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Any thoughts on when I can have a drink and not think about wanting a cig...

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Any thoughts on when I can have a drink and not think about wanting a cig...

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 130

I think it's okay that you have a drink now, and that the thought of smoking crosses your mind. It's the way you used to do things. I think the more times you have your evening drink, think about smoking, and don't do it, the easier it will get. The evening drink is a trigger you haven't fully gotten rid of yet, that's all.

Have the drink, deal with the thoughts, every time you do you are moving to the time you have that drink and don't even think of a smoke.

It sounds like you're on the right track to me.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 7/6/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 18
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 540
Amount Saved: $124.20
Life Gained:
Days: 3 Hrs: 1 Mins: 16 Seconds: 59

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 855

Hello tho its been a long , long time since i had a craving, the thoughts of smoking will get better, i mainiley think about it becasue i am here supporting alot, now i sit here and remember craves and what it was like when i was here getting support for myself, you will get past it, but i think we always will remember our smoking days and think glad those days are over :) Good Job on that quit :) Tresa
My Milage:

My Quit Date: 8/8/2002
Smoke-Free Days: 2177
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 52,248
Amount Saved: $9,143.40
Life Gained:
Days: 311 Hrs: 4 Mins: 45 Seconds: 27

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1288

Hi Loripie21,

Congratulations on your 21 days! That's fantastic!

Everyone's quit is different and there is no fixed time when you wont feel the urge to some when drinking. We recommend avoiding triggers like smoking and coffee especially if you think you may feel tempted to smoke.

Members, when did you feel like the urge to smoke when drinking tapered off?

Sylvie, Bilingual Health Educator

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 101

I am definitely not as far along in my quit like you but I've tried to have a glass of wine like I used to before I quit and it was just too difficult to get teh smoking thoughts out of my head. I had to give up my relaxation time with a glass of wine, sitting on my porch in my most comfortable chair (and a book of course) until I am further along. I just recently was able to sit in my chair and read without the smoke. The wine will come late :-)

Good luck and you seem like you are doing awesome in your quit.

Kasi

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 7/3/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 20
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 400
Amount Saved: $85.00
Life Gained:
Days: 1 Hrs: 20 Mins: 34 Seconds: 10

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 967

Hi Lori,

I am just like Moss, it is easier to dismiss, but it is still there. I have drank many times and I think about it at first, and forget about it now. I wish I could put a time frame on it because then I would know. I can tell you that everyday gets easier and the thoughts are less and less, so I know it will eventually just be a shadow.

Kelly

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 12/6/2007
Smoke-Free Days: 230
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 6,900
Amount Saved: $862.50
Life Gained:
Days: 18 Hrs: 18 Mins: 0 Seconds: 37

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 127

Hi Loripie,

I was in a 50+ day quit that I lost after I had a few drinks, now I'm back to the beginning. BUT.....I had a few drinks another 2 or 3 occasions during the quit and I was fine. I was in bad form and pretty low the night I caved and booze just gave me an excuse so all I can say is just trust yourself... don't put any date or time frame on it, whenever you feel ready. If you like a few glasses of wine in the evening then have a bath, put on a robe and have your wine and relax, if you want a cig, you can just go to bed. I had a few drinks at home and I was fine, went out and I was fine because in Ireland smokers have to go outdoors and I was indoors so I didn't even notice it but just be careful!

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 7/19/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 4
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 92
Amount Saved: �34.73
Life Gained:
Days: 0 Hrs: 7 Mins: 3 Seconds: 14

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 649

Hi Lori

I don't know if anyone can answer that question. If you are only thinking about cigs when you are having a drink in the evening, I think you are doing great. Congrats on reaching 1 month. Truly Loripie, if you are doing that great after just 31 days, just keep on track and those thoughts will fade. And you are so young, good for you for stopping before some real damage is done.

After 8 months, I still have some craves/urges a couple times a day but it gets easier to dismiss them. A lot of people here, and my doc, have said that for most long time smokers it takes around six months for the brain to completely balance out and for the urges to stop. I think we are all too different to give an answer.

Once again, you are doing fabulous. Keep it up.

Moss

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 11/19/2007
Smoke-Free Days: 247
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 3,705
Amount Saved: $833.63
Life Gained:
Days: 39 Hrs: 17 Mins: 42 Seconds: 58

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1107

Hi Loripie,

1st I'd like to say congratulations on getting through the first month!!!

The first month was the worst for me as I love to drink my beer. Of course along with the beer was the cigarette. It took me only about a month to be able to drink without the smoke, although I thought how nice the two went together.

The easiest way I got over it was basically, I went to a bar with my non-smoking daughter. She made sure I didn't get a cigarette from one of my friends. On the way home, the smell that came from us overwhelmed me, and I couldn't wait to get home to shower. I no longer crave a smoke at all, no matter what, because of the reminder of that stench.

Good luck, and hang tough. It does get easier!!!

Goofy

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 10/28/2007
Smoke-Free Days: 269
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 10,760
Amount Saved: $1,694.70
Life Gained:
Days: 48 Hrs: 8 Mins: 44 Seconds: 0

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2534

You are tackling the issue head on and that is a good thing to do!

The sooner you experience everyday life events while quitting, including drinking, the sooner your brain will rewire itself to not trigger the need to smoke while drinking. It was tough for me early on but in time, the trigger was defeated and it wasn't long before I was enjoying the benefits of alcohol without craving a cigarette. If you want me to put a time on it, I'd say it was about 3 months for me.

You are doing famously, stick with it!!

Best Wishes

Penitent d1527

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 5/18/2004
Smoke-Free Days: 1527
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 38,175
Amount Saved: �9,543.75
Life Gained:
Days: 248 Hrs: 20 Mins: 51 Seconds: 28

Quit Meter

$59,037.00

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 1169 Hours: 7

Minutes: 27 Seconds: 1

Life Gained
Quit Meter

5367

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

118,074

Cigarettes Not Smoked

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 5

Hi all...still going strong here but I had a question. At night I like to have some wine and relax after dinner and although I have not caved in to my cravings I still think about wanting to smoke. Any thoughts on how long it normally takes to get smoking off the brain??? I have been smoke free 31 days, I don't have any withdrawal symptoms now - only when I drink do I think about smoking. I wish I could sort of put a time frame on when it will stop...I just want to stop thinking about smoking when I'm trying to relax. Thanks for your input!
My Milage:

My Quit Date: 6/22/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 31
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 310
Amount Saved: $69.75
Life Gained:
Days: 2 Hrs: 5 Mins: 12 Seconds: 40

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