bluefish0526 I love being a Mommy!!!
I like this!!!
I have three more smokes and then I am done.
My plan, whenever I get a craving is to sit down at my laptop and journal. Smoking takes up so much time (especially when you smoke as much as I do). And I plan on filling up that time and powering through those cravings by journalling as much as possible … there is so much $h*t (both good and bad) going on in my life and I haven’t written a damned thing down in months. Documenting while I am craving will be a good distraction. Also, I have a gajillion other projects I want to start and just can’t freakin’ seem to find the time … now that I won’t be smoking for two hours (at least) a day, hopefully I’ll find the time.
Also, I realized a day or two ago that smoking is an incredibly selfish thing to do … especially when you have a child. What if my child needs a lung or a kidney or a portion of my liver or some blood and it is horribly tainted by months or years of tobacco use? That is pretty much all the incentive I need!!!
I have quit before … always with the help of a quit smoking aid. This time I am going to quit cold-turkey all by myself without the help of any aid. Hopefully, the thought of my child possibly needing something from my body in the near future will be enough to make me quit FOR GOOD!!!
Hopefully, my husband will follow suit. He said he would … but who knows??!?
You go, girl!!! Good for you!!!
so, how’s it going? i hope the journalling is working for you and you’re staying strong. Honestly it’s SO worth it… keeping fighting your brain/habits. The gnawing craving disappears after a few moments if you distract yourself. Keep doing more of the things you’d never consider doing while smoking – for me it was having baths! Good luck x
bluefish0526 I love being a Mommy!!!
Terribly!!!
Like I said, I was going to quit last Wednesday. But, of course, I didn’t.
So last night I went to Costco and purchased patches (they have always worked for me before). I put one on this morning right out of my shower and so far so good.
I’m filling the time up with laundry that has been piling up for weeks. :)
some more tips
But that’s great news – you’re doing it today – well done!
Try these… all of which I know need you to be stern enough with yourself to actually do, but helped me…
- when you get a craving, go to your purse and take out the equivalent of the cost of a cigarette. put it in a box which you label with something you want but wouldn’t usually buy. Be really specific and put a picture on the front of the box – a meal in a particular restaurant, or a particular pair of shoes, or something for your child. As you do it, have a little daydream about what it would be like to have that thing. Whatever you do, don’t go and get that thing until you have the money in the pot from doing this.
- talk out loud to yourself, better still video or audio record yourself and talk through the ludicrousness of being beholden to cigarettes.
- when you get a craving, telephone a friend IMMEDIATELY. Tell them that’s why you’ve called them and joke about the fact that you need them to distract you. If you can’t reach anyone you know, phone someone you don’t know, like the phone company and sort out your bill at the same time as talking to whoever is on the end of the phone. If you’re really feeling it, ring a travel agent and arrange a holiday!
- have you got rid of all the cigarettes and ashtrays and lighters? I guarantee you won’t be able to do this if you don’t. You said your husband smokes – his new rule has to be that he’s ONLY allowed to smoke outside out of your sight and he must carry his cigs on him so you don’t see them. If you see them it’ll be harder I promise.
- start one of those projedcts you were planning. Make sure it’s an easy one that you could finish in a day or two and results in something tangible that you can see – this will be a reminder of what you can do if you put your mind to it. Post a photo here when it’s done!
- stop everything and stand with your arms in that balletic pose where they are out in front of you and curved as if you’re holding a big pot. Now breath really deeply in and out, alllowing your arms to move. Feel and picture your lungs expanding in your chest. Embrace the tightness you feel in your chest as a reminder of why you need to stop. If you really imagine the inside of your lungs as you do this you can terrify yourself… stay controlled and use it to help you stop.
- carry and use chewing gum – keep your mouth busy as well as your hands.
- at your next opportunity, go somewhere where the air is fresh and clear, throw your arms out wide and take some big deep breaths.
Good Luck!! I’ll keep checking here at the start and end of each day xx
PS: Picture is from http://www.marthashelihikes.com/ – a helicopter takes you up a mountain to do yoga… imagine how that would feel!
