I quit yesterday (again).
Using the patch.

Anyone else quit or quitting?
gm

No but I really really should. Have you heard of auricular therapy? I think I'm going to give that a try soon.

I quit yesterday (again).
Using the patch.

Anyone else quit or quitting?
gm

I quit smoking 10 years ago and used the Nicorette gum for the first year. The first year is rough, but just think, if you make it that far, then you pretty much have it licked. It is really worth it. I lived to smoke, and now I am free of the addiction. Nicotine is a heavy drug, and the nicorette gum helped me with the withdrawal the first year. I did substitute exercise for smoking also. If I wanted to smoke, I usually went out for a walk. Another thing I did was to avoid socializing with smokers the first year.

I quit smoking 10 years ago and used the Nicorette gum for the first year. The first year is rough, but just think, if you make it that far, then you pretty much have it licked. It is really worth it. I lived to smoke, and now I am free of the addiction. Nicotine is a heavy drug, and the nicorette gum helped me with the withdrawal the first year. I did substitute exercise for smoking also. If I wanted to smoke, I usually went out for a walk. Another thing I did was to avoid socializing with smokers the first year.

The longest I ever went was 50 days (not long enough).
I'm on day 3.
The patch takes the edge off, but I'm still fighting urges about every 5 minutes or so.
Here comes another one. :banghead:
gm

The longest I ever went was 50 days (not long enough).
I'm on day 3.
The patch takes the edge off, but I'm still fighting urges about every 5 minutes or so.
Here comes another one. :banghead:
gm

remember if you give in, then you have to go back to the beginning...ugh. You already made it three days, so GO FOR IT!

One week... still going.
It's getting a little easier.

Who else out there is trying to quit?

Good Job!

Keep it up it only gets easier. Once the chemistry factory in your body starts making the chemicals that were replaced with cigarettes you will feel a lot better.

It is the reasons WHY we smoke that are tricky.

If you love to flood your brain with chemistry then you will need to find some way of naturally altering your consciousness. Without going kooky you might find some breathing techniques that produce adrenaline and other mind chemicals that smokers love.

I have a link on my Secular magick blog (http://secularmagick.blogspot.com/) to a lecture on breathing techniques...the guy IS a tad goofy I'm afraid, but there is some core ideas for you.

Breathing tech and smoking are similar...they both involve respiration and a chemical reward to the brain.

The other thing you might want to look into is getting a tincture of St. Johns wort from a health store, with kava kava if they have it. This is a seretonin up take inhibitor that will let your brain hang on to the chemicals it creates.

When you stress the brain sucks up the pools of chemistry...when we quit smoking our factories are producing less chemistry then we need.

I am not going to share my failing method for quiting smoking...it was well over $100.00 ago now. I hate being a junky...

Later,

Chris Titan
http://simple-edge.blogspot.com/

No but I really really should. Have you heard of auricular therapy? I think I'm going to give that a try soon.

Day 9,

What is auricular therapy?

It's some kind of thing related to acupuncture that they do to your ear. It's supposed to be a one time thing that costs $100 or so. A friend of mine knows several people who tried it and quit smoking. I think a few of them had to go back in for another treatment in order for it to work though.

Day 9,




Congrats, that fantastic.

The longest I ever went was 50 days (not long enough).
I'm on day 3.
The patch takes the edge off, but I'm still fighting urges about every 5 minutes or so.
Here comes another one. :banghead:
gm


What was weird for me was as soon as I gave up the Nicorette gum, the urge to smoke disappeared. I used the gum the first year and really had to fight off the cravings. After a year when I gave it up, I never wanted one again. Another thing that helped me was prayer. I would pray to have the desire to smoke removed from me.

I talk everyone's ear off about the benefits of not smoking. I was a heavily addicted smoker for 25 years, and the 10 years I have been smoke free are the best. Not smoking buys freedom: freedom from having to have that nicotine fix every 20-30 minutes. A person could be stranded on the highway, stuck in an elevator,or stuck in jail ;) , and not freak out because the nicotine isn't there. I can actually watch a 3 hour movie without wanting to get up and leave in order to have a cigarette. The freedom from the cost is not bad either.

It's some kind of thing related to acupuncture that they do to your ear. It's supposed to be a one time thing that costs $100 or so. A friend of mine knows several people who tried it and quit smoking. I think a few of them had to go back in for another treatment in order for it to work though.

That is really informative Tom. So for a couple of hundred bucks I can go and have someone squeeze my ear.

Doing a google search. The top ranking site makes it clear that this is some form of Reiki. I quote...

"What is Reiki?
Reiki is a natural healing technique. It is the flow of a certain high frequency of energy into and through practitioner to another person. A treatment creates a wonderful radiance that is deeply relaxing. Reiki can also be used to relieve stress and overcome unwanted habits.


What is Reflexology?
Reflexology is a compression technique applied to specific reflexes on hand and feet. Pressure in one zone will effect the part of the body to which it relates. Tenderness to certain reflexes is an indication of congestion in the system. As the congestion breaks up, wastes are carried to the proper organs of elimination. Circulation improves as tension is reduced and the body normalizes its rhythmus.


What happens at a treatment?
The first session lasts approximately one hour and a half with a theta healing consultation. Follow up sessions are one hour.


The Ear
The basic concept of Auricular Therapy is that the nerves in the skin overlay specific areas of the external ear which correspond to specific parts of the brain, which has a reflex connection to the body. These reflexes are activated when problems in part of the body induce reflex reactions in the external ear, manifested as changes in tenderness and altered blood circulation. These reflexes are activated when points on an ear are stimulated to relieve pathology in another area of the body."

I find this unscientific approach to alternative medicine to be irresponsible. Here you are advocating a system that has had no research done outside of testimonials from people who have paid.

If you need an excuse to quit smoking why not pay a few hundred bucks and have some new age con artist stick pins in your ear.

Or...you can learn some dicipline, do your daily target praxis, and take a shot of St. Johns Wort that has been exaustively researched to show that it is a seretonin uptake inhibitor. The Kava kava blend will take the tension out of your muscle and help you relax.

It is like eight bucks in the health store...you can send me the balance on the couple of hundred dollars you could spend on ear-therapy...hahahaha

Regards,

Chris Titan

St. Johns Wort doesn't work for everybody. Nor does Kava. Both have adverse reactions in some. Neither are researched as far as smoking goes. A friend of mine says she knows people who have tried nearly everything and finally quit with Auricular therapy. Anway I'm not an advocate, just said it was something I was considering.

St. Johns Wort doesn't work for everybody. Nor does Kava. Both have adverse reactions in some. Neither are researched as far as smoking goes. A friend of mine says she knows people who have tried nearly everything and finally quit with Auricular therapy. Anway I'm not an advocate, just said it was something I was considering.


OK... :hopeless:

I am just giving you a hard time for your logic that goes to the strange expensive treatment over a simple inexpensive one.

You seem to have some personal feelings.

I understand that you have not felt well and that it was Coach's bitterness about advertising in the forums that pulled your attention back...but you really need to relax a bit.

OK... :hopeless:

I am just giving you a hard time for your logic that goes to the strange expensive treatment over a simple inexpensive one.

You seem to have some personal feelings.

I understand that you have not felt well and that it was Coach's bitterness about advertising in the forums that pulled your attention back...but you really need to relax a bit.

I say use whatever works. Auricular therapy is not strange, and I have also known at least 7 people who have quit using this therapy. I think you need to relax a bit, Chris.

OK... :hopeless:

I am just giving you a hard time for your logic that goes to the strange expensive treatment over a simple inexpensive one.

You seem to have some personal feelings.

I understand that you have not felt well and that it was Coach's bitterness about advertising in the forums that pulled your attention back...but you really need to relax a bit.

I really hate to get involved in other people's s**t, but where was the bitterness? I never read any thing like that in the forum. The only one that sounds bitter is you, Chris.

Have a nice day :p

That is really informative Tom. So for a couple of hundred bucks I can go and have someone squeeze my ear.

Doing a google search. The top ranking site makes it clear that this is some form of Reiki. I quote...

"What is Reiki?
Reiki is a natural healing technique. It is the flow of a certain high frequency of energy into and through practitioner to another person. A treatment creates a wonderful radiance that is deeply relaxing. Reiki can also be used to relieve stress and overcome unwanted habits.


What is Reflexology?
Reflexology is a compression technique applied to specific reflexes on hand and feet. Pressure in one zone will effect the part of the body to which it relates. Tenderness to certain reflexes is an indication of congestion in the system. As the congestion breaks up, wastes are carried to the proper organs of elimination. Circulation improves as tension is reduced and the body normalizes its rhythmus.


What happens at a treatment?
The first session lasts approximately one hour and a half with a theta healing consultation. Follow up sessions are one hour.



If you need an excuse to quit smoking why not pay a few hundred bucks and have some new age con artist stick pins in your ear.

Or...you can learn some dicipline, do your daily target praxis, and take a shot of St. Johns Wort that has been exaustively researched to show that it is a seretonin uptake inhibitor. The Kava kava blend will take the tension out of your muscle and help you relax.

It is like eight bucks in the health store...you can send me the balance on the couple of hundred dollars you could spend on ear-therapy...hahahaha

Regards,

Chris Titan

St. Johns and Kava cause mood changes, and I know a lot of people who have quit smoking who would not have liked the change in mood along with the withdrawal symptoms. Plus, who knows how safe those supplements are. I used the Nicorette gum for a year and it cost me $180/month. That added up to $2160 for the year. It was well worth it. I think you just picked this topic to debate because you have a problem with the forum administrator. Give it up, Chris...you are too obvious.

Okay y'all... this isn't helping.

Day 12 - smoke free - still using the patch.

BTW, I have heard that rubbing your ear lobes is one of the suggestions out there to help people get over a craving. Personally, it irritates me. What seems to work the best for me (when I have a craving) is to breathe in the same manner I would when taking a drag off a cigarette.

I know there has to be other people on this forum who have quit, are trying, or are thinking about quitting.
C'mon people... chime in!

gm

Okay y'all... this isn't helping.

Day 12 - smoke free - still using the patch.

BTW, I have heard that rubbing your ear lobes is one of the suggestions out there to help people get over a craving. Personally, it irritates me. What seems to work the best for me (when I have a craving) is to breathe in the same manner I would when taking a drag off a cigarette.

I know there has to be other people on this forum who have quit, are trying, or are thinking about quitting.
C'mon people... chime in!

gm
We are chiming in, haven't you noticed? Do you read the posts?

You have to want to quit, not just want to want to quit. I have sponsored many people with the smoking addiction, and have had huge successes. I really have to admit that the ones I have dealt with were mainly women....so maybe I am not the right one to advise you. All I know is I quit 10 years ago, and I recently had a heart attack. I am so glad that I quit then, because I might have not survived the attack if I was still smoking.
Power to you and the non-smoking. I liked the gum the first year because I could control the nicotine and also have the oral fixation satisfied.

I know you and Tom and Chris have chimed in. I was soliciting chimes from the other 700+ forum members.

When I said this isn't helping I wasn't talking about getting feedback on this thread, I was talking about you and Chris and Tom going at it.

So here's where we are so far on this thread. I'm quitting (currently on day 12), Tom smokes, but think it would be a good idea to quit, Chris is trying to quit with on-again off-again results, and you (CJS) quit 10 years ago (which I admire btw).

Starting this thread has actually helped give me a little extra incentive to get through the cravings, because I don't want to have to admit my failure here. The more people that know I'm quitting the better.

I'm curious to know if anyone else is in the middle of quitting, or not.
gm

My sister has been trying to quit for a long time. She quit again yesterday
because of health reasons. She quit for seven years once, but then picked them up again. During those seven years, she missed them terribly. She refused to pray to even a doorknob for help. That is why I am so big on praying, to whomever or whatever appeals to you, to have the desire taken away. It really helped me.

I was the most addicted smoker you have ever seen. I loved it, and if I could quit, I believe anyone can. I tell everyone, "don't wait until your health is effected, quit now!!"

It's been two weeks.

So far, so good.

Thanks for all the encouragement!!!

gm

Day 12 - smoke free - still using the patch.

BTW, I have heard that rubbing your ear lobes is one of the suggestions out there to help people get over a craving. Personally, it irritates me. What seems to work the best for me (when I have a craving) is to breathe in the same manner I would when taking a drag off a cigarette.

I heard Anthony Robbins mention somewhere on his Personal Power II series that simulating the breathing would help with trying to quit smoking. As a non-smoker, I always wondered how well that worked. Thanks for the confirmation, George!

I actually read about the breathing thing in the package of information that came with the product Smoke Away that I tried 2 years ago. The breathing (as you would while smoking a cigarette) helps you get over the cravings. It works, although Smoke Away didn't work for me. All the buckwheat pills did for me was make me constipated. :hopeless:

Coach,

How is it going? If you could listen to my lungs today you that lingering desire to smoke would evaporate. I laid down and listened to my lungs wheeze and feel the craving to get up and smoke...it really is sick.

I noticed that I used smoking in some of my favorite clips I have made to motivate myself and others...

http://www.grapheine.com/classiktv/classiktv_play.php?id=11351

Enjoy,

Chris Titan

p.s. I am wondering if it is more rude to leave an unlive link on a page. I hate when I cut and paste into my browser and it stays. I just want a quick click. Anyone have any suggestions as to how to share links without spamming?

I'm doing good, thanks. Day 17. Still using the patch. I have glue marks all over. You're not supposed to use the same spot of skin for four days, so I'm rotating different spots and this damn glue doesn't like to come off in the shower. :mad:

The thing with your links is this: It seems to me that no matter what the subject is, you say something like, "Hey that reminds me of this..." and the link is something referring to simpleology. Personally, I would develop a better opinion of simpleology (over time) if you weren't trying so hard to sell it.

Just some Food for Thought from the FWIWD. :)
gm

I'm doing good, thanks. Day 17. Still using the patch. I have glue marks all over. You're not supposed to use the same spot of skin for four days, so I'm rotating different spots and this damn glue doesn't like to come off in the shower. :mad:

The thing with your links is this: It seems to me that no matter what the subject is, you say something like, "Hey that reminds me of this..." and the link is something referring to simpleology. Personally, I would develop a better opinion of simpleology (over time) if you weren't trying so hard to sell it.

Just some Food for Thought from the FWIWD. :)
gm

Totally good advice.

I did make that video a few weeks ago and was reminded of it last night and I thought about you.

It is not just here. I think my female interest thinks I am spaming her for sex.
I think that I have serious limitations from a long term bi-polar manic-depression that I found so comfortable.

No one knocks you when you sit in the back row.

Overcompensation. :banghead:

Kick the patch coach, I will not smoke all day that day...let me know.

Best Regards,

Chris Titan

I'm on step two. This time it's for keeps so I have to follow the proceedures. Last time I did it my own way.... well obviously that didn't work. On June first will go to step three, further reducing the nicotine and then after two weeks on that, I'll be patch free.

What's the deal with the girl, do you keep telling her you want to hit the target or something?

congratulations on NOT having a smoke. Every day it gets easier. I chewed the gum for a year, and I feel that was too long. Once I gave up the Nicorette, I lost the desire to smoke.

congratulations on NOT having a smoke. Every day it gets easier. I chewed the gum for a year, and I feel that was too long. Once I gave up the Nicorette, I lost the desire to smoke.

Thanks!

I tried the gum once, long ago (obviously didn't work for me). It's really interesting to me how this thread has helped.

Thanks again for your encouragement!
gm

Thanks!

I tried the gum once, long ago (obviously didn't work for me). It's really interesting to me how this thread has helped.

Thanks again for your encouragement!
gm

My pleasure. I am a big promoter of non-smoking. I guess because the addiction was so strong with me; I hate to think of other people being at the mercy of it. I was so addicted, that my hand, without me being aware of it, tried to grab a man's lit cigarette away from him so I could have a drag. That was after I had quit for a month. It was the weirdest thing. Thank heavens I caught myself before I assaulted this strange man.

I am not a smoker, so I never truly understand how difficult it is to quit smoking.

But I have worked with people to quit their bad habits like to diet, to keep fit etc. Start slowly, step by step... remember how an expotential graph looks like?

Day 20. Still going. Feeling better. Eating better. Ran 4 miles yesterday. Got all the remaining glue off skin. :)

gm

Well isnt this an interesting thread!

20+ days huh, good on you coach :thumb:
Some food for thought: So many times in the past, when i've tried to do something worthwhile for myself, i've failed because i try to do EVERYTHING at once. I'm slowly teaching myself to baby step.
When i read that you are eating better and that you ran 4 miles...well, i couldnt help but suspect you're doing the same. You're trying to quit smoking. Thats MORE than enough for now, dont worry too much about other health stuff. Lay that on thick later, when you aren't under so much pressure already.
I might be wrong....indeed, everyones different, and doing everything for the positive might be your way of coping. Just try not to overload yourself.

Secondly, since i joined here a few days ago, you've certainly stuck out as a strong personality and a key member of this forum. I just sort of took it for granted that you are highly motivated and can aim for and achieve things. Granted, i dont know you at all, but if first impressions count for anything you seem like someone strong enough to quit smoking...and do much more.

So, you have my scrunity. I'll be checking back here often, and am happy to offer advice or arsekicking.

I was about to write best of luck..but luck has no place here. So, best of strength perhaps. Remember the only way you are going to smoke is if your own hand reaches for a cig and puts it to your mouth. YOUR hand...your choice. You're making the right choices so far, keep it up, coach ;)

Thanks Tim,
You're absolutely right. I've been down that road before.

No worries about me doing too much at once. The running is only happening once a week and not something I'm forcing. It just happened that for the last 3 Sundays in a row I've had the time and motivation for it.

I'm right with you on the downside of trying to do it all. I'm definitely focused on the smoking issue. What's encouraging is that after almost 3 weeks, I'm more inclined to eat better, as a result of feeling better, as a result of not smoking.

Still, I'm not even going to think about curing my coffee addiction. That would be more than I could bear.

Hey, is anyone else out there ready to quit?
C'mon, who's with me?
gm

Thanks Tim,
You're absolutely right. I've been down that road before.

No worries about me doing too much at once. The running is only happening once a week and not something I'm forcing. It just happened that for the last 3 Sundays in a row I've had the time and motivation for it.

I'm right with you on the downside of trying to do it all. I'm definitely focused on the smoking issue. What's encouraging is that after almost 3 weeks, I'm more inclined to eat better, as a result of feeling better, as a result of not smoking.

Still, I'm not even going to think about curing my coffee addiction. That would be more than I could bear.

Hey, is anyone else out there ready to quit?
C'mon, who's with me?
gm

Hey Coach,

I think I going to quit the hard way soon. I was gaging pretty good this morning and when I did catch my breath I wanted to smoke. I was pretty disgusted with myself.

I think that running is good. It is a natural way to produce endorphines. We need to produce a certain amount of pleasure chemistry everyday to really relax and totally energized. We often augment the body's ability to produce these chemicals with some negative behavior that will produce them quickly.

Eating beter is also chemical based in my speculations. I am addicted to the groggy spaced out feeling from low blood sugar. I tend to get nasty and cranky but it is a form of relaxation. It is a terrible way to relax becuase it leads to low energy states that can take days of eating right to break out of. I was depressed for years and years so I have some strange unconsious habits to deal with stress that I only become ware of as I strive for a more complete success.

Anyway, smoking will lower your blood sugar and effect your metabolism in similar ways. The individual associates this with the relaxing effects of the poision. Now that your brain is leraning to produce the nicotinic acids for itself and you shift your means of "chemical" relaxation in your nervous system you no longer are addicted to low blood sugar.

I should spell check this...pardon.

Enjoy,

Chris Titan

p.s. what day are you going off the patch? I want to not smoke all day that day. I am looking forward to that...let me know. :D

I agree with Tim: not doing everything at once. I didn't even attempt to curb my coffee drinking until I was four years smoke free. I do believe in the exercise, as I exercised every time I had the urge to smoke. It also helps to clean out your lungs faster.

My sister quit a week ago, and she is doing great. She finally reached a point where she knew she had to quit for good.

Congratulations on 3 weeks, that is great!!

I agree with Tim: not doing everything at once. I didn't even attempt to curb my coffee drinking until I was four years smoke free. I do believe in the exercise, as I exercised every time I had the urge to smoke. It also helps to clean out your lungs faster.

My sister quit a week ago, and she is doing great. She finally reached a point where she knew she had to quit for good.

Congratulations on 3 weeks, that is great!!

Hey, great news about your sister!!

Yep, I'm not even going to think about kicking the coffee habit. :eek:

Chris, the date for going patchless is June 15 +/- a few days. I'll let you know for sure when it gets closer. For now I'm focused on today.

Okay who else is quitting?
Tom? :)

How you going coach? Still going strong? Glue coming off ok?

How you going coach? Still going strong? Glue coming off ok?

Day 22. Managing the glue build up a little better. :D
still focused on one day at a time.

The key has been to make sure that patch goes on first thing in the morning.

later,
gm

Good on you mate :)

I'm as proud of you as a complete stranger could be..which may be more than you think.

Cheers!

Tim

The way one becomes a nom-smoker is by behaving exactly like a non-smoker!

The way one becomes a non-smoker is by behaving exactly like a non-smoker!

In order to become a non-smoker one needs to behave as a non-smoker would!

In order to become a non-smoker one needs to behave as a non-smoker would!

Over stating the obvious doesn't help. :bonk:

I’ve never smoked but I have seen brothers in faith who quit smoking when they have accepted Christ doctrines and baptism. Once they have decided to be baptized, a total abstinence of cigarettes (all vices) is required. Coz if you were found smoking a support group will be sent to you and you will temporarily be suspended and will be prohibited to give financial assistance TO the Church. Weird huh? But effective.

It was harder for them ‘coz most of them are unable to buy those gums and patches. All they can afford are menthol candies. They can easily look for a more lenient Church. Nevertheless, their belief and desire to follow God’s word was enough in order for them to quit.

Please don’t accuse me of religious legalism in here :bouncy: . What I’m just trying to say is that in order to stop smoking… you must have the

1. Desire to live a clean and healthy life and favorably a
2. Support group (like this forum or a friend, spouse etc.) that will motivate you to quit that habit. In which Coach both have.

I believe in acupressure/acupuncture so maybe they could help a little.

You are a mind with a body NOT a body with a mind. – forgot the author :banghead:

Tried quitting with God 15 years ago. It didn't work.

I had a dream last night that I started smoking again... weird.

well, day 27 and still going.

later,
gm

I had the smoking dreams too. I would wake up being mad at myself for smoking, when I only did it in the dream. It was a weird thing.

Congratulations on day 27!!

Okay... today I started step 3. It's the 7mg patch. 14 more days of this and then I go nicotine free. :)

Is anyone else thinking of quitting?

I quit by assuming the persona of a nom-smoker!

Every morning before I get out of bed and go smoke...

Every night when I wheeze myself to sleep.

I am so stressed this time of the month I can't imagine what I would do if I did not have poision...and as my body cannot take the poision I really start to wonder what it will take to deal with the stress.

Keep it up Coach, example creates patterns that make it more simple to succeed for the rest of us.

Chris Titan
"You know me by now...no need to Google"

Hey Chris,
Glad you're back.

13 days to going patchless... you still going to do without cigarettes that day?

gm

Absolutly!

:thumb:

Wow!!!

What a difference 7mg less nicotine makes. I have been pissy and irritable for 2 days now. :banghead:
:banghead:

One minute everything will be peaches and cream and then someone will do or say the dumbest thing and it drives me nuts!!! :bonk:

Anyway, I guess I'm back to focusing on one day at a time. Yep, just get through today...

Use my breathing technique.... ahh... :yup:
that's a little better.

gm

It's been 5 weeks without a cigarette. The patch was definitely a help. I'll be on step 3 for 7 more days and then I'll be without the nicotine after that. Cravings still come, but they are infrequent and don't last long.

gm

Man, that's awesome!
What a great illustration of what willpower and determination can do. Respect to you, Mr Morse :tiphat:

Thanks Tim.

Ok, today is the last day on the patch. Tomorrow I'm flying solo. So are you ready to go without smokes tomorrow Chris?

Does anybody else who smokes want to give quitting a try tomorrow?

Anyone?

It's v-day.

Hey Chris, I trust you are NOT smoking today... if you do, you are going to owe me a ton of push-ups.

gm

It's v-day.

Hey Chris, I trust you are NOT smoking today... if you do, you are going to owe me a ton of push-ups.

gm

I thought it was yesterday. What a hellish experience. I have never wished such ill will on my fellow human beings as I did yesterday afternoon when I was running my errands. Everyone seemed ugly and stupid and there was this horrible tension in my body. I didn't want to smoke as much as I did not want to even exist.

I hate jonesing. That is why I never did stimulants when I was a kid. Jonesing drives home the fact that a person is addicted to a drug. Getting high was always fashionable being a drug addict is just plain worthless.

I woke up and showered without a smoke yesterday. That was pretty upseating. I was able to support you at first and that made it ok.

I did not smoke when I walked downtown to pick up the printing.

I think it was around 4:30 after I had a slice of pizza downtown and the girl I had a crush on thanked my for bringing her a book from the time before but then sort of ignored me. Last week she is all smiles and coming out to chat about what I do for a living. I tell her I work for a publisher of weird science but she has no reference point for that. No one really does anymore. She asks if there is a book that explains it in a nutshell, so I recommend The Cosmic Pulse of Life by Trevor James Constable and I offer to bring one in for her. Everything is fine...normal. Then she says I can bring it to her at her art gallery that is showing art for a local monthly arts event where galleries open as well as merchants and local artists can show their stuff...very cool night in town. Anyway, she tells me to come over and we can sip wine and chat. Well I was thrilled. I had a crush on this particular pizza girl for sometime, she is smart and cute. I can't figure it out, she is part owner of a gallery and she works at a pizza joint? Ohhh...so I drag myself out to this event.

Now the hardest thing is that I am getting older. I am in my late mid 30's with the maturity level of a 26 year old. The art crowd likes to dress fashionable and I don't really have a strong fashion sense. My girl friend used to dress me and not well. So I slip in to some dark blue leather pants, black sweater and my long black trench coat. I felt like an artsy alternative science time traveler.

I show up book in hand. She is so busy gathering wine glasses and taking them into the back that she only gives me a brief greeting. Here is another key...she looked super great with her long hair down and I said. "Wow, you look like a girl!" :bonk:

I sally up to the wine and throw down a generous donation for terrible wine and enjoy the art work standing there alone.

She never really came back. She was not interested. I just wondered what had happened. I didn't drag myself away from my warm cozy internet connection on my own volition...she asked me to come. Was it my fashion? Did she take one look at the book say "kook alert"? Did I offend her terrible with my stupid remark?

I left that lunch with butterflys in my gut. No smokes...no toxin bliss to kill off my human feelings...ahhhh

I was oblivious and full of hate of the world. I was broken and I had to limp to the drug pusher for a stinking fix of numbness.

Now, I have crushes all over town...this gets me though the lonliness of being single. One of my favorites are the ciggarette girls who see every couple of days to buy smokes. These are generally girls I would never see in real life. My favorite girl was gone...and there was some new girl...not anywhere near as pretty and with little diseased children mucking about the place.

I have been really trying to control my emotions since my ex told me to "go cry myself to sleep" after I made to mistake of discussing some emotional feelings I had for her, fairly recently. Helped clean those lingering feelings up in a snap...

I am crossing the steet headed home with a pack of smokes that I am ashamed of and my heart is breaking wide-open for the silliest of reasons...big fat tears welling up in my eyes.

I smoked when I got home.

I did not even put it all togehter until today...that was stressful.

I was so stressed and shamed I did not even turn on my computer all day...very very rare!

So today is the day! Not yesterday...that was my trial run.

I smoked this morning so I will do as many push-ups as I can...I still owe you 40 push-ups from whining a while back.

I kinda want to see what happens to the world again. I will try some St. Johns Wort...if things get too intense and see if I cannot buy some time before the nicotine fits drive me insane.

Chris Titan

p.s. Hey, the new link in my signature is for an event that is happening today...it is going to be interesting for anyone who has a web page or a blog, or is interested in legal aspects of the internet.

Great story!!!

When I'm fighting off the next urge I'm going to picture this in my mind.

BTW, I think the pizza girl who was part "owner" in the gallery was really just an employee of the gallery. Or... maybe it was the blue leather pants. Either way, there are other fish in the sea my friend.

Have a fantastic evening, and I sincerely thank you for your support.
gm

Hell yes, that was a great story. Your descriptive anecdote was very entertaining; I am sorry about it being a sad story, but it was very well written.

Well I survived the first day. It was important yet uneventful. I wrote a short blurb about it on my blog. If you want to give it a read you can find it on my myspace at this link:http://www.myspace.com/authorgjmorse

Today I'm feeling good.

Is anyone else out there ready to quit?

Well I survived the first day. It was important yet uneventful. I wrote a short blurb about it on my blog. If you want to give it a read you can find it on my myspace at this link:http://www.myspace.com/authorgjmorse

Today I'm feeling good.

Is anyone else out there ready to quit?

Right On, Coach!

I did not smoke yesterday till almost dinner time.

This morning I only smoked two hits off my smoke and observed the strange change. It was just enough to take the edge off but not the anxiety. It was like not doing something I really wanted to do. My body would just want it...want to walk the same path to the back door that I take when I smoke.

I am going to do it again tomarrow and try to be more aware of why I give up. I think I just can't stand the anxiety and I have not tried the st.johns wort. It is a subtle sabotage no doubt.

You can know that I have not felt normal for three days as I do my daily tasks. I did not hate everyone I saw today. That was progress.

I think I messed up my metabolism because it is after I eat that I really will just have a cigarette no matter what.

here is one for ya...receding gums!

your gums have gotta feel better already...huh Coach?

yep, smoking is pretty bad for everything in the mouth. I had my 6 month cleaning yesterday, and it felt good having the hygenist make a big deal out of how much better everything looks now. :D

This morning I was struggling a little. I was actually having a craving for a patch. Weird! For a minute or two I was thinking that maybe I should just buy another 2 week supply, rationalizing that it would be better than failing in my attempt to quit smoking. Nicotine's a bitch... :banghead:

I'm good now.

You know, I've been trying to quit for 8 years. What I've learned is not to beat myself up (did that). So Chris, everytime cut down on the amount of cigs you smoke, that's a good thing, and something to feel good about. But, if you don't cut down, it's important not to let that be a negative, detach your felling of self-worth from the quit-smoking attempts. Does that make sense?

Being a non-smoker doesn't make me a better person, it just gives me cleaner lungs. Just like being a smoker doesn't make me a bad person, it just gives me dirty lungs, bad breath, yellow teeth, more wrinkles, sticky artial walls, yellow fingernails, a chronic cough and will eventually lead to emphasema and/or lung cancer, or both. :bonk:

gm

smoking is really bad for one's health, and also has a bad influence on people around smokers. one of my freinds is a very heavy smoker. he quitted so many times, but always picked it up before long. sometimes it looks cute, but most of the time, it is choky. but anyway its not a big problem. but for their own sake and health, better to quit it as soon as possible. ;-)

Thanks Demi!

Today makes 7 weeks without a cig. and the 7th day without any nicotine!!! I'm feeling good! Your support in this thread has mattered a great deal, and played a role in my success so far.

I want to thank all of you!!!

And... I am still curious if anyone else wants to give quitting a serious try.
Anyone?

Man, that is fantastic. Congrats to you!

GREAT!! My sister quit a few weeks after you did, and she still is smoke free. Congratulations!!

GREAT!! My sister quit a few weeks after you did, and she still is smoke free. Congratulations!!

That's excellent! I hope she sticks with it.

Yesterday marked 51 days without a smoke and set a new record for me (set almost 4 years ago).

Since going off the patch, I'm easily irritated... trying hard to stay occupied and get through each day...

I stayed on the nicotine gum for too long. Congratulations on being off the patch.

My sister is doing great. She quit about 9 years ago, and then started again two years ago. She wasn't really ready to quit then, but she is now. I think that is the key: "being really ready."

I quit about 3 years ago. I switched between smoking and chewing tobacco for about 5 years or so, and tried to quit about 3-4 times.

One day it just hit me that I realized I needed to quit, so I said "i'm gonna stop saying "someday" i'll quit, and make that today"

never touched another cig. or can of chew....although I like to relax with a cigar occassionally :)

8 weeks without a smoke. 2 weeks without any nicotine and just 4 days away from the 60 day benchmark.

Overall I feel good, but there are times... :banghead:

Passed the 60 day mark and still smoke free! Every day from this point is a new record for me.

The next important benchmark is 90 days.

Thanks again everyone for all your support!!!
gm

Congratulations Coach! That is really great. :thumb:

AWE-INSPIRING! :thumb:

More good news!

It's been 11 weeks without smokes (5 weeks without any nicotine)!!!

I've also started losing the 20 pounds I gained during the first eight weeks.

...AND another HUGE thank you to all of you for your support and encouragement!!! I am truly grateful. :)

gm

Hi Coach! Congratulations! I have a friend who is a Ph.D. Psychologist who helps people quit and his advice was to keep up the physical exercise as the natural endorphins that follow the workout will cancel out the urges for hours if not days after you've completed to work out.

:yippee: Great job!!!!!!!

Hi Coach! Congratulations! I have a friend who is a Ph.D. Psychologist who helps people quit and his advice was to keep up the physical exercise as the natural endorphins that follow the workout will cancel out the urges for hours if not days after you've completed to work out.

:yippee: Great job!!!!!!!

gotta love endorphins...they help your body in so many ways its unbelievable :yippee:

Hi Coach! Congratulations! I have a friend who is a Ph.D. Psychologist who helps people quit and his advice was to keep up the physical exercise as the natural endorphins that follow the workout will cancel out the urges for hours if not days after you've completed to work out.

:yippee: Great job!!!!!!!

thanks Pat!

There is definitely something to that. I've been jogging, walking and going for bike rides consistently now for a little more than a month. I've added eating a more balanced and healthy diet to that and I just keep feeling better each week. I still think about cigarettes sometimes, and it seems like I notice people smoking a lot, but the little cancer sticks have almost completely lost their hold on me now.

Today will mark 12 weeks smoke free and 6 weeks nicotine free. I'll hit 90 days soon without a doubt and I'm confident I've finally kicked the habit. :)

So, is anybody else out there ready to kick the habit or at least give quitting a try? :banghead:

gm

Wow that sound so much healthier than my method. I keep smoking and I am hoping that my lungs will just adjust. I am sure if I could just cough out this phlem in my throat I will be fine.

You know what I hate. Just when you are ok with slowly dying of cancer or emphesema life will throw you a curve. I had a very special friend appear suddenly in my life. Now I am embarrased that I have cashed in my chips and commited to a treacherous death. I am pretty sure that even if I quit these last few months of trying to quit have killed me anyway.

It is funny...you really never know what life is going to throw at you...


Chapter 12 of Take Charge-Get Results (http://www.coachmorse.com/)

Taking Ownership

What if you were to make a decision that resulted in damage to your property? Would you continue to exercise the same bad judgement, or would you make a better decision?

Making repeated mistakes, and suffering repeated failures as a result of our inability to see and correct our faults, can be a real obstacle to achieveing our goals.

Learning to take ownership of our results is the key to overcoming this obstacle.


There is a slim chance that if I take Coach Morse's advice and take ownership of my lungs and really apply the breathing techniques (http://www.borderlands.com/~christitan/amazingsecrets.html) that I have been trying to sell I can rejuvenate the damaged lung in a few years since I am still in my late 30's.

I am hoping to emerge from a dark cloud with great tips on living with stress and not giving up totally on your goals.

I feel lucky to be part of this Success story even if just to help punctuate it with my personal failure. My failure becomes success if it helps to show how difficult and what skills are really needed to make a tough change.

It is easy to change your stinky socks, but stinky habits that are stuck inside your head...takes some technique.

Enjoy,

Chris Titan

I smoked for 22 years (about 2 paks a day). I've been trying to quit for 8 years. I came closest to succeeding almost 5 years ago when I had managed to go without cigs for 50 days. I was eating right and had been exercising for about 4 months and was in fantastic shape. But, as usual, too much of life's crap was coming my way and my coping mechanism was cigarettes, so my success was short lived.

In the past 5 years I've tried a few more times to quit, never making it past 2 weeks. About 3 years agos I made a New Year's resolution to quit "cold turkey", so I smoked like a fiend up until the midnight hour. The next day, by 10am I was fighting with my wife. By noon I was smoking.

Every time I failed at quitting I got a little better at not beating myself up. Each time I was disconnecting my self-worth from the habit and viewing it more objectively. I was gaining a deep understanding that I was addicted, not weak. I gained an appreciation for just what it was that I was up against, and while I wrote my book in 2005 I was also strategizing about how to take on my addiction and win. Finally I knew that if I had it in me to write a book, I had it in me to make a decision to say goodbye to cigarettes for the rest of my life.

What I realize today is that every time I failed to quit smoking in the past I was getting one step closer to succeeding this time. It is for me yet another example of success achieved through the application of age-old principles, namely the ones I've written about in my book. My decision to quit smoking is consistent with what I truly hope to achieve and therefore compliments the other areas of my life.

So Chris, I'm sure you will be able to quit smoking. It might take some time and you might suffer many failed attempts, but you will eventually succeed as long as you keep trying.

I like your stinky socks / stinky habits comment! It's right on point!! I'm going to check into those breathing techniques you mentioned.

later,
gm

Coach,

An older friend of mine (xsmoker) claims that he says to himself "YUCK" whenever he smell the smoke. Do you think that there will be a time you would say the same thing?

just passing by :D

Most ex-smokers I know hate cigarette smoke now.

You are very right about that. I hate the smell now, and I used to be a heavy smoker.

I really did not find it offensive until I was 1 year smoke-free. The first year I quit, I liked the smell mucho. ;)

I'm indifferent to the smell. I guess that's the best way to describe it. I don't like it or hate it, I just feel nothing for the smell.

I hope that's a good thing. :bonk:

That is good. :thumb:

Quitting smoking is a big deal....I really appreciate what a person goes through when they quit. So congrats again, Coach.

Coach, you're doing bloody well mate.

Cheers to you:)

There, a genuine Aussie congratulations :tiphat:

I hope that's a good thing. :bonk:


You're entire accomplishment is a good thing! :tiphat:

Everyone's participation in this thread has made a positive impact on my success with this issue so far.

I am pleased to announce that I have achieved the 90 day goal. Monday was 90 days and now I'm pushing on toward the goal of 6 months.

Thanks again everyone!!! :)
gm

U rule gm :D

Thanks Tim!

Today will make 14 weeks.

Last night I had a dream, and in it I bummed a cigarette from my wife in the evening and then again the next morning.

I was relieved when I woke up and realized that it was just a dream.

anyway.... like to keep you all updated. :)

I read once that quite often we dream the things we don't want to happen. Like playing them out in a dream rather than having to go through it in real life.
Interesting stuff..

14 weeks...thats awesome :D

I had a bunch of smoking dreams too after I quit. I know that relieved feeling, oh too well, when you wake up and realize you didn't smoke.

Congratulations on 14 weeks...that is great!!!!

I had a bunch of smoking dreams too after I quit. I know that relieved feeling, oh too well, when you wake up and realize you didn't smoke.

Congratulations on 14 weeks...that is great!!!!

Great!

An apple a day... aint no way better than being cigarette-free for 14 weeks! :thumb:

Hey Coach--How's this going? Any new good news???

15 weeks and going strong! :yippee:

You are THE MAN! Congrats!!!! :thumb:

16 weeks without a smoke!!!

I've been trying to quit for 8 years. If I can do it anyone can....

Is there anyone out there in successvibe land that wants to quit smoking?
Anyone?

Tom... how 'bout it? You and I are the same age so I figure you're about ready to break free. :yup:

Once again, CONGRATS! That is one accomplishment to really be proud of! :tiphat:

I just realized I lost track of time and I've been thinking it's been over 20 weeks, but I added a week somewhere.

So, after careful review of the calendar, it has been 19 weeks and 4 days. Once next monday is over I'll have 20 weeks under my belt. :yippee:

:hmm: I'm still wondering if someone out there might be ready to give quitting a try (or another try).

.... anyone?

Congrats Coach! :thumb:

Congrats Coach! :thumb:


Thanks Randy!!!

and all of you who have supported me in this thread. You've had a positive impact on my success thus far, and I'm truly grateful. :)

gm

congratulations on 20 weeks next Tuesday. It is a huge thing to quit smoking, and the first year is the toughest. :thumb:

I might give it another go after my birthday this month.

Nothing like quiting smoking to remind you what a slave you are...

I have sort of forgoten...why is it so easy to get used to hacking up our lung.

It can be so rude...when you have to hack free some debris from your broncial tubes while kissing and such...even a nice chat...

anyway...if you ever...ever have the urge...come talk to me coach.

Enjoy,

Chris Titan

I might give it another go after my birthday this month.

Nothing like quiting smoking to remind you what a slave you are...

I have sort of forgoten...why is it so easy to get used to hacking up our lung.

It can be so rude...when you have to hack free some debris from your broncial tubes while kissing and such...even a nice chat...

anyway...if you ever...ever have the urge...come talk to me coach.

Enjoy,

Chris Titan

Thanks Chris!


You're right about being a slave. I felt that way for years, and now a have to chuckle a little everytime I buy gas. Freedom is a wonderful feeling!:)

Let me know if there is any way I can help you break your chains!:tiphat:

Weird....

So there I was talking to some guy (don't know who) the night before I was supposed to start my jail term (don't know why), and when I looked down at my hand, I saw I was holding a cigarette that had been smoked down to the filter. I was in the process of putting it out in an ashtray when I asked the guy, "Did I just smoke that?" Then I started moaning and agonizing over having blown my 20 weeks smokeless streak.

Needless to say I was relieved when I woke up. :yup:

5 1/2 more weeks and I'll hit the 6 month mark!:yippee:

Weird....

So there I was talking to some guy (don't know who) the night before I was supposed to start my jail term (don't know why), and when I looked down at my hand, I saw I was holding a cigarette that had been smoked down to the filter. I was in the process of putting it out in an ashtray when I asked the guy, "Did I just smoke that?" Then I started moaning and agonizing over having blown my 20 weeks smokeless streak.

Needless to say I was relieved when I woke up. :yup:

5 1/2 more weeks and I'll hit the 6 month mark!:yippee:

Coach, that is fascinating. Have you ever been to dream analysis? I used to think it hokey, but have more recently found it to be one more way to better get in touch with all parts of who I am, including my less-than-conscious self. Even without the help of a professional, simply keeping a dream journal can be a really cool way of learning more about yourself by studying your self-created thoughts that occur while you're recharging your batteries!

Coach, that is fascinating. Have you ever been to dream analysis? I used to think it hokey, but have more recently found it to be one more way to better get in touch with all parts of who I am, including my less-than-conscious self. Even without the help of a professional, simply keeping a dream journal can be a really cool way of learning more about yourself by studying your self-created thoughts that occur while you're recharging your batteries!

Never had a dream analyzed, other than trying to figure it out on my own. I dream more (or at least am aware of it) now than I did when I smoked. I find that interesting.

I'm pretty sure the smoking dreams are related to anxiety I might be having, worrying I might start smoking again. I don't know where the jail thing came from. :hmm:

Apparently I can't count. I quit smoking on May 2nd, so the 18th was the end of 20 weeks.

Damn, I've been on 20 weeks for the past 2 weeks now.... uhg!:hopeless:

I still have 6 weeks to go before I hit six months. If my calculations are correct, I can celebrate the six month mark on Halloween. Maybe I should dress up as a cigarette.:lildevil:

Maybe I should dress up as a cigarette.:lildevil:

How about as a patch? :D

How about as a patch? :D

haha.... that could work!:thumb:

Or maybe you could do something with a "butt kicking" theme.

Congratulations Coach!!


http://www.gasp.org.uk/shopimages/m56bigcig.lrg.jpg

too funny... where do you come up with this stuff? :biglaugh:

When today is over it will be 21 weeks without smokes. I triple checked this.... it is the correct number of weeks...:yippee:

Thanks again for everyone's support!:tiphat:

.... and I'm going to keep asking the question, "Who's next?"

...anyone?...

Today is Friday the 13th. It's been almost 24 weeks and I'm just 18 days away from the 6 month mark!!! :yippee:

This is the only thread where quitting can be encouraged..:) Will anyone else give quitting a try?

... anyone?.... Tom?.... Chris?...

Excellent news, Coach! Keep up the great work! :thumb:

Suggestion: send this thread as a link to a friend you know who wants to quit smoking... a priceless gift! :)

I agree, Chazper! I was talking to a man the other day who had a severe heart attack two years ago, and he is STILL smoking....unbelievable. I might print this thread for him.

I just can't imagine how difficult quitting really is. A heart attack? And he won't stop smoking?

My grandpa's brother died because he has diabetes because of drinking too much... even when he was diagnosed he never stopped...

Bad habits are really hard to break but not impossible. I have some and still trying to break them. One at a time...

Today is Friday the 13th. It's been almost 24 weeks and I'm just 18 days away from the 6 month mark!!! :yippee:

This is the only thread where quitting can be encouraged..:) Will anyone else give quitting a try?

... anyone?.... Tom?.... Chris?...


That is absulutely wonderful! Congratulations :yippee:

How much did you used to smoke?

Excellent work, Coach! :bouncy:

One thing that can help potential quitters is an acupressure technique called EFT. It involves tapping on various acupressure points while stating, to yourself, various affirmations depending on your needs.

It has totally wack success rates with the most interesting things like phobias, anxiety, weight loss, even vision improvement!

www.emofree.com (http://www.emofree.com)

Dr Mercola's free website talks about it too. www.mercola.com (http://www.mercola.com)

Jennifer

Congratualtions on Your Gift To YourSelf! and Here's to Your Continued Success!

although I am curious Coach ........
throughout the thread, You refer to "xx weeks without Smokes" or some similar languaging.

what would it look like if You were "21 weeks INTO an Expanded Enhanced Life?"



In Each Moment,
In Each Breath
is Life
Bushido Belief

Hey coach.......

I'm several years away from cigs- maybe a decade? Not even sure, anymore.... But it is much better. And it gets easier- you're well past the cravings, and a lot of the social pressures have been faced as well. So celebrate! Throw a "6 months into a cleaner life" party- order foods that you can now taste- plan a running program, or yoga, or something else.

because you've done the hard work of giving yourself the gift of health. Now start enjoying it!!

That is absulutely wonderful! Congratulations :yippee:

How much did you used to smoke?

I smoked for 22 years approx. 2 packs a day (give or take 1/2 a pack depending on the day).

Manta, I guess I refer to being smoke free because I associate quitting with breaking free from the addiction. Near the end I really felt like I was a slave to Phillip Morris. Your suggestion to change the way I speak about it is a good one, and something I will work on gradually. For now I want to keep the danger and power of the addiction at the forefront of my mind, so I won't forget how easily I could fall off the wagon. Does that make sense?

Thanks again everyone for you encouraging remarks! :)

Any of you new members been thinking of quitting?

It's been about the same amount of time for me as it has been for Baseline.

To me, it was definitely about identity. As soon as I decided I wanted to be a non-smoker, and that's how I identified myself (Smoking section, sir? No thanks, I'm a non-smoker.), it came to be.

As I said though, it's been a decade or so and I don't even remotely know that guy anymore (the me from 10 years ago). I'd no sooner smoke a cigarette now than light myself on fire for fun. :D

-CP

I smoked for 22 years approx. 2 packs a day (give or take 1/2 a pack depending on the day).



OMG! :eek: Two packs a day?? Where did you find the time to smoke that many cigarettes?

Never smoked cigarettes, but I do smoke one or two good cigars a month!!!

Not hard- when I worked in the factories 30 years ago, we all had a cig hanging from our mouth as we worked. 2-3 packs wasn't that uncommon, unfortunately; ya did what your lungs would handle. I can still feel the burning eyes, the dry, hacking cough....... you get the picture. Glad that's (gee I hope scott likes this one ;) ) behind me.

j/k our favorite vikings fan...

I smoked for 22 years approx. 2 packs a day (give or take 1/2 a pack depending on the day) I was in the 1 -2 pack a day range, with probalby an equal intake of the evil weed! :eek: It really ain't that hard to smoke that much when yer a smoker.

Manta, I guess I refer to being smoke free because I associate quitting with breaking free from the addiction. Near the end I really felt like I was a slave to Phillip Morris. Your suggestion to change the way I speak about it is a good one, and something I will work on gradually. For now I want to keep the danger and power of the addiction at the forefront of my mind, so I won't forget how easily I could fall off the wagon. Does that make sense?
It does, and like the Primate sez, when I made the choice to not smoke any more, and to BE a non-Smoker, I did that, quite literally overnight, with zero looking back.

Phillip Morris? Yeah ..... it Sucks being a slave to them! :biglaugh:

And come on, every guy in high school knows what it means when a girl smokes...If she smokes, she pokes!!:thumb:

OMG! :eek: Two packs a day?? Where did you find the time to smoke that many cigarettes?

oh just lite one up every 10 minutes or so... :o

Any of you new members been thinking of quitting?

I have tried about a million times. Use to smoke about 60 a day and that dropped to about 40 when two years ago I ceased all alcohol.

I work from home and for the last 2 weeks I only smoke in the back yard and also stopped smoking in the car. That has dropped me to about 12 to 15 a day, which I am doing without too much bother. I have wireless headsets so if am really busting for a smoke while on the phone then I can walk outside and have one.

As to stopping I think it will be much easier for me to stop from a "15 a day" habit than a "40 a day" habit.

Mike

Any of you new members been thinking of quitting?

I have tried about a million times. Use to smoke about 60 a day and that dropped to about 40 when two years ago I ceased all alcohol.

I work from home and for the last 2 weeks I only smoke in the back yard and also stopped smoking in the car. That has dropped me to about 12 to 15 a day, which I am doing without too much bother. I have wireless headsets so if am really busting for a smoke while on the phone then I can walk outside and have one.

As to stopping I think it will be much easier for me to stop from a "15 a day" habit than a "40 a day" habit.

Mike
I'ld be willing to help you PM me if interested

I'ld be willing to help you PM me if interested

How would you be able to help him? My brother has smoked for at least 25 years 1 ppd or more. He can't even quit if his life depended on it. He has tried just about everything and I'm very worried about him.

Any of you new members been thinking of quitting?

I have tried about a million times. Use to smoke about 60 a day and that dropped to about 40 when two years ago I ceased all alcohol.

I work from home and for the last 2 weeks I only smoke in the back yard and also stopped smoking in the car. That has dropped me to about 12 to 15 a day, which I am doing without too much bother. I have wireless headsets so if am really busting for a smoke while on the phone then I can walk outside and have one.

As to stopping I think it will be much easier for me to stop from a "15 a day" habit than a "40 a day" habit.

Mike

Definitely, quitting from a 15 per day habit will make it easier for you. That's an excellent first step! :thumb:

Good luck Mike!!!

How would you be able to help him? My brother has smoked for at least 25 years 1 ppd or more. He can't even quit if his life depended on it. He has tried just about everything and I'm very worried about him.


Hey Joanne, tell him to try the patch again. Also, never stop quitting. It took me 8 years of trying and failing before this last time took hold. He will do it eventually!

Yeah I hear the patch is good... I hate the gum... tastes yucky! It is like too much of a power surge! I am going to try the patch, in the not too distant future.... just not quite mentally ready yet! No lectures please... in my own time I will quit... but I don't respond to nagging or gross stuff or stats... it has to come from within, the desire to quit.

I am a very nice person... I am a calm person. However the last time I quit for 6 months, I had a real bag for a boss.... I could seriously visualize me jumping over the sales counter and wringing her whiny, contemptuous, snobby, over bearing, nasty little throat! LOL... It was then I decided for her safety and so I would not have to go to jail... it was better to start again! LOL They didn't have the patch in those days, can you tell? :D I also hate quitting, cause I always gain SO MUCH WEIGHT... So I figure if I work on my eating habits first.... get that under control first, then quit! That's my plan this time around... will let you know when I am ready to take the plunge and quit! PS: The awful boss that made our lives a living hell? She was fired for embezelment!!! LOL.... Serves her right! Never anger a person who is going through withdrawl.... aha hah ahha haa :rulz:

For the last 2 weeks I have been at 12 to 15 a day and I set an upper limt of 15. This week I am setting the upper limit to 12 and will do that for 2 weeks. Based on the last 2 weeks I think I will be having 10 to 12 a day and then in another 2 weeks I will move to an upper limit of 10 a day.

Don't know about others but it seems for me that the "addiction" level is about 35% to 50% of the number you normally have a day.

One of my major problem areas in the past has been the phone. Two things which I have done appear to have greatly eased that problem. One is using headsets and that changes your whole style on the phone and especially with the wireless headsets. The other thing I have been doing is to spend a fair bit of time on the phone with friends while not smoking which amounts to "practice".

For myself and sure many others as well, trying to break the physical addiction and the mechanical habit at the same time is too hard and simply leads to continual failure. One thing want to avod is the situatio my late father had. He was a heavy smoker and stoped in his 50s and my mother was very much behind the stopping. He ceased cold turkey and for the remainder of his life he continually complained about not smoking.

Mike

How would you be able to help him? My brother has smoked for at least 25 years 1 ppd or more. He can't even quit if his life depended on it. He has tried just about everything and I'm very worried about him.

I have helped three of my friends quit, and my sister. I act like a 12- step sponsor, and am there for them when they need me. I give them a lot of positive reinforcement, and help them through it.

How would you be able to help him? My brother has smoked for at least 25 years 1 ppd or more. He can't even quit if his life depended on it. He has tried just about everything and I'm very worried about him.

I like to work on their Real Core issues, and continue asking and asking and asking until we finally find the "right one." It is RARELY the issues we think they are.

One of my Clients (who shall go named - She knows!) is Kathleen, a former GirlFriend.
One day She called, and hemmed 'n' hawed and beat around the bush with such unbelievably inane stuff that I finally asked Her what was up. Even though we had an agreement I would not "Coach Her," She asked me to help Her. From Her, and from anyone else? That was and is Step One ..... The Desire to Change. You will not help someone who does not want to quit (well, that is actually not true, but Your chances are Faaaaaar better if the Client has a REAL desire to quit)
Step two? Diagnosis ..... WHY you want to Change! It's rarely what you think!
Kathleen came up with the ones everybody does ..... Coworkers; I'm the boss, I should set the example; going outside to smoke; My Hair, my Clothes, My Car smells ..... EVERYONE has these, so we address them by asking the WHY behind it, note it, and move on, OR take that path if the answer is the least bit interesting. Often, side road issues pop up, so it's best to nip those at that time, and come back to and deal with the originating WHY, and move on to the next.

Step Two can last a while. In Kathleens case, She came up with some good ones - My Mom had Quad By-pass Surgery last week; Be a RoleModel for My GrandKids; I might Die; no matter how stacked, no one will want to kiss a smelly stacked Blond (Her words!) and on and on, until we hit number 16 ...... "I want to let Sarah Live again." Sarah is "The Little Girl" that took and accepted all the Abuse so Kathleen didn't have to realize it in Her Day-to-Day Life growing up, but Sarah is still a Very Real Little Girl. The second She said that, Kathleen BECAME an non-Smoker, and to this day, 5 years later, remains so. We'd talked about Sarah before, but She didn't want to deal with it "back then." We worked on what the Sarah-thing meant, did a couple Transformational processes, Came up with some Actionable Steps to do to reinforce Her Desires and Commitments, and once we got "all that" aligned, Kathleen became a Very Happy and Joyous and Radiant Grammy again.

It's RARELY what we think it is. But because we Think it, it becomes so, and the REAL Issue or Cause becomes the Default Programming of Our Lives.

Makes sense Manta. I really like smoking, and I only want to quit for one reason, which is to hopefully save myself from serious health problems in the future. I don't give a crap about smelling like smoke, or having to go outside, or what others think, or being a slave to the habit, or any damn thing else. My only concern is that I don't end up dying prematurely of cancer or having to walk around with an oxygen tank or some other similar horrible fate.

Makes sense Manta. I really like smoking, and I only want to quit for one reason, which is to hopefully save myself from serious health problems in the future. I don't give a crap about smelling like smoke, or having to go outside, or what others think, or being a slave to the habit, or any damn thing else. My only concern is that I don't end up dying prematurely of cancer or having to walk around with an oxygen tank or some other similar horrible fate.

My dad is 81 years old and has smoked since he was 8 or 9, when he and his friends rolled their own cigarettes. He was diagnosed with emphysema in his 40s but it never really gave him much trouble, so he kept on smoking as hard as he could go. Finally he developed carotid stenosis (plaque buildup in the arterys leading to your BRAIN) and one of the arteries going down his leg has a 100% blockage. He couldn't even walk to the mailbox without having to stop and rest. For the past 10 years he's had to do 4 to 6 nebulizer treatments a day to stay alive. He can never go anywhere without his inhaler (It lives in his pants pocket next to his cigarettes.)

My advice, dear Tom, would be to quit now before the consequences rear their ugly heads.

Yeah .... the Health-thing IS Huge! as is Vanity and SelfImage.

Because I had been with Her and Her Mom after the surgery, I knew she was doing good, so I had a little fun with Kathleen on the Quad By-Pass ..... "You mean If YOU had Quad ByPass Surgery on YOUR CHEST that You'd have this FU**ING BIG UGLY SCAR running down YOUR CHEST between Your Big Beautiful Breasts? For EVER?"
"EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!" (I think maybe a Worlds Record?)

For Her, the Vanity was a 9.0. For Her, Her Ultimate Heath and Wellness and even Life was a 9.5.
It was "I want to let Sarah Live Again" that made it an 11.

Yeah .... the Health-thing IS Huge!

Ironically, my dad's smoking became a health concern for me....I hate it so much and I wanted him to stop so much that I'd get myself all up in arms about it on a regular basis, which got me absolutely NOWHERE. The only result for me was high blood pressure and acid buildup in MY body from being so resistant to his unwillingness to change HIS behaviour. :banghead: I've retrained myself now to mind my own beeswax and let his smoking be neutral for me. Actually, it's great that he lives with my daughter and me and he still smokes....she sees what he has to go through to stay alive, she sees the additiveness of it, and she smells the stinkiness of it. She's decided that she doesn't ever want to engage in that nasty behaviour.....plus, I told her I'd rip her limb from limb if she tried it!!!!! :gun:

Makes sense Manta. I really like smoking, and I only want to quit for one reason, which is to hopefully save myself from serious health problems in the future. I don't give a crap about smelling like smoke, or having to go outside, or what others think, or being a slave to the habit, or any damn thing else. My only concern is that I don't end up dying prematurely of cancer or having to walk around with an oxygen tank or some other similar horrible fate.


I quit 11 years ago for this reason, plus my 6 year old (at that time) daughter begged me to quit. No one thought I could quit, because I loved it....literally loved it. Quitting was very difficult for me, and that is how I help people quit: helping them through those rough spots. I did use the gum for the first year also.
I also prayed that God would take the desire to smoke away from me. That desire left after the first year, and I really do not miss them at all. My big promotional schtick is to tell people, "If I could quit, anyone can."

Congratulations to all of you who have quit and to those who still smoke....QUIT NOW!

I was fortunate when it came to smoking. I only smoked when I drank, I never became addicted. I don't even care to drink anymore. I've gotten to the point where I don't like to do anything that makes me feel like crap afterwards.

My sister was like you CJS, if she can quit anyone can... but not my brother. The anger and frustration that he goes through when he tries to quit is unbelieveable. We're afraid to be around him!

That's kinda what worries me. If I could be kept locked up in a padded room for 6 months, quitting would be a breeze. :p

Well ....... it can actually be a breeze OUTSIDE that box too. ( I meant padded room! :D )
In fact, THATS where the Mind hasta be in order to do it ..... Outside the box of the past 3, 6 11, 26 or even 50 years.
Becoming a non-smoker CAN be easy, if that is a Main Element of the Plan and Intention.

This is one of the longer threads.

there must be some interest in it.

That's kinda what worries me. If I could be kept locked up in a padded room for 6 months, quitting would be a breeze. :p

We can't keep my brother locked up for six months:cry:

How old is your brother?

Congratulations to all of you who have quit and to those who still smoke....QUIT NOW!

I was fortunate when it came to smoking. I only smoked when I drank, I never became addicted. I don't even care to drink anymore. I've gotten to the point where I don't like to do anything that makes me feel like crap afterwards.

My sister was like you CJS, if she can quit anyone can... but not my brother. The anger and frustration that he goes through when he tries to quit is unbelieveable. We're afraid to be around him!

yeah, he might not be ready yet. He might want to try Auricular Therapy; it has helped some people I know. I think it works wonders.

That's kinda what worries me. If I could be kept locked up in a padded room for 6 months, quitting would be a breeze. :p

You might want to use Auricular Therapy combined with a nicotine supplement. I used the gum for the first year, and it really took the edge off. Coach used the patch.

Not smoking gave me the freedom I thought I would never have. I am so happy being a non-smoker, that is why I always try to spread the good word.:yippee:

How old is your brother?

He's 43

Yeah, if he was 10 years younger, I would say don't worry too much yet. Still, some people quit well past 43 and do fine.

I didn't read this entire thread but wanted to encourage those smokers to QUIT ONCE AND FOR ALL..... Here is a picture I came across.

Ceiling of a "smokers lounge"....

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a104/What_Is_Hip/mime-attachment.jpg

that is heavy duty. :kewl: pic

Yeah, if he was 10 years younger, I would say don't worry too much yet. Still, some people quit well past 43 and do fine.YEP! and .....

Many of those people who quit after the age of 43 do so not from commitment or "Doctors Orders."
They "quit" because they Die.

Consider too some smokers Die from smoking related health "problems" at 43.

Also, think about the people that do not die, but suffer for decades with lingering cronic problems and challenges, most often requiring a dramatic change in "life"style. It's hard to go on a spontanious Romantic Picnic dragging an Oxygen cylinder.

It's NEVER too early to Eliminate this Deadly and Dirty and Destructive and Dreadful Habit.

Nor is it ever too late.

I have helped three of my friends quit, and my sister. I act like a 12- step sponsor, and am there for them when they need me. I give them a lot of positive reinforcement, and help them through it.


My sister finally admitted to me yesterday that she had been smoking. She has quit again, as of last Friday, because her doctor told her she HAD to quit. She is deathly serious about it now....catch my drift?:hmm:

Sorry to hear about her situation. It's too bad people have to hear "it" from someone else they respect.
It seems they don't respect their own knowing?

I agree. I am going through a thing right now of "what is there left for me, now?" I don't drink or smoke, but I do like snacking. Now, I HAVE to lose 20 lbs. and I get really depressed about it. C'mon, I have to have one bad habit.

I agree. I am going through a thing right now of "what is there left for me, now?" I don't drink or smoke, but I do like snacking. Now, I HAVE to lose 20 lbs. and I get really depressed about it. C'mon, I have to have one bad habit.
Make it Sex. then you have one more possible exercise to use. :eyebrow: (Love those Groucho Eyebrows!)

Make it Sex. then you have one more possible exercise to use. :eyebrow: (Love those Groucho Eyebrows!)

Sex without snacking is just not worth it. I like Groucho too!!:hahaha: :eyebrow:

I agree. I am going through a thing right now of "what is there left for me, now?" I don't drink or smoke, but I do like snacking. Now, I HAVE to lose 20 lbs. and I get really depressed about it. C'mon, I have to have one bad habit.

Me too!!!! Except I have to lose 30lbs :cry:

I took the plunge. I got a box of nicorette gum, and it's been around 13 hours since I smoked. :curse:

I took the plunge. I got a box of nicorette gum, and it's been around 13 hours since I smoked. :curse:

Good one Tom!!!!!

A few people quit smoking on the TR forum a few years ago in a thread that we started related to addiction busters. I think some resources were mentioned in that thread that helped people - accountability, on forums such as this (on a daily basis) was also important.... admitting to your peers if/when you fall off the wagon, climbing back on again etc... accountability partners and such like!

Paul

Make it Sex. then you have one more possible exercise to use. :eyebrow: (Love those Groucho Eyebrows!)
Sex without snacking is just not worth it. I like Groucho too!!:hahaha: :eyebrow:
Well, if you MUST snack, use my Patented Guarranteed Weight Loss Plan .....

Eat 11% less
Exercise 11% more

Customized and Personalized 'specially for YOU!

Snack 11% less
Sexercise 11% more!

I took the plunge. I got a box of nicorette gum, and it's been around 13 hours since I smoked. :curse:
Make that 14 Hours. :thumb:
Keep it up! :yippee: :hapdance: yer on a Strong Roll! :woohoo:

I took the plunge. I got a box of nicorette gum, and it's been around 13 hours since I smoked. :curse:

You might want to consider the plan I customized for Cathy. That'll take yer mind off yer lungs ..... for a few hours at least!

You might want to consider the plan I customized for Cathy. That'll take yer mind off yer lungs ..... for a few hours at least!


Hours???:hmm:

Me too!!!! Except I have to lose 30lbs :cry:


It is a big pain in the a**: dieting and weight loss. I was told I HAD to lose it, so I am up against a deadline also. :nails:

I took the plunge. I got a box of nicorette gum, and it's been around 13 hours since I smoked. :curse:

Thats wonderful Tom!! How's it goin? Do you still feel like killing people?? Just think of the benefits...the withdrawls won't last forever, remember that :thumb:

It is a big pain in the a**: dieting and weight loss. I was told I HAD to lose it, so I am up against a deadline also. :nails:

Why were you told that you HAD to? Is everything ok?

Hours???:hmm:
11% more Darlin'! :eyebrow:

I took the plunge, and it's been around 13 hours since I smoked. :hapdance:
Comin' up on 22 Hours! How easy are You Now finding this to BE right Now Tom?

You ROCK Dude! :rulz:

I suck, lol. I only made it like 15 or 16 hours and caved. :hopeless:

I suck, lol. I only made it like 15 or 16 hours and caved. :hopeless:

Yeah but like how many hours ago was that Tom? The clock just started ticking again and you can beat that time next can't you?

Paul

Yeah, I can. It's all about mustering up the courage to try again.

Yeah, I can. It's all about mustering up the courage to try again.Courage? I don't understand that. You stop smoking every time you stub out that butt. Then you are a non-smoker every time until you light up again.

Even a heavy smoker quits 20 times a day or more! How easy is that?

Just go longer and longer being a non-smoker between cigarettes and soon that longer and longer will be very long indeed.

One way or the other!!!!!

Incidentally, all traces of nicotine are eliminated from the body within 48 hours. IOW, go 48 hours without a cigarette and the addiction is over and you are running on habit only.

And habits can be changed.

Why were you told that you HAD to? Is everything ok?

Everything is okay and thank you for asking.....that was nice. :)

I had a heart attack last March, and everything is okay now, but I have to lose weight. It was brought on by stress and high blood pressure. I am kind of a health nut, and I didn't want to take blood pressure meds last year, so whammy....heart attack. I actually feel great now, and I have more energy. I never got depressed after the heart attack, and that is rare for heart attack victims...so, I am very grateful :dance:

Yeah, I quit smoking and started up again many times before I quit for good. It is a pain.

I suck, lol. I only made it like 15 or 16 hours and caved. :hopeless:

I know someone that kept throwing thier packs of cigarettes away. They would smoke one, throw the pack away and have to keep buying a new pack everytime they wanted one. They eventually quit!

Keep trying Tom, DON'T GIVE UP!!!!!!!

Everything is okay and thank you for asking.....that was nice. :)

I had a heart attack last March, and everything is okay now, but I have to lose weight. It was brought on by stress and high blood pressure. I am kind of a health nut, and I didn't want to take blood pressure meds last year, so whammy....heart attack. I actually feel great now, and I have more energy. I never got depressed after the heart attack, and that is rare for heart attack victims...so, I am very grateful :dance:

OMG, I can't believe you had a heart attack! How scary. You're so darn young! Thank God you're ok. Good luck on the weight loss, losing weight is tougher than anything I've ever had to do!

OMG, I can't believe you had a heart attack! How scary. You're so darn young! Thank God you're ok. Good luck on the weight loss, losing weight is tougher than anything I've ever had to do!


Thank You!! :)

I know someone that kept throwing thier packs of cigarettes away. They would smoke one, throw the pack away and have to keep buying a new pack everytime they wanted one. They eventually quit!

Keep trying Tom, DON'T GIVE UP!!!!!!!I used to flaunt it with a gold Dupont lighter. Quit smoking, gave the Dupont away. Started back, bought another Dupont, quit, gave the second Dupont away!

THEN I stayed quit - giving Duponts away every time you quit is REALLY expensive!!!

I don't smoke but my husband smoked for about 35 years. I never thought he would quit. We really needed a newer car but because we have an old junker. I kept telling him that if he'd quit we could make a car payment with the money he was spending on a package of cigarettes. Here in Canada they are 10 dollars a package. Our kids also pestered him to quit and one of our daughters encouraged him to buy the patch. I could hardly believe it when he really did it. He quit May 12, 2002 and we went car shopping on June 16th, the day before Father's Day. The patch really did help him and there were days he'd put it in his pocket and not even stick it on his arm. It was a real miracle because the place where he works everyone smokes. I find it kind of funny because now he tells everybody else to quit smoking and can't stand the smell of it. The only problem is he's gained quite a bit of weight because he was used to putting something into his mouth so now he likes to munch. I wish good luck to anyone trying to quit. I think it is mind over matter. Give yourself a reward if you quit.:tiphat:

I don't smoke but my husband smoked for about 35 years. I never thought he would quit. We really needed a newer car but because we have an old junker. I kept telling him that if he'd quit we could make a car payment with the money he was spending on a package of cigarettes. Here in Canada they are 10 dollars a package. Our kids also pestered him to quit and one of our daughters encouraged him to buy the patch. I could hardly believe it when he really did it. He quit May 12, 2002 and we went car shopping on June 16th, the day before Father's Day. The patch really did help him and there were days he'd put it in his pocket and not even stick it on his arm. It was a real miracle because the place where he works everyone smokes. I find it kind of funny because now he tells everybody else to quit smoking and can't stand the smell of it. The only problem is he's gained quite a bit of weight because he was used to putting something into his mouth so now he likes to munch. I wish good luck to anyone trying to quit. I think it is mind over matter. Give yourself a reward if you quit.:tiphat:


:yikes: $10.00 a pack??? Now thats a darn good reason to quit!

Wow! How did I miss all this??? :confused:

Anyway - today is the 6 month mark. That's right!! Six months of cigarette free living, and loving it!!!:hapdance: :woohoo: :woohoo: :yippee:

Thanks again to everyone who offered support on this thread!

Tom, I read what you're up to (nicorette gum - blech!), but 15 hours is 15 hours! Don't beat yourself up, just never quit quitting! I know you will succeed, because if I can do it (the most addicted man on the planet), anyone can.

Spider, while I agree that the nicotine is flushed from the body in 48 hours, the addiction itself is not. Nicotine is a mood altering drug. It triggers the production of dopamine within the brain. We become addicted to smoking (or Tom thins he likes it) because over time, the body becomes dependent on the nicotine to stimulate getting our dopamine fix. When we are sad, angry or stressed, the body craves the drug that will make us feel better.

I have learned that the smoking inself was habit. When I wore the patch, I had none of the angry outbursts I'd previously experienced with quitting cold turkey. The patch allowed me to be a nice guy and function normally, so I could deal with the "habit" of cigarettes seperately, and successfully.

After six weeks total (the last 2 weeks of which were on the lowest dosage), I stopped using the patch, and then focused on beating the addiction. What I discovered was, with the cigarettes gone and the nicotine gone, there were still times when I craved them, had smoking dreams, had angry ourbursts or just periods of extreme irritation for months afterward.

Quitting is not easy folks..... It's hard. It's not mind over matter, it's mind over a chemical addiction that is rooted in the mind. The good news is that after 6 months you rarely think about it (at least that is how it is with me).

Anyway, I hope this thread will help others. It most certainly helped me. I think being able to communicate my feelings to a supportive group is what made all the difference!:yup:

Happy Halloween everyone! .... and Happy 6 months of Freedom Day!!!:woot:

Congrats Coach! :thumb:

Six months huh? :hapdance: Congratulations! :yippee: :thumb: :applause:

Just think ..... thats approximately 1/180th of the Rest of Your Life! :kewl: the next 179ths ..... they'll Breeeeeze by like a Warm Summers Evening on Your Porch overlooking the Mirror-smooth Lake, casting the reflection of the Full Harvest Moon! :dance:

Six months huh? :hapdance: Congratulations! :yippee: :thumb: :applause:

Just think ..... thats approximately 1/180th of the Rest of Your Life! :kewl: the next 179ths ..... they'll Breeeeeze by like a Warm Summers Evening on Your Porch overlooking the Mirror-smooth Lake, casting the reflection of the Full Harvest Moon! :dance:

That is absolutely fantastic coach!!!

How do you feel? Do you still crave it?

:hmm: for some reason I'm not getting any email notifications when people reply to this thread....

Anyway....

Thanks for the kudos folks!!!

I feel fantastic and I don't crave it. I'm good to go! :yup:

:hmm: for some reason I'm not getting any email notifications when people reply to this thread....

Anyway....

Thanks for the kudos folks!!!

I feel fantastic and I don't crave it. I'm good to go! :yup:

The cigarrettes or the e-mail notifications? :biglaugh:

Just kidding, Coach! Congratulations! :thumb:

The cigarrettes or the e-mail notifications? :biglaugh:

Just kidding, Coach! Congratulations! :thumb:


haha.....

So who is ready to try quitting again (Tom?) or for the first time?

..... you know you want to...:yup:

So Coach, how long has it been?

I forgot to post this on the 16th:

The Great American Smokeout
The Smokeout is always the third Thursday of November, one week before Thanksgiving.
This year (2006), the Smokeout is November 16.

Congratulations to all who quit and who are attempting to quit. Congratulations Coach, this has been an amazing thread and I am SURE it has helped other members. My sister finally put the cigs down for good. :yippee:

I forgot to post this on the 16th:

The Great American Smokeout
The Smokeout is always the third Thursday of November, one week before Thanksgiving.
This year (2006), the Smokeout is November 16.

Congratulations to all who quit and who are attempting to quit. Congratulations Coach, this has been an amazing thread and I am SURE it has helped other members. My sister finally put the cigs down for good. :yippee:


Congratulations to your sister Cathy!

Now we have to work on Tom and my brother!

I'm working on it. :)

I'm working on it. :)

Come on Tom, you can do it!!!

mebe a No Smoking Smilie?

Ya know, I have quit smoking 3 times now ;) . The first time I quit because I was pregnant and I struggled with wanting to smoke for over a year untill I caved. The next time I quit my husband and I went to a hypnotist. That was by far the most painless way. AND IT WORKED I never wanted to smoke from the time I left the building... the first time. after about 3 years of not smoking I thought I could be a social smoker...and after the first cigarette I was HOOKED and with in 2 weeks I was smoking like I had never quit. I tried the hypnotist tapes over and over again ( the first time was a live seminar) and they never worked again..... So the last and final time I quit was about 2 years ago and it was the HARDEST thing I have ever done! It took LOTS of will power, Prayer, and determination. One thing that helped me was setting up a reward system. I actually made a chart set up in 30 minute sections and every 30 minutes I went with out a cigarette I would put a sticker in that box. Childish I know but at the end of the day when the desire was the strongest and I would realize that if I smoked all those stickers and all that effort was lost forever, and I would quite literally have to start back at square one.... that would help me.
And now I know I will never go back because I know I will never be strong enough to be a "social smoker", I know the hypnotist will not work again and I couldn't imagine going through all that again!
All that to say this.... You can do this! And NEVER GO BACK!
Keep us posted on your progress...even if you mess up.. we are here to support you.

I'm working on it. :)

Don't make me come over there! :whip:

Seriously....I have never smoked a cigarette, but that's by the Grace of God. I was born with an aversion to it apparently. In the 8th grade, my best friend called me and told me she'd smoked a cigarette that day....I hung up on her and never talked to her again. :yikes:

Disclaimer: I'm more addicted to this place than you are to cigarettes, so don't think you can get rid of me that easily, Tom! :boxer:

Ya know, I have quit smoking 3 times now ;) . The first time I quit because I was pregnant and I struggled with wanting to smoke for over a year untill I caved. The next time I quit my husband and I went to a hypnotist. That was by far the most painless way. AND IT WORKED I never wanted to smoke from the time I left the building... the first time. after about 3 years of not smoking I thought I could be a social smoker...and after the first cigarette I was HOOKED and with in 2 weeks I was smoking like I had never quit. I tried the hypnotist tapes over and over again ( the first time was a live seminar) and they never worked again..... So the last and final time I quit was about 2 years ago and it was the HARDEST thing I have ever done! It took LOTS of will power, Prayer, and determination. One thing that helped me was setting up a reward system. I actually made a chart set up in 30 minute sections and every 30 minutes I went with out a cigarette I would put a sticker in that box. Childish I know but at the end of the day when the desire was the strongest and I would realize that if I smoked all those stickers and all that effort was lost forever, and I would quite literally have to start back at square one.... that would help me.
And now I know I will never go back because I know I will never be strong enough to be a "social smoker", I know the hypnotist will not work again and I couldn't imagine going through all that again!
All that to say this.... You can do this! And NEVER GO BACK!
Keep us posted on your progress...even if you mess up.. we are here to support you.


Prayer was a big one for me and the reward system is a great idea.

Ya know, I have quit smoking 3 times now ;) . The first time I quit because I was pregnant and I struggled with wanting to smoke for over a year untill I caved. The next time I quit my husband and I went to a hypnotist. That was by far the most painless way. AND IT WORKED I never wanted to smoke from the time I left the building... the first time. after about 3 years of not smoking I thought I could be a social smoker...and after the first cigarette I was HOOKED and with in 2 weeks I was smoking like I had never quit. I tried the hypnotist tapes over and over again ( the first time was a live seminar) and they never worked again..... So the last and final time I quit was about 2 years ago and it was the HARDEST thing I have ever done! It took LOTS of will power, Prayer, and determination. One thing that helped me was setting up a reward system. I actually made a chart set up in 30 minute sections and every 30 minutes I went with out a cigarette I would put a sticker in that box. Childish I know but at the end of the day when the desire was the strongest and I would realize that if I smoked all those stickers and all that effort was lost forever, and I would quite literally have to start back at square one.... that would help me.
And now I know I will never go back because I know I will never be strong enough to be a "social smoker", I know the hypnotist will not work again and I couldn't imagine going through all that again!
All that to say this.... You can do this! And NEVER GO BACK!
Keep us posted on your progress...even if you mess up.. we are here to support you.



Thats a great story! I'm going to email it to some people I know!:headbang:

6 months and 3 weeks Randy!!!


Congrats to your sister Cathy!

Good job Tom! Keep on quitting brother..... smoking is one of the few activities where quitters win! :thumb:

Thanks for posting barb b. 3 years only to start again :yikes: . I've heard many people tell a similar story. They all keep me making a conscious decision every day to be smoke / nicotine free. :yup:

bump....

30 weeks and going strong!

Anyone else want to make a public go of it???:wave:

bump....

30 weeks and going strong!

Anyone else want to make a public go of it???:wave:

6 years - went cold turkey and never had a craving - no drugs - no withdrawal

I have not read the entire thread - just setting the scene :)

I have some questions.

Why are people counting?
What purpose does it serve to remind yourself or others how long ago it was?
When you count, do you recall the last cigerette? (and are you continually reassociating all the submodalities and therefore never really losing the feeling you once enjoyed)

I just read a post about hypnotism - Hypnotism is not the ideal tool to change behaviour long term. It is also a tool that you can 'snap' out of, very quickly. It is a tool that enhances other tools ability to work well.

When you think hypnotism, think nail and glue. A carpenter will often nail and glue timber for lasting strenth. Nails or glue on their own have a a weakness, while together, they form a strong union. Hypnotism is like the nail.

When people ask me about smoking, and stopping, I say - like a band aid (look it up if you don't know) stuck to hair - rip it off in one go, sure it will sting, only for a few seconds, and then, gone forever.

So, in just a few short hours, I can have someone go from a smoker to a non-smoker, no patches or other alternatives - just stop.

Oh...and no counting - it will be your undoing while you count.

All the best to those making efforts to change this habit.

Mark

I have not read the entire thread - just setting the scene :)

I have some questions.

Why are people counting?
What purpose does it serve to remind yourself or others how long ago it was?
When you count, do you recall the last cigerette? (and are you continually reassociating all the submodalities and therefore never really losing the feeling you once enjoyed)

I just read a post about hypnotism - Hypnotism is not the ideal tool to change behaviour long term. It is also a tool that you can 'snap' out of, very quickly. It is a tool that enhances other tools ability to work well.

When you think hypnotism, think nail and glue. A carpenter will often nail and glue timber for lasting strenth. Nails or glue on their own have a a weakness, while together, they form a strong union. Hypnotism is like the nail.

When people ask me about smoking, and stopping, I say - like a band aid (look it up if you don't know) stuck to hair - rip it off in one go, sure it will sting, only for a few seconds, and then, gone forever.

So, in just a few short hours, I can have someone go from a smoker to a non-smoker, no patches or other alternatives - just stop.

Oh...and no counting - it will be your undoing while you count.

All the best to those making efforts to change this habit.

Mark
Yeah i was thinking the same thing. I never think about it cause smoking was a non event for me. Stating the six years is more of a giving people the chance to ask me how I did it.

I have not read the entire thread - just setting the scene :)

I have some questions.

Why are people counting?
What purpose does it serve to remind yourself or others how long ago it was?
When you count, do you recall the last cigerette? (and are you continually reassociating all the submodalities and therefore never really losing the feeling you once enjoyed)

I just read a post about hypnotism - Hypnotism is not the ideal tool to change behaviour long term. It is also a tool that you can 'snap' out of, very quickly. It is a tool that enhances other tools ability to work well.

When you think hypnotism, think nail and glue. A carpenter will often nail and glue timber for lasting strenth. Nails or glue on their own have a a weakness, while together, they form a strong union. Hypnotism is like the nail.

When people ask me about smoking, and stopping, I say - like a band aid (look it up if you don't know) stuck to hair - rip it off in one go, sure it will sting, only for a few seconds, and then, gone forever.

So, in just a few short hours, I can have someone go from a smoker to a non-smoker, no patches or other alternatives - just stop.

Oh...and no counting - it will be your undoing while you count.

All the best to those making efforts to change this habit.

Mark

Interesting perspective. I'll be pondering this from now on.

I suppose the reason I bring up how long it's been here is because I feel as though I need some support at that moment. This thread is where I know I can find someone to give me a high five, and help me celebrate my achievement, as well as read other member success stories about quitting. Aslo by continuing to bring it up, I hope it might hit someone at the right time and give them just the right nudge they need if they've been thinking about quitting.

Maybe after it's been longer than a year I might stop thinking about it.... I'm not sure. For now the counting is working, and that's all I really care about at the moment. :tiphat:

Interesting perspective. I'll be pondering this from now on.

I suppose the reason I bring up how long it's been here is because I feel as though I need some support at that moment. This thread is where I know I can find someone to give me a high five, and help me celebrate my achievement, as well as read other member success stories about quitting. Aslo by continuing to bring it up, I hope it might hit someone at the right time and give them just the right nudge they need if they've been thinking about quitting.

Maybe after it's been longer than a year I might stop thinking about it.... I'm not sure. For now the counting is working, and that's all I really care about at the moment. :tiphat:



I think telling people how long it's been since you quit smoking is a great idea, especially to smokers who have been trying to quit. It's a great feat and something I would definitely want to share with people :)

Keep spreading the news!!!

If you read my post earlier you will see why I think counting is important. I don't think you are reassociating with the bad habit but counting the accomplishment of the victory over the addiction. I'm all about countin! I also found a website that would help you count. If you put in the time of your last cigarette and how much you use to smoke it would tell you how much money you have saved by not smoking. I thought that was an awesome tool! (not that anybody that quits smoking ever saves there cigarette money.. but its a great idea)... i wish i still knew the web address but i'm sure you could google it.

Here's why I believe counting is detrimental:

If you ever touch a smoke again, the wave of negativity can be so great, that you may never feel you can stop again.

Having said that, if you are strong enough to continue to count, and it's working, then keep doing it, simply because it works for you. This would tell me you are driven by avoiding pain, as opposed to gaining pleasure.

I wonder if those who count are also counting other bad habits they kicked?

Mark

Have you ever smoked Mark?

For me because I approached it as a change in identity it made counting mute because smoking became a non event - it was just simply something I did as a child for instance.

Do you count how many days it's been since you made a mud pie? It was just something in my past that I have moved on from by changing my identity. i am never reminded of it and i don't feel I have given up anything.

For me because I approached it as a change in identity it made counting mute because smoking became a non event - it was just simply something I did as a child for instance.

Do you count how many days it's been since you made a mud pie? It was just something in my past that I have moved on from by changing my identity. i am never reminded of it and i don't feel I have given up anything.

So it's true

Change can happen in an instant :thumb:

mebe a No Smoking Smilie?http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/symbolic/nosmoking.gif

Have you ever smoked Mark?

Nope

Smart boy Mark.

however that has nothing to do with the situation here.

Jo, mark is giving ome of the best advice being offered in thi thread which is mostly full of for want of a better discription fluff and bubbles.
no plan connected to reality at all. sorry boys and girls but reality is what reality is.

listen to Mark and save me having to post.
trust me I have 40 years of experience to fall back on and he is right. mmmkay?

Nope

Good for you Mark :thumb:

Maybe if you had smoked and quit you would be able to understand why people like to tell other just how long it's been since they quit. It's like an alcoholic, they know pretty much when their last drink was. I think it's a way of feeling proud of themselves and also spreading the news to help others :)

Smart boy Mark.

however that has nothing to do with the situation here.

Jo, mark is giving ome of the best advice being offered in thi thread which is mostly full of for want of a better discription fluff and bubbles.
no plan connected to reality at all. sorry boys and girls but reality is what reality is.

listen to Mark and save me having to post.
trust me I have 40 years of experience to fall back on and he is right. mmmkay?


I don't have to listen if I don't want to! :lildevil:

Good for you Mark :thumb:

Maybe if you had smoked and quit you would be able to understand why people like to tell other just how long it's been since they quit. It's like an alcoholic, they know pretty much when their last drink was. I think it's a way of feeling proud of themselves and also spreading the news to help others :)

What mark is saying is that by counting the days there is a component that says you gave up something you enjoyed and that it is a part of your identity this "struggle" - it is esentialy living in the past.

It also gives you an excuse during a moment of weakness for this beast that you have "slain" to regain it's strength and overcome you.

Allow the event to be a part of your past like wetting the bed. it was a mistake you made you have learned and you are living in the now. you are not someone who gave up smoking you are a nonsmoker. There is a huge difference that you may not be aware of but your subconceous is.

Good for you Mark :thumb:

Maybe if you had smoked and quit you would be able to understand why people like to tell other just how long it's been since they quit. It's like an alcoholic, they know pretty much when their last drink was. I think it's a way of feeling proud of themselves and also spreading the news to help others :)

That may be true. If it's such an effective method, why don't you count everything?

If I went on a date, and the woman said to me "It's been 3 years, 4 months, and 6 days since my divorce" I'd be like "riiight....."

Or if I was at a party and host offered drinks and someone said "Nope, it's been 6 months since I stopped drinking and was an alcoholic", I couldn't help but wonder how telling us their story is better then just "No thank you, I don't drink", or "yeah, I'll have a coke".

I can see this counting as having two lives of it's own. Counting by telling others, and counting for your own sake.

If you are telling others, do they really care? How do smokers feel when someone else is going around saying how long it's been? Do sane (those who don't smoke) people care? Are counters looking for that support and encouragement to gain more self esteem and maintain their new life? Will they relapse if they stop telling and stop counting <<---- And here in lies the problem!!

If you count to yourself, use a diary or calander, then it's more self reinforcement. An underlying chance that if you stop counting, you may relapse?

Generally, if you are counting, and it's working for you - great! I want you to know you have my support, because I'd rather you count then smoke. You have to ask yourself though, why you are counting - really, what is the real reason?

I wonder what would happen if a married person, who had an affair, told people how long it's been since they had an affair, while maintaining their marriage, in an effort to gain support and encouragment for and from other adulterers?? :hmm:

Mark

great post mark, i completely agree. I havent read through this thread just grabbing bits and pieces of it.

its kind of different but i used to say "i have been vegetarian for 11 months" and i was like...this is going to be your lifestyle for the rest of your life, this is what you want, why are you counting what does it do for you.

it gave me significance. but i realized this is not a "diet" it something not temporary its something forever. so i dont do that any more. if someone asks i tell them but i do not give a time with it.

its like you are counting up until the point you fall back on it.

anyways off topic sorry

I know someone who tried the patch, and some other methods of quitting, but they didn't work. It was until after he got hypnotized, he quit for good. I think it's been about 2 years now. He told me that he went in the session wanting to quit...I ask if he ever craves cigarettes and he tells me they're disgusting...so I guess it worked.

I haven't read the entire forum...but I don't think counting is really a good idea. When you quit, you quit forever, and never look back...words that came from the guy who got hypnotized...he said he used to count before he got hypnotized and it just brought him back to smoking.

This is a smoking thread. Telling people how long it's been since your last cigarette is what some people like to hear. I personally love hearing it! I've watched people battle the habit and it's good to know that it's not always a losing battle. :)

I also love hearing peoples weight loss stories as well. Any battle that has been defeated is a great accomplishment and one that should be shared.

This is Day 9256 for me.

That's about 277,680 CiggiButts I did not smoke in about 222,144 Hours. 13,328,640 Minutes. almost 80,000,000 Seconds.

No Patch. No Hypnotism. No Shock Therapy.

just a decision.

This is Day 9256 for me.

That's about 277,680 CiggiButts I did not smoke in about 222,144 Hours. 13,328,640 Minutes. almost 80,000,000 Seconds.

No Patch. No Hypnotism. No Shock Therapy.

just a decision.

Congratulations Manta!!!! :yippee:

great post mark, i completely agree. I havent read through this thread just grabbing bits and pieces of it.

its kind of different but i used to say "i have been vegetarian for 11 months" and i was like...this is going to be your lifestyle for the rest of your life, this is what you want, why are you counting what does it do for you.

it gave me significance. but i realized this is not a "diet" it something not temporary its something forever. so i dont do that any more. if someone asks i tell them but i do not give a time with it.

its like you are counting up until the point you fall back on it.

anyways off topic sorry Interesting .....


I've chosen to not eat BambiButtz about 9256 Dayz now.

That's probably about 10,000+ critters I chose not to eat in about 222,144 Hours. 13,328,640 Minutes. almost 80,000,000 Seconds.

No PETA films. no Hari Krisna. No Hypnotism. No Shock Therapy.

just a decision.

I also love hearing peoples weight loss stories as well. Any battle that has been defeated is a great accomplishment and one that should be shared.

Do they share their journey, or do they say "It's been x years, x months, x days since I lost weight."

Notice the difference.

I want people to share their stories as well - success generally speaking is about achievement of any sort - smoking, weight loss, job promotion, having a baby...it's all great and deserves to be shared. I think the journey is important.

Mark

Do they share their journey, or do they say "It's been x years, x months, x days since I lost weight."

Notice the difference.

I want people to share their stories as well - success generally speaking is about achievement of any sort - smoking, weight loss, job promotion, having a baby...it's all great and deserves to be shared. I think the journey is important.

Mark

Actually Mark, Some people do say just how long they've kept their weight off.

It's not just about any success or achievement, it's about an addiction. A very unhealthy hard to break addiction. I work for an ENT and have seen many throat, mouth and lung cancers and when someone quits smoking it's a feat worth sharing and I'm usually the one that say's "thats great, how long has it been?" and of course, most of them know to the day!

Now stop being a pain in my ass :beatup:

I'm with Mark, BillieBob and Manta, and others who speak against focussing on the 'giving up.'

I gave up smoking sometime around 1980 - I cannot remember when exactly, I cannot remember my last cigarette, and I certainly don't know how long it has been. And I didn't do the counting thing at the time, either.

Like Neil says - it's a decision, that's all. One of the many decisions one makes in a day.

In fact, giving up smoking is not in the least difficult. What is difficult is getting past the *notion* that it is difficult.

Everyone (especially the advertisers - I wonder why!) tells you it's difficult and you believe it's difficult. Because that makes the effort somehow 'grand and noble' - and those that succeed maintain how difficult it is to prove how big and clever and strong they are. In the meantime, making those who are trying to quit feel like it's very, very hard.

Giving up smoking is as easy as giving up anything you want to give up - chewing gum, M&Ms, cheese, softdrinks, hamburger, anything. In fact, nicotine is hardly addictive at all - not like heroin, although some would have you believe nicotine is harder to quit than heroin.

That's baloney!

It's not worth counting the days since you quit smoking because quitting cigarettes is no big thing at all. Counting the days is like a child counting the days to their birthday.

People make such a big deal out of it - Look how strong I am to quit smoking! Look how clever I am to stop poisoning myself! Look how wise I am to save the money!

Baloney!

If you want to quit, quit! And stop whining about it! And please stop whining about it after you've done it! Counting the days make you look like a 5-year-old in a Superman suit!

Spider, I gave up smoking as well. I never counted the days, months or years. It was so easy for me. I hated the way I smelled and the way my clothes smelled so that was it! Piece of cake!

On the other hand, I know people who go through something awful when they try to quit, my brother for one and my ex boyfriend. We all grew up together and we started smoking at the same time. The two of them have tried quitting, well, I'll speak for my brother, he's tried cold turkey as well as the patch, hypnotism, anxiety meds, you name it. The rage that he feels when he quits is unbearable!! Now are you saying that it's all in his head?

I honestly do understand about being able to give up anything you truly want to give up. I've quit many things in my life, on my own, just because I became fed up with it.

So are you saying that these people do not truly feel the withdrawls, that it's all in thier head? If not, then what exactly is going on in their head when they attempt to quit?

...The rage that he feels when he quits is unbearable!! Now are you saying that it's all in his head?Yes. Where else could it be?

..So are you saying that these people do not truly feel the withdrawls, that it's all in thier head? If not, then what exactly is going on in their head when they attempt to quit? Yes, they feel withdrawals, I believe (I believe it because they tell me they feel them) and the feelings *are* in their head.

I believe the feelings are not feelings of withdrawal but feeelings of 'feeling of withdrawal.'

IOW - it's not pain itself, it's believing that it will be painful so it is.

Every time someone says it's difficult to quit, every time someone says they tried and failed, every time someone says they succeeded but it was difficult and they're counting the days since - every time someone does these things they build the wall higher and higher for everyone else.

The expectation becomes reality. So it's not the difficulty of quitting that is the problem (because it really isn't difficult), it's the difficulty of overcoming the *belief* that it is difficult.

Believe that it is easy, and it is easy.

Yes. Where else could it be?

Yes, they feel withdrawals, I believe (I believe it because they tell me they feel them) and the feelings *are* in their head.

I believe the feelings are not feelings of withdrawal but feeelings of 'feeling of withdrawal.'

IOW - it's not pain itself, it's believing that it will be painful so it is.

Every time someone says it's difficult to quit, every time someone says they tried and failed, every time someone says they succeeded but it was difficult and they're counting the days since - every time someone does these things they build the wall higher and higher for everyone else.

The expectation becomes reality. So it's not the difficulty of quitting that is the problem (because it really isn't difficult), it's the difficulty of overcoming the *belief* that it is difficult.

Believe that it is easy, and it is easy.



I don't know Spider. I understand what you're saying and where you're coming from, I honeslty do.

"The difficulty of overcoming the *belief* that it is difficult" It just seems too simple to be that easy but in a way, I believe that as well. Like I mentioned earlier, I work for an ENT and come to think of it, some of the patients who have smoked a ppd well over 20 years have quit cold turkey, had no problems and never looked back! I always wondered about that. This is very interesting and I appreciate your input.

Counting the days make you look like a 5-year-old in a Superman suit!I DO like his boots in the new movie! Where can I get them?

Yes. Where else could it be?

Yes, they feel withdrawals, I believe (I believe it because they tell me they feel them) and the feelings *are* in their head.

I believe the feelings are not feelings of withdrawal but feeelings of 'feeling of withdrawal.'

IOW - it's not pain itself, it's believing that it will be painful so it is.

Every time someone says it's difficult to quit, every time someone says they tried and failed, every time someone says they succeeded but it was difficult and they're counting the days since - every time someone does these things they build the wall higher and higher for everyone else.

The expectation becomes reality. So it's not the difficulty of quitting that is the problem (because it really isn't difficult), it's the difficulty of overcoming the *belief* that it is difficult.

Believe that it is easy, and it is easy.
P leasure
A ssociated
I n
N oticing


While it's said that as Humons, we Avoid Pain or Gain Pleasure, somehow we ALSO associate lots of "Painful stuff" as Pleasurable because it is meeting some of our needs in the moment. The "Pain of Quiting" is most likely seen by most as a "Price to Pay."

We already paid at the door to see this Production, this Play We call Life ..... We don't need to pay anymore ..... unless we insist that we "Have To".

This is Day 9256 for me.

That's about 277,680 CiggiButts I did not smoke in about 222,144 Hours. 13,328,640 Minutes. almost 80,000,000 Seconds.

No Patch. No Hypnotism. No Shock Therapy.

just a decision.

I made a decision never to start smoking. :scared:

Decision = to cut off from any other possibility. :yup:

Spider, I gave up smoking as well. I never counted the days, months or years. It was so easy for me. I hated the way I smelled and the way my clothes smelled so that was it! Piece of cake!

On the other hand, I know people who go through something awful when they try to quit, my brother for one and my ex boyfriend. We all grew up together and we started smoking at the same time. The two of them have tried quitting, well, I'll speak for my brother, he's tried cold turkey as well as the patch, hypnotism, anxiety meds, you name it. The rage that he feels when he quits is unbearable!! Now are you saying that it's all in his head?

I honestly do understand about being able to give up anything you truly want to give up. I've quit many things in my life, on my own, just because I became fed up with it.

So are you saying that these people do not truly feel the withdrawls, that it's all in thier head? If not, then what exactly is going on in their head when they attempt to quit?

Yes absolutely. It is all in their head. Studies have shown that nicoteen is out of the body in I believe 48 hours. And the "pain" is "I might be thirsty" at best.

By your language that you are using saying that quitting smoking is hard is what makes it hard. Heck I think it's alot easier to quit smoking then to write out this response.

It is nothing more than a decision. It's like bragging at the age of 40 that you know how to tie your shoes. By the fact that someone sets up a support group that further perpetuates the psycological lie that smoking is hard to stop.

The language patterns you run in your head realy do run your life. If you say anything in life is hard then it will be hard. Change the way you talk and your results will change too.

Use EFT. It's fabs. :thumb:

www.emofree.com (http://www.emofree.com)


Jennifer

Yes absolutely. It is all in their head. Studies have shown that nicoteen is out of the body in I believe 48 hours. And the "pain" is "I might be thirsty" at best.

By your language that you are using saying that quitting smoking is hard is what makes it hard. Heck I think it's alot easier to quit smoking then to write out this response.

It is nothing more than a decision. It's like bragging at the age of 40 that you know how to tie your shoes. By the fact that someone sets up a support group that further perpetuates the psycological lie that smoking is hard to stop.

The language patterns you run in your head realy do run your life. If you say anything in life is hard then it will be hard. Change the way you talk and your results will change too.


48 hours??? Really?? That's amazing! So maybe it's something else in his life that he's missing. Kind of like when a person is an emotional eater?

I used to quote that 'Nicotine is out of your system within 48 hours' as proof that after 48 hours one is no longer addicted. Then a competent chemist or something advised that addiction is after the substance dissipates. Even herion is not an immediate problem as long as heroin remains in the body - it's only after the herion has dissipated that withdrawal problems occur. That is when 'addiction' has effect.

So, the fact (and I believe it is fact) that nicotine is removed from the body within 48 hours, doesn't mean any addiction is over by then. But nicotine is, apparently, such a mild narcotic that it never was very addictive in the first place.

I think this is what they said - or somethign similar. Any chemists on board want to confirm or deny this?

Use EFT. It's fabs. :thumb:

www.emofree.com (http://www.emofree.com)


Jennifer

Did you use this to quit smoking?

I used to quote that 'Nicotine is out of your system within 48 hours' as proof that after 48 hours one is no longer addicted. Then a competent chemist or something advised that addiction is after the substance dissipates. Even herion is not an immediate problem as long as heroin remains in the body - it's only after the herion has dissipated that withdrawal problems occur. That is when 'addiction' has effect.

So, the fact (and I believe it is fact) that nicotine is removed from the body within 48 hours, doesn't mean any addiction is over by then. But nicotine is, apparently, such a mild narcotic that it never was very addictive in the first place.

I think this is what they said - or somethign similar. Any chemists on board want to confirm or deny this?I think it's more than 48 hours. Most substances can be detected up to 7 days after their use.

The effects of any "addiction" is strongest in the Mind.

I have not read the entire thread - just setting the scene :)

I have some questions.

Why are people counting?
What purpose does it serve to remind yourself or others how long ago it was?
When you count, do you recall the last cigerette? (and are you continually reassociating all the submodalities and therefore never really losing the feeling you once enjoyed)

I just read a post about hypnotism - Hypnotism is not the ideal tool to change behaviour long term. It is also a tool that you can 'snap' out of, very quickly. It is a tool that enhances other tools ability to work well.

When you think hypnotism, think nail and glue. A carpenter will often nail and glue timber for lasting strenth. Nails or glue on their own have a a weakness, while together, they form a strong union. Hypnotism is like the nail.

When people ask me about smoking, and stopping, I say - like a band aid (look it up if you don't know) stuck to hair - rip it off in one go, sure it will sting, only for a few seconds, and then, gone forever.

So, in just a few short hours, I can have someone go from a smoker to a non-smoker, no patches or other alternatives - just stop.

Oh...and no counting - it will be your undoing while you count.

All the best to those making efforts to change this habit.

Mark

I think it is all about "whatever it takes." I was a VERY addicted smoker 11 years ago. When I have tried to help people quit, I usually congratulate them on their smoke-free time. It gives them positive reinforcement. Of course, some people don't need it, but I sure did.Interesting perspective. I'll be pondering this from now on.

I suppose the reason I bring up how long it's been here is because I feel as though I need some support at that moment. This thread is where I know I can find someone to give me a high five, and help me celebrate my achievement, as well as read other member success stories about quitting. Aslo by continuing to bring it up, I hope it might hit someone at the right time and give them just the right nudge they need if they've been thinking about quitting.

Maybe after it's been longer than a year I might stop thinking about it.... I'm not sure. For now the counting is working, and that's all I really care about at the moment. :tiphat:

I still announce I have been a non-smoker for 11 years. It was a big accomplishment for me to quit, and I am proud of it.

I think telling people how long it's been since you quit smoking is a great idea, especially to smokers who have been trying to quit. It's a great feat and something I would definitely want to share with people :)

Keep spreading the news!!!

:wss:

oops

I think it is all about "whatever it takes." I was a VERY addicted smoker 11 years ago. When I have tried to help people quit, I usually congratulate them on their smoke-free time. It gives them positive reinforcement. Of course, some people don't need it, but I sure did.

I still announce I have been a non-smoker for 11 years. It was a big accomplishment for me to quit, and I am proud of it.


You go girl!!!! :headbang:

It is nothing more than a decision. It's like bragging at the age of 40 that you know how to tie your shoes. By the fact that someone sets up a support group that further perpetuates the psycological lie that smoking is hard to stop.


:yippee:
yeah!!! I've been able to tie my shoes now for 31 weeks!!! :yippee:

I'm living a lie..... I'm living a lie.....

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Smoking isn't hard to quit...... it's all in my head..... it's all in my head.....

easy as pie..... lalalalalalalalalalalala.......:yippee: :yippee: :yippee:


But seriously folks, it's asinine statements like the one above that make people feel like **** when they fail to quit. Equating the ease of tieing one's shoes with quitting smoking???..... give me a break!!!