SparkleScamp's STOP SMOKING Support thread!

[SparkleScamp]

Okay, I'm starting my own thread so that you all can give me lots of support and encouragement! It has been 4 1/2 days now and I think I'm past the worst of it but man, this is killing me!

Alan are you still not smoking? Anybody else quitting or wanting to quit?

[Swampbaby]

Coolness! It's wonderful that you trying to quit! Me? I've never smoked...at least not cigarettes. ;)

My father has been smoking for thirty+ years and it hasn't been pretty. Strange that neither my brother nor I took it up.

Feel free to bitch here whenever you like dearie! ;k

[jenkraze]

Good luck! You can do it, just remember that you're allowing a single cigg. to control your mind and damage your health..is it really worth it? *steps off soapbox*
Heh, that's my own advice to myself I used to help myself quit, it's been 2 weeks now..I bought hard candy, gum, and drank a lot of water. (heehee and a ton of soda, but hey, I quit!)
Anyways, I wish you tons of luck! Yeah, like Swampbaby said, come and bitch in here!

[sunmoonstarsgirl]

Wow, good for you! I know how difficult it
can be. My mom is trying to quit. Here in
Canada the government is trying to help
stop people from smoking my putting
graphic, full colour pictures of real cancerous
lungs, a brain that had a blood clot and
mouth cancer. It has really made some
people rethink smoking. The pics are really
gross and are take up most of the pack.
Yuk, I hope you weren't eating your lunch
when you read this!
Good luck, I know you can do it if you
could change the way you eat to loose weight!
Good for you!
Sunmoonstarsgirl :)

[Cyberia]

Good luck!!!! :)

I know it's hard but it is supposed to get easier as more time goes by...

I'm glad I never started smoking...my bf is very allergic to any and all tobacco products (can't even touch chewing tobacco, although he's never tried to handle a raw tobacco plant to my knowledge). If he's around cigarette smoke for too long his eyes will swell shut. Needless to say we have to be careful where we go when we go out.

Just make note of all the positive things that happen, like being able to taste your food better, being able to breathe better, etc...and think of that when you get the craving for a cig :)

[SparkleScamp]

Almost 6 days now??? I had only one real craving. that was when I was sitting and waiting for somebody to come pick me up (Chris HAAAATES waiting!). I always want to smoke the most when I'm sitting doing nothing. I had just finished an hour of cardio at the gym so I did my stretches right there on the street (I was sitting on a wall) and then, when I found myself still waiting, pulled out some reading materials (job related) that I made sure I had with me. So there are two things to add to my list. Thanks for the support folkses!

[Startrip80]

Its a nasty habit. I really do need to quit.

~Alan~

[Sparkly Girl]

Congrats on making it this far! You can do it. :)

[tripping sleeping beauty]

you can do it chris!!! i know how hard it is at first. it especially sucks if you are around other smokers. it will get easier with time.

i quit on october 7th 2000. its been almost 6 months. i am so proud of myself. i smoked for 5 years. one day i stopped and asked myself why i did it.... i usually smoked to relieve stress. then i decied that i didn't want cancer. so i just quit. i did try to quit a few times before but it never worked.. i'd last a few weeks. i think i've kicked it for good this time.

-kelly

[Rath_Dawg]

I know you can kick the crap out of that nasty habit.

Rath_Dawg: Still can't figure out the appeal of smoking myself...never smoked and never plan on it, mainly due to my allergy to the cigarette smoke. But then again, when I hung out with the smokers at I-91, I didn't go into any kind of fit or anything, so I guess it wasn't that bad of an allergy. *shrugs*

[SparkleScamp]

Thanks folks! Kelly, you are doing a GREAT job. Your post got me to thinking: why did I smoke? Pretty much only to relieve anxiety and boredom, and of course to look cool...hahaha.

I visualize myself at 40 as a smoker. Yucko! All those wrinkles around the mouth, yellow teeth, a chronic cough and no energy. Double yucko!

So the solution is to find other ways to deal with anxiety and boredom (as above). All these suggestions certainly help!

Oh, another change I'm making is taking care of my fingernails. This may seem like a trivial thing but biting my fingernails is compulsive behavior for me and I haven't been able to stop for many years, except when I got acryllics. They are in such bad shape that it's going to take a couple weeks just for the cuticles to heal. So anyway, another thing that I can do in idle moments instead of smoking is work on my nails.

I'm trying to think of things that don't involve eating! ARGH!

[tripping sleeping beauty]

so...... hows it going chris???

-kelly

[SparkleScamp]

GREAT, Kelly! Over TWO WEEKS now and hardly any cravings at all anymore! I have more energy than ever before in my LIFE...since I'm also cleaning up my diet and exercise plan. I'm so glad I suffered through those first three days!

[Startrip80]

Okay, so I decided before I went to bed last night that this was it. I was quitting smoking. Well so far Ive made it ALL day. I know that doesnt sound like beans to all of you non smokers but to all of you smokers, you know what Im talking about.

I CAN do this.
I WILL do this.

nicking so hard it hurts~
~Alan~
np: Melissa Etheridge ~ Change

[SparkleScamp]

YOU CAN DO IT ALAN!

Yep I know what you mean. As I said, I told myself if only I can make it through three days! For you it will probably be harder, but you won't regret it. I guarantee. I feel better than ever and what did I get out of smoking. Not a damn thing.

Lotsa love,

Chris

:O

[tripping sleeping beauty]

Chris,

i am so proud of you! it will start to get easier. i am so glad you are feeling better.
*hugs*

Alan,

you can do it. you are strong. just think of how much better you will feel...
*hugs*

-kelly

[Startrip80]

Wow I made it through my second day. The backlash from my body though is kinda harsh. I think I let my body in that I was quitting smoking and it backfired on me.

Ive been coughing a lung all day. I guess its just trying to get that poison out of its system.

~Alan~

[Startrip80]

Day 4 and no nicotine for moi.

Wow~ its getting much easier.

Ive gained 5 LBS in 4 days though. oops. Purhaps I should go to the gym.

Im pretty sure its gonna happen this time. Im going to wait a week before I say that Ive officially quit smoking.

~Alan~
np: Beth Hart ~ Is That to Much to Ask

[tripping sleeping beauty]

go alan, go alan you can do it... its your birthday....
or something like that. hee hee

gum... chew lots and lots of gum.

the only time i had a problem being a nonsmoker was when i was out at a bar with friends... or at a coffee house... coffee and cigarettes were so yummy.... but smoking causes cancer.... and thats something i all ready have to worry about... it runs in my family... so i don't want to up my chances.

be strong. 4 days is a great accomplishement.

*hug*

Kelly

p.s. how are you doing chris???

[SparkleScamp]

Thank you Kelly!

Good luck Alan!

I am still a non-smoker! I am pretty much past the cravings. I go nutzoid for about 30 seconds when my roommate lights a cigarette in the house in front of me. But it passes! I keep telling myself, I am ABOVE smoking 'cause I am BETTER than that! ;l ;l ;l ;l

[SparkleScamp]

Still not smoking!!!!!!!! And I think I helped motivate another chick to quit too!

Yeah for the quiters!

[Eiscicle]

:l KEEP IT UP Chris and Alan!!!:l

I have so much respect and admiration for people who can quit smoking, I know it's hard. Losing weight is hard enough. I've never smoked but I think that would be even more difficult to quit.

In the past 2 years I've seen my boyfriend's father and my own grandfather pass from lung cancer. My grandmother is now all alone and going through chemo herself because of her own lung cancer. My boyfriend's father was only about 55 years old and now his mother is alone as well and doesn't speak English very well (they're from Romania).

It's SOOOOO important that you stay strong and quit for good.

Good luck!

--Kristin

[SparkleScamp]

Thanks hon! Yes this time around I'm 100% committed to my health. I don't want somebody taking care of me when I'm old! I'm a late bloomer and am determined to enjoy my later years even more than I'm enjoying myself now!

[Eiscicle]

You go girl! ;)

On a positive note: Since my mom's stopped smoking (4 years ago) she's lost 50 pounds without even trying. She's become so much more active and so much happier!!! She's a completely different person. I hope I'm as happy and active as she is when I'm 50!

--Kristin

[SparkleScamp]

Kristin, you Mom's story is so inspiring! Yes I have known people who have gained weight when they quit smoking but personally, smoking always made me very tired. Not to mention out of breath for my running. I feel so much more energetic now, and am able to do so much more toward fixing good food, taking care of myself and working out, than before when I was zoned out all the time!

[Cheri]

Dan is suppose to be quitting soon. I am giving up soda.

[SparkleScamp]

I am tackling the diet Coke next, Cheryl. Good for the two of you! I'd love to see ya here more often!

[tripping sleeping beauty]

how is it going chris????
i bet it is getting a lot easier for you by now.... the only time i even get a little tempted is when i am in a social situation with other smokers... but i haven't buckled yet.

-kelly

[SparkleScamp]

Hey Kelly! It's going great, thanks for asking! I have gone through the major temptations (like being bored in a club with a friend who has a very bummable pack right there on the counter) and figure, I've come this far! My roommate is still smoking in the house and it doesn't drive me crazy anymore.

Also, I gave up Diet Coke too! Which, believe it or not, was even harder. Since also giving up sugar my favorite thing in the world was sitting downstairs at work taking a break with my cigrette and Diet Coke.

Sometimes I'm tempted to have a Diet Coke, or to go out for pie ala mode with Martin the way we used to do. But I feel so much better, and am losing weight so I remember all the benefits!

~Chris