TC's Challenge - Please help

J-j-j-juniper b-b-berries...and DG; and The Gathering P-p-place. Me, too g-g-guys.. B-b-but I only made it 8 hours today. Then Elena sent me here. I think I'm gonna just stay here awhile, if yall don't mind... M-m-maybe sleep at the m-m-monitor for a f-f-few days...Wax on, wax off... :)

I am so proud of all of you that are quitting and doing so well. I have been following this thread and wanting to join the "quitters", but I am not ready to make a public commitment and then fail. Actually, I'm just weak. :(

I've got another health issue that I'm dealing with now, and as soon as I get that monkey off my back with good test results this week, I'll try to quit. I know, blame it on the stress, but stress does make me weak willed. I'm off work all week, so this week would be a good one to start this. Everyone at work smokes and nobody at home smokes, (besides me). I'll try to limit my smoking to very stressful times for now, and once I get good test results I'll rejoice by throwing them in the neighbor's dumpster. The nearest neighbor is 1/2 mile away, and I can't throw them in my dumpster, I might go after them. :)

I am so VERY proud of all of you.

It is so good to see you here, Shaz. Remember, "You can do it!" Don't give up just because you had that one cigarette this evening. From what you told me about your helath this can be a matter of life or death for you. Please stay here as long as you need to and report back often. "YOU CAN DO IT!"

You all can do it!!!! Hang in there everyone. I am so proud of all of you. Joan, stop now! You have a group that will be with you through it all. Just go down the road and dump those awful things that are killing you and come back home with a good supply of hard candy or whatever.. In Shaz's case that would probably be her favorite soft drink.

Ya know, when all of you are "cured" we probably need to start a permanant thread in the health forum for folks who are wanting to stop addictive habits such as this.

Yes, Elena. Life or death. I'm just coming out of a severe case of pneumonia, and I was also told that I have acute COPD. I must stop ASAP. I have asthma as well. I'm going to need a LOT of help. Please, all of you who DO still smoke-STOP BEFORE YOU WIND UP LIKE ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is no going back for me now. COPD can never be cured. The only thing I can do is learn to live with it, manage it, and pray it doesn't lead to worse.

Joan, I second Elena's post - much easier to stop with a few good friends than go the road alone! I'm very happy for all of you working so hard on this - you're many steps ahead every day and hour you don't smoke. If you go back one step, don't give up, you're still quitting, forgive yourself, and take a step up!!!

Hey T.C. and everyone: Im soo proud of yall non-smokers. I hope to join yall very soon.
T.C. you won't believe this but yesterday when I left Lowes I was so hot and stop at store. Guess what I got?? Ice cream sandwich. When I started eating it, I told myself "this is heaven" I hadn't one in years myself. I want to go get a box now. I thought it was neat when I read you at eaten one and said same thing.
Thinking of yall, Liz

Those taste buds are coming alive, huh? I quit back in 1984, when they were under $1 a pack. Y'all should start putting your cig money in a jar so you can have tangible proof of what you're saving. Use the money to buy plants or something you've really been wanting.

You guys can do it! :)

Stick with it!
I will celebrate my 22nd year of no smoking on Aug 13th.
One more & I will be smoke free for as long as I smoked. (23 yrs).
Everyday that goes by without smoking is healtier. I just had my yearly check-up. My blood pressure is better than it ever has been, blood test about 3 years ago showed close to high colestral, no probelm now!
I did also try to eat better, but am not doing so good in that department!
Good-Luck!
Bernie

Do you all remember when you were little and we marked the days until Christmas off of the calendar? This is a tangible and visual reward that you can do everyday - just mark the days off with a bright marker. It will become a ritual that you will not want to miss and the grandchildren will think you have started counting off the days to Christmas early this year - and look at all the cool cash you will have then too! Welcome to any new "non-smokers", your health and your lives will improve so and just think how much more you will enjoy fruit and veggies from your gardens this year! My husband who disliked fruit except an apple once in a blue moon always said all fruit was so sour. That was due to that thick white coating on his tongue from smoking. Now after quitting he sits down every morning to a large bowl of mixed fruit every morning. He has a fit if he doesn't get it too. He used to like pies and gooey stuff - now he says he doesn't need all that sugar to cover up the taste of the fruit and wants it natural. What a change for him and what a huge change in his cholestrol too! Good luck!

Way to go, TC!!!

This thread is wonderful y'all! I feel like I am right in the middle of a very exciting happening. You folks are going to be such grand encouragment for each other. You almost have a club going here in this one thread. Carla, you couldn't have had any idea where all this was going when you made your original post but the Lord knew!

TC this is the first time I've gotten to this forum for some time. Congratulations to you and anyone else who is stopping that terrible habit. I never smoked but lived with a non-courteous smoker for 50 years when it finally got him. You all can do it and Terry wrote so much good healthful information. God be with you all in your fight for better health. Donn

This thread is wonderful in that we non-smokers are all supporting the reforming smokers and circling them with love and encouragement. I can't imagine anything that could help a person more to quit almost any habit than what the wonderful community of DG is doing here. We are brothers, sisters, Mom's and Dad's of all races, denominations, creeds, finances, and life lessons and yet we can surround our own with such love that it is inspiring others to want to make their lives and the lives of their loved ones better by quitting a habit that I know is very hard to quit. Hugs to all of you that have posted here and the others who are just watching this thread and praying or at least thinking of people other than yourselves. The world is a better place tonight for me to live in because of all of you!

Don't forget that the only thing we can do in this life is put one step in front of the other and if that step is backward we can reverse it the next step. Keep on keeping on all of you.

Love to all, Lani

Today is a brand new day to start over everyone. If you didn't do as well yesterday, this is a brand new start for you. Keep on keeping on and we will all still be rallying around you, loving you and praying for you.

I hear ye, ma'am. I'm up and around, and hoping today is a much better day...

Go for it Girl! Email me if you need encouragement. I am on this computer many, many times a day.

I think it is just wonderful that TC & others are quiting smoking. My DH smoked for years, quit just before we got married & then started again when he had knee surgery & was in a room with other smokers. Then quit after he had heart problems & angio-plasti. Started again when he was working with his son & took a job as Foreman & said the stress made him start smoking. Then in Feb. he had chest pains again - wasn't his heart, but was enough that he quit smoking again. He has the will power to put them down & not pick them up again. I smoked some at different times, but never got addicted to them, so didn't have any problem putting them down & not picking them up again, but I have a food problem - I love to eat - especially Chocolate & breads. I have lost 10 lbs this year - most of it because of stress withe my mom haveing alzhimers, etc., but I've been able to keep it off so far - anyway - I'm backing all of you who are trying to quit - I know you can do it!! I'm praying for each of you that God will give you the strength & will power to 'just say, 'no''! When the urge comes, don't dwell on it - get busy doing something else that will keep your mind off it.
And remember, if you do smoke one - it doesn't mean that there has to be another one! That was your last one!! Today is the 1st day of the rest of your life!!
I'm cheering for each of you to be sucessful.

It's a Beautiful Day today :-) Day 5 Still Smoke Free!!!! YeeePeee!!!!

Yesterday was a tough day, several times I wanted to lite up, but I kept telling myself 'not right now' and 'maybe later'
It passed and I feel so much better today :-)

The flowers in the garden smell so much sweeter & the foods taste better. I'm really surprised by all these Lil' things I've taken for granted all these years. I just thought rose's smelled good before...lol They Smell Wonderful!

I wanted to thank everyone here for the support and friendship and the faith everyone has in those of us who are chosing to quit now ...That is very important & it really does help, knowing we have such wonderful friends here at DG's willing to do whatever it takes to help us help ourself..

Big Hugs for everyone

Carla your an Angel

Going to smell the flowers :-)
Hope everyone has a wonderful day

Hugs,Carol

That's fantastic Carol! Stay with it woman! If I can quit, anybody can do it!

I would like to share something with all of you...

Carla is the main reason for me deciding to quit smoking in the first place. Of course my family has always wanted me to quit, but somehow (God's power) it took Carla's intervention to make me see how terrible my smoking addiction was.

After I met her at gw and Howie's place on July 2, I knew there was something very special about her.

What a bonus to have someone so caring as she to be a member here, along with all of you other wonderful folks!

TC...

This message was edited Jul 12, 2004 12:35 PM

To tc and all the others who are tring to quit the smoking habit, I will post this little personal story. I hope this helps in some way to give you a little more incentive.
Several years after I had quit smoking, (after a two pack a day habit), my wife and I were on a plane from Dallas/Ft. Worth to Chicago. My wife still smoked one cigarette after another. At that time, you could still smoke on planes. A large man sitting across the aisle from us had a heart attack and the cabin personell brought an oxygen tank for him while a doctor on board attended to him. The man would beg the people helping him to un-hook his oxygen and let him smoke a cigarette!! I told my wife at that time, that if she didn't quit smoking, she was going to be like that some day.
We were divorced after 29 years of marriage, although we were very close until she passed away a year ago next week. She died from lung cancer brought on by smoking.

My father also died from emphysema after smoking for many years. At the hospital, people who were on oxygen would wheel their oxygen tanks to the smoking area, un-hook their oxygen and light up.

What a terrible and addictive habit. The way that I quit was to throw my cigaretts away and tell myself, "I am never going to smoke another one". With God's help, it worked.

Please stop smoking.

Bill

Oh, Bill, how tragic. :(

My hubby's cousin had throat cancer from smoking and must breathe through a trach now. She smokes through the hole in her throat now! If that's not an image to make you re-think lighting up today, nothing is.

You guys need to do this, and you can. We're all pulling for you!

Every time I read these posts I just am in awe of what is really happening here. I think this thread is a true miracle in the making and with the prayers and encouragement of everyone I just know that we are experiencing something awesome happening in our very midst. Carla is a very caring ANGEL, to put it in true perspective. I don't think she could have ever dreamed where this thread would eventually go. Praise the Lord everyone and just keep on trusting and trying with all your might! I am now wondering if there are any "lurkers" out there who need to speak up and join this group. Only you know for sure, whoever you might be.....

TC, Carol, Brenda, Liz, and others -

May God receive the glory for this. That He can use me to affect positive change is amazing as I so often fall before Him in need myself. I find myself shaking my head when I read all of the posts here...well, that and reaching for the tissues. I am humbled...

Carla, it is obvious to everyone that you are only doing God's bidding in your life (because you live for HIM.) and seek no praise. That is why it is so wonderful that you permit HIM to work through you.


".......and the meek shall inherite the earth."

This is a kind of check-in/check-out post y'all.

First of all, I'm doin great with my challenge! Still smoke-free and lovin every minute of it! At days end today, it will be 10 full days since I've had a smoke. I have all of y'all to thank and offer up big hugs and kisses to for givin me all the support and encouragement. I've received a few personal emails and that serves to remind me that folks really do care for one another.

I feel so good I just may run for president! Anyone know of a close-by gardening country that needs a new leader? ;~)

Second, me and the kids are headin down to Kentucky today to visit with my family. DW will be in Florida at a convention for Stampin' Up, a company that sells ink stamp pads and accessories (she's a demonstrator, and a good one).

Thursday, I'll be trekkin a little further south with the kids to visit my good friend and mentor, Felder Rushing, in Mississippi. He's puttin us up for a few days and says, "Get here early, we got lots to do (mostly nuthin', but it's so hot and humid it'll seem like work)."

I'll be checkin in from time to time as I'll have my laptop with me (it's wireless) and I'll have access to computers elsewhere.

For all those takin this challenge along with me:

STICK WITH IT, KEEP YOUR HEAD UP AND YOUR LIPS SEALED (EXCEPT FOR SMILIN AT FOLKS). IF I CAN STOP SMOKING, ANYBODY CAN!

TC...

Great! Keep up the good work!

You made 10 days, now go for 10 weeks!
Bernie

Great news, Son.....You be careful on your trip now, hear? Love & Hugs

Mama Jo

Hey, Cuz, Mama Jo has already said the Mama kind of stuff so I won't do that. Y'all have a great trip and be sure you check in often cause we old folks worry about you youngins'. We willl be expecting all kinds of neat stories about what you have seen and done when you get back or even while you are gone.

Try to stay out of trouble cause it just looks better to the kids, ok? You'll probably be so busy ridin' herd on those youngins you won't have time to get in trouble yourself.

"Hurry back, now, ya hear!"

Thank you Carla. I sure hope I can stop here shortly. I am mad at myself b/c when i'm in my garden I want to smoke a cig. How crazy. The time is coming for me though.
I will prevail!!! Keep positive!! Liz

lizbar, me,too. I know I HAVE to quit because of health reasons, and I'm still just having a horrible time trying. I get so mad at me I could scream...

Liz and Shaz,

One day at a time, ok? Don't be so hard on yourself. God knows what you need. Lean on Him. Just put those cigs where they're really hard to get to. :)

This message was edited Jul 13, 2004 10:13 AM

Hey tc, you be careful on your trip. I can't believe I "know" someone who knows Felder Rushing. I read his articles in southern gardening magazines all the time.

Here's Felder's web site, if anyone wants to take a peek.

http://www.felderrushing.com/

smiln, I had 2 left in my last pack this am. They're gone now. And I refuse to buy any more. Wish me luck! And thanks to all for your words of encouragement. Keep 'em comin'!

Thanks for Felder's website, Carla.
Shaz, those are encouraging words from you this morning.
Just hold tight to that idea of not buying more. You are going to beat this curse, believe me! You are, you are, you are!

TC, I am so thrilled for you and your success thus far. I bet your wife and kids are jumpin' for joy over this. Good for you! Keep up the good work.

You can do it shaz! Never a better time to quit - lots of company and you KNOW misery loves company! But you'll feel so much better soon!!

Congrats on 10 days TC! Have a wonderful trip and enjoy the smell of that sweet country air between there and Mississippi.

Good for you shaz! Good luck! We know you can do it!!

Oh, yes, TC is now my smoke-free idol!! It's going to be a very long day. Need to get the knitting needles back out and get hands busy again!

After smoking since age 15 (in LA it was the cool thing to do )
I quit about 18 years ago.

I realized what a hook it was to smoke early one morning , about 2 AM , I was in a panic 'cause I was out of smokes and about to pull out with a load of 6 horse heading for Kentucky. Why.................. I couldn't drive without smoking ...... or clean the barn , groom the horses , ride & train them, mow the lawn , do dishes , sew , TV, iron clothes, use the phone and so on. Ridiculous HUH ?

I had tryed to quit before. ' Try ' is the wrong word. You must do it ' QUIT' not try.
I psyched myself into beating the 'addiction first ' which prob took a week or two. Then the next phase seemed harder ....BREAKING HABITS ......... even 2 years later it would pop into my head as I was doing something that usually included a Cig in hand ! ! !

So these are the 2 things you must beat .......
( 1.) First the addiction to the drugs and chemicals
( 2. ) Then the habit !!!!

Big Hug,SB

This message was edited Jul 13, 2004 10:27 AM

Go Shaz go! Go Shaz go!

Whenever you get the urge, think of Mork from Ork. That should take your mind off it! ;>)