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-   -   Cold Turkey, Day One (http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=428933)

TChice Fri, Jun-03-11 12:39

Cold Turkey, Day One
 
I hadn't realized how many things trigger me to smoke!

Finishing a meal
Sitting on my porch
Driving (expected)
Talking on the phone
Walking the dog
Drinking coffee (expected)
Reading a book
Waking up
Working out

And that list is just from the last 8 hours... :help:

bonechew Fri, Jun-03-11 13:27

Yea. I takes me months just to unlink a cig from all the things I do in a day. Or emotions I had (bored, angry, frustrated, hungry, anxious, nervous, etc). Amazing how it gets ingrained into every aspect of our lives. For me, that was the hardest part to quitting.

I encourage winners (not quitters) to read Whyquit.com. His essays have helped me a lot. When things get really twisted and I crave smoking just to calm down, I remind myself what Joel says. Smoking that cig isn't going to solve the problem - it only adds another monkey on the back. And it will never taste like the best cig I've ever enjoyed.

Good luck. Keep quitting. The more you practice it, the better you will get at it.

TChice Sun, Jun-05-11 17:18

I did check out whyquit.com - thank you very much.

The cravings are getting worse by the day so far. I've been in a non-stop nic-fit all day today. It's difficult to hold out when it's just getting worse. I'm hoping to get some relief soon!

bonechew Sun, Jun-05-11 20:53

Relief is right around the corner. Just get out and be places where you can’t smoke. One time I quit and could not trust myself to not light up. So I spent a lot of time at the library. Sat there and read, paid my bills, did home work for my night class, etc.

Just hang on and take a vicodin if needed to get past those first 4 days.

TChice Mon, Jun-06-11 07:28

Today is better. MUCH better. It helps that I've never smoked in this house. Always on the back porch - so I've avoided the hell out of the back porch!
A few other things I did to break the habits:
I had my car cleaned inside and out - no smoke smell there.
Did my laundry with extra fabric softener to get the last smell out of my clothes (and by proxy, my sheets.)
I took my lighter out of my purse, pocket, and center console.
Washed a put away the ashtrays.

Without the smell to trigger a craving, my cravings are then just actual withdrawal symptoms and not ghost cravings triggered by scent memory. At least, that's what I'm counting on and it seems to be working so far!

bonechew Mon, Jun-06-11 09:05

All excellent moves. I gave away all my ash trays also. I had to get rid of it all. Just looking at a lighter can make me jones.

I'm glad you turned the corner. The rest is a journey of discovery. At every step, your lung capacity increases. You get your sense of smell back (and what a smelly world we live in). Then you get your sense of taste back. You have more energy and sleep better. You will catch less colds/viruses because the cilia hairs in your nasel areas grow back and start trapping bacteria/germs like they should.

Oh, and don't forget to take the money you spent on smoking and put it into a fun fund! That is your reward this year for not smoking. Guilt free shopping. I love that part of it.

It's a great world without smoking.

mainecyn Mon, Jun-06-11 09:13

Great ideas, getting rid of the ashtrays etc. It does help when you are somewhere without a smoke histroy, not smoking in the house. It helped me as well when i tried to quit, that and not smoking in the car. Stress is the big issue for me, even after this time smoke free. I did it cold turkey as well. I found myself chewing gum or mints one day, walking in circles the next. Whatever helped. You should find it getting easier each day. The physical cravings are kept at bay, not its the gonna be the "mental" habit and comfort of smoking. Or at least it was for me.

TChice Mon, Jun-06-11 09:37

Thanks guys! I love this forum - there are always people in similar situations willing to share and support!

I realized this morning that I used to use smoking as a way to be anti-social when I chose. I could walk away from anyone and go outside to smoke. Now I'll have to learn to end conversations politely!

bonechew Mon, Jun-06-11 10:40

Quote:
Originally Posted by TChice
I realized this morning that I used to use smoking as a way to be anti-social when I chose. I could walk away from anyone and go outside to smoke. Now I'll have to learn to end conversations politely!


Yea, I've noticed this also. I used to say, "I'm stepping outside to smoke. Want to join me?" and they would always say no, they didn't smoke. Because hardly anyone smokes any more. Now, I have to find some thing else most people do not want to be seen doing.

TChice Thu, Jun-09-11 08:36

Just checking back in - haven't smoked since 6/2/11 at 11pm.

My heart rate is lower (I notice from my morning cardio).
My cravings are much less than a few days ago - now I can smell it and not want one.
Speaking of smell, wow - I smelled like THAT? Blech.

bonechew Thu, Jun-09-11 10:09

I really notice a smoker when they walk past me. OMG. I smelled like that. Even when you stand outside and smoke, it gets onto your hair, clothes, skin...

None of my friends smoke. And they never wanted to hug me because the smell is in my hair/clothes (even though I washed both every day).

TChice Sat, Jul-02-11 09:24

Just to update - I've been nicotine free for a whole month!

mainecyn Sat, Jul-02-11 09:36

Wow! Congratulations on your success. I still have issues sometimes wanting to smoke, i think it always stays with you. My husband still smokes so it makes it difficult. Your right, i can say it was a social thing as well in some cases, if i didn't want to be around people and they didn't smoke i could say i'm gonna smoke and walk away..and if it was someone else who did smoke and wanted to be with we could walk away.

You are doing amazingly well congratulations to you!

bonechew Sat, Jul-02-11 15:30

Quote:
Originally Posted by TChice
Just to update - I've been nicotine free for a whole month!


You did it! You got through the worst part. You are going to make it this time.

Just don't let the demon tell you it's ok to have just one.... I fall for that stupid lie every time.... :lol:

TChice Sat, Jul-02-11 15:41

Quote:
Originally Posted by bonechew
You did it! You got through the worst part. You are going to make it this time.

Just don't let the demon tell you it's ok to have just one.... I fall for that stupid lie every time.... :lol:


Thanks for the encouragement!

And yeah, that "just one" demon is a jerk. It's the same one that tried to get me to grab some peanut butter m&m's... I told him to shove it!


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