quiting Smoking

wow jim it seems like you have had soo much thrown at you this past year…I am glad you are alive…and as long as your kicking dont give up…your quitting smoking is one of the hardest things known to man so they say…I have never smoked…so i cant speak from experience…you should ask your doctor if there is anything they can have you take to help with the cravings…

-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...

Hang in there. I hope you are feeling better soon.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

I smoked heavy for 50 years before quitting. Your cravings will be very strong at first, then with time they will get weaker and more infrequent. You just have to hang in there. Good luck.

-- Tom D

nicotine gum worked for me. i smoked for 30 years and quit a couple of years ago. the cravings will go away if you give it a chance.

-- david roberts, houston area, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but that has never been a problem for me."

Have you tried the Patches? I smoked 2-2 1/2 packs a day for 30 years and kicked it in three weeks with those Nicotine patches. They really took away the craving. The box said use them for three to four months, three weeks after I started using them I put them and Kools behind me. It’s been about 4 years and I haven’t looked back. I even went and bought a new Dodge 4×4 pickup (with a HEMI of course) with the money I no longer spend on cigarettes.

-- Still clinging to my guns and religion.

Nasty habit I use to smoke 4 packs a day I’ve quit 35 years ago, now I get ill when cigarette smoke is any where near me.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

thank goodness for those little tubes and tanks!!

I hope you continue to get better and those cravings disappear.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

hang in there, Jim.

-- Thos. Angle

I’m sorry about your health problem Jim. Other people can smoke all their lives without problems while others are more susceptible. You were just unlucky.

I started smoking art 13 years. About 43 years ago I was smoking 2 packs a day plus I lived at that time in the Los Angeles smog. My first son was about to be born and I remembered what it was like to take trips in the car with my parents who both smoked. So I decided to quit. I threw away the rest of my last pack just before we went grocery shopping. When we got to the where the cigarettes were, my wife nonchalantly put a carton of my favorite brand in the cart. I couldn’t believe it! This total lack of faith in my ability to quit made me so mad that I never smoked again. My wife is a lot smarter than me.

-- Mike, American in Norway

Good luck jim. I failed at my first attempt. My fiance quit after 12 yrs cold turkey no help, nothing, just” I don’t want to smoke anymore”! Geez i wish I had the strength. I tried chantix and it worked for about three weeks, but it gave me the worst nightmares in my life. So I dropped that and quickly fell victim to cravings :( now I’m just a stinky guy my girl has to deal with.

Sad but truthful philosophy….. I quit quitting so I don’t let myself down anymore. Once we have a kid I am going to battle again, to be a role model ya know. Jim I feel your struggle and I’m still fighting myself just to say no.

A tip: workout you legs more. It’ll force your body to send blood down there. In turn forcing your body to produce more oxygen. Or thats what I’m told

-- Woodshop supplies at bulk discounts. www.getneds.com

Hi Jim,
You can do it! I had to quit after having chest pains, I found out I was having a heart attack. Well its been 113 days since I quit smoking…..you can do it.
I smoked 26 years and as you stated I wished I had naver started those nasty things. I didnt want to be one of those people that fussed about other people smoking because I hated hearing it. I am so put off by the smell now that I just cant stand to be around someone that smokes….Man did we stink !....lol
Oh I went cold turkey….that worked for me. I dont think about them very much at all anymore.
Best of luck on the outcome and we look forward to you future posts.

-- Can't never could do anything, to try is to advance.

Sorry to hear this Jim. I hope you get off the tanks someday.

-- Julian, Park Forest, IL

Good to see you again – hope you get better.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

Tip – This really helped my cousin and I when we quit smoking. When you feel the urge for a cigarette take a couple of deep breaths, this mimics the taking of a drag off a cigarette, it really helps, I still get the urge from time to time and just take a couple of deep breaths and waalaa no more urge. I’ve quit for 11 years and my cousin for 6 years.
Hang in there YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

I’ve been around people who smoked like chimney’s for most of my life, sometimes not always by choice, most of those people never cared that they smoked in font of people who didn’t want that smoke anywhere near them. The cravings were so bad, that they didn’t care who else they were damaging, as long as they got their nicotine fix. Such was the case with an Uncle, who after leaving the hospital after a heart attack, in which the stay also produced the results of lung cancer, asked on the way home to stop at the store, so he could by more smokes. My Mom now has Advanced asthma, because her husband was too stubborn to go outside and smoke up until recently. Sometimes, your own health problems or someone else’s don’t matter to smokers, so it’s good to see when someone finally “get’s it”.

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

Hang in there my brother…........

I must have “Quit” 100 times, even was sucessful for a year once, I tried EVERYTHING, I smoked the better part of 28 years. Finally out of desperation I went to a hypnotist (Spelling?) I don’t know if was the hypnosis or if it was just my time but I haven’t smoked in just over 7 years, and I do still get the urge from time to time, it really is true that it is a lifelong habit.
I have heard it best described as follows:

Being a smoker is the same as being an Alcoholic, you are and will alwys be a smoker, you just choose not to smoke today….......

99% of the time it never crosses my mind but when the urge or craving strikes it is very powerful and takes a few minutes of stubborness to get it to pass but it always does, I know ex-smokers that have been as long as 25 years and they still crave one once in a while.

The things we do to ourselves???????

Chris

-- So Much Wood - So Little Time! --

I know what it’s like Jim. Try hard candies, cinnimmon was my favorite but you’re right the cravings don’t go away. Just keep trying. Keep praying. My hopes and prayers are with you buddy. My brother has the same thing called COPD it is terrible to have to live with a tank with you 24X7 but it’s better than not. God Bless. Mike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

My son quit recently he uses nicotene gum then eventually went onto ordinary gum it keeps your mouth occupied without eating which is another side effect of quitting smoking good luck.Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

I smoked for 38 years around 2 to 3 packs a day. I tried to quit several times but failed. I just prayed SERIOUSLY for help and got it. It’s been 14 years now and I glad I did. If I hadn’t quit I most probably would be dead by now.

The cravings with me were minimal and now never bother me. Second hand smoke stinks but dosen’t bother me other than the stink.

Keep it up. The struggle is worth it.

Charlie M.

-- God makes the wood beautiful--I simply rearrange it to make it more useful, hopefully.

Smokers and non-smokers please continue to post your personal experiences…it all helps.

Jim, Glad to hear you are doing better. To quit smoking is not easy, but take one day at a time and each will get a little better. We’re all pulling for you for a total recovery.

-- John @ Myrtle Beach

I quit smoking 3 years ago,since found i have copd,5 stints in one artery.i walked in after work and said i was done reached in pocket trough pack in garbage3 years ago. bought that bubble gum tap kids chew,have craving ,brake little corner piece off chew till craving gone then spit out,only chew when have craving. lot of praying. good luck.

-- papaws wood shop,indiana,www.kkarlee@aol.com

my dad smoked 3 packs a day of Pall Mall’s. He and mom went to a hypnotist after his first stroke. He hasn’t smoked since then, but mom had a little more trouble (pack a day smoker). They also swear by eating fresh citrus whenever a crave hits. I also found that using Tom’s citrus flavored toothpaste helps me a lot especially after eating – my craving is the strongest at that time. It makes the cigarette taste really nasty.

I tried the Chantrix but developed some major heart burn and the calls were getting on my nerves. Everything was at that time. If I keep my hands busy and my mouth, I don’t crave so much. Things I’m trying now – reward myself with a new tool or book for every week I’m smoke free. – If I want a more expensive item, I save the price of a carton of cigs or pack by putting the money in a glass jar so I can see it on a daily basis with a piece of paper taped to what I want. If I blow it, which happens, I lose the money and have to start over again. This week I’m working on a leather brief case ($5 -8 at the goodwill/salvation army) and then you have to figure out the combo) to put my woodcarving tools in plus the plywood, etc to hold them. (probably birch ply from one of the hobby stores with hinges, etc) I’m hoping every time I see it, I can give myself an “atta girl”

-- Elaine, Conover, NC

I tried to give up on numerous times with no luck Yet ( hoping ) i think there isn’t a smoker out there who doesn’t regret starting i blame the malbrough cowboy when i was younger he looked so cool if only i knew then what i know now i would never of started but i’m hooked so i pray that oneday i will quit before smoking quits me

Andy

-- cut it saw it scrap it

We hope things have gotten better with your health Jim, because we miss you.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1