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Weekend Tips

11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 153

My temptation is my mother. She is a 60 year smoker and not planning to quit at this stage in her life unfortunately. I was driving her to her radiation therapy daily for 7 weeks starting 1 month into my quit and the first thing she would do when leaving the hospital immediately after her treatment is light a cigarette in my car! I focused on my anger i.e. what smoking had done to her nad what it continues to do to her, and that definitely helped with any possible cravings.

My big reward too is how much easier and more enjoyable any type of cardiovascular excercise is - running, cycling, intense gravity workouts,etc. I still need to work on getting a grip on the sweet rewards though. I never liked sweets all that much when I smoked but now I'm a sugar fiend. I don't know what's worse sometimes, the nic fit or the sugar fit.

11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1140

I also have stared temptation in the face. The roommate still smokes, and I have been around him when he did it (outside, of course). Earlier this evening, when I was having a crave, I went outside and sat in my old smoking chair, looking at my roommate's pack of smokes laying on the the table with the ashtray. When I seriously started to imagine doing it, I no longer wanted it. Scary, I know. It kind of reminded me of Eyja's recent close encounter with a cigar. But it somehow worked to calm me down.

I've also done a couple of casino trips where the whole room is filled with smoke. I went against the advice of people on this board and visited another smoky casino a few weeks ago. I actually got a little bit grossed out---as opposed to tempted--on that trip. I also didn't get a case of the craves later from it, as I had in the past. Perhaps my healthier body is starting to reject the idea of smoking as a desirable thing?

I also find that sometimes simply acknowledging the desire out loud or in writing helps it to pass. It's kind of a reverse-psychology/ mental judo thing. Stop fighting and just accept that it's there. Experiencing and acknowledging a feeling doesn't mean I have to act on it, after all.

As for distractions, I'm not sure. It's more a matter of substitutions. Deep breathing oxygen instead of inhaling smoke. Mints instead of cigarettes in my mouth. (I bought my last mints at Costco, so people can guess how often I'm using those.) Exercise highs instead of nicotine highs.

I haven't been super structured on rewards. Instead, I just note when I do have a financial indulgence that this was something that I might have felt nervous about spending money on before. Of course, the real reward was riding my bike for an hour and half last Friday, barely increasing my breathing rate or depth, and feeling like I'll be able to keep on pedaling until the day someone runs me over in the road....since I know I'm not dying from smoking.

As usual, the Working On It way is probably not for everyone. It might not be for anyone but me, since I'm just kind of warped.

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$22,479.75

Amount Saved
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Days: 600 Hours: 20

Minutes: 31 Seconds: 20

Life Gained
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Cigarettes Not Smoked

11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 186

I am a new quitter

For me I am not avoiding temptation.

I always sat on the front porch with my other half and we discussed our days as we smoked.The first week I didn't sit on the porch as my other half is still smoking.

I felt like I was giving up too much , so I sit on the porch,he sits a little farther away and I still get to enjoy his company.I do the same with my friends and work.

So instead of avoiding temptation I stare it down in my mind with the thoughts that I will grow old with my loved ones and I will breath strong and healthy all of those days.

I am giving up smoking not the good things I enjoy.They will be on there own this year when it is cold though.Lol

I have always been a busy person so distraction is fairly easy now( the first month was tough )I have work, Grand Children,Exercise, My dog, Reading and God knows there is always house work

and laundry =(

I have rewarded myself with a couple of new articles of clothing that have never been smoked in and go perfectly with the perfume that does not loose its smell now =)

My best rewards though are the longer bigger hugs from my Grand Children because I smell better.

Weekends scared me at first. When you are at work the environment keeps you busy.Weekends you are on your own. There are always things to do but when

you are not yourself in your quit you really need the motivation to do something.My kids helped to keep me on track.making sure I kept busy.

I am good now.The fact that I have come this far and I am feeling better about it is gfoing to keep me going.

N.O.P.E.

11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 711

Veterans and newer quitters......................guess I fall into both categories.

The weekend is going to be different this week to the one last week. Why.......because last week I was a smoker and this week I am a smoker who chooses not to smoke!

Last week I stayed up later than anyone else in the house on the Friday night. You see I was one of those sad individuals who pretended that they didn't smoke. Its a farce really isn't it............after only two days of stopping again you realise that you smell disgusting from 100 yards.

So anyway, there I was, outside the kitchen door in the rain, hoping that my daughter or wife would not come downstairs and catch me red-handed.

On the Saturday morning, I offered to take my daughter to her football match. She has been playing since she was 9 and is now a football (soccer for you guys over the pond) referee as well. She has her own car but you see, if I take her I can get a couple of cigars in round the back of the club house. There is then the sad routine of chewing gum and hand-washing.................and the sad look in her eyes as she gets back in the car for the journey home.

On the Sunday, can't wait for my wife to take the dog out for a walk. I can have a smoke while she is gone and then have a shower with that strong smelling lime stuff. And then I can use the excuse of getting the newspaper to buy another pack of cigars so i don't run out when I stay up late again that night.........

This weekend.............well I'm going to go to bed at the same time as everyone else, I'm actually going to watch my daughter play football and I'm going to go with my wife to walk the dog. And,when we get back, I will actually be able to taste the roast beef, home-made gravy, yorkshire puddings and fresh vegetables! (which I will have cooked btw as my wife is allergic to the kitchen!).

Which do you like the sound of the most....................Brent (never another puff!)