=next saturday i quit smoking=

[scollins]

Hey Hoopty,

All I can say is that I have had plenty of family members on my Dads side pass away from cancer in the last decade. Several uncles, my grandmother...etc

A high number of them smoked cigarettes most of their life, a few of my uncles had problems from their heavy use of chewing tobacco. My Dad was number 9 out of 10 kids and he is the only sibling out of his family that did not smoke cigarettes. My Mom didn't either.

That probably explains why I dont. My wife does not either. We were not exposed to it in our homes as young kids and that is for the better IMO.



I am not saying just because they got cancer it was always the fault of the tobacco, it just seems like they had so many health problems from the smoking that it didnt help things any as they aged.




The way I look at it, there are enough things that can mess up my health even though I don't smoke cigs.
Think of how much better your retirement could be if you stashed away or invested that extra 200-400 dollars a month for the next 25 years......

Keep up the fight Hoopty, switch to candy cigarettes! lol

[Dr. Robotnik]

Hi Hoopty and anyone else down for quitting smoking,

I have been having some success in finding another habit, so when you think 'oh I will have a ciggy'. Switch it for something else. I have been using non-nicotine gum but nicotine gum would probably help more for heavy smokers.

For example to cut down the amount smoked, if you have 10 a day, switch one to a stick or tab of gum. Then do it for at least a week and you are down to only 9 a day.

Once you feel ready to knock another off the tally, just switch to another bit of gum. Don't rush to hard and don't mind if occasionally you have 10, just be firm and positive and it'll help. This way you'll gradually cut down without having to force it cold turkey style.

It also helps if you have a calender to cross off the days and a reward after a certain amount of time e.g. after a week, two weeks, one month, of sustained reduction in smoking allow yourself a holiday, a big drink, steak dinner, a night in a hotel with the missus (or someone else ), a massive splurge on ebay on RC parts or whatever floats your boat. Then you have another incentive, other than friends and family and your own health (its strange this isn't enough huh?).

I know its probably common sense but I am writing as much to reaffirm it for myself.

Hope that helps anyone and good luck people.

Cheers

Ed

P.S. Had my chest x-ray today, results in a week, scary stuff

P.P.S. Avoid temptation e.g. situations where you always smoke, bars, with certain friends, etc....

[badhoopty]

argh. for those of you know dont know what its like to smoke and then try to quit its like being REAL hungry but not getting to eat...

the chantix helps out a ton, if i hadnt been taking it i woulda bought a pack of smokes by now.

[PBR Allstar]

Stay tough hoop!

[MONSTER]

A friend and I started smoking at age NINE (we are FORTY THREE now. almost 3/4 of our LIVES). Once we started, it didnt take long to figure out how to get them EVERYDAY. Everyone except my Mother and Grandmothers (one did, but quit before I can remember) smoked tons. It got so bad so quick that my Mother actually allowed me to smoke a pipe before I even got my drivers liscence, just to try to get me to "substitute" the cigs. I never got passed more than a pack and a half a day, but I HAD to have them. I "quit" one time as a teenager, but only for a couple months. When I became an EMT ('89) and started working in Hospitals, I was surprised to see how many Health Care workers smoked. I tried to quit Cold Turkey in '90, but it never failed that when someone else fired up, they would ALWAYS offer one (which, of course, I took). So, I decided to just carry a pack of the worst tasting cigs I could find (Magnum, ewww). That way, when someone offered, I could say, "No thanks, I have some", but I wouldnt smoke them because they tasted so bad. Oh I smoked some, but I DID NOT enjoy them. Actually made it for 2 months again, then I said I could "smoke", but not inhale.....YEAH...RIGHT.

Fast forward until about 11-12 years ago. One day I was happily smoking away, and it made me feel ill. I thought, "hmm, I MUST be coming down with something". It didnt happen again for a few packs. I didnt (or wouldnt) make the connection for a long time. Then it started happening more often. I would sometimes "blame" it on a "stale pack", until it got to be several from each and every pack I smoked. Blah, blah, blah, then, about 4 years ago, EVERY one I smoked would make me feel like *^%#. YET, I STILL HAD TO HAVE THEM!! So, then I would only smoke when we were playing Paintball (my other passion). I tried switching to Cigars, but would even INHALE them almost as much as I did cigs. So, I stopped BUYING anything to smoke, and would "bum", hoping everyone would get tired of it and stop letting me. They only made fun as they passed their pack right over. I did THAT for a couple YEARS.

For the past 2 years or so, I have only smoked on w/ends when a friend who smokes would come around. I dont even think about them during the week, when no one is around. It finally got to where I would start getting ill as SOON as I put one in my mouth. I always dry hit them before I fire one up. The sickness got so bad, after each and every one, I would be DOWN for hours....YET, I WOULD STILL HAVE TO HAVE ONE WHEN IT WAS AVAILABLE. I couldnt even stop when my children begged me to. A few months ago, they started putting me down for a WHOLE DAY at a time.

Its been almost 2 months (AGAIN), and I havent had a cig, but have had a couple "gars" (MAN, I LOVE a GOOD cigar (macanudos etc), only inhaling what I could suck in after blowing out. I WANT them SOOOOO BAD. My main RC Buddy smokes 'bro Reds pretty heavy. MOST of them smell SOO smooth and "creamy", and the cravings are almost unbareable. Heck, Ive even had twinges of illness just grabbing one with the "intention" of smoking it now, never even touching my lips with it.

Its really sad that something that ACTUALLY makes you ill can still have such a TIGHT GRIP on you. To make a long stor....uh, well anyway, Im just saying, "Im "there" with all you Quitters". WE CAN DO IT!!!

BEST OF LUCK TO US ALL!!!!! It really IS for your (Our) own good.

Maybe we can keep this thread at the Top (Sticky, Mods?) for a little extra "support", since we spend soo much time here. I dont always post, but Im here everyday, most days, twice.

[FlyinGN]

wow, that a strong addiction.... They should be outlawed. The tobacco companies thrive on this addiction that monster has. Its so sad to see a person who bases his life around around smoking.. And monster, wait till you have quit for a while. You will then see how BAD it actually smalls and how disgusting of a habit it really is.. All smokers who quit do..

[Asso_man!]

wow, that a strong addiction.... They should be outlawed. The tobacco companies thrive on this addiction that monster has. Its so sad to see a person who bases his life around around smoking.. And monster, wait till you have quit for a while. You will then see how BAD it actually smalls and how disgusting of a habit it really is.. All smokers who quit do..

remember the alcohol prohibition years...

[FlyinGN]

different time, different world.. Remember, philly, all of NJ and New York City BANNED smoking in every bar, store and restaurant.. NYC don't even alow it on the streets. And it works.. So it can be done..

wow, that a strong addiction.... They should be outlawed. The tobacco companies thrive on this addiction that monster has. Its so sad to see a person who bases his life around around smoking.. And monster, wait till you have quit for a while. You will then see how BAD it actually smalls and how disgusting of a habit it really is.. All smokers who quit do..

remember the alcohol prohibition years...

[Synergy]

Gees man, Whiskers what do you put in that pipe of yours, it's not chill inducing that's for sure.

[Asso_man!]

what would be good is to forbid and ban all those chemicals they use to addict smokers more rapidly, deeper... that would be a good first move... Here in Europe they also banned a few years ago any tobacco advertising, smoking is forbidden in every restaurant and at work and I really think these are the right measures to be taken...

[FlyinGN]

deleted.. for lack of better judgement..

[scr8p]

alright guys, calm down.

i think from now on, if your not trying to give the ones in this thread positive reinforcement on there quest to being smoke free, keep your comments to yourself.

i know i had a REAL hard time not making a comment to something in this thread, but i figured it'd be best to keep it to myself. it can be done.

[MONSTER]

alright guys, calm down.

i think from now on, if your not trying to give the ones in this thread positive reinforcement on there quest to being smoke free, keep your comments to yourself.

i know i had a REAL hard time not making a comment to something in this thread, but i figured it'd be best to keep it to myself. it can be done.

I hope it wasnt something from my "novel". If so, please let me know. Making New Friends is the Second most important reason for me joining any Forum. I didnt see anything wrong with FlyinGNs posts. I cant imagine what could have caused all the ruckus.

[scr8p]

I hope it wasnt something from my "novel".

ahhh, don't sweat it.

i'm not gonna say exactly what it was, since then i'd have to comment on it. plus, it was nothing that would've resulted in any type of "grudge".

[badhoopty]

ruckus? wheres the ruckus?



i couldnt do it cold turkey yesterday... i smoked a couple butts i dug out of my garage trashcan the end of the evening...

its funny 'cause the medication really helps kicks the crap out of the 'nic fit' feeling. its just the habit of smoking and feeling that little burn in the throat...

anyway, day two.