h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Can I just wade in here? *waves to lil*

I'm not *actually* quitting, which helps! I used to smoke 30+ roll-ups a day until the start of this week, and it was something stupid like a nasty cough that made me decide to improve my health. So I'm not quitting as such; I'm just trying to smoke less than ten a day. However, yesterday only had 3 and today, so far, none. It would be really hard for me to face a life not smoking; I'd miss getting to the top of a mountain and having that celebratory smoke, or the end of a big meal with my brandy, espresso and fag. So I'm trying to smoke none at all each day, and if I lapse, then fine. It takes all the guilt and pressure out. Aside from the hacking cough as my lungs try to have a spring clean, I feel great - I went to the gym today and did three times my usual cycling programme!

I've got gum but to be honest am not using it much. My comfort blanket is a big bag of fruit that carry around and I dip into to get over the five-minute crave. I reckon fruit imporves my diet and means I hopefully won't be piling the pounds on!

Anyone got any tips for me?

Not really, but if what you're doing seems to be working, more power to ya!

You seem to be doing well
the only problem with cutting down (which I've managed to do in the past) is it is quite easy for the amount you're smoking to start creeping up again

BC - have a quick look at my journal, posted something today which you might find of interest! A little mantra to remind me why I'm cutting down.... I work up a healthy amount of self-hatred every time I consider having a fag, and the craving just turns into crossness at myself for wanting one. Maybe it is just working for me....

It's incredibly hard, though, isn't it? My whole daily routine just feels shot to pieces, and all I can think about is nicotine. I keep telling people, even shop assistants, how I'm doing. Is it addiction or obsession?

I've smoked precisely 2 ciggies in my life. I was in a pub, aged 25, and someone had Consulate. I smoked one and found it pleasant. So I got another...and half way through I realised that if I carried on, I would become 'a smoker'.

These days, I even roll my spliffs with 'herbal mixture'.

Skankyrich, funny you should mention your theory on "quitting", because I adopted a similar one on the weekend, when we decided to stop smoking.

The thought of never having a smoke again is what does my head in, and I know for a fact the moment I say I'm not allowed to have something it's the only thing I want...

...so I've put myself on rations...started with a four hour time span (it seemed reasonable), then moved to 5, then 6. At w**k it will be harder to enforce, so I've allowed myself 2 smokes for the day, and one when I get home...

Having said that yesterday of the 3 smokes I had, I split two of them with the boy, as we're having trouble polishing a whole one off by ourselves

Work is definately the hardest time; I have a really quiet day today and have broken my duck already

I'm thinking of setting up a community page for al those of us who are trying to give up, sound like a good idea? Especially if we can get ex-smokers on board to help out! I have a quiet week this week so if anyone has any suggestions I can make a start. What do you think?

Well as of Monday I won't have a smoking room at work so I shall be quitting after Xmas

yay!!



good for you bc

Next monday or yesterday?

yesterday
I'm not giving up until after Xmas but I am trying to cut down (mainly because its cold out there)

Yay

(I haven't quit yet, I don't like the thought of quitting right now...there's far too much drinking to be done in the next few weeks )

me too, rest of the year I shall be an anti-social git
how are you today

That's no difficult transition for me, I'm always an anti-social git

(evidence: As we speak the people on our floor are having a morning tea...there's cake and biscuits and all sorts of stuff...I got my before the crowds came in and am now hiding in my cubicle again )

I'm tired and hiding

How are you princess ??

fed up, its cold out there and I've got nowhere to have a smoke, and I hate the idiots who keep phoning us up, so much the same as usual

Wanna swap...it's warm here and there's a few places to smoke

but I don't like the heat either
some of us are hard to please

You should come and play with me then, it'll be nice to have someone else sweaty and grumpy around

I am not visiting Australia except in Winter, defnitely not Summer
I'm all-year round grumpy, I'm insufferable when its hot