It's my Quit Day 3/16/16 -New member

[southern-granny]

Okay so today is my quit date, so far so good.  Easier to not smoke during the work day than when I'm going to be home later.The only thing I'm really concerned about, other than the usual symptoms and withdrawals is being able  keep myself busy with other tasks and not slip up.  You see, I live alone and pretty much spend my off time sitting on the couch watching tv and smoking my life away.  I did join a gym recently and try to go 3 if not 2 days a week.  I have other health issues that is limiting me on the activity level.  I have bad knees and asthma.  Yes! I have asthma and I smoke.  Want to hear another good one?  I work in the Public Health field.  Anyway, I'm looking for an inexpensive hobby or activity that I could do in addition to going to the gym to help ocuppy my hands/mind during this journey.  Has anyone found something they would like to suggest and share with me?  And thanks in advance!

Oh, let me add how very thankful I am that I came across this website.  It's fantastic and I can already tell it's going to be a big help and make a huge impact during my quit journey.  You guys are awesome and inspiring.

((Hugs))

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking.  It is one decision in your life I can guarantee you will never regret!

Dong the reading I am recommending will keep you occupied for awhile!  "-)  As well, how about a jigsaw or crossword puzzle, or one of the new adult coloring books and pencils now available?   You also might find a computer game that you like.  You can always call a friend, or organize a drawer (or several!)!  Do you read?  You can check out books for free from the library - or friends may have some they could lend.

The most important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read. Here is a link to a free PDF version of it:

http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

As well, read the sections on this site, and read the blogs, responses and pages of folks you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com and quitsmokingonline.com for the good information contained there. .

The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand. If you always had that first smoke with your coffee, try putting your tennies on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! Rearrange the furniture in the areas you used to smoke so the view is different.

You need to distract yourself through any craves.  You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), put your head in the freezer and take a deep breath of cold air, do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game.  Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. Sometimes you need to quit a minute or an hour at a time.  You will need to be disciplined in the early days to distract yourself when a crave hits.  Don't let that smoking thought rattle around your head alone.  Get busy!  Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...

The conversation in your head in response to the "I want a cigarette" thought needs to be, "Well, since I have decided not to do that anymore, what shall I do instead for the three minutes this crave will last?"  Then DO it.  You will need to put some effort into this in the early days, but it gets easier and easier to do.

Stay close to us here and ask questions when you have them and for support when you need it. We will be with you every step of the way!

Nancy

[flaroyale]

I was at the doctors office the other day and the assistant that takes your blood pressure, temp, and initial information ask me why I was there. I told her I had just been diagnosed with asthma and checking on blood pressure. I told her that I had quit smoking last Friday. She said oh how is that working for you? I told her how it was going then she said I have thought about quitting, but I don't want to, and besides since we can't smoke on site at work I don't smoke as much.  I guess I was just so surprised how many health care workers still smoke even when their work environment is completely smoke-free including the parking lots.  Feel free to message me anytime if you need to vent or talk to take your mind off the smoking.  I am on day 5 so I can relate.  

Tammy

[froguelady]

Welcome to EX and you have made the best decision ever nadthat is to quit smoking. If you do the ready Nancy recommended that will take some time. Reading others blogs and visiting their pages and look at some of their old blogs also helps. I play games on FB and did that a lot early in my quit for a distraction. I also had an handheld card game, just a matter of finding whay works for you.

[froguelady]

Please excuse my typos, should be and also reading not ready.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

my page may help you.

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/people/jonescarp.aka.dale.jan_2007

[southern-granny]

Thanks so much for all the wonderful suggestions!!  Those simple inexpensive things never crossed my mind and some of them I love to do. Ha ha ha  I guess it is the "panic mode" starting to kick in.  I also appreicate the links for suggested additional info Nancy!! I will deff check them out.

Thanks for the support and suggestions!

Lynn

[JACKIE1-25-15]

Welcome to EX Congratulations on making the decision to quit smoking.  

1.  At EX our resolve is to never smoke again.  NOPE “Not one puff ever.”  I suggest that you follow the steps on the web site pages along with reading, writing, studying, researching and blogging if you like.

2. If you haven’t read it or have not been informed here is a link to Allen Carr’s book, “Easy Way to Quit Smoking”.  It is an easy read suggested by the “elders” (those with 1+ yrs. quit).

             http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

3.  Also check out www.whyquit.com. for additional  information to read and study.  Look for Freedom From Nicotine My Journey Home and Nicotine Addiction 101.  Both were extremely helpful for me.  Here are the links:

                http://whyquit.com/whyquit/LinksAAddiction.html

               http://whyquit.com/ffn/

4.  Stay close to the site, learn, ask questions. Education is the key to success even in quitting smoking.

5.  If you should need something to do for craves, here are two links that will help

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/JACKIE1-25-15-blog/2015/07/09/what-is-your-crave-buster

6.  If you take the time to do the work you will have success. Read, Study, Blog, Research Comment, Make friends, Hang Tough, Stay Close and most of all enjoy your commitment to quit smoking.

We are here to support you.

I hope you have gotten rid of everything in your house or car that is related to a cigarette. No need for temptation 

[Sootie]

This was my way of keeping hands busy while quitting smoking............

I took oranges and pushed cloves into them to make a GREAT scented pomander.

Take a large bowl and pour some of the whole cloves in the bowl. you can then sit in front of the Tv  and do this All you do is push the whole cloves into the orange until the entire surface of the orange is covered. 

It takes a long time. I filled a wooden bowl with these pomanders when I was quitting.  And I also gave them away as Christmas presents the year after I quit. It's great because your hands are busy but you can still talk and watch TV (reading while doing this is tough!). If company comes, it is something you can srtill do while visiting. And the best part is....all the while you are doing this,  you are smelling this wonderful smell------certainly so much better than cigarettes.

You can place these in drawers, closets or all together in a bowl or in different rooms. they smell fantastic for a very long time.

[blaquequeen83]

Congrats on your quit!!

[Jeff121]

Congrats on you quit. When I quit for the first few weeks I did not go anyware without a bottle of water and sugarfree gum. It helped me when I hade to leave the house.

[Lovin_Life]

Congratulations!!!

[johio]

This the first step on an incredible journey.