TC's Challenge - Please help

TC is undertaking a major challenge! He's stopped smoking! Everyone stand up and applaud wildly!

I would like for everyone who possibly can to please contact TC (tcfromky) via this thread and also via email and let him know how proud you are that he is no longer smoking. He will need our support in this - through prayer and encouragement. If you want to snail mail him a card, let me know. I have his address as well.

Let's all rally around him and let him know how much we care about him. This is such a hard habit to break. If any of you have quit smoking, your advice and support would be especially helpful.

Thank you so much.

Whooooo! TC, you can do it!

KICK THOSE BUTTS!

I've never smoked myself, but I've had smokers in my family. I've watched them really battle when they decided to quit. Yes, I'll be praying that God will give you the strength you need to do this, and know that He is with you, and your DG friends are supporting you.

I am sooo happy and proud, plus envious, TC quit smoking. I have been trying myself. I got the patches--the didn't help. I want to quit so bad!! People will say if you really want to quit you will--but it's harder than you think. I would love and so appreciate if someone would give some advice. I want to quit and get angry at myself because I can't. Any help will be so useful.
I am so glad to hear that TC quit. That is a challenge that is so hard to overcome!! Liz

I don't quite know what to say here folks. . .

I'm not the one to show my emotions, I reckon a lot of men are like that, unfortunately. But this special thread has touched my heart.

Carla, I thank you immensely for starting this uncommon thread for those of us trying to squash the smoking habit.

I will come here often, you can count on that!

lizbar, welcome to one of the most, if not THE most caring gardening Websites around! My first piece of advice to you for quitting is something I know you've heard before, probably in a commercial for Nike tennis shoes; "Just Do It!" That's exactly how I decided to quit.

Four days have now passed...

TC...

Come on tc...you can do this. Tell ya what, every time you want a cig go give your better half a big kiss. :)

"T" :)

Four days is doing VERY good, TC! Soon you'll notice less and less cravings.

When I quit I chewed juniper berries each day (go to the health food store this time of year). Apparently chewing 8 to 12 at various times thru-out the day not only helps cleanse your body but reduces the cravings for nicotine.

You can do it...You can do it...You can do it...You can do it...!

Hey TC, that's quite an accomplishment - especially for a boy from Kentucky! Keep at it, you already started clearing out your lungs.

Good luck TC! You can do it!!!!

They are right "YOU CAN DO IT" I hope and pray that I will have enough to do it also. Remember..it's easier said than done....

lizbar...the buddy system works wonders. Wanna get on the wagon w/TC? Might help both of you!

TC, I was able to quit smoking 18 years ago and I'm "just" a girl LOL. Seriously, I used to smoke two packs of cigarettes a day and the ones without filter! Just watch not to replace cigarettes with food (as I did - no LOL).

So far you have gone through the 4 most difficult days - from now on it will be a little easier every day. You can. I know you can.

We care for you, TC!

TC, congratulations on a good job well done.It's one of the hardest things you'll probably have to do in your life, but will make that life longer and better.I did it 35 years ago and don't miss it,even though the smell of 'second hand' smoke is still appealing. Keep up the good work.

Hang in there TC. Quitting smoking was the best and hardest thing I have ever done. You CAN do it. Keep us posted. Lots of us have been there.

TC, I am here knowing you can do it! My hubby quit 31 years ago the cold turkey way and he is the worst to be around a smoker now. lol Interesting how a reformed smoker can be so hard on smokers.

You will be in my thoughts and prayers as you go through this difficult time but I KNOW you can do it. When you are still not smoking after a fair amount of time maybe some of us can send you some new plants for your garden as a reward for your hard work.

Lizbar, I am praying that you will join TC in this quest to quit smoking. The buddy system does work and you have buddies here that can be here for you all day and night to help you quit. Just DO it. Hugs for you after you don't smell like an ash tray. :~)

WOW! With this kind of support how can I fail!! I am so blessed to have all of you behind me this way. Wait till DW gets in from work, I'm showin her all of y'alls wonderful posts here.

Horseshoe, health food stores is where I can find some juniper berries? I might give them a try.

Onward!

TC...

Hang in there, TC! Your Body and Health is worth everything. You will Feel better, Think better, and Look more handsome to your sweet wife. Congratulations!
Gary/Louisville

Well howdy Gary!

How is things down in "Luavull" anyway? I appreciate your warm words. They have a special meaning to me; they're sent from the city of my birth.

TC...

very good, bet family is thrilled to..i also want to encourage my best pal to quit to huh? pal?

I think I need to head for a health food store then. My heart is there for you TC to keep up the good hard work. Like someone always says in an Adam Sandler movie

"YOU CAN DO IT"

We're all rooting for you TC! Take it one day at a time and before you know it, those days will add up. You can do it!!!

Ponditis, my sister is the same way. She really is repulsed by it since she's been smoke free. That is funny. sometimes, she'll make a comment about smelling smoke, and I have to joke with her and say...see how annoying you were? She knows I'm just teasing.

I've noticed that it is harder for some than it is for others. My DH said he just laid them down and never looked back, while I know my sister really battled. Maybe that's why she can't stand it. Maybe she remembers the struggle.

Now that I'm through analizing my sis...TC it sounds like you have plenty of support. For some reason I keep thinking of the little train that could, only instead of "I think I can," say "I know I can."

jdee, my DH was the same way, he smoked for years and decided one day he didnt want to anymore and just never picked them back up. I told him there are people out there who would pay big bucks for a blood transfusion if it would help them to stop smoking like that.

It must be wonderful. I've never smoked before, but I do admire someone with that much resolve. I wish I had it with food. lol

TC, when you want a smoke really bad. stop and take 3 or 4 big breaths, slowly. In through your nose & out your mouth. This really helped me when I quit in 1989 and I had smoked for a long time. You can do it.

TC....yes, health food stores used to sell them, perhaps they still do. If not, holler.

By the way, for TC and others...it is 8 to 12 berries total each day. Re-reading my above post it looks like 8-12 several times a day.

I would chew a couple in the mornings, a few more mid-day, a few more afternoons, etc...that's all it takes to benefit from them.

TC...I
m one proud mama here! Lizbar...here is how I did it 2 years ago June 9th. I mentioned to my Chripractor that I REALLY wanted to quit smoking....he had just got his Accupuncture licenses. He said he thought he could help me....so...with some treatments I quit ....on the same date my DD had the year before....now we celebrate our "Non-Smokers Anniversary" together.

I might add tht my DH had passed away with lung cancer 6 months before...and I had tried the patch and other things.

What ever means you USE TO quit...I will be here cheering you on. I am one of the few former smokers that is not bothered by other peoples smoke and can ride in a car with my girlfriend and ...with the window cracked open a little...it doesn't bother me.

God be with you!

Jo

My son hates smoke, ashtrays, and that goes with it. I really just need to set my mind to it. I got the patches but only used..I think 3. My father is a psychologist. Maybe he can hypnotize me? what do yall think? worth a try? thanks for all the support.

TC I am behind you all the way cheering and grateful you were able to quit. WAY TO GO!!!
LIz

Hang in there dear Cuz. (I think we finally figured we could call each other that.) You are making one of the best moves you will ever made in your life. Your family will be overjoyed for you and won't always be thinking of you going to an early grave every time they see you light up. We have a couple that we have been friends with for years and nobody can get him to stop smoking. It is a constant source of sadness for his wife and kids and for us, his friends, and it seems that he will never see how it hurts everyone and try to quit. You should stay at it until you are victorious for your own sake and also for those of us (me too) who love you. You will certainly be in my prayers my friend.

Ellen

Another former smoker here. I quit cold-turkey when I found out I was prego with my first, back in late '76. I never could have done it for myself but I read a lot and had read about the effects of smoking on a baby. That's why I made it. tc, think about the effects on the rest of your family and do it for them on the days you can't do it for yourself!!

I also have a hard time with second hand smoke. It's much harder for me to tolerate smoke now than before - my dad was a heavy smoker, is now a light smoker. But the strange thing I found was the cravings - 4-6-8 yrs. later, a smell of cig. smoke and coffee or beer would make me want a cig., but if I had one, I'd get a horrible headache! Weird or what!?! And I don't even like beer! It's those strange senses our mind remembers! So hang in there, you CAN do it...(now, how 'bout you tell me how to get this extra weight off?) lol

Another former smoker saying you can do it. You have so many pulling for you that has been where you are now.

Hugs
Ruth

Dh said to tell you to hang in there.

I'm overwhelmed here folks! What a wonderful bunch of supporters I have.

Today hasn't been to awful bad with wanting one. A little bit ago, while on the mower, I felt the urge for one, but I did the deep breathing exercises and the urge left.

I went to a Website Carla recommended and read up on a few things about smoking. I discovered a few things about me that trigger the urge to light up.
1)Feeling sad
2)Feeling lonely, and
3)After eating

I was feeling kinda lonely on the mower earlier today and sure enough, I felt something squeezin the trigger for me to light up.

No one else here smokes so I'm not around other smokers. I think this is a big plus for me. I wonder how I'll do when I visit my family in a couple of weeks? They are all heavy smokers.

TC...

This message was edited Jul 9, 2004 12:28 AM

Good for you TC. You just keep on with those breathing exercises and by the time you go visit your family you'll be calling yourself an ex smoker and maybe some of them just need a boost and some encouragement to quit. I think understanding those triggers is important too, and that should make it easier to say NO!

Another ex-smoker here. The breathing exercises are great and here are a few of the tricks I used 5 years ago to give up this habit. Take a walk outside and take the deep breaths and before you know you have started another healthy habit in the place of smoking. Breathing deeply and walking - the best exercise in the world. Brush your teeth after every meal or snack and pop in a stick of Dentyne or other cinnamon gum and feel the refreshing taste in our mouth. Not to mention the constantly fresh breath as we all know or remember smokers breath. Keep 1 dirty ashtray around and put it away, but when you have the urge to smoke just take a deep whiff and you will be reminded of why you quit. When you go to visit your family who smoke - take a few butts and put them into a glass of water in a glass or see through glass. It won't take long to see how yucky the water becomes and oh my the aroma that goes with it. Just sit it somewhere for reference whenever you get the urge. I hope this doesn't offend anyone but when you visit - notice that the smoke odor is part of the person - clothes, hair, hands and breath. Even their home may be overwhelming. I have a dear friend who has started smoking again and I can hardly visit in her home as the smoke literally rolls out of the door when I open it to go inside. A major headache starts with 10 minutes of visiting. I don't go anymore - want to just come home and shower and get rid of the smokey smell - guess I am one of those with a low tolerance of the smell of smoking after quitting. It doesn't help that my husband has been fighting lung and brain cancer for over 5 years now and the outlook is not good. Take care - don't think you would need the patches, but some people cut them in halves and quarters to tolerate them as they can make one sick. Worked for a friend of mine by cutting them in quarters and changing them everyday. Saved major bucks too and it works even though the manufacturer says not to do this. If I remember correctly, each patch replaces like 5 packages of cigarettes - no wonder people get sick - I never could figure out how on earth a person could smoke 5 packs a day anyway. You can do it - I kinda wonder when you talk about feeling lonely on the mower - did you used to smoke while you mowed? My habit was allowing myself to enjoy a smoke when I talked on the phone. Don't talk on the phone much anymore nor smoke at all, but I have a sister who I hear puffing on the phone when I talk to her. Sooooo good luck you are well on your way to becoming a nonsmoker - and WELCOME TO THE CLUB!!!!

PS: Have you noticed that you are now in control of your life, don't have to look to see if you have smokes for in the morning before you go to bed at night, or on a trip or just to live through the next day? You are no longer controlled by an addiction! GOOD LUCK TC!!!!!!

This message was edited Jul 8, 2004 11:29 PM

Yes, I did used to smoke while mowin, it's easy to do when you're on a ridin mower and have a yard the size of mine.

I appreciate all the neat/yucky suggestions on ways to remind myself just how nasty smokin is.

I've had one bad experience with the smell of cigarette smoke so far. It was terrible! I don't know if I can make it through another one.

TC...

Sure you can, fella! You can do anything that you set your mind to do. Just bow your back and refuse to let it get you down!

Good luck TC, I've always believed the biggest thing with quitting smoking is the desire to do it. If you don't have the desire, you won't, if you do, you will. I watched my dad who had smoked 50+ years lay them down and never smoke again the rest of his life. My brothers, who had smoked for probably 20+ years did the same thing, they just stopped and that was the end of it.

One of these days the urge might even hit me!

To those who can/did quit, good for you...I'm sure that one benefit has to be that you don't have people nagging you to quit anymore! LOL

Seriously, I'm happy for you TC.

TC - as a current smoker that has tried to quit I have one piece of advice.........not sure if you've ever tried to quit before but if you have you remember well your own personal disappointment at failing. Soooo.....when the urge to smoke hits you tell yourself to wait 5 minutes and then begin enumerating the reasons you WANT to quit. Tell yourself what a great disappointment you will be to yourself if you give in and smoke and fail to beat this addiction.

If you've never tried to quit before...well let's just say it's mighty hard to live with yourself after failing. You feel weak and out of control and a slave to something that shouldn't have power over you. Remember these things when you think one little puff or two want cause no harm.

I REALLY, REALLY hope you stop for good. I just failed my 3rd serious try at stopping this past week. I wasn't doing well (cheating on myself) and I'd really hate to see you feeling like I do right now.

God be with you and give you strength during your personal struggle to put this unhealthy habit behind you.

Brenda


P.S. You might give this a try too.

http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/s/link.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=39175
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/tobacco/consquits.htm

Melissa and Brenda, and everyone here...

I am relying on this thread to help me with this challenge! Reading what y'all post here, and knowing that y'all really care about me helps tremendously!

Brenda, I think that perhaps you have mentioned one of the main reasons that keeps me going and that is my "own personal disappointment at failing."

I often think of how I've felt in the past when I've wanted to stop smoking and didn't even attempt it. I felt controlled by the habit, and I didn't like that feeling. And yet I continued to smoke!

This is the very first time I have attempted to quit. I've been a smoker since I was 15 years old.

TC...

TC... You can do it.

I am not smoker but been raising in the house of smoke(parents and brother). It's hard to quit but you can do it. My mom just quit smoking four months ago and she never touch the cig again. In the morning she woke up and saw the cig pack and decided to quit. She just open the pack and torn all cig and throw it away even the whole box of cig! She said time to quit and want to think about family first. She doesn't have any crave for cig anymore. This week, she just had her room and other room wall painted and decorate new. She realized how smoked cause the yellow on the walls and hard to remove it. Now she feel disguested being smoking but proud that she quitted!

So.. I am here to support.. Praying for you. :o)