Thread: No Smoking ( realy, its true ).....

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Don't know if it's aproppriate or if it fits the
Hot Rod Lounge
Forum.
So, last week I had to have my insides looked at & photo'd.

See, I never took care of my acid reflux til a few years ago. I had no idea the damage that would ensue, simply tbought " it will go away "....
So the Doc took my galbladder some time ago. Thats how I found out my throat was being devastated by acid reflux for umpteen years. See, Doc had to do an EGD to look into my stomach. He told me my throat condition is called
" Baretts Esophogus "
I was supposed to quit smoking but didn't. It never bothered me. Fast Fwd to today...
Throat will never totaly heal due to the reflux. I take a prescript strength acid reducer & will for the rest of my life. So its been 10 days since I had a whole cig. A few times I have lit up, only to find I'm puting it out before 3rd hit off it.
I find myself craving realllly bad right now for the first time in 10 days.
I have eaten more but thru the day, not all at once.
Here is my question if anyone has quite and not looked back----
How did you entertain your brain to get your mind changed, if even only for a while?
I have not even had the urge until a minute ago & I'm doing my best to keep occupied. If it wasnt so cold & damp I would wash & wax the Camaro.
Awww geeez!,! I'm sorry--- I've used so much space & time!!
I will delete if anyone is offended by the jabber & length!!
As Always, Thank You For Your Time & Patience
......Rob......

OK, I consider myself an ?expert? on quitting the cigs so here goes.

In 1990 I quit a 4 pack a day habit and I did it "Cold Turkey". Was it hard you bet YSA it was and probably the hardest thing I ever did. HOWEVER, IT WAS ALSO THE BEST THING THAT I HAVE EVER DONE FOR MYSELF. I would not be alive today had I not quit.

Now you're asking yourself, "What was my secret"? The 2 things that I concentrated on was:
FIRST to change any habits that caused me to want to light up. I loved a cig in the morning with my coffee but I quit sitting down and having that cup and cig. Instead, I got up and went outside, walked around and kept my hands busy doing whatever I could think to do. Same thing with after eating. YES, some of it was pretty boring and stupid - - - OH WELL, eh? FWIW, driving was the hardest time to NOT smoke.

SECOND was to NOT light that next cig NO MATTER WHAT. It's that next puff that KEEPS YOU ADDICTED so without it, then you're not a smoker anymore.

I tried not to make this seem as if I was making light of what you are about to ACCOMPLISH but THE FACT IS THAT SIMPLE - - - - "NEVER TAKE THE NEXT PUFF AND YOU ARE FREE" - - - GOOD LUCK, ROB My best thoughts go with you.

Emmett

Em,
I cometely appreciate your words of wisdom!!!
Being bored is a problem. Laundry, dishes, housework is done .. Lol!!
The " Big Picture " for me are our young ones & so far 2 Grand sons. When I win this battle, I'll be better prep'd for the next til the war is over!! 10 days without even thinking about it, then WHAM!!
I've laughed myself breathless on the Joke Duel & 3 word story!! OMG my gut hurt for a minute or 2!!

Ya' gotta want to quit to quit. The Doc has given you a reason, now you have to come to grips with the fact that you have a reason and decide it's really time. Mine was my oldest boy, back when it was just the two of us all alone. He came home from Kindergarten one day and said to me, "Let's don't buy any more of those big boxes (cartons), OK?", looking at me with worry in his big brown eyes. He was afraid that cigarettes were going to take his Dad away. We went to a Royals game, and I smoked the last Marlboro in a flip top box pack and decided that I didn't want to pay double price for a pack at the park so I didn't smoke any more that night. Next day I thought, "If I can make it through a day I can quit", so I burned Sunday. Monday at work was tough, but I bought a sack of Super Bubble and got sore jaws chewing bubble gum. That was the Spring of '77.

I quit a few times, but then the new "millenium" was coming and I was up to 3 packs a day and not enjoying it.. so I said to myself "I am NOT going to be a smoker in 2000!" Hardest thing I've ever done and I'll admit to slipping and "bummin' a smoke when the stress level got to much.. but you gotta forgive yourself and keep going forward.

For me the night was the worst - I had to find things to occupy my mind so I took up guitar. I had started as a kid but never had my heart in it so, I picked it back up and it helped so much to not think about wanting a smoke.

It's the hardest thing you'll do, and you'll always be a smoker.. but when your walking down a hallway and someone out in front of you who just had a smoke and you smell that... you'll realize that they just flat out stink!! ANd you realize that you smelled like they do!! YUCK! LOL..

Last post hit it pretty square. After a while the odor will be offensive, that's when you know you've won the battle.

This is ALL good shiznitz folks!! Thank You So Much for posting!!

I used to ( 80s ) play around with the ol' guitar. 80s stuff-- Scorpions, Ratt, Judas Priest etc...
Dang, never thought to dust 'er off!! GREAT idea!!
Yup, night is when I would go outside with a coffee & light up.

Will power man, will power. It has been about 8 yrs since my last smoke. What did it for me was the guilt. I was about 31 at the time and I knew a couple of people dying, not smoking but from other cancers. I just was overcome with the sense of guilt that these people I knew didn't ask for what they had, and here I was sucking lung darts down. I also was feeling pressure from God, the maker of me that he didn't approve of the way I was treating his gift of health. Those were my reasons and like what you are feeling, it was one of the hardest things I have done, and also the most rewarding. I quit cold turkey but I had a pack of cigs with me at all times for a comfort of just in case. The cravings for me would be constant at first, and then they would space out further and intensify when I did get them. The first three weeks were the worst, and I didn't go to the garage for a long time just because that was my smoke zone. After the three weeks it got easier and today, I never think about them. It takes self control like no other and just remember if you sneak one in, the only thing that will change is the fact that you will want another one. Not cheating is the only way. Your in control !!!!! FREEDOM !!!!!

Thanks Rob for sharing with us your battle and too the other guys that have fought the same battle too. I suppose I was lucky in giving up the ciggies as I had only started smoking in my early twenties and gave up after approximately five years when I was smoking only a pack a day. What really helped me was my wife use to bite her finger nails and had done so since a wee girl which I didn't like. One day she arrived home from work and told me about a lovely diamond ring she had seen and wanted so I told her if she stopped biting her nails, I would buy her the ring at which she said ,well, she didn't enjoy me smoking so if we encouraged and supported each other I could buy a big dollar item for the Rod I was building at the time. Well, she got her ring and I succeeded in giving up smoking and to this day haven't regreted stopping. Cold turkey is the way but as others have mentioned, it is hard at times, my weak times was when having a few beers so stopped drinking for awhile also. Good luck with your battle Rob.

i used the patches . but i spent a year getting ready. bought a different brand every time . when i quit i kept a small piece of a straw in my pocket. that took care of the reaching habit. when you start considering yourself as a non smoker it gets easier . good luck .

I quit cold turkey in 85. Quit drinking and smoking the same day Oct. 28, 1985. I was at 3/4 packs a day. I worked 7 days a week 16 to 24 hours a day yes I would go out to medical and take a nap and go back to work. I think the biggest thing is you have to remember its a one day at a time thing. If you slip you start counting again. That will get you thinking. I would be the first to say its NOT EASY. I still once in a while with out thinking reach for my shirt pocket and think What the heck am I doing. As said before if you don't Really want to quit you won't.

Shine mentioned the "reaching part of the habit" so changing the need to "reach" is important as well. Just remember that YOU DESERVE THIS GIFT so give it to yourself and you'll NEVER regret it.

The smell on myself is // was atrocious, but never on anyone else.
The " wantta " has been for awhile. Never really had to test my will power, so I guess this will be it.
The $ will be a good boost, that's for sure with a $6.xx a pack tag!! I like the straw idea!
You ALL have definitely put some great coaching in my head! I am applying your words of wisdom & notes of experience to this part of my life.
Thank You So Much!! Words Can Not Express My Appreciation!!

My parents smoked almost all of their lives, and it killed them both. The stink in the house, the car, the clothes was so bad that I never started.

The smell factor really struck me hard! I never thought about the fact that I smelled like that! And it's true what folks say when they tell you that you'll smell things that you never noticed before! I have to empty the trash can every other day 'cause I can smell the vegetables getting "old"!! At least in the summer the windows are open and you don't have the closed up problems.

I also started on toothpicks... I "chew" on'em... alot like a piece of straw I guess. Definately cheaper than smokes!! We're over 8 bucks a pack here in Mass.!