@Ankush how is your new Seventh day ?  Congratulations on quitting smoking !

@Sazerac Seventh day going good as far as quitting smoking goes. It would have been 4 months today, had I not blown the quit last week. I really regret it because it's daunting to start from scratch again.

Edited August 2, 20197 yr by Ankush

@Ankush

Look for beauty,

Remember to breathe !

Nurture yourself.

Reward yourself for every crave you conquer.

@Sazerac Yup, did the nurturing with exercise and a heavy lunch

Well done A !!!!

Don't look back....keep focused on  the, future ....guard this Quit with your life ....

Morning all you 7 day challenge people. Keep up the great job!

 @Damona, @Matt B and @Ankush

 

Here is a thread about what helped us during the first week

First Week, Nicotine Free

 

please add your tips and tricks

Hi All,

 

Thanks for your kind comments - Sadly I had a min-relapse - 1/2 smoke 😞

But I'm keen to get on top of this.

 

So here goes..

 

Day 1/7 - feeling quite good 7/10

 

Day 2&3 are always the hardest - so i'll try to check in a few times a day.

 

Best!

Matt sorry about your relapse. You have to get  rid of all your cigarettes ashtray is anything that has to do with smoking so that you can be successful on this next quit. I changed the way I drink my coffee in the morning and each time I think about a smoke I tell myself I don’t smoke and I say it out loud. Sounds silly but it has helped. After all I’m going to have to re-condition my brain if I’m going to make this quit  stick.

Hey Matt,sorry you relapsed. Have you seen our SOS forum? You post there anytime you feel yourself caving to a crave and members will give you that extra support you need to get past it. I used it a few times when I first quit and the support and encouragement was just what I needed to get past it and keep my quit. You can also do a pre response post to yourself.

You can do it and we'll support you as much as you need or want

Thank you so much! I’m doing quite well today and I just finished a big gym workout. Tmrw I have gym and yoga.. I want to make myself super busy in the next few days so it’s a blur!

On the other hand I’m already 2 months into quitting alcohol with no sign of a relapse! I love green tea lol 😆 🍵 

Yes keeping busy helps! 

@Matt B Keep busy, but try not to use any activity as a crutch for quitting smoking. This is because, in case you cannot perform a particular activity on a given day, you may start thinking of a smoke. Here's a video that may help:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc2KF_d64SY

 

Edited August 3, 20197 yr by Ankush

Sydney Australia

day 1 finished !! All your advice helped a lot.

btw cigarettes cost aud $45 for a 25 pack here. I.e around usd 35..gulp

Congratulations on your quit, @Matt B

You may have some gnarly moments but, nothing you can't live through.

Cigarettes KILL quitting does not.

 

In all your free time, switch up your ticker and educate yourself about nicotine addiction.

You do know that it is NOT just a habit like your avatar seems to intimate, right ?

 

Remember to keep yourself hydrated, have fruit juice hand to keep blood sugar in check.

and have a think about what our friend, @Sirius says,

'Next time a craving plunks down on your face ask yourself, "What price you are willing to pay to own yourself?" 

 

I'm sorry to hear about your relapse but I'm glad you have started your quit again, Matt.

 

Keep posting about what you are going through.  It really helps.

Thanks all!

Day 2/7...

Will be mindful of the cravings for sure.. I try to count them and use a 3 minute timer on my watch if I’m really struggling

 

Take each crave at a time and reward yourself for conquering that particular receptor in your brain.

This is what it is all about.

Wrenching one receptor at a time away from nicotine and replacing it with a suitable reward.

I used oxygen and looking at beauty as rewards that were always at hand.

The Significance of Rewards

Hey, @Matt B,

Some people can slide through the first week or two, no problem.

I wasn't one of them but, I accepted the fact that it was going to suck for a while and came to terms with my reality.

 

Our friend, Sarge,  says, "Embrace The Suck"

OK....

I could live with that, I could live through that...I was determined.

It was worth it to me to be free. 

The discomfort (and that is ALL it is) wasn't going to thwart me, no how no way.

 

Power through, sleep through, play through, do anything but smoke.

You can do it.

 

Day 2-5 is always tricky for me.... I'm heading out now and will come back home briefly to get ready for yoga etc.

Will check back in tonight - really appreciate your support team!!

@Matt B Carry on with your day as usual, it will help you to learn to go about your life without smoking. Every activity will be like a new smoke-free activity. Enjoy it.

I found if I changed my morning rituals ,it helped...showered before I did anything ..to wake me up,ready to fight the craves ...before I would make coffee and go have a few fags

Day 2/7 done! About to sleep. C u tmrw 😀

Day 3/7 underway... gotta stay strong and crush the craves

@Matt B grab some lifesavers or chuppa chups or chewy to get through the day.. it helps.