posted July 19, 2004 11:48 AM         

No success. I smoke about a pack every two days. In my garage or outside. I like to think I am ready, but I don't know. Any words of encouragement or success stories? Motivation?
Thanks.

posted July 19, 2004 12:27 PM         

I did instantly give up - twice, for about a month each time. First time I moved back in with my dad for a little while so kinda had to (he hates smoking). Moved back out & started up again.

Second time, I just decided it was rubbish & was spending too much money, bad for my health & bombarded myself with health leaflets, & booked appointments with the NHS. It was August last year & had just started a new job. Great. I kicked the habit well, it really didn't bother me since I finished instantly - no fuss. Eating habits hadn't changed much either.

Work got soooo stressful & I had to take on so much, I kept making silly small mistakes, so much other stuff was going on, 9/11 wasn't a good time, an found out ex-boyf stuff. Didn't take me long to get back to the ole faithfuls!

There is hope because so many people have done it - it seems I'm just not ready to. I do want to though. Someone I work with gave up from reading the philosophy of some guy's book. Trying to find it online now, and can I heck.

Ooo this looks interesting, will look at it later http://www.mindspa.co.uk/index.html

Oh here we are; http://www.allencarrseasyway.com/

posted July 19, 2004 12:35 PM         

There was a really sick one I was trying to find, which showed the white, guey, porridge like bits that leak from arteries when smokers inhale.

Real nice, did put me off a bit though! I'm not gonna pretend I know how to - or I would've done it by now. I wish you the best though Pix & pledge to find the most grotesque, charcoal black stories & paste them here, for us to be disgusted at

Oh but look, the good ole British Heart Foundation to the rescue with a cracker for a website, even a 'smoking tetris game'; http://bhf.org.uk/smoking/

Now where's that hideous advert..

posted July 19, 2004 05:28 PM         

Except!!! hypnotism works if done correctly. I was hypnotized to find why I smoked; when we gleaned that, how to rid self of the need. I was amazed at my hidden emotional needs being met w/ cigs. We worked on understanding and fullfilling the need with acceptance and love. No weight gain and no more cigs. It wasn`t easy but it was a good deep look at my behaviors and their causes. There is a reason; it`s not just drug (nicotine) addiction/habit. Thats why it`s so difficult to quit when you`re doing all the right things.

Find the right hypnotist capable of understanding and dealing with the whole facet of smoking!

Love and lite to you Pixie

juniperb

posted July 20, 2004 07:14 AM         

As frustrating as it is, we got your back, front & sides for support, but you already know that

Here's a little somethin' for you;
http://www.joygreetings.com/hugs.htm

posted July 21, 2004 07:07 AM         

Seriously though, how freaky is this.. shortly after your post, I 'dreamt' (I was awake - kinda, and applying makeup in my mirror) that you were worried possibly pregnant again, or thought you were?? So odd, since I had a 4minute or so flash of your picture from the LL Photoshop in my head, but it was coloured blue like the frown smiley? And those worried, feelings came over me, but about you. That's also why I posted for you in 'Knowflakes M.I.A'.

Was that right then? Maybe Inga is right, and I am developing my psychic ability? I'm unsure how to diffrentiate it from my regular instinct which is usually pretty sharp!

Glad you're happy m'luv!
Sheaa

posted July 21, 2004 09:28 AM         

In fact...once when I was trying to cut down Ibought a bunch of packs of really low tar cigs. They had holes around the filter that prevented some of the smoke from getting to your lungs. So, clever girl, I took tape and wrapped it around the holes.

But I started to wake up coughing. Sometimes with phlegm. And the expense was just crazy. And I wanted to be healthy. No matter what anyone says, save for a few who breathe rarified air, it's nearly impossible to be healthy if one smokes.

And I never think of myself as an 'ex-smoker.' I am a 'recovering nicotine addict.' One cigarette and I would be hooked. Period. But I don't want one.

I used a product called "Cigarest," which I think is now off the market. It contained vitamins which helped flush the nicotine from the body. One of the reasons it's so hard to quit is that the nicotine takes 30 days to leave your body.

One day I was a smoker, and the next day, I was not. And haven't been ever since.

But there are herbs that help, and will flush the nicotine from your body. I've been so busy, dear, but if I get a chance I will research it for you and maybe call the local health food store.

Bravo for you. The seed has been planted. I know you are capable, and will do it. There's nothing you can't do, Pixie.

posted July 23, 2004 02:42 AM         

Yeah I'm a smoker too. I also want to quit soooooo bad. I've wanted to for a while but can't seem to do it. I've got to though - and soon. I've been smoking at least a pack a day since I was 14, like you Trill - all my 'cool' friends were doing it too, and I got hooked.

Such a nasty habit. It's so expensive too. Think of all the things I could use that money for........

Anyway I feel ya Pix and Sheaa. It's tough.

I've always been interested in the hypnosis way of quitting, but never had the money. Interesting Trillian, that it takes 30 days for the nicotine to leave your system. I've been looking into 'fasting' lately and that would probably help flush it out quicker - I think. I want to fast to detoxify - but what's the use if I'm still smoking? Wish me luck.

And "quitting light" to you all on your 'quest to quit', You Can Do It!

posted July 29, 2004 07:52 AM         

my husband smoked for about fifteen years. hardcore marlboro man - two packs a day. he tried quitting a few times - one month here, six months there - but always went back again.

pix, a few things, i think, helped him to quit. here it goes:

1) the sincere desire to stop - definitely #1 reason - you gotta want it

2) he put the money he saved into a jar for a year - and we took a trip around the world - literally

3) he switched to American Spirits, which don't have chemicals in the tobacco or in the paper - i think the additives are just as addictive as the nicotine - also the brand switch helped to break the psychological link to the shiny red marlboro pack

4) sunflower seeds and licorice (which as an herb is supposed to be good for asthma, i believe)

5) we did a Master Cleanser fast after the first couple of months - and he was horrified at the amount of detoxing his body did, cause he's pretty healthy otherwise. since then all his fasts have been much less scary

6) i worked on this fierce knot in his shoulder for about six months - i think all the stress he had ever experienced was hanging out in there!

7) he started taking smoke breaks without smoking - and realized that part of it was having an excuse to chill - and breathe

8) deep breathing exercises - because the only time he woul breath deeply was when inhaling smoke. my heart almost broke the first day he said "whoah, so THAT's what it's like to take a deep breath!" his lungs were finally healing!

well, he did it, and it's been seven years!!! i'm so proud of him, because it was a real struggle the first year - and now i realize what a jerk he was! lucky for him i was ga-ga in love.

i read something recently about being "centered" rather than "grounded". i only smoked for about a year, but for me the grounding was an important element. now i think i understand why "centered" is a better goal. it lets me retain my calm, but not feel stuck or rooted. like juni said, smoking is filling some deep psychological as well as physical needs.

my dad and my sister-in-law still smoke, and i see how they struggle with it. love to all you knowflakes who want to quit - lots of healing light to you all!

xb

posted July 29, 2004 09:05 PM         

or maybe not.

posted July 30, 2004 09:11 PM         

i've missed you! we moved to a new apt. and then my internet service had to be hospitalized. i almost did, too - lindaland withdrawal!

Master Cleanser is a fast we do every year - sometimes more if needed. the most i've done is five days, my guy's done ten, and i know folks who've done thirty days and they swear they feels years younger. mostly i do three - i find that cleans me out just fine.

for two days before you just eat raw food to prep the body, then you do however many days drinking only water with fresh lemon, grade B maple syrup and cayenne pepper. the lemon and syrup give the body enough nutrients to keep going, and the cayenne helps clear out mucous. you do also drink an herbal laxative tea to keep the system purging. on the third day in the morning you drink a quart of warm salt water. then you stay near the bathroom - all day. the water goes through the intestines rather than the regular channels - and then the real cleansing happens. to come off the fast we do a day of fresh orange juice, then a day of other fresh juices. food is so yummy after a cleanse, and you really think twice about what you put into your mouth - after seeing what comes out!

i can give you more details if you're interested. that may be enough for now!

how was Maine???

posted July 30, 2004 11:45 PM         

Surprisingly, yes, I am interested in learning more. Wanna wander on over to a new Health and Healing thread and give me the full blow by blow? ( I don't want to take over pixel's coughing thing. BTW ~ GOOO pixel! I believe in you. You can do it. There is NOTHING stronger than Scorpio will, girlie. Use you Pluto Power!)

Maine was lovely and beautiful and relaxing and COLD. 50 degrees in July is odd even for Maine. Go figure.

posted July 31, 2004 09:38 AM         

okay, now over to a new strong for the Master Cleanser...