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Cutting back tomorrow

Question asked by rrrich7 on Nov 30, 2017
Latest reply on Dec 8, 2017 by jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007

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I know this pretty much goes against what people recommend here - a total quit. But I don't feel ready for that. Mostly what I want to get over is smoking first thing in the morning before coffee and after. And spending the morning around the house, smoking.

So I've set a goal for tomorrow to not smoke before 12 noon. I know people will respond saying "you need to just quit permanently" but, after a lot of consideration, don't feel ready for that yet, and so, i ask respectfully to not get a lot of "you're doing it wrong, you need to quit permanently tomorrow" messages.

Thank you.

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22 Replies

TomW5.15.17 Nov 30, 2017 3:16 PM
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Well OK, since you asked nicely Seriously, even if you hadn't asked, I don't think anyone here would have criticized your plan. Lots of people quit this way. If it makes sense to you, then I say go for it! Do you have a quit date planned for total abstinence?
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Youngatheart.7.4.12 Nov 30, 2017 4:17 PM
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I might ask that you not set a hard and fast deadline for that first cigarette. My guess is that you will find yourself watching the clock all morning. Have you checked out the guidelines for cutting back here on the site? Perhaps putting each one off all day will help you reach your goal? Have you tracked the cigarettes you smoke as they recommend? I was never able to cut back before my quit date. If you can, good for you!! It just kept me thinking about them, and bargaining with myself, "if I smoke an extra now - maybe I will just go to bed early so I won't have to go too long this evening." HUH????? Not cutting back didn't make a difference in my successful quit of 5+ years.
All that being said, whatever you believe will work for you should work for you. Don't be panic stricken if it doesn't though. Just try something else!!!
Let us know how it goes.
Nancy
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elvan Nov 30, 2017 4:58 PM
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Do you have a quit date in mind for when you WILL be finished smoking altogether? I was so happy to be able to get through my first day without that morning cigarette. I did track cigarettes and knew my triggers but I had a really challenging time just quitting until the decision was made FOR me...by illness. Unfortunately, I still suffer the effects of procrastinating and I was smoking very little the last several months before I quit. I never smoked half a pack during those months and I never smoked more than half a cigarette. I didn't know until I read Allen Carr that my COPD was stopping me from smoking. However you choose to quit, it's just important that you keep your eye on that end game and make the commitment.
Ellen
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Sootie Nov 30, 2017 9:25 PM
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Everyone on this site quit in a different way. So, no one is going to criticize your method. Keep in touch and let us know how it's going. We are all here for you.
Stay Strong
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JACKIE1-25-15 Nov 30, 2017 10:10 PM
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As everyone has stated, each person has their own way of doing things. Some work and some don't I didn't do the cut back thing. I just set a date and smoked until that day or two days later. But you can start here on the site to start tracking your cigs and then you may want to cut back. http://www.becomeanex.org/how-to-quit-smoking.php#thl . Sometimes our addiction does not want to hear the truth. The truth will set you free.
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pir8fan Nov 30, 2017 11:50 PM
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I am not sure there is a wrong way to approach your quit! If cutting back seems more doable right now go for it!
My question would be "What are you going to do in the time that you would normally smoke?"! It would be awkward to just do nothing. So I would suggest you spend that time educating yourself about our addiction! That will help you be prepared for the things you will have to face when you are ready to quit! Education is a big key to success here!
Live Free! Live Smoke Free! You can do this! We will help!
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Giulia Dec 1, 2017 12:25 AM
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I'm not sure why you say "this goes against what people recommend here - a total quit" unless you actually believe you can cut back but still smoke on occasion. Cutting back works as a method for quitting. For those it works for. And that's all well and good. But at some point you have to set a quit date. You know? You have to agree to quit "permanently" at some point. Otherwise - what have you got? A cutting back time - forever? Nobody is saying you're doing it wrong. But - a total quit? YES. At some point you either quit totally, or you're playing with quitting. If you want to be able to get around smoking first thing in the morning, before and after coffee - that's step one. And then not smoking before noon - that's the next stage of the journey of the "cutting back process. Nobody here is saying working your way up behaviorally and psychologically isn't right or goes against what we're trying to teach. But at some point you have to say "now's the time. This is IT. " Unless - you think you can be a part-time smoker. And if that's your aim, you're right - most of us won't support you in that endeavor because through our years and years of experience - THAT is not possible. Because this is an addiction. And we can't have - just one.

The methods you're employing are all - right. Setting short-term goals, etc. My point is that telling ourselves we're "not ready yet" can be the addictive part of us speaking. And that's a thought process that can defeat us in the early stages of this attempt. Your quit day was set for tomorrow - 12/1. Perhaps you're NOT ready to make that commitment for tomorrow. Or perhaps it's just fear. Perhaps you still need to "cut back." But perhaps you're fear is creating that excuse Then the question becomes - when WILL you be willing to make that commitment? When WILL you be ready? Because at some point - you have to own it. Or you'll never have a quit of length, let alone a quit at all.

You joined this site for a reason. Think upon that reason. That's the "best of you" speaking to the addicted part of you. Just as a point of reference: Cutting back read your own blog from a couple of week's back.

ARE you down to less than half a pack?
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indingrl.01.06.2011 Dec 1, 2017 9:02 AM
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Progress not perfection
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MePlus3 Dec 1, 2017 9:12 AM
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Everyone quit differently but at some point we had to quit. Vaping is not recommended on this site but I wasn't stepped on for using it to quit. Yes eventually I have to let that go too but I'm definately not rushing the process. After many many MANY failed quits I chose to vape it help for the most part but I still have to work on the psychological, mental part the ups and downs of the holidays. Missing my husband but trying to remain joyful for my kids is a struggle in itself now let's take away my "friend" that used to help me through it all (smokes) and we've really got a battle but I'm facing it. I allow myself to feel now whether it sadness, anger, joy whatever I'm not suppressing my emotions in smoke anymore. When cutting back quiting is recommended when you're down to 2 a day. So set that date. Find things to do to replace those times when you would usually smoke and track them. Write down why you smoked and what you could have done instead. Replace that bad habit/addiction with a good things!
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Youngatheart.7.4.12 Dec 1, 2017 9:22 AM
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How's it going this morning?
Nancy
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elvan Dec 1, 2017 11:42 AM
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We are trying to help...please remember that.
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rrrich7 Dec 4, 2017 7:02 AM
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Elvan and Nancy, thanks for your support. I guess I am way off from a total quit. I just want my life to not be so surrounded with cigarettes. I made it to 11:15 today before I gave in to smoking. That is a big switch from probably smoking 10 cigarettes in the morning.

I realize I need to have more things to do and need to get out of the house more. If I stick around I just wind up smoking. I will be thinking about that today (having things to do and getting out more).

i had treats for myself (food) to get through the hours when i was not smoking. i also slept quite a bit. but long term i can't just go to sleep when i am feeling like smoking. another thing to think about today.

talk to you soon!
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- maryfreecig @ rrrich7 on Dec 4, 2017 10:55 AM
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  but long term i can't just go to sleep when i am feeling like smoking. another thing to think about today.
  
  This is why quitting is looked at as a one day at a time effort. To look ahead while one is still steady in smoking and ask, 'how am I going to stop smoking for the rest of my life,' is too much to ask. It's just one day at a time. Deal with delaying or cutting back and quitting one day at a time. The brain adjusts in time, not in a second. High five for testing the waters on morning cig delay.
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- kristen-9.7.15 @ rrrich7 on Dec 8, 2017 12:44 PM
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  Hi Rich. Early in my quit I slept A LOT!. Nothing wrong with that to get past a crave
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maryfreecig Dec 1, 2017 4:25 PM
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OK, I checked your personal home page at Ex to refresh my memory on where you are at. I see that you have said that you are pretty desperate to quit, and that your smoking habit is a matter of smoking one after another. Boy can I appreciate that. I smoked a pack to a pack and a half a day...20 minutes in between and up to an hour at times. Out of bed, smoke first. Middle of the night, smoke. My mind was always on smoking---or a good deal of the time it was.
When it came to quitting in 2013, I'd made the decision to quit, but planned for three weeks. I felt like a dual personality--on the one hand I made plans, on the other I saw myself as a smoker for life and worried that I would'nt follow through on my quit. I even figured for lung cancer-- 'well I'm going to die anyway, so I'll have lung cancer for a year and a half--guess that's how it will be.' Now is this nutty or not? It certainly was thinking under the influence of nicotine.
Most of us fear that we will not ever stop wanting a cigarette, that it will be a matter of longing and pining and just feeling something is missing. That's addiction. Once you quit, no matter your course (the patch or some other NRT, cut back and plan, set a date, cold turkey, lots of support) the attachment fades--the addiction fades. Recovery takes root. You don't have to be a super hero to quit--you just need to follow your own desire to quit. That is what brought you to Ex isn't it?
One day at a time, you can get over nicotine/smoking.
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xjamarkx Dec 4, 2017 8:53 AM
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OP: I talked with my counselor about quitting and she said your mind has to be made up that you are fed up and done with cigs, else there is too big of a chance of going back to smoking. She quit smoking last year. Just in my opinion, if you do not feel ready to quit, and attempt it, there's a chance it won't last long before you light up again.
Something I done was write out and memorized what I hated the most about smoking. I tried to write out what I liked about it, but the list wasn't very long.
I bought tons of doublemint and big red chewing gum. I also tried Nicorette gum. Works pretty decent.
Nothing is like having a cigarette, and it feels like you've lost something. I still find myself at times when I'm not paying attention, looking for my cigarettes until I realize I don't do that anymore. It takes a while to sink in, especially when you're working and a craving hits and your body goes into Search Mode.
Good luck with the tapering. :-)
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pir8fan Dec 4, 2017 12:23 PM
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I would submit to you that there is no TRY, only DO!

When you make up your mind to TRY you have no commitment! You have left the back door open to the possibility of failure!

When you make make up your mind to DO, there are NO options! Just DO IT!

Live Free! Live Smoke Free! Tommy
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jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007 Dec 4, 2017 2:18 PM
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Where Does It Come From?
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Tra119 Dec 7, 2017 10:27 AM
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rrrich7, Just wanted to check in and see how the cutting down is going with you. Hope you are still working your way to the last one. keep it going!!!
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- elvan @ Tra119 on Dec 7, 2017 2:20 PM
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  Good question...how ARE you doing rrrich7 ...
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  - rrrich7 @ elvan on Dec 8, 2017 12:31 PM
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    Well I am making some small progress, but not really working very hard at cutting back. I really need to check in here more often. I was up to 1-1/2 packs a day (30 cigs a day) at one point, now I am down to about 22 cigs a day.
    
    It is really hard right now, we are having cold weather, and it would make sense to not go outside as much to smoke (no smoking in the house). But I still give in to cravings.
    
    Last night I was running low on cigs, but decided I was just going to chance it, and see if I could make the cigarettes last until this morning. Which I did. So that felt like a small cutting back.
    
    The day I did my last "quit" I lasted from waking up at about 6 to not having a cigarette until 11:15. Unfortunately I spent quite a bit of time watching the clock, and didn't really have any plan about what to do with my time. I spent some of the time sleeping (my best way not to smoke). And I had created a "goodie box" of candy etc to use for cravings. Some of the stuff in it is not really very appetizing to me. I kept going for the chocolate. In any case I know some stuff now for the next cut back attempt/quit.
    
    Like I said, i need to write in here more often. I spend a lot of time thinking about smoking/not smoking, and it will be helpful to get some of it out of my head.
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    - jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007 @ rrrich7 on Dec 8, 2017 12:58 PM
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      Just a suggestion.
      Start talking to yourself.
      Say this to yourself every time you want to smoke.
      "I'm going to wait a little longer."
      That's all you have to do and those long times in between will be the regular occurence.
      In time you will understand you don't need to smoke just because you thought you did.
      When you get down to a pack every 4 days, you should be ready to quit.
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Cutting back tomorrow

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