No More Butts...The Beginning..

[Pie]

No More Butts...The Beginning..

Hi Oney, Katie, and everyone,

I plan to listen to the rest of the Alan Carr webcast I started last night, then that's it for me. The important milestones I'm aiming for seem to be in threes, like 3 days, and 3 weeks. Though typing this makes me realize that reaching those may well depend on my ability to hang on for three minutes, or three seconds at times.

Pie

[KatieB]

No More Butts...The Beginning..

Hi Pie,
Well.. Ive just been the shops and did NOT buy any cigs.. I have now gone 14 hours without one! It's great to be able to just get on with life, without stopping to smoke all the time.. like you said on an earlier post, one2many - its great to live without a straightjacket on! as that's how it feels when smoking.. the "need" to have one would consume many waking hours.. but this morning, I have kept myself distracted and am having a lovely time with my son! i hope you are doing ok, Pie??
Katie xx

[startingover]

No More Butts...The Beginning..

Good going girlies
Yes its tough, but so worth it. And the freedom is incredible.
Now I just gotta work on my internet addiction :-)

[one2many]

No More Butts...The Beginning..

Checking in on the new recruits..

WELL DONE!!!!!

Any yucky craving or uncomfortable feeling you experience if a sigh that your body is healing and the little monster is DYING.....embrace it and let it wash right over you.....it will only last a few mins....GREAT going guys. Be STRONG!


The good news is that your body starts feeling the benefits as soon as you’ve smoked your last cigarette.

• Within 20 minutes pulse rate drops.
• Within 1 day carbon monoxide levels return to normal.
• Within several days nicotine disappears from blood.
• Within several months shortness of breath decreases.Within 1 year lung function improves.Within 2-4 years the risk of a heart attack falls.Within 10 years the risk of lung cancer falls considerably.Within 10-15 years the risk of a heart attack or stroke is the same as someone who has never smoked.

[KatieB]

No More Butts...The Beginning..

Great stats one2many!
I have now gone 24 hours without a cigarette! and i've only had 4 sticks of nicorette gum.. I am very surprised with myself (though I have only been smoking 20 months..) - I thought it would be on my mind all day, but it hasnt, just every now and then.. I have been kept pretty busy today which has helped.. and when I have been feeling a bit stressed, I took 5 mins to lie down on my bed and do some deep breathing, which definately helped.. my lungs are sooo going to thank me for this! hehe..

[Pie]

No More Butts...The Beginning..

Hi Katie, Oney, Starts,

It's 6:30 am here and I'm drinking my first cup of coffee, without a cigarette, in 30+ years. So far, not so bad, but very different. I'll be busy all day at a training and won't really be tested until on the drive home this evening. Will keep the visual of my little nicotine monster dying because I won't feed him.

Stay strong, ladies. And THANKS SO MUCH for being here!
Pie

[K9Lover]

No More Butts...The Beginning..

Day 1 here...again. I am determined to do it this time, I am finally ready.

[one2many]

No More Butts...The Beginning..

Hey Pie, Katie and K9...

I am so glad you are all here..

The time is now...you can DO it!!

NO MORE BUTTS!

[K9Lover]

No More Butts...The Beginning..

Well, just one BUTT...yours. LOL

[one2many]

No More Butts...The Beginning..

Yes, my big "yet to be fat" butt......I will get there lol x

[K9Lover]

No More Butts...The Beginning..

So what should I do? My favorite cigarette of the day was always that one right when I got home from work. I need to find another small "reward" for myself....hmmmm. Any ideas?

[one2many]

No More Butts...The Beginning..

I got other rewards...maybe it is time to put any diet ideas on the back burner...

I did it all, sweets, cakes, chips etc......you don't have to go overboard but ANYTHING is better than smoking...(cept booze of course!)

[KatieB]

No More Butts...The Beginning..

Hi all,
Hi K9lover - great to see you have joined us on this challenge! I'm Day 2 smoke free today.. and i haven't had any gum yet today either! woohoo.. my partner did say last night I seemed a bit more stressed than usual.. i need some tips on how to wind down and not get as stressed? as cigs were my "time out" thing.. going on the balcony and smoking would help me relax.. any tips anyone on what i can do instead?

[one2many]

No More Butts...The Beginning..

WELL DONE KATIE!!!!!!!

101 things to do instead of smoking...

1. Read a book.
2. Wash the car.
3. Wash the dog
3. Wash the dog.
4. Go for a walk.
5. Knit a scarf.
6. Do a crossword puzzle.
7. Take a nap.
8. Call a friend.
9. Post a message here
10. Play with the cat.
11. Turn the bathroom into a spa and do all those beauty treatments.
12. Listen to a relaxation tape or some favorite music.
13. Go to a store and get a free make-up session.
14.Give yourself a manicure and pedicure.
15. Try out a new hair-do
16. CHEW SOME CLOVES!
17. Go to the movies.
18. Hang out at a mall.
19. Do a jigsaw puzzle online at Jigzone.com
20. Breathe deeply!
21. Swig down some ice water.
22. Jump on a treadmill or go to a gym.
23. Give someone you love a huge hug.
24. Plant some flowers.
25. Do some exercise - swimming, aerobics, yoga, etc. Great for releasing endorphins (feel good factor) and relieving stress (physical and mental).
26. Work out how to post a picture in the forum!
27. Take up a new hobby/interest - channel your thoughts into something constructive and interesting.
28. Work in the garden.
29. Retail therapy with the cash you saved from not smoking.
30. Suck on a piece of TART candy (Jolly Rancher is my personal favorite).
31. Slather on a rich, creamy hand lotion and rub, rub, rub! It keeps fingers busy, and reminds you how nice it is not to have tobacco stink on them.
32. Eat a popscicle.
33. Floss and brush your teeth.
34. Make-out with your special someone! Hubby hated kissing me when I smoked, but now he LOVES it. Soooo, when the urge strikes and he's within kissing distance, I plant a big one on him!
35. Chew gum.
36. Chew a toothpick (shiny teeth).
37. Spend time with a kid.
38. Give yourself a treat every day of your quit - not matter how small.
39. Spend an hour filling the paddling pool in the garden on a gorgeous sunny day, only to find that the kids would rather play on the computer.
40. Play several games of Internet Scrabble, and hopefully win one!
41. Walk in an old graveyard with the man you love.
42. Get your jammies on early, and park yourself in front of your computer for the night.
43. Build a REAL closet
44. Hang the sheetrock on said closet.
45. Do the mudding, taping and sanding on that closet.
46. Paint the closet.
47. Add the doors to the closet.
48. And last...when the real closet is finished, create THE CHOCOLATE CLOSET on this site.
49. Hang on dearly to a caramel apple sucker.
50. Sing loudly.
51. Practice smiling in the mirror (releases endorphins)!
52. Make lists of pros and cons of smoking.
53. Find gross smoking disease pictures.
54. Play with Silly Putty.
55. Whistle "Don't Worry - Be Happy."
56. Get a camera, and take some pictures.
57. Write a letter (you know...on paper).
58. Clean OUT the closets.
59. Crank up the radio and sing at the top of your lungs (works great for driving craves).
60. Crank up the radio and dance like no one is watching.
61. Make a puzzle.
62. Organize your boxes of pictures.
63. Alphabetize your CD rack.
64. Come here and read and post.
65. Go to miniclip.com and PLAY GAMES.
66. Do your nails. Hard to smoke with wet nails. I've tried.
67. Take a shower.
68. Take a candle-lit bath.
69. Clean out a messy drawer.
70. Take a day trip.
71. Try making home-made candles or soap.
72. Run in place.
73. Do some jumping jacks.
74. Start a reward fund - put away the amount you spend on smokes every day and use it to treat yourself once in awhile.
75. Write a poem.
76. Go antique shopping.
77. Go plant a flower for every negative thought.
78. Go to church/talk to God.
79. Let your husband cook supper for you.
80. Call your Grandmother!
81. Paint a room.
82. Eat a hot fudge sundae.
83. Go play mini-golf.
84. Clean the basement or garage.
85. Wax the car.
86. Make love with your significant other.
87. Scrub the floor.
88. Treat yourself to a massage.
89. Chop up some veggies for a stir-fry - keep your hands busy!
90. Clean out the litter box.
91. Check your car's tire pressure.
92. Call a radio show and request a song.
93. Go ride a few rollercoasters.
94. Take a walk in nature.
95. Watch the sun set.
96. Write a goodbye letter to cigarettes
97. Donate blood.
98. Color your hair.
99. Make a greeting card.
100. Write a list of things you are grateful for.

The final suggestion in our list comes in the form of a story...

101. Run around in the sand in your socks!

From KERRIR:

• One of the things I couldn't do before was take the kids to the beach. I couldn't go long enough without smoking and there's nowhere to hide either!
  
  My 3 year old asked me today if we could go to the beach...someone at his daycare had mentioned it. It was a really cold day, so I said no, we couldn't. Well, he asked me if it was really far and it dawned on me how much I had actually been depriving this child. We live 2 miles away from 2 miles of beautiful beaches. So, I scooped him up in just his jammies and socks and down to the beach we went.
  
  I told him we couldn't get out of the car because he wasn't dress, but then said, what the heck. We got out and cuddled and listened to the waves and he just looked at me and said, "The beach is great, Mom." I put him down in the sand and let him run around in his socks.

[Pie]

No More Butts...The Beginning..

Now that's a list I need to print! Just home from training after an hour and fifteen minutes in rush hour traffic. I absolutely wanted a cigarette, or ten while driving, and I want one now. But am keeping the dying monster in mind, and believe I'll go to the grocery to get something to make for dinner. Fancy that, no food in the house.

So glad you joined us K9. Super day 2, Katie. Thanks again for the list, Oney.

Pie