Archive through January 23, 2003
TV ClubHouse: Archives: 2003 January:
Who wants to quit smoking with me? (ARCHIVE):
Archive through January 23, 2003
Denecee | Monday, January 20, 2003 - 04:05 pm     Thanks Dahli & Juju! |
Juju2bigdog | Monday, January 20, 2003 - 04:47 pm     Found the book at Chapters online, just like Llkoolaid said. This is a Canadian bookstore, BUT I checked, and they do ship to U.S. Enter Easy Way to Stop Smoking in the search box. Go for it, Kitty54!!! http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/ |
Ginger1218 | Monday, January 20, 2003 - 05:07 pm     Tasha, it gets easier, but I still have times when I want to smoke. I just focus elsewhere. If I sat and obsessed on the fact of how much I wanted one, I would be in trouble. There are going to be hard days in life, you cannot use those as excuses to light up. If I made it past 911, than nothing else could be much worse. All I can say to you is try real hard to think of other things. It truly works. Just go somewhere else in your head. You can do it. It is really not as hard as you think. I have faith in you. Denecee, you too. Northstar, any time. If you need help, just ask. I will do anything I can to support you. |
Llkoolaid | Monday, January 20, 2003 - 05:26 pm     Tash you are doing great, beware of the trap of looking for excuses to start smoking. It happens to us all. We quit and then we start looking for reasons to give in. You really have to get your mind set that you haven't quit anything, the fact is you started something, you started being a non-smoker. Look at what you are gaining and realize that you are not losing anything. Your neighbour is a jerk, piss him off and never start smoking again, that is the best revenge. |
Dahli | Monday, January 20, 2003 - 08:25 pm     The original book is Allen Carr's EASY Way to Stop Smoking. I believe his next or follow up was called the ONLY way, which I have not read. I would think it would be the same idea though. |
Llkoolaid | Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 04:29 am     Chapters carries the original book and the follow-ups also one on losing weight. I gotta check that one out. I am reading all the posts with all the excuses of why people started back and I am thinking "wait until you read the book". It is amazing how we can convince ourselves to smoke. I don't think there has been one excuse to smoke written in this thread that I haven't used. I can't wait to hear your guys reaction when you read this book, it will change your whole perception. >>>"Typical physical symptoms following cessation or reduction of nicotine intake include craving for nicotine, irritability, frustration or anger, anxiety, tension, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, sleep disturbances, decreased heart rate, and increased appetite or weight gain. Not all symptoms necessarily occur in any one individual.>>> This is true when people quit using the willpower method which I did, and suffered most of them. The book will show you that this is a load of crap that we have be conditioned to believe and you will not feel any of this, if you follow the directions in the book. Dahli, don't you just want to put one of these books in every smokers hands. It's like you have a big secret that will save their lives and you want to share it. |
Juju2bigdog | Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 05:28 am     Uhhhhhhhhh, y'all have not joined a cult or anything, have you? |
Dahli | Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 06:39 am     LOL Juju - don't be afraid - we won't hurt you...come put on this robe... Thank you LL - you have no idea!! reading this thread since way back when you started it had me just about going nuts!! Hearing all the people talking about the problems with the typical mind set I'm yelling at my screen ----please somebody listen to me read the doggon book and see how you feel, it will help - really. So it's great to have somebody who knows what the heck I'm talkin' about besides the four others in my life who quit just like that too. I am hopeful the word will spread though, can you imagine what would happen if people all over realized it's easy to put it down and walk away?? That's exciting to me to think that people would actually understand that on a large scale, change the whole dynamic involved and take back control. <<sigh>> |
Rissa | Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 10:03 am     Something that I had to remind myself about was the following: Withdrawal peaks in 72 hours, yet most people go a week or so before giving in. So at the time they give in, the physical symptoms are gone or virtually so!! Trouble is that by that point you are worn out by them. You are so tired of the fight that you don't realize your opponent has left the room. LOL This last time I quit I just kept telling myself that no matter how badly I THINK I want a smoke, it's not a fraction of much I really will if I give in and have just one. I quit 3 years ago using Zyban which I just love but understand it doesn't work for everyone. At the time, my doctor recommended that I use the gum or the patch at the same time as it apparently increases the odds of success. I decided not to do this as I knew the nicotene would be flushed out of me in 3 days and couldn't see the point of using one drug to help me through withdrawal and another to prolong it. Out of curiousity... of those here who are long-time non-smokers (Let's say 6 months), what method did you use? And how would you rank the difficulty of quitting (1 to 10, ten being unbearably hard)? I will start with myself: Zyban... 1 (easier than it was to START smoking although side-effects - insomnia namely - nearly broke me) And for my dad: Cold Turkey ten years ago (he says 8 and it was about an 8 the 4-5 times he quit before that as well). He says he would never quit that way again without trying the options around now (patch, gum, pills, etc.) |
Tashakinz | Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 11:43 am     Juju: I so wish I could make the neighbor disappear forever. Unfortunately, my hubby likes him. Most of our friends don't live close to us, so this is a guy he can hang out with whenever he wants. It's just my bad luck that I never could stand him. I don't feel it's right on my part to tell hubby who he can and can't hang out with. I'm planning a minor revenge though. Is that wrong? lol I pulled off the listing of a house a few miles away and am planning to pull it out and show it to hubby the next time the neighbor shows up. Let him think we ARE planning to move. hehehehe Denecee: Zyban combined with the patch is really helping with my mood swings. I'm also still sucking on the occasional Halls (sugar free) to give myself a little menthol. I am under my doctor's supervision for this though. Here's the major kicker to keep my habit kicked. Hubby came up with a great idea on what to spend my old cigarette budget on. He went out and bought me a new car. I pick it up later today. Isn't he a sweetie?? = ) |
Lumbele | Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 01:54 pm     Yikes, I bought the wrong book?!? Good thing I didn't know that before starting (would have given me an excuse not to bother). Although Chapter 1 is basically just an intro, Carr got me hooked (must be my week for puns) enough to want to know the rest. Juju, before you know it Dahli is going to have us all measured for those psychedelic robes. Tasha, congratulations on your new wheels! |
Ginger1218 | Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 02:22 pm     Rissa, as stated above, I quit cold turkey. The difficult level was about 6. The few times I tried with help (patch, gum, accupuncture) it was about a difficult level of 9 because I kept putting nicotine into my system and made me think about it night and day, it defeated the purpose for me. |
Dahli | Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 02:24 pm     NO! Lumbele it's not the wrong book, it sounds like a re-write or improved edition, it definitely would be the same idea and I know what you mean about him getting you hooked ;-))... he did the same to me, and I learned A lot! |
Northstar | Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 02:34 pm     Who's in charge of ordering the robes? And do they come with tin foil hats? Put me down for one. <debating whether to order a size up for those anticipated extra pounds> My book should be here in a month or so. |
Denecee | Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 03:24 pm     Tash, I don't know if they are mood swings. Lately, I'm just down about life in general. I'm stressing about my teens, my weight, my bills etc... Not to worry... this to will pass. I think the smoking thing for me was a total escape from the real world...hiding in the garage while smoking a cig and reading a book. It got to the point that I wouldn't read unless I was in the garage smoking. Can you say chainsmoker?<--me or the old me. I'll keep everybody posted but I do not have the urge to smoke so no worries. Good day. |
Juju2bigdog | Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 07:14 pm     Yay, Denecee!!! Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!! |
Kitty54 | Wednesday, January 22, 2003 - 10:20 am     Thanks Juju, I ordered the book from the link you gave. I hope it's the right one. Titles have gotten confusing. Actually, since I found this site, things have been much better. I think I have it and I've learned that I'm not denying myself anything, by not smoking. I'm going to make it! |
Tashakinz | Wednesday, January 22, 2003 - 11:23 am     I only want a robe if it's tye-dyed and comes with fuzzy bunny slippers. LOL Today is day 11. Doing okay today. = ) |
Juju2bigdog | Wednesday, January 22, 2003 - 12:37 pm     Good for you, Kitty. Sounds like the book will be a big help to you in getting your head right as a non-smoker. Yay, Tashakinz! Day 11 means you can make it to Day 12, and day 365. |
Dahli | Wednesday, January 22, 2003 - 12:54 pm     Kitty!! I'm so glad to see you! You don't say much but when you do I love it! You're so right -- what have you really lost? AB SO LUTE LY nothin'! Tasha I agree with Juju, day 365 and so on and so on and so on.... |
Jagger | Wednesday, January 22, 2003 - 01:12 pm     Sounds like you guys are all doing great, I started out great, than slipped big time, but I am back at it again, 2 days without one for me, but it hasn't been easy. Best part is my roommate is supposably quiting also so it will make it easier in the house. I quit on Saturday, but Sunday mornign went and bought another pack, threw away what was left in the pack Monday at lunch time. |
Rissa | Thursday, January 23, 2003 - 08:03 am     HEY!!! This is news to me, hopefully it's interesting to you guys... cause I had NO idea. Yesterday was 'Weedless Wed." here, so of course the radio was filled with stop-smoking experts, cancer society, etc. Anyway, this Dr. was on and was saying that agitation is actually NOT a symptom of withdrawal in most cases. What is happening is that nicotene masks the effects of CAFFIENE!!!!!! And when people stop smoking, they feel the caffiene for the FIRST TIME which can make you edgy and twitchy. In fact she said the effect was so strong that a person could feel (after a single cup of coffee) like they have had TWO DOUBLE EXPRESSOS!! So it's a good idea to slow down your caffiene intake (includes pop) for the first week or so of not smoking. This will also help with the insomnia that a lot of people experience as CAFFIENE causes insomnia. Is that not amazing? LOL I had never heard THAT one before. So whatever amount of coffee you drink right now (or tea or pop or even chocolate) multiply that by 4 and that's the effect it's having on you until your body adjusts. |
Denecee | Thursday, January 23, 2003 - 08:32 am     Jagger, I've done that many times in the past. I found that it really helps to post on this thread. I still have plenty of reasons why I don't want to smoke but knowing that I can come post my success of not smoking on this thread is one reason I don't pick up again. Have a smoke-free day! |
Marameko | Thursday, January 23, 2003 - 11:24 am     I am not sure if this was ever mentioned: <Use the opposite hand if you are trying to quit or weaning yourself in preperation to quit. this forces you to focus. <Or if you can use both hands, sit and do nothing but smoke, NO multi tasking. Look at the wall . remeber to FOCUS on smoking < Use 1 ashtray, empty it at the end of the day and think about why you want to quit.Don't share this ashtray |
Tabbyking | Thursday, January 23, 2003 - 04:06 pm     i wish i had seen a topic like this years ago! i quit cold turkey on thanksgiving 14 months ago. i am so glad i did, because i ended up with a blood clot 8 months later!! had i still been a smoker, it could have been much worse. nocotine can make your blood 'sticky'. it was hard and easy to quit at the same time. all i did was just not buy any. i smoked about half a pack a day, so i took the $1.50/day and saved it up. at the end of a year, it was about 500 dollars! imagine what you can do with that money, especially if you are alive to spend it?! it was just a matter of doing it. i would be so mad at myself that i could look at my kids and desire to be there for them--and see them grow up and go off to college and get married--but not have the strength to quit something that could definitely kill me! and still i couldn't quit, except for when i was pregnant. what i finally did was give myself permission to smoke when i turn 70! at that point, if it takes 10 years to kill me, well, i'll be 80! of course, if i quit for 24 years, i probably won't start again. but i gave myself permission... i just wish i hadn't smoked for 30 years because of all the years i have probably taken off my life...and i am amazed that i ever started because it made me so dizzy and nauseated when i started!! now, i just remember that feeling, and it sure helps to not want to feel that way ever again! i also like to go to google and find the page that says, "what happens when you quit smoking" and hit all the 'good things', that occur at 24 hours, a week, the first few months, etc. i was so excited to hit levels saying my carbon monoxide levels were normal, or my risk of heart attack was half that of a smoker... at first, i would sometimes dream i smoked! i would wake up bummed because i couldn't say, "i haven't had a cigarette since thanksgiving", but had to say, "i had one puff off a cigarette since thanksgiving"! then i would realize i hadn't really smoked and i was glad. the big test for me was going to las vegas about 6 months after i quit. and i didn't want one, not even once. i found i even looked at 'smokers' as different from the 'healthy' me. lol, but i would never lecture or give someone a bad time, because just like an alcoholic, quitting smoking is a day at a time venture. i am only one cigarette away from being a smoker again. but i know i never will. i have lost 10 pounds since i quit smoking because i am not afraid i will have a heart attack on the treadmill or something! i also can breathe easier. for me, i think it wasn't a physical addiction. it was an emotional one or a habit. the habit of having a cigarette with a good cup of coffee, or after dinner or with a cocktail. getting situated with a newspaper and the ritual of getting out the smoke and lighter... i had to vary my schedule a little, but just at first. now i am eager for that first cup of coffee just for the cup of coffee! i was a sneak smoker, too, once i got married. my kids didn't know that i still smoked, and i even hid it from my husband...it was easier to quit once i told him i was smoking. how can you tell someone you are having a tough time 'quitting' smoking, if you supposedly 'don't smoke'?! i hated to tell my husband, and it was really hard because i felt so 'ashamed' of not being able to give it up. once he knew, it was so much better! i quit within a month or so of telling him. one deciding factor was when he even went out and bought me a pack one night. it bothered me that 'now my husband sees me as a smoker'! to me, it was like someone buying a recovering alcololic a bottle... i know all of you can do it. just go one day. then, knowing you can smoke if you want to, just try one more day.....you will be so excited to hit a week, then a month, then your first non-smoking christmas, then a year!! |
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