Archive through October 27, 2001
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The ClubHouse: Archives: Who wants to quit smoking with me? (archive): Archives: Archive through October 27, 2001

Fruitbat

Friday, October 26, 2001 - 05:29 am EditMoveDeleteIP
......or Armoural (?)you friends dash.

Franny

Friday, October 26, 2001 - 05:46 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Of course you aren't suggesting this if Llkoolaid is driving are you Fruitbat? lol

Babyruth

Friday, October 26, 2001 - 06:34 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Wahooooooooo! You are doing GREAT! TGIF!
Anybody need help figuring out strategies for the weekend? This is the place to discuss them and get some help!

Llkoolaid

Friday, October 26, 2001 - 07:39 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I got a square to applique for one of the quilts I am working on so I am going to take that with me, that will help keep my hands busy, my husband is going to drive, I am ok as a passenger but I find highway driving so boring that when I was alone I would smoke up a storm. I will be fine, not a problem now.

My throat is a little raw too Franny, not coughing yet but I know it will come, and it is a good sign, it means the body is getting rid of more crap. I keep thinking that my lungs are healing.

I have canasta tonight but it is at my best friend's who is a lurker here, so she knows what we are going through and will make it easier for me.

I have a full weekend, with a few challenges but I am just taking them one at a time. Sunday night isn't far off and then it will be a whole week. The time is really flying by.

Have a good day everyone, I'll be back after my drive to brag about how great I did.

Juju2bigdog

Friday, October 26, 2001 - 10:03 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Oop, Llkoolaid, too late now, but hope you did the Febreeze in the car too.

Day 5 is a major accomplishment, folks. Congratulations, and keep going.

Willi

Friday, October 26, 2001 - 10:25 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Very proud of you all!

:)

Fruitbat

Friday, October 26, 2001 - 11:05 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I can't believe I am actually doing this.

Lancecrossfire

Friday, October 26, 2001 - 12:36 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Kool, Franny, Bat and War, congratulations on day 5!!!!!! Excellent efforts on your parts!

Give yourself tons of credit, and keep your sights set on the next day. It's great that so many people have provided so many things to try.

Christina, I hope you are still with us, and finding support with your fellow new non-smokers.

You are all great!

Oregonfire

Friday, October 26, 2001 - 02:14 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
former smokers are way cool!

:)

Wargod

Friday, October 26, 2001 - 04:38 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I agree, guys. This board has been such an amazing help to quit smoking. The advice, and encouragement have been a huge amount of help.

Christina, hope all is going well for you today. It's a big step to stop smoking, but it does get easier!

As for the coughing, it hit me in the middle of the night. I sound terrible and kept my husband awake for a few hours, but I am sure he will appreciate that in a few days, if he doesn't tonight.

Gail

Friday, October 26, 2001 - 05:36 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Woohoo! Way to go you guys!! 5 days down 1,000,000 to go!!

Here's a couple of things to take with you over the weekend. For those of you using nicorette or patches - whatever you do, don't stop! Please don't think you are over the hump yet and think you can just ditch the gum or patches to see if you can handle it. Don't set yourself up!!

This is coming from my own personal experience - I quit for good March 3, 1999. I also quit Oct 28, 1995. I was using patches and thought I was doing pretty good. My best friend invited me to his house for Thanksgiving and told me there was going to be a lot of smokers there!

Hang tough!! You are doing so great but you have a long way to go, baby!! Some of you are giving up a habit that has been part of your life for a long, long time. It is hard but it will get better. The good news is, the worst part is almost over! Those physical withdrawal symptoms are gutwrenching. Think about what you have been through this week - it wasn't easy but you did it. As long as you don't light up another cigarette, you won't have to deal with that ever again.

Sometime this weekend, take a nice long walk and join us over in the exercise log!! :)

Also, find a small way to reward yourselves this weekend. You worked hard and you truly deserve it!

Sometime also over the weekend, if you think of it, try to think of something positive that has happened because you did not smoke this week and tell us about it.

Llkoolaid

Friday, October 26, 2001 - 08:44 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Well, I finally got home and I made it through a long drive and canasta club, today was my hardest day, I was not feeling well, I can't do much of the gum, it upsets my stomach because I keep forgetting and I catch myself chewing it. I am getting better, but I am sure that is what is upsetting my stomach, also I am very tired, I have been so jittery and high, that last night and the night before I woke up around 3:30 ish and couldn't get back to sleep right. I am still hanging tough though and am just as determined. Tomorrow I am going to relax and not rush around so much. I hope everyone had a good day, and I will talk to you all in the morning after I sleep in. Thanks for all the support, it keeps us going.

Oregonfire

Friday, October 26, 2001 - 08:47 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Way to go LLkooaid! Either get some sleep, or join us on the lateral thinking thread. You are the mastermind!

Zeyna

Friday, October 26, 2001 - 08:49 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
LL, hang in there! You are doing a great job - think of how far ahead you already are. It can only get better. Have a good night & be proud of everything you've acomplished this week.

Dahli

Friday, October 26, 2001 - 09:53 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
WOW Fantastic thread!
I smoked for over thirty years, started in my early teens and became very ornery as the 'non-smoking' culture began invading my space.
Then last March I read a book called 'Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking' I finished it on a Friday night and the following morning I took four unopened packs back to the store and got my money back -almost 30 bucks in my pocket again!

The one open pack I had left was gleefully thrown in a sink of water and it has been a joy ever since to be a non-smoker!!!

The basic idea was that the physical addiction is one that can be eliminated fairly quickly. However it's the brainwashing that holds us, that and magnificent marketing by big tobacco.

It's a head thing - when you can't have a smoke is when you really want one... and if you think that you're giving up or sacrificing or losing out, it's harder, it's scary.

To think of it as separate and apart from me helped a lot. He suggested it is like a nicotine monster or tape worm planted inside us early on as we struggle and force our body to accept the poisons and toxins to become 'smokers'. Coughing and choking and feeling awful, but we eventually plant that worm and from then on that monster demands to be fed on a regular basis, each cigarette feeds it, keeping it strong and wanting more, a vicous cycle, the addiction growing and taking control, sapping our finances, stinking up our breath, hair,clothes and homes. Adding the yellow tinge to fingers and teeth. So very attractive...

I decided to get rid of it and I just stopped - it was exciting when I would feel it start to scratch at me like a little hunger pang, that craving twinge it was the monster wanting to be fed. I loved the power of being able to deny it what it wanted, that 'meal'and every single one after that, I KILLED IT! That was incredibly empowering. Each time I realized I had the power to kill that monster by refusing to feed it - the joy of that would make me laugh right out loud, my sister read the book and quit too. We talk on the phone and just giggle at how wonderful it feels.
The trick is not to feed it ever again, because as soon as you give it just one - it comes back to life strong as ever and you're sucked into feeding it just as often as before.

This is the greatest book I ever read on the subject it is so short and easy to read, and talks to your 'head' When we realized that it was so much a mental thing, quitting was not a struggle but a joy!!

The reason that is such an important point is because he feels that to use nicotine (gum patches) to quit nicotine is not necessary, as it would not be ideal to use alcohol to quit drinking etc. Since nothing is stronger than the mind, once you get your mind around it nothing can stop you!

Gail is so right when she says 'even non smokers have bad days' because what you tell yourself is key, you're not missing anything - you're adding to your life...

I am so thrilled to hear that all these folks are deciding to take back control of their lives and their health, it truly is fantastic.
Good Luck to you all!! You won't regret it for a minute
HOW NICE IT IS TO BE A NON-SMOKER!

Juju2bigdog

Friday, October 26, 2001 - 11:11 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Congratulations everybody on making it through Day 5.

Fruitbat

Saturday, October 27, 2001 - 04:40 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Yesterday was hard for me too, Kool. I know this is a roller coaster and each day is different. It is not a steady road with each day being better than the one that preceeded it.

I am feeling very calm though. I have had only a few bouts of cranky early on. I wake up very alert with tons of energy. It is kind of a nervous energy but that is actually feeling OK.

Sometimes I am at a loss as to what to do. I catch myself wandering and pacing. The dogs watch me like a hawk. They think I may be getting ready to take them for a ride in the car.

Llkoolaid

Saturday, October 27, 2001 - 05:16 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Goodmorning, I had a good night's sleep and I feel really good today, I'll be back in lateral thinking tonight, Oregonfire, I had to stay away because I can't sit at the computer for long periods, I used to smoke a lot here.

I feel really great today, and thanks Dahli, that is a very good way to look at quitting, I have been looking at it like I was fighting cigarettes and it was a battle.

I am really up today, so that is good, yesterday was my worst day, but I didn't really have a problem not smoking, I just didn't feel good. I did pass two big tests for me so I feel good about that.

Hope everyone has a great day and I will check in later. This thread helps me more than anything, I hope we keep it going for a long time for anyone that wants to quit.

Gail

Saturday, October 27, 2001 - 05:21 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Happy Day 6 everybody!!!!! :) :) :) :) :) :)

Dahli - wow! That book sounds like a good one to read. Good points! I knew that a lot of it was mental - that is the hard part to get past (although those physical cravings are pretty intense too)

>>It's a head thing - when you can't have a smoke is when you really want one... and if you think that you're giving up or sacrificing or losing out, it's harder, it's scary. >>

That is sooooo true!! It was scary! I used zyban when I quit and that helped a lot but it was still scary when I had that last one.

After I finally broke free it was a lot easier for me to see the brainwashing and the marketing. Especially the marketing!

I really like that "killing the monster" angle. Instead of a negative like feeling like you are denying yourself, it puts a positive feel to it by making it like you are in power and conquering it. I can see how that would work.

Franny

Saturday, October 27, 2001 - 07:38 am EditMoveDeleteIP
We are on our way out of town and I'm taking the monster and refusing to feed it. I love this idea. Have a good one guys, and good luck.

Mahrajah

Saturday, October 27, 2001 - 07:41 am EditMoveDeleteIP
to quit or not to quit..monumental life changing decision eh..

Fruitbat

Saturday, October 27, 2001 - 09:17 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Good Luck Franny. :)

Juju2bigdog

Saturday, October 27, 2001 - 10:33 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Uh, Mahrajah, you just contemplating others? Or got a no smoking train to catch?

Yippee for day six.

Lancecrossfire

Saturday, October 27, 2001 - 11:39 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Way to go everyone! Day 6, with so many more days ahead of you as non-smokers. Keep focused, and be sure to reward yourselves often for your success.

Llkoolaid

Saturday, October 27, 2001 - 02:20 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Just checking in to say everything is going good today and to make the 200th post. What a lot of support we have on here.