Be nicotine free

I have made numerious attempts to quit smoking over the past year. I believe I find it easier if I didn’t live with a smoker. Knowing this I have decided to cut down on my smoking by at least 1 smoke a day in preparation for my quit date of 01.01.2012.

I found a few tips on the internet on how to cut down and hopefully this will attack the phyical need to smoke. I particually like the suggestions on this website:

http://www.health24.com/medical/Condition_centres/777-792-1952-1958,29426.asp

Especially the one about putting you butts in a jar so that you can see how much you smoke and how dirty it is.

Hopefully this time it will work.

... I have had a smoke most days. I live with a smoker and when he returns from work I allow myself a treat (smoke). This seems to be developing into a pattern and instead of only having one I might get through a few more. That first one tastes like crap but you convince yourself its not that bad and go for another. before you know it you’re no longer turned off by the repulsive habit.

If I am not around smokers or have access to cigaretes I do not have the desire to have one.

... As far as everyone is concerned I have given up. I do not smoke in public or when we have guests over.

Week 1

I have asked CP to take the cigarettes with him to work to prevent me from being tempted. This was extremely useful and I had a smoke free period of 36 hours. Unfortunately Friday rocked around and I had a Jim Bean & Coke which called for a smoke… Yes I know excuses, excuses, excused.

For now I am ok with I am smoking maybe 2 per a day and even then I feel terribly ill when I do. I actually feel sick in the tummy when I think about smoking or smell it. It the phyisical habit I am finding hard to break… This is something I have done for 16 years and know it will be a challenge but it can be won.

... I have reduced my smoking by 90%... I found the hardest place for me is at home. My partner smokes and leaves them on the bench in full view. If you were on a diet and there was chocolate in the house would you be able to ignore it?

Today I have had 2 smokes and both were at home, 9 hours apart. I have tried to distract myself but it didn’t work. I did find that not being at home most of the day really helped.

I am considering buying straws and cutting them the size of ciggarettes and sucking air through them just to deal with the physical habit.

I find this habit rather hard to break. Today I have had headaches, felt like throwing up and generally felt like crap. I should use it as motivation, I mean who wants to put their body through that every time they give in to their habit? I guess thats why the first 24 hours are the hardest and I have previously failed.

... I still feel the need to smoke so breaking the habit will be hard.

They say it takes 30 days to break a habit. This shows how hard it can be and to give myself a break if I fail and pat myself on the back for everyday I succeed.

A helpful site: http://www.wikihow.com/Break-a-Habit

I have the nicotine replacement therapy ready… just waiting till I run our of ciggerates before implementing it. I am down to my last packet so by the weekend I will be quitting.

It used to be a social thing for me or that was my old excuse for not giving up. Now that I’m home all the time its just me so there is no social aspect left.

Truthfully I’m scared that I will fail again and am not really motivated to quit. I just think I’ll give it a go and see if it works this time as there is less outside influence or people to encourage me in the wrong direction.

A great friend of mine has just been diagonosed with fatty liver disease. She is obese and has bad eating habits. It is becoming apparent our bad habits are catching up with us at 32 years of age. This scares me very much.

I have just recently had my first child and I want to be there to support her through the changes of life. I also want to have a better quality of life and smoking inhibits this.

Another good friend (the super healthy one) said she knew how addictive smoking was when I couldn’t give up during pregnancy. I explained to her I have made numerous attempts to give up smoking and she said just take it one day at a time.

A great motivator is that I will be the only one to understand what my daughter will go through and I would be her fearcest protector. No one else will be able to offer her these things.

The health talk between us girls last night gave me food for thought….

Since falling pregnant and having a baby (breast feeding) I have come down with five colds. I have had ear infections for over 7 weeks now.

Searching through our medicine cabinet for nicotine patches I found medication that expired in 2004. Wow that needed to be cleared out.

Tomorrow I start the nicotine therapy and hopefully give up for good. This is attempt number 5 and the fact I want to see my child grow up should be motivation enough.

http://www.ehow.com/i/#article_4571190

Ok bring on the lectures…. I am still smoking and yes its 15 per a day.

During the first trimester I cut it right down (1) because I felt sick. 2nd trimester picked the bad habit back up. I have 3 weeks before I enter the third trimester, which they say is the strongest growth period and your last chance to reduce the effects of smoking in a fetus.

I am trying to cut down by one smoke a day…. Until I reach nil.

Skin is clearer, teeth cleaner downside…. I am a lttle grumpy & small things r upsetting me.

I have yet to have a smoke free day. Funny thing is I don’t want to smoke but my body is compelling me, so I have one just to shut it up. The reactions to giving up are painful yet remind me why I need to be strong.

Today is loaded with destractions which will help in this task.