Recently in my local newspaper I saw this picture with an article about this cat being saved with the fidobag from a house fire that was caused by careless smoking. I breathed a sigh of relief. It has been 10 years since I quit smoking. That is something I never thought I would ever be able to say and let me tell you it didn't happen without a fight. I was a 3 pack a day smoker, smoked in bed and woke up every 2 hours to do so. I refused to take anymore trips to Hawaii or any other place that required me to be without a cigarette for more than 4 hours because I thought I would go nuts and drinking didn't help. I tell you all this because if you are a smoker and you want to quit..........YOU CAN DO IT!
This is what (finally) worked for me. I got every book available from the library on quiting smoking and while smoking like a steam engine, read them. I went to my doctor and got some medication (zoloff). I gave my last three cigarettes to my husband and asked him to bring home 3 stargazers (my favorite flower) in exchange. I bought bags of red hot candy...every time I wanted a cigarette I would have a red hot....they were low on calories and gave me something to do with my mouth and eventually my mouth would be hot as a firecracker (a lot like smoking too many cigarettes). I joined an online support group, did jigsaw puzzles, swam and anything else I could think of to divert my attention. It was a long hard battle but to my amazement.....I won! While stuck in the Philadelphia airport this past year waiting to board a plane to Portugal (a ten hour flight) I was surprised to smell smoke in the bathroom and realized that people were desperate. I had totally forgot that situation.
It will soon be a new year and if 
brings knots to your gut.........break free, you can do it.
brings knots to your gut.........break free, you can do it.
12 comments:
Wonderful advice. You can use that on many different issues in life. Good for you to quit smoking. I smoked for a couple of years in my early 20's. Glad I stopped too. I enjoy your Blog.
Thanks Chatty:)
Wow, kudos to you! I like that you shared how you did it for others who may have to fight this addiction. Maybe you will inspire someone to quit!
Good for you girl and the advise is priceless to those who smoke. I tried one or two cigerttes and never saw the appeal and I hated the after taste. But I do have a thing for Carbs and next time I go to the store I plan to buy some red hots and each time I have an urge for CARBS I plan to pop those little beggers in until the desire is gone. Thanks
Bravo for you! I was never a smoker, but I do have other addictions, like food. Maybe I should also try the red hot remedy.
Look out redhots...here we come!
I used to be a dedicated smoker, and gave it up 5 years ago. I'm so glad I did. I did it by reading Allen Carr's book right through twice in a row, and then going cold turkey. I haven't touched a cigarette since.
dabrah, thank you for sharing and congratulations to you!
I could not quit smoking. I tried and tried. I used every remedy available to mankind and still went back to the cigarettes. November 6, 2003 I smoked my last cigarette. Immediately after smoking, I dropped to the ground with a near fatal heart attack. (Heart attack is the number one killer of women, by the way) Miraculously I left the hospital after four days on morphine and have not wanted a cigarette since. Sometimes if God cannot get our attention, She has to knock us down first.
Granny, I am so glad you survived and can now be freeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
I was a chain smoker ... spent most of my time either lighting up a cigarette or putting one out. I remember one time, when we only had one car and my husband was at work... it was winter and my daughter was only about 2 months old... I ran out of cigarettes with no way to get more... so I called a cab and paid the cabby to go buy me a pack and bring it back. It was a $20 pack of cigarettes - back when cigarettes were less than 50 cents a pack!!
I quit by using a step by step method that went something like this. On the first 2 days, every time you smoke a cigarette you write down what time it is and how badly you needed to have it on a scale of 1 - 3, and made a note of how did you feel after/during smoking it.
On the second 2 days, you continue to write it all down, but if the need for a cigarette is just a 3, you make the choice NOT to smoke it. Lots of 3 ratings became 2 ratings in about 2 seconds flat.
Then on the next 3 days, you continue to write it all down, but if the need for a cigarette is NOT a 1, a MUST HAVE IT NOW, you don't smoke.
It was at this point that I had my epiphany and quit altogether.
What I suddenly realized was that I smoked cigarettes because I thought it would make me feel better... feel more relaxed... feel happier... feel calmer... etc... but what actually happened was that smoking a cigarette only made me want another cigarette. There never was that ONE smoke break that ACTUALLY did give me the happiness, the calm, the relaxation that I was looking for.
At that point I quit. Spent the next 2 months with a cold beer clenched in one hand and a hand full of peanuts in the other hand. Yes, I did gain weight. No, I didn't become an alchoholic. And yes, it worked. I haven't smoked for 20 years.
Yea for two feathers!!!!
Post a Comment