# The SDMB Ex-Smoker’s club, 2001 edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 19, 2001, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548 "2001-04-19T14:49:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2001, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548/101 "2001-05-26T15:43:55Z")
Oh come on, Arden! We want details! Ooey, gooey, squishy details! Please? Pretty pretty please with cinnamon & sugar on top? –\*Persephone… [sub]who hopes that begging works with a goddess such as Arden…\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2001, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548/102 "2001-05-26T15:53:50Z")
😃 I plead the Fifth. ---
**Author:** ![callie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@callie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/callie)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2001, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548/103 "2001-05-26T17:50:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Arden Ranger \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by callie \* > > \*\* > > **Arden Ranger** - you didn’t let us know how you were doing? Dare I ask? > > \*\* > > Incentive, **callie**! I have _incentive_! > > 😃 \*\* Well damn **Arden** - maybe you have found the cure with your _incentive_. Do tell, do tell. I’m so very curious now. 😃 You say its better than my $500 proposition? ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2001, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548/104 "2001-05-26T18:34:08Z")
Rats. Darned Constitution. Anyway, it’s been four hours since I smoked. The inhaler is helping. Something to play with and stick in my mouth (oh, stop thinking bad throughts, you deves) when I want a cigarette. And I’m not craving all that badly. Four hours without is a looooooooooong time for me, when I’m just at home. I’ve got a full, unopened pack of cigarettes here, though. I think I’m going to hang on to them for a little while. If I can make it through the rest of the day without, I will toss them tomorrow. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2001, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548/105 "2001-05-26T18:53:17Z")
Congratualtions Persephone 🙂 I would **strongly** suggest you get rid of that pack of cigarettes - it’s tempation that you really, really don’t need. Make a ritual out of binning them, show yourself you’re really giving up. By hanging on to them this evening you’re leaving the door wiiiiiide open to smoking and why do you want to do that if you’re trying to give up? Shut that door, chuck those cigarettes. Not tomorrow, not later - right now. Go on! Good luck and keep us updated - i found hanging around the boards a very good distraction when the urges hit. I’ll be thinking of you this evening - i won’t pretend it’s not going to be a difficult evening for you, but i can guarantee you that you’ll feel damn good about yourself when you wake up tomorrow with the knowledge of what a strong-willed person you’re being. The inhalator’s going to help loads. You rock for quitting 🙂 Now show the cigarettes who’s boss and chuck 'em. Fran ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2001, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548/106 "2001-05-26T18:55:30Z")
Hey, four hours is pretty good. You’ve already got the hard part, getting past the cravings. They come and go and once you learn to pass them, all you’ve got to do is keep doing it. Boy, I wish it was as easy as it sounds, but it _can_ be done. I think I’ll have another carrot stick. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2001, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548/107 "2001-05-26T19:10:36Z")
Oh, i forgot to say… One of the things that really helped me on my first few days of quitting was to keep repeating, whenever a craving hit, “This craving will be over in a minute. It will pass. Just hang on.” and lo and behold, it does pass. Cravings rarely last more than a couple of minutes - just grit your teeth, distract yourself and before you know it, they’ll be over. I gave this link on dealing with cravings and urges to Callie earlier in the thread but [here it is again](http://quitsmoking.about.com/health/quitsmoking/cs/cravings/index.htm) - i found this site very useful and there’s an artical on dealing with the first week quit that you might find useful. Fran ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2001, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548/108 "2001-05-26T21:10:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > Well damn **Arden** - maybe you have found the cure with your _incentive_. Do tell, do tell. I’m so very curious now. 😃 You say its better than my $500 proposition? \*\* Oh, yeah and I haven’t even gotten the best part yet. [sub]God, I am such a tease…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2001, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548/109 "2001-05-27T02:10:53Z")
A couple of hours ago. But considering the fact that I’ve only had four today, and I normally smoke a pack to a pack and a half a day, I think that’s still okay. Got the inhaler clenched tightly between my teeth now, got a glass of wine and some chips and salsa, and I think I’m going to go crochet for a while. _I Was A Teenage Werewolf_ is on AMC in about 20 minutes…funny, I’ve always like that movie, but somehow this evening, I feel like I may actually be able to _relate…_:eek: ---
**Author:** ![callie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@callie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/callie)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2001, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548/110 "2001-05-27T02:24:02Z")
Alright **Arden Ranger** - my email address is in my profile [sub]hint,hint[/sub] Please… ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2001, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548/111 "2001-05-27T03:12:19Z")
**Persephone** , there’s nothing wrong with the severe cutback as a way of quitting. In between times, chew up your pens. 😃 I went through, oh, about a dozen. **callie** , heheh 😃 ---
**Author:** ![callie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@callie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/callie)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2001, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548/112 "2001-05-27T04:00:34Z")
And I’m still going through pen caps - its really rather gross. But I make people at work deal with it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Frannie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Frannie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frannie)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2001, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548/113 "2001-05-27T04:19:13Z")
Buy a few boxes of straws and cut them in half. Hold 'em like cigarettes, and chew the heck outta them. Truly, this worked for me… Heck, I STILL “smoke” a straw on occasion. (I quit smoking on October 6, 2000 at 6:03 PM EST.) ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2001, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548/114 "2001-05-27T14:56:49Z")
There is no way I’m giving in to cigarettes now. I’ve been hacking my lungs out for a day and a half now, and I’m not going to put myself through this again. So, it’s either quit now and forever, or smoke 'til I die. I’m going with option 1. * * * Thanks, **Satan** [sub]Smoke-free for Two days, 11 hours, 55 minutes and 42 seconds. 49 cigarettes not smoked, saving $9.99. Life saved: 4 hours, 5 minutes.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2001, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548/115 "2001-05-27T17:50:45Z")
Bah. That’s all I can say. Bah. The meter’s running. I’m looking forward to the coughing, constipation, and irritability that I put myself and my coworkers through back in March. Well, they didn’t deal with the constipation, but y’all know what I mean, I hope. Bah. This time it’s for good. I don’t care that the fiscal year ends on Friday and that it’s one of the toughest times of the year-that’s just coming up with a reason not to because I don’t want to deal with the physical stuff again. I’ve got a patch on my arm and probably will use one for the first couple of days. Just to help. A little help isn’t so bad, is it? Nah. I can do this again. And I can really do it. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2001, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548/116 "2001-05-27T17:58:44Z")
It’s been 10 hours. True, most of that time I was sleeping, but still. These things are a part of my past now. I am drinking losts of water, and cravings DO pass if you can ignore them for a few minutes. I started exercizing, too. That helps a lot. That and drinking tons of water. Definitely water. I’m trying to lose a few pounds, not balloon up like some folks do when they quit. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2001, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548/117 "2001-05-27T18:05:42Z")
Welcome aboard the wagon, **Lsura** and **Dave**. I agree, **wd** , lots and lots of H[sub]2[/sub]O. **Lsura** , I haven’t noticed constipation, but I _have_ noticed increased gas production.(and I ain’t talking about OPEC) What’s that all about? And I’m sticking with the patch(no pun intended) for at least 2 months.It’s cheaper than cigs. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2001, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548/118 "2001-05-27T18:26:14Z")
**August West** , perhaps my body reacts differently, but when I went through this cold turkey back in March, I spent a, er, miserable week or so as far as constipation went. Hope it goes better for you(and for me this time around). ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2001, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548/119 "2001-05-27T18:48:46Z")
I’ve now gone 24-plus hours without a smoke. No patches, no Zyban, just toothpicks, gum, and snacks. I am totally freaking out!!! If the Chinese wanted any state secrets out of me right now, I’d give it to them for just one drag off a Camel! I feel like my eyes can’t focus on anything for more than about a half a second, I can’t sit still for more than about a half a minute, and my hands are shaking like a chihuahua in Oslo. AHHHHHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAAA!!! Cold Turkeeeeeeeeeey, Has got Meeeeeeee, On the run! ---
**Author:** ![callie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@callie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/callie)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2001, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548/120 "2001-05-27T22:16:44Z")
I will be having my two month smoke free anniversary on Wednesday. YEAH ME! You three are doing great and are making me very happy [sub]yeah -happy that I’m past all that now - bwawaaaawaaaaaaaa[/sub] 😃 ::d&r:: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-ex-smoker-s-club-2001-edition/62548.md?page=7)