| Author | Message | ||
     F_skinner |
Everyone, thank you! It is really great to be able to read about other peoples experience and words of encouragement. I quit during the first Gulf War mainly because between pre-flight, mission time and post flight it made for 12 to 14 hour days (depending on the airframe) of time I could not smoke anyway and no booze so that helped a lot as well. I started back up 6 years later while in another sh1thole of an assignment after my divorce. I have only ever smoked one pack a day and always outside the house however I came to the realization that I was rationalizing so without talking to Lynn or anyone I decided to quit (she has been real supportive). I have not been feeling well lately and it is affecting many things so it is time to quit. You all have been great as well as my friends on facebook. It is great to hear words of encouragement from all of you. Today I was able to keep busy. I re-built a carb three times before I got it right thinking all the time, what is wrong with me. Ha Ha.... I took the 95 S2 out for a while. The motor is almost done for the S1W/S2 project so as soon as I finish some minor stuff with the motor and the wiring I will be getting her ready to rock and roll. It is just busy stuff but it helps a lot. The simpler the task the better. Lynn and I went to dinner with some friends and had a great time. I had a lot of cravings but the conversation was great so I did not notice as much. Lynn has this planned out and we go for walks in the evening, I doubt I will ever be back in the shape I was in the military but I have thought a lot about what Bads1 said. Thanks again everyone. Tomorrow will start day 3 without smokes. I think I will clean the garage..... | ||
| Lynn |
I am really, really proud of you Frank, and I love you very, very much...our kittens are proud of you too... thanks to everyone in the above posts for helping Frank out...even though I have been a Medic for over 20 years, I am kindof at a loss, at knowing how to help Frank,  so I really appreciate everyones thoughts... | ||
| Ourdee |
Frank, After I quit, I would wake up in the night because I had dreams of lighting a cigarette. I would be so scared that I had started again. There was great relief when I would wake enough to realize it was just a dream. 6 years is good for letting you know how powerful that one cigarette can be. Hang in there. I like the walking part. I need to do that. | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
Good luck Frank. I know it's harder the second time. I stopped 3 1/2 months ago. It sucks. What helped me was to get really pissed of at myself for doing something so stupid. | ||
| Metalstorm |
I went 25 years with a 2-3 pack a day habit. I got real lucky last month and got a really bad chest cold. I could barely breathe for a couple weeks so I couldn't smoke. I tried several times but man was it painful. By the time my lungs were clear of all that gak, enough time went by and I just havn't lit a cig yet. I don't plan to. I wish you luck Frank. It is a hard, hard thing to do. Maybe the patch might work for you. I couldn't get it to work for me. It stuck to my lip and it wouldn't stay lit  Cold turkey is the hardest but best way. No crutches. | ||
| Drkside79 |
Congrats and GL I'm going on six months myself. It gets easier but i still think about them. On the plus side after a few months smelling them on others is so gross you won't want one. | ||
| Smoke |
frank, stick to it! you are at the hardest part- the 1st week! as a former tobacco addict i can only say that it is well worth it to get out from under the smoke. feel better and you will have a bigger budget for motorcycle parts! after 11 years of no smoking i can say that i'm a lot better off health-wise. YOU CAN DO IT!! tim | ||
| Ponti1 |
Small world, Frank. Congrats and good luck! I just decided to quit also. My last cigarette was the evening of 1/18/2010. I have never really tried to quit before, and have been smoking about a pack a day for last 18 years. I went the route of the Chantix pills, because everyone (including my physician) that I have talked to says it is the best thing they have ever tried for quitting. Since I have not tried anything before, I have nothing to compare it to, though I will say I am happy with it since the whole ordeal has not been that big a deal. "Day 1" without smoking was absolutely awful. Felt like causing physical harm to random people and objects, and was incredibly agitated and irritable throughout the day. The Chantix warns of these things as side effects, and advises to stop taking the pill immediately and call a doctor. I decided I was going to quit smoking, and that Chantix was the method, so I disregarded the product warnings. (Note: I do not condone the disregard for product warnings, please follow all instructions provided by the manufacturer and your doctor). "Day 2" was moderately bad, but no feelings of "I want to maim someone", so I persisted, feeling as though the first day would just be a fluke. I was correct (so far), in that this is now the beginning of my sixth day, and I feel just fine. I am perhaps still a touch sensitive to stressful situations, but nothing unmanageable. I am using a "mind over matter" approach, and just trying to think of myself and refer to myself as a non-smoker. I have even kept cigarettes and a lighter on me at all times, as a test of willpower. I know they say to remove all traces of cigarettes, throw away ashtrays and lighters, and so on. I just feel that, for me, I need to be able to prove that I will not smoke even if they are readily available. The hardest part will be not smoking with a beer or cocktail. I have quit that for the time being, just to ensure a beer or two doesn't relax my will sufficient that I cease to care about quitting. Anyway, sorry for the long rant and the on-topic threadjack. Just thought I'd share my past week experience also. Again, good luck!! | ||
| Court |
Go get'em guys . . . this is REALLY good news. . . . since I'm already planning for S2 events 30 year hence and if Frank's not going I'm not going . . . what's the use of just having the coffee cup sitting there. It MAY be one of the most important things in your life . . treat it that way. Goad for the day: Worry ONLY about today. Very cool! | ||
| Macdiver |
I quit back in April. There is a website called Whyquit dot com. The site is strictly for quitting cold turkey. There is a lot of good information on there about what you are going through both physically and mentally. Also some good info on how to maintain your quit. Look for the articles by Joel. Avoid the horror stories that are posted i.e. people who died. Totally free site and info. I still go there occasionally to get support information on staying nicotine free. | ||
| Crusty |
I quit Cold Turkey on June 6,1990. It was the toughest thing I've ever done. Things that helped me: I took it "One Day At A Time" I didn't have to quit for the rest of my life, I just had to get through today. I chewed plastic coffee stirrers to help combat the oral aspects of smoking. The urge to light up never lasts more than 90 seconds. Somebody told me that; and while I thought it was bullshit at first, I came to realize it's true. It DOES get easier after the first few days. The first few days are hell, but it gets easier the longer you go without one. I hope this helps. | ||
| Gunut75 |
I smoked for 10 years, quit for 5, then started back up . I am going to quit again soon. I enjoy it a lot. Thats my prob. I should have called it a day after 5 years, but doing shots at a bar didn't help that. I will be quitting again soon. Once you know how it feels to not smoke, and you realize how good your body feels, you tend to look for that better feeling. Sometimes I will quit for a few days, just because I dont feel like smoking. Soon Ill be quitting all together. I dont smoke in my house, or around my son, so it's easy to not smoke. That and it will save me $1500 a year. If the gal quits with me, thats like a used Buell just about every year.............so..............in 10 years my garage could look like.............  | ||
| Nevrenuf |
frank, i hope more than anything that you can quit and that's coming from a reformed cigar smoker who used to inhale. it was so important for me to quit this time that 3 days after i quit smoking i quit my pain in the a$$ job cause this was more important. the one thing i did to keep my mine off of smoking was to play a video game and for the next two weeks, that's pretty much all i did. it kept my hands busy and my mine off of stopping. when i stopped, i did it on my birthday to help me remember when i did but for the life of me, i can't remember the year anymore and really doesn't matter. good luck to ya brother and if you need to talk to someone else, my #'s in the bran. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
10 years ago my wife and I quit at the same time.... it was not pretty. A trip to vegas did her in... bummer But I'm still on the wagon and I'm glad you have climbed aboard. Just think of all the $$$$.$$ you will save!... all the Buell stuff you can buy! Stay away from triggers if you can... mine was a cup of coffee on the drive into work. I didn't drink coffee until I got to my desk. Just change your routine for awhile... you can do it! | ||
| F_skinner |
Macdiver, thanks for that web site. I sure will take a look at it. Ponti1, we should have thought about posting something earlier LOL. It is small world and to think we lived next door to each other at Homecoming. I did the same thing by keeping the lighter and sticks around in the past but I left them at work this time. I will have them tomorrow. They are going in the trash... Crusty, that is great knowledge and never heard that before. 30 Years down the road Court? I am not sure what my garage will look like but I do know there will be a S2 in it. Thanks for the words of encouragement. Day 3: I had a lot of trouble sleeping and do remember looking at the clock at 0328 AM. I slept in until 0730 which is very unusual for me. It is Sunday so no big deal. This is the first day I did not bolt out of bed and head to the garage for that first one. I feel better. Thank you everyone!!! | ||
| F_skinner |
Neil, thank you my friend. Mark, that is the biggest trigger. I will do just what you say and wait till I get to work. I am Civil Service now so I can take my time getting in...Right... | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
You wont be to civil for awhile.... LOL With that in mind, think about what you are saying before you rip someone a new a-hole | ||
| Kmbuell |
Frank, I'm proud of you. Even though I've never smoked, it's taken my father and a brother-in-law from us. Sitting with Cathy the last 18 months in weekly chemo has made me so aware of what we do to ourselves. I see folks, both men and women, having a smoke in the parking lot before they go in for chemo. I've seen one guy smoking while wearing O2. I understand it will be difficult, but I never want Lynn to go through what I am going through now with Cathy. Watching the love of your life waste away is the hardest thing I've ever done. Hang in there, you can do it!! Kevin | ||
| F_skinner |
Thank you Kevin, I have seen what you described many times as well. My Sister went through the same thing you are a few years ago. It was hard on everyone. As you know from emails between us, Lynn and I are praying for you and your wife every day. Time to find something to do..... | ||
| Jumpinjewels |
Keep going Frank, you can do it. I have quit drinking coffee. I'm only allowing myself one cup per week. Dan and I went out to dinner last night and it was so hard not ordering any coffee. I didn't know what to drink. I'm stopping due to some medical issues with coffee. You will feel so much better. Hang in there. | ||
| Spiderman |
Awesome Frankie!! | ||
| Whatever |
Hey Frank, let Lynn know there is something she can do... have lots of sex as often as possible... Ha ha ha... that should get both your minds off of smoking...  | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
Well Frank I was just wondering how you're doing this morning. I hope you haven't snapped yet. Best of luck! | ||
| Spiderman |
If your smoking during sex you need more lube  | ||
| Birdy |
Well you're smarter than I was...it took a heart attack and Quad By Pass to get me to stop. Good luck and stick to it. | ||
| Xb12xmike |
other things you can do where you cannot smoke are: Go to mall (shopping in general) Go for long ride on bike. Visit an airport (take some pics) Lots of walking Put something in your mouth (refer to whatever's post ) Drink lots of liquids Oh... you may also want to try some fish oil and some non-flush niacin,.. (it is supposed to help with artery disease/plaque) I would read about it or ask doctor first. | ||
| Lynn |
OK I am up for the more sex thing to help Frank stop smoking!!  | ||
| F_skinner |
WIN WIN | ||
| Ustorque |
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| D_adams |
Maybe I missed it, but have you thought about auriculotherapy? If all else fails, it's definitely worth trying this. In the St Louis area, ballpark cost is about $90 or so. http://www.lesliecamstopsmoking.com/ is where I went a little over 3 years ago. It was literally like having a light switch turned off. I had to find stuff to do with my hands for the physical part of smoking, but mentally, I had absolutely NO desire to smoke again. It works for some, but not for others. My wife tried it but it didn't work for her. She's still smoking, but is down to 7 cigs a day now, from 2 packs at the first of the year. I think she really wants to quit this time though. Best of luck to you. |
