Happy (Non Smoking) New Year ~

New Year's Eve on Bourbon Street ~ New Year's Day on Beale Street!.Watch this fun tribute to the king.You can bet this trip of debauchery and bars has tested myNo Smoking ResolveI will certainly let you know how I fared later this week.(Hopefully have good pictures too.)

A Holiday Letter ~

Hi Frank,

Happy Holidays! Happy No Smoking!!!

I read some of your blog today, it is really good! I assume you are not smoking, right?????????????? I think that is fantastic!!!! God bless you for doing the right
thing, one day at a time :) And keeping up with your blog. It is special, and I bet
it helps more people than you will ever know...

Me, still not smoking, one day at a time. If I can do it, anyone can do it. I know a lady who struggles, I think I will give her your blog, see if she can get some help.

Hope all is well with you. Sorry I did not write sooner. I think I wrote enough for a year! It was good for me, helps me remember what I used to be like, and what
I have to do to not go back there :)

Love,
Vickie

~ Merry Christmas ~

Although this doesn't have anything to do with a 'Smoke Free' Christmas, I hope you enjoy it and have one of your best Holiday Seasons Ever!
~FJW~

And if you think this was fun -- be sure to check out my New Year's Eve Post!

No Matter How Desparate You Are ~

Just 15 Cigarettes May Alter DNA

By Liz Neporent from AOL Health

Think puffing on a cigarette every now and then wont hurt you? Think again. New research suggests that smoking just 15 cigarettes damages your DNA.

The large new study led by researchers from the Cancer Genome Project at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Britain identified more than 20,000 genetic mutations caused by tobacco toxins. This translates into roughly one mutation for every 15 cigarettes smoked, with each mutation ravaging the genetic code held within the DNA. Sometimes the bodys cells are able to make repairs and fend off cancer but often its a losing battle: When mutations grab hold of key genes, it leads to cancer.

"The profile of mutations we observed is exactly that expected from tobacco, suggesting that the majority of the 23,000 we found are caused by the cocktail of chemicals found in cigarettes, notes Peter Campbell, senior author of the work.

All cancers are the result of mutations, or mistakes in the genetic code, and frequently theyre caused by environmental factors such as tobacco toxins. In fact, smoking is considered the leading cause of preventable diseases. In this instance, no single mutation stood out as the lung cancer gene. Mutations ranged from simple swaps of a few letters in the genetic code to complex rearrangements of many thousands of letters. Most were a type known as passenger mutations that only appear to cause cancer when merged with other mutations.

The study was so comprehensive that the team could see signatures of an undiscovered system of DNA repair, reducing the mutations in highly active genes, suggesting the genome seeks to preserve these regions and sacrifice others. But the damage done by lighting up is passed onto every subsequent generation of daughter cells leaving a permanent record of the havoc wrecked. Like an archaeologist, we can begin to reconstruct the history of the cancer clone -- revealing a record of past exposure and accumulated damage in the genome," said Andy Futreal, Ph.D., another one of the investigators.

Still, if you kick the habit, there is a glimmer of hope. The Wellcome trust team suspects that over long periods of time lung cells are able to activate fresh stem cells that can clear away mutations and repair the damage. They say the risk of lung cancer falls to around normal some 15 years after a person quits smoking.

All The Help I Can Get ~

Have You Committed to Your Quit Date?

It takes courage to put down that last cigarette and quit smoking. Most people feel an intense combination of fear and excitement leading up to their quit date. Feeling afraid to quit smoking is completely normal, and is a by-product of addiction. Don't let that fear paralyze you, however, because the benefits you'll experience once you quit are well worth the work it takes to achieve.

Breaking the binding chains from years of associating literally everything we did in our lives to smoking created powerful links in the chain of psychological dependence we had on nicotine. We thought we enjoyed smoking. We convinced ourselves that smoking calmed our nerves and helped us think more clearly. We thought of cigarettes as a friend, a companion, a buddy. We thought smoking helped us have more fun and enjoy life more fully. Logically, we knew better, but addiction can make people rationalize and justify all kinds of crazy notions.

The truth of the matter is......smokers like the feeling they get when the nicotine level in their bloodstream is replenished. From the time a cigarette is stubbed out until the next one is lit, smokers are in a state of physical withdrawal from nicotine. The more time between cigarettes, the more severe the withdrawal, resulting in edginess, inability to concentrate, and even feelings of depression. It's a vicious, never ending cycle. And that's addiction, folks, not smoking enjoyment.

Support is a key ingredient to a solid quit smoking program. Your resolve will be bolstered more than you can imagine just by being around others who have the same goals you do. Visit here often to validated your journey. Remember, quitting tobacco is a process that takes time.

Your first step is to commit to the date -- the next is to stay committed.

The Peripheral Cost of Smoking ~

This weekend I surpassed the $1,000 saved thus far mark.

In less than a half a year, that's a lot of jack not going 'up in smoke'.

This is a conservative estimate. It's based off of buying two packs at a time; one 'cheap' generic brand and one premium brand and then smoking 30 cigarettes a day.

What is NOT calculated here is the peripheral cost of smoking. The high cost and frequent use of inhalers. Gum, mints, mouthwash, air-freshener and lighters.

Additional cost savings come from my decreased consumption of coffee, cola and beer. As a smoker I always had dry mouth and would get a scratchy throat if I didn't keep my mouth moist. Water was never enough to mask the left over taste of stale smoke in my mouth. It was always better to have the alcohol or caffeine -- I have seriously decreased the intake of these over the past five months.

None of this takes into account medical and dental costs. Did you know smokers have a higher percentage of root canals than non-smokers? As for me I've had at least Six root canals and crowns, maybe more, I've lost count.

Then there's the colds, cold meds, throat medications and other health issues that us smokers have to deal with.

This all adds up to signifiacant savings -- Something you may want to consider if you are quitting 1/01/10: keep a cigarette money jar and put in daily the price of a pack of smokes then count your jar in six months.

Strategies and Skills for Quitting: Step 5

Be prepared for relapse ~
But don't plan for them -- plan against them!

Most people are not successful the first few times they try to quit smoking. (I've failed many times before but am really enjoying my success now.)

Don't beat yourself up. Make a list of things you learned, and think about when you want to try again, such as next week, next month, or next spring.

You might try something new next time, such as a new medicine or program or hypnosis like I did the last time. You might try combining tools, such as counseling and medicine. Keep trying, and don't be fooled by light cigarettes, or reducing your smoking. Neither one appears to make smoking safer.

Quitting tobacco use when you have other medical conditions.

If you have depression, anxiety, or similar problems, or if you have had an alcohol or drug use problem, try to care for that problem before you try to stop smoking.

Some people who have had one of these medical problems find that the problem returns when they try to quit smoking. If you have any of these problems, talk to your doctor before you quit.

After you quit, seek help right away if you see signs that the problem is returning.

Smoking can also affect the level of several medicines in your blood. If you take medicines for a health problem, talk with your doctor before you quit smoking to see whether you should alter the dose.

There you have it -- Five Steps to becoming Tobacco Free!

Keep Logging on for other helpful hints in our countdown to a

Smoke Free 2010!

Strategies and Skills for Quitting: Step 4

Get and use medication ~

I'm a huge proponent of this.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several medications to help people quit smoking.

You will double your chances of quitting even if medication is the only treatment you use to quit, but your odds get even better when you combine medication and other quit strategies, such as counseling or, as I did, Hypnosis.

These medications also may help you if you use chewing tobacco, snuff, pipes, or cigars every day.

If you are trying to quit try one or more of these medications. Using medications along with learning new behaviors like exercise further increases your likelihood of success.

Nicotine replacement products include nicotine gum, patches, lozenges, and inhalers. You can buy gum, patches, and lozenges without a prescription.

If you've been reading along for a while you know I am an advocate for Welbutrin -- originally marketed as an anti-depressant but was found to have excellent smoking cessation attributes.
(As an anti-depressant it will also help with then anxiety new non smokers feel).

Your doctor can prescribe something suited for you and explain how to use it. It's very important to take the medicines for a long-enough time. (Probably at least 3 months).

Remember, taking medicines and using counseling or a cessation program at the same time greatly increases your chances of success.

Strategies and Skills for Quitting: Step 3

Learn new skills and behaviors~

Since you won't be using tobacco, decide what you are going to do instead. Make a plan to:

Identify and think about ways you can avoid those things that make you reach for a cigarette (Combating Those Nasty Triggers ~ ), or change your smoking habits and rituals. Think about situations in which you will be at greatest risk for smoking. Make a plan for how you will deal with each situation.

Change your daily routine. Take a different route to work or eat a meal in a different place. Every day, do something that you enjoy.

Cut down on stress. Calm yourself or release tension by reading a book, taking a hot bath, or digging in your garden. See the topic Exercise Shown To Powerfully Decrease Cigarette Cravings for ways to reduce stress in your life.

Hang around nonsmokers and people who have stopped smoking.

Go back and read Preparing To Quit: on this blog for additional pre-quiting help and then log back on again tomorrow for more helpful prequel hints.

Strategies and Skills for Quitting: Step 2

Get help ~
You will have a better chance of quitting successfully if you have help and support from your doctor, family, friends, and coworkers. Use some of the suggestions from yesterday when you call your MD.

A doctor, nurse, or mental health professional can help you tailor an approach to quitting smoking that best suits your needs. These people are also good sources of motivation and support during the quitting process.

Tell your friends that you are quitting, and talk to ex-smokers about their experiences during and after quitting. Have a friend or ex-smoker check in with you once in a while to ask how you are coping.

If you live with someone who smokes, let that person know how he or she can support you. Be specific. Talk with him or her about not smoking in front of you. Better yet, ask that person to quit smoking with you. That way you can support each other through the quitting process. Also, family and friends can support and encourage you while you are quitting.

Join a support group for people trying to quit smoking. People who have quit smoking may be particularly helpful, because they know what you are going through.

Get counseling (telephone, individual, or group). The more counseling you get, the better your chances of quitting. Counseling may help you learn to recognize and cope with situations that tempt you to smoke. Counseling sessions can also offer comfort if you have a relapse.

You may want to attend a program to help you quit smoking. When choosing a smoking cesation program, look for one that has proven success. Ask your doctor for ideas. You can also check with your local health department or call the national quit line at 1-800-QUITNOW for help.

Use the Internet. The Internet allows round-the-clock access to information about quitting smoking and to chat rooms that can provide support. These programs are good for people who can't get to a stop-smoking meeting. They also work well for people who don't like group meetings.

Learn new skills tomorrow.

Strategies and Skills for Quitting: Step 1

Get ready ~
Here we are, It's Monday, the start of a new work week and the first full week in the last month of the year. It's a good time to start to prepare to quit smoking and it's never too early for that. So let's 'have at it'.

First things first; Contact your doctor or local health department to find out the kinds of medicines and help available in your area for people who want to quit smoking. Telephone help lines operated by your state can also help you find information and support for quitting tobacco use.

Check with your insurance provider to find out if medicines or counseling are covered under your plan.

Prepare your body and mind for the stress that comes with quitting. Things you can do or begin to do starting today are:

Set a quit date and stick to it. (1/1/10 sounds like a great date too)! This is an important step toward becoming tobacco-free. This is what I did and has been proven to greatly improve chances for success.

Make some changes. Get rid of all ashtrays and lighters after your last cigarette. Throw away pipes or cans of snuff. Also, get rid of the smell of smoke and other reminders of smoking by cleaning your clothes and your house, including draperies, upholstery, and walls. Don't let people smoke in your home. Take the lighter out of your car. You can also begin now creating a smoking journal detailing the 'triggers' that may make you desire a cigarette the most. This could come in quite handy on your official 'quit day'.

If you have tried to quit in the past, review those past attempts. Think of the things that helped in those attempts, and plan to use those strategies again this time. Think of things that hindered your success, and plan ways to deal with or avoid them.

Once you quit, don't even take a puff. Start preparing for this now; after your quit date, don't smoke at all—not even a puff.

Two things I also highly recommend: When you call your doctor ask him or her about Welbutrin and start taking this at two weeks prior to your quit day. (As you know I am a HUGE believer in this!) Also: I used Hypnotherapy my last time around and I really believe it has helped. I encourage you to give this some thought.

Meet me back here tomorrow for Step 2.

~Strategies and Skills for Quitting~

I have been Smoke Free for Exactly 5 months!
If you're envious of my success thus far give this some thought:

In less than one month it will be another New Year ~ Traditionally this has been a time to make resolutions to improve one's life in some way.

One of the most popular New Year's resolution is, of course, to Quit Smoking.

In an effort to help anyone who has a desire to conquer their smoking demon this New Year I am going to dedicate the month of December to the preparations a smoker may want to take prior to quitting.

When you plan a strategy for quitting tobacco, one I like to recommend is the U.S. Surgeon General's five keys to quitting: get ready, get support, learn new skills and behaviors, get and use medicine, and be prepared for relapse.

I will outline each of these steps next week beginning on Monday 12/7 and running through Friday.

I guess it is important to add the disclaimer that I am not a doctor, I've researched this subject, however nothing I write should be intended to replace advice from your own doctor or qualified professional.

(And if you read past post you know I highly recommend the use of prescribed drugs in your quit smoking endeavor).

Stay tuned and I hope to see you Monday... FJW

~ My BFF Barb ~

We’re getting to the age where we don’t just visit the doctor – everything has to be a “procedure”.

I got a call from my best friend in the world this week – Barb from Florida. She was having one of those.

Early in the morning the day of her procedure she started hacking away with her morning ritual -- the smoker’s cough. The anesthesiologist stops things, announces to the OR “we have a smoker” and orders a breathing treatment.

The doctor then tells my friend she’s not going to give her a lecture on the hazards of smoking since she (Barb - a nurse) should already know better than most.

Apparantly, this interaction was enough to provide Barbi with A 'Teachable' Moment of her own.

Although aware of the multitude of negative effects smoking causes, Barb was less than aware of the coughing and wheezing she was experiencing on a daily basis. Let’s just call this the denial of an addict.

We’ve all been there – I know I have. I may have been one of the worst. I was taking hits of my inhaler before and after each cigarette. It was just to the point of being ridiculous. I don’t know who, if anyone, has been following me for the past five months but if you have you may remember that “ridiculous” was my word for the month for July.

(~Re-Born on the 4th of July~) “As for my own struggle with this powerful addiction
the one word that keeps coming to mind is ’Ridiculous” … basically, I’ve spent
nearly 30 years killing myself, as my hypnotherapist put it; “on an installment
plan” … which defies all common sense reasoning.”

It’s a bit ironic Barb called me with this story this week; I told her beginning this Saturday I was going to dedicate the rest of the month of December to “Preparing To Quit:” a countdown to the New Year.

Once again I am encouraging Barb (and anyone else with a desire to finally become smoke free) to follow along here and hopefully I can inspire her to quit and we can be support for a better life for each other.

There's nobody in this world I love and adore like

my BFF Barb

and I want us to be
Best Friends Forever

-- for a long, long time.

~ 150 SMOKE FREE DAYS!!! ~

The struggle, anxiety, discomfort, et al are all starting to pay off.

150 Smoke Free (and cheat free) days and I am still going strong -- in fact, I am stronger than ever.

There still are times I think I might like to have a cigarette, but that is not the same as craving one.

Let's face it, after nearly 30 years addicted to smoking, the constant coveting of the next smoke break is pretty well ingrained in my personality.

This weekend, 12/5/2009 I will be Five Months (22 Weeks) tobacco free. After so many attempts in the past, I am not yet ready to call this my second longest time, but if it's not, it's darn close.

I know my longest time is just under 11 months. I will wait until after the New Year to claim this to be my second longest time.

Of course, my ultimate goal is to make this my last as well as most successful time!

Let me know how you are doing.

FJW

Happy Thanksgiving ~

... to anyone who happens to visit my page today.

* 145 Smoke Free Days ... & Counting *

Thanks for your comments and support.

FJW

Cold Turkey Defined ~

As you prepare you Turkey Dinner for the Holidays here are some thoughts about leftovers ~ or at least thoughts about the term
"Cold Turkey".

There appears to be two acceptable and viable origins of the term;
Cold Turkey.
One being without preparation -- like a left-over turkey dinner. First used as far back as the 1920s in relation to heroin or cocaine addiction. A left over or ‘cold turkey’ dinner is one that requires very little to no preparation - hence, doing something ‘cold turkey’ took on the meaning of actions being taken abruptly … without preparation.

The second most communally accepted origin comes from a reference to a to the physical attributes an addict may take on after stopping a powerful drug such as heroin immediately and abruptly.

When an addict decides to give up heroin with out any sort of support or drug replacement the body has a tendency to react by turning cold and clammy; sweaty and goose bumped much like that which resembles the appearance of a cold, unprepared turkey.

There is a third possibility; that of ‘talking turkey’. To talk turkey with someone is to get down to business straight away … blunt, straight forward speaking. It is plausible that the allusion is to the direct, no nonsense approach of giving up narcotics, alcohol or tobacco indicated by the 'plain speaking' meaning of the term ala Harry Truman.

19 Years Ago ~

This past weekend I reached the 20 weeks (140 days) smoke free mark!

Additionally, my oldest son turned nineteen; he was a Thanksgiving Day Baby. It was a GREAT Holiday that year! Doesn't seem all that long ago.

Unfortunately, 'Junior' now thinks it's okay for him to smoke cigarettes. Although he doesn't smoke around me I am still deeply hurt by his decision. He is a man now, he can choose to do as he wishes, and who am I to say after I stupidly began smoking myself at the age of just fifteen.

What hurts the most now is not just his decision but the absolute cruddy, poor and despicable example I set for him and all my kids most of their lives.

All I could really say to him was that he is an adult now, if that is what he wants to do I can't really stop him. However he should take a really good look at the long, arduous struggle I've endured and the fact that I've probably done irreparable damage to my health.

The best I can hope for now is that he can see the example I am trying to set in becoming and staying smoke free!

If any of my fellow recovering smokers out there have suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

Great American Smokeout; American Cancer Society Ad ~

Hope. Progress. Answers.

Need Someone to talk too??1-800-227-2345

Great American Smokeout; Going Cold Turkey ~

If you're a pack-a-day smoker, this means going from 20 to 0 cigarettes in the matter of a day. With the cold turkey method, you completely stop your smoking all at once, relying on your will power to fight your nicotine addiction.

This is the most popular, yet possibly the most uncomfortable, tobacco reduction or cessation strategy. It involves setting a reduction or quit date, and simply reducing or quitting on that date without any prior reduction, preparation or nicotine withdrawal.

The "cold turkey" approach can cause mild to severe nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Drastic reductions in tobacco use will result in withdrawal symptoms that can include irritability, fatigue, headache, insomnia, constipation, sweating, coughing, poor concentration, depression, increased appetite, and cravings for tobacco.

Quitting cold turkey is extremely difficult because most of us have lives that require us to function as somewhat normal human beings for most of the day. When you are suffering through the initial five days of craziness without nicotine, you will feel more like an angry, rabid bear than a human, and you will be about as fit company for other humans. Here are some things you can do to make quitting cold turkey difficult as opposed to impossible:

* Smoke until your last day of work or school, and then begin quitting on the weekend (or whatever days you have off).
* Indulge in other things you like, to the point of foolishness if you feel like it, during the first few days; sleep a lot and watch a lot of TV.
* Avoid situations that frustrate you – you won't deal with frustration very well.
* Avoid any place where people will be smoking.
* Call people whom you know well enough to impose upon and complain to them about how lousy you feel.
* Keep a lot of your favorite non-alcoholic drinks on hand. You will probably feel very thirsty, you'll want to replace the oral gratification of cigarettes with something, and drinking fluids helps to flush the nicotine out of your system faster.
* Have something to do with your hands and/or your mouth. If you like chewing gum, chew it, if you like ripping apart action figures, do so.
* Remember that you're one cigarette away from failure.

These hints apply to some degree to every method of quitting smoking, but if you quit cold turkey you need all the help you can get

Great American Smokeout, 2009 ~

It's Almost Time ~ Just One More Day

Great American Smokeout; Bare Facts ~

Great American Smokeout; Fast Facts ~

It's time to kick off the Great American Smokeout week ~
The American Cancer Society first sponsored this event in 1977. On the third Thursday in November of each year, the Great American Smokeout encourages people to stop smoking, even if it is for just one day.

Fast Facts:

*Held on the third Thursday of November each year.
* 2009 Great American Smokeout: Thursday, November 19th
* Challenge: Quit smoking for 24 hours
* The Great American Smokeout began in Massachusetts in 1971 when a high school guidance counselor asked people to give up cigarettes for a day.
* The idea caught on and the first "D-Day" or "Don't Smoke Day" was held in Minnesota in 1976. * The American Cancer Society began sponsoring the event in 1977.
* By the early 1980s, nearly 16.5 million people participated in the Great American Smokeout.
* Smokers who smoke one pack a day spend about $1,600 a year on cigarettes.
* Use of tobacco products contributed to over 438,000 premature deaths in the U.S. between 1997 and 2001.
* 87 percent of lung cancer deaths are associated with smoking.
* At least 16 types of cancer are associated with smoking.

Great American Smoke Out, 2009 ~

November 19th 2009;

Less than five days from now --
it's almost time and it's the perfect time to set your date and prepare to quit for good!

In an effort to help anyone who desires to quit now I want to encourage you to read and follow my previous post, ~ 11 Steps ~ . This will give you many of the tools you need.

If you want to strip it down to the bare bones there was a post in August, Preparing To Quit: which will break it down to five simple steps, however it all comes down to one real trait -- Commitment.
And for even more encouragement, men may want to read: Do It For Your Penis ~ If that's not encouragement, I'm not sure what else would be.

A good read for both men and women would be Tobacco Facts ~ from September. It's scary that we continue to smoke with all the knowledge we have in today's day and age.

Staying Quit

Happy Veteran's Day ~

A Salute to All Who Served

~

Thank your for your sacrifices.

~

(130 Smoke Free Days and Counting.)

Obama's Cigarette Tax Puts the Lie to His No New Taxes Pledge

By Peter Roff, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

Former Sen. Russell Long, the Louisiana Democrat who for years headed the powerful Senate Finance Committee, used to say that the strategy for increasing federal revenues was grounded in a time-honored D.C. maxim: "Don't tax you. Don't tax me. Tax that fella' behind the tree."

In essence, what Long was talking about was finding ways to tax "someone else," ideally someone who was not in a position to complain about it much or, even better, exact retribution in the voting booth.

As long as "that fella' behind the tree" had money, it worked as a strategy. Unfortunately for a lot of people, it doesn't work anymore. And it can't, because federal borrowing and spending are, as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product, rising too high.

In just a few months President Obama and a Congress controlled by the Democrats have increased non-defense discretionary spending by 8 percent, and then by an additional 10 percent and then by who knows once Congress finishes with the budget. The national debt, says the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, will double over the next five years. And triple not too much longer after that.

To balance the books, Obama and the Democrats are going to have to find sources for new revenue—which is the polite way to say "Raise taxes."


This effort to find new revenues should be frustrated by what Obama said was his "firm pledge" not to raise taxes on anyone making less than $250,000.00 a year. "Under my plan," Obama said September 12, 2008 in Dover, N.H., "no family making less than $250,000.00 a year will see any form of tax increase." To emphasize the point he continued, "Not your income taxes, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes."

He might have well said, "Read my lips." Like a bad April Fools' Day joke, the federal excise tax on cigarettes increased April 1, 2009 by 156 percent (or 61 cents per pack). And this is a tax that everyone who smokes will pay, despite the fact that, according to the taxpayers' lobby Americans for Tax Reform, one in four smokers live below the poverty line and 55 percent of smokers can be defined as "working poor," which means they make something less than $250,000.00 per year.

For all the talk of "repealing the Bush tax cuts" and "increasing the taxes on the wealthiest Americans," there is just not enough money in that economic cohort—even at tax rates that are confiscator—to pay the bills. But no worries. It is now clear that what Obama said, with apologies to the late Sam Goldwyn, wasn't worth the paper it was printed on.

Re-Published Totally without permission (but well worth the re-read) from:

By Peter Roff, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

April 02, 2009 01:25 PM ET Peter Roff Permanent Link Print

FJW Note:

My new non-smoking lifestyle gives me internal conflict over
(1) the unfair and immoral attack on consumers by this kind of
(a) double taxation &
(b) taxation without representation. (And you know that's true!)
And
(2) should I take a who cares attitude because I don't smoke anymore and possibly it will keep young people off cigarettes.
(Maybe push them more to pot since that will remain affordable.)

Reminds me of the Poem by German Pastor Martin Niemoller (1892–1984) referring to the rise of the Nazis in his homeland.

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Heart attack rates fall 17% after smoking bans enacted

By Liz Szabo, USA TODAY

Blogger's Note: I like repringing articles by Liz Szabo ...

I bet she's HOT!

Community smoking bans have an immediate and dramatic effect on reducing heart attacks, according to two new analyses of laws in the USA, Canada and Europe.

Two separate analyses released Monday each found that heart attack rates fall 17% within a year after smoking bans take effect. One analysis, which included 13 studies, appears in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Asssociation. A second analysis, which considered 11 studies, appears in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Cigarette smoke can trigger a heart attack in people with underlying heart disease by causing clots or spasms in the blood vessels, says David Goff, a spokesman for the American Heart Association who wasn't involved in either study.

Given that there are about 920,000 heart attacks every year, the studies suggests that public smoking bans could prevent more than 150,000 of these, according to the Cardiology paper.
Taken together, the findings provide strong, consistent evidence that the country should enact more smoke-free laws, Goff says.

"This is a huge, huge effect for a very, very low cost," says Stanton Glantz of the University of California-San Francisco, co-author of the Circulation study.

Smoke-free laws reduce heart attacks in three ways, Glantz says. First, they protect smokers themselves. Second, they protect non-smokers — especially waiters and bartenders — from secondhand smoke. Third, they encourage people to quit or smoke less by making it more difficult for people to find place to light up.

Smoke-free laws have other healthy side effects, says Tom Glynn of the American Cancer Society. They also reduce the risk of lung cancer, although more slowly.
Preventing heart attacks can save money.

Cardiovascular disease costs the country $475.3 billion a year, both in direct costs, such as hospital stays, and indirect costs, such as missed work, Goff says. It costs at least $14,000 to treat one heart attack patient in the hospital, says Goff, who says that cardiac rehab, medication and other care cost even more.

"Really pushing strong smoke-free policies has a huge effect on health care costs by simply avoiding disease," Glantz says.

Thirty-one states now forbid smoking in workplaces, restaurants or bars, according to the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation. About one in five adults smoke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

~ A 'Teachable' Moment ~

If you still need incentives to quit smoking or in some of our cases to stay quit, you could try cancer screening. Knowing that smoking significantly increases your risk for head, neck, and lung cancer may not be incentive enough to make you stop smoking or keep you from picking one up after having quit for any period of time. Discovering that secondhand smoke is freakishly unhealthy for your children, partner, pets or the people in riding in your car may not be the most powerful incentive either. If you're really ready to kick the habit or still fighting urges after quitting, you may want to try something new.
Lung cancer screening
The Mayo Clinic found that lung cancer screening helps some people stop smoking and can be added encouragement for others to never pick up another cigarette. Dr Matthew Clark says, "Our results indicate that people who participate in cancer screening were motivated to quit smoking. Cancer screening may present a 'teachable moment'." (And who couldn’t use more of those??) That is, when people learn how their lungs function and how smoking affects their organs, they may be more motivated to stop or stay stopped smoking.
If patients receive abnormal lung cancer screening results, they're (not surprisingly) even more motivated to quit. The more abnormal lung screenings they receive, the easier it is to quit. Lung cancer is the most preventable cancer; smoking causes 85% of lung cancer diseases.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

It's October 31, 2009 --
What does that mean??

For me it means:
Seventeen (17) weeks ...
119 days ... and a few days short of
Four months with out a smoke!
Not even one puff! Woo~hoo!

Editor's Note:
CONGRATULATIONS KEVIN~
It's kind of been like we share a Birthday just a few days apart!
Very cool --
It seems like most of our fellow recovering smokers have dropped out but hopefully we can pick up and encourage a few new ones.

If anyone's been reading this blog for awhile you know this isn't my first attempt at quitting. After so many attempts, I can only remember my longest was nearly one year; I can't be sure of my second longest but right now I am sure if I haven't surpassed it yet I'm closing in on it now.

Additionally, if you've been reading along you may be aware I am not an Anti-Smoker -- I am simply someone who's been addicted to nicotine and smoking for nearly 30 years with little to no success at Kicking The Habit.

All I want to do is use this blog to fight my own demons regarding this addiction as well as give tools, encouragement and hope to others to combat theirs!

Happy Halloween Everybody! FJW

PSS: Reminder -- End of Daylight Savings Time --
After you are done drinking and not smoking tonight,
Don't for get to FALL BACK!

And Now for Something REALLY Scary ~

Weighing up the Pros and Cons of Smoking in your mind~

Dr Seuss sums up nice and simply what to do...

You have brains in your head

You have feet in your shoes

You can steer yourself

Any direction you choose

And you're on your way

And you know what you know

And YOU are the guy (or gal) who'll decide where to go.

If you're still a smoker, are you tossing around the personal pros and cons of smoking or quitting that might affect you?
Do you think it's time to quit?
Got conflicting thoughts?
You may think you need to quit. All smokers need to quit, but do you want to quit?
You may work in a pro smoking environment, or have smoking friends wanting to keep you addicted, making it harder for you to decide.

So if you're turning over the pros and cons of smoking in your mind, it will help you to know that there are 5 recognized stages of change that most people go through before they take a leap, whether it be to stop an addiction, change career, move house and so on.

These 5 stages are:
Denial or avoidance of challenge or problem, in fact often actively promoting it and trying to convert others to it.
Pre-contemplation. A little voice in the back of their mind and the beginnings of seeking a change.
Investigation, shift in mental awareness, desire to change and efforts and plans made to find solution, a decision made and action taken.
Going through the change.
Maintenance. Depending on method used, either putting problem behind them, or having to maintain control of previous problem, short term or long term, to stop it surfacing again.

If it's decision time for you, read as much free information as you like on this website, then put those bothersome pros and cons of smoking behind you and check your Desire.

Is your desire for what you want strong and sure? Are you clear in your mind that it is your decision, not anybody else's, to stop smoking, and you have decided you want to do this enough so that you will do the necessary actions to complete this to the end?

Understand this - you don't have to be 100% committed yet. That will come as you draw confidence from your initial successes, but you must be at least clear that you want to stop smoking, and are ready and willing to put your best foot forward.

Put your best foot forward and keep reading this blog for all the resources you need and PLEASE fell free to suggest more!

Achieving Your Goals ~

Everybody Needs to set priorities!

Firestorm over smokeless cigarette~

By Wendy Koch, USA TODAY

Editors Notes (FJW): It seems as if there are two writers at USA TODAY dedicated predominately to smoking related issues~ ALSO: If I would have given these much thought before I quite smoking I bet I would have given them a try -- but since I did not, I am not going to succumb to such gimmick now.... 115 days and I am staying tobacco and NICOTINE Fee!

Electronic cigarettes are opening a new front in the tobacco wars as state and local lawmakers try to restrict the product, which may allow users to circumvent smoking bans.

The battery-powered device is made up of a cartridge containing nicotine, flavoring and chemicals. It turns nicotine, which is addictive, into a vapor that is inhaled. Users say they're "vaping," not smoking.

E-cigarettes are used by at least a half-million Americans, says Matt Salmon, head of the Electronic Cigarette Association.

"People who smoke ought to have better alternatives, because some can't quit," he says. His father, a longtime smoker, died last week of cancer and emphysema.

Public health officials question the safety of e-cigarettes. The Food and Drug Administration, which regulates tobacco and nicotine replacement devices, says the e-cigarettes it tested had carcinogens. E-cigarette distributors have filed a lawsuit challenging the FDA's authority.

"It's a new frontier. We don't know what the dangers are," says John Banzhaf of Action on Smoking and Health, an anti-smoking group.

"We're actively investigating these companies and their products," says Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthol. Other actions:

• California passed a ban on e-cigarette sales, but Republican Gov. Arnold Swartznegger vetoed it this month.
• Oregon Attorney General John Kroger, a Democrat, reached a settlement in August with retailers and distributors not to sell them.
• New Hampshire state Rep. Rich DiPentima, a Democrat, is crafting a bill to ban sales to minors.
• New Jersey state Assemblywoman Connie Wagner, a Democrat, plans a bill to subject e-cigarettes to the same restrictions as cigarettes.
• In Paramus, N.J., the health department's board plans to propose an ordinance today banning e-cigarettes where smoking is not allowed.
• In August, Suffolk County, N.Y., restricted e-cigarettes in public places and banned sales to minors.

To Julie Woessner, 46, a former smoker in Wildwood, Mo., they are "almost a miracle," allowing her to kick her two-packs-a-day cigarette habit.

One Hundred - Eleven & Counting!

It's hard to believe I've been smoke free for 111 days now!

AND - I barely miss is anymore. That is NOT to say I NEVER miss it. Just yesterday I was in the car, it was sunny, I had my windows down, put on my really cool $16 clip-on shades from Wal*Mart and then reached in the center console for a cigarette! Kind of funny really.

I still dream about smoking too. Not always me smoking but someone I know or just being around smoking in some way or situation.

A couple of weeks ago I met someone for a beer in a bar across the State Line that still allows smoking. The smoke in the bar did not bother me at all, however, after leaving the bar my shirt reeked! and that did bother me quite a bit.

This morning I was behind someone in line who reeked of stale smoke -- it's times like these that I am most glad I'm a recovering smoker.

I guess I've been blogging less and less about my experience and most of my fellow quitters have dropped out I think. I wonder how others are doing in their journey and struggle.

I hope to hear some input -- Please let me know.

I Like Big Butts! ~

Quit Smoking Questions ~

From: http://www.besthealthmed.com/index.html
A great resource for women’s health -- and some poignant questions I think we’ve all asked ourselves at some point in time:

Will I gain weight if I quit smoking?
Though many smokers tend to gain weight but it is not necessary to happen with all. When you quit smoking, you need to or feel like carry on with your oral activity that leads you eat more. Another reason is alteration in taste buds. After quitting smoking, you may find the food tastier leading you eat more and gain weight. However, proper diet and good discipline may keep you away from extra weight. Still, medications are available that can help in case you gain weight.

Whenever I drink, I feel like smoking. What should I do? Do I need to quit alcohol as well?
It will be really great for you if you could resist yourself from taking alcohol for the first three months. It has been found that drinking reduces your chances of success of quitting smoking. Try gulping lot of water and juices when you are on a mission of quit smoking.

I have made so many attempts to quit smoking but failed every time. What do I lack? Is that willpower?
You are not the only one to be disappointed but just keep your motivation high. The reason may not be lack of willpower but your will to take help of other quit smoking aids. Chances are higher with quit smoking aids. Support groups and a high willpower will definitely help you quit smoking in easily with minimum anxiety and withdrawal symptoms.

What are long term benefits of quitting smoking?
*Longer life
*Low risk to Cancer
*Odorless breath
*Reduced risk of heart diseases and lung diseases
*Reduced stress
*Enhanced immune system
*Improved mental health
*Savings of money

What should I do when quitting results in relapse?<br>Usually it takes 3-4 attempts before a smoker finally quit. It is difficult to bear the withdrawal symptoms as body gets habitual to work with nicotine. It is most common to have these chances of relapse in first few weeks, but once you are able to stay away from cigarette for three months, you are least likely to smoke again.

The Smoking Duck~

This duck walks into a bar and asks the bartender, "Smoking allowed in this bar?"
The bartender says no, and the duck leaves.

The next day, the duck returns and asks, "Smoking allowed in this bar?" The bartender again says no, and the duck leaves.

Two days later the duck returns walks up to the bar and asks the bartender, "Smoking allowed in this bar?"

The bartender, losing his patience, screams at the duck,
"I told you duck, Smoking's NOT allowed in this bar! and if you ask me again I will nail your feet to the floor!!"

The duck looked startled and leaves.
Two days later the duck returns walks up to the bar and asks the bartender, "Do you have any nails?"
The bartender replied, "No," and the duck said, "Good! Can I smoke in here?"

Smoking Quiz~

Find out if smoking is more harmful at certain ages...if it's ever too late to quit...if quitting now can erase years of damage...and more!

1. If you have smoked for most of your life, it's not worth stopping now.
The correct answer is: False.
Nonsense! You have every reason to quit now and quit for good — even if you've been smoking for years. Stopping smoking will help you live longer and feel better. You will reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke and cancer; improve blood flow and lung function; and help stop diseases like emphysema and bronchitis from getting worse.

2. Older smokers who try to quit are more likely to stay off cigarettes.
The correct answer is: True.
Once they quit, older smokers are far more likely than younger smokers to stay away from cigarettes. Older smokers know more about both the short- and long-term health benefits of quitting.

3. Smokers get tired and short of breath more easily than nonsmokers the same age.
The correct answer is: True
Smokers, especially those over 50 years old, are much more likely to get tired, feel short of breath and cough more often. These symptoms can signal the start of bronchitis or emphysema, both of which are suffered more often by older smokers. These symptoms also can be caused by carbon monoxide in your blood. Stopping smoking will help to reduce these symptoms.

4. Smoking is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke among adults 60 years of age and older.
The correct answer is: True
Smoking is a major risk factor for four of the five leading causes of death including heart disease, stroke, cancer, and lung diseases like emphysema and bronchitis. For adults 60 and over, smoking is a major risk factor for six of the top 14 causes of death. Older male smokers are nearly twice as likely to die of stroke as older men who do not smoke. The odds are nearly as high for older female smokers. Cigarette smokers of any age have a 70-percent greater heart-disease death rate than do nonsmokers.

5. Quitting smoking can help those who already have had a heart attack.
The correct answer is: True
The good news is that stopping smoking does help people who have suffered a heart attack. In fact, their chances of having another attack are smaller. In some cases, ex-smokers can cut their risk of another heart attack by half or more.

6. Most older smokers don't want to stop smoking.
The correct answer is: False
Most smokers would prefer to quit. What keeps them from quitting? There are many excuses — fear of being irritable, nervous and tense; fear of gaining weight. Some of these concerns are very real, but there is help. The one belief that isn’t true — believing that quitting after so many years of smoking will not help. While quitting won’t be easy, it’s never too late.

7. An older smoker is likely to smoke more cigarettes than a younger smoker.
The correct answer is: True
Older smokers usually smoke more cigarettes than younger people. Plus, older smokers are more likely to smoke high-nicotine brands.

8. Someone who has smoked for 30 to 40 years probably won't be able to quit smoking.
The correct answer is: False
You may be surprised to learn that older smokers are actually more likely to succeed at quitting smoking. This is especially true if they're already experiencing long-term, smoking-related symptoms like shortness of breath, coughing, or chest pain. Older smokers who stop want to avoid further health problems, take control of their life, get rid of the smell of cigarettes, and save money.

9. Very few older adults smoke cigarettes.
The correct answer is: False
One out of 12 adults aged 65 or older smokes cigarettes. Since our older adult population is growing, these smokers make up a large part of the country's total of 44.5 million smokers! According to 2004 estimates by the Centers for Disease Control, 20.9 percent of the adult U.S. population still smokes.

10. Lifelong smokers are more likely to die of diseases like emphysema and bronchitis than nonsmokers.
The correct answer is: True
Smoking greatly increases the risk of dying of diseases like emphysema and bronchitis. In fact, over 80 percent of all deaths from these two diseases are directly due to smoking. The risk of dying from lung cancer is also a lot higher for smokers than nonsmokers: 22 times higher for males, 12 times higher for females.

How did you score?

More Reasons to Quit~

What the Heck is COPD Anyway?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; commonly known as COPD is caused by a simultaneous occurrence of bronchitis and emphysema. I have to admit, I had no idea what COPD stood for. I've heard the commercials for years and got the basic 'gist' of it but really wasn't sure. Something I started to become sure of however, was that whatever it was I was probably getting it!

Emphysema is the result of tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs, becoming overstretched. Their thin walls tear, resulting in loss of lung tissue and elasticity. The lungs cannot expand or contract fully, and so become less efficient.

Bronchitis usually means `chronic bronchitis' which is long term inflammation of the airways, or bronchi. Bronchitis and emphysema are usually caused by inhaled irritants, usually caused by cigarette smoke in 85% of cases, and chemicals and pollutants in the remaining 15%.

Inflammation of the bronchi causes excess production of sputum, which the patient has to cough up, through narrowed damaged airways. As the lungs become increasingly damaged, shortness of breath develops. Moderate exertion such as climbing stairs become a problem, but as the condition worsens so does gasping for air!! For many sufferers, simple tasks such as washing or shaving cause marked shortness of breath, and eventually fighting for breath occurs even at rest.

The condition cannot be cured! However, further deterioration can be prevented by the patient stopping smoking. Difficulty in breathing can be eased by using inhalers or nebulisers. Inhaled steroids like Becotide, are useful in reducing inflammation of the air tubes. Many patients need to have oxygen several times a day.

Recurring chest infections, worsening shortness of breath and wheeziness lead to respiratory failure, where the heart and lungs just `give in' and the patient dies!

Help for bronchitis sufferers:
*Stop smoking, otherwise your condition will deteriorate rapidly.

*Use a peak flow meter. You blow into this gadget to test how `narrowed' your tubes have become. These meters can be obtained on prescription.

*Avoid beta blockers, as these can make bronchitis (and asthma) worse.

*Keep your weight down.

*Avoid dust, fumes and polluted air.

*Get chest infections treated promptly with antibiotics.

*Get vaccinated against `flu' every year before winter.

*Take inhalers and tablets regularly, as instructed by your doctor.

And finally, sufferers with CODP should blow up a balloon 20 times at the end of each day. This has been shown to bring about nearly a 20% improvement, in the patients lung capacity. They also felt better and had less episodes of breathlessness!!