was smoking less, simply because I had lost a bit of the urge. This was encouraging but I was hoping that it wasn’t just a placebo effect.
This time I’m more determined than ever to succeed and I think that writing to this blog may help, because if I fail I’ll feel like I’ve let everyone down who reads this (that is assuming that anyone will read it!). Also, perhaps I can help someone else to quit. If both myself and at least one other person quits because of this blog, then it’s all been worthwhile.
My doctor recommended Champix to me, which is available in the UK on prescription and is fairly new. In the US it’s known as Chantix. You continue smoking while taking it for a while (which I liked the sound of) and then stop at a chosen point in the second week.
My understanding of the drug is that it attaches itself to the receptors in the brain that nicotine normally attaches to. Therefore it means that even while you’re smoking, you’re not getting the full effect of the nicotine so it doesn’t seem so bad once you finally stop.
I took my first tablet on January 1st and decided to stop on day 12, simply because that would be a Saturday and I figured that would be easier for some reason. Incidentally, on the packet it says you should pick a day between day 8 and day 14.
I didn’t really notice any difference during the first week, but in the second week I noticed I was smoking less, simply because I had lost a bit of the urge. This was encouraging but I was hoping that it wasn’t just a placebo effect.
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