AWESOME Sam... I do wish you all the luck and I do hope you remain a NON Smoker after surgery. My mom and sister both took zyban. My sister did very well while my mom had to stop taking it. I did something to the inner lining of her stomach which now she has to take meds for the rest of her life. Zyban has so bad side effects in my opinion.

GOOD LUCK Sam!!! Good luck with surgery too!!

thanks. i am 6 weeks post op today

and my graphs are healed.

and the pack is sitting on the coffee table un opened still.:seeingstars:

i wish you all the best.

White House: Obama still trying to kick the habit


By DARLENE SUPERVILLE, Associated Press – Thu Dec 9, 3:49 pm ET
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama apparently hasn't had a cigarette since March, but the White House stopped short Thursday of declaring that he has officially kicked the habit bedeviling millions of Americans.
"I have not seen or witnessed evidence of any smoking in probably nine months," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs replied when asked at his regular media briefing about Obama's habit.
Has the president quit smoking? Gibbs wasn't ready to make that declaration.
"For that nine months, yes," he said. "I don't want to be flip. I think the president would be the first one to tell you that it's a struggle."
The update on Obama's continued fight against the addictive powers of nicotine followed Thursday's release of the latest U.S. Surgeon General's report to warn the public about tobacco's risks, including how it immediately begins to poison the body.
About 46 million adults, or one in five, still smoke. Millions more are regularly exposed to other people's fumes.
Gibbs said he thought Obama was still chewing nicotine gum to help him quit.
Smoking "is not something that he's proud of. He knows that it's not good for him. ... He doesn't like children to know about it, obviously including his," the spokesman said. "He has worked extremely hard and I think he would tell you even, when in the midst of a tax agreement and a (nuclear arms treaty) and all the other things that accumulate that, even where he might have once found some comfort in that he's pushed it away."
"He understands its dangers and, I think, has done a lot of extraordinary work to wrestle with that habit as millions of Americans have," Gibbs said.
After his first medical checkup as president in February, the White House physician reported that Obama was the picture of health, except for a slightly elevated cholesterol level, tendinitis in his left knee and occasional smoking.
The doctor, Navy Capt. Jeffrey Kuhlman, said Obama should continue with "smoking cessation efforts," or the use of nicotine gum.

Quitting...
 

I've tried many things, the patch, that nasty gum, and even cold turkey. OMG I nearly killed myself.

What is your remedy??? Or Your Game plan?

What a great thread!

I am not an addicted smoker, but I am an addict-- to the gum.

Before you laugh or think I am kidding, I would like to state my case:

My ex bought the gum in 1999 in order to stop smoking. She hated it and said she was going to throw it out. I was horrified because the gum was $75.00. I decided to chew the gum rather than to waste it. (Yes, I am very cheap) Now, 10 years later, I have a full blown addiction to the gum and if I do not chew it in the AM with coffee or after a meal or when I am stressed out-- I fall apart. Seriously. This is a nicotine addiction and I have shame I cannot stop. I wish I could say I did not like the taste, but I rather like burnt toast and when I chew it, the gum reminds me of my cooking.

Now that I am out about my "problem"-- I would like to stop. The gum is expensive and I know that I should stop.

I have tried the fake e-cig that Strappie mentioned, but I have never smoked cigarettes, so it did not help. I have tried the patch once and it was useless.

What scares me is the new information about how the gum increases oral cancers. I am also concerned about stomach cancer since I do not spit the gum out; I always end up swallowing it. (oh the horror!)

Thank you for Just G and Sam for their stories of "cold turkey". I have only tried to do that twice-- but perhapse it is time for me to try again.

I also like Wonder Woman's suggestion of hypnotherapy. I never thought about that as an option. (I have tried to get chantix, but the non-smoking clinic did not take me seriously...even when I explained to them I chew + swallow up to 20 squares of 4mg nicotine chews a day.)

Great idea for a thread, Strappie--
Thank you all for the great suggestions and I look forward to watching everyone's progress!

~CF

Thanks Incubus! developing the consciousness around the habit has certainly helped. I even counted how many drags I took of a cigarette the other day... something I have never even thought about... hmmmm
I'm certainly thinking it through. This is good advice you offered here - thank you!

Day One. Hella crabby. Done it many times before.

I started smoking at 16. Smoked a pack or more a day until I was 25. Quit for five years and then off and on again smoked but never more that 5 a day.

My Mom has COPD and had a small stroke recently. That is where I am headed it I do not quit. My child hates it. Greyson hates it. I wish I did!!

Okay so here is to smobriety in 2011.

Soldier on quitters.

Feels impossible to kik some days
 

I am not a heaavy smoker and only smoke in certain circumstances so why is it so D@$$ hard to kick it?

I think I am quitting as well. I woke up today, lit one about an hour or so after that, smoked it and then just decided I did not want anymore. I haven't smoked any, other than that one all day. Cravings have not been anything I cannot deal with, so I'll see what tomorrow brings, but pretty sure I am done with cigarettes.

Because it's an addiction. Read the article that Kobi posted. Wishing you much luck in giving up. Stick in there because it does get easier as each smoke-free day passes.


Go you Jesse! Good luck. The addiction/cravings may rear up and bite you on the bum but you sound like you're motivated so you'll deal with it.


Yesterday I sooooo wanted to smoke, it wasn't a craving for nicotine as such more a craving for the activity. It's down-to-the-wire essay writing time and I so wished I could have a ciggie whilst mulling stuff over. I won't give in to the feeling though.



Remember it's a day at a time folks. You can do anything for one day!

Hey Everyone!

This is my fourth smoke free day! So far no cheating. I have had some cravings of course, but so far non that are unmanageable.

Hope everyone is doing okay on their journey with this.

Thanks Incubus!

I just take a plastic drinking straw and cut it in half. They work well for me, but mostly I don't use anything. If it gets too bad I do have my electronic cig, but trying to not use them because of the nicotine.

No, this is my first time at trying to quit. I am 52, and have been smoking steady since I was 16.

It's tough when one has been a lifelong smoker. Stupid teenagers wanting to appear grown-up and cool *shakes head* I really wish I'd never started smoking at all because ultimately getting ill is soooo not cool! I've been experiencing quite a lot of breathlessness this week but that was my own fault for running out of spiriva, my copd medication, it will take a few days to get back to full 'spiriva-ness.

How are you doing Jesse? Still keeping on giving up?

And you too julieisafemme? Are you making progress?

Just G, are you still staying stopped?

...and how about the OP, Strappie, how goes it with your giving up mission?

Hey Incubus,

Sorry you are struggling with the breathlessness. Do you have the meds now?

You are correct in that ultimately the things smoking causes to happen to our bodies are just not cool at all.

Yes, I am still smoke free. Wednesday will be two weeks. :) There are still times the thought monkeys dance around in my head trying to convince me to smoke just one, but I just keep saying no.

Hoping that others on here are having great success! :)

Aww I'm so pleased to hear that you're still smoke free Jesse, it's good news indeed. Two weeks is quite an achievement. Well done on denying the dancing monkeys. That's all it takes, a certain strength (will power) and the ability to say NO! to yourself and the monkeys. :cheesy:

Yup I now have my meds and they're building up their protectiveness again.

Subscribing
 

to this thread cause quitting smoking is at the top of my list in life right now...

Very good luck with your mission. Give yourself every chance. If you can get the lovely pills we call Champix (here in UK) I can highly recommend them. I wrote lots about giving up in previous post as have other folks, scroll back and check them out.

Good luck to your Syr sassy_girl.

I'm proud to say that barring a major disaster I will reach a whole year not smoking in just 17days :fastdraq:

Congratulations! :congrats: