Quitting Smoking

[Kazz]

I quit cold turkey about 7 years ago Plank. The first couple of weeks are difficult...after that smooth sailing. It took a couple of years before the urge completely dissipated especially when out drinking, but it does finally subside. Good luck.

[Jimi75]

Don't tell too many poeple about your plan, because it put you under pressure.
You definitely made the right decision and the smoke free time will be a tremendous imrpovemnet to your life.

I think the health and monetary aspect are quite obvious, but the fact that this little thing made of dry leaves and paper is not going to controle you as a mature man should be enough motivation to make your plan come together!



P.S.: Don't look at my avatar *lol*

[pes_laul]

So I don't smoke or anything but a good way to quit is to try these http://www.blucigs.com/starter-kits

My dad started using them and he hasnt smoked a cigarette in a long time. They have nicotine but none of that nasty tar and other stuff.

[syo***]

Best to you PS.

Although I was never a heavy smoker, I have found that it feels very nice to no longer "need" a smoke. There were certain situations that more or less demanded it. But now that I've quit it does seem like my time, money and health could have been much better spent on other activities.

Just give it your best shot but don't get down on yourself should quitting not go exactly to plan. Since you already quit once for 5 months, you pretty much know how to do it. You'll be healthier, richer and have more time...
...to play guitar!

[poodlesrule]

It is a good idea to clear house, car, desk, workshop of smoking-related items. I think there is a link to the tactile sense, on top of the addiction to the chemicals.

I did the cleaning part, as recommended by the hypnotist who got me to quit, back in the Regan era! Best 120 bucks I ever spent BTW, and the post-hypnosis is a riot!

I have seen a few specialists (doctors, that is) in last few years, and the first question that comes up is "Did you ever smoke?" For example, there is a definite link with bladder cancer.

[street music]

Plank, I commend you for a great life saving effort you are making. I'm proud of any and all who give it up. I have begged with some of my co-workers to quit, two of them have, I hope our company passes a NO SMOKING regulation soon.

[deeaa*]

Plank, I commend you for a great life saving effort you are making. I'm proud of any and all who give it up. I have begged with some of my co-workers to quit, two of them have, I hope our company passes a NO SMOKING regulation soon.

I dunno...on one hand I'm happy about smoking bans, but then again, you can't forbid everything. What's next, then?

Cars kill more people than cigarettes, so maybe they should soon be banned.
Alcohol probably causes more health and social problems than anything else, so that should definitely go next.
Hitch-hiking is dangerous so that should be banned.
Meat eating is not very sustainable, so that too.
Fats in foods should go under the ban for sure.
Same goes for guns, sharp knives etc.

I do understand that smoking of this bunch is by far the easiest and most sensible target for banning, and all the rest probably seem plain silly, but still. Anybody should have the chance to kill themselves quick or slow if they so choose, with smoking, alcohol, or whatever they want.

So...once they ban smoking, you can bet within 50 or so years at least one if not most things of the list above will also get banned. Check out some communist states and you'll see that's exactly what has happened. In Singapore you can get flogged for just spitting on the street.

And what will be left? Just a plain dull life with no sharp edges, fat, listless people who live in a bubble of virtual reality and neatly-tucked suburbs and do nothing but grind more money for those in charge, who, in turn, you can bet your behind will still be drinking and smoking in their cabinets, laughing at the enslaved people...and the only people having a resemblance of life will be the outcasts and criminals etc. who rebel against the neutering process of man.

Sometimes I think that maybe a total environmental disaster, superflu or whatever would be the only way to save us. If it killed almost all the people maybe that would save the human race from voluntary lobotomy and impossible, exponential population growth that we're happily accepting and not even discussing. If only the strong would survive maybe there would be a chance to evolve a little further and save the planet

But, this goes well into politics I guess...:-) maybe I'm a bit gloomy because I just woke up tired...

[poodlesrule]

And what will be left? Just a plain dull life with no sharp edges

(in jest)
To think that some countries are thinking of banning heavy gauge guitar strings... not good for the youth!

[ZMAN]

It only took a doctor to tell me I would be dead by 40 if I didn't stop.
Of course I was only 20 at the time, but I had a lot of Bronchial issues. I had smoked since I was 12.
I am 62 now and so it does work.
How I was able to do it was I conviced myself I didn't smoke.
Funny how it works. Every craving I got I just told myself "you don't smoke"
and that was it. 42 years and never touched them again.
I recently bought an amp from a smoker and it has taken me two weeks and about 5 wash downs to get the tolex where I can be in the same room.
I just rationalize it with one thought.
People die in fires not from burining but smoke inhalation. With cigarettes you are doing it a little bit at a time, but the same end result!

[marnold***]

I dunno...on one hand I'm happy about smoking bans, but then again, you can't forbid everything. What's next, then?

I tend to agree with you. Cigarette smoke sends my allergies into orbit. Obviously there are no health benefits to it. Conversely, I'm not a big fan of the government mandating stuff like this. Makes me itchy for the reasons you mentioned. The difference between cigs and the other things that you mentioned is that the other things all have some positive uses. The best thing that cigs can do for you is make you smell. Worst is that it kills you to death.

Here in Wisconsin there's a smoking ban in public places that goes into effect this summer. You can still light up in your home, car, etc. It does, however, make one worry especially when the 18th amendment was less than 100 years ago. Having said that, if you want to see Wisconsin secede from the Union, try to take away beer and meat. We're pretty well armed up here too

[ZMAN]

In Canada/Ontario, you can't smoke in any public place, and some places have banned smoking on the property. No more going outside in a designated smoking area. Also you can't smoke in a vehicle if anyone under 16 is present in that vehicle (the Province of Ontario)
Of course people who smoke feel that there rights are being trampled but we look on it as the rights of the non smokers are NOT being trampled on, and now the non smokers are the majority.
It has really taken a toll on the tobacco growing industry here. They are basically non existant now. It used to be a huge farming industry the the sandy soil around the northern Lake Erie district.

[Tig***]

How I was able to do it was I conviced myself I didn't smoke.
Funny how it works. Every craving I got I just told myself "you don't smoke"
and that was it.

That's so simple, it might just work!

Plank Spanker, keep on fighting the good fight.
You will get through this most difficult part.

[syo***]

I dunno...on one hand I'm happy about smoking bans, but then again, you can't forbid everything. What's next, then?

...And what will be left? Just a plain dull life with no sharp edges, fat, listless people who live in a bubble of virtual reality and neatly-tucked...

But, this goes well into politics I guess...:-) maybe I'm a bit gloomy because I just woke up tired...

Well, I'm sort of with you on this. I think sometimes I felt that by smoking I was celebrating those sharp edges. I knew what I was doing was probably shortening my life, but in a way I felt I was celebrating life by not fearing death. It seems the goal of humanity has become to make things as safe as possible and as a result, we become less alive. This isn't an argument in favor of smoking but it is an argument against legislating a common law of personal accountability.

In the end, I quit smoking because it started affecting the quality of my life (negatively). I'm happy that I did and don't really miss it. But my father-in-law is 75 and has smoked 4 times more than I ever did and he's as strong as an ox. Who am I to tell him that he shouldn't smoke (provided he considers the health of those around him)?

[deeaa*]

Yeah...I know smoking is quite unhealthy, but then again life is, in general.

My granddad started smoking at 18 in the army and still smokes, well past ninety. My other granddad smoked until he was something around 60, but quit, and he also lived to be over 90. Both sharp as razors right to the end.

I have two friends who have cancer, and neither never smoked.

My own parents have always been absolutist really, aside some wine no alcohol or tobacco, ever, and healthy foods and exercise. At sixty they were both quite fragile&out of worklife and now that they're past 70 I'm expecting them to keel over any day. Mom at least will quite soon, and they are quite demented too, mom especially can't even recognize me any more many times.

As with most things, there's some evidence that some smoke actually IS good for you, if you only do it a little and don't go overboard with it. The smoke and chemicals work sort of like a vaccine, kicking up the immune system into full strenght and 'train' it to cope better with flus and other ailments as well. Same as some alcohol also is quite healthy, as long as it's enjoyed in moderation.

That would mean, like smoking a cigar or something once a week or so, or some second-hand smoke.

I figure, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger...anything is deadly when taken in excess. Even oxygen, or just plain drinking water can kill you if you overuse 'em.

[bcdon***]

And what will be left? Just a plain dull life with no sharp edges, fat, listless people who live in a bubble of virtual reality and neatly-tucked suburbs and do nothing but grind more money for those in charge, who, in turn, you can bet your behind will still be drinking and smoking in their cabinets, laughing at the enslaved people...and the only people having a resemblance of life will be the outcasts and criminals etc. who rebel against the neutering process of man.
.

I totally agree with you deeaa. The Nanny State is on the rise and unless it is checked all individual freedoms will be lost. I'm not a smoker and don't particularly like it blown in my face so I'm happy to be able to go to a pub and not leave smelling like an ash tray. However, people have the right to do whatever they want to their own body as long as it doesn't hurt anybody else. I'm so sick of know-it-all-busy-bodies telling me what is best for me. As you stated, where does it end? It's a slippery slope and, besides, most of the people "in charge" don't know there *** from a hole in the ground and I can certainly do without their micro-management.

As for what we do with our own bodies, I think the Greeks (and others, of course) had it right with the notion of the Golden Mean: the good life is about moderation and balance in all things.

[syo***]

I think the Greeks (and others, of course) had it right with the notion of the Golden Mean: the good life is about moderation and balance in all things.

I totally agree with you. Except for when it comes to gear of course...

[bcdon***]

I totally agree with you. Except for when it comes to gear of course...

If Aristotle had a guitar I'm sure he'd be the first one to make that exemption!