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Jennifer99 posted 10/7/2013 10:53 AM

A nice side-effect of my new BS life is focusing more on me, doing for myself, finding ways I can be a better me for me and my son without worrying about WH.

WH smokes - a lot. I smoke 8-10 cigs / day. I always thought it would be impossible to quit with him around. We don't smoke in the house but he is still a trigger.

Now I've learned ALL about identifying and dealing with triggers I thought WTH, lets give it a shot.

Went camping with son and cub scouts over the weekend. Not being home for the first few days and wearing a patch made it SO easy. Didn't even think about it until I went home, walked in the front door and almost went straight out the back door (to smoking place). Caught myself and did something else.

I even went all day sunday until this a.m. without a patch.

Now I had to come back to work. I just made it through my first normal smoke break of the day by googling quit smoking sites, etc. (and with the help of a rootbeer dumdum - cig $ will now be dentist $).

I was a little overwhelmed by all the information on the web.

What I am hoping to find is an online support group for during the work day when I'm tempted to run outside for a cig and some stress relief.

Has anyone here used something they would recommend?

tushnurse posted 10/7/2013 11:43 AM

Can you go for a brisk walk? This allows you to burn off some nervous energy, and gets the good mojo flowing.

The fact that you work someplace that allows smoke breaks is problematic in and of itself. The best way to break a habit is to replace it with one, hopefully that you enjoy more.

I used to work with a gal that crocheted almost incessently. Come to find out that was her quit smoking fix. She made afgahns, scarves, etc, and then donated them to a local womens shelter.

Never smoked, never knew what the draw was, so can't really say this worked for me. I can tell you that when Nurses were still allowed to smoke at work, I would go out with them on smoke breaks, I felt it was BS that they got basically twice as much downtime than nonsmokers who didn't need those breaks. Not an issue anymore, since no one is allowed to smoke on any hospital grounds in my area.

but I digress. Keep up the great work.

Deeply Scared posted 10/7/2013 12:38 PM

Jennifer...

Quitting is very, very hard but it can be done. MH and I are smoke free now for 8 solid years and it feels great!

You have to make a conscious effort to replace your cigarette time with something else. If you're home...pick a drawer to re-organize or a closet. Start scrapbooking or get your loose photo's together and build the photo albums that may have been put on hold.

Start exercising.

You can do it...it just takes time to break really bad habits

Jennifer99 posted 10/7/2013 13:08 PM

We get a set amount of break time per day (3mins/each hour worked). We can use it as we choose.

I was hoping to go from 3 minibreaks per day to one lunch break.

Today I am sure I got through that 11am draw because of the patch and googling something.

My smoke breaks WERE my walking breaks. If I go outside I'll see the smokers and want to so I am staying INSIDE until I know I have this kicked, then I hope to be able to eat a little lunch and take a walk.

I miss being up and moving and out of my chair for a little bit every couple of hours but I want to quit more so my butt hasn't left my chair all day.

When I feel a craving I pull up a bookmark of something ugly from smoking.

JKL Vikings posted 10/7/2013 13:25 PM

Hi Jennifer. Go for it. You can do it. Can your WH quit with you? I've never smoked but I hear that having a quit partner always helps

Jennifer99 posted 10/7/2013 13:34 PM

WH has no interest in quitting. He thinks because he smokes "roll your owns" that he's "better" than me because he only spends $40/month vs. my $100/month.

I hope that by showing him this can be done and how great I feel after he might get inspired but he doesn't put that much stock in me or paying attention to me.

If he wouldn't quit for "the love of his life" sure as sh!t he won't care what I'm doing.

I tried recruiting a few quit partners for the work days. One bought her patch and still smoked with it over the weekend and the other one bought her patches and hasn't worn one yet.

My sis quit but she only smokes 1/day (after the kids are in bed) My brother smokes and chews and has now taken up drinking as well. I'm not even going there with him. I'll wait until his daughter gets to the tobacco-free lessons in school and gets on his case. I'll back her up.