Michelle

It was an encouraging and positive momento, which I will put on my kitchen cupboard in full view.

I felt back to normal this week, but have been suffering a few more moments of wanting to smoke, which is worrying.

I am no longer on the patches as I have already mentioned, instead I am occasionally using the inhalator.  I have had a mild panic about this and am hoping I am strong enough to get through it, but cannot use the patches as I have reacted badly to them.

I've also noticed I am not sleeping very well, but I'm unsure if this is anything to do with quitting smoking.  Sleep disturbance can apparently be a side effect of quitting - I'm hoping this is not the case.

I've had my first cup of tea in the morning since quitting and smoking is not the first thing I think about now, so I believe that habit has been broken, which is a relief.  It's still early days though.

Thought for the week: Keep busy, keep foucused, keep positive.

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I was annoyed because I find it quite encouraging. 

Not smoking this week was absolutely no problem at all because as the week went on, I felt steadily worse through my illness.  I was lumbered with a raging sore throat and temperature so a cigarette was really the last thing I wanted.

I forgot to put a patch on towards the end of the week and did not continue with them after that as I was still getting angry red rashes which were taking a long time to clear up.

Thought for the week: It's already week three, the toughest couple of weeks have been done.

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Work has been busy which helped.

I've been putting the skin coloured patches on the top of my leg instead of on my arm but they are still irratating me and leaving a rash.  I'm having a mild panic about whether I should continue with them.

I rarely use the inhalator but I like to have it with me just in case.  Thought for today: Don't panic.

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I don't understand where this has come from because everything until now has been going quite well and I've remained focused. 

It seemed every single driver on the road had a cigarette.  The whole world seemed to be out on the street having a cigarette and all I wanted to do was light one up too.

I chewed lots of gum and drank lots of water through my cravings but today was tough.  My toughest day so far.  Thought for today: The bad days will hopefully become less intense.

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Was kept busy in and out of work.  Thought for today: I'm doing well.

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I can't quite believe this first week has gone already.  I bounced enthuiastically to the gym before going to my stop smoking group this aternoon at the Sunlight Centre in Gillingham, run by Tracey and Martin who are really supportive.  The give great advice on how to deal with cravings.  We have to blow into a small machine which reads our carbon monoxide levels, which as a non smoker should read below five.  My reading was only one - oh happy days.  Thought for today - Stay positive.

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Another busy day at work, I left the office suddenly feeling like I had nothing to look forward to, which is downright silly.  I felt I couldn't even have a glass of wine as it might have made me want to smoke 100 cigarettes.  After much debate bought my favourite wine and had one glass with dinner.  It may have been the best glass of wine I've ever had, I know food is tasting better now.  Today's thought: I really don't want to be a smoker again.

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Another rididiculously busy day at work, whereby I wasn't sure if I was coming, going or already gone.  Another friend at work has also stopped smoking which is fantastic so we were supporting each other throughout the day.  Today's thought: I've already saved £12.60

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I struggled when I got my latte en-route, as I would have had a cigarette with this.  I didn't change my routine as I would have felt miserable, so bought sugarfree gun instead.  I seem to be getting through a lot of this and my jaw is aching.  My main smoking friend at work is on annual leave this week which will make is slightly easier, although I do look out onto the designated smoking area, where everyone has been waving up at me wondering why I'm not down there.  Today's thought: I do not smell like an ashtray.

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I can't drink tea without a cigarette so have changed to coffee first thing.  After the school drop off I went to the dentist and informed him with glee I had stopped smoking.  He wasn't so impressed I had only stopped yesterday but this didn't dampen my spirits.  I bounced off to the gym again afterwards determined to get fit as a non smoker.  I kept myself very busy and quashed any moments of "I want a cigarette" with my inhalator.  I've not used it as much as I thought I would, which can only be good.  Thought for today:  I have splendidly clean teeth with no cigarette stains.

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