The Official August 2002 Great SDMB Smokeout thread

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
21

My one year “non-smoker” date was Jul 21. ( I don’t count that one time right after I lost my job, and promptly bummed some cigarettes whilst drowning my sorrows…) I had to check this thread, send out some good vibes to those of you quitting, and to remind myself how many times I tried to quit, and how hard it was to make it stick. I spent 5 years “quitting”. So Ima gonna witness, that forget if it didn’t work before, it only has to work once. And I’m really, really glad I don’t hork a lung up in the morning, my house doesn’t smell like an ashtray, and I don’t have my moods dictated by how long it’s been since I fed the beast.

For some reason, it helps for me to call myself a “non-smoker” rather than “ex-smoker”. Because day to day, you’re not “not-smoking”, it’s just a non-event. Plus we all know how easy it can be to excuse getting back with an “ex”…

Good luck everyone. You’ll do it…after all, Dopers are used to being in the “unlikely” percentiles, right? :slight_smile:

22

techchick, I averted my eyes every time I saw your other thread about this… but dammit! It’s time to quit!

August 5th, eh?

Heavy sigh!

OK… I’m in!

That gives me, what? Eight days. Eight days to get psyched…

23

I’m in too. Hopefully. :wink:

24

What a timely thread… Wife began her quit smoking regimen this AM!

I promise to do all I can to assist her in this endeavor!

She has asked me to set her up a screen name on this board and ask that she be added to the ranks of quitters!

Her screen name will be frannie3006, (if that is not already taken,)

I don’t post much to this board,(although I DO lurk here on a daily basis,) I am sure she will be welcomed with the same open arms and encouragement that I have always been afforded!!

Thanks guys and Gals! and Thanks Telechick68 for this TIMELY thread!! Just might be the kick in the butt to get her over the hump this time!!

25

Naw, that’s what this thread is all about hardy this isn’t The Pit, but this thread is here for you to bitch about life while quitting smoking. I don’t know how the mods feel about that but if you gotta bitch, this is your safe haven from the world…that and Live Journal too, don’t forget that. You can REALLY unload over there if you want sweetie.

BTW, it’s really not that hard to stop. Its the starting again that becomes the difficult part. After a few days your body starts to love and enjoy not having smoke anymore. You start to smell things you haven’t smelled in years. You start to taste food like you’ve never tasted it before. It really is a freeing experience and this is why you and I and everyone here can learn that it is better without those nasty-ass cigs.

Astroboy14 Thanks for joining us, this is a decision you will never regret. You can have all the health benefits of walking without coughing, waking up and not feeling like you need to use a whole box of tissue to clean out the crap your body produces to heal your lungs. You will begin to feel good in a couple of days. YOU can do this with us and be successful.

We all can be successful I tell you. Just feel it in your heart. It’s scary I say, I am just as scared as everyone else but damnit I am going to stop this nasty habit. I am and I am doing it for ME, not for anyone else, this is all about me and I am a damn selfish woman so this should be easy, right?

belladonaa :wink: either you are in or you’re not. Make up your mind sweetie, don’t be hopeful, be assured that you can do this. For all the reasons have said in this and the other thread. But you really need to want it. I want to encourage you to stop with us but this is a committment to you and your health. So, are you ready for that committment? Be honest with yourself. “Hopefully” is not a very encouraging word when it comes to something this vital to your health. I don’t want you to join in if you don’t have that committment because I don’t want you to set yourself up for failure. If you aren’t ready then follow the thread and be here with us but I want you to be a little assured that you will do this for you and your health.

I will shut up about that but I want you to be encouraged and get that feeling in your heart that you want and need to do this for you and your life.

Craneop2 your wife is more than welcome in here. She can whine, rage, moan and cry all she wants. If she’s willing to stop then by damn, all of us can help her and can be there for her during the hard times. Thank you for being her strength, she is going to need it. I wish I had the same in my life so all my Doper friends will probably take the brundt of my needing help.

I any case. I am glad to see that other people are joining us in this venture. This will not be easy and there will be people that go for that ONE smoke. I want them to be honest with us though, if you slip, fine, tell us, I want for everyone to be pulled back in to start stopping again if they slip.

This isn’t about right and wrong, this is about you and your health. This is about support and being friends to those in need.

I don’t say this often because it sounds so sappy. But I really do care for my SDMB friends a lot. You people are good people and this is something I hope we all can weather together and in success. I want for all of us to be healthy and happy, that is all I want and if stopping smoking aids in that, then I am all for it.

So let’s us all kick some butt and work together for many successes.

26

Stoopid me, yeah, jsut stoopid.

Pantellerite congrats on your non-smoking efforts. I am sorry I didn’t acknowledge you sooner, this was a brain fart on my part.

I am proud of you though. You are a shining example and if you need help, this thread is here to help you through the rough times.

If you have any insights or tips for us, they would be appreciated. Since you are so new to the experience, you have some fresh thoughts about this whole non-smoking process and I am sure that many here would love your banter.

Again, this thread is here to help all those that are stopping, recently or not. Feel free to yammer about anything in this thread. I want everyone to be successful so if you need to whine about the price of brussel spouts and this distresses you while on your quest to stop smoking, it’s relevent to the issue.

27

I really need to think about using the preview button.

Jeez.

28

I will be taking an interest in this thread, as I’ve been smoke-free since May 1. I haven’t had cravings, really since the first week or so, and I am convinced I can make this stick. I’m much happier, really.

What helped me most is the fact that every day I didn’t smoke, I’d put $5.00 into an envelope. As a pack-a-day smoker, I figured that was a reasonable average. I’m amazed at how quickly the money adds up, and it helped me fight the cravings. Now, it’s just habit, and I’m enjoying making plans for my “mad money.”

If I’m allowed, I’d be happy to pop in every now and then and lend encouragement. I can sympathize and help in other ways, too, perhaps. I may not have the cravings still, but I still remember the difficulties.

29

Count on me for emotional support to all who are quitting.

30

I’m in the same boat as belladonna. I would love to quit (again). Quit last year for 7 months, then the separation/divorce thing came around. I set 2 quit dates in the last year, but obviously didn’t stick to them. I’m really afraid to quit. Plus it’s a lot of work and I don’t feel like working. So I guess I’m not committed, but am thinking about it. So I’ll hang around and lend an ear (and maybe get committed to quitting!).

31

Dave Of course you are welcome to join us.

Zy Thank you. I am sure many of us here will need it, especially in the first few days.

peedin Like I told belladonna if your heart isn’t into it, please don’t stop just yet. I am sure that another failed attempt to stop would not be good for you. I would much rather see people here that have all intentions to stop, not because I am a meanie but because I want you to succeed.

If you want, push it off a couple of weeks or a month and psyche yourself up for it. I am sure we will still be here and will be here to support you for when you are ready.

32

Thanks, techie. I wouldn’t want to feel like a fifth wheel, and I won’t be looking for support, because I really do feel cured.

But I am perfectly willing to offer support, encouragement, ass-kicks, whatever anyone needs. And also to sort of serve as some kind of an example. I mean, after only two weeks, I knew I had it licked. Now it’s been three months, and I almost never even think about smoking.

IT CAN BE DONE!

I mean, I’m just sayin’…

33

<---- Nonsmoker, but just wanted to wish everyone the best of luck. Hang in there!

34

I’m sorry my wording struck you as flippant, **techchick68
**. I know you’re all taking this seriously, and god knows I’m definitely ready to be done with it.
The “hopefully” just sprung from some personal crap that I am going to be bombarded with on the 10th of August. And while I’m sick to death of this habit, I’m not sure I’ll be able to deal with quitting smoking and Summer Shitfest '02 at the same time. So, yeah, I’m interested in being on board–but I might have to doggie paddle behind you for a bit until I can climb on.

bella

35

I never smoked and hopefully I never will, but I wanted to wish you all good luck. techie, let me know if there’s anything I can do to help you guys out.

(And loupdebois… I’ll be watching you! ;))

36

belladonna not a problem. I just could tell you had some reservations about it. So by all means join us when you can. Hopefully we can give you some insight as to your first experiences after stopping and hopefully a bunch of us can pass the urge to start again. Like I said, I want you to be succesful and that success can take some mental preparation.

LaurAnge since you are a non-smoker, you can give us encouragement about the life of a non-smoker and all the fun things you can do that maybe we can’t or don’t because our nasty habit has created weakened lungs, stressed hearts and over circulatory problems.

37

Just checking into this thread. I’m still on the list and ready to quit (I’ve cut down almost 1/2 of the amount already)

38

Ummm…errr…hemming and hawing…I want to, I need to…I’m ready to…

I guess I’m in.

~V

39

I’ve told my friend’s August will be the month I quit. And, what do you know…this thread comes up!

I’m in.

40

er… ahhh… hummm

Oh, okay. I’m in.

In March, I had been a non-smoker for a year. Then stupid me hits a rough spot in my relationship, and starts smoking again in June. I’m smoking more now than I ever have. Up to two packs a day sometimes. It’s crazy. I blame the fact that I’m smoking menthols this time.

I want to quit, I need to quit, I can feel what these nasty things are doing to my lungs and I hate it.

I’m going to get some of that gum and quit with you guys. I hope you won’t be offened if I quit on Aug 2nd instead of the 5th. It’s just that the 2nd is my first day back to work and I can control my smoking better at work (not a lot of breaks). I work Fri/Sat/Sun night and hope to be through the toughest part by the time I spend time with my GF on Tues. (she smokes too)
Now to go home and tell the GF that I’m quitting. If I’m lucky, she’ll want to quit as well. I know that she’s been wanting to for a few weeks now. Maybe it’s time for both of us.