MarylandQuitter

I'm restless right now and it ain't gotta thing to do with not smoking. :) Great post. Will add more later once I get home.

I don't think smoking helped one bit because you decided to quit again. You still believe that smoking helps you cope with stress. A day like you described doesn't even exist in my world but if it did, it would almost be almost unrecognizable bliss. Of course I understand that there are other things going on in everybody's lives but this one day, you chose to smoke over a pissed off wife, the cable company and the weather; all excuses to smoke. There are only two good reasons to start smoking again. Good Reasons To Take A Puff On A Cigarette After Having Quit Smoking For people who think that there are no good reasons to take a puff on a cigarette after quitting, and more importantly, for people who think that there might actually be good reasons. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvHl-zwUdBo

Nope

And yes, the stairs to the Lido deck...just follow the aroma of perfectly brewed coffee leading the way. Up here you'll find any kind of beverage that you could ever want. But remember, if you choose coffee, don't let Ava charge you for it because it's free and always has been. :i-m_so_happy:

I'm bookmarking this as I'm sure it will be referenced many times. Great testimony from a great man. You were here at the beginning and gave hope and safety to many, many people. Many days I was not in the best of moods and stressed to the max but your honest and friendly style of writing put things into perspective for me. It's people like you who change lives. I would tell you to never change but you're too damn old to change anyway. :) You're probably at least 10 years younger than me but it felt good to type that. :)

That is definitely one of my favorites. I'll fix the AC link. Thanks for the heads up, Rob.

Ecigs are not going to help you deal with stress and it doesn't matter whether or not they contain nicotine. Dealing with stress is just a part of life and how well we deal with stress comes from developing and managing skills to get through stressful situations. Using an ecig after you've quit smoking is playing with fire, especially if you let yourself believe that it's somehow helping you manage stress. Take a look at this copied from another thread. Please keep in mind that big tobacco is behind much of this; trying with all they have to not only keep you hooked on their drug but also create new drug addicts who foolishly think they are getting the best of both worlds. Look at what PM did to cover up their deadly product, the gunk science, paid off politicians and the list goes on and on and on. All of this, including the depositions can be found at the QT Blog. Nicotine-Free E-Cigs Still Deliver The Juice The amount of nicotine in e-cigarette refill solutions doesn't always match what it says on the label, particularly if the label says nicotine-free, a study showed. A quarter of refill liquids tested (eight of 32) differed by at least 20% from the labeled nicotine content, with discrepancies that ranged from 92% less to 103% more than stated. All three solutions labeled as "nicotine-free" contained traceable amounts of the addictive substance, Skyler Reinhardt and Maciej Goniewicz, PhD, PharmD, both of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y., reported at the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco meeting in Seattle. Two "nicotine-free" products contained 0.9 mg/ml, while a third tested at 0.8 mg/ml nicotine. Labeled nicotine content in other tested brands ranged from 5 to 36 mg/ml. "E-cigarettes have enormous potential to hook all types of users," the researchers noted in a poster presentation. "Nonsmokers that try e-cigarettes, even with nicotine-free refill solutions, may develop an addiction because of faulty manufacturing." For conventional cigarette smokers, the battery-powered vaporizer devices are considered a safer route of nicotine delivery than burning tobacco and as a possible aid to smoking cessation. But the findings suggested that "for users that are trying to quit tobacco cigarettes by switching to e-cigarettes, there is a possibility that they are actually inhaling more nicotine than is labeled," possibly counteracting their attempts to cut back, Reinhardt and Goniewicz explained. Their study involved a random sample of 32 e-cigarette refill solutions from 16 brands purchased via online vendors in the U.S. that were tested with gas chromatography for nicotine content. The findings should have implications for regulation by the FDA, they argued. "This science can inform health policy organizations as they determine e-cigarette regulations, which can and should include ... standards for accurate labeling," Andrew Hyland, PhD, also of Roswell Park, commented in a statement. Nothing about e-cigarettes, including labeling, is yet under FDA regulation. The agency's long-delayed proposed rules are currently with the federal Office of Budget and Management awaiting release for public comment. Use by youth has been a concern, especially given flavorings likely to appeal to kids. Products included in the study had flavors like Gummy Bear, Root Beer, and Caramel Kona Milkshake. The researchers noted that while most of the refill solutions tested had fairly accurate nicotine content labeling, those levels were commonly high enough to be fatal to children. They recommended that a broader range of refill solutions be tested in the future. http://www.medpageto...y/Smoking/44238 The study was supported by Roswell Park Cancer Institute, a National Cancer Institute grant, and JP Morgan Chase. Goniewicz reported research support from Pfizer, which makes smoking cessation medications. Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco and Dorothy Caputo, MA, BSN, RN, Nurse Planner "Miracle" Aids For Quitting Smoking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyhfRm5nev0

Actually, your length of previous quits and your current status has nothing to do with any kind of support group as it has everything to do with your personal commitment to never take another puff, where you are in the nicotine addiction education process and whether or not you're still believing in the cigarette. I was quit for 6 years without any kind of support group. The story is pretty much written on my profile page. Long story short, I was not successful when I had that long quit because I had not a clue about the addiction and certainly had nothing in the way of support. When I started smoking again in 2010 or 2011 I went straight back to 30 per day and often times many more. When I decided that I wanted to quit but enjoyed it too much, my doctor told me I was an addict, put me on Wellbutrin XL and told me to find a support group, because it would increase my chances of staying quit for good. I argued but before I left all of my arguments were proven false. I found a support group and stayed quit for 9 months before I relapsed again. I had done all the reading, yada, yada, yada. The problem wasn't lack of knowledge, it was lack of truth. I was still believing that cigarettes benefited me, in particular helping me deal with stress. Thankfully I only relapsed for about a week before I quit again. Once I believed and understood that smoking didn't help me deal with stress, I never looked back. It was the one false sense of security that I was holding onto that could have kept me smoking until it crippled or killed me. You can quit on your own without any kind of support group. Many do it. But many of those people (not all) go back to smoking many years later, sometimes a decade or two later. When I look at those within the travels of my life that have had long quits and relapsed and never quit again (or the constant cycle of smoking/relapse/smoking), the common denominator is lack of knowledge about nicotine addiction and for sure, lack of a support group that helped educate them and hold them accountable. The difference for the majority of those who truly quit and NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES and those that either relapse into a full-blown addiction or "sneak a smoke" every now and then is support. A good support group will lay the foundation for a lifetime of being smoke-free. Again, you can do it on your own but please make sure that the foundation for your quit has been laid and you keep up with the maintenance of that foundation. Whether it be reading on your own, meditation or whatever, you need to never forget that you're a nicotine addict and will be for the rest of your life. Although it may be uncomfortable for some to hear and grasp, it's what we unknowingly signed up for all those years ago when we decided to become smokers. I'll Come Back For Reinforcement When I need It This video talks about the benefits of regularly reinforcing your quit when things are easy as opposed to relapsing and having to try to quit again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiIOvdMZ7us&list=PL76365B6CE2DA076B "The only time I think of smoking is when I get one of your stupid letters" Video discusses how I used to send out follow-up letter to make sure that my clinic graduates were prepared to deal with the occasional thoughts that they would likely encounter after quitting smoking. http://youtu.be/DgZN4UI_8wU Complacency Video discussing the importance of not allowing yourself to become complacent after longer term success not smoking. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZSktbwotI4&index=30&list=PL4F05C03D0F9B86DB

Netflix only has SOA through season 6, although I've read some spoilers about the season 7 and the final episode. The soundtracks are actually pretty good. Not Mark Knopfler good, but good.

Joel's videos and the documentaries. Reading, reading and then more reading. Couldn't get enough of it.

Not cool. Lol

Well, be on stand-by because Seattle gonna probably win and win big. *ducking away from debris being hurled in my direction* :)

Glad you're back, Queen Beth! :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii6L_Aux9RU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An2a1_Do_fc

NOPE!!

Not a person with any morals in the whole lot of them. Jax acts like a spoiled brat. Still, I like the show but despise the main characters. lol I even bought one of the soundtracks from the show. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuLBhxZUkmU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDoZ3z0ET6Y

After some reading I think you'll see where the above is false. You're still believing in the cigarette; that is has something of benefit to offer you. It does not. Here are a couple of quick videos to get you started. I used to think the same as you which is why I can call you on this and try and show you that thinking that smoking benefits you in any way is a lie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVEyGdqwjmQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WDTzfD_Vi4

I heard from Beth when I was out and about and she was on her way home. :) She's probably home by now. Welcome home, Beth! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

NOPE

Just be honest and upfront with them. When people asked me why I wasn't smoking I told them I had enough of it. Watching Others Smoke Video discussing how to watch others smoke and to use such occasions to reinforce your desire to stay smoke free. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEEk5-0kj1A&list=PL4F05C03D0F9B86DB&index=15 Avoiding Situations Where You Used To Smoke This video discusses the importance of facing triggers head on as opposed to the natural inclination of many to avoid situations where they used to smoke. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M681p2B-8kA&list=PLB9C6D1DB230060AA Dealing With People Who Try To Undercut Your Quit This video discusses how there may be times when you encounter family members or friends who actually try to undercut your quit. Often they are smokers who feel threatened by your quit, but there are times where non-smokers may encourage you to relapse too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S46gMeHbws&list=PLC450F77D542064AB https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HD25ZzRiqnA

On Season 6 now. Jax is starting to get on my nerves. Other than Piney, I don't really care for any of them. I don't know why I even watch it but I keep doing it. lol They all need to be buried. Jax and his little yelling tantrums needs to be smacked around. Punks. I liked the Irish priest though.

Please keep in mind that big tobacco is behind much of this; trying with all they have to not only keep you hooked on their drug but also create new drug addicts who foolishly think they are getting the best of both worlds. Look at what PM did to cover up their deadly product, the gunk science, paid off politicians and the list goes on and on and on. All of this, including the depositions can be found at the QT Blog. Nicotine-Free E-Cigs Still Deliver The Juice The amount of nicotine in e-cigarette refill solutions doesn't always match what it says on the label, particularly if the label says nicotine-free, a study showed. A quarter of refill liquids tested (eight of 32) differed by at least 20% from the labeled nicotine content, with discrepancies that ranged from 92% less to 103% more than stated. All three solutions labeled as "nicotine-free" contained traceable amounts of the addictive substance, Skyler Reinhardt and Maciej Goniewicz, PhD, PharmD, both of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y., reported at the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco meeting in Seattle. Two "nicotine-free" products contained 0.9 mg/ml, while a third tested at 0.8 mg/ml nicotine. Labeled nicotine content in other tested brands ranged from 5 to 36 mg/ml. "E-cigarettes have enormous potential to hook all types of users," the researchers noted in a poster presentation. "Nonsmokers that try e-cigarettes, even with nicotine-free refill solutions, may develop an addiction because of faulty manufacturing." For conventional cigarette smokers, the battery-powered vaporizer devices are considered a safer route of nicotine delivery than burning tobacco and as a possible aid to smoking cessation. But the findings suggested that "for users that are trying to quit tobacco cigarettes by switching to e-cigarettes, there is a possibility that they are actually inhaling more nicotine than is labeled," possibly counteracting their attempts to cut back, Reinhardt and Goniewicz explained. Their study involved a random sample of 32 e-cigarette refill solutions from 16 brands purchased via online vendors in the U.S. that were tested with gas chromatography for nicotine content. The findings should have implications for regulation by the FDA, they argued. "This science can inform health policy organizations as they determine e-cigarette regulations, which can and should include ... standards for accurate labeling," Andrew Hyland, PhD, also of Roswell Park, commented in a statement. Nothing about e-cigarettes, including labeling, is yet under FDA regulation. The agency's long-delayed proposed rules are currently with the federal Office of Budget and Management awaiting release for public comment. Use by youth has been a concern, especially given flavorings likely to appeal to kids. Products included in the study had flavors like Gummy Bear, Root Beer, and Caramel Kona Milkshake. The researchers noted that while most of the refill solutions tested had fairly accurate nicotine content labeling, those levels were commonly high enough to be fatal to children. They recommended that a broader range of refill solutions be tested in the future. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pulmonology/Smoking/44238 The study was supported by Roswell Park Cancer Institute, a National Cancer Institute grant, and JP Morgan Chase. Goniewicz reported research support from Pfizer, which makes smoking cessation medications. Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco and Dorothy Caputo, MA, BSN, RN, Nurse Planner

Does It Take 21 Days To Break The Smoking "Habit"? A common misconception is that smoking is simply a habit and that if you can go 21 days without using you will break the habit . Video discusses how smoking is more than a habit, it is an addiction accompanied by associations with many events and activities encountered throughout life. Experience, not time is what is going to determine how long it is before you break all of the different associations that you may have with cigarettes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1v7o4q399s Related resources: Craves and thoughts that occur over time http://www.ffn.yuku.com/topic/207 Other related videos: Craves or thoughts that occur over time http://youtu.be/P7Z980ITCvk Will I ever stop thinking about smoking? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8310BI... The terrible 3's https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTIr3U... Predestined bad days after quitting smoking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SdPE... Difference between physical and psychological urges https://youtu.be/_A8s7Pw7jA0 Smoking triggers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMhyHz... Everything you did as a smoker you can do as an ex-smoker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqlyA... You smoke because you are a smokeaholic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9rRR... Being locked up to quit smoking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBHsH... Avoiding situations where you used to smoke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M681p... Smoking breaks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qJkZ... Make a list of why you want to quit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgZ-P.. I Will Control My Smoking Now One of the major reasons why some people relapse is because they have been off smoking a significant period of time and they begin to believe that they will now be able to control the way they will smoke. Video explains the full power of the grip that nicotine can take on an individual once it is administered and how they will likely end up smoking just as they had before and possibly even worse. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kALov4eEK4w Related videos: The power of nicotine addiction https://youtu.be/TpYRrZG5l8A "Were you addicted" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWcTk... "Nicotine addiction" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-EGq... Complacency https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZSkt... Amount smoked https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8MEE... Are there social smokers? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-Wmt... "I've got my smoking under control" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl9uo... "Don't let a slip put you back to using" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cfxz... "Lost long term quits" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJeHt... Resources explaining interaction between nicotine and stress https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHbpX... The fallacy of "good" cigarettes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WDTz... "I want one" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHvi6..