Champix... My path to quitting smoking

Yep I'm a filthy smoker. I have been saying for MONTHS that is was time to quit. I thought that the minute I had my engagement ring on my finger I'd find it easy, but I have actually been smoking more since we got engaged. I have had constant headaches, no motivation and money was flying out my bank account quicker than I could enter my pin number.

Last week I had a headache for 4 days straight and I really couldn't cope with it anymore. Something had to give... The cigarettes!!!

So on Thursday night I took myself to the dreaded doctor and got a prescription for Champix. I believe there is meant to be a little more counselling but the doctor at the medical centre hated his life and just wrote me the prescription.

I filled the prescription on Saturday morning (I’m not going to lie, I was really excited) and started taking the tablets on Sunday morning – The doctor told me that lots of people get the tablets and just look at them for months. I figured if I was going to do it I was doing it now.

You are able to smoke for the first 7 days of the tablets. They are only 0.5mg so they do not control your cravings as much as at the 1mg tablets.

Sunday – We met friends at Jamberoo pub for lunch & lawn bowls

- Long Drive – Smoking trigger

- Beers at the pub – Smoking trigger

- Having fun – Smoking trigger

Now I usually smoke CONSTANTLY when I drink, but I wasn’t too bad on Sunday. Cigarettes tasted like dirt, I was able to control the cravings (mostly). I definitely didn’t smoke half as much as I usually do. If the bowling club pro (BOB) wasn’t there chain smoking I think I would have done better.

Monday - My car was in a 2 hour spot, meaning I had to check it every 2-3 hours – Smoking trigger

I did smoke a bit on Monday, but substantially less than last week

Tuesday – My packet ran out and I wasn’t sure if I’d buy another… I did though.

Wednesday (the start of 2 tablets per day) - I actually dragged myself out of bed for a 6:30am pilates class. I was surprisingly happy for so early in the morning. I had 3 cigarettes during the day. Wait 4, I got some amazing news and was on auto-pilot when I was on the phone. Damn.

ET & I also had dinner booked in. This scared me. We had a drink at Cruise Bar and I got through my glass of sparkling before I felt like a cigarette. It was more in my head & not an actual craving.

Usually half way through dinner I want to leave the table for a cigarette. Not last night. I got through dinner without it even popping into my head. After dinner (at home) I had 3 cigarettes and felt like CRAP. It took me an hour and a half to fall into a deep sleep. Yuck.

Thursday (today) – I only pressed snooze once – For the past year I have been snoozing for close to an hour – As I said earlier I have had NO motivation for anything, even starting my day.

I caved and lit a cigarette before work. 4 puffs and I realised I didn’t want it. Out it goes.

Time to check the car – I took a cigarette knowing I didn’t actually WANT it. I lit it anyways – seriously what does this say about behaviour patterns? It’s bizarre.

Anyways I lit the cigarette and one puff in it my heel falls into the grass and I trip. The cigarette goes flying and burns the crap out of my left index finger.

Smoking Karma? I think so.

I don’t think I’ll document every day, but I will give updates on how it’s going. I am pretty happy with my progress so far. I have gone from smoking a packet a day to having a packet in my handbag since Tuesday and it is still half full. Plus I don't even feel like smoking!

The next few weekends are going to be a big test. This Friday I am going to see Eiffel 65 & N-Trance so I’ll definitely need 10 or so drinks to get through that. The girlfriend I’m going with smokes socially i.e. with me so I think she’ll understand what I’m doing.

The long weekend is another story – Farewell drinks, dinner & a Sunday session. That’ll be a real test.

Has anyone out there successfully quit? Any tips?