Day 31 - 60 AF. Who's In?

[gyco]

Day 31 - 60 AF. Who's In?

you handled that situation well dont let people press yur buttons you could of just left and had a toot and even felt worse and then she would of got yur goat congrats have a good day

[wonderworld]

Day 31 - 60 AF. Who's In?

Beck;358140 wrote: I don't want a break from my recovery.

I like how you said that Beck. Even when things are hard these days, I feel the same.

And LVT, I know! I can be very, um intense. And I appreciate having the 'space' here to talk to myself in what feels like a really helpful way LOL!! Someone else said it here - something about just putting the thoughts and feelings into words seems to move the process along. I get so much out of thinking about what others 'put out there'.

And speaking of...... this whole discussion, and with you mighty quitters no less, is helping me get clear about how much I want to quit smoking. And if I can ask for some input - did you guys do anything special to quit? I have a hair trigger with side effects and so would prefer to skip meds (anyone use chantix?). Any advice? I've never tried to quit before. Well, maybe once about 20 years ago. All I remember is crying and walking into walls. I think I lasted about 11 days. But that was THEN.........

WW xox

[LVT25]

Day 31 - 60 AF. Who's In?

Hi all!

WW--check out my thread about smoking in the fitness section. I never was a "full-time" smoker--just in the evenings with my beer. Or any other time I drank beer. So I assume it's easier for someone like me to quit. But Allen Carr's book helped me and I also used some hypnotherapy and subliminal message cd's. It's not hard as long as I stay away from the beer!
There are some here that have quit with Chantix. Boozehag is a real success story. I would highly recomend quitting--I feel better knowing I'm not putting those toxins in my body anymore!

[Doggygirl]

Day 31 - 60 AF. Who's In?

wonderworld;358384 wrote: And speaking of...... this whole discussion, and with you mighty quitters no less, is helping me get clear about how much I want to quit smoking. And if I can ask for some input - did you guys do anything special to quit?
WW xox

I had one accupuncture treatment to get me started. The therapist set my expectations very carefully - he did NOT promise some sort of Magic Bullet (which I think all of us smokers or ex-smokers are/were waiting and hoping for!). What he promised was a VERY relaxed state that would help keep me relaxed through those first few days of nicotine detox. I planned and scheduled that so I was able to basically stay in bed as much as I wanted to and watch TV, nap, read, or whatever for 3 solid days. IMO, I got what I was promised out of that treatment.

Then the real work began.

I don't know that there is anything out there that in the long haul, will be like "magic" making quiting smoking easy. I think lots of the tools recommended here - such as the supplements and anti-craving tools like Kudzu and L-Glut might help take the edge off - but I didn't know about them when I quit smoking so can't really say. Frankly, the first month was an out of body experience where I was a shrew that I did not know. The next month was slightly better but not by much. Things started to finally feel a LITTLE BIT easier around the 100 day mark....but "little" means little.

I have come across many who have used Chantrix or other tools - some with success and some not. It seems to me that anyone expecting "magic" - i.e. the cravings and thoughts of smoking to just magically stop - do not succeed with these or any other tools. Those who are VERY determined, and see these type of tools as just that - tools - have much better odds. (sounding familiar? like MWO recommended tools????)

For me, THE most important thing was making a firm committment that no matter what, I can NEVER EVER EVER light up again - Not One Puff Ever. (NOPE - from Quit Smoking All Together with QuitNet.com - Stop Smoking Help and Cessation Support - a great quit smoking resource)

FFSONLINE.ORG (ffs = Freedom From Smoking) has what I think is a good program for preparing to quit. It contains a lot of thinking and writing exercises to help you evaluate your triggers, etc. and develop a good battle plan. (that site is sponsored by the American Lung Association)

I relied on two sites for daily support - much like the support here. Quit Smoking All Together with QuitNet.com - Stop Smoking Help and Cessation Support is a very LARGE site. The main community was a little overwhelming for me - but that of course is not true for everyone. If you visit that site, make sure to also check out the "Clubs." The Clubs feature is a lot like the many different "theme" threads that get going here at MWO. You can find subsets of quitters that you have stuff in common with. There are clubs for various age groups, with various hobby type interests, etc. I belonged to an age related club that was very active with daily posting - lots of daily support was critical to my success.

Quitnet "gets" the trigger points along the time lines. Like here at MWO, we often talk about struggling at certain milestones - days 4/5, 60 days, etc. I believe there IS something to that when battling an addiction, and apparently the folks at quitnet think so too! Especially for the first 100 days, there are site sponsored "virtual prizes" for milestones at 3 days, 10 days, 15 days, 25 days, 50 days, 75 days, 100 days. (more after that, but with less frequency. GREENIE LOL - at 25 days you get your Big Girl/Boy Pants!!

Another site I still frequent is tales from the quit. The owner of the site Kevin battled his nicotine addiction for years and unfortunately only quit for good after being diagnosed with emphasyma (sp). His "Tales of the Quit" is a very interesting read. And the discussion forum is much smaller and hence less "crazy" than quitnet, but a VERY nice and supportive core group of people - many who have been off nicotine for years. Kevin is a very good writer and has an excellent way of putting hard cold facts into words and phrases that hit home. The phrase "nothing in life is so bad that smoking a cigarette won't make it worse" I first read there, and applied to drinking al as well as nicotine!

While I did not participate in their discussion forum (technically I was not eligible as this is a "cold turkey" oriented site and I had accupuncture) there is TONS of excellent reading material at WhyQuit - the Internet's leading cold turkey quit smoking resource. Some of it us of course gruesome about the illnesses caused by smoking. There is also very good information about the technical nature of the addiction - what specifically has been altered in our brain chemistry. So there were a couple of good reasons to poke around that site when I needed extra motivation to NOT light up.

Anyway, sorry this is so long but I truly NEVER thought I would or could quit smoking. If I can do it, anybody can do it. I am SO glad I quit. (16+ months ago now). Those early months were SO PAINFUL that I know I will never smoke again for any reason - I DO NOT want to go through that again, and I DO NOT want to die the slow death that is such a high probability for life long smokers.

Hope at least a little bit of that helps you. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my life without nicotine in it!!

DG
47 Days Hangover Free!

[LVT25]

Day 31 - 60 AF. Who's In?

Hi all!

Awesome post DG! It's too bad you weren't around more when I first quit! I STILL wear my quitnet bracelet--it is black-represents what my lungs would look like if I kept smoking, pink-which is how healthy and clean they are now, and white-for the white healing light I need to keep me NF! I am going to check out some of the other sites sometime. I used the quitnet forum for ahwile, but when I found MWO it was sooo much more to my liking!
I think a person has to do whatever they need to do to quit. With me it was give up drinking which was a really great choice also--I feel so much better now.
I do think it is possible to quit smoking and be happy without it. I didn't want to constantly wish I could smoke the rest of my life. I think Allen Carr's book spells that out. I also thought of it as enjoying the QUALITY of the rest of my life rather than quantity. My mom had COPD and was on O2 for the last 10 years of her life, and it really affected her last years.
Well, gotta go--last day of vacation at my sister's!:h

[bestlifeldms]

Day 31 - 60 AF. Who's In?

Hi all!

Just wanted to stop by and say, HORRAY! The fourth is over. Spent a few days at the lake with family, most were drinking - quite a bit. I am happy to report I am still AF! 91 days, today. DG reading your posts I realized that for me, choosing sobriety, was probably the easy way out. I surrendered. I admitted that I just couldn't do it anymore. I was so stubborn. I remember saying to my hub, "I can do this!" (moderate) I couldn't! It was never one drink for me. It was drink until it is gone! sooooo - No more reasoning, no more trying to figure out all the whys, triggers, etc. I was just soooooo ready to "give it up". I used to think if I quit, that I was being weak. If quitting is weak, then I am happy to be weak! This is so much easier for me. I am sober and grateful that I made it! You guys are all the greatest!

Tons of love! Best

[gyco]

Day 31 - 60 AF. Who's In?

w w you should do one at a time actually its not recommended to do both like drinkin moderation for some mt b a bettr suggestion i quit 30 years ago smoked 3 decks a day it was the hardest thing i did in my life if i didnt i wouldnt be so fortunate to meet you folks hahaha hav great day wonder lady i like your writes still havent figured mine out yet gyco iwill eventually you can always email me

[Larisa]

Day 31 - 60 AF. Who's In?

Hi, everybody,

Still AF at big 36 days, thanks very much - it has gotten a lot easier. Looking forward to a time when I don't have the battle of the liquor store driving home. I know I don't WANT the stuff, but I still have to fight it off. That thought always comes creeping in - wouldn't it be nice...nobody would know...just this once...fortunately, I remember my last drunk, when the topa was starting to kick in. It tasted weird, and I couldn't really get myself interested all the way. I got pretty buzzed, and I wasn't even interested in my buzz. Very disconcerting. Anyway, I don't have much of a point here. Just looking forward to the day when I don't give it a thought. Kind of like I was for the first 31 or so years of my life before I started drinking, hehe.

I hope you Canadians had a good 1st, and you Americans had a good 4th, and anybody else had a good anything else I don't know about, and everybody's well!

[wonderworld]

Day 31 - 60 AF. Who's In?

OMG DG Thank you. You gave me so much good info and inspiration. I'm definitely going to check out those sites. I know I'm getting very ripe to quit, and while I'm scared, I'm really glad I'm finally talking about it and taking actions. I think the fact that I'm getting so in touch with my feelings about it (finally) is such a good sign. Your battle for your own health really gives me a charge.

You too LVT. I'm going to read your quit thread in depth. I feel so lucky to have such an incredible resource - you guys and your successful experience. Without knowing you guys I wouldn't even be thinking about quitting right now, and there's no reason not to. I'm 6 months AF and ready to take it on and want to. Even if it's a little bit of a process getting started. As you said DG, it's like MWO. Didn't happen over night. phew. feels weird to even SAY that LOL!!! who me? quit smoking?

Thanks you guys. I really appreciate your support :h.

off to read more.......

ww xox

[wonderworld]

Day 31 - 60 AF. Who's In?

Gyco I hear you. Quitting both together may sound like alot, but quite frankly, the alcohol is not an issue! And if the desire to quit smoking is naturally arising, I think I should go with it! I can do it. I know I can.

bestlife you sound so awesome! And congratulations on 90 DAYS!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!

Hi Larisa! so nice to see you. Right on on yer AF days and not letting those habits yank you. sweet!

See you a little later.

ww xox

[LVT25]

Day 31 - 60 AF. Who's In?

We made it home safe and sound. The boys were really pretty good this trip, they are growing up I guess. I also think my supps help to be more "calm".
Even though I checked in a little while I was gone, it has taken me an hour to catch up here. Lots of newbies. Still amazes me how many of us there are in the world!
I hope everyone is doing well. Some have tried moderation--I'm still on the fence so to speak. Turns out the Raspberry tea I bought was 5% alcohol, not 0.5%. I tasted it, and did not like it anyway, so left it all for my sister who might get all 4 of them drank in the next year! I had 1 O Doul's. Not too exciting, but waking up feeling great and energetic was the best!!
I ate too much, so my goal from now on, is to eat healthy, get going on my walking routine, and drop a few more pounds!!!
Well, on to the next thread!:h

[LVT25]

Day 31 - 60 AF. Who's In?

where is everybody!!

[ame=

]YouTube - KC & Sunshine Band - Keep It Comin' Love (1976)[/ame]

[Larisa]

Day 31 - 60 AF. Who's In?

Hi, LVT!!! It's finally RAINING here in Nashville! I was starting to think I was livin in a desert! My poor little 'maters were thirsty, and they're popping out all over the place. Almost had to quit my job and become a professional mater waterer. Day 37 - or so, how about you, woohooo!!! Sat near someone drinking wine yesterday, and I could smell it - made me feel like barfing. Funny remembering that I had to acquire a taste for that stuff way back when.

Where is everybody else??

[Peanut]

Day 31 - 60 AF. Who's In?

Hey Peeps!

Yes Larisa, quiet here - I have not been sure where to post lately, so have been over on the ODAT thread the past couple of days. I have felt a bit lost I suppose. I got rather loaded on saturday night (drank some wine, clearly too much wine - I truly don't know how to moderate!) and felt evil wretched on sunday. SunDaisy suggested that on Topa, hangovers are worse, and I believe it because I never even had hangovers from wine before!!! So, to prevent myself from drinking, I upped to 150mg of Topa - Aiy!!! Can't do it!! Nearly wiped me out!!!! What Topa level were you on anyhow!! I recall you being so super tired all the time!! Anyhow, I am going back to 100mg and staying there a while. Plus, I am going back AF for a while!!! I feel much better that way. I need to get this sleepiness under control too. I am taking a holiday day today too, and feel like crawling back into bed, even though it's 10:15. But, things to do, people to see, etc etc.

Tata for now everybody!
xoxo Peanut
ps. yes - the smell of the wine drinking going on in my house last night by my daughter and her friends was not exactly pleasant, much to my surprise!!!

[LVT25]

Day 31 - 60 AF. Who's In?

There you are!!:h

Peanut-stay here. ok??

I am starting day 39!! :wow: I really can't believe it! I would have NEVER thought I could go this long without dying for a beer! It feels so good! Peanut--when I was trying to moderate earlier--the couple of hangovers I had were killers! I don't take Topa, but I was taking Kudzu. Now I don't know if that's what caused it, or because I wasn't used to it anymore (2-3 weeks in between) but it SUCKED! I can't stand the thought of another hangover!!

Larissa--glad your maters are getting a drink! I checked my garden this morning and the giant horny tomato worms were eating my potatoes!! Does anyone else have them? They are so ugly and can eat a plant in a very short amount of time. I picked them off and my son fed them to the toads! Not sure if they'll eat them though!
I'll have some zucchini finally in a couple of days!!

Gotta go--yoga class today!!:h