Smoking Thread from a little different point of view

[rafinmd]

No wish of courage from me; you've proven you already have that. Congratulations and wishing you continued courage.

 

Roy

[goouchjac]

Well I have gotten fed up with all these smoking laws and rules! There are less and less places for me to smoke! I live in Illinois and there is no smoking in any indoor places. I attend a lot of High School sports and there is no smoking on any school property. So if I want a smoke I have to leave the school premises have my smoke then pay again to get into the game. I also have season tickets for The Chicago White Sox, my tickets are in the 500 level upper deck. If I want a smoke I have to walk down 5 stories to Gate 5 and have a smoke and at least I can take the Escalators back up if the are still running. As of January 1, 2014 my company is banning smoking in all of the company vehicles. Now Royal Caribbean is banning smoking on balconies and all indoor venues with the exception of the casino. Well that was the final straw! I throw my hands up and surrender. I figured I could quit going to restaurants, sporting events, theaters, shopping, cruises and I could quit my job. Then I could smoke in my backyard whenever I wanted to. Instead I decided to Quit Smoking after 40 years. Today was day 3 of no cigarettes. I am tired of having to find ways to smoke, I felt like I was back in high school trying to sneak a smoke. Not the price or health effects have ever made me want to quit. But I really am tired of finding places to smoke. I really hope I quit and stay quit and make my life less complicated. I stopped drinking 21 years ago so I think I can do this. To all the smokers I do promise that if I do quit I will not be one of those ex smokers that we all hate. Please don't wish me luck but wish me the courage to help me through this!

 

I do wish you courage,,and luck,,hubby and I both quit few years ago and we know it's not easy....But stay strong,,you can beat it:)

[killtheump]

I have thought about this a lot. My Mother dranked her self to death, at 42, and my Dad a few years later. Leaveing 4 small kids behind for me to raise. Now I never see anyone talking about how bad drinking is for you, or having to much to drink and hitting a school bus, killing most of the kids, I have never heard about a marriage breaking up over smoking, or kides going with out food so the parents can buy smokes . I stop smoking 5 years ago, but I will side with smokers everytime. It is like smokers have no rights anymore. They pay their taxes, raise the kids and PAY the same amount for their cruise, just like you. Don"t you think it is funny that they can still smoke in the cansino,,,,,,,,,? The cruise line makes to much money to ban it in there. We saw a girl so drunk one night she was asking for her car so she could drive herself home, (she didn't even know she was on a ship ) or to see puck in the hallways and other places. So smokes not every one is aginst you, but I would like to see more threads on the drinking. I can't smell it with out thinking of my Mom. I should say I am sorry about the rant,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, But I not. I don't know what it is like being a drunk,,,,,,,,,,but I know what it is like be a child of drunk parents. I hope your kids don't have to say that when they grow up. They say being a drunk is a illness, but it is the only one I know that you can by in a bottle.

 

First I want to thank everyone for the comments, everything has been positive. So far no cigs this morning. One place or places that I would never smoke was around my grandchildren. Today all 7 will be here so my mind will be off of smoking today.

If anyone would check my past posts I have never involved myself in the smoking or drinking threads. I usually read most and either laugh or cry at a lot of the uniformed posters. As you stated you lost your parents to alcoholism, I too could have been a victim to the disease. I choose to get help and it saved my life. Only the family & friends of an alcoholic know how bad it can get. In the 21 years I have been sober I have watched at least 200 people I know die or take someone else's life do to drinking. Also some going to prision due to alcohol. It is sad but alcohol ruins more life's then any other disease or addiction. It is just more accepted. I won't lecture anyone about it but it is a big problem. Anyway in 16 hours I can start day 5! :D

[reigle4]

Well I have gotten fed up with all these smoking laws and rules! There are less and less places for me to smoke! I live in Illinois and there is no smoking in any indoor places. I attend a lot of High School sports and there is no smoking on any school property. So if I want a smoke I have to leave the school premises have my smoke then pay again to get into the game. I also have season tickets for The Chicago White Sox, my tickets are in the 500 level upper deck. If I want a smoke I have to walk down 5 stories to Gate 5 and have a smoke and at least I can take the Escalators back up if the are still running. As of January 1, 2014 my company is banning smoking in all of the company vehicles. Now Royal Caribbean is banning smoking on balconies and all indoor venues with the exception of the casino. Well that was the final straw! I throw my hands up and surrender. I figured I could quit going to restaurants, sporting events, theaters, shopping, cruises and I could quit my job. Then I could smoke in my backyard whenever I wanted to. Instead I decided to Quit Smoking after 40 years. Today was day 3 of no cigarettes. I am tired of having to find ways to smoke, I felt like I was back in high school trying to sneak a smoke. Not the price or health effects have ever made me want to quit. But I really am tired of finding places to smoke. I really hope I quit and stay quit and make my life less complicated. I stopped drinking 21 years ago so I think I can do this. To all the smokers I do promise that if I do quit I will not be one of those ex smokers that we all hate. Please don't wish me luck but wish me the courage to help me through this!

 

Enjoy your new found money and save it for a cruise......lol non smoking of course. You rock...

[lakemurraykid]

Congratulations on Day 3. That is awesome. I'm sending you as much courage and support as you need. I know you can do it. I quit three times and went back to it because I didn't have the support. I'm in the process of getting my mind in the right place to quit again and this time for good. If you need something to hold when you think you need a cig, use a straw. That helped me tremendously.:)

[kelleigh229]

First I want to thank everyone for the comments, everything has been positive. So far no cigs this morning. One place or places that I would never smoke was around my grandchildren. Today all 7 will be here so my mind will be off of smoking today.

If anyone would check my past posts I have never involved myself in the smoking or drinking threads. I usually read most and either laugh or cry at a lot of the uniformed posters. As you stated you lost your parents to alcoholism, I too could have been a victim to the disease. I choose to get help and it saved my life. Only the family & friends of an alcoholic know how bad it can get. In the 21 years I have been sober I have watched at least 200 people I know die or take someone else's life do to drinking. Also some going to prision due to alcohol. It is sad but alcohol ruins more life's then any other disease or addiction. It is just more accepted. I won't lecture anyone about it but it is a big problem. Anyway in 16 hours I can start day 5! :D

 

Keep it up!! Those 7 grandchildren need you! I had a friend tell me that drinking everything out of a straw helped with the oral fixation early on.

 

I agree on the alcoholism. I had to end my marriage due to my alcoholic husband. The last straw was when he fell on my 2 year old in a drunken stupor. I looked for a new place to live the next day. I would not have my child subjected to that on a daily basis.

 

lots and lots of courage continuing to come your way!!

[JasonV1]

I've said this in other posts, but unless you can afford to work wherever you wish, or pay your own health insurance, it will continue to become more and more difficult to smoke as time goes on. Businesses can't afford what it costs them (health insurance costs primarily), and eventually the government plans will likely follow suit and require an additional premium if nothing else.

 

Obesity is next, although it will take a lot longer to "tackle" compared to just taking a hard stance on smoking as food is required to survive.

 

Even if your own employer grandfathers you in to any changes people change jobs more frequently these days so you'll either be stuck or forced to change your ways if you leave for somewhere that enforces "no X" rules.

[Ilovepj]

HI,

 

I would love to stop smoking, and did once when my grandson was coming, (13 years ago) but I gained 40 lbs) so now, I want so much to stop but I keep thinking ok now your going to gain 40 more lbs, so that little voice in my head wont let me stop.

 

I do want to stop, lost a sister to lung cancer, and she was only 53. So yes I need to stop, but I have tried everything, and I always go back for the smoke.

 

I wish you the best, and maybe if you can do it, I will try again. I just turned 60 so don't know if its going to make a big difference at this point. I for sure have the want to, but no will power,

 

Good Luck, post again so I know if you made it.

[Shak]

Almost 20 years to this day I went to the hypnotist through our local lung association and have not smoked since. The first week was difficult but I made it with the help of a reinforcing audio tape they gave me as a part of the secession. I gained a little weight but I was able to deal with that hurdle a little later. I am still smoke free and within my BMI (body mass index).

 

Shak

[cruzeluver]

Big congratulations from me! I quit 3 years ago and its amazing how munch my life had opened up and how many things I get to do now that I could not before. It breaks my heart to read that people avoid certain places, do not participate in certain activities, or in any way have to make special accommodations due to their smoking. That was me for years and years. Best of luck for continued success. You can do it!

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

Dozens of bouquets of courage flowers for you every day. Never give up!

[tlatrice]

My grandfather quit cold turkey about 31 years ago after he was diagnosed with lung cancer. They did surgery and since it was small, were able to get it all. He had smoked for 50 years, started when he was 16 and just quit. Unfortunately, he died a couple of years later from stomach cancer unrelated to the lung but related to smoking and diet. Besides the obvious health benefits from quitting, think of all the extra cash you'll have to spend on vacations. From other threads I've read and family members in NY who still smoke (even those on welfare) the cost runs into the 2-3 thousand $ per year. Also, all the time saved and no more missing out on seeing the games you attend.

 

The small percentage of people where I work who still smoke go outside 4-5 times a day for 15 min at a time. A lot of non-smokers have complained about that because not only are they getting breaks that none of us are, they aren't working as many hours, but being paid their full time salary all because they have a habit. If I got up and disappeared every couple of hours for 15-20 minutes, my boss would not be thrilled. Just a viewpoint of what smoking costs everyone involved.

 

How would your boss know that you weren't out smoking? And why don't you take breaks? You should. You are allowed breaks. If smokers are allowed breaks then you are allowed breaks. You could just as well get up and go for a walk during your break time just as smokers go out to smoke on their break time. I don't see how this 'costs' anyone anything.

[luvscruising2007]

DH and I both quit smoking cold turkey. He quit 45 years ago when he opened his 5th pack that day. I quit 35 years ago because DH didn't smoke and I thought that was just unfair.

 

If DH could do it anyone can do it. Just take it day by day. It will get easier. The cravings may not go away for awhile, but you are stronger than the cravings.

 

Wishing you well on this new phase of your life.

[cello56]

Wishing you a lifetime of courage!! You CAN do this! Do it for your grandkids, but mostly do it for YOURSELF!! You are worth the effort, you really are!

 

Two suggestions:

 

1) Get a huge glass jar and start putting the money you saved from not smoking into the jar every single day. It will serve as a visual anchor for you to help you stay focused. It will also probably pay for an extra cruise within a year!

 

2) Make yourself a big sign on your fridge that says how long you have been smoke free. Start by keeping track of the days, then months, and eventually years. About 12 years ago I made a sign like that for a dear friend who wanted to quit. Each month I would make her a new 'number' for her sign to show my support of her efforts. When she reached one year we had a big celebration. I totally forgot about the sign, and in fact sort we sort of drifted apart as life changed. Nine years later she calls me up and wants to meet for lunch. In she comes with the sign I made her (I used that foam stuff you get at a craft store, so it held up.) Her sign now read "10 YEARS" smoke free!! I was so very proud of her. She said that seeing that sign on her fridge helped her to stay focused on her goal.

 

YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!!! :)

[TexCruise371]

Good for you and congratulations on making that decision! :D

 

I was a 1-2 pack smoker for 35 years. I quit on Valentines 2005.

 

You can do this!:D:D:D:D

[retiredgram]

Congrats. One day at a time. You are doing this. I did, 20 years ago.

 

Someone on CC has a ticker in their signature and it tells how many days they have quit. I really thought that was a great inspiration for people to see.

[Scoobydobe7]

Congrat's on your 3-day mark -- 7+ years for me - you can do it!!!!!!

[BND]

How would your boss know that you weren't out smoking? And why don't you take breaks? You should. You are allowed breaks. If smokers are allowed breaks then you are allowed breaks. You could just as well get up and go for a walk during your break time just as smokers go out to smoke on their break time. I don't see how this 'costs' anyone anything.

 

I'm a Fed Gov employee and we are not given official breaks and certainly not unofficial ones that total 2 hours a day. That's my point, people taking breaks to do something that's not necessary and is not a benefit given to anyone who doesn't smoke has been an issue. We get 1/2 hour unpaid for lunch every day and that's it. Some people think we get two 15 min breaks a day but that is not true. As I said, I'm a Fed Gov employee, so anyone not doing their full job is costing everyone money, as in taxes. Fortunately where I work is mostly professionals where the smoking rate is under 10%. Probably more like 5% and those are mainly facilities people and enlisted military. I can't think of anyone in my office that smokes. But, some of those that do have been questioned about the time they spend outside because it can become extreme. I know this for a fact because of my job.

 

My point was smoking wastes a lot of time and money. No one can argue that.

[ckrobyn]

First I want to thank everyone for the comments, everything has been positive. So far no cigs this morning. One place or places that I would never smoke was around my grandchildren. Today all 7 will be here so my mind will be off of smoking today.

If anyone would check my past posts I have never involved myself in the smoking or drinking threads. I usually read most and either laugh or cry at a lot of the uniformed posters. As you stated you lost your parents to alcoholism, I too could have been a victim to the disease. I choose to get help and it saved my life. Only the family & friends of an alcoholic know how bad it can get. In the 21 years I have been sober I have watched at least 200 people I know die or take someone else's life do to drinking. Also some going to prision due to alcohol. It is sad but alcohol ruins more life's then any other disease or addiction. It is just more accepted. I won't lecture anyone about it but it is a big problem. Anyway in 16 hours I can start day 5! :D

 

You are awesome!!! You can do this!!!

 

December 22nd will be the 5th anniversary of my quit date. Believe me, as each day passes the cravings will become more manageable.

 

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post this.....but it's a link to a really great site filled with gazillions of folks like yourself who are in the process of quitting smoking. It really helped me. www.quitnet.com

 

Hang in there!!!!!

[temple1]

LOL - Fortunately I quit before it became too difficult or expensive for me to smoke. :cool:

 

To the OP - It will be very difficult to not backslide for the next few weeks. I quit cold turkey with help from the American Lung Association. Back in my day they had a wonderful program of education about addiction and hints on what to do to get through the bad times.

 

Like others mentioned - lots of water. I was told it helps get the nicotine out of your system. Fruit juice helps also.

 

Do not replace cigarettes with food or treats. Unless it is a healthy snack like fresh fruit.

 

Change your routine. If you smoke after a meal, leave the area and take a walk, pet the dog, sing a song, anything but stay where the trigger is. Find something to do with your hands. When out with the girls I became very proficient at knotting drink straws. At work I almost always had a pen or pencil in my hand. Anything to replace that slender tube.

 

If you feel smoking helps you concentrate - that is the excess oxygen you take in with each inhale of the cigarette. Try closing your eyes and take a deep breath and let it out slowly.

 

Try to reduce stress. I was so jumpy the first couple of weeks I was either being mean and nasty or crying. I also did not sleep well. This will all go away as long as you tell yourself it is all part of the withdrawal process.

 

I was told to stay away from other smokers, alcohol, etc. (Personally, I think the second hand smoke helped. ;)) But I can only handle so much change at a time and I had to deal with it.

 

Don't forget to vacuum and clean the house and car plus send clothes to the dry cleaners. You will be amazed at how much more you notice smells once it is out of your home and system.

 

One more thing - quitting smoking one time was the hardest thing I ever did and I know if I ever go back I could never quit again. That more than anything keeps me smoke free after 25 years.

 

Good luck, we are rooting for you.

 

PS - This will probably be moved to another area.

[JF - retired RRT]

Take deep breaths...you forget to deep breathe when you are a smoker and quit, because all of your deep breathing was when you took a puff.

All the other suggestions are excellent, use them all... whatever works at the time, cycle through them if you have to.

One will work, another one won't.

If you lapse (notice I didn't say fail), quit again.

Every time you have to restart was just a practice run for the successful quit.

[JF - retired RRT]

HI,

 

I just turned 60 so don't know if its going to make a big difference at this point. I for sure have the want to, but no will power,

 

Good Luck, post again so I know if you made it.

 

Yes, it will make a difference.

You don't realize how much your breathing is affected, until you quit and get your "real" breath back.

If you gain weight, it is because you used food to substitute for your cravings and oral fixation. Use carrots, celery, cinnamon sticks. And WALK!!

[LMaxwell]

HI,

 

I would love to stop smoking, and did once when my grandson was coming, (13 years ago) but I gained 40 lbs) so now, I want so much to stop but I keep thinking ok now your going to gain 40 more lbs, so that little voice in my head wont let me stop.

 

It' ALL about willpower. I quit on March 20. I got myself back into the gym on April 20. I have LOST 35 pounds. I was worried about weight gain; it turns out that being able to actually BREATHE made exercise so much easier. I've still got more weight to lose, but am on the right track.

 

Food tastes better. Exercise is more enjoyable. "Bedroom life" is WAY better. I never noticed how much I used to hack and cough in the shower, but others did and made comments anbout how I wasn't hacking my brains out anymore.

 

I have a free app that I downloaded on my phone, Cessation Nation ( I think, there are various free ones). I input the cost of a pack of cigarettes, how many cigarettes I smoked per day. It calculates how much money I have saved, how many cigarettes I haven't smoked, how much LONGER my life expectancy is, etc.

 

At the rate I am NOT spending on cigarettes it comes out to basically pay for a 7 day cruise....every year...for the rest of my life!

 

It is ENTIRELY willpower. If you want it, you can make it happen. After a few days without nicotine you DON'T NEED IT. The first week sucks...then it gets better. Like I said in my first post to OP, drink tons of water. tons and tons of it. It will help with cravings, it will flush toxins from the body, it's FREE, and it will help with weight loss.

 

Good luck to ALL who set their minds on this goal. The rewards are worth it.

[JF - retired RRT]

LOL - Fortunately I quit before it became too difficult or expensive for me to smoke. :cool:

 

To the OP - It will be very difficult to not backslide for the next few weeks. I quit cold turkey with help from the American Lung Association. Back in my day they had a wonderful program of education about addiction and hints on what to do to get through the bad times.

 

Like others mentioned - lots of water. I was told it helps get the nicotine out of your system. Fruit juice helps also.

 

Do not replace cigarettes with food or treats. Unless it is a healthy snack like fresh fruit.

 

Change your routine. If you smoke after a meal, leave the area and take a walk, pet the dog, sing a song, anything but stay where the trigger is. Find something to do with your hands. When out with the girls I became very proficient at knotting drink straws. At work I almost always had a pen or pencil in my hand. Anything to replace that slender tube.

 

If you feel smoking helps you concentrate - that is the excess oxygen you take in with each inhale of the cigarette. Try closing your eyes and take a deep breath and let it out slowly.

 

Try to reduce stress. I was so jumpy the first couple of weeks I was either being mean and nasty or crying. I also did not sleep well. This will all go away as long as you tell yourself it is all part of the withdrawal process.

 

I was told to stay away from other smokers, alcohol, etc. (Personally, I think the second hand smoke helped. ;)) But I can only handle so much change at a time and I had to deal with it.

 

Don't forget to vacuum and clean the house and car plus send clothes to the dry cleaners. You will be amazed at how much more you notice smells once it is out of your home and system.

 

One more thing - quitting smoking one time was the hardest thing I ever did and I know if I ever go back I could never quit again. That more than anything keeps me smoke free after 25 years.

 

Good luck, we are rooting for you.

 

PS - This will probably be moved to another area.

 

WOW!! You remember almost every Freedom From Smoking tip.

I know because I used to be a FFS facilitator. It was one of the rewarding things I ever did.

[LMaxwell]

Don't forget to vacuum and clean the house and car plus send clothes to the dry cleaners. You will be amazed at how much more you notice smells once it is out of your home and system.

 

 

I never smoked in my home, but did smoke in my car. I had the interior cloth shampooed. I wiped down EVERY surface with all purpose cleaner. Clean the windows on the inside. Then clean them again. Maybe a 3rd time. I also used a small handheld vaccuum to clean the headliner (THAT was truly amazing, it changed colors...from brown back to light grey, just like Toyota built it). Get into all the nooks and crannies. At auto parts stores they sell a foaming vent cleaner, that was a big help. I also replaced the cabin air filter.

 

What an enormous difference it was. The smell was 99% gone. It was, again, worth the effort. No more ashtray smell. Felt like a good reward to myself.