Leaderboard

G’day NOPE .....Not One Puff Ever.... (replace Ever with Min Hour Day as required

NOPE!

NOPE!!!

Nope!!!

NOPE!!

Yep to NOPE!!

I do like the tempo of the washing machine version better. If you listen to Mel McDaniel's version at 1.5 playback speed it closely resembles the washing machine version. Makes it more of a hand-clapping, foot-stomping, hootenanny kind of song. And now back to our regularly scheduled programming...

Some see the light & some never do. It’s a shame really for those who choose to continue but we each of us have to make our own choices & live with the results.

NOPE!!!!!!

NOPE

We always knew you were "special"

Sarge went through a whole series of major life-style change at quit time near a decade ago because of health issues. Lost 64 pounds. Quit eatin' like shit - changed to a mostly plant-based grow-your-own diet. Started running full marathons. Quit a high stress job. Quit smoking. Started sleeping regularly instead of stayin' up all night ... All in an effort to get AllTheThings™ back to some semblance of Normal again. High Cholesterol - went away in the first year. Bad cholesterol down into range, Good cholesterol up into normal range. Pre-Diabetes - gone. Fasting Glucose back in proper limits within the first year. Acid Reflux - Gone. Daily consumption of Tums/Rolaids is now ... maybe 3 times a year. Fatty Liver - Gone. Full function and normal ranges on all liver numbers. Periodontal disease - up and disappeared. No sign of active disease in near a decade (although permanent bone-loss and receeded gum line will never go away) The blood pressure, though. God. Damn. The Blood Pressure. The Mother F'ing Blood Pressure! It took 7+ years after all the above life-changes for the BP to get back down into normal range and come off the meds. Give it time. It's not gonna happen over night. It might not happen at all. The Sarge is under no illusions here. Most of that shit will be back ... but it'll be back when he's 70 and not when he's 40. Age related deterioration is normal. All that shit at 40 was not.

Nope.... No freaking way

Nope!

NOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOPE!!!!!!

Talked for a little while with a guy who started out as a professional acquaintance but has become a friend. He is a mechanic and shop owner. We send any company trucks that need repaired to him. He's a good mechanic and a great guy. He's also a smoker, a heavy smoker. Every time he would take a drag off of his cigarette, he would cough and clear his throat. Then he had a terrible coughing fit that went on for a while. He was out of breath. His face turned red. His eyes watered-up from coughing so hard. I have noticed a change in his demeanor lately. He seems tired all the time. He doesn't laugh as much as he used to and when he does laugh it sets off a coughing spell. The cigarettes are beginning to take a toll on him. He has asked me about quitting before and I was more than happy to tell him about my experience. Unfortunately, it never really took with him. His "quits" would start in the morning and be over before noon. It's a damn shame. He could quit right now, but I seriously doubt he ever will. He is beginning to feel the heavy burden of smoking and that load only gets heavier going forward. I quit four years-ago. Smoking is a distant memory and I am a bit complacent about my quit most days. However, today was a reminder of how grateful I am to have quit smoking.

What's this? We got a "Saturday" theme going here? And thanks to the internet, I'll never hear the song "Louisiana Saturday Night" without thinking of a washing machine that is out of balance...

NOPE...

G’day NOPE .....Not One Puff Ever.... (replace Ever with Min Hour Day as required

It's good to reflect sometime and not get complacent This last two years I've lost my two life long companions ...... I watched my friend beg for a cigerette hours before she slipped away ... Hoping your friend Boo...takes on board what you told him ...and at least has him thinking ...this could be him too..

NOPE & NODE for @Up In Smoke's monthaversary! Congratulations up in smoke, you're doing awesome!

NOPE...

Nope

Here's one for our @Sazerac

I dunno @Boo I reckon we put it to a poll the washing machine would win best version.

NOPE!

Is that your 6 pack .????..... I think that sticks out to the eye before your belly button ....just sayin .... Quitting certainly agrees with you .!!!!.

.

.

Where's the option for "BOTH" ?!?? It ain't 50/50, neither. It ain't half this, half that. Full on *both*. Sarge has had an Umbilical Hernia (tear in the abdominals underneath the belly-button) since he was a toddler. He can switch from inny to outy on demand. It's a fun Party Skill and Conversation Starter ! EZPZ

Great reminder, boo! When I encounter people huffing, puffing, coughing and such - I’m thankful to not be in that battle anymore. And now... w COVID and masks. The thought of re-inhaling stale smokers breath makes me gag. Glad to be free!!

Cloud of gas

Meanwhile down under....

2.....stay strong Mac ...hold on to that priceless quit you have ...

6. Use it as a drum

6- carry tools in it

5. Bail water with it

9. Take a sponge bath

8- use sponges when packing valuables for moving or storing

You know I live in New York State right... Earlier results suppressed

There is no reason to hide. Other folks will make their decisions, you have no control over that. You have made your decision, you have full control over that. Be relentless with your commitment. Do that and you can stay the course regardless of what happens in the periphery. Is having a few drinks now worth throwing away your quit? Priorities.

That might be a good idea @Jswiss if you don't trust yourself to not cave. I stuck close to home for pretty much my whole first month and only ventured out when I had a never smoker with me. Others here just chose to face them head on as they came. Is your fiance a smoker? If not then lean on her to help you through these "firsts". And you also have us available to help talk you off the ledge.

Maybe its the beer talking but I just realized you said they removed your whole gallbladder through your bellybutton?! My god woman, did you ever get your bellybutton back!?

Hang in there Linda. Genetics and age can play a part in blood pressure but quitting smoking will definitely improve your health. Don't obsess over putting a time limit on the health benefits. That gives you reason to fail. When I would have a crave, I would close my eyes, breath deep and imagine my body healing. I knew that I had abused it for so long and that the improvements were going to take a while.

Fart really loud