Quit smoking again.

[Jephanie]

Smoking is one habit I will fail to understand at all. My fiance used to smoke as a teenager with her friends. She started (like most others) due to peer pressure. But when she turned 19, she quit cold turkey. When I met her friends, I was appalled. They both looked like they were in their 40's old when they were actually 34 and 35. My fiance, who takes very good care of her skin, is 34 and looks like she's in her mid- to upper-20's. Smoking seriously ages the skin.

As a life-long non-smoker, I am able to clearly point out that "light" smoking or smoking with a jacket on does nothing to shelter the smell. The smoke gets in your hair and stays on your skin. Wearing a jacket simply reapplies the smell to your skin and other clothes every time you put it on. And chewing gum (especially cinnamon...) does no good. The smell is not in the mouth, it is in the larynx. As a non-smoker, I can honestly say that deep kissing a smoker used to make me want to hurl. I literally had to be drunk to handle it. Stephanie, being an ex-smoker, found herself dating a smoker a while back and was appalled by it--especially after she came down with double pneumonia.

Now, when we go out to bars to dance and have some fun, we literally take a shower when we get home to get the smell off our bodies and out of our hair. Otherwise, the bed sheets and pillows will stink.

We're not saying any of this to be mean but to state a simple truth. When you burn a cigarette in close proximity to your hair and clothes, the smell can't be hidden. And no matter how much gum you chew or mouthwash you gargle, the smell and taste are still there. And all of them are huge turnoffs (not just in a dating sense).

Assuming you are permanently successful, you'll find your taste buds will eventually regain their sensitivity and you'll enjoy more foods (with a lot less salt). And you'll save a bundle of money, too! And while I hate to use the "do it for the children" argument, I have to say that your kids smoke right along with you (even if you smoke outside) as they are exposed to the smells and tastes, too. Your palate changes may actually affect their diet, too, since you might compensate for flavor by using a lot of salt or grease in your foods. And when they hug you, the smell transfers right to them.

I applaud your efforts to quit and wish you all the success in the world.

[BonnyW]

Originally Posted by MikenJulie

I agree Bonny, the lighter smokes aren't any healthier, but if you can wean yourself down to smoke the lighter cigs, and smoke them the same way as the heavier ones, much like the smoking machines, you will get less tar and nicotine.

Back in the early 90's I smoked the heaviest smokes I could, being young and immortal, even enjoyed filterless "lung stunners" as we called them. Fog back a 25 pack of those in a night of drinking, there's a ton of bricks on your chest in the morning!

By the late 90's I was smoking a "Ultra, crazy, insanity Light" smoke by Craven A. It was rated 1/10th the tar and nicotine of the previous smokes I enjoyed. It took a while, but eventually these King Sized softies gave me my mental security of smoking, they had full flavor I was used to, I got my fix. Others would bum a smoke off me, and even with monstrous drags, complain of zero taste, nada, none.

Going from a "full flavor" to a "medium or light" smoke isn't enough of a step, you need to jump to the super ultra lights, where even with huge drags the content of nicotine and tar will be reduced.

Yep. Another problem is that those huge drags are forced even more deeply into the deepest areas of the lungs. That may make it even harder for the cilliated epithelial cells to move those tar and chemicals out of those small little areas...
As mentioned before, in numerous posts...I am an ex-smoker. I had to quit because I was getting pre-cancerous lesions in my mouth, and I was only in my 20's.
There is no safe level for cigarettes.

[BonnyW]

Originally Posted by Stumblina

I really do want to quit . . . but, like a lot of women, we're afraid of the weight gain! I think weaning is the best way for me. Besides, it's sooooooooo expensive! $5.00 a pack here in Michigan, about $45.00 a carton. I'd rather put that money aside for my next trip to Playa! Since it took me almost a year to wean down from 2 packs to 1/2 pack a day, totally quitting won't be my New Year's resolution, but quitting before I go to Playa will definitely be my goal!!!!

The weight gain is more controllable than the physical addition of nicotine.
Try not to substitute one undesireable behavior for another one. Choose ahead of time what you want to do instead of smoking, before you decide to quit. Many successful quitters substitute exercise, painting, learning a muscial instrument, or doing something that they enjoy doing instead of smoking.
One of the underlying goals here is to increase ones self-confidence...not decrease it.

[Stumblina]

Originally Posted by Jephanie

Smoking is one habit I will fail to understand at all . . . As a life-long non-smoker. . .

Yeah, I'm sure you can't understand, just as I can't understand how anyone can become addicted to drugs, as I am a life-long non-drug user (ok, ok, so I did inhale ONE TIME!) Anyway, I guess it's easy to preach and be self-righteous when you're on the other side of the fence. Ouch! Do you think you struck a nerve?

[Stumblina]

Originally Posted by BonnyW

The weight gain is more controllable than the physical addition of nicotine.
Try not to substitute one undesireable behavior for another one. Choose ahead of time what you want to do instead of smoking, before you decide to quit. Many successful quitters substitute exercise, painting, learning a muscial instrument, or doing something that they enjoy doing instead of smoking.
One of the underlying goals here is to increase ones self-confidence...not decrease it.

BonnyW - That is great advice!!! And that's exactly what I've done to cut down as much as I have. Mind diversion really does work. Or sometimes what I do when I want a cigarette is I say "I'll wait five minutes" and before you know it, a half hour has gone by! There are a lot of ways to trick the mind! Thanks for the help!

[Nerak936]

Originally Posted by MikenJulie

There is no story behind it, I saw it on another forum (an ATV forum since I am a hick/redneck), and I laughed my arse off. I couldn't help it I HAD to have it, it matched my twisted sense of humor too well.

Funny thing is, the absolute first thing I thought of after I decided to use it....... "Man I hope Nerak won't be angry with me!!!"

Yeah... being the very obvious cat-lover that I am, I can appreciate your hesitation. But I also possess an equally warped sense of humor, so I'm glad you decided to use it!!

You misinterpreted my question of "do you know the story behind it" (I worded it incorrectly - my bad), as I didn't want to tell you something you already knew.

But there actually IS a story behind it. Apparently a poor (and perhaps "slow"??) kitty cat had been hit and killed by a car and lay dead in the gutter of the street (as evidenced by the photo). A nearby homeowner called town officials over and over and over again to request that the kitty's carcass be picked up, but to no avail. So then the homeowner put up that sign. Story goes that it did the trick, and kitty was scooped up off the roadway soon after the sign went up.

[Jephanie]

Originally Posted by Stumblina

Yeah, I'm sure you can't understand, just as I can't understand how anyone can become addicted to drugs, as I am a life-long non-drug user (ok, ok, so I did inhale ONE TIME!) Anyway, I guess it's easy to preach and be self-righteous when you're on the other side of the fence. Ouch! Do you think you struck a nerve?

I think you misinterpreted my point. I can't understand the desire to start smoking. However, I COMPLETELY understand and appreciate the addictive nature of nicotine. My mother has smoked my entire life and I have seen her try to quit too many times to count. I'm not self-righteous about it at all nor do I intend to preach. I may have struck a nerve but if you re-read what I posted, you will see that I simply speak the truth about the other, less discussed effects of smoking.

I'm sorry if I offended you but there was no intent to do so!

[Rissask]

I really do want to quit . . . but, like a lot of women, we're afraid of the weight gain! I think weaning is the best way for me. Besides, it's sooooooooo expensive! $5.00 a pack here in Michigan, about $45.00 a carton.

They are ten bucks a pack here. I don't mind, actually, as it keeps me to only a pack a week; hard to justify spending ANY money on smokes, but I really can't justify spending more than that.
Weight gain is actually only an average of 5 pounds, I read somewhere, and most people end up taking that off within a year after they quit. Of course there are notable exceptions to that, I know someone who gained 40 pounds. Not sure their health was overall any better.
If weight gain is a concern, Zyban might work for you- I actually lost weight on it, it's a common side effect of the drug. Also sleeplessness and hallucinogenic dreams, but nothing's perfect.

[Stumblina]

Originally Posted by Jephanie

I think you misinterpreted my point.
I'm sorry if I offended you but there was no intent to do so!

Perhaps I was just being a little oversensitive due to nicotine withdrawal! I did re-read . . . still seems to be preachy to me . . . but don't worry . . . maybe when I totally kick the habit I'll be the same way! Seriously though, I'm not offended. Like I said, you just struck a nerve. I know it's hard to understand what it's like to be in someone else's shoes . . . or should I say addictions. Anyway, my chocolate habit it much worse then my cigarette habit! I definitely am a Chocoholic!!!! And as far as I know, there is no known cure for it . . .

[Banzoomba]

Iam good......every once in a while I sit back and wish I could light up a good cigar.....but I don't.....Ive kicked it.....Ive been a nonsmoker for almost 3 months.....had to take a wine test where I would taste the wine blind and then identify the varietals.....needed my palate in top shape.

[hockeyman99]

On January 3, 2007, I will have gone 1 year without a smoke after having smoked for just over 20 years. I went cold turkey with minimal weight gain. I rarely ever have a craving. When I do, it only lasts for a few minutes.

I was one grumpy SOB for the first month or so (my wife will argue thatI'm grumpy all the time, but I think that's just due to age).

For those attempting to quit, if you set your mind to it, and really want to quit, you can do it. Good luck!

[Jephanie]

Originally Posted by Stumblina

still seems to be preachy to me . . . but don't worry . . . maybe when I totally kick the habit I'll be the same way! . .

LOL! Well, if you think I'm being preachy, then you definitely would not want to see Stephanie's thoughts. Former smokers can sometimes be the most militant anti-smokers out there--and Stephanie would be one of them.

Seriously speaking, I feel for you wholeheartedly. I'm proud of you for your efforts and support you 1,000%. It's not easy to kick the habit and I have seen that up close and personal with several family members and friends.

[playabum17]

Originally Posted by Rissask

Not too risque, or 'skanky', is it?

All I want for christmas is a dill doe...a dill doe....

I got two!

[monte]

Mike and Michael thats great I quit 8 months ago and I am so happy I did. Yes, I gained weight but as Bonny said that can be controlled. Yesterday I went to the Body Worlds exhibit and they showed what a normal lung should look like and one that was a smokers lung. Eye awakening.
Keep up the great work guys

[Tres Piernas]

I was a long time smoker and I worked myself up to smoking over 40 smokes a day. I remember being the only fifth grade kid with an ashtray on my bike. After years of addiction I made one serious step to quit and I used Zyban. That was almost four years ago. The drug did cause interesting side effects including nightmares, and unfortunately impotency.
If at all possible at least try to quit and don't worry if at first you don't succeed. You can always try again and again until you win.