Anyone seen Cat
Hi All
Just wondered where on earth Cat has gone - things sure have been quiet
around here for past few days. I know she was going away for weekend but
thought she would be back online now.
Cat - where are you????????
Lynne - hope your first day went well and that now you have joined the ranks
of the non-smokers.
Pam - thanks for sending the post to Lynne - bonfire and fireworks were great.
Steve - hope all is well - had a few cravings/ well not really cravings just
urges at the bonfire tonight. Put it down to association as well as being a
bit hungry.
Had a good learning experience at work today - got a lot of ‘discomfort’
around 1 p.m. and actually tried to figure out what it was before I even
thought that it was an urge to smoke. Realised it was hunger. Now I work
from 10 - 2 and never normally eat anything during that time - guess I have
always satisfied the hunger with cigs. As I couldn’t get anything to eat I
had to make do with my sunflower seeds (which I keep with me in case I get
the munchies - mouth hungry!!!!).
So ate a few handfuls of sunflower seeds (as if it was my lunch) and felt
much better - now I have to plan for this and take something into work for my
lunch,
All in all had a a good day and feeling more determined as each day passes.
Talk soon all - take care
Namaste
Indi
February 6th, 2003 at 8:30 pm
Hi Indi,
that investment means nothing more than being willing to be aware of life
as it comes and question things we’ve never previously questioned. The more
we ‘practise’ being aware’, the better we get at it. You’re seeing the
results of your investment because you are now thinging about why you feel
a certain way and what would best resolve it, rather than immediately and
automatically thinking “a cig is the answer”.
You’ve proven to yourself that it is indeed hunger. What do you eat for
breakfast and when? Are you going into that 5 hr period nutritionally
deficient? Work out how best to ensure that you are ‘fueled’ up in order
to eliminate the onset of hunger during that period. Eliminating hunger
thoughout the day is a good idea. And that’s not a suggestion to put on a
feed bag and munch non-stop
specific times. We’ve got a pretty good idea what our routines are for a
‘normal’ day. Try to deal with those stressors before they effect you.
Steve
www.cognitivequitting.com
February 7th, 2003 at 3:09 am
HERE I AM!!! HERE I AM!!!
Hey, did y’all miss me? Yep, I was out of town at a State Cup soccer tourney
this weekend and got back in pretty late last night. BTW, I’ll be out of town
next weekend also since the girls made it through to semi-finals and, hopefully,
finals.
I had a few weak moments but I am woman, hear me roar, I WILL NOT SMOKE!
Actually, I found out that one of the things that I can do when I miss my
support
group is to tell anyone and everyone who will listen that I just quit smoking
recently and my experiences with quitting. It’s fun to compare how soon each
person’s eyes start to get that glazed over look, and then they start finding
excuses to get the hell out of there. Well, that was entertaining for a while.
Actually, talking about it did help. Whenever I felt an urge, I would say
something like ‘I just quit smoking, and whew, sometimes it’s hard to resist
that
urge.’ 90% of the time the person would tell me that they just knew I could
resist the urge, that I was strong and doing a wonderful thing for myself.
Well,
after all that stroking, I couldn’t smoke, could I? What can I say, I like to
share (or in this case, take).
Anyhow, I did pretty good at anticipating hunger, fatigue, etc. except for the
first night at the hotel. Since we got settled in about 10:00, I was too lazy
to
go out and find something to sip on (thirsty). I thought that a smoke would be
nice since I couldn’t have something to drink. It didn’t take me long to
realize
that was some stinkin’ thinkin’ . How in the world was a smoke going to satisfy
my thirst? I got up and found a pop machine and bought a ginger ale (no
caffeine). It didn’t take long for my smoking urge to pass. Oh, yeah, the next
day I had to convince myself that a smoke wasn’t really going to help anything
when I was out looking for a store for gatorade or bandades/Tylenol/Midol or
something for whatever crisis/need/want was going on with my girls. This is
typically my time to sneak a few smokes away from the girls since I always hated
smoking around them. Also, sometimes I get a bit anxious because I’m driving
around a strange town trying to find an ATM and a store, and sometimes I get a
little dippy on remembering my way back.
But it turned ouit to be a good weekend as a whole. Urges were kept to a
minimum, but I don’t want to fool myself. All it takes is one weak moment, one
urge, and there you go, my few weeks of really feeling good about myself shot to
hell.
I hope everyone is doing fine. I see a few more people have joined in and I
hope
that they will learn something here or at least get the support for which they
are looking. It was good seeing you, Marde. Can we expect another post in two
weeks? Just kidding, you know that - it was good to hear from you, please keep
up your great quit!
Well, once I get started, sometimes it’s hard to shut me up so I better quit now
before YOUR eyes start glazing over.
Later Gators,
Cat
PS - I like sunflower seeds also, Indi. Although I’m trying to avoid the
repetitive actions of smoking, sometimes it is just plain comforting to do the
hand to mouth exercise for a while.
February 7th, 2003 at 11:00 am
Cat,
Even better to hear that you were in control all wkend (even if it might
Great to hear that your girls are headed to the semi-finals, congrats
coach
not have felt that way).
Maybe in the past that was an accurate assessment. But I don’t believe
it’s true for you any more. You know too much. You have became too aware. I
can’t believe that you would consciously and willingly choose to smoke as
your way to deal with any isssue. At this point, given your attitude and
thinking, I doubt that a cig is still an acceptable option for you in
spite of any “weak moment” or “urge”.
My 2 cents
Steve
www.cognitivequitting.com
February 7th, 2003 at 4:13 pm
Hiya Cat - great to see you back here.
Isn’t it just the best feeling ever, decoding those smoking ‘urges’
and working out what they’re really about? Putting something more
relevant/appropriate in place. And that thinking becomes automatic
before you know it. Well done to you! You and Indi are doing really
great.
Too right! I can bore for England about my quit at the drop of a
hat. Quitting is a heady thing, the best ever :))
See ya
Pam
February 8th, 2003 at 12:33 am
Hi Cat
Good to see you again - glad the soccer went well and really glad about the
way you have been dealing with the ‘urges’.
Maybe just maybe together we are getting it!!!!!
Steve - well I was prepared for the hunger today and took myself some lunch
into work - its really strange cos its something I’ve never done. I’ve
always just eaten one meal a day most of the time.
But I began to have breakfast in preparation for my quit date - so make sure
I have enough protein and carbohydrates to kick start my system and keep me
going. But yes I did and have been going well past the 5 hour - need
refuelling mark. All the time I was smoking it was ok cos I was filling the
‘hunger’ feeling with cigs but now I know different and will have to make
sure I am prepared.
I even took ‘time out’ to eat my lunch properly and not just grabbing it
while I worked like I would have done with a cig - so it was about as
different as it could be and definately a much more appropriate response to
what my body was telling me I needed.
I’ve replaced my old smoking habit with another which could be equally as
dangerous - talking to myself and got caught today by one of the salesmen who
told me the men in the white coats would be coming for me soon. Has anyone
got any abc’s to deal with this??????
Catch u later
Indi