tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post2219224570045727183..comments2024-03-28T02:15:06.910-07:00Comments on Tossing It Out: How I Quit Smoking in One DayArlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-84326696495592851582013-06-27T09:48:41.991-07:002013-06-27T09:48:41.991-07:00Good for you, Arlee! I've never smoked; I'...Good for you, Arlee! I've never smoked; I've never even held a cigarette. My sister smokes and it worries me to no end. Her fiancé, his entire family, and her friends smoke, and I imagine it's more difficult for smokers to quit when most of the people close to them smoke, too. I'm afraid it's going to take a huge health crisis to happen before she'll quit. I want her to quit before that happens! It's very disconcerting :(Laura S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13934230198562773803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-63453415380263582272013-06-23T19:02:42.500-07:002013-06-23T19:02:42.500-07:00My dad was a heavy smoker and even after a heart a...My dad was a heavy smoker and even after a heart attack and bi-pass surgery in his 30's he did not quit. I was in junior high and this made me hate smoking so much that I have never even wanted to touch one. I think my dad was in his 50's when he finally quit cold turkey.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-58697303653155095892013-06-21T09:42:50.695-07:002013-06-21T09:42:50.695-07:00Emilee -- I love you too Em!
Gracie -- I guess ...Emilee -- I love you too Em! <br /><br />Gracie -- I guess certain people are more susceptible to the addictive properties of certain things.<br /><br />Buck ---Addictions are drains on money and health that could be served for better things like family.<br /><br />Susanne -- When we're young it sometimes seem like smoking is the cool thing to do, but it's not.<br /><br />Lee<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-81784771324605205972013-06-21T04:07:40.187-07:002013-06-21T04:07:40.187-07:00Arlee, so glad you quit smoking. I smoked for awh...Arlee, so glad you quit smoking. I smoked for awhile when I was young. I'm so glad that that bad habit didn't last very long for me. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-87224722998932741112013-06-20T23:33:31.610-07:002013-06-20T23:33:31.610-07:00I puffed once or twice, but never got into it. I&...I puffed once or twice, but never got into it. I'm glad you quit Lee! The economics and health reasons should make anyone quit. However, I believe their is a physical addition that is difficult to break. I'm glad you gave it up for your wife. You both are better off. If I did have an addiction, I would do my best to quit for my wife and son. Very powerful motivation!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-69849147097459970402013-06-20T21:10:59.612-07:002013-06-20T21:10:59.612-07:00Since I tell middle school kids that nicotine is a...Since I tell middle school kids that nicotine is addictive, I did some research. Ge here http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/tobacco-addiction/nicotine-addictive<br /><br />to review research from the Nat'l Institute on Drug Abuse. The discussion re: dopamine is particularly insightful.Graciewildehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00142582724233027386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-24116563996066426412013-06-20T20:47:26.188-07:002013-06-20T20:47:26.188-07:00I'm glad you stopped to dad. love youI'm glad you stopped to dad. love youEmileehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12134217500494485898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-63638306054937841212013-06-20T20:44:56.472-07:002013-06-20T20:44:56.472-07:00Susan GK -- Apparently I'm not affected by nic...Susan GK -- Apparently I'm not affected by nicotine addiction. I felt nothing after quitting.<br /><br />Lee<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-55379430790100494172013-06-20T20:06:40.906-07:002013-06-20T20:06:40.906-07:00I have never smoked and have never been tempted to...I have never smoked and have never been tempted to even try. As a health teacher, I know the statistics and medical research that believed nicotine is one of if not the most addicting drugs people use. I'm glad you quit.Susan Gourley/Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669793865290876168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-45240207868138019372013-06-20T06:43:54.581-07:002013-06-20T06:43:54.581-07:00Chuck -- Yeah, those week-ends at the lake drinkin...Chuck -- Yeah, those week-ends at the lake drinking beer will do it every time:) I think it might be especially tough with a spouse who smokes and has a hard time quitting. The first time I quit, my wife quit at the same time and that made it easier for both of us.<br /><br />TF -- Some people have quite a difficult time quitting.<br /><br />Donna -- If you enjoy smoking (or anything you might think about giving up) it makes it really difficult to quit. My question is do smokers truly enjoy it? I'll have another post regarding this in July.<br /><br />L.Diane -- I totally agree with you.<br /><br />Jo -- I guess different methods work for different people.<br /><br />Lubaina -- Those extreme reactions to quitting make me wonder. I've not heard of such things for tobacco "addiction", but like you say different people may react in different ways.<br /><br />Lee<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-28380000134885690512013-06-20T06:33:57.076-07:002013-06-20T06:33:57.076-07:00Goood to be back at blogosphere and then read such...Goood to be back at blogosphere and then read such an amazing post by you :).. The way you've written about quitting smoking, it seems very easy. One of my friends quit smoking a few months back but he faced dire consequences after it. Withdrawal symptoms included frequent vomits, severe migraines and what not. But, he did make through it.<br /><br />I guess the effects of quitting smoking depends on every individual.Lubaina E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05074289638784974914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-58679890488184631182013-06-20T05:13:50.452-07:002013-06-20T05:13:50.452-07:00Actually, Diane, its not that easy, it depends how...Actually, Diane, its not that easy, it depends how hooked you are. I started smoking at 18 yrs. old. In later years I tried quitting and maybe managed for a month or so and then went back. Hubby quit cold turkey when he was 50 and I tried once again. Didn't work for long. Finally, about 16 years ago I bought a Life Sign computer (name has changed since), a little gadget on which I pressed a button whenever I smoked for a week and then for the next month it told me when to smoke and I pressed the button when I did. On the last day, which I remember was July 14, I cheated and had 2 cigarettes. I haven't smoked since.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14087140585742801854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-76974627259159468632013-06-20T05:03:12.861-07:002013-06-20T05:03:12.861-07:00I smoked on and off through my teen years and earl...I smoked on and off through my teen years and early adulthood. Never addicted and quit when I wanted to. <br /><br />People who say they are trying to quit frustrate me. Just do it! Just quit. It really only takes a split second to make the decision. To flip that switch in one's brain. Someone who says they want to quit but continue to smoke don't really want to quit.L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-4367557963487877142013-06-19T23:46:06.188-07:002013-06-19T23:46:06.188-07:00I never picked up the habit, though not from lack ...I never picked up the habit, though not from lack of trying. Everyone in my family smokes, when growing up my friends smoked. It just seemed the thing to do, and I honestly do have a nicotine craving once in a while. But, it just never stuck past a half a cigarett. Weird - but I'm not a beer, chocolate or mexican food lover either, so I'm pretty much an outcast for normal society :).<br /><br />My sister quits and starts over and over. She hasn't decided to quit for herself, she quits cuz it makes others happy. But, as she says, she enjoys smoking. Yeah, she's addicted, physically and emotionally, but everyone has a vice (healthy or not) and this is just her's.<br /><br />No matter what everyone says about it, I doubt I'll ever give up my diet pepsi habit. Or potato chips. No will power at all there.<br /><br />.......dholedolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-24126104200586328642013-06-19T22:12:21.789-07:002013-06-19T22:12:21.789-07:00So good you quit... I've never smoked, but can...So good you quit... I've never smoked, but can only imagine how hard it was to give up. Well done.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-23899516872420513972013-06-19T18:03:02.151-07:002013-06-19T18:03:02.151-07:00Lee, that was a great post. And as an ex-smoker my...Lee, that was a great post. And as an ex-smoker myself I applaud your ability to quit smoking as you did.<br /><br />I smoked from the age of about 18 until about age 36. Oddly I was involved in Amway at that time and used their product to quit. And did quit. Seven or eight years went by and I slowly started smoking again. First only on weekends at the lake while drinking beer and then more and more. I quit again on New Years day in 2002 as I was having knee surgery in a couple weeks and figured it was a good resolution.<br /><br />Amazingly it lasted and I have not smoked since. My wife however has had a very difficult time. She is now on the e-cigarette and her second round of Chantix. Results are so-so as she is not one to adopt a new habit easily and her Chantix regimen has been spotty. I encourage and help as I can.<br /><br />I know this, it was hard to do it once and harder to do it twice. I am proud of the fact I have powered through it and not looked back.<br /><br />Congrats to both of us. Chuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13676928110297819368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-33167643371015615382013-06-19T17:33:39.918-07:002013-06-19T17:33:39.918-07:00Liza -- Before I started smoking I would have neve...Liza -- Before I started smoking I would have never dreamed I would one day become a smoker. It was an act of defiance in one sense and perhaps self-punishment in another.<br /><br />Faraway -- Yours is an interesting case study that may be related to another facet of smoking that I intend to discuss at some time in the future. I guess I would have to be convinced that anything is actually physiologically addicting. Maybe I should try it with sugar to see what happens, though with sugar so prevalent in so many things we eat and drink it might be difficult. I guess I could start with candy. I still think that there is no such thing as someone wanting to quit something and not be able to do it. If you want to do something bad enough I think you can do it so long as it is in the realm of possibility. Hope you catch my future post on smoking and let me know what you think. I'm going to put the topic in my schedule right now for sometime in July.<br /><br />Julie -- I have always heard the stories as well. I think I know part of it. Watch for an upcoming post on this topic.<br /><br />Lee<br /><br /><br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-81338419060816694812013-06-19T15:15:19.707-07:002013-06-19T15:15:19.707-07:00It's amazing that you were able to quit smokin...It's amazing that you were able to quit smoking so easily. I always hear stories of how difficult it is. Your family must be so grateful that you quit when you did, and we all feel the same way.<br /><br />JulieEmpty Nest Insiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10074223969046687064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-43084296294609143642013-06-19T14:50:05.235-07:002013-06-19T14:50:05.235-07:00Due to computer problems and the fact that at leas...Due to computer problems and the fact that at least mentally, my comment on your apathy post was growing into an unmanageable rant. I managed to refrain from clogging up your comment box with my soapbox comment. Lucky you and your readers, BUT not so today. I simply cannot pass up on the opportunity to comment on ‘Quitting Smoking”.<br /><br />I quit smoking in less than one day. I quit smoking in that split second it took me to take that last drag and snub that last fag into the ashtray. It’s my personal opinion that everybody quits exactly the same way OR they don’t. In the case of something like smoking when you make that decision that you are going to quit and this will be your last cigarette, it is that instant that you quit, if you go back and smoke again, well, then you never actually quit, now did you? Anyway, that’s probably me just splitting hairs and being a smart ass.<br /><br />I do want to comment on the fact of addiction. I firmly believe that nicotine addiction is very real. It’s real physiologically, psychologically, emotionally and in every mental capacity possible. I had no idea how addicted I was until I quit. When friends and family finally encouraged me to go and see a doctor he was literally rubbing his hands together at the prospect of treating such a nut job interesting case. I found at the same time that I was also addicted to caffeine (not much of a surprise there) and between the withdrawal of both the nicotine and caffeine I was awake for about ten days straight. When I say awake I want to make it perfectly clear that I was not only not sleeping but I was wallpapering the kitchen, designing a newer and more efficient form of jet propulsion and working on quantum physics (not really, but it sure did feel like that). I suffered some very real physical reactions also, like developing a case of severe bronchitis as my lungs and bronchial tubes tried to clear out all of the goop. I knew if I had so much as one drag on a cigarette I would be hooked all over again so, for two full years I had nightmares that I had smoked. For years afterward I would be in a restaurant and after a meal I would start searching around in my purse for something that I could never find. Finally, one day a friend asked me what I was looking for, when faced with that question, I realized that I was looking for my non-existent cigarettes. <br /><br />I realize that not everyone is going to be so thoroughly addicted (I wasn’t even that heavy of a smoker nor had I smoked for decades when I decided to quit), but everyone does have the potential to be. I told my children that when they would be considering whether or not they wanted to cultivate a habit like smoking, think about the fact that everybody who smokes at some point wants to quit. Quitting isn’t easy, so why set yourself up for that type of torture.<br /><br />All that said, I don’t mean to sound like the pious ex- anything. Quitting anything that has become a habit is hard; giving up an addiction is even harder. My heart goes out to those who would like to quit but are unable. I used to envy those who could smoke a few cigarettes when they were out socializing and having a few drinks and then set it aside for months at a time. Today, I’m grateful that I don’t even have that ability. I’m sure that even after all the time I have spent as a non-smoker, it would be far too easy for me to be back to a pack a day with no thought at all. <br />farawayeyeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17578277501054242356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-20510249761336302332013-06-19T14:38:00.033-07:002013-06-19T14:38:00.033-07:00Glad you stopped. I never started. If I had I co...Glad you stopped. I never started. If I had I could see myself getting hooked on the act of smoking...the having something to do with my hands when I am nervous kind of thing. My mother always smoked, my father did for years before quitting...and he ended up with mouth cancer. I never was a fan of the smell, or a used ash tray. Now that I am rarely near smokers I can't bear it. Lizahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16170701034715108039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-42650199096709787722013-06-19T13:14:12.204-07:002013-06-19T13:14:12.204-07:00Robin -- I've never understood people who beco...Robin -- I've never understood people who become very sick from smoking yet continue to smoke even on their death bed.<br /><br />Joanne -- Having kids can make parents rethink a lot of bad habits.<br /><br />Carol-- I wonder if there is a trigger that causes your husband to start smoking again after he's quit?<br /><br />LD -- Great story and good for your dad.<br /><br />Susan S.-- Camels! That's a hardcore brand!<br /><br />Gregg-- I think you've nailed the key to quitting. It's difficult to do anything you don't want to do. Having an incentive to quit is important. I didn't take you to have been a smoker, but glad to hear that you quit.<br /><br />Lee<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-19550043644232459162013-06-19T12:06:23.223-07:002013-06-19T12:06:23.223-07:00Yes sir, I smoked from 1969 to 1978. 69-72 was pro...Yes sir, I smoked from 1969 to 1978. 69-72 was probably a pack or less a day. From 72 onwards it increased to three packs a day.<br /><br />I quit in August of 1978 in one day. I prayed, asked God to take away the habit, wadded up a pack of Kools, threw them in the trash.<br /><br />I started smoking good cigars about 2000, one in a blue moon or so. But even quit them around 2010.<br /><br />Been smokeless ever since.<br /><br />It has been so long since I quit that the only affect I can remember is weight gain. I stopped smoking some 50 cigarettes per day and drinking 3 pots of coffee a day to actually eating three meals a day, I put on the pounds.<br /><br />I think it is both mentally and physically addicting. It is tough to quit. But the real reason people don't quit is that they don't want to.<br /><br />If you truly want to quit you will. I do not for one moment give an inch of credence to anyone whose says they can't. Gregg Metcalfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16413691313803396844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-63971095448678028662013-06-19T11:40:20.859-07:002013-06-19T11:40:20.859-07:00Always encouraging to hear of those who quit. I am...Always encouraging to hear of those who quit. I am convinced it is both psychologically and physiologically addictive. I am married to a non-smoker but I enjoy my Camels, so smoke alone outside in the garden at times, always on my own. I am respectful of non-smokers and do not smoke in their company. It is a horrible horrible habit ... of which I am guilty.Susan Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12041548718544123557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-91589544381917082122013-06-19T11:20:12.712-07:002013-06-19T11:20:12.712-07:00My dad had been a pack-and-a-half to two-pack-a-da...My dad had been a pack-and-a-half to two-pack-a-day smoker since he was a kid. When he was in his 60's, he needed heart surgery. The surgeon told Dad he wasn't going to waste his time and surgical skills if Dad was going to continue smoking. Dad pulled the pack of cigarettes out of his shirt pocket and dropped it in the doctor's wastebasket. He never smoked again. I was incredibly proud of him. (By the way, he's now 88 and going string.)LD Mastersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01202135756299574972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-46021478166644938182013-06-19T10:40:06.667-07:002013-06-19T10:40:06.667-07:00I've smoked at different points in my life, bu...I've smoked at different points in my life, but only socially. I was never a heavy smoker. I decided one day that was it and it was. Of course, my husband still smokes. I wish he would quit again. He's one of those who quits and goes back, quits and goes back.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08915400068613145577noreply@blogger.com