Day 18 and I do love waking up in the am and jumping out of bed.
Music to my ears Saved, keep on keepin' on! Here's an article that I don't completely agree with, but has a couple of tips for anyone interested...
Quote:
Empowering Resolutions: Smoking and Lifestyle Changes
Stop Smoking Today!
Tobacco, in the form of cigarettes, is the most addictive drug in the
world. Nicotine is one of the strongest stimulants known, and smoking
is one of the most efficient drug-delivery systems. Smoking actually
puts drugs into the brain more directly than intravenous injection.
It is true that one of the "benefits" of smoking is the brief relief
of internal tension; unfortunately, within 20 minutes the tension is
back stronger than before, demanding another fix. Many of the
chemicals in tobacco smoke also affect the nonsmoker inhaling the
smoke, making "secondhand smoking" another important cause of lung
cancer. It is responsible for approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths
annually.
Lung Cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women. An
estimated 180,900 new cases of lung cancer and an estimated 160,880
deaths from lung cancer will occur in the United States in the
following year. Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer. Lung
cancer may also be the most tragic cancer because in most cases, it
might have been prevented -- 87% of lung cancer cases are caused by
smoking. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 different
chemicals, many of which are proven cancer-causing substances, or
carcinogens. Smoking cigars or pipes also increases the risk of lung
cancer.
The more time and quantity you smoke, the greater your risk of lung
cancer. But if you stop smoking, the risk of lung cancer decreases
each year as normal cells replace abnormal cells. After ten years,
the risk drops to a level that is one-third to one-half of the risk
for people who continue to smoke. In addition, quitting smoking
greatly reduces the risk of developing other smoking-related
diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, emphysema and chronic
bronchitis.
Chronic bronchitis may result from prolonged exposure to bronchial
irritants. Cigarette smoking, environmental toxins, and inhalant
allergens can all cause chronic irritation of the bronchi. The cells
lining the bronchi produce excess mucus in response to the chronic
irritation; this excess mucus production can lead to a chronic,
productive cough. Bronchitis can be particularly dangerous in the
elderly and in people with compromised immune systems. These
individuals should see a doctor if they develop a respiratory
infection.
Low-tar, low-nicotine cigarettes offer no great advantages. People
tend to smoke more of them, or inhale more deeply to get the same
amount of nicotine. Pipes and cigars, if not inhaled, do not cause
lung cancer and emphysema, but do increase the risk of oral cancer
(as do snuff and chewing tobacco).
There are many programs available to help you quit: acupuncture,
hypnotherapy, and support groups. There are also a many products -
nicotine patches and gum, for instance - on the market that work for
some. None of these methods works reliably for everyone. Most
successful quitters do it on their own after one or more unsuccessful
attempts. Going "cold turkey" also seems to work better than
gradually cutting down.
Don't get discouraged. If you can't quit today, you may be able to
tomorrow. You want to be motivated. You need to do this for yourself,
not because someone else wants you to. You have to believe that you
can!!
1. Exercise is encouraged and dietary and support systems are
recommended to rid the body of toxins and avoid relapses.
2. Get plenty of fresh fruit and vegetable juices and miso soup to
neutralize and clear the blood of nicotinic acid and to fortify blood
sugar. Carrots, Carrot juice, celery, leafy green salads and citrus
fruits promote body alkalinity and decrease cravings.
3. Managing cravings – Plan what you will do during a craving.
Examples: Chew licorice root sticks or gum; repeat your affirmation;
breathe deeply; exercise; call support person. Begin with Andrew's
incredible Stop Smoking Kit!
4. Avoid junk food, sugar, chocolate, coffee and cooked spinach. They
can upset blood sugar levels and increase blood acidity which can
aggravate smoking-withdrawal symptoms.
5. Lobelia Tea (Ban Bian Lian) can be sipped daily during the detox
period to keep tissues flooded with elements that discourage nicotine
cravings.
6. Drink water - Research shows that dryness causes cravings. Sip
water frequently throughout the day.
7. Deep Breathing Exercises – to increase body oxygen
8. Support Person - Ask someone to act as a sounding board and
provide encouragement when needed. A support person or someone to report to each
day is a huge component when it comes to quitting. Having a support person makes
you accountable. It can be a friend or family member or your health care
practitioner. You are required to call or check in with your support person at
the end of each day and tell them how many cigarettes you smoked/did not
smoke... your emotions you dealt with... or cravings you experienced. The
process is done to help you, not only express your daily strengths/fears but it
gives you someone to support your journey.
9. Affirmations - An affirmation is a positive statement repeated
often to create desired changes in your life. Repeating the
affirmation helps imprint a new image of health so that the body can
then produce health. Examples: "I am a non-smoker. I make healthy
choices in my life."
10. Setting Boundaries - Avoid contact with other smokers This
includes loved ones. Stay away from smokers during the first few
weeks, especially.
11. Curbing the Oral Fixation - The need to have something in our
mouth is a habit that must be broken. This is apart of the desire and
addiction. Natural licorice sticks from the health food store are an
excellent substitute. You should have these on hand all the time.
They are good to chew on. Avoid eating food to replace these
cravings.
12 Curbing the Tactile Fixation - The need to have something in our
hands is a habit that must also be broken. Natural licorice sticks
from the health food store are an excellent substitute. You should
have these on hand all the time. They are good to keep in your
fingers and serve two purposes.
Did you have a month coughing spree after you quit. I have not had this yet?
Kinda, there was some clearing out of ick. And I went through that several times til I quit completely My other issues were lack of concentration, disturbed sleep, and aches.. like my body hurt for several weeks in my arms & legs. Weird.lol You're right about the habital part.. I did have to carry an unlit cigarette between my fingers on & off through the day. Eventually, it was replaced with a straw cut in half. Then I took up crocet at night to keep my hands busy.
Okay, this is pretty gross everybody, but sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do!The thing that really helped me quit was I kept an old ash tray with a few butts & ashes in it. When the urge got to the point where I was going to give up & light up, I added a little water to the ashes & took a little whiff. EWwWWW!!
The reason that worked so well is because once when at a pool party/barbeque, I picked up the wrong beer can & took a sip of one which someone had been using as an ashtray. Believe it or not, I composed myself until I found the bathroom & then... OMG!!! It was sooooo gross.. i was sick for days.. So since there was THAT history with ashes, the ashtray trick really worked for me.
__________________
The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease
Cookie, I am not having cravings except when I drive. I have not coughed yet at all either. I do have some leg/foot pains though and I tiought what K2C posted was interesting about the Lobelia tea. There was a stop smoking aide when I was little called Nicoban and it was lobelia extract.
It started: I had a dream last night I was at the local bar and someone next to me was smoking and I bummed one and as soon as I touched it, I threw it across the bar and said WTF am I doing. Then I woke up.
It started: I had a dream last night I was at the local bar and someone next to me was smoking and I bummed one and as soon as I touched it, I threw it across the bar and said WTF am I doing. Then I woke up.
Awesome, the power of our dreams...never to be taken lightly.
OMG, tried searching for an old work friend from the 90s, he was 10 yrs older than me. Unfortunately I found him: in an obituary. He smoked 2 packs a day. That is all the info I know, he died in 2010. This was a shock.
OMG, tried searching for an old work friend from the 90s, he was 10 yrs older than me. Unfortunately I found him: in an obituary. He smoked 2 packs a day. That is all the info I know, he died in 2010. This was a shock.
Day 34 no cigs. Lunds feel a little weird today. I have not had any coughing issues yet and someone said when the cilia regerneate is when you get the coughing. Since a lot of quitters are on this board, did that happen to you?
I did not have any such problem. I think it was due to cutting back gradually, instead of cold turkey. I actually got down to one cigarette per day for a week, before I realized how stupid I was to continue. I sure don't know why your lungs would hurt.
One thing for you to try is bromelain. It is a proteolytic enzyme involved in healing an repair. Among other things it is good for mucus liquification for asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, and any infected areas. It even treats swelling and inflammation.
__________________
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- Jim
"If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?" �Will Rogers
Day 34 no cigs. Lunds feel a little weird today. I have not had any coughing issues yet and someone said when the cilia regerneate is when you get the coughing. Since a lot of quitters are on this board, did that happen to you?
Congratulations on 34 days without, I was wondering how you were doing, thanks for the update.
I had a lot of coughing after I quit, I remember commenting to my husband that I was coughing more now than when I smoked. But, in my case, I had a lot of built up mucus/phlegm in my lungs, and the coughs were a good thing because they were productive.
I guess your lungs would feel a bit weird because the chemicals that were regularly put into them are starting to clear out for good. I don't remember any pain or any negative feelings in my lungs, it was all good.
Congratulations on 34 days without, I was wondering how you were doing, thanks for the update.
I had a lot of coughing after I quit, I remember commenting to my husband that I was coughing more now than when I smoked. But, in my case, I had a lot of built up mucus/phlegm in my lungs, and the coughs were a good thing because they were productive.
I guess your lungs would feel a bit weird because the chemicals that were regularly put into them are starting to clear out for good. I don't remember any pain or any negative feelings in my lungs, it was all good.
Maybe your lungs just decided that resistance was futile and just didn�t even try.
34 days very good!
At this point I would think it should be all down hill from here, or should that be up hill. Anyway at least you�re on the right path whatever its direction.
Maybe your lungs just decided that resistance was futile and just didn�t even try.
34 days very good!
At this point I would think it should be all down hill from here, or should that be up hill. Anyway at least you�re on the right path whatever its direction.
Joined a new gym today that is 24 hrs (they give you a key) , My mondays and wed are so screwed up I need to hit the gym those days to start off the week right.
Here's an article that I don't completely agree with, but has a couple of tips for anyone interested...
My other issues were lack of concentration, disturbed sleep, and aches.. like my body hurt for several weeks in my arms & legs. Weird.lol You're right about the habital part.. I did have to carry an unlit cigarette between my fingers on & off through the day. Eventually, it was replaced with a straw cut in half. Then I took up crocet at night to keep my hands busy. 
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