Okay, I'm putting it out there... FINALLY making a serious attempt to quit smoking!!!!
I've tried many things over the years... Drugzzzz, Patches, Cold Turkey, Cutting down... and so far haven't succeeded. I HATE to fail at anything, so it's always difficult to get motivated to do this.
STILL, needs must, I know I have to do this, and I just need to persevere until I find what works for me. This time, I am trying the cut down by degrees method. Small, specific, achievable goals, one day at a time. Five less day one, ten less by day four... you get the idea. Probably the most important thing, is to remember that if I have a bit of a setback on any one day, it's NOT FAILURE, it's a HICCUP, and tomorrow will be better.
So, the question was, how will I keep myself busy, to stop myself focusing on the ciggies??? I've been doing a lot of baking lately, which is great for filling time, unfortunately also great for filling the tummy. My greatest fear is that I'll put on all the weight I've lost, so now I need to replace eating AND smoking with something that I can do while sitting at the computer, or reading/watching telly. It came to me last night, so OBVIOUS....
BUBBLE WRAP!!!!!!
I LOVE bubble wrap, can happily sit for hours popping those little plastic bubbles. Unfortunately J hates bubble wrap, he's going to be THRILLED (not) when he gets home tonight and I'm sitting popping bubbles all night.
Now, I've noticed over the years, that you're either a POPPER or a HATER!!! So lob in, tell me which you are, and why, and regardless, would you support me in using this to help me QUIT!!!
About Me
- Mayhem
- Single Mum of teenage chef, affectionately known as The Brat. Have started a new life at the tender age of 44, embarking on a relationship with my childhood sweetheart... I know cliche central, but so far it works for us! New job, new friends, new challenges. Life's GOOD!
I am a popper - ever since 1978 when Dad first brought some of this home from work. I am in total agreement with you finding a diversionary stim to help you quit.
ReplyDeleteMust clarify that a "stim" is any soothing activity that helps distract the mind. Everybody stims in some way - some are hair twirlers, some are nail biters, some are pen tappers, some are bubble poppers.
Good luck with it. And with dodging the slippers that may be flying at you from J's direction.
Lol!!!
ReplyDeleteLuckily J hates cold toes, even more than he hates bubble wrap. I'm safe from flying slippers...
Oh heck yeah! If God didn't want people to pop the bubbles in bubble wrap, He wouldn't have created it, now would He?
ReplyDeleteActually, not a bad thing to keep the hands busy with while trying to quit. I really hope you can kick the habit, M2. You'll feel better and you'll have a few more dollars in pocket. Good luck!!!
what about trying some sort of craft, like knitting or crochet or patchwork?
ReplyDeleteOr crosswords or suduko or jigsaws or some such thing?
... or annoying Greybeard? I don't think he's got much on at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI am a hater. Actually a HATER! I have been known to fling my not inconsiderable mass across the office and tackle a popper to the ground and threaten to strangle him. (He was laughing through this process, having deliberately goaded me with his popping.) Poppers are - in my mind - grouped with soup-slurpers, finger-in-the-ear-and-inspect-it-ers, traffic light nose-pickers and the ones who take the last biscuit before I can. They probably cruise fairs and theme parks, knocking the ice-creams from the sticky fingers of traumatised infants, stand in the middle on escalators, fart in lifts and giggle and say "BOO" to litle old ladies. May I suggest a stun-gun set to minimum as a suitable replacement "stim".
ReplyDeleteThanks YD!!! I like the divine reassurance :)
ReplyDeleteQ, I am TOTALLY hopeless with anything crafty. I am STILL the only student in the history of my highschool to have failed the year 8 craft subject. As for crosswords, jigsaws or Suduko... I lack the patience... although J is trying to get me interested in them.
Mel, annoying Greybeard seems like it may be a rewarding hobby. As long as he doesn't retaliate with germ warfare.
Don't be so shy Greybeard. Tell us what you REALLY think ;)
ReplyDeleteMy viral Winged Monkeys have been programmed for Melbourne. May take a few days as I asked them to make a stop-over in Canberra.
ReplyDeleteMonkey shields activated. About to warn Mel and Catty to activate theirs as well. probably should let Bangarr and Havsy know too, and Naut. I feel like I've forgotten someone though...
ReplyDeleteNot to worry, Mayhem. If his viral monkeys are anything like your mum's Raterati, they'll fly straight past Melbourne and land in Dirk's back yard. Knowing Dirk, he'll probably feed them cheese and wine. Lucky bastards.
ReplyDeleteRe: quitting the ciggies. My sister says that cigarettes are like hamsters. They're perfectly harmless until you stick them in your mouth and set fire to them.
Bubble popping is a great idea, but you'll need a plan B. Your thumbs will be sore as hell after two days. Tic Tacs are a good plan B. So is the traditional rubber band around the wrist, that you flick whenever you get the urge to smoke.
I know a musician whose challenge was to write out the lyrics of a different song every time he wanted to light up. (Can't recommend it, though. I tried it too, and got through half a packet before I'd finished transcribing the first album.)
I also know a girl who gave up ciggies by having a shag whenever she wanted a fag. Somehow I think Fireman Sam would prefer this option to the bubble wrap.
Good luck!
Not gunna flick my wrist with a rubber band. That would HURT! Instead of Tic Tacs, might try the latest, new improved, mint flavoured things from that Quit mob... you know who they are, but nicotine deprivation has made me forget the name :(
DeleteI tried using a little inhaler that they make, but every time I stuck it in my mouth, I just wanted to replace it with a cigarette...
Something just hit the window ... not a sparrow ...
ReplyDeleteMonkey butt???
DeleteSadly the boys have mastered flying but landing gracefully still eludes them.
DeleteGood luck MM,this may help
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/japanfan/982f/
Have a look around the net I'm sure there's lots of them.
That looks teh AWSM!!!!
DeleteI will have a look around though, as that one does seem to have some issues.
Thanks!!!
While you're over at thinkgeek, check this out:
Deletehttp://www.thinkgeek.com/geek-kids/3-7-years/edc4/?srp=1
The heading says they're for you... and somebody called Destruction.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteGood luck M. I hate the popping, try playing the drums instead.
ReplyDeleteTherbs
Good idea Therbs... I'm sure that won't annoy J any where near as much ;)
DeleteBubble wrap. O, Cthulhu save me.
ReplyDeleteStill, if it works for you - fantastic. Better still, you could then write a book about 'your method' and make squillions of spondulicks. I'll even ghost it for you, if you want!
Dirk it HAS helped.
DeleteAnd I just may take you up on that offer :)
There was a great ep of Red Dwarf based around the idea of someone patenting and selling red sheets of bubblewrap as a stress reliever and making millions.
ReplyDeleteThat's all I got. Other than the BIG bubbles of bubble wrap are MOAR AWESUM for popping than the small ones. Size dows matter.
Yeah, gotta get me some big bubbles. Wonder why red? Surely blue or green would be a more calming colour...
DeleteI love popping bubbles - going to look for some now !
ReplyDeleteThere is a virtual bubble popping thing somewhere , highly addictive too.
Trish I picked up a roll yesterday for $2.95 at the Almost $2. Shop. There's one on thinkgeek, if you check out the link further up by Bangarrr, but that one appears to have some problems.
DeleteI'm surrounded by "Poppers" - the cruelest, most terrifying and annoying creatures since ABBA. May you all be afflicted by earworms.
ReplyDeleteAnd what the hell is wrong with ABBA?????
DeleteGood on you for giving up.
ReplyDeleteI am sort of trying to cut back to make giving up easier but is a total bastard.
But why bubble wrap? What has it ever done to you? And then you go to send a present and there is none. And the annoyance factor to others around you is enormous. I can hear it from here. Please stop.
You're right, it's a total bastard. Down to about 7 a day now, though I did actually try to stop completely on Sunday :(
DeleteAs for why bubble wrap? I find it soothing, both the action and the POP! Hold out a little while longer, I'll stop soon.
I also spent several hours yesterday cutting up heaps of fresh vegies. Beans, Carrots, Radishes and Celery. I bought mints and fruit and nut combo. Hopefully if I stick food in my mouth to replace ciggies, it will be fresh, healthy food, that won't derail my campaign to lose weight as well.
How's it going, Mayhem? Are you still on track? I wish I had the guts to join you, but the Boss just took up smoking again after almost two years off the fags... now he's smoking cigars. They stink!
ReplyDeleteYou know, if you have a smartphone, there's an app called 'Pimple Popper. It has everything from blackheads to boils, and might add a little variety to your popping routine. The pus is very realistic. You're welcome!
Keep at it. Your process of gradual reduction is quite good, I mixed that with also taking the Champix. I missed the original cut off date ( stop smoking) by three weeks with the champix, but its what, Feb March last year since I stopped. I wont say the champix didn't have any side effects, well for me and the god like mental capacity, lets just say very little, OK..maybe a little cranky and now I have discovered beer. But that was a long way down the track.
ReplyDeleteYou are also correct in keeping busy, idle hands and mind makes for a gasper, so steering clear of the triggers is a key. I think, I possible ate my way through about a ton of celery, fkn wicked stuff, doesn't make you fart and its basically weightless which is a good thing. It does fill the stomach void if a little snacky, and its keeping the hands occupied too.
I really changed my whole diet, mixed nuts and raisins, no berries like Birmingham, lots of good snacky types of food and really, I grazed all day, main meals went away eacept from Breacky and dinner. Keep at it!
Catty - Eeeewwwwwww.
ReplyDeleteH - No I haven't managed it yet. Seeing my Doc on Friday to find out if I can take Champix with the multitude of other meds I'm on. Failing that, need to find another way :(
Oh! A tip: keeping yourself busy by baking is NOT conducive to keeping the weight off while aattempting to quit!
ReplyDelete