Stop Smoking Support Thread
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Bosum .... you are funny! But I hear ya when you say the longest 3 hours of my life. I so remember this part. I remember vividly when I once said I was going to quit and smoke the whole damm large pack. After 1 hour (which I found to be the longest hour of my life) I ran downstairs to the cigarette machine that was in the apartment building. Can you imagine those days .... cigarettes were everywhere!
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Bosum, we remember all the good things, eh? Your right about smoking in movie theatres, airplanes, buses, etc. I remember smoking in movie theatres and butting out. I always worried that I would burn my purse, or better yet, paper. Then I remember when you couldn't smoke on planes, and I thought to myself, if I smoke in the lavatory "what are they going to do to me". God, I was so naive. Don't worry about the inhalers and the expiry date .... as someone said to me about expired products - they are just less toxic. Now I think of that every time. If you need them, use them.
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LisaMarie, I saw this and I thought of you.
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Judi, great one!
Bosum, one for you too for trying again! xoxo See you all later! Work just said we could leave early due to the snow so have to call all my appts to reschedule cause we are leaving at one and it is 12:15!
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April, it's snowing? They said we would get snow tonight and tomorrow. Thursday is supposed to be -30. Can't believe it!
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Today I am 63 days smoke free! It wasn't my BC diagnosis that made me want to quit, but my Onc telling me I had a higher risk of lung cancer from radiation, and blood clots from Tamoxifen. I bought and read Allen Carr's Easy Way to Quit Smoking for Women which really made a difference for me. Bought it on Amazon for around $12.
I found that the worst of it was the first 4-5 days, after that it got a little easier everyday. Now, 2 months into it, I don't crave at all and only think about smoking a couple times a day. It's really no big deal anymore.
I know it's so hard to quit, but keep trying! I smoked for 30 years, and if I can do it anyone can.
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Y0tis - welcome. Congrats on your 63 days. Bosum - sorry the world is still crapping on you. We're here. LisaMarie - great news about the job and the training. Hi to everyone else. Sorry about those with snow storms & hope you're OK.
I'm back, but my body clock is still in Hawaii. In fact, I think my body rhythm works better there. Left at 8pm for an overnight flight at 81 degrees. Arrived home at 7am and 41 degrees. Took lots of clothes but I knew better - everyone wears shorts & flip-flops & tee shirts, or maybe a long skirt but the kind you can just plop down in the sand - not dressy. Ate wonderful Japanese food & fantastic sushi. Excellent fresh fish every day. My "other" son is 45 and my nephew is 32. Interesting to see the differences between the two couples as kids age. I spent 3 days w/the first & 3 days w/the second & 1 by myself. Got to have a drink at the beach hotel where my Dad and I spent his last 'dream trip' before he died. Re-visited the beach where we took a catamaran out to Diamond Head 10 years before that and scattered my brother's ashes. Watched the surfers where I learned to surf at age 16. Layers of memories.
Lots of smokers from "over-seas", but all the hotels & restaurants are smoke free. Went one night for a drink where the place became a club at 10pm. Open air, on the beach. Lots of young military guys hovering around lots of young girls in mini skirts that didn't really cover their hoo-ha's. VERY loud 'jump & shout' music. Years since I've been to such a venue. Just the kind of place to smoke. But I didn't. Of course not, because I'm a smoker who hasn't smoked in 8 years and 7 months (ugh). And because the cops would have asked me to put it out or leave.
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Welcome back Minus! Glad you had such a wonderful (and it appears meaningful) trip to Hawaii. My dad was stationed in Hilo during WW2 and he really wanted my Mom to move to Hawaii when they got married because land was so cheap (before HI became a state!!) but she wanted to be near family...sigh...instead of growing up in CT ice skating and with all of the blizzards and humid summers I might have grown up surfing, eating fresh coconuts and pineapples and kaluha pig..LOL Alas, we are where we are meant to be when we are meant to be there. I believe that for some strange reason.
Today marks the 4 year anniversary of my Mom's passing. I miss her so much and had a very vivid dream about her last night. She was a passenger in my Dad's 69 Chevy Impala and my recently retired girlfriend was driving. They had "sold" the car and were taking it to the car wash to get it "detailed" LOL What a strange dream!
There is a lovely write up about my daughter today in the local paper today in the town where I raised my children. It is all about her making partner at her law firm. Made my day because I did not know about it and my co worker brought it to me this morning! I was so blue about my Mom and this made the day much better!
Bosum and Lisamarie, please hang in there my friends. Life sure can be so shitty sometimes and then it eventually (sometimes after waaaaaay too long a time) gets better. I pray it does for both of you too.
Hi Judi, VJ and welcome to Y0tis! Congrats on 2 months in! I am working on 3 years and it was the hardest thing I have ever done!!
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Morning ladies. April, I hear you about where we end up living. If my grandad hadn't comer over from Ireland, I would be an Irish lass. MT, welcome home. It could be worse ..... you could live with me where it is only -30C. Tomorrow and Saturday is supposed to be better - only -6 and -7C. Now tell me, when are you coming to visit me. Bosum, cheer up! Don't beat yourself up so much .... you'll quit on your own time schedule and not anyone else's. Welcome YOtis! I also bought the Alan Carr book but alas it was not meant to be. I just wasn't ready to quit then. But like MT, we count the time we've quit and I'm grateful for me that I too was able to do it. Your comment re the higher risk of lung cancer from radiation was interesting. I've never heard that. God, I feel like such a "newbie" some times. April, I'm sorry about the loss of your mom .... it's so hard but the best thing is that we think of them everyday. MT, this one is for you!
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April, this one is for you. Your dream is a sign!
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If you are reading this, chances are you are thinking about quitting smoking, or you'd like to find ways to help a loved one quit. And if so, congratulations on taking this first step!
Quitting smoking is a journey, not an event. It can take time and require lots of support from family, friends or your healthcare provider.
Smoking is known to have negative effects on your health. But, rather than scare us with the dim facts, here's a little positive motivation from the Heart and Stroke Foundation:
- Within one year of quitting smoking, your added risk of coronary heart disease is cut in half than that of a smoker.
- Within five years, your risk of having a stroke will be nearly the same as a non-smoker.
- Within 10 years, the risk of dying from lung cancer is cut in half.
- Within 15 years, your risk of coronary heart disease will be similar to that of a non-smoker.
Almost immediately after quitting, your body sees positive changes.
So, again with help from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, here are some tips to help you become smoke-free:
What's your trigger?
Now that you are thinking about quitting, try to notice when in your day you smoke. Is it after your turn on the coffee pot? When you are waiting for the bus? When you are stuck in traffic? Or after that daily meeting with your boss? Figuring out what your triggers are is an important step on this journey.
The 4Ds of quitting
Delay.
Distract.
Drink Water.
Deep breathe.It's your morning break and you feel the need to smoke. What can you do?
Delay: Stop and ask yourself if you really need this cigarette, or if you can wait and do something else.
Distract yourself: Keep your hands and mouth busy. The Heart and Stroke Foundation recommends having a drink of water, brushing your teeth, reaching for some carrot or celery sticks, taking a walk, calling a friend.
Deep breathe: Take a few deep cleansing breaths. You can do this.
Drink water: As mentioned above, drinking water is a distraction and a delay tactic (plus, drinking water is good for us)
Set a quit date
Are you ready to start your quitting journey? Set a date. Write it down, and tell a family member or friend so that you feel accountable.
Set up smoke-free zones
Cutting down on the times you can smoke will make it more difficult to do so, and reduce the number of cigarettes you have in a day. Make your home and your car smoke-free zones.
It takes a village
Becoming smoke-free can be difficult, so please ask for help and support from family, friends, your healthcare provider or online community. As a family member, be supportive of your loved one's quit-date and timing for this journey. If you smoke, respect their smoke-free zones.
More tips
Visit sunnybrook.ca/quitsmoking or Heart and Stroke Foundation for more tips, information and support.
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The above was a post by my hospital. Thought it was interesting on some of the facts!
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Judi, you sent us your weather. In Connecticut this Saturday and Sunday, we will be MINUS 10-15 and wind chill of minus 30-40!!! They said it will break records all over the place, and I am afraid of the pipes bursting. Even in heated homes, they burst when it gets that cold cause they don't insulate to that degree! YIKES.
I told my husband to fill that oil tank today cause if we ran out, it would be hotel time..lol. and I am sure he doesn't wish to spend that money. That got him off his ass. He initially said "we have a little less than a 1/4 tank left, plenty until next week" and I said NOT in my world. You call TODAY! We use about 5-6 gallons on a really cold day and we have about 70 in the tank but the last 30 or so remains in the tank cause it just does not come up the valve or something and we will likely use about 8 gallons/day due to the extreme cold, so only have 4 days worth on a really really cold day.
Ok, back to the grind. xoxo
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I hear you April .... it's cold out baby!
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April, just watched the news. Going to be a balmy -23 C tomorrow. We didn't hit -30 C today but it was still cold. Last night was -27 C. See what people are missing!
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Geez you guys. Now I feel guilty for complaining about 41 degrees, as well I should I guess. April - hope your DH ordered the oil. As for visiting, Judi, it will never happen when there's snow & cold. But I will get back east again and hopefully we can get a whole group of us together for lunch or dinner.
Judi - great post with the "D" tips for quitting.
LisaMarie - did you start the job? What are you doing for transporation?
Bosum - thinking of you. Hope things have settled down since the court date.
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Ha, ha MT! Come on up and visit. I got some WINTER BOOTS for you to wear plus a parka/hat/scarf/mitts. I think that's all you need .... no sandals/shorts!
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It's not a contest but I have your four D's beat--
The Seven "D's"
Drink water or fruit juice to help flush the nicotine out of your system. Squeeze lemon juice in your water. Limit juice due to the calories. Satisfy your oral fixation in other ways. Get a water bottle and sip water throughout the day to replace the hand-to-mouth motion of smoking. Drink herbal tea instead of coffee. Don't drink alcoholic beverages.
Deep breathing from your abdomen. Avoid shallow breathing. Lie on the floor with a piece of paper on your navel, trying to lift the paper by using your breath. Breathe deeply through your nose for five seconds, exhaling through your mouth for five seconds. This ten-second breathing cycle will slow down your heart rate and calm you down.
Do something else. Get your mind off the cigarette. Keep your hands busy. Engage in substitute activities. Play a musical instrument or computer games. Do a crossword puzzle. Read a book or magazine. Write letters. Start a new hobby or learn craft projects: Knit, crochet, needlepoint, garden, paint, sculpt. Reach for a pen and paper and doodle or sketch rather than a cigarette when answering the phone. Do house or yard work. Clean out the closets or the garage. Vacuum the floor. Organize your junk drawer. Change the oil. Give yourself or someone else a manicure or pedicure. Get your hands wet. Take a shower or splash cold water on your face. Wash your hair. Shampoo the dog or cat. Do the dishes. Brush your teeth. Balance your checkbook. Surf the Internet. Google yourself. Exercise. Go for a brisk walk. If you cannot walk outside, walk the interior of a shopping mall. Walk the dog. Go bowling, play tennis, ride a bike. Go for a swim. Lift weights. Climb a flight of stairs instead of using the elevator. Stretch, touch your toes, do jumping jacks. Park a block or two away from your destination and walk. Change your routine. Replace old habits with new ones, such as: Try tea instead of coffee. Take a five minute walk after a meal. Take a walk at your break instead of going to where you used to smoke. Sit in a different chair; avoid your "smoking" seat. Eat lunch in a new place not associated with past smoking behavior. Chew on a straw, cinnamon stick, toothpick, clove, sugarless gum or candy. Have carrot or celery sticks on hand. Try eating unshelled, unsalted sunflower seeds. Eat one at a time. Go someplace you can't smoke such as the library, a museum, or the movies.Delay. Wait it out; a craving will often fade and disappear in a few minutes. Count to 300 slowly or count backwards from 300 to 1. Write down all your reasons for being smoke-free. Say to yourself, "I'll think of cigarettes five minutes from now"; then go do something else and soon, the thought of your cigarettes will be gone. Don't say that you won't think about smoking because then that will be all that you will think about. Talk yourself out of it, tell yourself, "This isn't going to last, it is only temporary". Take a nap. Remember the craving will go away whether or not you smoke.
Discuss with a friend. Find helping relationships and support. Call or text a non-smoking support person or your quit buddy. Go to a Nicotine Anonymous meeting. Your best support may be someone who has kept you at a distance because you smoke. Seek out others who are going through the quitting process now, or have successfully quit in the past. Avoid people who will tempt you to return to smoking, or try and sabotage your success. Bet someone you won't smoke. Put money in a jar each day. Forfeit it if you smoke. Keep the money if you don't smoke. Try it for a week then extend it to a month. Tell everyone you are trying to quit and you are making a Plan. Ask for their support. Be specific about how they can help you. Join BecomeAnEx.org and get support from others on-line.
Distract your thoughts. Change the way you think about smoking and get your mind off the cigarette. Listen to what you are saying to yourself about quitting; change your self-talk. When the thought of a cigarette comes up, deliberately choose to focus your mind on something else. Kiss someone. Wake up each morning and say, "I'm proud I made it another day smoke-free." Remember "NOPE: Not One Puff Ever". Or, "I'm a puff away from a pack a day".
Repeat positive affirmations such as: "I love the thought of being smoke-free." Or, "I choose to be smoke-free." Or, "I look better, I smell better. I'm saving a ton of money" Remind yourself of a difficult situation where you overcame the temptation to smoke and tell yourself, "I've done it before and I can do it again." Ask yourself, "Do I really want this cigarette?" Or, "How will this cigarette help?" Think of a negative image of smoking. Imagine this whenever the urge comes up. For example: A burn a hole in a favorite outfit, yellow teeth, 20 terrorists (cigarettes) in a pack trying to kill you, how breathless you are after exercising or walking up a flight of stairs.
Don't smoke no matter what. Prepare for tempting situations by mentally visualizing yourself handling the situation without smoking. Remind yourself of what's really important and it's not the cigarette. Think of your pre-commitment deal you made with yourself. Imagine writing that check. Continue to carry your Reasons to Quit Card and review as often as possible. Carry a picture of a child or grandchild who you want to be alive for in the future. Or a picture of someone who has passed—vow to quit smoking in their memory. Look at the picture every time a craving comes up. Remember, thinking and dreaming about a cigarette is not the same as craving it. Be careful to identify excuses. There are no good reasons to smoke, only excuses
.From my book, "How to win at quitting smoking"--a free PDF copy to anyone on this list, just send me a PM with your email address.
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Ooooooo - I love contests. Thanks VJ for adding some more ideas.
Hope we'll hear from our occasional ladies sometime - Beckers? SVG? I know I've forgotten several.
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Great article VJ! All the info to help smokers quit is great. Your article is much more detailed and will give smokers lots of food for thought when quitting. Love it!
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Bosum, you are most welcome. Remember, do it on your time schedule and not anyone else's. Good luck, I'll be with you all the way!
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Hi all! I thought this was so appropriate and wanted to share it!
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O.K. Minus, this one is definitely for you so you can get a taste!
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Judi - your back yard? Eeek!! Hope all of you back east are weathering the storms. Weird weather this year. Today was 79 degrees here.
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Ha, ha Minus! No, not my backyard. My friend actually took this picture - I don't know where. But, minus the water it would be my backyard. We had snow squalls all day today. Oh well, only 6 more weeks of winter according to Wiarton Willy!
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Here's another one for you Minus. This is way east of Toronto - about 4 hrs. east of Toronto, Ontairo.
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Ah, you are so kind to post these - LOL.
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hi everyone , sorry it's been a while. Minus sounds like a great time. Glad you got to go and enjoy the memories.
Bosom, dont beat yourself up ... xoxoxo I am around cigarettes all day and night . Im in housekeeping , making 7.50 per hour if thats not a joke. I get a ride with my daughter in laws mother. I need 101 dollars to sit for NC state test for CNA . The work is hard and I onky get 6 and 1\2 hours .love ya and keep your head up high . Quitting smoking is not easy, keep on keepung on ! Honestly I have no clue on how I dont go back , I never thought id see the day that id be 16 months without a smoke.
Judi. Thanks for the inspiration. Love your photos. I have been going crazy .very depressed , crying hysterical every other day. But im here.
Tonight my AA meeting has a Valentines Day dance. Im goung to meet people and get out of house.
April, my heart is with you . Loosing a loved one so close us so hard xoxo
Welcome to our new friends sorry YOtis !! Congrats
Love ya all
Xoxoxo
Lisamarie
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oops and my DD is 40 weeks pregnant and im anxiously awaiting the birth of my 4th Grandchild !! Her name is Gianna Paisleigh ....
Xoxo
Lisamarie
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Minus, this is the temp up north today!
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