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Post by Flo on Aug 3, 2006 10:56:34 GMT -5
Thanks for the reality check Ann. Boy, you really are spelling out my mantra loud and clear.
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Post by Flo on Aug 1, 2006 15:54:23 GMT -5
I went for a facial a couple of Saturdays ago. Nothing unusual in that is there except that not enough people take the time to do this. I call it preventative medicine. It is a fabulous thing to do for yourself. Well, this time, I got a facial and the woman put a mask on my face. Literally. This mask must have contained the lotion as she put it on my face, cutting out a place for my nostrils so I could breathe. My mouth was covered. This mask was kept on me for about 20 minutes or more. Before I had quit smoking, I would not have been able to tolerate a situation like that. I used to go into mild panic attacks when going to the dentist for fillings! I was afraid I wouldn't get enough air breathing through my nose or that I would start coughing.
And even early in my quit, I would have still panicked. Now, I just took a deep breath and calmed myself.
Truly, a miracle. I love not smoking.
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Post by Flo on Aug 1, 2006 12:06:00 GMT -5
I just had a moment. I am at work right now and sort of stressed. During the first while of my quit, I would have to fight the craves to have a cigarette during these times. I found that I am not experiencing that crave right now.
This is good. Very good. A miracle in fact.
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Post by Flo on Aug 1, 2006 10:08:09 GMT -5
Thank you Ann. This is such an important message. We so often look above us, to those who have more, and we forget to look below, to those who have less.
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Post by Flo on Aug 1, 2006 15:10:43 GMT -5
Here's an article I came across regarding heat, which may be of assistance to those of you in the heat zone:
Evaporative Cooling, Summer Heat, and the Heat Index From Rachelle Kean,Your Guide to Weather.
I'm Sweating Again! But it's a dry heat! Most have heard this statement about summer heat at some point. But what does it mean? The Heat Index is another name for apparent temperature. By definition, the Heat Index is the relationship between temperature and humidity which can produce detrimental effects on the body. When high temperatures are combined with high humidity, look out! It feels VERY warm! Why do you sweat? Most people know sweating is a process your body uses to cool down. You body is always trying to maintain an even body temperature. Sweating reduces body heat through a process known as evaporative cooling. Just like getting out of a pool in the summer time, a small wind will be enough movement across your wet skin to create cooling. Try this simple experiment right now: 1. Lick the back of your hand. 2. Blow gently across your hand. You should already feel a cooling sensation. 3. Now, blot your hand dry and use the opposite hand to feel the actual temperature of your skin. It will actually be cooler to the touch! During the summer, humidity in certain areas of the world is very high. High humidity means the air is holding a lot of water. But there is a limit to the amount of water air can hold. Think of it this way...If you have a glass of water and a pitcher, no matter how much water is in the pitcher, you simply cannot make a glass "hold" more water. Relative Humidity is a "Glass Half Full". Because the air can only "hold" so much water. we report relative humidity in a percentage value. A glass half full of water is compared to a relative humidity of 50%. That same glass filled within an inch of the top rim may have a relative humidity of 90%. Going back to the idea of evaporative cooling, if there is no where for water to evaporate to, then it stays on your skin surface. In other words, when the relative humidity is very high, there is only a little room in that glass for more water. If the Heat Index is High in Your Area... When you sweat, the only way you cool down is through evaporation of water from your skin. But if the air is holding too much water already, the sweat stays on your skin and you get little to no relief from the heat. A high Heat Index value shows a small chance of evaporative cooling from the skin. You even feel like it is hotter outside because you can't rid your skin of the excess water. In many areas of the world, that sticky, humid feeling is nothing more than... Your Body Says: Wow, my sweating mechanism is not cooling my body very well because the high temperatures and high relative humidity combine to create less than ideal conditions for the evaporative cooling effects of water from surfaces. You and I say: Wow, it is hot and sticky today! I better get in the shade! Either way you look at it, the Heat Index is designed to keep you safe in the summertime. Keep on alert for all signs of summer heat illnesses and know the danger zones!"
Lots of water folks! I like Jimpops suggestion of dry ice in your shorts.
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Post by Flo on Jul 31, 2006 15:11:18 GMT -5
Our heat wave has passed. It's about 70 degrees now and a bit cloudy. Should pick up by the end of the week. We have a long weekend this weekend and the forecast is sun but not a heat wave, probably 75 degrees or so. Good enough type of weather. Sorry about everyone suffering through the heat wave. Drink plenty of water and stay out of the sun!
I was in a meeting last week and one of the people is a smoker. It became obvious to me why she always made flippant remarks - it's to end the conversation so she can go for a fix - and sure enough, at 20 min's she started her flippant remarks and at 30 min's she just got up! Can you imagine! Just got up and left for her fix. Luckily the owner also smokes so he went along with it but I was so thankful that I am no longer addicted, that I no longer do such shameful things because of my addiction.
Don't get me started on the wonders of not smoking! I just love it. Yet on the weekend, I had a couple of craves - strange - they only lasted a second - but they were there - it's not over yet. Sun Tsu, "The Art of War" - in victory, tighten the helmet.
Have a great week everyone!
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Post by Flo on Jul 28, 2006 17:04:04 GMT -5
No smoking!
See you Monday at Roll Call!
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Post by Flo on Jul 27, 2006 10:44:42 GMT -5
I usually celebrate every Thursday as that was the day I quit (I also celebrate the monthly one as well and any other anniversaries I can think of!).
So, today, I have been smoke free for 69 days 69 days, 23 hours, 12 minutes and 37 seconds - Cigarettes NOT smoked: 1259 - Lifetime Saved: 9 days, 14 hours - Money Saved: $220.50
I think that is something to celebrate!
I love the breathing that not smoking brings. I love not having smoke around my face all the time. I love waking up in the morning to a nice clean peaceful place. I love not smelling of cigarettes. I love not having to get up every 30 minutes to go for a cigarette. I love not spending all that money on cigarettes. I love the calmness that not smoking brings. I love the admiration and/or respect that I get from my friends and family for quitting and staying quit. I love the self-respect I have gained from quitting and staying quit. I love that I look so much more healthier and cleaner since I've quit. Did I say I love the calmness that not smoking brings? I do. I love that I'm not destroying myself anymore. I love that I can now hang out with non-smokers. I love the extra energy I have. I love that I can take the stairs all the time. I love that I can run to the bus stop and not even worry about it.
Join me in sharing what you love about not smoking.
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Post by Flo on Jul 27, 2006 10:54:19 GMT -5
Wow. This post should be kept front and centre too. Lest we forget.
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Post by Flo on Jul 24, 2006 11:59:55 GMT -5
Hi! I'm checking in from Vancouver, Canada where we are currently enjoying a heat wave! I remember smoking in this type of heat and am so very glad I'm out of that and can enjoy the fresh air!
Two months and some. Quit date: May 18, 2006.
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Post by Flo on Jul 27, 2006 12:31:45 GMT -5
Thank you Don for remembering my father. He's hanging in and at 80 with a touch of senility, cute as a button though when he was younger, well, I thought he was the most handsome, the strongest, the best you know? I'm so lucky to have that with my father. My father is so cool, when he quit, I didn't know it for a year! I suppose that's becuase he had tried so many times before and went nuts each time. Well, I digress... Thank you Karen, Slim, Dorothy and SueZ (my American Graffiti buddies!) and Elaine.
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Post by Flo on Jul 21, 2006 18:53:03 GMT -5
Hi, I'm Flo. I've been quit for two months and three days. My quit date was May 18, 2006 at approximately 7:00 p.m. I am 56 years old and smoked for some 42 years.
I quit because on that date, my father was diagnosed with lung cancer. He is 80 years old and smoked until he was about 55 years old or so. He had a stroke some 15 years ago, has had numerous health problems such as seizures (which he used to get some 20 times a day), a pace maker put in, and lately, in the last two years or so, he's developed Parkinson's Disease (the poor dear). It was the Parkinson's which caused him to fall and break a rib. It was while looking at the x-rays of his ribs that the doctor saw some dark spots and pronounced that my father had lung cancer.
It was a moral imperative that I stop smoking. My mantra became: Which battle is easier? The battle to quit smoking today or the battle to save a diseased or dying body tomorrow. The answer was clear.
It took two weeks to get a CT scan of my dad's ribs and it was then that they realized that he did not have lung cancer. I can tell you that the nature of nicotine addiction being what it is, when I was younger, I would have started smoking again. But this time, the way was clear. The end of the road had arrived. No more.
As a consequence, my quit this time was amazingly smooth and full of joy and wonder. I had the light-headedness and craves of course but they were eclipsed by the reality of smoking. Imagine if you will being taken prisoner and there you are, waiting for the guards, and you notice the door is ajar. You peak out. No one is around. The outside beckons. You take a step. Nothing. You take another step. Nothing. There is no one around. You keep walking, ever so gingerly, never looking back, waiting for the “Halt!” at any moment, but it never comes. You are free!
That is kind of how it was with my quit this time. A state of grace. A miracle. I hadn’t planned on quitting. It happened just like that. I wanted to have a cigarette. I was so upset and stressed about my poor ole dad, but I just couldn’t. I tried to have one. Believe me. But a voice just kept saying, NO. Firmly, loudly and clearly.
I find that at two months, it’s now up to me to keep the focus. To not entertain any thoughts or craves and to keep my shoulders back and my chin up and go forth into the future, boldly and firmly, and not dally and give credence to the Junkie Mind that dwells in all of us ex-smokers. In perseverance is furtherance.
I joined this group because I saw there were many long-time quits and that gives me hope. I think it is good for ex-smokers to commune with each other. Sometimes I love to just ramble on and on about the joys of not smoking. Only ex-smokers can appreciate that. It helps me stay quit.
If I can help someone else along the way, so much the better. None of us stand alone. We all stand on the shoulders of those before us.
I am just grateful I am no longer chained to that cigarette and as long as I never take another puff, I will stay free.
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Post by Flo on Jul 27, 2006 12:26:22 GMT -5
Thanks again for the warm welcome, this time to Jimpops, Elaine, Karen and Dorothy.
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Post by Flo on Jul 21, 2006 18:28:33 GMT -5
Thank you for the warm welcome. I am composing my introductory post but it's still not done and as I was reading the various posts, I had to respond.
See you at Roll Call Monday! Hopefully, I can put my introductory post in with the Roll Call.
Have a great weekend everyone.
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Post by Flo on Jul 21, 2006 15:14:35 GMT -5
Excellent article. It's articles like this that remind me of how far I've come. How to have coffee without a cigarette, how to have dinner without a cigarette, how to get up without.... until you are so tangled up with cigarettes that you can hardly do anything without it.
Thank you.
Quit date: May 18, 2006. Two months, two days smoke free.
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