Quitting Smoking Group

1 1/2 months smoke free

posted by breeves on 2:08 pm

I decided I was going to completely change my lifestyle and that was the first step.  Its been rough.  Mostly trying to figure out what to do with my time when I get bored.  Any suggestions on that.

Chamelean

posted by cka777 on 8:33 am

Wow,  I have never talked about this, because that would make my addiction public.  I'm a closet smoker and if you can believe it, I can smoke 1 1/2 packs a day and hide from most people.  I've been doing this for 28 years, I'm very good at it.  This year I had my first grandbaby and don't want to hurry a visit so I can go smoke.  Hurry up baby and go to sleep so I can go smoke.  Hurry up and eat your breakfast so I can go smoke!!!!  Ya get my point---enough is enough.  I just need help.  I am not sure how to begin.  I've set my date for this coming Sat. after that all I know to do is take it one long hour at a time.  Suggestions?

so hard

posted by billed on 7:26 am

I have smoked for about 35 years . Quit once for seven months. Trying again. I had quit for 13 days, but was very un-happy. Smoked Friday and Saturday, none Sunday, bought more this morning.
What can I do about my lack of joy mentally when not smokoing? I work in a Medicine Clinic, I am able to respond nicly to patients and staff, but it is a front, not the real me. When smoking, I don't have a care in the world.

Just quit

posted by vlb11 on 4:03 pm

I've smoked ever since summer 2003. Off and on, I'd quit for months and then start again. I'm hoping to finally kick the habit. I quit cold turkey on October 11th and haven't had any since then. I think it's easier for me because I only smoked a pack a week. However, it's still really hard. Especially today, rough stressful day at work and I just ate supper. I have been substituting my cigarettes for chocolate and have put on weight. How do you get off the chocolate kick too? 

Day 2

posted by mellask on 10:49 am

Today is day 2 smoke free for me.  I really hope I can make it this time.  Was able to quit cold turkey.  So far so good.

Dying

posted by fitnessfantasy on 4:39 pm

I'm dying today. Having some martial problems so I want to smoke. I guess I got into the group with the wrong expectatioins. I didn't realize ppl don't log on everyday.

I'm tired

posted by fitnessfantasy on 5:06 pm

I'm tired of smoking!! I don't understand why I haven't been able to stop. I don't like the taste or the smell but it's a habit. I'm leading a double life. Many ppl do not even know I smoke. I also drink and I'm tired of feeling miserable. Smoked the last cigarette in my pack at least an hour ago. I'm hoping this site will help. I need to create new habits but I am in such a rut right now. I am not motivated to workout. I think I just need someone to talk to and find something to motivate me

I am ready I need help & support..open to any suggestion

posted by KathyAQuit2Now on 11:39 am

Hello everyone. My name is Kathy I am 39 and I have smoked for 22 years. This is going to be a long post but I will try to skip any details that are not pertinent to responses. I want to quit, I have the desire and the motivation to quit, every reason in the world to quit and no reason NOT to quit. I am a strong willed and determined person. I am a former / recovered addict of other "stuff" and have been clean for 9 years and 4 months without the desire to use and can not be broken or turned on to the miserable road in life again...ever...and yes my will and strength has been tested. I have been working in emergency mgmt and 911 communications field for a little over 7 yrs...and currently enrolled inart school and am halfway through with my associates in that and am pre-enrolled in a BS major in Psycholgy with a focus on substance abuse counseling. I have overcome obstacles and griefs that would bring a grown man to his knees, traveled roads that lead to hell and jail and made my way back while learning the lessons were there for the knowledge to keep me moving forward,  I have never asked for a handout or and certainly never been fortunate enough for a hand up but have rather done evrything on my own because I knew that it would mean much more in the long run and the appreciation and self gratification for achieving goals would bring about reassurance and self confidence.
I have quit smoking once for a year, in the 90's, but started back when marriage problems became intense, only to keep the addiction and lose the marriage 4 yrs later. Stupid excuse i fooled myself into believing that smoking would calm me, well it did but I ended up divorced anyway..have a beautiful son though. I have tried everything form patches, chantix, herbal lung and blodd cleansers whils on chantix to detox the nic from my body...I have researched best ways to quit, support groups, hotlines, self help books, you name it I have tried...except the new herbal pill and the new program in Atlanta that administers and IV drug (kinda like chantix) and sends you home with a pill to take...sorta scared of that. I do not do well with wellbutrin or chantix...mood swings is niot what was I having and walking blackouts would describe it better. Cold turkey is not the way for me...I litterally wanted to snap someone into by my 3rd day with chantix....i didnt want anyone around me, any noise....I was so angry...way past ill...that it scared me..but I held on to not taking that puff for 2 more days the I broke. I did the whole set a quit a date...change your the way you think, totally cleansed my house and emoved all forms of any reminders that wouldset me off to want to smoke...made a list of all reasons or things that trigger me wanting that puff and what to do when it arose...So..somebody please tell me how I can quit pot, alcohol, meth, feel good pills and everything else man makes but can not quit these damn things!!!
My last attemp to quit was a bout a year ago. I lityerally despise evrything about smoking...the smell, the taste, the health decline, the 2nd hand, the buying them, even if they were free it a nuissance to me to feel like I have to smoke...somebody please help me break free from this addiction. I have thought that well if I could just put myself in the hospital for a week, get the shot take the pill, detox my system, and meditate for a week and oh yes lets throw some hypnosis in there to just to make sure that it works for me this time and then  have a diary, lots of snackables, an online and phone support group and an exercise regime ready for the minute I walk out of the hospital that I can do it. How extreme is that? Just desperate to quit thats all. I have recently thought about the e-cigs as a way to help wean me....question is am i more addicted the nicotine or all the other millions of additives and chemicals and tar? I know i know the addiction is to all I just know that some people are good with cold turkey, some are successful with chantix or well butrin or gum or patches or a combo, and some actuaslly wen theirselves off which I understand is the most difficult and prolonged means of quitting, but hey quitting is quitting and I'll take it whichever way it works.
Thanks for leting me spill my beans, rant and rave, and relieve frustrations...hopefully someone will have some positive feed back.
To those who have kicked that oygen sucking burden in the buttox...congatulations!!! And keep up the healthy habits.
 

Quitting

posted by OceanChic74 on 8:16 am

I am really proud of everyone.  i hope i can do it just like you all!!

Hi Everyone

posted by tdisom on 8:27 am

Hello Everyone, I have smoked 1/2 to 1 pack per day for 15 years. Its been 4 days since I have had a smoke. I didn't go cold turkry, I have the patch and the gum I use the gum mostly. I try to use one or the other. I never thought it could be me, a non smoker. I was always embarressed by the fact I smoked, since the day I started. Everyday since ,I said I was going to quit. This is a hard addiction to break. If you are trying to quit, good for you. If you wan't to quit, good for you. Just make the decision to do it and do it. Until I figured I had to start somewhere, I would always give up or put it off until the next day. Well 4 days ago that day came. I hope I can help and support others as they take thier first step to quitting. Best wishes and good luck everyone.

Good job!

posted by katiehc on 11:01 am

Good job to everyone in this group! I have been smoking on and off for years, but gave it up for the most part last December. The one thing that really bothers me is that I still want to smoke (and occasionally do) when I'm drinking. Sometimes I don't smoke at all, but I wish I were done completely. You can tell me to remove myself from the situation, but its where my friends are, I love the occasional gin and tonic and I don't want to avoid those places. It's a constant process.
I got off smoking this last time by wearing "the patch" and I thought it worked very well for me. I sometimes want to stick one back on before I go out.

The tapering process begins

posted by Shriyansi on 3:01 am

I've smoked 20+ cigarettes a day for the last 12 years. (Wow and yeeeeesh!) I've tried quitting cold turkey too many times and it just doesn't seem to work for me :( I've decided that I'm going to simply not smoke till I absolutely have to, and when I do absolutely have to, I'll wait another 5 minutes and check again! :) I've had 5-6 cigarettes already, but since I made the decision to kick it just now... I'm going to start my ciggie count from 5 minutes ago. Wish me luck folks! I could really do with some energy, healthy lungs and nice skin... not to mention the lowered risk of cancer and stroke! :) 
Good luck to everyone who's in our boat! 

Day Five

posted by louwho30 on 2:43 pm

Today is my 5th day of not smoking. I quit COLD TURKEY Tues morning. Anxiety is high for me right now and I really can tell I am depriving my body of nicotine. I am so proud of myself and proud I have made it this far. I wasn't a 'heavy' smoker, only about a half a pack a day......and I had myself convienced that I could quit at anytime and it would be easier than someone that smoked 1 to 2 packs a day. Can I just say, that...HOLY CRAP..... it DOESN'T matter. Quitting is quitting. Nicotine is nicotine. It's a drug, that my body has become used to for almost 16 years. I have friend support. Most are non-smokers and I feel like they may not completely understand what I am actually dealing with, but they are supportive without being annoying....which is a good thing! 
I have faith in myself that I will get thru this.

Pick your day then commit

posted by pitdog00 on 7:24 pm

 First of all congrats to everyone who is attempting for the first time or tenth and to those who have made it a while.I was a two pack a day smoker for 25 years,more if I was having beers with the fellas.I told myself on my 38th birthday that I would quit on my 39th.It has been 1.5 yrs now smoke free with no patch , no chantix . I did however gain 40 pounds of which 30 I have since lost.The road was not easy and I think the key to the whole process is setting realgoals and holding your health accountable.We decided to pick up the first smoke so we have to decide to put down our last.Pick your day to quit ,get whatever support you need  and stick to your plan .Take it slowly , hour by hour at first , then day by day  soon you'll only be able to remember you smoked when people ask you for a light and you don't have one.All that and a big bag of jolly ranchers for the first 3-5 days. Start replacing your smokes with a little workout here and there before you know it BLAMMO health nut..Good lick to all and I hope this helps even just one of you to get through one more smoke free day..

Champix

posted by superjenz on 8:44 am

Hi!
I started taking those champix tablets today?
The ones were you continue smoking for a week or so and then they turn you off it and you stay on them for around 12 weeks!
Does anyone have any feedback on them?
 
Jenz
 xx
 
 

OMG! The Monkey is off my back!

posted by PuckMonkey on 2:27 pm

It 's an old saying we have all heard so many times, but it holds so true.  I'm at 21 days as of today and it feels like a huge load has been lifted off my back.  I think mine wasn't a monkey sitting there tapping my shoulder for a fix, I think I had a big ole gorilla up there. 
Yea, but he's gone now!!!  A.M.F!  ...and good riddance.

This Time, I HAVE TO QUIT for my health

posted by futurenonsmoker on 11:06 am

I am 55 y/o female & smoked for 30+ years.  I have attempted & failed to stay "QUIT" after my 2 pregnancies.  For the 1st time, this attempt is for my health & well-being, not for my children.  Also, this attempt will not be alone, but with a support group.  I know support from others is the  tool I have not added to my programs in the past.   Nicorette gum and a great support group will be my sword & shield for this final attempt. Friday, Sept. 25th, I went from a 2+ pack a day habit to 4 cigs on Saturday, 3 on Sunday.  Friday thru Sunday,  I was out of town with my 25 y/o daughter who is almost quit  completely & was a major supporter for me.  The big test began last night when I arrived back home to smell my nasty smelling vanity/bathroom  area. My husband smokes occassionally in the bathroom area and outside the house.  I have not told him, nor has he said a word about my  lack of not lighting up immediately after my air flight and since I have been home for 16 hours.   I just joined this site and have so many areas of interest to cruise through.  I will be checking back soon after some more chores are completed.  Keeping busy for me & everyone else, I assume, is one of the trade secrets !!! I look forward to being apart of this support group and hope it does help me.  I had a bleeding ulcer  3 weeks ago & was told I had to quit smoking for it to heal.  So, what better time than now?
Oh, my truth statement:  I just smoked a 1/2 a cigarette.  It was the last one I had from the pack I took with me out of town  this past Friday.  Gum, here we go!!!!

Here I go again.

posted by wadealin on 2:51 pm

This is my, I don't know, 12th time trying to quit smoking. I've been smoking since I was 15, so 23 years now. I'm using the patch, and it's actually quite easy to quit after the first couple of days. The problem I've had, over and over again, is that as soon as my body starts to feel better (2-3 months) - I start smoking!! So, hopefully joining this group and talking with other smokers will help remind me how I felt 3 days ago and how badly I wanted to quit!!
 

Who said Quitters Never Win?

posted by PuckMonkey on 10:24 am

Hey fellow quitters!  15 days smoke free here.  Man it feels sooo good!  I'm so tired of being hooked, I just had to break away.  Best of luck to everyone out there trying!  I particularly liked the one posted about your "Friend" the cigarette.  That's pretty much how I was feeling.  It's good to be free..wish me luck!  I feel like I'm going to succeed this time because I really, really want it. 

It's been a week

posted by jphilippi on 7:12 am

I set a goal of Sept. 18 to be smoke free, but for some reason last Sunday, Aug 30th. I got tired of the hassle of buying/!  I've done pretty well but find it hard to drive, something I've had to do a lot of lately.  Had added an extra exercise routine in the mornings, which does help.

Continuing quitting

posted by kbose on 10:26 am

It's been 51 days that I have quit smoking. I know it's not a lot but it's a start. This is the longest that I have gone without a cigarette in my smoking career of 10 years. I started smoking when I was 19, under peer pressure, and was hooked on to it till last month. I must admit that I wasn't a "heavy" smoker. I would smoke about 7 cancer sticks a day and that would be it. But I would really enjoy the after meal smokes. I am going to share what my father told me to keep me motivated on this one. Quitting is a war of the mind over the body. It can be won by anyone. I saved about $40 a month so was able to get a bicycle with that money and am biking to take off the edge. I am absolutely positive that workout helps in quitting smoking. I really wish all the people trying to quit good luck and hope that we are all able to lead healthier lives someday.
 
 

A bit over 4 months for me...

posted by Zarebeth on 6:37 pm

 Four months ago I quit smoking for good. I have been smoking for around 35 years (EEEK, that's scary!). I know not everyone can take Chantix, but that is what I used. They say to set a quit date and start taking it a week ahead. Well, I needed something a bit more extreme. I started the Chantix, but didn't set a date. After about a week, they started tasting REALLY nasty. After about 3 weeks I am pretty sure the physical addiction was gone, and I was just fighting the habit, and it was getting easier. I had a quick weekend trip coming up and a tough two day project after that, so I set my quit date for two weeks out. By the end of that two weeks I was so sick of smoking that I was relieved to wake up on my first day smoke-free.
Another thing I was fighting... the first time I quit successfully for any length of time I put on 70 pounds. First time in my life I ever had a weight problem. And of course I started again. The next 20 years were a rollercoaster of weight loss, quit smoking, weight gain, start smoking. Over and over. Except this last time... I never lost the weight from my last attempt, so I decided to quit while I was at my heaviest ever. It worked! I only gained 7 pounds, and I am thrilled to report that after 4 weeks of diet and exercise, that 7 pounds is gone... and I am really motivated to lose the rest.
I am really happy to be free of the Nicodemon!

Congrats to all of you beginning this dare!!!

posted by crazydriver on 5:49 pm

I've haven't smoked in 14 years.  I feel great and have got to say that it's one of the smartest things I've ever done for myself in my life. 
Just wanted to offer support to anyone who is just beginning and may need it.  The first several months were very tough but you all can do it.  Keep it up and good luck to you all.
 

Two Years

posted by thorgrant on 6:26 pm

Not smoking!!! I feel so great :0) Trust me peeps, if I can do it anyone can!!

Sorry if this is a repeat!

posted by Sandravonne on 6:22 pm

I'm free!! But now I'm having some pretty crazy candy cravings. I'm not someone who eats candy usually so it seems extra strange to me. Anyone else having a lot of candy/sweets cravings? Found anything besides candy that hits the spot?
Thanks!
S.

Quitting smoking harder for women: Study

posted by laura4592 on 4:46 am

Women appear to have a tougher time quitting smoking than men, according to researchers at Women’s Health Research at Yale.  While the percentage of men who have given up cigarettes in US between 1965 and 2006 was 54.5 percent, the rate of decline among women was less steep, at 47.5 percent.  Consequently, the gap in the percentages of male and female smokers has narrowed. In 1965, slightly more than half of all men smoked, while about a third of women did. Today, 23.3 percent of men smoke, compared with 18.6 percent of women.  We talked to Carolyn Mazure, a professor of psychiatry and director of the research program, about why women are not kicking the habit at the same rate as men.

So what does the research show?
Well, the first thing I want to say is that smoking remains a serious public health issue. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and illness in the US. Those deaths and morbid occurrences are from cancers, respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease.

And why is it harder for women to quit smoking?
It appears as though when men quit smoking, the most prominent symptoms of withdrawal are biological symptoms of craving.  However, we find women are more likely to use cigarettes to manage moods, to deal with stress and to control weight. In other words, women are smoking for different reasons, and if you’re not helping with those particular reasons for smoking in your cessation treatment, you wouldn’t necessarily expect your treatment to work. A good example is the nicotine patch, which often is considered the first line of treatment for smoking. The research data on the nicotine patch suggest that women do less well quitting smoking when using the patch than men do, probably because it targets symptoms of craving rather than the symptoms that are more prominent for women.  So this begins to make an argument for gender-specific approaches to smoking cessation. ... With the medication Zyban (the generic is bupropion), it appears that women do as well in quitting when using this treatment as men do. ... Zyban can help with mood symptoms. It was originally developed as an antidepressant drug, Wellbutrin. That’s an important part of the story in that we do think there is a relationship between depressed mood and smoking.

Are women moodier than men or less good at managing stress?
I wouldn’t say that at all, but we clearly know that the rates of depression are higher in women than in men, not only in this country but in the world.  We find stress a pathway to depression in both men and women, although stress appears to be a more potent predictor of depression in women than men. Knowing that, we can understand how women would be attempting to use a variety of strategies to handle stress, including smoking. Nicotine can help someone reduce anxiety and modulate mood. It does have transient positive effects. But those positive effects are not worth the long-term health risk by any measure.

Cigarette smoking does affect weight, right?
Yes, it can. When people quit smoking, it’s not uncommon to gain a few pounds. Often this is a deterrent, particularly among women. You have to deal with the fact that you may gain some weight and prepare for that and really factor that into whatever cessation program you undertake. ... The main concept is to include some form of exercise and support. And the exercise should be something that is manageable and really fits into your day.

Does the menstrual cycle have any effect on attempts to quit smoking?
We tell women to think about the time within their menstrual cycle that is most difficult personally and advise them not to quit during that time because you are likely to have a harder time resisting cigarettes during that time. In addition, before you quit, prepare for that time in your cycle. What are you going to do when you feel badly? Call a (quit smoking hot line), take a walk, you have to have a plan.

Do you think there should be special cessation programmes for women?
I think in general we need to integrate the care for women into the mainstream of health care, but importantly, we have to be gender-sensitive in terms of what works for women and what works for men.

When you quit . . . within

posted by laura4592 on 6:57 am

20 minutes


Your blood pressure, pulse rate, and the temperature of your hands and feet will all return to normal.




8 hours


Remaining nicotine in your bloodstream will have fallen to 6.25% of normal peak daily levels, a 93.25% reduction.




12 hours


Your blood oxygen level will have increased to normal and carbon monoxide levels will have dropped to normal.




24 hours


Anxieties peak and within two weeks should return to near pre-cessation levels.




48 hours


Damaged nerve endings have started to regrow and your sense of smell and taste are beginning to return to normal. Cessation anger and irritability peaks.




72 hours


Your entire body will test 100% nicotine-free and over 90% of all nicotine metabolites (the chemicals it breaks down into) will now have passed from your body via your urine.  Symptoms of chemical withdrawal have peaked in intensity, including restlessness. The number of cue induced crave episodes will peak for the "average" ex-user. Lung bronchial tubes leading to air sacs (alveoli) are beginning to relax in recovering smokers. Breathing is becoming easier and the lungs functional abilities are starting to increase.




5 - 8 days


The "average" ex-smoker will encounter an "average" of three cue induced crave episodes per day. Although we may not be "average" and although serious cessation time distortion can make minutes feel like hours, it is unlikely that any single episode will last longer than 3 minutes. Keep a clock handy and time them.




10 days


10 days - The "average ex-user is down to encountering less than two crave episodes per day, each less than 3 minutes.




10 days to 2 weeks


Recovery has likely progressed to the point where your addiction is no longer doing the talking. Blood circulation in our gums and teeth are now similar to that of a non-user.




2 to 4 weeks


Cessation related anger, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, impatience, insomnia, restlessness and depression have ended. If still experiencing any of these symptoms get seen and evaluated by your physician.




21 days


Brain acetylcholine receptor counts up-regulated in response to nicotine's presence have now down-regulated and receptor binding has returned to levels seen in the brains of non-smokers.




2 weeks to 3 months


Your heart attack risk has started to drop. Your lung function is beginning to improve.




3 weeks to 3 months


Your circulation has substantially improved. Walking has become easier. Your chronic cough, if any, has likely disappeared.




1 to 9 months


Any smoking related sinus congestion, fatigue or shortness of breath have decreased. Cilia have regrown in your lungs thereby increasing their ability to handle mucus, keep your lungs clean, and reduce infections. Your body's overall energy has increased.




1 year


Your excess risk of coronary heart disease has dropped to less than half that of a smoker.




5 to 15 years


Your risk of stroke has declined to that of a non-smoker.




10 years


Your risk of death from lung cancer has declined by almost half if you were an average smoker (one pack per day).  Your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus has now decreased.




15 years


Your risk of coronary heart disease is now that of a person who has never smoked.

Humor

posted by laura4592 on 8:39 am

Free Nicorette Starter Pack

posted by laura4592 on 4:56 pm

http://instore snow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid74096.aspx

Feel Great!

posted by jettgirl on 6:30 am

Don't Go Up in Smoke!
If you don't smoke, give yourself a big pat on the back! Cigarette smoking is the most preventable cause of premature death in the United States today, so whether you've never smoked or you've quit successfully, keeping tobacco out of your life is a huge boost to your health.
If you do smoke, stopping today is absolutely the most important thing you can do for your health. You can improve your diet, get more exercise, and take plenty of the other steps recommended in my program, but none of these healthy habits will be able to undo the damage that continued smoking will do to your body.
But other steps you take toward improving your overall health may become even more effective after you've stopped smoking. For example, the American Institute for Cancer Research reports that within a few weeks of adding more fruits and vegetables to their diets, people who have stopped smoking have increased blood levels of antioxidants and decreased oxidative damage. In other words, fruits and vegetables can do a lot more good in your body if they don't have to compete against the toxins from smoking. It makes sense!
On another note, boosting your fruit and vegetable intake right away may actually help you quit smoking! An interesting study from Duke University found that fruits, vegetables, dairy foods, and noncaffeinated drinks like water and juice made cigarettes taste worse to smokers, while caffeine, alcohol, and meat tended to make them taste better. So eating plenty of fruits and veggies and drinking lots of water may help you in your efforts to quit.
 

Try the great free meetings!

posted by laura4592 on 9:40 am

If joining a small group of other quitters appeals to you, then try a Nicotine Anonymous meeting. It\'s likely there\'s one near you where you live. It\'s a 12-step program based on AA; they\'re nonprofit and meetings are free. You can find a local meeting near you, and if there isn\'t one, you can learn how to start one at the Nicotine Anonymous website. (A for-profit company trademarked "Smokers\' Anonymous". Instead, you want the FREE program -- Nicotine Anonymous).
Their site notes, "Nicotine Anonymous® is a fellowship of men and women helping each other to live our lives free of nicotine. We share our experience, strength and hope with each other so that we may be free from this powerful addiction. There are no fees. Our primary purpose is to offer support to those who are trying to gain freedom from nicotine."

Hello

posted by thorgrant on 10:01 pm

Cigarettes Suck....
 
 
 Just saying :)

My Cigarette, My Friend

posted by laura4592 on 4:44 pm

"How Smoking Affects Your Body"

posted by laura4592 on 1:33 pm

Each cigarette you smoke shortens your life by 14 minutes...do the math. That's over 4 hours per pack!
You can eat salad and broccoli till your face turns green, exercise more than Madonna, watch your carbs and your calories, but if you don't stop smoking you're destroying your insides!
 


 




When the smoke gets in your eyes...
Did you know that smoking is the leading cause of blindness???
Smoking is one of the most common causes of visual impairment and blindness in wealthy countries.
The blood vessels in the retina are sensitive, and can be easily damaged by smoke.


 




Substances in cigarettes cause a kind of chemical inflammation in the ocular conjunctiva, giving rise to a bloodshot appearance in the mucous membrane of the eye, as well as an itchy sensation.
Smoking can cost you your eyesight.
Macular degeneration is the deterioration of the retina of the eye, resulting in the gradual loss of eyesight. Today, macular degeneration is the most common form serious visual impairment and blindness in the wealthy countries of the world.
The condition affects heavy smokers twice as much as non-smokers. Unfortunately, the risk of macular degeneration is only slightly reduced after giving up smoking.
Increased risk of cataracts
In addition to macular degeneration, smokers also run an increased risk of cataracts. According to a major American study, smokers are 60 per cent more likely to suffer from age-related cataracts. This applies particularly to the form of cataract that appears on the inner surface of the lens of the eye. Cataracts of this type (posterior subcapsular cataracts) affect smokers 2.6 times more than non-smokers.

The facts

posted by jettgirl on 10:02 am

The first thing you need to do is to establish beyond any reasonable doubt that you are, in fact, a nicotine addict.

#1 or #2

posted by jettgirl on 8:52 am

1  YOU AS A SMOKER
 
Permanently stale breath, morning phlegm cough, nicotine stained teeth, shorter life expectancy, stained fingers, constant financial drain, various health problems, poor role model for your kids, dirty ashtrays,  bland tasting food, smelly clothes and more and more frequently in today’s health conscious climate, a lack of social acceptance.
 
2  YOU AS A NON SMOKER
 
Fresher breath, cleaner lungs, whiter teeth, likely to live longer, no stains on your fingers, more money, better all round health, good role model for your kids, tastier food, fresher home, fresher clothes and a greater level of social acceptability.
 

Health Consequences of Tobacco Use

posted by laura4592 on 4:50 am

Check out this video:
http://www.cdc.g ov/tobacco/basic_information/health_effects/flash/

Cold Turkey Tea

posted by laura4592 on 6:38 am

Free Sample This Week:
 
http://www.coldturkeytea.com/FreeSampl e.aspx

Chantix

posted by jettgirl on 11:18 am

OK, like before (my bad) I didnt take this DARN pill Chantix like I was suppose toooo.
BECAUSE IT GIVES ME HEADACHES, really bad!
Does anyone else get them?
 
Anyway Day 6!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get Expert Help

posted by laura4592 on 5:15 pm

By Telephone
Call from anywhere: 1-877-44U-QUIT

Smoking cessation counselors from the National Cancer Institute are available to answer smoking-related questions in English or Spanish, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time.

Help within your state: 1-800-QUITNOW

Provides an interactive map with toll-free telephone numbers that offer counseling and information about quitting smoking.

Help from National Organizations
National Network of Tobacco Cessation Quitlines
1-800-QUITNOW (1-800-784-8669) / TTY 1-800-332-8615
American Cancer Society (ACS)
1-800-ACS-2345

American Lung Association
1-800-LUNG-USA

I found this way back in the archives... Thought maybe it would help.

posted by thorgrant on 6:18 am

In life, it’s exciting to look ahead. But when you’ve accomplished something important, it’s also great to look back. So take a moment to do it now. And if everything you’re about to read makes you feel good, pat yourself on the back and enjoy!

You’ve come a long way on your quit journey. Now is a good time to think about all you’ve done.

First of all, you may have improved your health and you might even live longer.

Your lifestyle may have also improved.

No more:
Sneaking around, looking for a place to smoke
Throwing away money on cigarettes
Smelling of smoke
Exposing your family and friends to smoke
Making apologies for smoking
Take some time today to think about all the ways your life has changed since you quit.

Day 3

posted by jettgirl on 6:18 am

Well, it is day 3 and I have kileed anyone as of yet! I notice that my fuse is a little shorter. This to will pass. I am taking my chantix morning and evening.
My husband asked me last night if I have been on my stop smoking group online. LMAO
I must of started to get crabby? Anyway I feel this time will be diffrent last time. I stoped for 6 months last time. But I was around my Mother that smoked A LOT!
The cravings are not that bad just dont know what to do with myself at times!???

hello everyone....

posted by LSkelly33 on 1:37 pm

Day 1 here....using the lozenges. not sure that i care for them but Ive been told to give it 3 days and you get used to the horrible taste....
Anyhow, here am I am, committed to not taking another drag. yikes.

Quitting smoking: 10 ways to ride out tobacco cravings

posted by laura4592 on 10:40 am

Cravings can wear you down when you're trying to quit smoking or chewing tobacco. These 10 methods can help you remain in control and stay quit.
 
For most tobacco users, cravings or urges to smoke can be powerful. But you're not at the mercy of these cravings. When an urge to use tobacco strikes, remember that although it may be intense, it will be short, and it probably will pass within a few minutes whether you smoke a cigarette or not. Each time you resist a craving, you're one step closer to stopping smoking or other tobacco use for good.
In the meantime, here are 10 ways to help you ride out the urge to smoke or use tobacco.

Delay. If you feel like you're going to give in to your craving, tell yourself that you must wait 10 more minutes and then do something to distract yourself. This simple trick may be enough to derail your tobacco craving. Repeat as often as needed.
Don't have 'just one.' You may be tempted to have just one cigarette to stop a craving. But don't fool yourself into believing that you can stop at just one. More often than not, having just one leads to another, then another — and you may wind up back in the habit.
Avoid triggers. Urges for tobacco are likely to be strongest in the situations where you smoked or chewed tobacco most often. Identify your trigger spots — or people — and have a plan in place so that you can avoid them entirely or get through them without using tobacco. Don't set yourself up for a relapse. If you usually smoked while you talked on the phone, for instance, keep a pen and paper nearby instead for doodling rather than smoking.
Get physical. Physical activity can help distract you from tobacco cravings and reduce the intensity of cravings. Just 30 minutes of moderate physical activity can make a craving go away. Get out for a walk or jog. If you're stuck at home or the office, try squats, deep knee bends, push-ups, running in place, or walking up and down a set of stairs a few times. If physical activity doesn't interest you, try prayer, needlework, woodwork or journaling. Or do chores for distraction, such as vacuuming or filing paperwork.
Practice relaxation techniques. Coping with a craving to smoke or use tobacco can be very stressful. In the past, smoking may have been your way to deal with stress. Take the edge off your stress by practicing relaxation techniques. These include deep-breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, yoga, visualization, hypnosis and massage.
Call reinforcements. Touch base with a family member, friend or support group member for moral support. Chat on the phone, go for a walk together or simply share a few laughs — or get together to commiserate about your cravings.
Remember the benefits of quitting. Write down or say out loud the reasons you want to stop smoking and resist cravings. These might include feeling better, getting healthier, sparing your loved ones from secondhand smoke or saving money. And if you're a closet smoker, you may save hours of time since you no longer have to spend time trying to creatively conceal your habit.
Go online. Join an online stop-smoking program. Or read a quitter's blog and post encouraging thoughts for someone else who might be struggling with cravings. Learn from how others have handled their tobacco cravings.
Try replacements. Try a stop-smoking product instead of a cigarette. Some types of nicotine replacement therapy, including patches, gums and lozenges, are available over-the-counter. Nicotine nasal spray and the nicotine inhaler are available by prescription, as are the stop-smoking medications bupropion (Zyban) and varenicline (Chantix).
Chew on it. Give your mouth something to do. Chew on sugarless gum or hard candy. Or munch on raw carrots, celery, nuts or sunflower seeds — something crunchy and satisfying.

 

Good Morning

posted by jettgirl on 6:21 am

How was your weekend Jeremy?
 Sunday will be here before I know it!!!! A little freaked out about it. I hope and pray I can do it. My big opstical is my DH! 

Hows every one?

posted by jettgirl on 8:28 am

June 14th is jst a few days away!!
How you doing Jeremy?

Are You Ready to Quit Smoking?

posted by laura4592 on 11:43 am

Very interesting, IMO

Agree!

posted by jeremypjones on 8:38 am

I am trying to quit for the third time in two weeks and have currently gone 1 1/2 days.  It is hard but seems to get easier each time and I feel like this could be my last attempt :)

WHAT ABOUT SMOKERS WHO QUIT TIME AND TIME AGAIN?

posted by laura4592 on 4:52 am

Most smokers need to "practice" quitting several times before they make it for good. The best advice is to keep trying! Practice helps smokers plan what to do the next time they get an urge to smoke.
Quitting smoking may seem almost impossible, but it can be done. Don't give up!
More than 45.7 million Americans have quit. Many of them tried several times before they were able to quit. They made it and quit for good. Other smokers can, too.

Computer Is an Ally in Quit-Smoking Fight

posted by laura4592 on 1:06 am

Study Shows Web- and Computer-Based Programs Help Smokers Quit