Now 4 weeks without smoking!
Doing fine, don't want to smoke anymore. Sometimes when I have a difficult moment -which thankfully doesn't happen too often, I smell my rolling tobacco and then I'm immediately grossed out.
Man, does that stuff stink!!

But the addiction centre in my brain still rears its head from time to time. Especially last 3 days have been a tad more difficult, struggling with the oral gratification that has left the building with quitting.
And I have an oral personality so that bit is tough to deal with.
I try to stick to fruit, eating an apple, drinking water, distracting myself by doing something, or 'smoking' pencil when it's really bad (imitating smoking with a pencil).
So far that helps.

It's quite new to me to feel so adamant that I do not want to smoke anymore. Never had that before.
The only thing that could get me back to it is if I'd start putting on weight.
They say it's better to not smoke and gain a few kilos, but I feel that's utter BS.
Technically it's true, when only taking physical health into account. But if you become totally miserable and unhappy because you cannot wear the things that make you feel yourself your mental/emotional health begins to suffer.
They don't take that part into account.

In any case.... so far so good!

You are doing absolutely fine and Progress is clearly being achieved..
So when do we get to see you in that red Gypsy dress you are raving about . ????

Thank you!
I did post a photo of that last Sunday or Monday :)
But here it is. It's taken when I got home from the event.

Well, not smoking got real difficult when I got trouble with ear infection mid August.
I was in so much pain and misery that I occasionally began smoking again.
Sometimes a few puffs a day, sometimes a few cigs, sometimes smoking all day.

Since the ear infection remained an issue to date, this thing with smoking bits and pieces continued for 2,5 months too.
I did notice it. My hair began to fall out a bit again, coughing a bit, less 'air' even though I smoked much less than before.
Just having a few puffs a day had me waking up with a 'smoker's mouth' in the morning?!
I couldn't believe how much that little already does!?

Now yesterday I went to an alternative therapist as my ear is still a problem. I got the feeling my ENT doesn't know what to do anymore.
The therapist measured my entire body with special scanning material and he could tell I was smoking again.
My Kalium/Natrium balance was -75% which has to do with acidification and toxic stuff in the body.
That was confronting as smoking greatly contributes to that.

So after that I decided it had to be done with, ear infection or no.
I'm back to Step 1 patches for a while (I was at Step 2 when all that ear stuff began).
I do not want to smoke anymore, I'm certain about that, just that my body isn't fully on board with that yet, hihi.

It really is a tough addiction, pfff...
but I'm going for it again!

Does the alternative therapist have a treatment plan for you?

YAY clear pink lungs again!

I have always felt that giving up smoking is like taking a driving test...

Once or twice we might fail, but eventually we get there...

So, Good luck Crystal 🤞

yes quit tobacco, and start smoking green

Youve got this SparklingCrystal!

I Gave Up Smoking
and Took Up Pimple Popping.

Not going to lie, there will be some challenges. I quit on patches, then when I developed an adhesive rash I changed to Champix. Havent had a ciggie for over 10 years. Champix isnt for everyone....you get crazy dreams and Ive heard it can screw with your emotions. I stopped going to pubs, ate a bit extra until I swapped this with chewing gum.....but after you get through the cravings life goes back to normal. I still chew gum but there are just so many benefits, financially, healthwise, not having an anxiety attack every time youve walked out the door without your smokes! Cleaner living, healthier friends (because you tend to 'be' who you associate with). Go for it....might take a few attempts, I had 4, but dont give up.

Cool

This helps!
I too got an adhesive rash from the patches they normally give, these are cheaper.
Then I got a different brand which doesn't cause me trouble. These are more expensive.
And because the adhesive is less intrusive you cannot put them back on if you want to remove it.

In any case, I didn't smoke for most of 2023, then began again in Feb 2024.

Now going for it again.
Today was my first day. Had a real tough time with it though.

Fingers crossed!

Just realized that quitting smoking is not for everyone.... the successful quitters are the ones with the strongest will power and mental capacity. The rest can be just sorry losers !!

Slim, it doesn't help to call people losers.

Using that word to motivate, a person into really trying much harder, to achieve the goal ...not intended otherwise ...

At least we now know you don't have the makings to be a coach.

Name calling is totally pointless if you'd know how habits work, and how to change them.

You're basically going up against the subconscious which is like a locomotive that goes 100km per hour without a driver.
So you cannot reason, bargain, convince etc. the subconscious as there's no one there to reason with. Just a locomotive (= learnt program, habit) that does what it's done for decades: drive 100km per hour, whether it leads to something or not.

That's what you're up against when you try to quit smoking.
So EVERYONE who even tries to quit is a hotdanged hero!!
You try and step in front of that locomotive.
It takes serious baws!
People deserve a medal for going there, even if they don't succeed (in one go).

Please refrain from name-calling. It's rude, unpleasant, and not helpful at all.

5 Days, no smoking for 5 days now!!
So far it's been the hardest quitting attempt I've ever had.

Yesterday was the first time that it felt easier. But those first days were really difficult.

That may seem like nothing to an outsider, a few days, but each of these days seemed to last about a week for me, haha.
So it felt like almost a month of struggle and wanting to light a smoke then somehow succeed at not doing that.

Hopefully it will remain a little easier from here on out.
This afternoon I'm visiting my mum and she smokes. That usually doesn't bother me too much as long as it's not someone smoking in my house.

We'll see. Last week it didn't bother me so fingers crossed!
If I fall from grace this time I don't think I'll have the courage & willpower to attempt again. It's been too hard this time round.