Too Hard

Well, I have been trying to quit for a long time now. I have smoked on and off for about 4 years which means I have been smoking since I was fourteen. I think I am getting better. I have cut down on the cigarettes big time but everytime I see someone smoke it drives me insane and then I go smoke. I wish there was a cure for that. But I am going to hang in there and keep trying to quit. To everyone, smoking is bad for you. It killed my grandfather. He was a smoker all his life. He was a salesman for Newports and they told him to smoke. So he did. He struggled with cancer for 10 years and then finally died. Its very hard to watch someone to die with cancer. So I suggest, that we all hang in there and try to quit.

smoking

smoking is for loosers!

Extremely difficult

I have been smoking for 15 years - Marlboro 100's at that. I just found out I was pregnant recently and know that it is definately the time to quit this nasty habit. Since I found out, I have craved cigarettes even more. I am down to 10 a day - Marlboro Light 100's and over the next week, I plan to be a non-smoker for life. Wish me luck, I know I am going to need it.

i quit

Actually I had my last one on Sunday, but its Tuesday. I am trying to focus on keeping busy.. because I more or less smoke out of boredom. Keep your fingers crossed....I am seriously determined this time.

still smokin...

You know...I have quit for a period of 3 years in the past 10 years, a period of 5 months, and a period of 21 days. I am sure I will quit for good, but when is the question?If it wasn't for enjoying it sooo much after a exhausting round of fun, or a delicious satisfying meal, it would be easier. But refraining from activities, or changing the way you do something isn't easy.
Any ideas?

Social smoker

I am posting this message anonymously for no good reason other than the fact that if I sign my real name, I am essentially admitting that I am doing something that isn't good for me (which is true). I am thirty years old and have been a social smoker since age 15. This means that I "only smoke when I drink" which ranges anywhere from once every few months to once a week, or whenever I visit someone who smokes regularly. I guess you could say that I am easily influenced by my surroundings, but have been lucky enough not to develop a habbit that affects my day to day living (at least not in my actions). I reallize that what I am doing is playing with fire (literally). I know that each time I pick up a cigarette to catch that little buzz or for that calming feeling of enjoying a smoke with a friend, I am diminishing my quality of life and harming my body (what a selfish thing to do....). I have always tried to lead a healthy lifestyle. But, the smoking is a force that has been pushing my efforts in the wrong direction for a long time now. Good luck to everyone, including myself, in fighting this self-destructive battle.

Weekend Warrior

So I took Zyban and kicked the habit. Then broke up with my boyfriend and picked it back up, but only on the weekends. I now have a personal trainer and I am really starting to get in shape, but when the weekends come I am a virtual chimney. And I have a weak heart to boot. So why do I still smoke, even if just on the weekends? An association habit. Let me explain: There is a little disclaimer on the side of all alcoholic beverages that I recently discovered. It says: "If you consume this beverage you must simultaneously smoke an entire pack of cigarettes." I know everyone can relate. But at what point do we take control of our health and our future and just say f**k this? Somebody please tell me.

the hardest part...

...is changing from identifying yourself as "a smoker" to identifying yourself as "a non smoker". This is a VERY LONG PROCESS. I've been quit for about 6 years now, and the first time I quit lasted for about three years. My mistake was thinking that after a while I was not addicted and could go ahead and smoke "just one drag". I think quitting is a lot easier than staying quit. I think it is important to know that you LOVE smoking, that smoking feels great, that the social event around smoking is fun, and once you quit you are going to WANT to keep smoking. I STILL get cravings for a cigarrette. They pass faster now though. It's taken a long time to get to the point where the HABIT of smoking no longer controls my behavior. As for quitting... Drink LOTS of water (from a pull nozzel top bottle, to satisfy the hand to mouth thing). Accept that you are going to get bitchy and put on a couple pounds. No matter how tired, angry, sad, full, afterglowing, driving, insecure, social you feel, don't let yourself have the excuse. Distract yourself for FIVE minutes, and let the craving pass. Hang out with non-smokers. And NEVERNEVERNEVERNEVERNEVER kid yourself into thinking that you can have just one drag, or just one cigarrette. Eventually you won't want one so bad.blah blah blah. good luck. Below is a pretty cool website.

Closet smoker

I can't stand the smell of a smokey room, the smell of cigarette smoke on my clothes or kissing a woman that just smoked a cigarrette. However, at night when I'm home reading, watching TV or working on the computer, I cant't help but sit out on my porch and smoke cigarrettes. What the hell! I've learned to compartmentalize my smoking into an area that is 4 feet by 4 feet from about 7 pm to midnight. And now that I just turned thirty (30), the big three zero, I came to the conclusion that I have been smoking for over ten years which means I've smoked over 36,500 cigarettes. Holy shit.

READ THE RJ REYNOLDS STORY, ITS UNBELIEVABLE

2 weeks noa smoka, 3 days off the patch, i only want to rip my hair out 2 or 3 times an hour due to nicotine withdrawl, not bad...
actually, the withdrawl symptoms are fading quickly. confidence is high.
You must read the RJ REYNOLDS story, they gave a report to the Czech gvt. telling them that it was saving them money when smokers died prematurly. can you believe it?
READ THE RJ REYNOLDS STORY, ITS UNBELIEVABLE

My chest hurts when I exercise

I have few regrets in this life. Every wrong decision I've made (since it didn't kill me) has made me stronger. Cigarettes are the exception. They may very well kill me. I started in 1959 at age 14. Now it's been 42 years of pretty much non-stop smoking. My chest hurts when I exercise...even a lazy lap across a swimming pool causes me discomfort. Wrinkles that from around my mouth when I suck on a cigarette no longer disappear.I have permeated my body with so much nicotine and whatever else the tobacco companies have laced in the cigaretts that I think my internal organs must all be black with tar. I have driven through snow storms and spent my last dollar for a pack of smokes. I am a bad example for my 3 daughters and my 4 grandchildren. The control I have given this habit over my life is appalling. I would do almost anything to go back and not pick up that first cigarette. But, I won't quit. I say I will. I set quit dates. I buy nicorette,hard candies, patches and tranquilizers. My last date was this past June. The 15th. I lasted 5 hours. I think that if I have to die to learn a lesson this time, I hope it's from a quick anuerism and not years of emphysema. I'm not stupid. I'm an addict.

NO MATTER WHAT, I won't go back.

Day 5 and all is well (note the sarcasm). Everything may not quite be sunshine, but it's getting better. I can actually form complete sentences now, and I anticipate I'll be able to have a conversation sometime in the next week that doesn't focus on what stage my nicotine withdrawls are in. I'm like the person going through a bad breakup who can't talk about anything else that everyone wants to avoid. A typical conversation with me goes something like this - "Anthrax, wow, that's too bad. Almost as bad as my headaches. Did I mention how I have the shakes yet? Three times? Oh yeah, I can't seem to concentrate either, did I tell you about my headaches?"I know I'm not going to fail. The worse the symptoms get, the stronger I get. It helped me to make up my mind that NO MATTER WHAT, I won't go back. No excuses, nothing about work stress, relationships, nothing is an excuse. When it got bad, rather than questioning whether I could do it or not, I asked myself how much worse would it have to be before I felt I couldn't go on. Twice as bad, Three times, five times? Haven't I been through more pain in other ways and gotten through? Would I give up if I were facing an outside foe instead of myself? No way! Maybe if it were ten times as strong, then it would be a contest. I check my resolve, feel my strength and I can't even begin to see the end of it. It's good to feel strong again, good to be proud of myself. Good luck to everyone fighting alongside me, post a message and let me know you're doing just as well.

this is the third time i have quite in ten years.

I seems that the older you get the harder it gets. On top of it i have mild anxiety. Im on my third day and I am feeling strong. Im in good shape and started working out three weeks ago. But this is hard as hell. The first night i quite i woke up at five in the morning sweating and queazy. I could not sleep. Its getting better. I too have traveled through wind, sleet, and snow to buy a pack of smokes. I have spent my last dollar and even barrowed money. I have excused myself to get a fix. this is insane......good luck to all and god bless you and this great country

it always starts with that harmless drag you take

Here I am smoking a cigarette as I am typing this message, how depressing. I have been smoking again for 2 weeks. This past time that I "quit" lasted for 1 year. The prior time lasted for 5 years. That time was when I thought I had really won the battle with smoking. I never thought that after 5 years of not smoking that I would ever go back. Surprise, surprise...it always starts with that harmless drag you take and even has you start to cough, choke, become lightheaded and tell yourself how gross that drag is-you inevitibly spiral down and realize that you are once again "back for another round".

once you quit smoking you put on like 20 lbs

hi there-I just stumbled across this sight a few minutes ago but I've been wanting to quit smoking for quite a few months now. The thing is,(this is going to sound really shallow) I heard once you quit smoking you put on like 20 lbs and I don't want that. I don't want lung cancer either though. I'm 21 years old and I feel like the time is NOW for me to quit (I started when I was 18.) But honestly,I would just like to hear from people who have quit if they did gain wieght or not. ThanksJessie

I'm a recovering alcoholic who quit smoking six years ago.

Ten months ago, I picked up again (anger) and now I can't quit. I managed to put down cigarettes for a week (substituing Nicoret gum) but that lasted only a week. I couldn't deal with the constant rage that I felt. I didn't crave a cigarette, but just couldn't tolerate the constant feelings of extreme anger. Any suggestions?

President and CEO, American Lung Association

10-30-07

Bernadette Toomey

Big Tobacco thinks it has won. Once again, Congress failed to attain a veto-proof majority for the expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Now, the bill faces an expected veto, condemning millions of low-income children—many suffering from asthma and lung disease—to continue to live without health insurance, without access to specialists, without the medications they desperately need.
Why does Big Tobacco oppose SCHIP? Because they don't want a 61 cents-per-pack tax increase. Because Big Tobacco doesn't want to discourage smoking. And it's our children who will pay the price. Ridiculous.


It is us versus Big Tobacco – and it is about time that we win. But we need your support to continue the fight. Please donate to the American Lung Association:


https://www.kintera.org/AutoGen/Simple/Donor.asp?ievent=254430&msource=schip07c&en=lwIRL7NWKmKVK8NVJcLQKdO5IoKYIgPYIjIUKhMaIAK
Increasing the federal cigarette tax is a win-win for children's health; in addition to providing much-needed medical care for our nation's low-income, uninsured youth — including those living with lung diseases such as asthma — this substantial increase of $.61 will have the added benefit of reducing youth smoking.

This isn't about Democrats or Republicans – this is about the health of our children. It's about access to critical medical care, about reducing youth smoking, about breathing easier. Eight in ten Americans—majorities of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents—support the expansion.1 Yet, Washington is at a crossroads, unable to force the change our children need.

The American Lung Association will continue to fight for this change. But we need your support. Please donate $25 dollars today:

https://www.kintera.org/AutoGen/Simple/Donor.asp?ievent=254430&msource=schip07c&en=lwIRL7NWKmKVK8NVJcLQKdO5IoKYIgPYIjIUKhMaIAK
Enough is enough. We demand that our children have the health care they desperately need and we ask that you join us in this important fight.

Thank you for your help,

Bernadette Toomey
President and CEO, American Lung Association


The mission of the American Lung Association is to prevent lung disease and promote lung health.

The Smoking Gun

Here's a funny story. A woman smoked cigarettes with real enthusiasm most of her teen and adult years. Amazingly, she was in pretty good shape. Most of this time, she avoided deliberate exercise, healthy food choices, and was not opposed to a drink or two...or three. She was thin and healthy. Most of the year, she sported a nice Florida tan.
Then, after 40 years of smoking, she noticed it was easier to float in the Gulf of Mexico than to swim. When she took her grandson bowling, she only wanted to bowl one frame. Her skin had acquired an interesting texture, not unlike an alligator who had spent too much time on the river bank. The lines around her mouth deepened so much that, unknown to her, liquid could seep out her mouth and decorate her chin. She had continuous head-aches which she chalked up to her sensitive nature until her older sister died of a brain aneurism. Her sister also smoked like a chimney.
But, she reasoned, she was still in good health...just a little short of breath. She salved her conscious by smoking a lite brand of cigarettes and using sun lotion once in awhile. She had these bothersome cramps in her legs sometimes and she'd put on a few pounds. Weird little things started to appear on her skin. Her doctor referred to them as "old age barnacles". Her doctor nagged constantly about using sun protection, quitting smoking and regularly sent her for chest X-rays. They check-ups showed nothing. She thought she was feeling great for a woman of 58 years.
Then something happened. The Lord told her to quit. She never thought of quitting for health reasons. The expense of her 2 pack-a-day habit didn't stop her either. No amount of nagging from family, friends, or health experts ever made an impression on her. But God did. On July 2, 2003 she smoked her last cigarette. She spent the day flying to an Indian Reservation with some other church members. The first week of withdraw was spent with her friends on a mission trip to Arizona. Although she used nicotine patches and chewed nicotine gum, it wasn't as difficult as she had imagined it would be.
Back home in Florida, her conviction grew stronger and, while she craved cigarettes most of the time, she did not smoke. A year later, while at a flea market, her right leg suddenly quite working. Extensive, emergency surgery was performed on her legs two separate times that year. A total of 24 hours in the operation room. It took a year to even partially recover from both procedures. In the meantime, she was diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Diabetes, Type II. She had medical insurance, but the uncovered costs were enormous. She recovered enough from the first surgery and tried to go back to work. It lasted 5 months before she was back in for the second operation. She could not recover enough this time to go back to work. Medical bills and credit card bills mounted as she tried to regain her lost strength. She ended up losing her sparse retirement funds, her home and her sense of independence. She depends heavily on her children’s good will to help with finances...being the burden to them that she’d promised herself she never would be. No longer strong enough to work, she’s waited months for disability approval. Pretty soon she will not be able to afford the apartment she is now renting. She wonders if the Lord is trying to get her down to one suitcase to learn dependence on Him.
She doesn’t waste time being angry with herself over past mistakes. She asks for forgiveness and just tries to do better. She wants everyone who smokes to know that the smoking gun is the cigarettes. They are death to everything you love and care about...from your family, to your health, to your work. It’s as if I (I mean, she) held the habit of smoking up to her head like a revolver when she was 14 years old and laughingly pulled the trigger. It just took 58 years for the bullet it hit it’s target. Not that funny, I guess.

CIGARETTES AND OUR ENVIRONMENT

By Rebecca Hosking

The smoke from the end of a cigarette dissipates very quickly within the natural air so there fore has more damaging results on local environments. Just like the smell that lingers in your hair and fingers and even the fabrics in your home those smells are attached to chemicals that linger in our lungs. Not only the lungs of the smoker but everyone within the vicinity. Each day 6,000 people will take their first puff from a cigarette and at least half of them will become regular smokers. That is a lot of pollutants in the air we breathe. Secondhand smoke is an environmental menace. It fills the air with many of the same poisons found in the air around toxic waste dumps. This smoke kills about 3,000 nonsmokers each year from lung cancer. Not a very nice thing to carry on your conscience is it? Along with those pollutes most smokers feel they have the right to toss their butts out their car window while they drive down the road. Snuff a lit end out in the sand while they sun on the beach. Or even worse toss their cancer stick into an innocent lake or river while boating and enjoying the fresh air. Nearly 12.5 million acres of forest are destroyed each year to provide trees to cure tobacco. That's about a tree every two weeks for the average smoker. Each year smoking kills more people than AIDS, alcohol, drug abuse, car crashes, murders, suicides, and fires -- combined! Well hopefully I have planted enough trees to make up for the ones I've killed due to this nasty habit?

We live in a volatile environment at best and think of the numerous gases we expel with every exhalation of a single puff of smoke. An environmentalist who chooses to light a cigarette is an oxy moron. Now you know the consequences of your decision to smoke cigarettes, but didn't we already know this anyway?

It is shocking how in our society so many people live with the, "it can't happen to me", sort of attitude. Well it can and it will. By choosing to smoke a cigarette you are not only hurting yourself but the people around you. More and more everyday we are learning just how unsafe it is to light up. There is nothing cool about a cigarette except for one that is being extinguished. People look at it as a social interaction, well good conversation over some fireflies out doors is social interaction as well and far less deadly as lighting a cigarette. Let's be kind to Mother Nature she provides a lot for us. If not for Mother then do it for yourself.

Read More at:http://www.ucanbreathe.com/

MAKING A DIFFERENCE ONE VOICE AT A TIME:

I was talking to a group of friends where we were discussing issues that had been going on in our political lives for decades with no resolution in sight. This prompted one person in saying why waste your time, I've lost interest, and besides what can I do, I have no power to accomplish anything….I was floored and immediately thought, WOW, I'm glad not everyone shares that defeatist attitude. Although in today's society the dangers of smoking seems like small potatoes in the scheme of things, but lest we look back to the day when nearly 50% of our population smoked and put an increasing burden on tax payers through the funding of healthcare due to the fact that no one was privy to the harms that cigarettes were causing to their bodies. It took one voice to start spreading and educating in order to make a change. As a country we are linked as one through an elected government that dictates ways of reform to give this country's citizens a better way of life. These elected officials are put into place through a democratic election of which the powers that be are put into power by the people. Yes that is you, including that person who said what can I do? But I digress.

Taking a subject like smoking cigarettes and applying it to a life decision that an individual makes I feel is a perfect example of how everyday, little decisions that we make, affect the masses and should be taken very seriously. We live in a free society that is built upon multiple decisions our law makers put into place for the betterment of daily living. The idea is to make sure it is the best policy for all parties involved. So let's go back in history let's say one year before the surgeon general took the initiative to educate the public of the health hazards puffing on a cigarette was causing. Just little under 50% of our population was putting themselves and others in harms way by not educating themselves to what smoke does to their own lungs not to mention the effects of second hand smoke to others just by being around it. Doesn't it seem absurd the loss of lives endured due to ignorance? You would not let your kid go on a field trip with out thorough investigation as to the safety precautions and background checks of chaperones so why would you put your trust in a company trying to make a profit, with something as important as your health.

I think as an individual it is our job, to be that voice, our responsibility to do the homework and always know what is going in your own body and what the consequences of that action will be. You do have a voice, and through protecting yourself you are opening the door to reaching lives outside your own, and it all started with you. My point is to let us take one small triumph at a time and the triumph I wanted to emphasize is the decrease of adult smokers over a span of 40 years. Why should it stop there? The next time you light a cigarette, I would ask yourself, are you inhaling with a full understanding and appreciation as to what is entering your body, and if the answer is no, then distinguish that cigarette until you can make a more well informed decision.