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Cravings that don't want to go away


17 years ago 0 848 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Aunt Deb. Thanks for the support. If you meant the Carr book, I have it and read it, parts more than once. I think I had a blah outlook going into Monday after a nice relaxing weekend with my family and I wasn't quite prepared for what hit me. I think Hell Week and Heck Week traded places for me! I got that cravy feeling again a little while ago, but I was able to tell it to go away. It helps that I'm meeting a good friend for lunch today. If you read my intro posting you know I was a closet smoker and (aside from Hubby and therapist) none of my friends or family know I smoked. This friend is an ex-smoker (like for 10 years or more - before I knew her) and I just might 'fess up to her and tell her I smoked and have quit. Something tells me that she will say she knew all along! LOL. Smokers (or ex-smokers) can always tell, I suspect! But extra support is always good right?
  • Quit Meter

    $119,541.83

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 6401 Hours: 11

    Minutes: 40 Seconds: 38

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45410

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    408,690

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 848 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I'll do that later today Rainie. I have to get my butt out of this house to meet my friend now. Better spending my morning reading and posting than smoking!
  • Quit Meter

    $119,541.83

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 6401 Hours: 11

    Minutes: 40 Seconds: 38

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45410

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    408,690

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 848 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
No Rainie - not avoiding work on the Magic - I already posted a new song for us to dance off those calories to. Actually, I'm embarrassed to admit it but I had a slip yesterday and I immediately regretted it and want to make sure it doesn't happen again. I'm trying to get past it so I don't have to reset my meter - at this point I feel it would be too demoralizing. The interesting thing is after a few puffs I stopped and realized a number of things. First, it irritated my throat. Second it made my hair stink and I never want to have to go back to that whole covering up thing. Third I immediately started coughing for the first time in a week. So, in a way it reinforced my reasons for quitting and now I'm trying to learn from this and move on. I am determined to never let this happen again. NOPE! (Can I still stay on board the ship? I'll lead the afternoon lecture on the evils of just one puff for the rest of ya!)
  • Quit Meter

    $119,541.83

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 6401 Hours: 11

    Minutes: 40 Seconds: 38

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45410

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    408,690

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 848 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Ok. I keep reading that cravings generally only last 5 minutes or so and then subside. For the most part I'm not really suffering from cravings, but then every few days I get this overwhelming feeling. It's like a deep hunger and I breathe deeply and think about how far I've come and do the self-talk ... and yet the feeling doesn't subside for a long long time or if it does ease up it comes back stronger and longer the next time. "It" doesn't want to get out of my head and it's the only time I almost feel physical discomfort. Most other times I can just shake off a crave with an "I don't want one, I don't smoke anymore". But this is different. It's caused me to mess up my quit attempts in the past and I don't want to succumb ever again. I'm actually feeling fine now, but I need to be better prepared for the next time this kind of feeling comes. Anybody have any insights?
  • Quit Meter

    $119,541.83

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 6401 Hours: 11

    Minutes: 40 Seconds: 38

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45410

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    408,690

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 848 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Thanks for the support. As you can see from my meter I'm still a newbie! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/29/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 7 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 96 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $28.56 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 42 [B]Seconds:[/B] 48
  • Quit Meter

    $119,541.83

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 6401 Hours: 11

    Minutes: 40 Seconds: 39

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45410

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    408,690

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 591 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
freemom, I'm using Chantix too...and wanted to give you my imput. You know, you can't keep smoking not even one puff... for the cravings to subside. and it's only been a few days for you, so you will have them for a few weeks. Just keep this in mind,if you were going cold turkey...you would be going bonkers right now for a smoke. You are having a little crav ing, and probably fairly often...but I can tell you that most of it can be overcome with just deep breaths or drinking water. and more importantly...your desire to be a Non-smoker will be the driving force to overcome the craves and triggers... you must become the master of the thoughts behind the craves. What is the emotion driving the crave...anger, anxiety, frustration, do you want to say something to someone that you just can't say for fear you'll create a scene? look honestly into the emotion you are feeling when this crave hits. With each cigarette we do not smoke, it fuels our inner ego with confidence to be more assertive in dealing with others and ourselves. I haven't read Allen Carr's book, I just happen to be a 10 year quitter who went through all of the drama quitters experience. I did it cold-turkey too (the hardest way, Chantix makes quitting a breeze...at least for me...because the memories of the past are too vivid) You just hang in here...you can do this, minute by minute...hour by hour, and day by day...until one day in the near future...you will not crave and you will be absolutely delighted...when you exclaim "Hey Everybody, I'M A NON-SMOKER...I NO LONGER CRAVE CIGARETTES....THEY STINK...WHY DID I EVER SMOKE IN THE FIRST PLACE? I am hearing a lot about attitude changing, and it is very true here. We are changing ourselves inside and out...and it starts with attitude...auntdeb [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/1/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 36 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,835 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $171 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 5 [B]Hrs:[/B] 1 [B]Mins:[/B] 13 [B]Seconds:[/B] 41
17 years ago 0 591 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Freemom, craves will happen for quite awhile, but as after the first week, it's more of your trigger thoughts that provoke them...like Pavlov's Dog... When one happens...just take a real deep breath...and it will go away. Continue to do this when they come knocking at your brain. Also, give some consideration as to what is going on at the moment...angry thought?...confrontation with someone? ...feeling a little sad (grieving the loss of your nic-bud :eg:?) Also a snack might help too. hand in there...just keep counting those nicotine free days...and before you know it...you will have a year behind you! auntdeb [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/1/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 36 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,815 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $171 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 53 [B]Seconds:[/B] 59
17 years ago 0 1150 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Right. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 12/29/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 39 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 395 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $195 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 53 [B]Seconds:[/B] 39
17 years ago 0 1150 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Show me your meter. It can take quite a while for nicotine to leave the body. Your craves can be physical and/or psychological. Either way - no picnic. I slipped at 40 days. I started thinking seriously about it in the a.m.(which means that it had been creeping for a while), the feeling built and built. I got into a frenzy and smoked around 8:30 p.m. (I posted first, but didn't realize that you are supposed to wait for 10 responses before you act on any rash ideas). Could I have been stronger than that? I say now - YES. DA-- IT! No quit is the same. 5 minutes for one person is much longer for someone else. Get your coping mechanisms in place and a back up plan and a back up to your back up plan. One of my back up's back up is to look at myself in the mirror when I am in a crave frenzy. It is not a pretty site and so far it has been able to stop me. In fact, I haven't experienced it that bad in a while. I keep it fresh in my mind's eye. This quitting can be a struggle, it calls for a fight. It takes all of us for each of us. Get your armor on and your sword ready b/c we've got your back. This is a fight to the finish. It's life or death and we choose you . :eg: [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 12/29/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 38 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 390 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $190 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 16 [B]Mins:[/B] 44 [B]Seconds:[/B] 17
17 years ago 0 852 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hello FreeMom! I'll try to make this short and sweet ~ only YOU control what you think. If you are constantly fighting the thought, you are only prolonging your agony, and quite frankly, wearing yourself down. You MUST change your thoughts and actions immediately!! I know it isn't always possible, but my favorite one was to pop on my headphones and listen to my relaxation/hypnosis CD. It instantly changed my thoughts and stayed with me for hours. I also recommend a walk. Think of how GREAT you feel. Consentrate on ways to improve your health or body. More exercize..... Healthier eating..... and think of ways to do it. Just don't focus on the drowning thoughts of withdrawl. You will suck yourself into a place you do not want to be. Stop fighting yourself. You will come out a winner if you just let it go........... Force yourself. You obviously have self control now. Use it wisely! Be happy! Being quit is the best thing in the entire world!!! And take care of yourself. Have you rewarded yourself lately? 4my2girls [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/5/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 337 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 10,139 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1101.99 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 27 [B]Hrs:[/B] 4 [B]Mins:[/B] 41 [B]Seconds:[/B] 45

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