|
Post by Don on Oct 27, 2015 19:52:40 GMT -5
10-27-1999...that was my quit date.
And here I am 16 years later still cigless.
Probably one of the few things I can look back on with absolutely no regrets. What a battle to get there. Countless quit dates, until finally one stuck.
About the only thing I ever miss was that illusion that smoking makes things like stress go away. Maybe it even did, for the 5 or 10 minutes it took to suck one in. Never did it solve anything though. That addiction thing, oh that's the worst, worst thing ever. Mental slavery.
Sixteen years ago, there was no such thing as "vaping" either. I'm not really sure if that's any better with regard to addiction. The NicoBeast still plays his game, still pulls the strings. A different tool, but same trap I bet.
I was never one to use one of those 'quit meters', but the pile of unsmoked cigs is unfathomable and amount of money I spent elsewhere (as if I would really save every dime not otherwise spent on smokes) would be eyebrow raising.
Smoking sucked. Quitting sucked. Staying Quit, glorious! In one word, Wow. 16 years, Wow.
It's extremely important to note that my Quit was not a solo act. There was support along the way. My spouse, this site (and that what came before) and the people I met online herein, going through the same agony. That was key! I've put some time between my last drag, but I haven't forgotten the hard path stayed on and the 'voices' of those cheering alongside. You helped, you made an impact and a difference. Thank you, all you lovely Quitters!
10.27.99...and still going, smokeless.
|
|
|
Post by Ann on Oct 28, 2015 18:38:31 GMT -5
Congrats Don!
|
|
|
Post by Neil on Jan 16, 2016 12:20:17 GMT -5
Congrats Don!
And so it happens that I was checking my "Favorites" on my PC (imported across several PC's over time) and found my bookmark for this Board. And checked in. Hello Don, Judy, Graciedonovan if you're still out there, Donna, others. I had to reset my password since it'd been so long! Doesn't look like people are posting much anymore. No surprise what with Twitter, Facebook, etc. and social media we are all busy and not using boards like this anymore. I'm still smokeless 12 years (+/-) and glad every day for it. I was diagnsed not long ago with paroxysmal (occasional) atrial fibrillation so thank goodness I don't have smoking to contribute.
I remember the support of this board and its many members and how it was always the place to turn to for needed help dealing with cravings, stress, and life. I'll never forget!
|
|
|
Post by countryblocks on Mar 9, 2016 23:04:49 GMT -5
I thought about this forum today and decided to see if anyone comes here anymore. Not much activity. I have been doing fine. I don't think about smoking anymore. Doesn't seem like it's been almost 7 years ago that I quit and never looked back. Hope everyone is doing okay.
|
|
|
Post by countryblocks on Apr 27, 2016 19:51:59 GMT -5
Does anyone stop by anymore. I have some very sad news. Dee Sadro told me about this group and how it helped her to quit smoking. She was my best friend and like a sister. She went in the hospital February 2, the day before her birthday and was there for 2 months and home only a month and was rushed back and unfortunately didn't make it. She was laid to rest this morning. I miss her so much. She leaves behind her husband, 3 children and several grandchildren. If anyone reads this and remember her, please share a memory.
|
|
|
Post by KAREN on Jul 8, 2017 9:32:27 GMT -5
I am so sorry for your loss countryblocks. I was just thinking of this place as I celebrated 142 months without a cigarette today. I remembered how this site helped me in the beginning and decided to come and see what was going on. I went to Quitnet for many years also and they have changed it quite a bit and I forget to go there daily. I still remember who helped me quit though and the people here were some of them. I am sorry I have been absent but I am still nicotine free. Karen 9-8-2005
|
|
|
Post by KAREN on Jul 8, 2017 9:33:29 GMT -5
Don congrats on your 17 plus years now also. Karen
|
|
|
Post by Don on Jul 8, 2017 21:22:20 GMT -5
I just for the heck of it swung by and saw life again on the board. It's been quite a long time that I had to go digging for my login info. By all means Karen, Toot away! You've fought the fight and earned the right. This place may be a quiet place now but it is a testament to those who have come and gone, who have quit and re-quit and re-quit again and those who remain quit. Buried deep in these forums are some nuggets of wisdom that others might find useful, even if at minimum it's to know others have shared the pain of quitting that the visitor too is experiencing. I forever thank the support I needed and received to get off that addiction. For those out there that wish to quit smoking, seek out for support! You need not fight alone. Until the next time....Stay Quit my friends!
|
|
|
Post by countryblocks on Jul 11, 2017 21:36:53 GMT -5
Thank you Karen. It sure was tempting to have a drink and a cigarette, but I didn't. I worked too hard to quit. It seems good to have someone here. It is lonely and I was about to give up. Hopefuly, everyone stops by again.
|
|
|
Post by slim on Aug 8, 2017 22:23:44 GMT -5
Hello my fellow quitters. I saw the bookmark and thought I would stop by and say hi. Seems like I lived on every post of this board for years and managed to stay quit. Its so nice to live life without the nasty smokes. Don, I finally past 16 years...you will always be ahead of me leading the way, and i can't thank you enough for all your words of wisdom and encouragement. I am very thankful for this board and all the contributors. A really big part of my life! I am doing fine, my kids are now adults and smokefree thank goodness. Hope everyone is doing well and living the good life. _slim Reborn 6/11/2001
One of the first posts when i joined the original Just4u board...thank you Judyb "Welcome Slim, I'm glad that you found this board. It is full of wonderfully experienced quitters. Don't give up on your quit, especially during the urges. Come here and post, whether it's gibberish or just questions. The folks here are helpful. Slim, the "brain fog" will pass also. You're getting more oxygen than you've had in ages plus your body is trying to detox from all of the chemicals you've introduced it to from smoking. Hang tough.
I can't add to all the wonderful advice you have received up there, so I'll just post this:
41 TIPS FOR GAINING FREEDOM FROM NICOTINE
1.It's not as hard as you think. Once you begin to be honest with yourself and to look at the facts about smoking, it will become a pleasure to remove this addiction from your life. 2.Square off with your smoking habit. Look at it and size it up. Ask yourself exactly what it is doing for you; then ask yourself what it is not doing for you. You can begin with your hair and work your way down to the tips of your toes. It is a medical fact that smoking affects every organ in the human body in a harmful way. 3.Look at quitting cigarettes as giving yourself a gift-a very big gift. You are giving yourself a better quality of life and, very possibly, a longer life. You are giving yourself a healthier body. You are giving yourself more self-esteem. Wrap all this in a package and look at it for the gift it really is, then "Go for it!" 4. Set a date. Make a commitment. Give it a try. Remember, it is all right if you don't succeed at first. Just keep trying. The only way you can lose is by ceasing to try. 5.Don't look at it as if you are giving up something. This makes it seem too much like a loss. What you are really doing is tossing something out of your life that has done you harm and doesn't belong here anymore. You are throwing away pure garbage. No longer are you going to allow your lungs to be resting place for nicotine and tars. 6.Always keep a positive attitude. After all, this is one of the most positive things you've ever done. Stay away from negative people and worrisome situations. 7.Quit for yourself. Even though your family and loved ones will benefit tremendously from your quitting, it is you that will benefit the most. 8. Treat giving up smoking with the respect it rightly deserves. Become willing to go to any lengths to remove it from your life. If you are not willing, try praying for the willingness. This usually works. 9.Look up the work 'nicotine' in your dictionary and write down the definition in big letters: "A poisonous alkaloid used as an insecticide." Put it where you can see it. 10.Don't say, "I'll take my chances" and continue to smoke. They are not ours to take. We didn't give ourselves life and we don't have the right to "take our chances" on giving it away. That is up to a higher power. 11.Don't fool yourself by saying you have too many pressures in your life right now to give up cigarettes. If you are smoking, this in itself is a pressure, a very great pressure. Every day is a gamble and your life is at stake. By getting nicotine out of your life, other things will become easier to handle. You will feel better about yourself and you will have more energy. You will have accomplished something more meaningful than all the money and material objects you could ever acquire. You will have given yourself what no one else could give you. You will no longer have the pressure of being a smoker. 12.Don't use the excuse that you might gain weight to justify your continuing to smoke. Even if you do gain a little, the fact that you will be more active and will get more exercise should counteract any weight gain. Remember, overeating, not stopping smoking, causes weight gain. 13.Plan to do things that will keep your mind off smoking. Sometimes our minds can be our worst enemies. They will tell us that we need a cigarette for just about any reason that is handy at the time. By doing things like going to the movies in the non-smoking section, munching on corn or sucking on a lollipop, we can keep our minds occupied and get a break. Go to museums and other places where smoking isn't allowed. Swimming is a good idea, too. 14. Quit smoking one day at a time and think only about the part of the day your are in. "I am not going to smoke before noon." "I am not going to smoke before 3 o'clock." Sometimes just do it one hour at a time. This is a lot easier than trying to quit forever. 15.Don't subject yourself to smoky situations. If you do come in contact with someone who is smoking, just say to yourself "He is having the cigarette I might be having" then, be grateful you don't have to have it. 16.While you are quitting, look at it as an investment. Once you have quit for one hour, you have invested this hour in becoming a healthier person. Now, invest one more hour. Continue to add to your investment hour by hour. It will grow and become more valuable as the hours go by. You will begin to see and feel the rewards from this investment more and more. Protect and guard it just as you would a treasure. 17.Start being kind to yourself. It is the beginning of a new way of life for you and you are the most important one there. Treat yourself with respect and love and remember, you are no longer filling you system with poison every few minutes. Breathe the clean air and breathe it deeply. Smell the different and wonderful fragrances. Begin to spend time outdoors close to nature. Many new sensations await you. 18. Don't get too angry. If we are angry, our minds tell us we need a cigarette to cope. Until your mind learns that it doesn't need a cigarette to cope, try to avoid situations that might be setting you up. Avoid certain people that may bother you. If you can't get some time off, quit smoking on a long weekend. Avoid, as best you can, things like getting stuck in traffic. Use a lot of caution. Anger can be very destructive. 19. Don't get too hungry. It is amazing how our minds will tell us that everything's wrong when all we really need to do is eat. 20. Don't get too tired. If we are tired, it is easy to become irritated and when we get irritated our minds will tell us that a cigarette will help. Our overall resistance becomes weak and it is easy to say, "Oh well, I guess I'll have a smoke." 21. Don't get too lonely. It is good to know some people who are going through the same thing. (QUITSTOP!!!!!) 22. You can remember these four things by the word "HALT" Hungry, angry, lonely, tired. If you feel you need a cigarette, check. Make sure you are not experiencing any of these. 23. Don't get too bored. It is hard to just sit and not smoke. Keep busy. Find things to do that you enjoy. Bike riding, hiking, swimming, exploring new places, and trying new restaurants. This is the time to indulge yourself. 24. Have something to fidget with. We are accustomed to holding a cigarette; being without one might leave our hands at a loss. Get a small rubber ball or a yo-yo. Play dough is good also or a piece of clay. 25. Have something handy to put in your mouth. Life Savers, sugar-less gum, lollypops, etc. Avoid fattening foods like cookies. They don't last long and they fill you up. Experiment while you are still smoking to see what will relieve the craving. If Life Savers work, that stock up. 26.If you always have a cigarette with a cup of coffee, stop drinking coffee before you quit smoking. 27.Don't drink alcohol while you are quitting. Once alcohol is in you system your defenses will be greatly diminished. 28.Remember that the discomfort you experience in the first 2 weeks will definitely come to an end and you will never have to go through it again. 29.Frequently give yourself a pat on the back. What you are doing isn't easy by any means. It takes a lot of guts to try to quit smoking. 30.If you are feeling pain from withdrawal, let it become a lasting memory to serve as a reminder of exactly how strong the drug nicotine is and how hooked you really are. 31.Remember, every minute you were sucking on cigarettes they were sucking on you. They were sucking the very life out of you. Don't let them have anymore. 32. Avoid the self-pity trap. If we begin to feel sorry for ourselves, our minds will tell us that we deserve a cigarette to make us feel better. 33. Remember, If you just keep trying, you will win. It is good against evil and the odds are stacked in your favor. 34.Before quitting, plan your activities for the first few days after you quit. This way you won't have to make too many decisions while you are withdrawing. At first, making decisions may be hard without a cigarette. 35.If you are not going to quit right away, then start cutting down. If you smoke 2 packs a day and you cut back 1 cigarette a day for a month, you will be down to just 10 cigarettes a day. Some people, however, have found cutting back to be almost as hard as quitting. 36.Drink lots or liquids to help flush the poison out of your system. Orange juice is good because smoking depletes the Vitamin C content in our bodies. 37.Remember, it is the first cigarette that gets you started. It takes only one. This is the one you don't have. You can always put off lighting that first one for a little while. Don't fool yourself and think you can start and stop at will. You can't. Many people have tried this and gone on to live the rest of their lives never to experience freedom from nicotine again. 38. Frequently remind yourself about the differences you have noticed in yourself. Things like: Your breath no longer smells like a dirty ashtray, Your fingers aren't stained from tobacco, That sickly sounding smoker's cough is disappearing, Your senses of smell and taste are returning, Your complexion is beginning to improve, Your general attitude about yourself is better because you are beginning to really care about yourself. 39. Give it away. Whenever you have a chance to give your experience, strength, and hope to another smoker, use it. This act of giving will insure your chances for staying off nicotine and give strength to others who need it. There is much reward in helping someone else to gain freedom from this harmful substance. 40. Have a follow-up program. Don't assume it is over because you have made it through a couple of weeks. Nicotine is very cunning. (QUITSTOP!!!!) 41. WHEN YOU WANT A SMOKE, READ THIS LIST OF TIPS!!!!! judyb Two years, ten months, three weeks, six days, 12 hours, 27 minutes and 11 seconds. 37188 cigarettes not smoked, saving $3,700.22. Life saved: 18 weeks, 3 days, 3 hours, 0 minutes."
|
|
|
Post by Don on Aug 15, 2017 20:40:13 GMT -5
Hey hey Slim, long time no see...and NO SMOKE!!
Glad to know you're still keeping Quit and you're sharing that news here. Bet your kids have grown some! (Mine certainly have.) As you see this place is more a memorial now as opposed to a thriving support site. While not as lively, this place still holds a good deal of info on how others coped and became Quit so for that I hope visitors take note and search\dig away. Every little bit of knowledge of what it takes to quit and the diary of struggles recorded here can only embolden and fortify all who seek help in their own private battle with smoking addiction. And so shall SmokeBusters (Just4U) live on. btw...when this board was originally set up it was pulling images from Photobucket who just recently changed their terms of service regarding 3rd party direct image linking from their basic accounts. As a result many of the images were replaced by a stock image from PB dictating their new policy that 3rd party linking requires a higher paid service plan with them and so I reverted some of the graphics here back to their defaults.
|
|
|
Post by countryblocks on Aug 18, 2017 21:34:37 GMT -5
Hi Slim Glad you stopped by and are doing well. I just moved to a smaller home. I fell and broke my wrist and was miserable. Am doing better now. I will never smoke again. My daughter and son smoke and I wish they would quit. Seems like they would after watching me struggle withe copd. I don't nag them cause it wouldn't help. Have a great week everyone.
|
|
|
Post by judyb on Mar 7, 2018 4:15:00 GMT -5
Hi guys! I was thinking about all my quitfiles today and pulled up some old bookmarks I had and this site was on it. I cannot for the life of me find all of those files!!! Anyway, good to see all of you still quit out there. I'll be 20 years in July!!
|
|