~ 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?"