Quit smoking

[Willy]

Dreadnut, that's a great way of looking at it to see how many cigarettes you did not smoke and how much money you did not spend. I'd definitely be treating myself to a new Guild!

And kudos to you Larry and all the rest who have quit.

 

[rws11]

16 years in June for me. Never figured up what I've saved. Can't put a price on my life. Good goin' to all who have quit ....and encouragement to those that haven't.

 

[killdeer43]

Never smoked, but it doesn't sound like I missed anything. Not hearing a lot of rave reviews, either. :wink:

Sincerely big congrats to all you quitters!!

Joe

 

[dreadnut]

Yeah, Steel, I miss the "other stuff" more too, especially when me & my buddy went to see Jefferson Starship last week! :lol:

 

[chazmo]

congrats, dread! always glad to hear about someone quitting and sticking with it. that takes will power. bravo.

 

[tjmangum]

Keep the faith Dread and congrats on making it 8 months. May 1, it will be 8 years for me and I still, once in a while, get a yearning. It's all mind over matter and while it is easy to rationalize all kind of things, as I put more and more distance from smoking I wonder how the heck I ever rationalized spending 2-3 thousand a year on something that could kill me, stunk up me and the clothes I wore and increased my insurance premiums.
As others have said, however, it is very easy to rationalize a decent guitar a year for what I have saved in not smoking. Set yourself a reward or two for reaching certain milestones along the way to being smoke free.
Best wishes,
Terry

 

[dreadnut]

Hi Terry, thanks. Actually it's been 14 years.

 

[gjmalcyon]

I've quit numerous times only to be lured back again by that one drag when you've had a few too many beers. I am 3 years clean now and have learned that one is too many and a pack is not enough. One day at a time. I've quit many things in my years on this planet but I must say those cancer sticks were, and continue to be, the toughest ever.

Exactly.

That's why it took me 5 attempts before it finally stuck 24 years ago. Oldest daughter was 1 year old, and I realized I couldn't tell her "don't smoke", as I'm puffing away.

It is one day at a time, and once you realize that you'll always be a smoker, even if you aren't and haven't for a while, it is a lot easier.

 

[rws11]

It is one day at a time, and once you realize that you'll always be a smoker, even if you aren't and haven't for a while, it is a lot easier.

I understand that it's all about the individual, but since I quit I haven't had any desire past about the second or third day. When I quit, I was tired of smoking, and I think that has a lot to do with it. When you decide to quit because you know it's the right thing to do and it's good for you, but you still have the desire to smoke then it's got to be tough. When, like me, you're tired of it and just don't want to do it anymore, It's not such a struggle.

But, that's "my" experience.

 

[tjmangum]

Hi Terry, thanks. Actually it's been 14 years.

Well, Double "Good on ya" and thanks for the reminder it's time to get my eyes examined again :wink:

 

[West R Lee]

Funny this should come up just now. I've been addicted tp tobacco for 35 years now, since I was 20. And you know, looking back, I had enough sense to stay out of the smoking fray through those years that seemed so formative then......sau 15-25 years old.

But then, at the ripe age of about 22, while working a rotating shift as a switchman on the railroad, I gave into Copenhagen to keep myself going I told myself. It kept me awake.
What people didn't tell me back then was how uncontrollably addictive Copenhagen was, and still is.

As some of you know, a week ago, I underwent a double neck fusion and bone grafting and marrow harvest. What I wasn't told until after the surgery (at least that I heard) was that you have to stop ALL tobacco products in order for the bone graft to take.

So lets' see.........I can risk going through the entire surgery again....complete with bone drilling....... marrow harvest, hip incision, neck incision.....and all of the related pain associated with things like catheters, swollen throat from the manipulated vertabrates.........................................................or..............................................

I haven't had a dip of fresh Cope in a week, maybe I could go just a bit longer? :shock:

West

 

[taabru45]

Good idea Jim, or else you might have to order one of those new truss rods they are using in the new 12s, I guess they're easier to adjust, and your sweet wife probably likes you just fine without the chew... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jpi56EGhGrA feel better eh! Steffan

 

[West R Lee]

Good idea Jim, or else you might have to order one of those new truss rods they are using in the new 12s, I guess they're easier to adjust, and your sweet wife probably likes you just fine without the chew... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jpi56EGhGrA feel better eh! Steffan

:idea:

West

 

[Geo]

Good for you!! It will get easier.

I quit back in the early 80s. It was easy,,, I just started dipping copenhagen, :lol:

Getting off the snuff was tough!!! I quit it on July 4th 1995.

I never think about doing either now. :wink:

I dont smoke the "other stuff" anymore either...although sometimes I do miss that a bit but,
not enough to start that " long strange trip" again! :mrgreen: Larry

It's been a long time since I've smoked the other stuff myself but if someone was to roll up a left-handed cigarette, I wouldnt run away. :lol:

George

 

[Qvart]

Dip can be harder to quit than cigarettes. The nicotene dose is higher. The thing is the nic-fits don't last long. Maybe a couple minutes. If you can ride those out one at a time you can pull through. If it's been a week, keep going. The first three days are the worst, then it gets better after the second week.

I've had many conversations with people about how to kick a habit like nicotene, or how to make any kind of change in behavior they feel the need to make. It all boils down to one thing: In the end you have to have something you want more than what you're doing. It's not enough to want to stop one behavior. You have to want to do something else more. And the more the two are mutually exclusive the better. Case in point - West has a great example of something positive to want instead of Copenhagen. Keep it up!


(BTW: I'm a smoker. Twenty years. :lol: )

 

[West R Lee]

Dip can be harder to quit than cigarettes. The nicotene dose is higher. The thing is the nic-fits don't last long. Maybe a couple minutes. If you can ride those out one at a time you can pull through. If it's been a week, keep going. The first three days are the worst, then it gets better after the second week.

I've had many conversations with people about how to kick a habit like nicotene, or how to make any kind of change in behavior they feel the need to make. It all boils down to one thing: In the end you have to have something you want more than what you're doing. It's not enough to want to stop one behavior. You have to want to do something else more. And the more the two are mutually exclusive the better. Case in point - West has a great example of something positive to want instead of Copenhagen. Keep it up!


(BTW: I'm a smoker. Twenty years. :lol: )

Ah, I'll not get down on anyone for being addicted to anything. I've got no room to talk. It was just a different time when I picked up Copenhagen. A time in which in some circles snuff was seen as a safer alternative to smoking. I think some aspects may be safer, some aren't. Each year I schedule a checkup with my oral surgeon just to have him take a look. and I've been doing that for 30 years. In the old days. Dr. Gordon would tell me that since dipping snuff was a relatively new craze, they expected to see a much higher incidence in oral cancer on down the road, but it's never happened and Dr. Gordon will tell his patients that today. He will tell you that a high incidence of oral cancer happens in those who drink quite a bit, and chew, smoke or dip....or all of the above. There is something about frequency and the mixture of nicotene and alcohol that increases the liklihood of cancer.

Of course, dipping snuff comes with a whole host of other side effects such as dilating the arteries just like cigarettes do and wearing away the gums around the teeth. On the bone graft issue, there's documentation everywhere that suggests that dipping, or any other tobacco use inhibits the mending of bone after a graft.

So I just thought I'd cool it a while. and as qvart suggest..... after that, I may see if I can cool it a while longer. Hey....I've been saving over $5/day!

West

 

[dreadnut]

You're on my prayer list, Jim!

I forgot to mention that I believe the prayers of my friends helped me to lose the urge. Not to mention I threw my last cig out the car window on the way to the hospital with chest pains and had bypass surgery a few days later...

 

[Qvart]

Hey....I've been saving over $5/day!

At that rate you could get a nice vintage S-100 in about 6 1/2 months. Or you could get two cans of Cope for $8.00 at my store. :lol:

 

[Geo]

I've been saving over $5/day!West

Jim, does a can of Copenhagen cost $5.00? :shock:

When I quit, I was pissed off because the price had gone up to a buck a can. :x

Quitting dipping was harder than quitting smoking but it gets easier as you go and I really never have the desire anymore. Never crosses my mind. Even while we're on the subject I don't have any hankering to start back. :wink:

Stick with it Jim. Your dentist will give you a gold star on you next visit. :lol:


George

 

[taabru45]

Yep....one of the most important questions to answer to help make a change is 'What would you do instead?'...
example....save money, taste my food, not gross people out. enjoy smiling without worrying about what my teeth look like....how many more can you come up with Jim...? :wink: Steffan