A Spouse's Perception

Three major things are going for us.
I am an ex-smoker.
I know how he feels.
There are more stop smoking products to choose from than when I quit smoking almost 12 years ago.

I choose to be patient with my spouse when he gets crabby from cravings because I remember the feeling.
That's the hard part of quitting smoking, especially for long term smokers.
The habit is such a part of our lives that something feels "off " for a while.
But, day by day the cravings get easier, lighter, go by faster and the off feeling starts feeling less off and then the feelings start catching up with the body until they eventually match and not smoking feels like the right thing to do. Smoking would feel "off ".

Until then, keep fighting for your health and remember this motto:
"I'd rather be an ex-smoker with an occasional desire to smoke than a smoker with a constant desire to quit."

Update on Chantix

The physical demands of working overtime combined with trying to quit smoking using Chantix may not have been the best timing because it's hard to tell which issues may be side effects and which are normal tiredness.

So far there has been:
Tiredness
Slight Brain Fog (less talk; less focus)
Sore Muscles
Slight Crabbiness

Less Desire to Smoke (the one side effect we hope for!)

Giving Chantix Another Try

It's been almost seven days and he says the urge to smoke is not so urgent. He's tired but working overtime lately may be the only reason. Let's hope not so many side effects this time except for the end goal.........no more cigarettes ever!

New News on Smoking and Quitting

The latest studies are showing that even light, social smoking can create bigger problems than previous thought showed.

Reality hits hard leaving us breathless and overwhelmed with the need to take better care of ourselves knowing the doing of it may be more than we can bear. So it seems.

Just as I am I commit as much as I can to the process of quitting smoking with the goal of reaching the state of a non-smoker.

Baby steps need not be useless unless they are not used.

Signed,
Me

Tips to Quit Smoking With A Little Indulgence

Announcing my favorite new snack to help alleviate that hand to mouth action when quitting smoking. Many already use sunflower seeds to help with oral satisfaction and hand to mouth but these are covered with CHOCOLATE!!!

They still have the crunch but have more of a delicate crispness than a candy coated chocolate.

I found them at my local TJ Maxx of all places. In the Home/Food section.

One at the time or a small handful could prove helpful especially after eating. This could be both dessert and a cigarette substitution.

Best Wishes!

Great American Smokeout Has Tips to Quit Smoking

Every November The American Cancer Society challenges smokers to quit for one day during The Great American Smokeout.

They reason that many of us might quit forever if we see we can quit for one day. If not, well then, it's good practice to find out what does work to help us quit smoking.

They have a special resources available year round, 24/7 and one of those is a help line. You may give your personal information and a helper will call you to talk you through withdrawals or give tips to quit smoking.

November isn't that far away.

Tips to Quit Smoking that Work Well

1. It's okay to feel like you are losing something important when you decide to stop smoking especially if you have smoked for a long period of time. Let the emotions out somehow so they don't build up creating stress you don't want or need. Exercise, writing, yelling, punching a pillow or a stop smoking group where you will feel less alone may help.

2. Keep it simple. Use distracting tools such as deep breathing and twirling a pen or pencil between your fingers to help when your mind and body are feeling out of sorts going without.

3. A concrete way to increase motivation to succeed quitting smoking is to calculate how much money you would save over the years and thinking of a goal to save towards. A car or a vacation are fun to look forward to having.

I bought a Jeep Wrangler with my savings and it's been a fun ride and it feels really good that it was paid for with cash saved from not smoking for nine years (at the time). I'll post a photo soon.

Best Wishes from Someone Who's Been There.