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Distraction

Posted in Quit experiences
By doigiva
schedule 20 Jan 2014

I began smoking almost 40 years ago when I started work at age 18 as ALL my work collegues smoked & it was the done thing, what a silly boy I was back then. I had been subjected to my Mother, Grandmother & older Sister puffing away since my childhood & found the smell offensive as well as their breath & smokers hack disgusting.

Anyway I took up smoking at age 18 and was quickly hooked, even thought I did not believe the fact  at the time. Back then smokes were incredibly cheap and I soon found myself going through a pack of 20 each day and started getting the notorious Smokers Cough as well as a loss in stamina.

20 years ago I was involved in a major accident & did not smoke for 22 days as I was strung up in bed in hospital & could not smoke in the aircondioning. On the 23rd day I was put into a wheelchair & taken outside by a Nurse (who promply lit up) for some fresh air, bang went that chance of quitting.

Since then in the last five years or so I have made a few attempts at quitting using NRT, Zyban & Champix but always failed as I did not have the willpower to continue as I was always subjected to fellow smokers who did not want me to succeed in my quest. Over the past 12 months I started cutting down on cigarettes & changed from tailormade to rollies as well as taking up meditation practices.

Today is my 22nd day smokefree Cold Turkey & I feel really positive that I have smoked my last ciggie ever. I get the occasional craving but these are getting less frequent as I am drinking plenty of fresh chilled water & doing something else to distract myself for the minute or so the craving lasts. I also have been observing my neighbours & noticing how they are unable to complete a task without having a cigarette every five minutes & knowing I do not wish to be like them. I rarely smoked in the street or whilst driving & never while cooking or in bed.

As for the money saved I have opted to prepay my utility bills so I will not be burdened with huge bills each month or quarter. In terms of a real reward I have started planning an overseas trip next year, but today my reward is I now count myself as a nonsmoker of 22 days, thanks to my willpower & preplanning.

Looking for a Quit buddy if anyone is interested.

By doigiva
schedule 21 Jan 2014

Thanks Ricky. Have read in other comments tat third week is hardest ? I feel fine with less craving periods each day. Also I have not had an issue with coffee & sit here sipping my morning cuppa smokefree!

schedule 21 Jan 2014

You gotta read this by another quitter...Funny but oh so true!!! Loved it.

http://voices.yahoo.com/what-does-nicotine-craving-feel-like-8571853.html?cat=5