tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50350958711017138612024-03-05T10:41:45.337-06:00Help Me Quit SmokingFollow me on my journey to becoming a non-smoker. If you have any advice or words of encouragement, please feel free to post comments.Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-18280924394713402012009-07-12T08:02:00.000-05:002009-07-12T08:04:10.263-05:00Quitnet.com Tip of the DayThe <a href="http://quitnet.com">quitnet.com</a> Tip of the Day:<br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Snacks to Keep You Busy</span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 14px;">When you feel the urge to smoke, have a snack that keeps your hands and mouth busy. Buy a bag of shelled peanuts to eat, so that you have to work at shelling each nut. Do the same with sunflower seeds. Make a big bowl of popcorn, a good low-fat snack. Practice catching pieces in your mouth. </span>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-70322954532408306072009-07-12T07:49:00.004-05:002009-07-12T08:02:24.111-05:00I am Doing BetterIt has been roughly 36 hours since I have had my last cigarette. It has been a bit of a struggle. But I think I am doing okay. I have read that the cravings come and go, but sometimes I feel like it is a constant craving. The 'nicotine monster' wants to be fed. I will do my best to ignore him.<br /><br />We went to a block party yesterday. I found myself looking around for someone smoking a cigarette. Strangely, I did not see 1 person smoking. I thought that was very weird. There must have been 30 or 40 adults there and I did not see a single one of them smoking. Maybe it was because most of them had kids and either did not want to smoke around their kids or had quit smoking altogether because they had kids.<br /><br />We have a baby shower this afternoon so we will see how that goes. I know that there will not be any smokers in our group. But it is at a banquet facility so there might be someone there outside our group that smokes. I know that I should not smoke at all, but will 1 cigarette kill me?Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-52110396706740792352009-07-11T08:40:00.002-05:002009-07-11T09:11:38.262-05:00Not Quite There YetOkay, so I have a bit of a confession to make. I have not quite quit smoking yet, but I am trying. I did intend to quit on July 5th. But on the morning of July 6th I was on a plane heading down to go through my dad's things. I did not bring any cigarettes with me. I thought I was doing good. I don't recall having a craving, but I did find myself buying a pack of cigarettes at the gas station that was right next door to our hotel. So I smoked the pack throughout the course of 3 days. I had the last one at the airport waiting for our flight home. That was going to be my "last cigarette". The morning after I got back home, I had to go to work. Again, I had no intention of smoking. But the cravings became too great. I went out in the early afternoon and bought a pack. I do not bring it home with me. It stays at work. The first night wasn't so bad because I knew I would be back at work the next morning and could have a cigarette then. But now that it is the weekend, I have to wait 2 days to get back to my cigarettes.<br /><br />Maybe it will be a good thing. Maybe I won't be craving them by the time I get back to work Monday morning. But that might also be a bad thing. What if I am not craving them, but they are there? I don't think I will have to power to throw them away. I guess I will have to see what happens Monday.<br /><br />Right now I need to focus on getting through the weekend. Just take 1 day at a time. That is all I can do. If I keep thinking about having a cigarette when I get to work on Monday morning, it will drive me crazy! So I need to find other things to keep myself occupied today.<br /><br />Wish me luck!Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-91915729395300024462009-07-11T08:30:00.001-05:002009-07-11T08:31:46.440-05:00Quitnet.com Tip of the DayThe <a href="http://quitnet.com/">quitnet.com</a> Tip of the Day:<br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;font-family:Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14;" ><span style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;font-family:Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14;" >Relaxation Is Easier Than You Think</span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 14px;font-family:Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12;" >Consciously relaxing your body and mind is really helpful, not just in the early days of quitting, but as a way of dealing with stress in your life from now on. Relaxing can be pretty easy to do, once you get the hang of it. Simply close your eyes and breathe naturally, picturing your breath as it flows in and out of your body. You may want to imagine your breath filling your body with energy, and then pulling all tension out with it as you exhale. </span>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-62994320300911521562009-07-10T08:27:00.000-05:002009-07-11T08:28:53.872-05:00Quitnet.com Tip of the DayThe<a href="http://quitnet.com"> quitnet.com</a> Tip of the Day:<br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">A Question Of Priorities</span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 14px;">Sometimes you have to make quitting your #1 priority; which can mean putting your social life on hold during the early days. If you must socialize in risky environments, perhaps your party friends can help you by smoking less around you, etc. This is your quit, and you need to do whatever you can to not smoke. The responsibility is yours. </span>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-68904050961375176582009-07-09T19:53:00.001-05:002009-07-09T19:59:03.092-05:00Quitnet.com Tip of the DayThe <a href="http://quitnet.com">quitnet.com</a> Tip of the Day:<br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Caffeine and Nicotine</span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 14px;">For many people, coffee is strongly associated with smoking. If this is true for you, try changing your coffee drinking routine. Sit in a different chair or room, or take your coffee differently. Changing your coffee mug may help, too. While you drink coffee do something different than you usually do; you could try reading quit-smoking literature, for example. If you go out for coffee, go to a non-smoking place. Some people choose to switch to another hot beverage and avoid drinking coffee altogether in the early days of quitting.</span>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-43979335489180547732009-07-08T23:13:00.001-05:002009-07-08T23:14:42.192-05:00Quitnet.com Tip of the DayThe <a href="http://quitnet.com">quitnet.com</a> Tip of the Day:<br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Avoid Excess Sugar Consumption</span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 14px;">Avoid eating any foods high in refined sugars, carbohydrates, and fat. Eating a well-balanced diet of healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and low calorie snacks is a good way to minimize weight gain. To avoid excess sugars and fat, start reading food labels. It is also helpful to avoid alcohol when you are quitting smoking. This can help to reduce your chances of relapse. Some people also choose to avoid coffee when they are quitting. If you find it hard to avoid smoking when you drink coffee, you may want to try another beverage of choice like tea or hot cocoa.</span>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-72695436717952282382009-07-07T08:02:00.001-05:002009-07-07T08:05:04.354-05:00Quitnet.com Tip of the DayThe <a href="http://quitnet.com">quitnet.com</a> Tip of the Day:<br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Dealing with Frustration</span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 14px;">You may be finding that the little problems in life seem incredibly difficult. This is an effect of withdrawal from nicotine and WILL pass in a couple of weeks. You don't have to smoke to deal with frustration. You can choose a different response. How have you seen other people handle frustration, in healthy ways? To let go of frustration, get alone for a few minutes and take a few deep breaths, slowly counting to ten for each inhale and exhale. You could try clenching your fists for a count of five, then shaking out your hands several times; imagine getting rid of some of that frustration as you shake your hands out, like a dog gets rid of water by shaking after a swim. Do this several times, followed by a few slow and calming breaths. </span>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-91228172951302326232009-07-06T04:33:00.001-05:002009-07-06T04:34:44.834-05:00Quitnet.com Tip of the DayMy <a href="http://quitnet.com">quitnet.com</a> Tip of the Day:<br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Dealing with cravings</span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 14px;">You've done it. You've made it well into your quit day and you are still smoke free! You're probably beginning to have cravings for tobacco, however, and are wondering how you are going to deal with them. Craving a cigarette can be hard to deal with but remember -- cravings are temporary and pass in a few minutes. Fight the urge to smoke with the Five D's: Delay (until the urge passes); Deep breaths; Drink water; Discuss your cravings; and do something to Distract yourself (like exercise one of the other four D's, for example). </span>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-2674284484767475072009-07-05T10:24:00.000-05:002009-07-05T10:25:53.192-05:00Quitnet.com Tip of the DayHere is my <a href="http://quitnet.com">quitnet.com</a> Tip of the Day:<br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Quit Day!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 14px;">Quit Day - Congratulations!!! This is it, the moment you've prepared for, anticipated and even dreaded. Fear not! A vast majority of successful quitters will tell you that their fearful expectations were always far worse than the reality of quitting smoking itself. This is your quit! Nothing in the world can make you throw it away, and all the power in the world is available to help you succeed. How about logging on to the QuitNet and announcing your quit in the forums? Such a public commitment to your quit can really make a difference. You'll get cheered on by many others successful in their quits- so be prepared to stand up and take a bow!</span>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-70375112088898714472009-07-05T10:08:00.004-05:002009-07-05T10:24:14.812-05:00Day 1My quit day has finally arrived. I feel a little strange. Actually, I am not sure how I feel. I feel that I need to go out for my morning cigarette. But I have to remind myself that I do not do that anymore. So instead I am eating an apple. I think I will have to keep myself busy today to keep my mind off of smoking. I almost wish that I could stay in my bedroom all day. I know that there are going to be several situations today where I will feel the "urge" for a cigarette. I will just have to find a way to get through them. Maybe I will stop at the grocery store and pick up some vegetables like celery or carrots and use them as props. When ever I feel the urge for a cigarette I will pretend that a stick of celery or a carrot is a cigarette.<br /><br />I will check back in tonight to let you all know how Day 1 went.Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-85729684095818881762009-07-03T22:39:00.000-05:002009-07-03T22:40:54.086-05:00Quitnet.com Tip of the DayThe <a href="http://quitnet.com">quitnet.com</a> Tip of the Day:<br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Log On, Don't Light Up!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 14px;">You're almost there...your quit day is today! One the best ways to get through the process of quitting smoking is to have support. Thats where the QuitNet can really help. When you feel like lighting up, log on to the "Q" and read or post a message in the forums, participate in one of the chat rooms or check your Q-Mail. Since most cravings last less than 5 minutes, a short distraction is all you need. You CAN do this. Good luck! </span>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-4006889882512592832009-07-02T22:38:00.001-05:002009-07-03T22:39:26.541-05:00Quitnet.com Tip of the DayThe <a href="http://quitnet.com/">quitnet.com</a> Tip of the Day:<br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;font-family:Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14;" ><span style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;font-family:Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14;" >Tell Your Family and Friends!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 14px;font-family:Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12;" >As part of preparing for your quit-date, you may want to get some support from your family and close friends. Think about the ways that they can be helpful to you, and then communicate those ways to them. For example, will you want to be asked about how your quit-attempt is going, or would you like to be left alone on this topic unless you bring it up? Also, if you discuss with them, before your quit-date, the fact that you might be a bit hard to live with for a while, they’ll be less likely to take your irritable behavior personally. </span>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-78877742374787593682009-07-01T22:36:00.000-05:002009-07-03T22:37:28.748-05:00Quitnet.com Tip of the DayThe <a href="http://quitnet.com">quitnet.com</a> Tip of the Day:<br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">A Little Exercise is Better Than None</span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 14px;">Exercise can be very helpful when you are trying to quit smoking. Smokers are less likely to exercise; conversely, people who exercise regularly are less likely to smoke. Adding even a moderate amount of exercise can burn calories and increase metabolism- helping to avoid or minimize weight gain. Also, regular exercise can reduce stress and enhance your sense of well-being (by increasing metabolism and dopamine synthesis in the brain). NOTE: If you are considering starting a new exercise program, talk to your doctor first. Your physical capability may not be on a par with your enthusiasm. Normally, it helps to set modest goals at first, and increase your activity gradually. Start with goals you know you can achieve, and increase the challenge after you've developed the HABIT of exercise. </span>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-49776294487060301362009-06-30T22:33:00.000-05:002009-07-03T22:34:17.413-05:00Quitnet.com Tip of the DayThe <a href="http://quitnet.com">quitnet.com</a> Tip of the Day:<br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">What Are You Afraid Of?</span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 14px;">What are your fears about quitting smoking? Put them down on paper and take a look at them. Maybe you didn’t even know that these fears were lingering in your mind, keeping you from trying to quit. Are you afraid you’ll lose certain friends, or lose an image you think smoking gives you? Be honest with yourself and you may find you’re better able to think about seriously trying to quit. </span>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-82756106770589691532009-06-29T22:29:00.000-05:002009-07-03T22:31:01.619-05:00Quitnet.com Tip of the DayThe <a href="http://quitnet.com">quitnet.com</a> Tip of the Day:<br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Consider How Smoking Molds Your Life</span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 14px;">Spend some time considering, and even writing down, how smoking affects you. Have you noticed signs of being addicted to nicotine, such as having really strong cravings in the morning, or having to leave for a smoke during a movie? What habits have you built around smoking? Do you always smoke after meals? Do you smoke as a way to deal with feelings/stress? As you become more aware of the role smoking plays in your life, you'll discover ways to change. </span>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-3704015532752854912009-06-28T22:26:00.000-05:002009-07-03T22:27:40.410-05:00Quitnet.com Tip of the DayThe quitnet.com Tip of the Day:<br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Keep Lots of Healthy Food On Hand</span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 14px;">In preparation for quitting, get in the habit of keeping your kitchen well-stocked with fruits and vegetables. You'll then have something to reach for when you get a craving. Cut your favorite veggies into sticks and put them in baggies. Eat baby carrots. Keep a bowl of grapes in the fridge, washed and ready to eat. Put apples in the living room. When you read or watch TV, you'll have an apple to reach for in place of a cigarette. By the way, if you're angry, apples and other crispy foods have a loud, satisfying crunch.</span>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-31148297214504555002009-06-27T22:21:00.000-05:002009-07-03T22:24:26.307-05:00Quitnet.com Tip of the DayThe <a href="http://quitnet.com">quitnet.com</a> Tip of the Day:<br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">What Small Changes in Lifestyle Can You Make Now?</span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 14px;">Be realistic when preparing to quit. When thinking of things to replace smoking with, choose activities that you like to do and that will work for you. Don't plan to jog two miles a day if walking around the block is difficult for you, for example. Pick a quit-day when you can focus mostly on quitting and not on any work that needs to get done, or on visiting relatives, etc. Think about changes that you can start making now to make quitting easier-like taking a walk after lunch. Small, but realistic, changes will make all the difference when you quit. </span>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-35423797762776423812009-06-26T22:19:00.000-05:002009-07-03T22:20:42.464-05:00Quitnet.com Tip of the DayThe <a href="http://quitnet.com">quitnet.com</a> Tip of the Day:<br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Effects on other people</span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 14px;">As an ex-smoker, you may find it motivating to consider the effect of your smoking on other people. Knowing that secondhand smoke is harmful, even potentially fatal, to those around you might make you think twice about the effects of your smoking. Even your pets, you may realize, are adversely affected by secondhand smoke.</span>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-84727121737420724382009-06-25T21:31:00.000-05:002009-07-03T21:32:25.028-05:00Quitnet.com Tip of the DayThe <a href="http://quitnet.com/">quitnet.com</a> Tip of the Day:<br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;font-family:Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14;" ><span style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;font-family:Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14;" >Question Your Motives For Smoking</span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 14px;font-family:Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12;" >An ex-smoker suggests one way to help you think about quitting. Write out the answers to these questions: What has smoking done for me? What has smoking done to me? Am I able to enjoy all the activities I did when I wasn’t smoking? What makes me want to quit? We also recommend you use our own diagnostic 'Why Do I Smoke?' tool. It'll not only give you a little insight, but make some suggestions for treatment, as well.<br /></span>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-30763427357973359042009-06-24T21:18:00.000-05:002009-07-03T21:19:45.019-05:00Quitnet.com Tip of the DayThe <a href="http://quitnet.com">quitnet.com</a> Tip of the Day:<br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Find New Ways to Deal With Stress</span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 14px;">Many people become used to smoking as a way of dealing with strong feelings and stress. It’s possible to find other ways to handle anger, frustration, sadness, and joy, however. In the days before your quit-date, notice why you smoke, and what feelings you’re having at the time you light up. It's wise to write theses things down. It won't take you long to identify certain patterns in your daily smoking routines. Much of this patterning will be directly tied to mental/emotional stressors. You have a choice about how you cope with your feelings -- smoking a cigarette is a choice you can turn down. Think of other ways to handle feelings. You can walk, talk (on the phone or in person), exercise, sleep, pray, meditate, write in a journal, do a hobby, go to the movies, or any one of hundreds of other possibilities. Try to choose one of these instead of smoking; watch how quickly your focus turns away from your strong emotion and how quickly that feeling can disappear.</span>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-41073034915286114942009-06-23T21:12:00.001-05:002009-07-03T22:41:48.190-05:00Quitnet.com Tip of the DayThe <a href="http://quitnet.com/">quitnet.com</a> Tip of the Day:<br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;font-family:Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14;" ><span style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;font-family:Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14;" >When Do You Smoke?</span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 14px;font-family:Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12;" >Some people find it helpful to keep track of how many cigarettes they smoke each day, and when they smoke them. Try this for a few days: each time you’re about to smoke, take 10 seconds to write down what time it is and why you are smoking (for example: 9:00 am, smoked 1 cigarette with coffee). You might already know that you always smoke after eating, for example, but may not realize that you always have a cigarette as soon as you step out of the house or leave work. Noticing patterns can help you decide how to change these patterns, and how to come up with things to do instead of smoking at these particular times.</span>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-45825946100510683092009-06-22T21:10:00.001-05:002009-07-03T22:42:04.656-05:00Quitnet.com Tip of the DayThis is the <a href="http://quitnet.com/">quitnet.com</a> Tip of the Day:<br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;font-family:Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14;" ><span style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;font-family:Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14;" >Is Your Doctor 'Up To Snuff'?</span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 14px;font-family:Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12;" >Over the years a variety of devices and remedies for quitting smoking have been developed. Believe it or not, doctors and other health-care providers are not always knowledgeable about current quit-smoking methods; most medical schools only briefly touch on smoking cessation, if at all. We quitters often have to educate our own healthcare providers (though that's changing rapidly)! If you have any questions about which quit-smoking technique or product is best for you, ask your doctor or pharmacist, but don’t be afraid to question their level of quit-smoking awareness. You deserve the best medical help you can receive during your quitting experience. </span>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-58964644127250613682009-06-21T21:05:00.002-05:002009-07-03T22:42:33.748-05:00Quitnet.com Tip of the DayHere is the <a href="http://quitnet.com/">quitnet.com</a> Tip of the Day:<br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;font-family:Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14;" ><span style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 13px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-align: left; text-decoration: none;font-family:Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14;" >Hang Out With Non-Smoking People</span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 14px;font-family:Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12;" >If you want some motivation to quit smoking, start spending time with non-smoking people. Notice how their hands are free to do what they want to do. Notice that they don’t smell like smoke, and that they are generally more active than smokers. Ask your non-smoking friends and colleagues how they deal with stress, boredom, or joy, and ask if you can call on them during your early recovery. They might have some useful ideas for you when finally quit smoking yourself.</span>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035095871101713861.post-85670629831228678052009-06-21T19:45:00.000-05:002009-07-03T21:08:59.460-05:00New Incentive to Quit SmokingFor those of you that have been following my blog, you know that the main reason that I am quitting smoking is because my wife and I are expecting a baby in September. Since my father is the reason I started smoking in the first place, I did not want to make the same mistake. I do not want my son to know me as a smoker or to pick up this nasty habit from me. I also want to be there for my kids and family for as long as I can. I want to watch my kids grow up, go to college, get married, and start families of their own.<br /><br />I now have a new incentive to quit smoking. I got a phone call yesterday morning informing me that my father has passed away. It was not an unexpected phone call. In fact, I was quite relieved that he is finally at peace. He had a stroke back in March and his health quickly deteriorated from that point. When they found that he had a stroke, they also found that his kidneys were failing, his liver was failing, and his lungs were not good. I went to the hospital to see him and knew when I left that it would probably be the last time I would see him alive. And it was. He was only 67 years old.<br /><br />There are a few things that he said when I saw him in the hospital that I will never forget. He told me that he was scared of dying. Even though the stroke caused significant damage to his memory and he was doped up on medication, he knew his days were numbered. I could almost see regret in his face. I think when you are at the point in your life, when you are looking death in the face, it really makes you stop and think about your life. What regrets do you have? Would you change anything? Would you do something different?<br /><br />Something else that he told me was that I needed to quit smoking. That kind of took me by surprise. He knew that I had been smoking for the past 20 years, and he is just now getting on my case? I believe that he knew that being a heavy smoker and a heavy drinker for a good chunk of his life had finally taken its toll on his body.<br /><br />After seeing my father laying in the hospital, knowing that he was going to die, I knew that I did not want to end up like that. Yes, it is true that we cannot control everything that happens to our health as we get older. But there are things we can do to attempt to live longer and healthier lives. And not smoking is one of those things.<br /><br />It seems almost ironic to me. The man who got me smoking in the first place is the same man that will get me to quit smoking. Thanks dad. I love you.Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659153450201161902noreply@blogger.com0