Still winning

the only choice for the person wanting freedom and self respect.

Hey Amber, I was always winging it lol. I'm here and happy to support if you want help and when you have baba but please feel free to take this mission ;) x

She doesn't "do" mornings lol. I stayed up till 1am with her last night so she wasn't alone and panicking. She's throwing z's to the wind for now and we're dragging her out to town today to do passport photo's for florida, so she can see another reason to give up. It was very hard to watch her driving herself mad with pure panic. I didn't feel that on day 1. I think she believes each day will get easier, I tried to explain it's ups and downs but that none of them hurt you, whereas smoking does...so just ride them out. Once I'd calmed her with the reiki she did say the craves weren't what she expected and weren't as bad as she'd thought they'd be. So I guess that's positive?

Nope for me, and big old nope vibes to my gang and Soozie. x

Positive reinforcement is a really powerful tool. An easier term that people relate to is fake it till you make it. I think there is a real power to words. That of course is how "nope" works. I also saw another one from Doreen of "smoking is not on the table" and many more here. Words carry our intentions, that makes them very powerful things :) Early doors I used "for milly and I", Milly's my daughter and I'd given my word to not smoke anymore to her - it really helped in the first days. x

Well I won't like that as I'm sorry you got the scare but yes, she had an illness which has flared up her copd, it was pneumonia and it frightened her. I just hope I'm telling the truth saying her breathing will be easier than it is now!

yes, really, you just don't. and we stand by you, because we can and always will, and you just don't. What happens is you look in a mirror and know a number of people are smiling behind you. You know you deserve more and so do your friends. and so you don't. xx

Absolutely what Colleen there said. Cutting down was hard for me, planning to quit was massively fear inducing - so in comparison the quitting was fairly painless! Taking things one day at a time and now smoking is worse than not smoking. Also why did no one tell me...quitting is hard they said, it takes willpower and commitment and yada yada...why did no one tell me of the pride I would feel, and how the fear of jumping was worse than the reality, that if I educated myself on nicotine addiction I would simply not want to smoke. I feel robbed of years so don't let that be you! x

sorry I was a day late Donna! So so chuffed for you. x

Finally managed to get my hands on the poor mother and do some reiki on her, first time she's ever let me!! She's calmer and it helped, thank god!

No worries guys, my quit is secure. I don't want this for me anymore, I signed off on March 12th and I refuse to go backwards. My base is all set and strong. My fella is calm and in control with his 2 weeks in the bag and a calm quit, unlike mine. My poor mama suffers and I so wish she didn't but the only way is forwards. Her mind set is so wrong, mine was so strong and I can only hope she catches up. Meh, dead hard to watch.

Me and my lovely french name are in, we've shared, we've googled, we've liked! Why am I talking about myself in the term of we?? We've finally lost it?!

The past is in the past, we all did silly things and learnt from them. Quitting and restarting taught us the lessons we needed to learn, the ones that mean we seek the right support from the right places to make sure this time sticks! I know this team will help you as they did me, as will I. Anything you need. xx

Oh Christa, I'm pushing harder because it was her that wanted this, and she can barely breath but you're right and I am trying so hard to be calm.... But Sharon, I wish I could take this one for the team, I would go through it again i it meant she didn't have to... cause wow, this breaks my heart far worse than me doing it, it's pretty harsh to watch it in action. But I think we're ok, I did say earlier you haven't exploded yet right, it will get easier to say no. x

Why don't enlgish people like oreo's?? My life tip - smile, they'll never know what you're thinking ;) My fave life advice is from my grandad - if you sit on the bank of the river long enough you'll see the heads of your enemies float on by!

Wow, as I clicked onto this my vivid dream from last night came flying back to me. You have a gay fella, I have a purple octopus attached to the wall of an outside shower...I enjoy a bit of dream analysis but I think we should leave these alone :) Not smoking though are we, that's gotta be a win lol. x

We are alright. She doesn't understand why the emotions are coming. I am trying desperately to re-assure her there is the other side where it is thoughts rather than the control thing. But she is holding on for dear life, and being honest. We are ok.x

That's brilliant MQ, thanks so much! Can't believe I didn't think of aromatherapy with who I am and what I do, just lol. I make things with scents in them to sell as part of what I do so I just really laughed at use lemon or orange peel and thought duh! Thanks again, really excited.

Walls. My walls are all smoke covered and I need to know if I can just use Uni bond and paint over them or whether I really need to clean them properly before painting?? Previously I've just used uni bond in rented places to cover the smoke stains but I actually don't want the smell coming through now?

Hi Amy, You sound as if you absolutely want this, I'm so pleased for you. There should be some pinned posts that may help to read. I'm sorry you relapsed but I often think our previous failed quits set us up for this one - the one where you square your shoulders like you are. Here to help and support any time you need it. xx

My deep breath is 4 times deeper than my smoking deep breath - I love this! Sense of smell (mostly good apart from bad smells also more noticable lol) Food taste - wow!! Sense of being able to achieve things - massive increase!! Inspiring those I love to try, makes my heart happy. I love not smoking even though my brain occasionally tries to trick me that I might.

ooo I love a plan and a list Soozie - the virgo in me totally salutes this solution (sorry massive astrology fan) :) Brilliant though, we are women, as if we can be led, pfft, none of that. You choose your future and live it. x

A day behind and still really tearing up, aww ((dottie)). x

I'm with Babs here, I actually watched my Mum smoke a number of times a day, truly...listen to the cough, watch for the "catch" as too many poisons try and enter their system, know that they HAVE to smoke but you CHOOSE not too anymore. I think it's all about mindset. A number of times when she smoked so did I but I chose to change my thinking. I won't say there wasn't twice I literally stood looking at her cigs rfom the edge of the room (I didn't dare enter it!!) but I knew I didn't want that life. You also know, you told us, you don't want to be that addict anymore. You sounds different to the last time you quit, I can hear it so talk to your hubby, bet he hears the difference too!! Beg him to help you, plead if you need too but do talk... That said if he's an ar*e about it, give him the finger mentally and go pat yourself on the back that you are way stronger than that idiot anyway ;) You are though, you really have got this Sue, believe in yourself! xx Bandito, west wing, just lol.

Thank you all. Rest of the info is she wanted to quit for months, literally hated smoking and couldn't understand why she still was apart from quitting is too hard. She set today as her quit date but the chemist systems went down to get the prescription nrt on friday. So I thought I'd get it before she woke, only to find one of the things she wanted had a supply issue, I knew her junkie would cling onto any reason to delay so went round 5 chemists to find it. Came back and found her smoking, so was gutted. But it was only one and she started straight after so we are go.... I calmed down and just asked what I could and couldn't do. Apologised for sounding patronising and she says she needs things to do. So we are setting up things she can do to distract herself when the craves come. I find it weird she doesn't feel ready to make all the connections like I wanted to, but maybe just maybe she will have her own way, I really hope so as she's the last of us smoking!! More than that though her copd scares me silly, I hate that we are so limited where we can go and what we can do, if she could even get a little breath back we could do more. But I do respect I can't force her. Quick question if she's using NRT she doesn't need the fruit juice for the 3 days does she, or will she still get tired?