750 Smoke Free Days!!

Holy Smokes!

The two year anniversary passed with out much fan fare and now her I am over 750 Smoke Free Days!

Every so often it's fun to do the math ....

When I quit, I was smoking approximately a pack and half a day. I was going to the store and buying one 'premium' pack and one 'generic' (cheap-ass) pack and alternating the two. My surprise back then was that the cheap-ass smokes weren't really all that bad .......... back to the cost:

Every time I bought two packs of smokes it was costing me around eight bucks .... divide that out on a per cigarette basis and I was paying approximately twenty cents per smoke.

Twenty Cents for each cigarette and smoking thirty cigarettes a day I was spending right around $6.00 a day just for permanently damaging my lungs ... And that was two years ago ... prior to the Obama Tax Slap ....

Thirty Cigs a day multiplied by 750 days and that's 22,500 cigarettes I have NOT smoked! Let me spell that one out .... that is TWENTY-TWO THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED cancer sticks un-smoked by me! Now that's alata tobacco! At cost of twenty cents each or six dollars a day that's $4,500.00!

Four Thousand, Five Hundred Dollars! In my world that's a lot of cash .... and most of that doesn't even go to the evil tobacco companies ... it's taxes directly to the feds!

If you've quit smoking recently ... take the time to do the math ... it's fun and rewarding!

FJW

Two Years and Two Weeks!

The TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY of my quit day has come and gone with little fan fare!
It would've been hard to believe two years ago that NOT smoking would be my norm and I would end up missing it very little!

That is not to say I NEVER miss it. But cravings are close to nil and the worst part of everything is smelling smokers and realizing I used to smell that way too! Yuk!

Two years later I still feel the effects of a lifetime of cigarettes though. When I do experience trouble in my breathing I can't help to (a) regret my decision to ever start smoke but more importantly (b) celebrate the fact that I was eventually able to free myself from the shackles of that addiction.

I can help to wonder what my life would be like if I continued down that path and I also wonder how much better off I am today because of my final, successful attempt two years ago this month.

A NSW Health Department fact sheet states that “The best thing a smoker can do for their health is to quit smoking. There are health benefits of quitting for all smokers, regardless of age, sex or length of time that they have been smoking. People who have already developed smoking-related health problems, like heart disease, can still benefit from quitting.”

There are many benefits to quitting and some of these even occur within hours of smoking your last cigarette. The changes that occur once you have quit highlight the amazing recovery, rejuvenation and regeneration your body is capable of even after years of smoking. Another plus to quitting is that people who quit smoking after having a heart attack reduce their chances of having another heart attack by 50 per cent.

Okay, so what are some of these benefits and what is the time frame?
I know I've listed some of these before but they are worth repeating
* Within 20 minutes of Quitting cigarettes your body begins a series of changes that continue for years. Your heart rate reduces.
* 12 hours from quitting the carbon monoxide level in your blood reduces dramatically.
* 2-12 weeks since quitting your heart attack risk begins to reduce, your circulation improves, your lung function improves and exercise becomes easier
* 1-9 months after quitting the coughing and shortness of breath decrease.
* 1 year on your risk of coronary heart disease is halved compared to a continuing smoker.
* 5 years later your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and oesophagus decreases and your risk of stroke is dramatically reduced.
* 10 years of being a non-smoker and your risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker and your risk of cancers of the bladder, kidney and pancreas also decreases.
* 15 years of being a non-smoker and your risk of coronary heart disease and risk of death fall to about the same as someone who has never smoked.

Do you need more benefits?
** If you quit cigarettes before age 35, then your life expectancy is similar to someone who has never smoked.

** If you quit cigarettes in 60 minutes before age 50, then your risk of dying in the next 15 years is reduced by half when compared to people who continue to smoke.

** Best of all – quitting cigarettes in at any age doesn’t just increase life expectancy – it also improves quality of life!

As a non-smoker, you are also less likely to have:

•macular degeneration
•cataracts
•brittle bones
•wrinkles and look older faster
•yellow teeth and bad breath.
By quitting cigarettes in 60 minutes you will reduce your chances of:

•impotence
•having difficulty getting pregnant
•having premature births, babies with low birth weights, and miscarriage.
If you have children, your quitting cigarettes in 60 minutes can lower their risk of:

•Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) – (cot death)
•being smokers themselves
•ear infections
•allergies
•asthma
•bronchitis and other lung problems.

By quitting you will reduce your chance of having:

•cancer of the lungs, throat, mouth, lips, gums, kidneys and bladder
•heart disease and hardening of the arteries
•a stroke
•emphysema and other lung diseases
•gangrene and other circulation problems.

All this while saving 'boat' loads of money!

5 Ways to Quit Smoking for Good This 4th of July ~

Do something special this Fourth of July -- make the decision to quit smoking for good! Here are five tips that will help you quit smoking for life.

1. Start With a Stop-Smoking Plan

* Pick a day to quit smoking. Having a specific day in mind will help you stick to your goal. One day next month would be best — that will give you enough time to plan for it, but not enough time to talk yourself out of it. Don't quit smoking during holiday periods or at a time when you can expect a lot of additional stress. Post the date on your calendar, and let family and close co-workers and friends know.

*Visit your doctor. Discuss your decision to quit smoking, and ask if nicotine replacement therapy or other medications might help you quit.

* Cut back now. In the days leading up to your quit-smoking day, begin cutting back on the number of cigarettes you smoke each day. Try to smoke just half a cigarette when you do light up.

*Get smart. Read about what you'll be going through, especially nicotine withdrawal and the stresses of quitting. Start paying attention to triggers that make you want to smoke. You'll need to avoid or deal with these triggers once you've quit smoking.

*Plan substitutes. Stock up on cigarette substitutes like carrot sticks, hard candy, straws, toothpicks, and sugarless gum.

2. Seek Help and Support to Stop Smoking

*Tell family and friends about your quit-smoking day, and ask for their support. Just having someone to talk with can help you during low moments.

* Ask those who still smoke not to smoke around you while you're trying to quit smoking.

*Find a support group or a smoking cessation program in your area. Many groups like the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society offer programs through which smokers can receive help and advice while they're trying to quit smoking.

3. Make Your Quit-Smoking Day Special

* Don't smoke at all. Not one puff. This is it!

* Get rid of all of your smoking paraphernalia. Toss out your cigarettes, matches, lighters, and ashtrays.

*Plan to stay busy all day. Go for a walk or exercise. Go someplace where smoking isn't allowed, like the library or the movies. Eat foods you don't normally eat, and take routes you don't normally take. The idea is to avoid any association with your usual patterns of behavior.

*Begin using a nicotine replacement, if you've decided that will help you.

* Drink lots of water and juice. This will give you something to do and help flush the nicotine out of your body.

4. Be Prepared to Deal With Smoking Withdrawal Symptoms
As time passes, you’ll need to confront rationalizations. You will come up with reasons to smoke that wouldn't normally make any sense to you except at this point, when you're in the middle of a powerful craving. Thoughts like, "Just one to get me through this rough patch" and "I can't deal with this today, I'll quit tomorrow" will go through your mind. See these thoughts for what they are, and ignore them. Here’s how:

*Avoid situations that trigger the desire to smoke.

*Find ways to deal with cravings. Take slow, deep breaths until the craving passes. Drink some water slowly and hold it in your mouth. Munch on carrot sticks or suck some hard candy. Focus on a crossword puzzle. Play with a rubber band.

* If nothing else works, just tell yourself to hold off smoking for 10 minutes; often, that will get you past the craving.

5. Maintain Your Resolve, But Be Ready for a Slip
Whenever you feel your resolve weakening, remind yourself of all the benefits of not smoking:

* Count the money you're saving on cigarettes, consider how much better everything tastes and smells, and think about how your secondhand smoke is no longer affecting your family and friends.

*Avoid alcohol. Drinking makes it more likely you'll slide back into smoking.

*Eat right and exercise. A healthy diet and an exercise regimen can keep your mind off cravings and draw attention to how much better you feel now that you've quit smoking.

*Reward yourself. Buy something special with the money you've saved on cigarettes.

* Quickly regain control if you slip. Slipping is not the same as relapse — it's just a one-time mistake. You're still a non-smoker. Rededicate yourself, and use the slip as a learning opportunity by asking yourself what triggered your desire to smoke and what you can do to avoid it in the future.

Quitting smoking is difficult but not impossible. I did it, so can you! Just don’t give up!

The High Cost of Smoking Cigarettes ~

If you think your cigarettes are getting even more expensive, you're right. In the past 10 years, 47 states and the District of Columbia have implemented 105 cigarette tax rate increases. (In contrast, Missouri and North Dakota haven't raised cigarette taxes since 1993, while California last hiked them up in 1999.)

According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, states currently charge an average of $1.47 in taxes on each pack of cigarettes. As a result, the average price for a pack of smokes in the United States is now $5.58, though the price fluctuates wildly by geography. In Missouri -- the state with the nation's cheapest retail price -- a pack costs $3.93, while in New York -- the most expensive state -- it's a whopping $9.11. And that's outside New York City. Here in the five boroughs, where there are additional city taxes, a pack can cost anywhere from $11 to $13.

The average smoker burns through 13 to 16 cigarettes a day, or four to six packs a week. That adds up. The average smoker forks over at least $1,500 a year, while here in New York City, it's closer to $3,300.

But because smoking, like takeout food and store-made coffee, hits our wallets in a series of small purchases, it can be easy to overlook how much you're spending. Still, it has a psychological impact: One of many reasons governments implement cigarette taxes is to reduce smoking among price-conscious consumers.

It works: Research shows that people smoke less as cigarettes get more expensive. As tobacco giant Philip Morris (PM) stated in its 10-Q for the Securities and Exchange Commission on Nov. 3, 2008, "Tax increases are expected to continue to have an adverse impact on sales of tobacco products by our tobacco subsidiaries, due to lower consumption levels."

Smokers will have a lot to ponder in coming months, as the Department of Health and Human Services implements its new packaging policy requiring warning labels that include graphic photos of the health damages caused by smoking. In the meantime, we wanted to know how sensitive smokers are to the price of their cigarettes, so we hit the streets of Manhattan during lunchtime to find out.

102 Weeks of Recovery ~

Recovery from nicatine addiction is a combination of carrots and sticks. There will be days when you feel great and love life. There will be days when everything seems like a challenge to your sanity; especially in the begining. That's perfectly normal. We're human!!

The key to living without our former crutch is to recognize that both days are good for our growth in recovery. And both days are potentially dangerous -- if we don't stay vigilant.

Remember, we're dealing with a foe that's cunning, baffling, powerful, persuasive, and extraordinarily patient. For me, nearly two years later it can feel as if I've got the tiger by the tail. But I can risk letting my guard down, even momentarily, or that tiger will pounce.

Happy occasions are just as likely to invite relapse as stressful situations. But as long as we keep your guard up and don't allow yourself to be seduced into thinking we're "cured" (we're not)... we'll all be fine.

707 ~ What's Special About This Number?

* 707 = 7 x 101.

* 707 is the smallest number whose reciprocal has period 12: 1/707 = 0.001414427157001414427157001. . .

* 707 is the sum of five consecutive primes: 707 = 131 + 137 + 139 + 149 + 151.

* 707 is the sum of three nonzero fourth powers: 707 = 54 + 34 + 14.

* 707 is the sum of five distinct pentatope numbers: 707 = 495 + 126 + 70 + 15 + 1.

* 707 x 715 = 505505.

* The Boeing 707 was a commercial passenger jet airliner, which first flew in 1957.

** I Quit Smoking 707 days ago today!!! **

Read How Nine Stars Gave Up Smoking ~

http://www.everydayhealth.com/stop-smoking-pictures/9-celebrities-that-successfully-quit-smoking.aspx

Why Haven't I Gained A Pound??

Mouse Study Reveals How Smoking Helps Keep People Thin
By Amanda Gardner, HealthDay News

The notion that smoking somehow helps keep smokers thin has gotten new support from a study in mice — and the finding might one day be parlayed into new drugs to control weight gain.
It's always a leap to extrapolate from animal experiments, one expert said, but this new research does open up interesting possibilities.

"Humans have basically the receptors as mice," noted Ursula Winzer-Serhan, an associate professor of neuroscience and experimental therapeutics at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine in Bryan. "There is good evidence that what happens in mice also happens in humans."

Winzer-Serhan was not involved with the study, which appears in the June 10 issue of Science.
"We have to be very cautious," added study author Yann Mineur, but the basic biology, "as far as we can tell, is fairly similar to what's happening in humans."

It's well known that people who smoke tend to be skinnier, even if their lives tend to be shorter than those of nonsmokers.

"All animal studies show that nicotine reduces body weight by reducing food intake and increasing energy expenditure," said Winzer-Serhan. "That is one of the few facts in science there is not a lot of controversy about."

But the new study goes deeper than that. Mineur, an associate research scientist in psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, stumbled upon the compound used in the study, cytisine, while looking into possible drugs for depression.

The smoking-cessation drug Chantix (varenicline) is a derivative of cytisine.

In experiments with mice, cytisine prevented weight gain by activating the same set of neurons in the hypothalamus as nicotine does. This neurological pathway is also involved in appetite and metabolism, the researchers said.

However, even though the idea of targeting nicotine receptors to control weight has been around a long time, the problem is that nicotine receptors are located all over the body, explained William Tank, chair of pharmacology and physiology at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

That means that any drug developed to control weight via nicotinic receptors would have to be very targeted, otherwise it could have effects on other parts of the body, including memory, blood pressure and heart beat, explained Winzer-Serhan.

Cytisine, which Mineur says is already used in some Eastern European countries as a smoking-cessation aid, is fairly selective, targeting receptors in the peripheral nervous system.
In the meantime, the current findings should not be used to encourage smoking as a weight-loss tool, given the habit's deadly effects.

Certain nicotine-based, smoking-cessation techniques, such as patches, could potentially limit weight gain, Mineur says, but smoking is not the way to go.

Mineur also pointed out that there are many other factors associated with post-smoking weight gain, such as munching on candy because you miss the cigarette.

"The idea of there being a therapeutic use of nicotine agonists is...a great idea," said Tank. "[But] this is a very complicated set of physiologies and nicotine is an extraordinarily complicated drug."

100 Weeks Ago Today!

That's Right ... One Hundred consecutive weeks with out a cigarette! That's 700 Days to you and me!

Do you know what you were doing July 5th, 2009?
I know what I was doing ... Suffering!!

It's hard to believe now that I was so heavily addicted to Cigarettes for so long. I'm at the point now where I can hardly stand the smell of tobacco smoke, especially in people's clothes.

I am now just four weeks away from my Two Year Mark! It was just two short years ago four weeks seemed like an eternity. Today it just seems like any other four weeks without a cigarette.

If you're still new to the "Quit Smoking Club" keep up the struggle -- it really does get easier. I'm living proof!

Cheers. FJW

How Do I Know I'm Really Addicted to Nicotine?

You may think you smoke just because you want to, but telltale signs of nicotine addiction include the time of day you start lighting up and what you will do in order to have a cigarette. Get the lowdown on nicotine addiction, and find out how to quit for good.

By Beth W. Orenstein

If you smoke cigarettes, it’s likely you are addicted to nicotine. Statistics show that three out of four people who start smoking are still smoking 40 years later. They simply can’t quit smoking, because nicotine, a drug found naturally in tobacco, is addictive. The Surgeon General has concluded that nicotine addiction has similar pharmacologic and behavioral characteristics to cocaine and heroin addictions.

A pack-a-day smoker smokes a cigarette about every hour or so, says Erik Augustson, PhD, MPH, a behavioral scientist in the Tobacco Control Research Branch of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md. If you were to stop or even cut back, you would start to go into nicotine withdrawal — and that’s what drives smokers to smoke their next cigarette.

How soon you reach for a cigarette in the morning, after not smoking for the time you were sleeping, is a good indication of the severity of your nicotine addiction. “If you have your first cigarette of the day within five minutes of waking, your addiction is pretty strong. If it’s within 30 minutes, it’s moderate and, if it’s within 60 minutes or later, it’s somewhat lower,” says Cheryl Yates, a master certified tobacco treatment specialist at The Tobacco-Free Wellness Center at The Reading Hospital and Medical Center in Pennsylvania.

Other signs that you have a nicotine addiction include:
· You smoke more than seven cigarettes a day.
· You smoke even when you’re sick.
· You go outside to smoke even if it’s freezing or raining.

You have to consider not only how many cigarettes you smoke, but also how heavily you inhale, Yates points out. “You can extract the same amount of nicotine from 10 cigarettes as you do from 20 if you smoke heavily rather than lightly,” she says.

Another way to know you’re addicted to cigarettes is if you try to stop and you experience withdrawal symptoms. The most common nicotine withdrawal symptoms are:
· Irritability and anger
· Restlessness
· Depression
· Physical sensations, like you have a mild case of the flu
· Inability to sleep uninterrupted
· Cravings for cigarettes
· Weight gain, though typically less than 10 pounds

Some people who have quit smoking complain of dizziness, headaches, and having more dreams during withdrawal. According to research, most smokers experience at least four of these nicotine withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit smoking.

“Nicotine withdrawal is unpleasant for the vast majority of smokers,” Augustson says, “but it’s not as bad as we see with other drug addictions. It’s not physically dangerous and, while it’s unpleasant, most smokers try to manage it.”

The unpleasant side effects of nicotine withdrawal are the most intense when you first quit. They begin to subside somewhat after a week and even more after a month. Withdrawal symptoms can linger, but it does get easier. Eventually, the time between cravings will grow longer and longer, and eventually stop — typically after about six months.

The cravings themselves are like waves, Augustson explains. “Cravings can be very intense, but they will crest and fade even if you don’t have a cigarette. They will go away naturally on their own. Cravings won’t last more than 10 to 15 minutes for most smokers. Finding a way to get through that 10- to 15-minute period is a very effective strategy for quitting.”

Augustson suggests saying to yourself: “I know it’s unpleasant now, but if I wait 15 to 20 minutes, I can wait it out and I can be very proud of myself because I did.”
Other strategies for quitting include:

· Find a distraction. Go for a walk, wash the dishes, or play a game with your kids. “Find something that will distract you enough to get through those cravings,” says Augustson.
· Remind yourself why you should quit. Write a list of the top five reasons why you should stop smoking — such as you don’t want to get lung cancer like Dad and die at an early age, or you can save $75 a week not buying cigarettes. Keep the list with you and review it when you feel the urge to smoke.
· Avoid situations where you are likely tempted to smoke. Common triggers include feeling stressed, being bored, or drinking alcohol. Know what situations cause you the most stress and try to come up with coping techniques, such as deep breathing or practicing yoga. Plan activities so that you’re not bored. Stay away from bars and other places where you often drink — especially when you’re first starting in your efforts to quit. If you must have something, switch to non-alcoholic beverages.
· Seek support. Let friends and family members know of your intention to quit. Also, find a support group. You can find support online or in person with groups that meet locally.

Because nicotine is addictive, quitting is never easy. But with the right help and the right attitude, you can overcome your addiction.