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Holly
Member
06-19-2005
| Friday, February 15, 2008 - 6:50 pm
OK. Time to come out of the "closet." (I've shared this with Pamy and JuJu but after reading the last few posts, have decided to post here.) Less than 3 years ago, I quit for 4 months. I too gained weight rapidly, which I hated, so when some stress-inducing hurricanes rolled in, it was easy to convince myself to buy some cigs and handle both the stress and the fat at the same time. I could always quit again, right? Fast forward nine months. The smoker's cough was back with a vengeance except this time, it wasn't smoker's cough. It was lung cancer. I never believed for a moment in all the years I smoked that it could really happen to me. I am not old either--WAY too young to die. So ladies, forget the weight gain and trust me on this. You do not want to have to deal with this disease. Your life will change in ways you cannot imagine when you lose a lung and live under a constant cloud of fear and uncertainty. Being a bit overweight is the least of your worries in this battle. Some people have told me that it took them over a year for their metabolism to adjust after they quit smoking. So hang in and just try to accept the few extra pounds you're suffering with. Concentrate on the good you are doing your poor lungs. I wish I still had both of mine to take care of. Honestly, I don't mean to lecture. I just want to help. Please don't make the same mistake I did.
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Twinkie
Member
09-24-2002
| Friday, February 15, 2008 - 10:58 pm
Holly, it is horrible what cigs did to you. It is why I will never smoke again, no matter how hard it is or how much weight I gain. But the weight is getting me down both physically and emotionally. I weigh more now than I could have ever imagined I would ever weigh. I have to go tomorrow night to a fancy dinner for hubby's company and I'm embarrassed. I have gained 50 lbs since I quit smoking the first time last year. And I also already had about 30lbs to lose beforehand. I'm proud of myself for quitting smoking but I absolutely hate the weight I've gained. And I feel like this weight will kill me also if I don't do something about it. But, I'm still using food in place of cigs and I don't know how to stop that.
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Holly
Member
06-19-2005
| Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 5:55 am
I know Twinkie how demoralizing a weight gain of 50 lbs can be, and also how easy it is to use food as a replacement for cigs. I think that many women, once they start smoking, continue to use cigs in large part as a way to control their weight. I know I did, and I know quite a few young girls now who openly admit that as a reason why they continue to smoke. It's a lot of work to keep up the quit and at the same time get the extra pounds off, there's no denying it. It may take a while but it's doable and is certainly worth it. Have you tried Weight Watchers or any of the other plans for weight control? Sometimes it's trial and error until you find something that works for you. I wish you and all the other quitters continued success in your quit.
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Lumbele
Moderator
07-12-2002
| Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 6:10 am
Holly, thanks for sharing your story. It's a barrel we are all staring at. Deep down we know it. Unfortunately, even after my father died of lung cancer, it still took me 12 more years to quit. That's how strong a hold this addiction can have. As frustrating as the weight gain is, I have no intention of lighting up again. Twinks and all us "well-insulated" ex-smokers, we can drop it again; it just may take a while. Twinkie, do you crochet, knit? It's keeping my hands busy at night (a particular time to nosh for me) and out of the goodies. That grandbaby could use a few sun hats and cotton tops down there in the Sunshine State, I bet. Let's use every trick in the book until we find what works. We did it to quit smoking, right? 1. no more smelly clothes, hair, house, car etc. 2. Feeling powerful 3. no more rushing out of a restaurant to smoke 4. no more hacking our lungs out 5. Don't have to keep my window down in the car 6. I don't feel or hear rattling in my chest when I take a deep breath now! 7. no more rushing to the store in a panic at closing time because that last pack *might* not last till tomorrow
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Holly
Member
06-19-2005
| Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 6:50 am
That's a great list, Lumbele. Isn't it the best being an ex-smoker? I especially love the fact that my house always smells great now. I used to always spent a fortune having rugs, drapes and furniture cleaned 2-3 times a year coz I was very conscious of the smell, especially in the summer when the house is locked up tight 24/7 with A/C blasting. BTW, I just checked you out on the above chart and see you're over 3 years into the quit. Congratulations!!!
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Slothkitten
Member
09-16-2003
| Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 7:22 am
Holly, thank's so much for sharing your story. You aren't lecturing at all ! You are generous to share about the lung cancer. I'm wondering how you are now ? I'm another one that has constantly battled the smell with constant cleaning and washing of rugs and curtains, it's so great to be free of that, too. Just got off work, got to go crash.
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Holly
Member
06-19-2005
| Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 7:36 am
I'm doing OK, Slothkitten, thanks for asking . My biggest source of stress right now is my employer. They have been messing with me relentlessly for 8 months now. Every week it's something else trying to provoke me into quitting. They administer our HMO plan, and I think it has to do with that. The way they have treated me is shameful, but I feel I have no recourse. Living in Florida is like living in a banana republic at times.
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 9:16 am
Holly, I knew you would share your story when you were ready. I agree with Lumbele, it is the barrel of a gun all of us here are staring down. Did we quit in time? Are we going to get lucky and not have to pay bigtime for our addiction? (((Holly)))
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Retired
Member
07-11-2001
| Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 10:51 am
(((Holly))) I'm so sorry to read about situation. I sincerely hope you are doing OK. To all the other quitters, your stories are so inspiring and if I hadn't already quit, I'd want to after reading your posts. Your enthusiasm is contagious and I love how you cheer each other on. I wish all of you nothing but the best in this fight against the nicotine beast. 
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 4:54 pm
Holly, thanks so much for sharing your story. Lumbele has a good suggestion for keeping both hands busy and that can help stave off the smoking "reachies" and the food reachies, hopefully. If you are one who watches the Big Brother live feeds, consider that doing live feed transcriptions can also keep both hands quite busy 
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Holly
Member
06-19-2005
| Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 5:08 pm
LOL at Sea...sneaky little devil that she is! I couldn't for the life of me "spoil" a show or do live feeds. I just can't think or type that fast. Also, I have the worst time sitting at the computer for long. I often post something and then I'm gone until the next day. I should just go back to reading. I think that doing something to keep your hands busy could probably be very helpful, Sea, particularly in the beginning stages of quitting and the "reachies."
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Nickovtyme
Member
07-29-2004
| Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 7:03 pm
Thanks to Chantix....I'm down to about 5 smokes a day. As opposed to the usual pack and a half. I'm getting there.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 7:47 pm
Good progress, Nick!
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Boberg
Member
10-04-2002
| Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 8:21 pm
Stick with it Nick, you are doing fantastic! I made 2 weeks today! YEA! 5 lbs gained! BOO! Talking about LF TRANSCRIBING.....Sea who is Dave??? LOL, I am still getting names confused also. Holly thanks for sharing your story, your point is well taken. Smoking is definetly a game of russian roullette. Hope you are doing well. Oldtex....I am still thinking of you...how are things going? Sloth, what kind of work do you do? YOu seem to work nights and long shifts?
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 8:28 pm
Yay Nick!!
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 8:30 pm
Boberg, 2 weeks is excellent!! Dave is one of the easier ones.. he has the bright red mohawk 
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Skootz
Member
07-23-2003
| Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 8:37 pm
Keep up the good work everyone... you are all doing great.
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 10:10 pm
Uhhhhhh ... Seamonkey? It was a trick question. There is no Dave on this season's BB. James has the red mohawk. NOT that I am watching it. I am not. I have too much to do, getting Bigdog well enough to go on a big trip to Africa. Oh! I am sick right now. I am SO slightly sick that I am not even sure I am sick, but I have enough symptoms to think I am actually sick. If I smoked, I would be realllly sick and not have any doubt. In fact, I would be purely miserable, barely coping, instead of slightly inconvenienced.
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Boberg
Member
10-04-2002
| Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 10:33 pm
"Oh! I am sick right now. I am SO slightly sick that I am not even sure I am sick, but I have enough symptoms to think I am actually sick. If I smoked, I would be realllly sick and not have any doubt. In fact, I would be purely miserable, barely coping, instead of slightly inconvenienced." What??? ROFL Are you saying you need to smoke a cigarette so you will know if you are sick or not??? Juju....I think Seamonkey knows...you see I was reading her posts from last nite and she kept referring to Dave this and Dave that....and I looked several times at the picture of the HG and could find no Dave...I figured she had the names mixed up and had figured it out by now...lol
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Slothkitten
Member
09-16-2003
| Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 3:40 pm
1. no more smelly clothes, hair, house, car etc. 2. Feeling powerful 3. no more rushing out of a restaurant to smoke 4. no more hacking our lungs out 5. Don't have to keep my window down in the car 6. I don't feel or hear rattling in my chest when I take a deep breath now! 7. no more rushing to the store in a panic at closing time because that last pack *might* not last till tomorrow 8. No more shelling out big bucks for poison , each and every week. No more. Holly, good to know you are hanging in, I hate hearing your job is doing you dirt. Sounds like they met their match in you though ! Sounds like you are gonna end up on top. Boberg, I'm a nurse, too. That's a really good , gross story you related, heheh. I've personally seen people smoke cigs thru their trachs in my 20 yrs working this job, several different people. Nicotine is the worst addiction, just like crack. I 'm thinking everybody in this thread knows it too. Awful. BO !! 2 WEEKS !! Nick, huzzah on keeping on with the Chantix !!!! Juju, feel better soon ! Retired, that was the sweetest post ! I'm doing fine, just retraining my thinks . . . as all you know it's up and down. Sometimes I feel real sad and miss my addiction and miss the poison. Other times I feel so relieved and proud that I have given up my addiction and seen the light. Bottom line . . . I was sad sometimes when I smoked, what's the diff ? I ain't smoking any more, no matter what. I'll get used to living without the rush that I got hundreds of times a day, the rush that I thought was pleasure, but now know was really me jonesing hard for nicotine and the drags I would take would merely give me a moments relief from withdrawl, it wasn't freakin pleasure or relaxation, I was cracked out ! lol And, even knowing what I know now, I'm still dealing with the saddness of having to give up my crack. It will pass. And I can keep on dealing. I can tell I am stronger on the treadmill !! It's easier, in just one week.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 3:55 pm
LOL! Shows how much I know about the current BB cast!! ACK! My mind must have translated one common name, spelled normally, to another.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 4:07 pm
Thanks, hopefully I fixed all of them 
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Holly
Member
06-19-2005
| Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 4:12 pm
I can totally relate to all you feel about quitting, Slothkitten. For me, smoking was very much a love/hate relationship (more love) and even today, I sometimes miss it. I used to carry straws cut down to the size of a cig and carry them with me everywhere when I first quit. I'd pull them out and suck on them as though I were inhaling. I didn't care how it looked--I did anything that helped me through the cravings and for some reason those deep inhalations did. I would exhale slowly (to the count of 8) and visualize the craving leaving along with the breath. It would work like a charm. Then I'd start noticing the length of time between cravings until one day I realized that 3 whole days had passed. And so on and so on. I don't know if I'll ever reach the point where I never think about it, but it doesn't really matter if I don't because if I do continue to have fleeting cravings, I know they will soon pass and I'll be free for another month or so. And it's great not to have frequent bouts of bronchitis and chest colds too 
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Boberg
Member
10-04-2002
| Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 7:42 pm
Sloth you're a nurse and you smoked! I am shocked! LOL I've seen the smoking with a tracheostomy also and I seen them take their oxygen off to smoke, but Hey what am I talking about....I've suctioned out the phlegm from the ventilated smoker and then went out and lit one up myself. It really is amazing the behavior the addiction caused....just sort of a toned down version of heroin, alcohol, ect. I too have the ups and downs but hopefully the downs will get farther and farther apart. I know with food (pick one thing you really adore) if I don't eat it for a month or so, I lose the craving for it....hopefully the same will happen with cigs. Holly, excellent idea about the straws. I haven't used a straw (cause I haven't thought about it) but I have sat and took in a deep breath and blew it out like I would a puff. It seems to help at times cause I feel like I am missing that feeling of a deep drag and release...so I fake one and it helps. Sometimes I even get this tight feeling in my throat when the urge hits, but it soon passes also. Sloth, yea about the treadmill! Skootz thanks for the well wishes!
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Slothkitten
Member
09-16-2003
| Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 8:56 pm
Holly, I do that deep breathing and you're right, it does help ! One of my old friends used the cut off straw and it really helped her. It is a comfort to know that these cravings hit everyone hard and that they don't last forever. I can ride this up and down rollercoaster for ever. The ups are really exciting, even if the downs are a pain. Yeah right Boberg, so shocking, ha ! It doesn't matter what you know, the need for a cig supercedes all ! I remember smoking inside hospitals, inside the stairwells, then outside on the docks, then farther away, then in your car, then finally, no smoking campuses ( right, smokers love their cigs and love will find a way and they will get that fix ). What's nuts is, hey, new smokers all the time are popping up, fresh blood. It's sad. 2 whole weeks , Boberg !! You are doing it. Thank you Skootz, I missed that.
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