1/1/04 - QUIT SMOKING CHALLENGE

[Tommy]

I think I will miss maybe 5 of the cigarettes I smoke a day. The first one in the morning, and of course the one after every meal. And the last one I smoke at night. One good thing is we do not smoke in the house and it is getting darn inconvenient and COLD here in WNY to go out on the porch. We can do this Man in Blue!

I thought so too but really there not the ones I missed most now. It was actually easy to get by them. Its the social smoking that gets me now, like when I'm out have a few drinks with friends etc...

But once you make it through the first 2-3 days, the nicotine withdraw is done, the rest is just force of habit. Use the Epsom salt, it made the withdraw process faster. Also make a good plan to keep yourselves busy those 2-3 days. If I was not constiently doing something, I made sure my butt was sleeping... Get through those first couple days however possible.

I had it pretty easy, since the wife and kids packed there backs and left for the weekend. I'm sure if they stayed I would have used anything they said or did as an excuse to get pissed off and go smoke.

Bren, I know you got family there that might make it hard for you. If my family didnt leave I was gonna go rent a hotel room for myself for the weekend. Something nice and peaceful with a hot tub, steam room and fireplace. Something like that might be nice for you too...

[Bren]

WOW! Would that not be nice. But alas, I would get bored and I know I am going to have to be real busy. Good time to paint and rewallpaper my living room or something. No one smokes inside so I do not think they will bother me. And they are big guys so I can smack them when I feel like I have too!!!!!!!!! This old girl is getting psyched!! How about you "man in blue".......are we on?
note: got myself the epsom salts and cinnamon sticks. Need GUM!

[the man in blue]

Yup....we're on!!!!

[the man in blue]

Bren,

5 days left.....smoke up girl....smoke up....

[Bren]

ya know what? I actually am smoking less and not trying too. Yesterday they really started tasting AWFUL! I mean I did not even bother with the last one........maybe I got a stale pack? Hopefully!!
I was reading somewhere that as with any other addiction we should write a "Dear John" letter to our cigs. Hey...I'll try anything!
I was up to over a pack a day! How about you Man in Blue? (hey...I'm a poet!).

[Tommy]

2 packs per day here till I quit. By the way Saturday made a month for me.

[Bren]

congratulations Tommy!!!! one month! you got it beat. AND......no weight gain. That is so impressive.

[the man in blue]

Hey Bren,

I'm smoking about a pack a day...have been consistent at that since I started 15 years ago...... Im smoking up these last few days...gunna miss it some, but I wont miss smelling like an ashtray!!!! I know there are others on this bored lurking who want to join us but are scared.....JUST DO IT, YOU WONT BE SORRY!!!!

[Tommy]

When smokers quit, within twenty minutes of smoking that last cigarette the body begins a series of changes.

At 20 minutes after quitting:

blood pressure decreases
pulse rate drops
body temperature of hands and feet increases

At 8 hours:

carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal
oxygen level in blood increases to normal

At 24 hours:

chance of a heart attack decreases

At 48 hours:

nerve endings start regrowing
ability to smell and taste is enhanced

The first year after quitting:

At 2 weeks to 3 months:

circulation improves
walking becomes easier
lung function increases

1 to 9 months:

coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decreases

1 year:

excess risk of coronary heart disease is decreased to half that of a smoker

Long-term Benefits of Quitting

At 5 years:

from 5 to 15 years after quitting, stroke risk is reduced to that of people who have never smoked.

At 10 years:

risk of lung cancer drops to as little as one-half that of continuing smokers

risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases
risk of ulcer decreases

At 15 years:
risk of coronary heart disease is now similar to that of people who have never smoked
risk of death returns to nearly the level of people who have never smoked

[Elleth Faewen]

I'm at 2 3/4 years quit, so I'm more than half-way to those awesome 5 year health benefits. Woohoo!!!

[Bren]

I am printing that out Tommy.....Thanks! Here I thought I was cold all the time due to weight loss (well......could be AGE too!!!).

Man in Blue...........yikes, I just figured it out, I have been smoking for 32 years. Started when I was 16.

AND ALL YOU LURKERS................Think about it, read what Tommy wrote.

[Anonymous]

I am quitting TOO!

You are not alone! I am going to quit too! I have been on Atkins for 3 months on the first of January and think that quitting my awful smoking is the next stage. I need lots of support. I am really excited to be thin and smoke free.

Count me in!

[jerzeegirl]

I quit on christmas eve but I still want to join you guys!!!!! I was doing ok until today OMG the word craving does not cut it, I made my mom take my car keys so I could not drive to the store. (it got to the point were I was willing to check the trash for old dumped out ashtrays) To bad garbage gets picked up on Mondays

[Bren]

Come one come all!!! The more the merrier!! Today is it! Enjoy those nasty old butts! Just think how dam good we are going to feel! I do not know about you guys but I have spent the last 30+ years of my life with no control what so ever. This year I got in complete control of my eating and tomorrow I will be in complete control of smoking!!! I am feeling really good and optomistic about this!!!!!

[cmf]

I quit two days ago, and best of luck to all of us trying to go smoke free in 2004. It's very hard but if we stay focused and have support we can make it.

FWIW: I smoked like a chimney for the week leading up to my quitting day. Dunno why that is, but it seems to happen to alot of people. I also couldn't throw any packs out. I needed to actually finish all the cigs I had bought. Go figure.

Best of luck to all!!