Sirius

We can't quit for you but we can quit with you. At the end of the day it's only you looking back in the mirror.

There are certain places and activities that set off my inner nicodemon; for example: The rifle range. Seems a lot of shooters like to smoke. I get into discussions with a couple blokes and over half the group lights up. ugh! Hiking in the national forests. Yeah the solitude, the quiet with clean fresh air with a scent of pines and fir. Nobody would know... I usually offset the rifle range issues by bringing a thermos of coffee. While everyone else is lighting up, I'll pour a fresh cup of java so I'm partaking as well as having something in my hands. During my Hikes I sometimes have to remind myself that if I smoked I wouldn't be able to hike, and its not like I can run to the store and buy smokes so instead I grab a stick of gum. I'm Curious how the rest of the ex-smokers overcome.

Google lung cancer effects | Select Images. It's negative reinforcement but its no less real.

Whoops. Your right. Weird is not necessarily crazy (but it helps).

Well I did say "Crazy." I'll make another thread detailing the elegant, suave, and glamorously sophisticated yet coolly cerebral things I did to quit as soon as I think of anything that fell into that category. B)

Don't forget to stop and chew the ice. :)

These forums won't post by themselves...Attitude Check!

Still cough but not nearly as much as I used to. After thirty years of abuse I wasn't expecting a 100% recovery. Still, I'll take what I can get.

The following was some of the more weird things I did while going through the stress of decompress. Sharpen knifes. Oh Vay! scrape, scrape, scrape.... Take your time with it. Focus on getting the sharpest edge. All my knifes are very sharp. Emptied out my ashtray into a glass jar (with lid). Added a bit of water to the mix. When I feel the need I take a good long look at this stuff. If I still feel the need I unscrew the lid and take a long deep whiff. Really brings back the whole smoking experience - to include the gagging, retching, and full body coughing. If the time and place allows for it; a good stiff drink. One shot only! Purely for medicinal purposes. Bonus points for Barcardi 151. A personal favorite. Chopping Wood. Nothing like swinging an axe to work out the aggression and utter unfairness that constant denial piles onto my little psyche. Plus, I'm doing something constructive! Hold your breath until the desire to breath meets and exceeds the desire to smoke. While holding your breath contemplate how each cigarette you consume brings you closer to holding your breath involuntarily. Breathing is far more satisfying then smoking. Enjoy a fresh Jalapeño. Pop the whole thing in your mouth and chew slowly. mmmmmm... Bonus points for not having water near at hand.

no day off for this NOPE!

Nope.

It started to change when I walked past a smoker one day and just about gagged. I wish I could "like" that article a few more times. Attitude, yeah... .

You feel bad when you quit smoking but it gets better over time. With COPD it's just the opposite with no end but THE END. The other difference is you can quit smoking but you can't quit COPD!

While I have no first hand basis for comparison I have heard that dying from some of the smoking related diseases is really, really painful to say nothing of the anguish the loved ones go through watching as the disease consumes the victim, or the medical expenses that beggar the survivors. As a comparison, the unpleasantness of going through withdraw is a walk in the park even if it does take weeks, months, or years.

"He/She quit smoking for the rest of their life." When you realize that "quit smoking" is an activity and not an event the sentence takes on a subtly different meaning.

I hear you about "hiding" the habit. I could hide it from everyone but my health.

Nope, nadda, nill, never, null, neener-neener!

plus we have cookies!

If they want to light up once or twice a year they can have it. If I thought I was missing out on anything by polluting my surroundings I could always wash my socks in a public drinking fountain and call it even.

Another pot hole on the freedom road. Stay focused and remain committed. The transition between smoking and not smoking can sometimes require saying goodbye, at least temporarily, to our smoking buddies. Feelings of isolation and loneliness can happen. Recognize it if and when it happens and make sure you have the friends you need near at hand.

NOPE. All I gotta do is look at the postings in the SOS forum. I don't ever want to re-experience that sturmgebber.

You got this Evelyn. YOU are in the driver's seat. YOU are in control. Don't let that junkie thinking and nicodemon whispering distract you from the fact that you are awesome.

light cigarettes...

HHS, 163 MI (TE) BN :help: