For this Month's Hall of Fame we wanted to honor a long time member, Duffis. Duffis has been with the SSC for quite some time now and has already won HOF.  Due to his loyalty to the site and his ongoing support congratulations again Duffis for being this Month's Hall of Fame winner!

Duffis was born in Los Angeles, California, in very tough times during the latter part of the Great Depression in 1933. His father worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad, which moved Duffis and his family inland to a small township were he grew up. During World War II, the family lived in Long Beach from 1941 thru to 1948 and during this time Duffis began smoking. Looking back, Duffis says he started because of peer pressure. He always ran with older kids and cigarettes were always available and not hard to purchase. There were no warnings of the dangers of smoking so he continued to smoke with his friends and family. All of his aunts and uncles were smokers and the only family member who did not smoke was his mother. “Most of the military people had cigarettes hanging out of their uniform pockets so all in all cigarettes were widely accepted during those years,” says Duffis. “I never did smoke more than a pack a day, however, I never tried to quit until I came to The Stop Smoking Center in February of 2005”.

What motivated you to quit this last time?
Duffis explains that his motivation was his wife. He found her lying in their backyard unable to breathe. He was helpless to get her up because he had three compression fractures of the spine. Duffis states, “Thank goodness my neighbor was around and picked her up and rushed her to the emergency room where they immediately admitted her with pneumonia. This episode occurred on January 17th of this year. My wife spent eight days in the hospital and her doctors told me that she had severe COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and definitely had to quit smoking immediately. During these eight days she was in the hospital, I realized that I would have to quit smoking if I was to make her environment easier. I started searching for websites that offered information and support to help quit smoking and I found The Stop Smoking Center.” Duffis followed our program and took his quit seriously by using all of the tools tools offered to him. After he completed the workbook and completed all the steps, he set his quit date for Valentines Day as a present to his wife. “That was it” explains Duffis, “I quit and have never looked back!”

Tell us what was different about this final quit, its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel:"
Duffis admits to us that this question was a bit difficult for him to answer since this was his first quit and only quit. The first week was extremely hard for him. He thought quitting was going to be a piece of cake but he was in for the surprise of his life. Every form of rationalization went through his mind from that point on. “Heck, I was too old to quit! Why should I put my self through all this misery? I really began to use the SSC and it really kept me in the frame of mind to complete this odyssey. I felt like Hercules fighting off the monsters and doing battle with everything.” He began to realize that he was an addict and that was very hard from him to admit. He never looked at smoking as an addiction. He thought of smoking as a bad habit. The longer he studied nicotine addiction and the longer he read posts within the SSC support group, the stronger he became. He then began to share his story by posting and trying to help others with their quit. “I think that is when I began to see the light at the end of the tunnel!”<

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?
Cravings were a whole new can of worms for Duffis! As he was reaching his third week of his quit he began to go through a craving phenomenon. “I began to substitute food for cigarettes. I was very under weight at the time I quit. I was 6 feet 2 inches and weighed 153 pounds. My doctor was concerned about my weight loss within a year. I started eating everything in sight and really was enjoying food. I hit 200 pounds in about two months. I now weigh 185 and every one tells me how good I look. I am happy and feel great! I also realized that I would have to keep busy and especially alter my routine habits to get rid of the triggers that would occur. I then started to ‘hunt down’ all of my triggers and eliminate them before they got to me. This was the biggest help of all for me in dealing with cravings.” Today Duffis is not bothered with his cravings. He has the occasional vague feeling like he is missing something in his life but feels very fortunate to be alive!

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?
Duffis was very fortunate that he did not have any slips. However, he did observe his wife slip after being five months quit. “At first I was angry, I mean really angry! I expressed this anger through a post within the support group and was immediately rescued by what have turned out to be really great friends. You know who you are so I don’t have to name names. They taught me that my quit was mine and that I needed to protect it. Don’t worry about other people who slip, try to help where you can but keep your own quit intact which is what I did. I remember my father telling me that people who learn from their own mistakes are damn fools. Learn from others and don’t fall into their traps.”

Do you have insight or advice for others?
Duffis advice that he would give to others is to have a plan and work your plan. As Duffis says, “it is a proven fact that people with goals succeed because they know where they are going. Don’t just quit on a whim or an emotional swing but rather sit down with your self and really do some reading and planning. Understand that this is not a light task you are about to undertake, you will need all the help you can get. Gather coping tools because you will need them. Gather the will and determination to succeed. If you really want to do something you will find a way. If you don’t want to do something you will find an excuse.” Duffis remembers some great advice from Thomas Edison: “many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

It gives us great pleasure to share this month’s Hall of Fame Story with you!  This member is seasoned, supportive, and knowledgeable, most of all he tells it like it is!  Please join me in welcoming Penitent, with double honours, to the Hall of Fame!

Penitent quit on May 18, 2004.  As a young, hopeful athlete he was extremely anti-smoking, but picked up the habit in his late teens, during early-stage socializing! Having smoked for 2 years he managed to quit for 2 years in 1977, but started again after a somewhat licentious football tour of Denmark.
He continued to smoke and quit and smoke until May 18th, 2004. According to Penitent “all the planets must have lined up because something clicked and my determination to quit smoking was thrust into overdrive.”

 Three days into his quit he Googled "Giving up Smoking" and came across the SSC. What a difference that made. All the answers were there; all the support was there; all the encouragement was there. Suddenly quitting became FUN – yes – FUN!

“It’s MY quit for sure but some have left a very big mark on it and I thank you!” What a marvelous time he has had since quitting smoking nearly 8 years ago! Penitent tells us to “look back at what you were if you wish but look forward with pride for what you are now and for what you have accomplished.”  Sweet!

Penitent’s motivation was simple, a few health concerns that proved to be nothing, but at the time galvanized him into action. “When you get to a certain age with smoking you begin to feel that you are quitting in the Last Chance Saloon.” Excellent words of wisdom!

This quit was different because Penitent  realised now that his determination was key but more important than anything was that, on this occasion, his desire to be quit was greater than his desire to smoke. Brilliant!  Penitent really believed that without that premise, a quit will fail and he would have seen enough evidence here in his time to support that claim.

Penitent used willpower and determination to help him. “If you want something badly enough you'll do it.” He had cravings but as time passed they became less intense and much easier to handle. A useful mantra for Penitent, when hit by cravings, was to take deep breaths and repeat "I HAVE NO NEED NOR DESIRE TO SMOKE."

Penitents insight is simple, “I recommend cold turkey as the only way to go. I was able to quit without any form of nicotine crutch. I did not want to replace one addiction with another and I did not want any nicotine in my body whatsoever. When it's over, it's over! Deal with it!”

Congratulations Eyja for being March's Hall of Fame Winner! This is well deserves as not only are you the top helpful member in the community you have also lead a strong and determined quit.  Welcome to the Hall of Fame!

I was a precocious child (nowadays they'd just diagnose me with ADD) and decided at the age of 12 that it would be cool to follow in my 15 year old brother's footsteps, who'd discovered he could pilfer a few cigarettes a day from my mother's pack.  My mom was an occasional 'social smoker' and often left her cigarettes on the coffee table, so my brother was able to sneak the cigs without her noticing.  Of course our mom clued in to the missing bounty as soon as I began to embezzle from the same source, and was ticked off enough at us for stealing from her that she quit smoking altogether - just to teach us a lesson!  

 However, by this time, my brother had become addicted to smoking.  He was ingenious in finding ways to hide his habit, but as his little sister, I was equally adept at finding his stashes!  He was less than impressed with me when I found the cigarette pack shaped hole he'd carved into a 'Hardy Boy' book and began stealing his cigs after my mom quit. At the time, I thought I was clever and just being 'precocious'.  I was quite willing to take on my brother's wrath when he caught me in his stash, but found out soon enough that he wasn't the demon I'd end up doing battle with! Within a few years, cigarettes had me cloaked in a shroud of smoke & mirrors and I found myself defenseless against the physical and highly social addiction they provided.   

I smoked about 10 cigarettes a day until I was 24 -  all the while bragging how cool it was to store my cherry flavored pipe tobacco in a glass humidor and roll my own smokes. I didn't want to quit smoking at 24 and only did so on a dare -  all my friends had set a date to quit smoking and hadn't included me in their 'quit plan' on the assumption that I couldn't quit anyway!  Well this irked me to no end, so I set my own quit date and successfully kicked the habit for 3 years.  After my initial 3 year quit from 24 to 27, I adopted a 'social' smoking pattern and only smoked once or twice a month - maybe a bit more if I was stressed out or at a party with other smokers.  
                
I was able to maintain this social smoking pattern throughout most of my life - I quit smoking altogether throughout  my pregnancies and while my children were toddlers, and then picked up the 'social' smoking pattern again when my youngest son turned 3 years old.  I believed I deserved my 'treat' after successfully getting the babies into bed at night. I never smoked in their presence, or in the house or car, so I felt in the clear as a responsible 'smoker'.

After maintaining my enviable perch atop my 'social smoking' pedestal (my highly addicted 'smoking' friends were so jealous) I began to notice I was buying more tobacco & smoking more often.  To my horror, one day I realized I'd been smoking every day for quite some time! Then it was 2 or 3 smokes a day!  Pretty soon I was up to smoking 10 candy flavor tipped cigars a day!  I no longer had time for the humidor and rollies.  It was devastating to grasp the concept that I'd truly graduated from ’social smoker' to addicted - again, after all those years!

I started obsessing over this addiction, and tried quitting with the patch a number of times.  I was often successful in quitting for weeks or months at a time with the patch, and my most recent quit attempt previous to this one lasted for 3 years from 2004 to 2007.  But I couldn't seem to shake the addiction, and continued to relapse until Feb 1, 2011 when I finally came to terms with my addiction and logged onto SSC for support.  I read all I could find about quitting, followed the SSC program, read every HOF story and many, many threads and archived posts here on the forum.  It got very quiet at SSC at times and I don't do Facebook, so I was grateful for the timelessness of the previous posts and blogs found herein.  The depth of emotion, honesty, caring and support from other members and the well designed program from the SSC staff and incredible Health Educators here have been instrumental to my quit.  I will be forever grateful for the support found in this international haven of wonderful quitters who've taken on the challenge to beat this nasty addiction  and are willing to share their wisdom and experience with others embarking on the 'no smoking' journey. I'm no longer a 'social smoker' and I now understand the huge important of N.O.P.E. (Not One Puff Ever!)  I'm proud to say that I haven't slipped once since my Quit day of Feb 1, 2011 and, along with my SSC family and Quit Bud(s) met here,  I intend to power through my previous lifetime quit period of 3 years and remain smoke free for the rest of my life!

It takes time and commitment to make this journey and Ron knows firsthand how this journey can be. He has been smober since June 17, 2008.  Please read Ron’s story and help us to welcome him to the Hall of Fame!

Ron describes himself as one of those people in life that liked to try everything. When he was about 15, his first encounter with a cigarette was with an older girl who grabbed them from her parents and dangled one in front of him. and thus he had his first puff.

 It was a coughing nightmare for Ron, but he survived the episode! Moving forward to being 16 yrs old, Ron had the opportunity to meet some German exchange students at his high school. That is when he was first introduced to smoking. Ron thought these German students were cool, so he was going to follow anything they did. At the same time one of the things to do in high school was to hang out in malls.
Well, the mall happened to have a new tobacco shop that sold these clove cigarettes with a funky volcano on the wrapper. It soon became the cool thing to do. The "Kracks" crackled and they were obviously highly addictive. At the same time he was invited to go to Germany to study. Little did he know he was going to be living in a household of 8 smokers in a tiny German town far away from his family for 6 months. He loved the experience but he came back as addicted as ever. His family never smoked so he learned early on to hide his smoking. He smoked for many years until he finally quit when he got out of college and started looking for a job. He quit for a good period of time but he had no idea of the "not one puff ever" concept much talked about at the SSC. He would hang out with a smoker friend of his and after many years of watching him smoke he took one while drinking and that set him back for many years of smoking again.

Ron believed that before this last quit he never wanted to really quit just for himself. He always thought he had to quit to make others happy. Inside Ron did not like himself and smoking was his way to hide behind his feelings. Ron finally just got sick and tired of being so chained to cigarettes. He wanted to believe he could really do it for himself. Ron started to watch how he would wake up in the night only because he needed to smoke. He found that he would structure his whole day around his smoking and trying to hide his habit.

 He smelled, had low energy and he knew there had to be a way out. Ron finally searched online and found our site. At the same time he went to a local stop smoking meeting group. He read the Allen Carr book on quitting smoking and all these things were starting to give him power!

Ron suggests that this quit was different because he went though the SSC and learned some valuable lessons.  He didn’t know these lessons from his past attempts. The lesson that stuck with him the most was the power of Not One Puff Ever or (NOPE). Ron knew that he could never be complacent to think that he can have one puff again or he would be sent back to the chain of smoking.

Ron found many substitutes that really helped with the cravings. Hiking/walking in the woods near to where he lived and he also found Yoga very helpful. Ron also went to meet up groups of hobbies that interested him, to fill in the time void of smoking.  Ron also re- arranged all the furniture in his house that were trigger points and he got rid of all items he used such as lighters and ashtrays. Finally, Ron tried to stay as positive as possible.  This was the best thing you could do for yourself.

As for slips, Ron had a close call when he called a friend on the first week of his quit and they got into a heated discussion. Once he got off the phone; he almost caved but thought twice and decided he didn't want to start over. That was the best decision he could have made. Ron realized after that he needed to protect his quit and be careful not to be around anyone who would cause him to cave. Since that time he stayed very quiet until he felt more confident in his quit.

Ron has provided the members with the following great advice:
You may think it is impossible to live a life as a non smoker. I know I held that concept for most of my smoking history, but it's wrong. We were not born smokers, and we can lead a very happy life without cigarettes with the right tools. The best advice I have found is to first really decide you want to quit, and second to arm yourself with all the support you can to make your goal a reality. That of course means to stick around this site and be a participator. Many people here at the SSC have proven that you can succeed, and I hope that others can learn from the other quitters here and make it happen for themselves. I've never heard a person who regretted doing so.

Bravo!

Thank you for sharing such an inspiring story with us and congratulations!

Lolly - Hall of Fame winner x2!

Like many people of  her generation Lolly was brought up in a household of smokers. Both of her parents smoked cigarettes and her grandfather smoked a pipe. Lolly’s memory of a typical Sunday afternoon was driving into the countryside with her parents and grandfather. She’d be in the back seat, next to her grandfather and his pipe, while both parents smoked cigarettes, with all the windows closed. Lolly tells us “it used to make me feel really sick. My parents always assumed I was car sick, but now that I think about it I really hated smoke. In those days I vowed to never become a smoker.”

However, like most smokers she ended up becoming a smoker in her teens. “By the age of sixteen with all the pressures of adolescence and the sixties culture I wanted to spread my wings. Due to my strict upbringing this was not allowed. In fact any feelings of self-esteem were eroded away. I wasn’t allowed an opinion on anything and I was taught never to show emotions in public and to only focus on my studies. To help improve my language skills I was sent off for a month on an exchange visit to Germany. There I stayed with German family friends and this was the first time I was ever taken seriously. Unfortunately, the members of the family were also smokers, including the teenage kids. One day they persuaded me to try a cigarette. I liked it at once. The rush was exciting and the image in my mind was of sophistication and adulthood. At that very moment I was hooked! I had acquired the self-esteem which was lacking back home.”

Coming Home a Smoker

Years later, when she was back home and gradually increasing how much she smoked, Lolly remembers dissecting cancerous lungs during her years at school. During study breaks Lolly and the doctors would head outside for a cigarette. By the time she was twenty-one years of age, Lolly was smoking ten to fifteen cigarettes a day.

After marrying a smoker, Lolly lived where cigarettes were much cheaper. Because they were so inexpensive, Lolly and her husband continued to increase the amount they smoked. Lolly also admits to smoking during her first pregnancy. “I was lucky that no harm was done to my baby, but when she was eighteen months old she stated commenting on how she didn’t like the smell of smoke. This is where I first decided to stop smoking and went cold turkey.”

Lolly’s First Quit Attempts

Lolly’s first quit attempt didn’t go so well. She tells us: “By day three of my quit I was having tremors and panic attacks, so I went to the doctor. But the doctor told me to go away because he was too busy to see me. If you can believe this, I was actually told to have a cigarette and the symptoms would vanish!”

However, around that time the true facts about smoking and health were publicized. Lolly made various attempts to quit her habit as she recognized that smoking was truly an addiction. But getting support and encouragement was difficult: “I kept asking why we didn’t have a Nicotine Anonymous group and why no one could help. I received little or no encouragement or help to quit no matter who I asked. Any requests were never taken seriously.”

Her most successful quit was for three months, and Lolly used a combination of Hypnosis and NRT.  But around her three month mark her father had died suddenly. The stress proved too difficult for her. “When I saw someone with a cigarette it was like a hand beckoning to me, and I fell for it: ‘I just had one’! One was all it took to get my emotional crutch back.”

For the next ten years Lolly increased her habit until she was smoking more than thirty-five cigarettes a day. “The effects of smoking had taken their toll and I coughed a lot. Finally, after forty years of smoking I made the commitment to quit for good.”

What motivated Lolly to quit this last time?

Lolly tells us: “The main reason I quit was to regain control of my life. I watched myself become thinner, my skin greyer, and my body more and more unfit. I coughed every night and was diagnosed as having asthma. For eight years I used inhalers and only now that I’ve quit do I realize that I was allergic to the various chemicals in cigarettes.”

Her final motivation came from her granddaughter. “My little granddaughter asked me why I smoked if it was bad for me. And to tell you the truth, I had no answers. I knew she was right and I decided that I’d like to live long enough to see my grandchildren grow up. This is when I seriously began to contemplate quitting.”

What was different about Lolly’s final quit, the tough and easy points, or the point in which she saw some "light at the end of the tunnel:"

Like the majority of successful quit attempts, Lolly’s quit became personal. “I felt that this would be a now-or-never opportunity. I told no one about my decision.  I went on the Internet to learn about any possible quitting aids as I planned to use either hypnosis or an NRT. As I live away from many friends and family, I decided that I’d need extra support to do this.  I then again searched the Internet for support groups. After reading through many sites I found The Stop Smoking Center (SSC). I knew immediately from reading the posts on this site that I would be able to relate to the people here.”

Getting support was key to Lolly’s success. She tells us: “I planned and prepared with The SSC’s online program. By the time I did quit, it was a lot easier than I had imagined. The toughest times for me were days before my quit.  It was sheer terror at the idea of quitting and I nearly gave up the whole idea. The people on the SSC site kept me going until I finally did it. Later, during some stressful moments, I had real problems controlling my emotions. Suddenly I had to face these emotions without having a cigarette.  In SSC I was able to release these emotions, learn to understand them, and accept this new non-smoking me. The support I received here has without a doubt been the single most important reason I am still quit today!”

The SSC community helped Lolly through some rough spots. “Through my husband’s two surgeries and my dental problems, everyone carried me along, wrapped in a blanket of caring that astounds me to this day! At my age, I’d never imagined that I’d be chatting to people on the SSC’s Quitting Buddies Instant Messenger.  Ten years ago I had never even had a computer! I’m still amazed at how one can get to know someone so well, yet never meet them.”

The SSC tools helped Lolly begin to feel more comfortable in her quit, especially between the four and six week mark. Although Lolly tells that there was no sudden ‘light at the end of the tunnel’, and that she could not pinpoint the exact time that she began to feel like a non-smoker, she always knew that there was no going back. In her own words, she tells us: “I knew that I was in control again, not my addiction controlling me! I was free and able to write my final farewell to smoking.”

What did Lolly use to quit, or what techniques did she use to resist cravings?

“The Hypnosis tapes helped to relax me for the first week and NRTs did their job by keeping my body stable without too many intense side effects. My main problem was with the emotional and psychological cravings. I’d read about so many methods of resisting cravings on the SSC that I probably tried all of them at least once!”

The main technique that worked for Lolly was water. “I carried my bottled water everywhere. The other thing I had from previous quits was a plastic dummy cigarette. I filled it with menthol crystals and carried it in my pocket. At every craving I’d use it; it kept my hands busy and got me through the cravings and to this day, I still carry it around – just in case!”

Did Lolly have any major slips? And if she did, what did she learn?
 
“I never had any major slips. I give the credit for this to all the people who helped me through bad times, particularly here at the SSC. Just reading and posting was a huge help.”

What advice or insight does Lolly have for other quitters?

Lolly feels that two things really give her a better chance of making her successful. “The first is a strong positive mind-set from the start and a determination to succeed. The second is planning and preparation.”

She feels that learning where you may be weakest will prepare quitters for resisting cravings, and that knowledge is power: “Being fully prepared helps you to have a stronger mindset, and it gives you the power to overcome your addiction. I’ll always have a space in my life where smoking once existed. Quitting is much like losing a family member. Nothing will ever fill that space, so try not to fill it. I may look back with misplaced fondness, anger or regret at years lost but I can’t replace them nor will I return to smoking.”

Lolly also feels that as she moves forward in her new free life she’s found that mantras have a very positive effect on keeping her focused and determined. Three of them had the most impact on her: “smoking is not an option,” "whatever it takes, just don’t smoke,” and “never look back, the future is ahead.”

Lolly’s Husband and Her Support Team:

“I’d like to thank my best friend, my husband. When I was first quitting, he had to live with my raw emotions and the new me without complaining. One thing did keep me from slipping after the eight-day day point.” Lolly also had this message to everyone in the Support Group: “Thank you to everyone for my new life! It’s wonderful!”

Is it any wonder why Lolly’s quit is so successful? Her personal quit program is perhaps the most thorough and well-thought-out quit plan we’ve seen to date. We’re proud to know her, and we’re thankful for the opportunity to learn from Lolly’s success.

Congratulations Lolly - and we welcome you to our Hall of Fame!

We are thrilled to announce this month’s Hall of Fame winner is Breather!  He has led a strong quit and has helped many quitters during his time at SSC.  Breather is an excellent addition to the SSC Hall of Fame!

Breather started smoking at the “far too young age of eleven”.  This caused many problems for Breather but it also made him more determined to smoke.  He wanted to fit in and soon he was hooked.  Throughout the 43 years of constant smoking he managed to stop for six weeks at the longest and many less lengthy quits at various times.  Trying to stop smoking seemed to be self defeating as it seemed to be harder as time went on. 

Smoking was an addiction that gave nothing and took everything.  Soon smoking wasn’t even enjoyable for Breather.  He explains, “It takes some longer to wake up and it took me 43 years to realize that I didn’t want to be a slave to cigarettes anymore.”  He was determined that he wasn’t going to smoke even one more cigarette.  He had his last smoke on November 10, 2008 and he never looked back.
He says it hasn’t been easy, “as anything worthwhile isn’t easy but has been so worth it!”  He has no trouble breathing today and his fingers are not stained by nicotine.  A combination of determination, spending endless hours here at the SSC and drinking plenty of cold water for the cravings got him through it. 

Breather likes being a non smoker and has had no relapses.  He would say that the most important thing is not to be anyone else’s perception of who you are but to become the person that you want to be.  “Break the chains that bind you and become a slave no more!”

Great advice from a great quitter!  Congratulations Breather on being this month’s Hall of Fame winner! 

We are extremely excited to announce Impalamania as this month's Hall of Fame inductee! Impalamania has been an inspiring and motivational member for quite some time!

Impalamania started smoking at the age of 16. Like most people he started smoking to seem cool. He quickly became a 1 1/2 - 2 pack a day smoker. Quitting really was never a desire for him, even though he tried a couple of two-week stints at quitting, all while planning how the cheat would occur. Impalamania loved the concept and feeling that smoking gave him, to this day his mouth waters when he thinks about it. However, he knew that smoking was doing immense damage to his body and finally he knew he needed to make the decision to quit.

He began to lose significant lung capacity and was getting sick for longer periods of time and his cough was getting worse. Signs were clear that the path of being a smoker was leading him to an early grave. Finally he got angry enough to take a serious stab at quitting.

The difference about this final quit was motivation, focus and sharing his feelings/plans with and relying on family, friends and colleagues for support. Like all quits, most folks take the effort with a grain of salt. However, after two weeks he began to feel different. Colleagues could see the difference and provided him with support that he could never have imagined! After 100 days, he felt as though he crossed over to the other side. From time to time he still craves, considers and thinks about smoking. However, he simply needs to take a quick glance at his Freedometer to remind himself how much this investment of time and effort is paying off.

The techniques that Impalamania uses to resist cravings are a lot of hard work and ice water. He used the patch for a couple weeks trying to convince himself he was ready. He also had great success with an herbal product to help flush his system in the first month. He used deep inhaling of camphor oil and fresh air. He became fascinated at how much his sense of taste and smell improved and how quickly the body started to repair itself. He claims that the body is quite an amazing thing!

Impalamania stuck by N.O.P.E. as his mantra. He lives by and adheres to this Not One Puff Ever strategy. The allure of the blue smoke can sometimes still smell sweet but he continues to remind himself of N.O.P.E.

As far as advice goes, he offers "You can do it. All people here at the SSC are living proof. We are human...we are fallible...we are all addicts helping each other overcome a most powerful addiction. Blog and read and share your feelings...SSC is a great outlet for learning how to live smoke free. Stop beating yourself up for the past and jump on the Freedom Rollercoaster and enjoy the ride...it is so very worth the price of admission!"

Great words of wisdom from a great member! Help me in congratulating him as he enters the wonderful Hall of Fame!

This month’s Hall Of Fame Story is quick and to the point, no fooling around for this member!  Please recount OJMAS quit story!

Ojmas, started smoking on a bench behind a bank in her small town, 36 years ago. She threw up immediately! She advised she should have taken head, but soon enough by the age of 17, she was hooked. Her parents disliked it and did not allow her to smoke in the house, however Ojmas would try and hide it and blame it on her brother, who also smoked at the time. She even ran away for about a month because her smoking and relationship with her parents had exploded into a deep rift. She did go back home and her parents allowed her to smoke in the house! Ojmas has attempted to quit smoking at least 8 times in the past two years, once for 7 weeks before crumbling to the addiction. She felt so bad and hated being a disappointment to her daughters.

Ojmas was motivated to quit smoking because she has COPD. When she smoked she had to use an inhaler to help her breathe. Since she has been quit, she has only had to use her inhaler 2 times! She is breathing for the first time in 35 years! Her daughters have never been happier for her and her family!

Ojmas advises that, “I think this website and all the support I get from posts helps more than you can imagine. “ His toughest were day 3 and 4; day three he was angry and day 4 was he was crying. At the end of his first week he could really see that light at the end of the tunnel! “Hell week was over and I knew I could do it.”

Ojmas started using the patch but then stopped using it. She figured she didn't need to keep feeding herself nicotine if that was the demon she was trying to avoid. Ojmas kept self-talking, refocusing and staying on the message boards!

No major slips for OJMAS!

Ojmas’ words or wisdom:
“The first week is the hardest but stay strong, focused and on these boards! Any smoker can be a non-smoker...after all; we were all non-smokers once and can be again!

Powerful words! Congratulations OJMAS!

We are pleased to introduce our story and Hall of Fame recipient for April.  This member has been quit since Dec 17, 2007...WELCOME CAMELESS!

Cameless smoked for over 42 years, but started as a young boy, because it was "cool"!  He knew he was hooked when he had to run to the boy's room to sneak a smoke before lunch, when he was a freshman in high school.

 It seemed to Cameless that almost everyone smoked then and that smoking was everywhere. He always smoked around 25 cigarettes per day, sometimes more. His first attempt to quit was his senior week of high school and he made it for just over a week, but then started again. Cameless regrets not hanging on!
He also quit for a few weeks in the mid 80's! Cameless quit with the help of the patch and the SSC in the spring of 2002. The SSC was relatively new then and helped him stay quit for seven months. Unfortunately Cameless had an argument with his bride and went right out and bought a pack of Camels. He never gave quitting another thought until December of 2007.

What motivated Cameless to quit this last time?
Cameless went to his doctor for a check-up and he was handed a prescription for Chantix and was advised, "It's time for you to give this a try Wheezer!" He filled the prescription and followed the quitting instructions that came with it. His family and friends gave him plenty of support at first, and in May of 2008, he remembered the SSC and rejoined.

The big difference to Cameless in this quit was the positive attitude he brought to his quit. Cameless also advised that his whole world revolved around smoking. He had to change the way he handled everything!
Cameless has not had a single puff since and his advice for others is to “Stick with your resolve and the SSC. You are not alone!”

Great advice Cameless! Way to stick to your quit! Congratulations on becoming April’s Hall of Fame Recipient!

This month’s Hall of Fame recipient is Sylvia!  She quit April 12, 2010. Read her story:

Sylvia smoked from the age of 16. She had tried several times to quit and finally succeeded in December of 2004 for 4 years, but then started back again in the summer of 2008.

Her biggest motivation for quitting was that she started having a lot of stomach problems. She was positive for bacteria and was treated twice with an antibiotics cocktail. In spite of this, she was still not feeling great. She also purchased a townhouse and figured that smoking just wasn't going to be an option because of the expense of a new home. She could put the $120 a month on smoking or on something much more constructive.

This quit was different. She used the patch the last time to quit, but didn’t succeed, she was now going to quit cold turkey. Sylvia’s previous experience with the patch was not as she expected, due to her being in her premenopausal and menopausal years. She shared with us that the patch “really played havoc with her emotions.” She also shared that “any women who's been through any menopausal stage(s) will agree that you don't need anything to make it worse”.

The only technique(s) Sylvia used was sheer determination, stubbornness and focus! She personally “couldn’t stand the thought of being controlled by "nicodemons" that tried to trick her into giving in to the addiction every time she ate or got into a stressful situation”. Sylvia relates that craves got further and far between as each day passed. She also believed that it got easier each time, because she knew what to expect and how to handle the triggers.

Sylvia advises that a person has to really want to quit for anything to work, and to take it one day at a time!

Sylvia’s words of wisdom:

Keep persevering. Wait for 5 minutes and notice the craving disappearing. Be in touch with your body and stay in the "PRESENT". I strongly recommend writing down all the reasons for quitting and read them every day and especially when you get a craving. By the time you go through them, your craving will be gone.

Great words of wisdom!  Congrats Sylvia!

This Hall of Fame member comes from Smokers' Helpline Online

Congratulations Brooke for being the Hall of Fame winner for June!

Brooke has smoked so long that she didn’t remember how old she was when she started! It was the “cool thing” back then, so why not try it right? Wrong! She made several attempts to quit over the years, each time she slipped and went back to the same routine; however, she only seemed to enjoy it more and more each time she went back. When Brooke failed, she was angry at herself and therefore smoked more.
 
Brooke’s motivation came on Saturday evening March 6/10 at 10 pm; this is when she smoked her last cigarette. She did not have a plan, it just happened!  Brooke explains that she had allergies and asthma and on a daily basis she could feel her chest getting tighter and her breathing was getting more difficult all the time. She was constantly tired and just not feeling well.  She kept checking in with her doctor and test after test would prove negative.  Brooke did not understand why she did not have any energy and why she was always so agitated.  On that night, when she put out the last cigarette, her heart was beating fast, her voice raspy and her chest was rattling.  Brooke decided that she was done with smoking.

Brooke tells us that this quit was different because she really wanted to succeed. She had made this choice and would stick to it. If she didn’t, she felt she wouldn’t live to see 50!  Words of wisdom:
“When you have a strong vision you can see yourself through anything. It is so worth it!”

Brooke is one of the many members that quit cold turkey. This was always how she said she would do it if she was going to quit. She changed some habits that she used to have when smoking; however, not all of them!  Brooke advises that to change everything would feel as though life did not exist as she knew it. She still needed to see her smoking friends and co-workers, so she would still allow herself a break to hang out and chat with them. Brooke has received a lot of support and it has empowered her.

Brooke still maintains the same normalcy in my life, to a certain degree! She arms herself with bottles of water, snacks of fruits and veggies and yes more water! Brooke has stepped it up and has made a point of walking every day. Her breathing was easier in just one week; she felt more energetic and was not sleeping as much. Brooke shares that her inhalers have been "laid off due to lack of interest", and it felt wonderful to not be taking the inhaler.
In Brookes own words:

“Amazing! I feel powerful, strong and in control of my life!”
Do not be hard on yourself if you think you can't do it! When the time is right for you, it will happen! Do not make too many stressful changes at once!

Great words of wisdom Brooke! Congratulations to you and your success!  Welcome to the Hall Of Fame.

Please help us to welcome Oma to the Hall of Fame! Oma is a member from Smokers' Helpline Online. She has been quit since Jan 2010.  Thank you for taking the time to share your story with us Oma!

Oma started smoking when she was 16 years old. “It was the thing to do; it made us look grown up.”  Oma became hooked and smoked for over 50 years. Twenty years ago, she did stop smoking for 3 months, but she returned to smoking thinking that she would only have one when really necessary.
What was Oma’s motivation to quit, her husband and doctor! Her husband begged her to stop smoking, and her doctor insisted that she stop. The arteries in her legs were becoming blocked, it was painful to walk any distance, smoking had caused this and only stopping would keep the problem from escalating. There was no cure.

Oma made a firm decision, set a date and bought the Patch. She went for a visit to her daughter’s home for one week; she continued to smoke as many as she could. She then returned one week later to her house that had been free of smoke for a week! She finalized the preparations by putting all the ashtrays away.

Oma advises that the patch worked well for her and some coping mechanisms as well. She rearranged the furniture in which she used to sit and smoke, she chewed a lot of sugar free gum, and she sucked sugar free candies, she chewed straws and used an empty inhaler.  Oma took it one minute at a time. Her son advised her that she could win a car if she was still not smoking in March, which finally brought her to the SHO!

Oma do not have any major slips, but she comments that she had many cravings and a strong determination to never smoke again!

Oma gives some solid support and advice:
“You must decide to stop for YOU, I found that using the daily pledge and really being true to it helped.”
She would pledge in the morning and knew that she could not smoke that day. She could also read and help all the other members of SHO. “They are the only people who really care and understand.”

Great determination OMA!  Congratulations on becoming a Hall Of Fame Recipient!

This Month's Hall of Fame winner comes from Smokers' Helpline Online.  Please welcome Rae to the Hall Of Fame!  Rae has been quit since 1/15/2011.  Please read Rae’s great story!

Rae started smoking at 14 years of age. At the worst, Rae smoked a pack a day. She tried to quit smoking about three times prior to this final time. Rae made excuses as to why she needed to smoke every time she tried to quit so she was never successful. Rae explains that “there is no good reason as to why I started smoking in the first place; I guess I thought it was 'cool' after being a nerd for the first part of my life.”

Simple motivations like money and health helped Rae; however, a friend and fellow smoker turned to Rae one day and said, 'I want to get healthy. I want to quit smoking.' Rae was in for it! They set the goal date for after Rae was done university and after the friend’s birthday in early January. Rae had wanted to quit leading up to this point, but used university as the excuse to keep smoking. Rae wanted to be a woman of her word, so she set her quit smoking date once university was over. Having a buddy quit with her seemed like great motivational support; unfortunately, the friend did not stick to their plan, nor did he prepare to the extent that Rae did for their quit date.

Rae explains that this quit was easier because a plan was set as early as October! Rae asked for help from the family doctor, and after reviewing the options, she decided to use Champix. Rae also registered for Smoker’s Helpline to help support the quit. Rae advises that as the date approached, Rae prepared to think and act more as a non-smoker. Rae was determined to stick to the goal and become a non-smoker. Rae indicates that “you really have to want to quit to be successful and not use excuses, because life is stressful and any excuse will do. Excuses only fool others, they won't fool you.” Excellent insight Rae!

What are the techniques that assisted Rae? Rae started eating healthier and more often, fruit for breaks, instead of cigarettes. Reading on breaks also helped Rae as a coping mechanism for those tough craves. Rae also decided to walk every time the irritation started to set in.

No slips for Rae...NOPE. Not One Puff Ever. Rae followed this popular motto and became very proud of her accomplished goal!

Rae shares that the benefits are absolutely worth the small initial impact that quitting may have on your life! The smell of cigarettes became the biggest turn-off, once her sense of smell returned, and it did return dramatically. Rae’s sense of taste had also improved!  Rae noticed her teeth becoming whiter from not smoking; this was a great motivation as well. By using walking as a substitute for dealing with stressful situations it helped Rae avoid any weight gain. Rae could also exercise more without feeling so out of breath and feeling inadequate even when walking.

Words of wisdom from Rae: “No one wants to huff at 27 years old--it is embarrassing. I am saving money and getting healthy for myself first, and those who love and support me second. Keep your eye on the prize--a long and healthy life!”

Well said Rae!  Congratulations on a superb journey!

This month's winner comes from Smokers' Helpline Online, we welcome Smoke'n Free to the Hall of Fame! Please read her wonderfully inspiring quit story.

Her journey started on January 15, 2011. Smoke’n Free stopped smoking after she developed pneumonia. For the first time in her life she was sick for 2 weeks. She took one puff on January 14th and thought against it, she hadn't smoked for 14 days...what she was doing!

The “taste” was terrible and she felt like her lungs were going to collapse, she knew her habit was kicked! She only smoked 5 cigarettes a day but she knew she was still a smoker. Smoke ‘n Free began smoking in high school at $3.75 a pack. Though she was underage, she still managed to get her cigarettes at the convenient store down by the school.  She tried quitting once but it only lasted about for about 2 months. She told herself she would quit when cigarettes got to 5$/pk. However, she continued as everyone around her smoked. The prices for cigarettes continued to climb and each time Smoke’n Free would postpone her idea of quitting a little longer. At the age of 27, she became very ill, packs were at $10.70 and Smoke’n Free was already starting to not enjoy smoking. She explains that it was just the habit she was playing with.” It tasted gross, I felt gross after, my throat would always have a ball of phlegm stuck in it...spitting all the time, it was just gross”.

It dawned on her, she was a women hacking up phlegm and spitting!  She didn’t feel like a woman!  She was now living free, with a boyfriend who smokes, but she craved nothing! Smoke”n Free notes that the initial smell of smoke when her boyfriend would come in the house was very strong and dominating.  She realized that this habit was not worth it! She cared so much about herself and how she presented herself! Her boyfriend has started to cut back, and he has respected her decision and always smokes away from her. A few of Smoke’n Free’s friends have quit since she has and this has made it easier!  She is officially done and doesn’t have any desire for a cigarette again!

Smoke”n Free’s motivation was easy: she was getting sick and just sick of smoking!  This became her final quit because her thought process had changed. She felt ill, she didn't care for it and she felt she was only doing it out of habit, not out of want.

Smoke’n Free stayed strong, ignored the triggers and jumped in cold turkey.  No slips or relapses and she felt great.  The thoughts do creep in, but she thinks to herself “I have gone this far and think about how it feels when I smoke, and that craving is gone in seconds!”

How about some words of wisdom Smoke’n Free?

”Its mind over matter, it’s hard but is it really worth it? YES! You look and feel so much better afterwards! People will notice a new healthy glow about you, think about your life, the people in it!! IT IS WORTH IT!”

With a new season comes a new Hall of Fame member. Please share in Sparkey2’s journey and let’s congratulate him on an amazing defeat!

Sparkey2 quit November 19, 2010. He was a pack a day smoker for the last 30 years. He had a few now and again when he was a teenager but started smoking when he was 22 years old. His job allowed smoking in the office. The office was filled with a grey haze and he was exposed to smoke all day long. He picked up the habit and never looked back. Sparky2 thought that after he left his job he would quit. However by then he had met my wife, who also was a smoker, so he didn't give it up. Over the years Sparkey2 thought about quitting and made numerous half hearted attempts to do so but never anything with any real conviction.

What motivated Sparky2 this time? The reality set in as to what smoking can do came knocking on his door. Within two months of each other Sparkey2 had two friends that were both diagnosed with lung cancer. Both of them were gone within a few months of finding out they had the disease. It was then that it hit home and the dangers of smoking that he once thought would not affect him. Another eye opener Sparkey2 realized was that although there were great strides in the treatment of cancer, there were times when it was too late to do anything. This was the case with both of his friends.

Sparkey2 knew that this time was different he knew he had to quit and unlike previous attempts he was determined to finally give it up. Sparky2 had used so many excuses in the past but now he knew he had to come up with answers to all those excuses and make it happen. Having quit before he knew what to expect. Instead of fearing what lay ahead Sparkey2 tried to develop strategies on how to overcome some of the obstacles that had hindered his previous quits. Sparkey2 admitted that at first it was tough, but he was prepared this time, and it was not as tough. He was able to overcome the cravings and negative effects that hit him early on and he was more determined not to give in. He knew that day by day it got easier and easier. Smoking was so much a part of his life, but it was no longer a controlling part. He would go days without even thinking about smoking. He had become a non smoker and no longer just someone who was trying to quit.

Sparkey2 had tried Zyban, the patch, and gum but none seemed to work. Throughout these trials he admits to not really being committed to quitting and would hope he would fail! This last quit Sparky2 was searching for a way to help him with his commitment to quit. He was at a charity silent auction and bid on laser therapy for two. After throwing in a low bid, he won! Sparky2 and his wife were determined to use the therapy and have both been smoke free for nine months. Sparky2 advises that he wasn’t sure that the treatment actually worked, he and his wife were determined to quit and would have succeeded no matter what!

Sparky2 learned from previous attempts. If he found himself slipping or craving a cigarette, as he had in the past, he had a good idea of how to overcome those feelings. Although he wanted a cigarette, he was able to not give in like once before. He stayed strong, even though at times it was not easy.
Sparky2’s biggest insight was:

“Knowledge is so key to a successful quit, but beware of where you get that knowledge from. There is so much good information out there to help one quit but there is also a lot of junk information so pick your sources well. Also, find people who will help you and that you can turn to for help. Do not be discouraged if you try and don’t succeed the first time, but learn from what happened and try again. Do not give up and think that you can't do it... you can! I thought after 30 years of smoking I would never be able to quit but I finally have given it up.”

Words to live by! Thanks for the insightful journey Sparky2 and congratulations!

SSC has chosen a Hall of Fame winner coming from Smokers' Helpline Online for this month.  SSC members please submit your story for your chance to be selected as next month's Hall of Fame winner!

Scott quit April 17, 2009; here is how he began!  Scott started smoking at 12 years old, he quit when he was 20. He then started again when he was 25 and quit again when he was 32. Scott would smoke different amounts depending on what he was doing or the amount of stress he was under. It ranged from 2 cigarettes a day or an even an entire pack in a day! He started when he was a child because his foster parents would keep packs of cigarettes in the fridge and they did not keep count of them.  He thought smoking made him cool.

Scott tells us his “quit” moment was when he had a relative die of cancer related to smoking and he decided to change his entire lifestyle. He had an unhealthy lifestyle and smoking was not his only negative crutch. In order to change his life he decided to change everything and has been on positive journey for the past 2 years

Scott advises that this quit wasn’t as tough as he thought it would be.  Scott looked at his quit as a total mental component.  He had decided he wanted to quit 100% and that, to Scott, was the secret for quitting anything. Scott had to keep himself and his mind busy.  He took up running, biking, and regular gym visits. By doing this, Scott was exposed to a whole new world.  He was surrounded by non smokers and people who had quit. This made it easier for him. He learned that” friends or not, smokers seem to try to drag you back into their group if they can”.

Scott found some great motivational techniques to guide him along his journey. He quit cold turkey and he found that exercise and eating healthy were his biggest factors in quitting. Scott’s secret tip “Idle hands lead to trouble so the secret is to keep busy”.  Scott also found checking his profile and meter on SHO, helped. It showed his life days gained and how much money he saved.  Scott would also read other stories to inspire him and keep his head in check!

Scott only had a few slips. He noticed these slips and triggers, when he was at the pub or around old smoking buddies. Scott realized after a few puffs, how disgusting it was and how mad it would make him feel. He didn’t want to fall back into an old habit. He didn’t beat himself up because those few times truly defined for him that he was done with smoking.

Scott shares with us some insight and words of wisdom.
“Stick to your guns!”
“Don’t give up as we all didn’t smoke at one time in our lives so we can go back to being a non smoker.”
“Do not become a preacher, people don’t like this. If someone still wants to smoke, it is their choice; we just have the choice to not be in the same group or room as them. “
“Never beat yourself up. If you slip, you’re human and as long as you rectify and know you do not want to smoke, just get back on the horse and continue to ride.”

Scott  words of encouragement:
“I have gone through a horrible divorce, lost and regained my eye sight and I work in a stressful industry where smoking is more normal then not. I have lost a lot of family members due to cancer. All of this has happened since my quit and I have never used any of these excuses to start again. “
“We can do anything we set our minds too.”

Absolutely brilliant Scott!  Thanks so much for sharing your inspiring story with us and congratulations on making to the Hall of Fame!

Kristen began smoking when she was 16yrs old. She is now 23 and can honestly say, she regrets with everything in her, picking up that first cigarette. Kristen attempted to quit 3 times before the 4th time stuck. She just didn't have the will-power or the know how to get through her cravings. Kristen started smoking because it seemed like the "Cool" thing to do. Little did she know it was ruining her life, chronic bronchitis, breathing issues and more!

Kristen’s motivation was her children. She has 2 little boys. Her oldest turned 3 on August 13th, she quit smoking on August 16th of 2011. She wanted to give her son that birthday present of knowing that mommy was going to be here for a long time. It made her tear up just writing about it. Also, she wanted to be a healthier individual. Since quitting she doesn’t get bronchitis, she has lost over 60lbs and she can say without a shadow of a doubt, she’ll be here for her family for a VERY long time!

With this quit Kristen had more motivation and a stronger support system. Her boyfriend of a year and a half never smoked and he was her rock, he helped her through this. Some of the tough points were when she first quit!  She couldn't stand to be around people that smoked. It drove her nuts! Kristen says “the one thing you have to focus on though is N.O.P.E(Not One Puff Ever!). Easy points were to just not focus on the fact that you want nicotine so much, but the rewards you were facing when the cravings were finally gone”.
Kristen used 2mg of Nicotine gum. She tried the patches but they made me sick, not everyone can use patches or gum. Some techniques she used where playing online hidden object games. It kept her mind busy so she didn't think about wanting a cigarette.

Kristen didn’t have any slips and she is 100% certain she never will. How positive is that! Kristen couldn’t afford to let herself slip back into that life style. Kristen exclaims “It’s so much easier to do things now that she doesn’t have that demon in her body.

If Kristen were to say one other thing to help others that are on their first steps to quitting it would be, “It may seem like it's going to take a lifetime to get through this, but I promise you, you can do it! I never thought that I’d be where I am today, 3 months after quitting, and I have absolutely no urges to do it again. The gum I used was supposed to be a 12 week program; I stopped using it after 6 weeks. I just never wanted to have Nicotine again.

Thank you Kristen for the great words of wisdom and truth!  Your shared experience has helped many to progress forward through their journey.

We are thrilled to announce this month’s Hall of Fame inductee. Please help us to congratulate Tabbyh for her determined quit and inspiration on the forums.

Please outline your smoking history.

Tabbyh started smoking when she was around 13 years old. Back then she felt that is what kids did.  All of her friends smoked and her parents smoked. 

What motivated you to quit this last time?

This quit she just decided it was time.  She had tried quitting before and kept relapsing.  She felt she just wasn’t ready before.

What was different about this final quit?

This time she said she was totally determined that she would do it, for herself, not for anyone else.  She now sees herself as a different, healthier person.  Smoking no longer fits into her new lifestyle.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Tabbyh used Thrive lozenges but she felt anything would have helped because, “once you make up your mind, once determination sets in, anything will work.”  She drank lots of cold water during her first couple of weeks and she admits she ate way too much.  The important thing is though she made it through.  
She believes her SSC friends played a major role in her quit.  She is constantly “glued” to the SSC for support.  Little rewards such as the virtual cruise and the virtual beach made quitting fun for Tabbyh.  Early in her quit she remembers reading a post by Duffis about “When will they end…” from that point on she realized that for this quit to work she had to stop worrying about cravings.  She had to stop feeling sorry for herself.  She told herself that she was done with smoking forever and that she could not whine about it anymore.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

Tabbyh had no slips to report for this quit.  She follows the NOPE acronym!

Do you have insight or advice for others?

Tabbyh advises members to take it one day at a time.  She says to not beat yourself up over a slip and to never quit quitting!

Great advice from a driven quitter! What a strong approach to quitting! Your story and your positive outlook make you a winner in our support group! Thanks for sharing your advice with us.   Your story will be enjoyed for years to come. Congratulations on your induction into the Hall of Fame!

We are delighted to reveal this month’s Hall of Fame inductee. Please help us to congratulate Deb48 for her resolute quit and continual participation in the forums.

Please outline your smoking history.

Deb48 started smoking at the age of 15 with her girlfriends, who all got hooked in about 2 years.  She continued to smoke even though her dad died of a smoking related illness at the age of 42; she also continued to smoke through her pregnancies and child raising years.  Nineteen years of seeing the devastating effects on her patients as an RN didn’t help her quit either.  Even though she watched everyone else quit, one by one, she never thought she could have the strength, or the desire.  Finally, after losing the father of her children when she was 46, Deb48 knew that she needed to at least try.  Her first quit was in March 2007, which lasted one month, but smoked again until March 1st, 2008.  This was her second and final quit as her need for cardio surgery in June 2008 strengthened her resolve.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

Deb48 hopes to be here a bit longer for her children and for her sweetheart Alan.   Her children are proud of her and her daughter has also quit smoking. Having a blocked artery at age 49 was frightening as well.

What was different about this final quit?

With this final quit, Deb48 just took it one hour at a time. She tried not to look too far ahead. Tackling one day at a time, a lot of deep breathing, iced water and the SSC got her through. Deb48 needed to frequently remind herself that the smokes were not her 'best friend' but rather her worst nightmare. She felt that there was a lot of wisdom and hope in the threads at the SSC and spent the first 6 months reading everything she could get her hands on. At about 6 months into the quit, Deb48 felt she had 'turned a corner' and took her exercise to the next level.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

To help with the quit, Deb48 turned to deep breathing, iced water and the SCC.

Did you have any major slips?  And if you did, what did you learn?

Deb48 is proud to say that she has not have one slip.

Do you have any insight or advice for others?

Deb48 suggests to take it one minute, one hour, one day at a time.  She also suggests to keep iced water by your side at all times and to use it as a ‘cleansing’ mechanism.  Finally, believe! It is doable – look at all the success at the SSC.

Great advice Deb48!  You are an excellent addition to the SSC Hall of Fame!  Thank you for inspiring!

We’re overjoyed to reveal this month’s Hall of Fame inductee!  Please help us send out big congratulations and a warm welcome to Kelly for her continued drive to succeed and the support she’s offered in the support group.

Please outline your smoking history.
Kelly started smoking when she was 15 years old in order to impress her friends.  She remembers sitting underneath a tree in her backyard smoking until she was able to inhale without coughing.  She got so sick from this she wonders why she continued to smoke.  20 years later she was still smoking.  She smoked over a pack a day for the last 10 years of her smoking history.  She never thought that she would be able to quit but finally she has achieved her goal of becoming a non smoker!

What motivated you to quit this last time?
Kelly started to hate smoking.  She hated how it had complete control over her life.  She had to do something; it was ruining the quality of her day to day life. She wanted her health to improve and she wanted to be around for her children and grandchildren.

What was different about this final quit?
Kelly says that this quit is different because she used Chantix and found this site.  She states that she never would have made it without the SSC members.  She lived on the forums.  She felt it kept her focused and alive.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?
Kelly came on the SSC, cried and slept a lot.  She used anything that she found to be a diversion; movies, books, television.  She feels it is important to try to tune your mind into thinking about something else rather than focusing on smoking all the time.  She drank water, ran on her treadmill and read every thread on SSC.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?
She reports that she did have one puff of her husband’s cigarette three days into her quit.  That point on she decided to take full control of her quit.  She did not put one cigarette to her mouth since then.  She learned that this quit was about her and she needed to do it for herself.

Do you have insight or advice for others?
The advice she gives to others is to not let anything interfere with your quit. She says to see your doctor and to keep strong in your quit.  She encourages members to stay on the SSC, grab a quit buddy, cry, scream and laugh but never smoke.  She wants to let new quitters know, “Once you feel the freedom, you will be so happy that you did.  It is a ride to remember, but the best one you will ever take.”

Very well put Kelly!  Thanks for sharing your story with us. Your determination to succeed and your great coping techniques will inspire and educate. Your story will be enjoyed for years to come. Congratulations on your induction into the Hall of Fame!

We’re very pleased to reveal this month’s very deserving and well known Hall of Fame inductee! Please help us send out a big congratulations and a warm welcome to Marivi for her constant, caring support in the support group and for her courageous quit!

Please outline your smoking history.
Marivi had smoked for 32 years, almost a pack a day before she quit.  She began smoking while she was attending boarding school.  She says she began as a way of intimidating her older peers.  Everyone smoked back then and she perceived it to be desirable and interesting. She had tried quitting several times but the attempts never lasted more than four days.  She always tried to quit cold turkey.  She had associated the smoking with being thin and was afraid that she would gain weight if she quit.  She was overweight as a teenager and she thought that the cigarettes had made her lose weight.  She was afraid of gaining the weight back.

What motivated you to quit this last time?
Marivi explained that she was sick of being a slave to cigarettes.  She realized that her life revolved around cigarettes.  She couldn’t enjoy a nice dinner in a restaurant, a day at the mall or an evening at a non smoking house because she needed to have a cigarette.  She would get really anxious if she had a long flight.  She would always think of the stops in her itinerary.  She was sick of this and decided she needed to take control of her life again.  She wanted to lead a healthy and free life. 

What was different about this final quit?
This time Marivi prepared herself.  She went through the program on the site.  She obtained a Chantix prescription and attended an Allen Carr seminar.  The first four days were really hard for her. She slept through them. She felt physically sick.  The tough parts were when she felt bloated and fat.  But she decided she wanted to quit more than being thin so she made a non negotiable decision to stop smoking.  She finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel at the end of the third month.  One day she realized that she hadn’t thought about cigarettes all day!  Marivi exclaims, “It was a wonderful feeling!  I couldn’t believe it! I felt free!”

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?
She used everything on hand and she wrote down up to ten reasons to quit and read them every time she needed them.  She read passages of the Allan Carr book, she read and posted like crazy on the SSC support group.  She practiced deep breathing and long walks.  She took hot showers, ice water and iced cranberry juice.  She used popsicles, pop corn, celery and carrot sticks as a reward system.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?
Marivi had no slips.  She made a non negotiable decision to stop smoking.  Smoking is not an option for her.  She felt that even one puff would make her a smoker again.

Do you have insight or advice for others?
The advice she gives to others is to never quit quitting.  She says it takes several attempts or rehearsals.  It is a hard addiction to beat but it is doable.  She stated, “It is a hard but empowering journey; a rollercoaster ride.  Prepare yourself.  The better you know your enemy the easier it gets to defeat it!”

That is great advice!  Thanks for sharing your story with us. Your personality and many contributions in the forums will be remembered.  Your story will be enjoyed for years to come. Congratulations on your induction into the Hall of Fame!

We are extremely happy to announce the lovely Todash as this month’s Hall of Fame inductee. Please help me in congratulating Todash for demonstrating such a strong resolve in her quit and consistently providing supportive and caring feedback to her fellow members.

Please outline your smoking history.

When Todash was about 10 years old she was completely against smoking. She was convinced that she would never smoke; she thought that it was disgusting and terrible.  At this time her mother and father smoked and her older brother was about to begin.  A few years later, when Todash was 15, she begun to go through a difficult time.  Her parents were at the edge of a divorce, after years of a chaotic home life.  She spoke to no one and locked herself in her room and played solitaire. She had no friends from school because she was often bullied. She soon began to find friends outside of school that showed her new ideas and new influences.  They provided an escape for her but also introduced her to cigarettes.  She says she began smoking because she was angry.  She had tried to quit once in 1997 but the quit only lasted about a month.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

Todash reported that a combination of things made her quit for this final attempt.  She said she started to feel foul for smoking, standing in front of her office building shivering in the cold for a fix.  Her and her husband wanted to start a family. She also saw her grandmother in the final stages of oral cancer, withering away to nothing.  Todash explained that her grandmother was a woman whose voice defined her; she lifted many people with her words, struck some down with others.  Todash could pick her grandmother out of a crowd just by the way she would call out, “baby!” in her southern US twang.  Sadly, the cancer took her grandmothers voice and eventually took her.  Todash knew that is was time to stop before it would get the chance to take her too.

What was different about this final quit?

The toughest part of this quit for Todash was trying to stay quit while living with and being married to a smoker.  He smoked beside her and she still stayed quit. He is still a smoker yet Todash is still a proud non smoker! 

She found the habitual nature of quitting the most difficult. Her after dinner smoke was replaced with visits to the SSC.  Her first thing in the morning smoke was replaced with a sweet.  She reports that she couldn’t have done it without the knowledge of others; she would share her struggles and issues with members who have been through it already. Todash realized the true benefit of her quit when she realized that her lifetime of insecurity and her inability to be assertive was related to her trying to smoke away her emotions.  She now came to an understanding of how it was possible to become a better person and that she WAS stronger and a better person without the cigarettes.  This realization made it easy for her to stay quit.  She is now certain that she will never smoke again.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Todash used patches for a total of six weeks.  When the patches didn’t stick to her arm she used surgical tape to keep them on.  She dreaded the thought that one may fall off.  Whenever she had a craving she would log into the SSC and read or post.  She would eat grapes, wash dishes and do anything to keep her occupied.  She made sure that she went outside a lot and walked to her train station at the end of her work days.  When she wasn’t able to concentrate at work she would take a “brain dump” and put all her thoughts on paper. Within 15 minutes the “noise” in her head would calm down and she would be able to get back to business.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

Todash is proud to report that she didn’t slip once.  She had a few close calls but she managed to get through them.  She learned that it is really all about will power.  Todash explains that, “If you want to stop smoking more than you want to smoke, you WILL stop forever.”

Do you have insight or advice for others?

Todash had some great advice to offer.  She said to pay close attention to the emotional reasons why you light up.  She is 100% convinced the reason why smokers keep smoking and why she continued smoking for as long as she did is because smokers are incapable of dealing with emotions without smoking.  She believes smoking away emotions is not the answer.  New quitters should ensure coping mechanisms are in place to deal with their emotions as part of their quit program. Todash says if you need to scream, scream.  If you want to throw something, throw a balled up pair of socks at the wall.  If you want to cry, let it flow.

Great advice Todash! Thank you for openly sharing your story with us. You are such a huge inspiration here in our support community. We applaud your determination and perseverance!

We are excited to announce Kevin as the hall of fame inductee for the month of June. Please help me in congratulating Kevin for his drive and determination to stick with his quit!  

Please outline your smoking history.

Kevin started smoking when he was 16 years old. It was peer pressure. As life went on, he entered the military and if a person smoked, they got extra breaks or longer breaks. He tried to quit many different times. He went through a class put on by the State of Iowa and he quit for about a month.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

What motivated him? Well, Kevin loves his wife and step son alot. On the night of June 29, 2008 he sat up most of the night, coughing and fighting for fresh air. On his way to work, he rolled down the vehicle window and threw out his pack of cigarettes. He then called his wife and told her that he needed the patches picked up for him as he had just quit. He never picked up another. He was completely off the patch in 5 weeks.

What was different about this final quit?

Kevin claims that this quit was different because he was finally ready to quit. The first week was the worst. When ever he craved to have one, he would rub his patch and tell himself that he was done.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Kevin used the Patch to help him resist cravings. When ever he experienced cravings, he would rub his patch and just tell himself he did not need it. He also drank a lot of water and still does now.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

Kevin had no slips the final time. Once he threw out his pack, he knew he was done. He loves his wife and son, so he did it for them and himself as well.

Do you have insight or advice for others?

Kevin offers the advice that if you do slip and start smoking again, just put your mind to it and tell yourself that you are going to quit. It takes a lot of willpower but he is sure that everyone can do it if they want to. Since he quit almost 2 years ago, he feels great. He has even lost 45 pounds by staying more active. He can now go on walks with his wife and KEEP up with her. Life is great now.

Excellent words of advice Kevin! Thank you for sharing your quit story with us! Congratulations on your induction into the hall of fame!

We’re very excited to announce Leslie as this month’s hall of fame inductee! Please help us in congratulating Leslie who has demonstrated significant strength throughout her quit.

Please outline your smoking history.

Leslie can't even remember how many times she tried to quit, it's been so long that she can't remember. She joined the SSC way back when there were less than 300 registered users.  She has been very fortunate to have met some really great people here at the SSC.  Some of the older ones who had such great wisdom like Bubba & Katy.  Then of course her wonderful quit buddy Robby and now Tresa through all these years has been such a great friend and confidante.  People like Riverdale Man, Ladybugg, Rusty, Lady, Mouse and so many others.  Leslie posted over 2000 times before the site changed, but through each change it ended up being for the better, with lots of new users and new stories.

To know more about Leslie and her quit you can read her November 2002 Hall of Fame story.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

No slips because Leslie knew if she smoked just one then she would be back to two packs a day, even now, more than 8 years later she knows that she can't have just one!

After two years of being quit she was diagnosed with Adult Attention Deficit Disorder (associated with her quit) and posted about that problem here: http://sg.stopsmokingcenter.net/support/viewmessages.aspx?topic=16197&forum=1&forumname=Forum%20for%20New%20Users%20&%20General%20Discussion&topictitle=The%20Big%20Cover-Up

Do you have insight or advice for others?

Leslie suggests to get a quit buddy or friends here at SSC that can help you with your quit.  So many people here helped Leslie and that made the difference in her quit.  Leslie says, the way to truly kick the addiction is to NEVER give in to that first one.  She won't give in to that first one because she never wants to go through the quitting process again. She is so glad she did it!  She wouldn't change a thing about her quit from day 1 until now.

She’d rather be an ex-smoker occasionally thinking of smoking than a smoker constantly thinking of quitting!

Great words of wisdom Leslie! Keep spreading your excellent insight and congratulations on your induction into the Hall of Fame!

We are very excited to announce Lizzie as this month’s hall of fame inductee! Please help in congratulating her and also thanking her for the support she has offered along the way!

Please outline your smoking history.
Lizzie was a full time smoker for 22 years, smoking around 15 cigarettes a day, sometimes more. She originally started smoking out of curiosity, and then to appear more grown-up. Lizzie attempted to quit two times previously on “significant” anniversaries, but they did not last. She did want to quit, but she could not get motivated. There was a lot of negative thinking (the classic “junkie thinking” as she now knows it). This usually involved thoughts that she would never be able to enjoy life without a cigarette, that a special moment would never be as special. She thought that she would not be able to cope with problems or concentrate at work. She was really worried about craving cigarettes forever.

What motivated you to quit this last time?
For Lizzie it was an age thing.  She started to realize that she is not indestructible.

What was different about this final quit?
In a previous quit attempt, Lizzie had remained smoke-free for 3 weeks, her problem was staying quit. This is where the SSC made the difference for her. At SSC she was surrounded by people that understood what she was going through, people to provide reassurance and people to encourage her when things were not going well. The first 3 weeks were the hardest, but it took months to adjust to being a non-smoker. During that time, Lizzie experienced some depression,  it was not serious enough to warrant clinical intervention, but it was a very difficult time. She is forever grateful to the SSC people who helped her through the hard times. Month 4 was when things started to improve for her, but even then, she had to work on the mental side, to thoroughly re-educate her thinking and attitude. Again it is the experiences of the SSC members that really challenge those “junkie” thoughts. Quitting is like “un-brainwashing”. Looking back now, several years later, she actually finds it difficult to remember smoking. She can now say for sure that her original fears of craving cigarettes forever were totally unfounded.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?
Lizzie experienced two phases of cravings. 1) The first phase was the physical withdrawal. For this she used patches, which she thinks helped her through the first few weeks. During cravings, she used deep breathing and distraction techniques. She would do something else, anything to take her mind off the craving; cleaning out a cupboard, running up and down stairs, it really didn’t matter what she did as long as she didn’t smoke. 2) The second phase of cravings is mental, and for this she needed to recognize and unpick the “junkie” thinking. Reminding herself why she quit, and exercising self-talk was really key.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?
Lizzie had no slips.

Do you have insight or advice for others?
Lizzie believes that as with anything life-changing, quitting starts with the desire to change. All the methods and tools and support can help you, but ultimately this is something that you have to do for yourself because you want to.

Great words of wisdom Lizzie! Thank you for sharing your story with us, you are a true inspiration to everyone here and we look forward to reading more from you in the support groups. Welcome to the Hall of Fame!

Members, we are pleased to announce Cristinas as this month’s hall of fame inductee! Please help me in congratulating her for her success and also thank her for always graciously providing support and encouragement to her fellow members!

Please outline your smoking history.

Cristinas started smoking when she was 18 years old. She was 41 and a half when she quit. This means that she smoked for all of her adult life. She often wonders to herself “How wrong is that?”.  She has always considered herself a smoker: "I wouldn't know what to replace it with";" She needed it when she was sad/happy/busy/bored. "I will quit when I am ... y.o." She was a real smoker. She smoked more than a pack a day... anywhere between 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 packs. When she started smoking, she thought that it was "cool" - first year of college, being part of the "grown ups". She never did drugs of any type so if one would have told her that she was addicted to nicotine she would have laughed. But she knows better now. For this reason, she tells her daughter that it is easier to never start than it is to stop smoking.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

Cristinas always thought that there was not one reason in the world that would make her quit. She would even joke that if the doctor would tell her that she needed to quit or she will die, she would try to negotiate how long she would have left. And then one day her 9 year old daughter came to her and asked her why she smokes. At that moment, something just clicked and she realized that, if she wants to be there for her daughter, so she can ask her silly questions for years to come, she NEEDED to quit.

What was different about this final quit?

Cristinas had tried to quit one other time - three years before this quit. But, she knew it wouldn’t stick. She never said "I quit". Just that she stopped smoking. She started again after three months.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

To help her with her quit, she used the patches. It was her crutch and even 7 months into her quit, she will have a 7mg patch with her when she goes out for drinks. This assures her that if she feels like bending; she can put the patch and resist temptations better. She is happy to report that she has not used a patch in almost 5 months. Also, the breathing techniques, the icy water and cut up veggies saved her in her early days.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

Cristinas had no slips, no puffs, not anything. She could not afford to do it. She is well aware that one puff would bring her back to being a smoker.

Do you have insight or advice for others?

Cristinas emphasizes on the fact that this time she was determined. She felt that it was her time to quit. She truly, firmly believes that, even given all the great support that SSC provides, and all the NRT's in the world nothing will make a person stay quit, unless there is the will to do so. Cristina advises that when people on this site tell you that it gets better, please believe them. We all are or have been in your shoes. It's a tough path. It's an awful fight with the despicable demon. But in the end, you will come out a better person, a more determined and self-reliant one. Because you overcame a battle that only the chosen ones can. Be proud and keep the quit.

Thanks for sharing these words of wisdom Cristinas! Celebrate your success and enjoy your month as Hall of Fame inductee.

We are thrilled to announce a very special HOF winner for October.  Since our newly designed SSCv7 was recently launched, we have decided to honour an individual who has had a huge impact on the transformation of the SSC.  Our lead User Interface Designer, Cam, quit smoking 15 years ago.  His talent and past personal experiences with quitting has made a big impact on the site. 


Please outline your smoking history.
Prior to his quit Cam had smoked for 15 years. He was a pack a day smoker.  He had tried to quit at least 5 times previously.  He reports that he had started smoking due to peer pressure.  At the time he felt that it was something everyone did. 

What motivated you to quit this last time?
What motivated Cam to quit was his health.  His doctor had informed him that his heart was working overtime and this concerned Cam.  After some thought he made the choice to leap into his quit.  He knew that it was the right time.  He hated the smell on his clothes and his breath and was tired of people tell him about it! 

What was different about this final quit?
Cam felt that his final quit was different then his other quit attempts because this time he reprogrammed the way he was thinking.  He would no longer grab a smoke if he felt happy or bored; instead he started to drink more water with lots of ice.  The ice seemed to give him the same feeling he used to have when he inhaled a cigarette.  He was changing the way he did things.  He even began running with his dog and walking more.  He saw the light at the end of the tunnel when he didn’t have the desire to smoke anymore.  Things started looking good.  He stopped hanging out with other smokers and before long he had forgotten what it was like to smoke.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?
He started out by really spending time with himself.  Writing down how many smokes he would have that day.  He drank a lot of ice water and reprogrammed his thinking.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?
He did have one slip after 5 years of quitting.  He was hanging out with a friend and he had the brand Cam used to smoke.  Cam slipped and asked for a drag.  After one inhale he started to feel faint.  He told himself that he hated the feeling (which he really did).  He feels it was the stupidest thing he has ever done.  After that one drag he never had another crave again.

Do you have insight or advice for others?
The advice Cam would give is to really try to understand yourself.  He says to learn about yourself and what makes you feel the way you do.  He explains, if you learn more about yourself you will find out why you need to smoke; then you can turn around and reprogram your mind to stop yourself from ever wanting to smoke again.  He also says to stop hanging out with people who smoke for the first little while, avoid trigger places (bars, pubs), and to drink lots of ice water. 

Cam encourages others to read the program and post on the support group.  “There are lots of people out there that can help you.”  Cam says, “the Stop Smoking Center is the perfect place to help you quit.  Trust me, it works.  You will find that there are times that you really need support and this is the place to find it.  Good luck and keep your head up!  Get to know yourself, you might just find that you really like yourself and you wouldn’t want to hurt the one person you love most!”

Great advice Cam!  We are proud to have you as part of our team and now as a Stop Smoking Center Hall of Fame winner!  Congratulations!

 
We are thrilled to announce Leelaknight as the Hall of Fame Winner for December!  Leelaknight has led a determined quit and has been a strong and enthusiastic force in the support group. 

“Last night I ran 4 miles, last year I was lucky if I could run to the corner store for my smokes.  I was 32 years old and this December I will be 33 years young!  Very fitting that I got December as my Hall of Fame month.”
 
As a 16 year veteran smoker Leelaknight had all the excuses.  Every night she would tell herself that tomorrow she would quit.  She had written about it in her journal for ten years but every morning she would wake up and come up with another excuse.  She loved to use the stress excuse. 

After a conversation with her sister who had been quit for 1.5 years she finally heard herself loud and clear and she thought she sounded ridiculous.  She took one day and a weekend; she stayed in bed and ate everything she could find.  She hated her roommate who smoked and watched hundreds of movies.  She went back to work on the Tuesday as a weak non-smoker.  With the support of the SSC she was able to distract herself through the first week.  She continued to make it through by submersing herself in the support group and by reading numerous success stories. 

She had one slip where she had a few cigarettes.  She woke up the next morning with a smoking hang over and had to go through three days of withdrawal again.  From this she not only discovered a trigger, she also learned how to keep from doing it again.  She now knows that a 10 second cigarette is just not worth it! 

During this final quit she told everyone she could find about her choice to be smoke free.  She actually felt worse about letting down strangers then letting down herself.  With the strong support of this site, her loved ones and her dogs she made it into the Hall of Fame!” Thank you to sooo many amazing people who helped me during my struggles!”

She became the person she always wanted to be; she came out strong from surviving the challenges; she came out healthier by taking care of herself first and she came out happier because she did it!  She barely even thinks of herself as an ex smoker now, “I am an SSC non smoker!” 

She also reports that she did gain a bit of weight while quitting but is happy to say she is now a regular runner and has lost all the weight!

Great work Leelaknight!  Congratulations on becoming the Hall of Fame winner for December!

Members, Please help us in welcoming our newest member of the Hall of Fame. Let’s give a huge web-based applause for Lou P Lou!

Lou P Lou’s smoking history.

When we asked Lou P Lou about her smoking history she told us that she started smoking at 18 going to the store and buying a pack of cigarettes out of the blue. She doesn’t remember what drove her to the store to buy the cigarettes that day but she remembers thinking that she would never buy another pack. Before she knew it, she was back at the store buying another pack and realized that she was already addicted. Over the years her smoking patterns continued. She refused to smoke around her parents (she didn’t want them to see her smoke) even though she knew that they knew she smoked. She would only let a select few family members see her smoke, mainly only the ones who smoked themselves. She was ashamed of her addiction.

After 30 years of smoking Lou P Lou was smoking a pack or more a day. She knew that she had to quit for her health so she began to prepare and create a long list of coping skills to help her through the cravings. She almost lost her quit once when her 13 year old son told her that he wanted to live with his Dad more than with her which turned her world upside down. Her partner helped to reinforce her quit and with the help of all of the skills she had acquired through her quit was able to make it through this devastation smoke free. She knew then that she was going to make it, she was a non-smoker!

What motivated you to quit this last time?

Lou P Lou’s health was the main motivation behind her quit. In 2006 she was told that she had Cervical Cancer and underwent treatment to cure it (She is now 2 years cancer free!) Shortly after treatment, her father was at his doctor and started speaking to him about Lou P Lou and her medical history. Her dad asked the doctor if she was at higher risk of getting lung cancer because of her history and the doctor replied, “It isn't a matter of if, it is a matter of when”. Lou P Lou’s dad called her after this begging her to quit. She told him she would try. About a week after this event, Lou P Lou was going to work at the hospital and lost her breath while sitting in the car in the parking lot. She couldn’t take a breath in, couldn’t scream and feared that she was going to die right there in the hospital parking lot. She was finally able to take a breath in and was admitted to the Emergency Room. She was told that for her health she had to quit smoking ASAP. Her lung cells were starting to change and it was not looking positive. Her dad’s concern and this scare were enough motivation to inspire her to quit for good.

What was different about this final quit?

Lou P Lou gathered strength from many sources to help make this quit different and to help it stick. She used Chantix to take the edge of and help with the nicotine addiction. She came to the SSC to learn and read and gain support from friends and peers. She also made a deal with herself that ‘Smoking is NOT an Option’ and stuck to this promise through thick and thin. Lastly, she gathered strength from her faith and the quote, ‘I can do ALL things through Christ Who Strengthens me”.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

When we asked Lou P Lou what techniques she used to help her resist cravings she told us that she used a lot of self-talk, saying things like, "You don't really want to smoke", or "You are a non-smoker now”. She also prayed a lot and pulled strength from her faith. She always had a cold battle of water on hand for emergencies and a hand held Sudoko game to keep her hands busy. She also started adding some more exercise to her daily routine, parking at the back of the parking lot and taking the stairs up instead of the elevator. And of course, there was the SSC. Lou P Lou tells us that she couldn’t be pried away from the SSC if anyone tried. She claims that the SSC played a HUGE role in her quit.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

Lou P Lou proudly boasts no major slips. “I will proudly say that my motto became N.O.P.E (Not One Puff Ever)..... I held dearly to this motto and will say that I didn't have any slip ups!!!”

Do you have insight or advice for others?

When we asked Lou P Lou for insight and advice here’s what she tells us:

“Prepare yourself for your quit. First of ask yourself this one simple question, "Do I want to quit more than I want to smoke?" You are ready to start your quit when you can say that quitting is more important than smoking. Once you are there set a plan, you will need it. Follow the program here at SSC, learn your triggers and learn your coping skills to deal with those triggers. Not everything works for everyone, but I tried to stay away from anything that would trigger me.... but if I couldn't avoid it then I knew what I was going to do to cope. Cold water was a lifesaver for me. It truly took away the crave for me. Chewing on ice chips worked also. I also had a hand held game to keep my hands busy. There are so many things that quitters use and my advice to others reading this... read what I have written, then go to the forums and read there too. You will find that everyone has their own ways. and from many others you may come up with what works best for you.”

Well said Lou P Lou! Thanks for sharing you story with us and inspiring other smokers to quit. Congratulations!

We’re overjoyed to reveal this months Hall of Fame inductee!  Please help us send out big congratulations and a warm welcome to Cold Turkey for his continued drive to succeed and the support he’s offered over the year.

Cold Turkey’s Smoking History

 When we asked Cold Turkey about his smoking history he kept is short and sweet. He told us he’s that he’s now 40 years old and started smoking at 18 years of age. For the past 10 years he has been trying to stop smoking. He tried everything available to him, patches, gum, Zyban, acupuncture but nothing seemed to work. 

What motivated you to quit this last time?

Cold Turkey was so tired of trying to quit with no success. It was a terrible feeling of defeat and was being reflected in all areas of his life. He felt like a loser and was starting to show signs of depression. This is when he decided to stop for good and to do it “cold turkey”. This would prove that he was able to take control of his life again without any crutches as they didn’t work for him.

What was different about this final quit?

When we asked Cold Turkey what was different this final quit he strongly stated that he hard reached his limit! He could not stand to continue his life as a smoker. Cold Turkey found the SSC and would peek in from time to time. Shortly after is when he decided to join the group.  Cold Turkey is astonished that that he is Six months smoke free! “I wanted so much to stop that this quit was not difficult thanks to my determination and the SSC”.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Cold Turkey told us that he would carry around a bottle of chilled water and bring it everywhere he went to help with cravings.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

When we asked Cold Turkey if he had any slips he confidently told us that he didn’t have any.

Do you have insight or advice for others?

Cold Turkey gave us the following answer when we asked him if he had any insight for others.

“Life is so much greater with out cigarettes! I thought it would be impossible for me to get rid of it. I can say it is possible and it is worth it. Each craving you go through makes you stronger and closer to freedom. Go for it, life is too great to be wasted with something so stupid”.

Well said Cold Turkey! Thanks for sharing your story with us. Your determination to succeed and your will to live a long and fulfilling life is motivation to many. Your story will be enjoyed for years to come. Congratulations on your induction into the Hall of Fame!

We’re overjoyed to reveal this months Hall of Fame inductee!  Please help us send out big congratulations and a warm welcome to Jan58 for her continued drive to succeed and the support she’s offered over the year.

Jan58’s Smoking History
Prior to Jan58’s final quit she has smoked a pack a day for 26 years.  She explained that she has always wanted to quit and was never content being a smoker.  She had always had a fear in the back of her mind that she was really harming herself; however, she was unable to quit.  She has had many quit attempts, probably more then 20 times.  She said she had first started smoking when she was 14 years old and had started high school.  Like many smokers she thought it was “cool”.  She reflects, “If the kids today only knew what we know when it comes to quitting, they wouldn’t start in the first place!”

What motivated you to quit this last time?
When we asked Jan58 what motivated her she responded, “this time it was my age.” She had turned 50 last year and swore that she wouldn’t be smoking on her 50th birthday.  She was very excited to report that her 50th birthday was a smoke free one!  She figured the older she got the more likely it would be that smoking would eventually catch up with her.  She was scared to let that happen.  She had watched her mother die of cancer and her mother was a heavy smoker.  She knew that she didn’t want that to happen to her.

What was different about this final quit?
She said that her final quit has been different because this time she took all the help she could get.  She said she used the patch and Zyban to get through the tough times.  She also made, “this too shall pass” her mantra.  She felt this time she really understood that the withdrawals and mood swings were temporary, this made her more determined to persevere with her quit.  

She also used a lot of distractions; movies, T.V. shows, walking and eating.  Soon the “light at the end of the tunnel” began to filter in around the summer time of last year.  Once she came off the patch and Zyban she felt she was really “flying solo.” She felt real hope then, three months into the quit.

What did you use or what technique did you use to resist cravings?
Jan58 found that her intense cravings would hit her when she was at home.  When this happened she drank lots of water and put on the T.V. She would ride out the craving on her loveseat.  Some of her favorite shows like NCIS, Law and Order and CSI would be good distractions.  Also, she would allow herself to take a nap if she felt like it.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?
Jan58 was happy to report that she has not had any slips in her final quit.  She felt by not slipping and proving to herself that she could do it, made her motivation even stronger.  Jan58 advises that if a slip does occur “pick yourself up, and start all over again. And most of all, don’t beat yourself up!”

Do you have insight or advice for other?
Other advice Jan58 has to offer is, “when you finally decide to quit, work out a plan.”  She says coping tools and distractions are important.  Other advice gems Jan58 has to offer: “Lay low for the first little while and be good to yourself.” Also, she stresses that, “Patience is key.”  She says it is important to really understand that the withdrawal symptoms in the beginning will pass.
 
Great advice Jan58! Thanks for sharing your story with us. Your determination to succeed and your great coping techniques will inspire and educate. Your story will be enjoyed for years to come. Congratulations on your induction into the Hall of Fame!

We’re thrilled to reveal this months Hall of Fame inductee!  Please help us send out big congratulations and a warm welcome to mike/astrofan for his determination and participation on SSC.

Please outline your smoking history.
Mike/astrofan started smoking in his late teens.  In the beginning, he didn't smoke a lot, but the habit began to build as he would smoke after meals, with coffee, drinks, etc. Eventually he was smoking two packs a day.  He says he honestly doesn’t know how many times he has tried to quit, but it was a lot.

What motivated you to quit this last time?
Mike/astrofan said several things motivated his quit. He was worried about his health; his wife had survived cancer and he wanted to spend many more years with her. He also had five grandkids that he wanted to be a good role model for.

What was different about this final quit?
Mike/astrofan said he had just had enough! He was sick of being "the one" that had to go outside to smoke.   His first week was gut wrenching, literally. After that things got progressively easier.  He said SSC has helped a lot.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?
When the cravings got strong mike/astrofan practiced deep breathing. He ate a ton of small carrots, and prayed for the lord to ease the cravings; the prayers were answered many times. He was also motivated by the SSC.  He did not want to let down his SSC friends by smoking.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?
He initially tried to quit the first week of March, on his 3rd day he got in a poker game with his friends and slipped.  His friend Jim on the SSC forum advised him to stay away from these situations for a while.  He took his advice, quit on March 12th, and had no slips!

Do you have insight or advice for others?
Mike/astrofan’s advice would be to understand that quitting will be hard, but it’s worth it.  He believes the old clichés work, "one day at a time," "breath deep," etc. He would also advise others to embrace their statistics, “as your quit time builds you don't want to go backwards.” Mike/astrofan exclaims “Please, go ahead and quit, we'll all help you. God bless you all and thank you.”

Great advice from a great quitter! We would like to thank you for sharing all your inspirational advice. Your positive mind set and drive to succeed will inspire many. Your story will be enjoyed for years to come. Congratulations on your induction into the Hall of Fame!

We’re thrilled to reveal this months Hall of Fame inductee! Please help us send out big congratulations and a warm welcome to Rock for his strength and the support he’s offered over the year.

Rock’s Smoking History
Rock started smoking in his early 20’s. All of his friends smoked and this influenced him to take up the habit. He had attempted to quit a few times in his early 30’s. Otherwise he has smoked two packs a day for the past 10 years. For awhile Rock was a “closet” smoker. People knew he was a smoker but not how much he smoked.

What motivated you to quit this last time?
In March of 2008, Rock was rushed to an ER in DC while on a business trip. He was diagnosed with a cyst on the base of his spine and a blood clot in his left leg. The doctors “highly recommended” that he quit smoking. The cyst was non-cancerous, but its location was a concern. Colonoscopies, x-rays and numerous other tests confirmed there was no cancer. “That was easy” Rock states, however, the blood clot wasn’t. He was on medication to thin his blood. He also needed to self administer shots of blood thinning medication to himself in his stomach. He had to do this two times a day for two months. He was no longer able to eat a number of different foods including green vegetables, mayonnaise and canola oil. He had to take blood tests and other exams every week to check the thinness of his blood and to make sure no new cysts or tumors were growing.

On August 18, Rock and his oncologist were reviewing test results and planning for his gradual decrease of medication. He told her that he had not quit smoking yet. She had though he had quit. She told him that she wouldn’t take him off the medication until he quit smoking. The urgency and seriousness of the situation set in. Smoking can cause blood clots. Smoking can also cause cancer and he already had one cancer scare. He just wanted to eat broccoli! He wanted to live a normal life. He did not want to be on medication for the rest of his life and take blood work and tests every week. He wanted to live life as a normal person. He realized that on Monday, 18 August 2008. He quit cold turkey on Wednesday, 20 August 2008

What was different about this final quit?
What was different about this final quit was his health scare. Rock has smoked for 20 years, 2 packs a day. He smoked from the minute he woke up to the minute he went to bed. He felt a cigarette was part of his persona. He didn’t know how to live without cigarettes. Then when he quit, it wasn’t that bad. The motivation to get off the medication kept him going. Rock’s light at the end of the tunnel was the day he told his oncologist he was a non smoker of two months. She told him he could come off the medication the next month.

What did you use or what technique did you use to resist cravings?
Rock became a hermit for the first couple of weeks. He knew he couldn’t be around smokers. He drank lots of iced water, ate tons of carrots. He would also walk his dog every night for a reward so I could smell the fall air. Rock is a huge believer in rewards. His health plan from work also paid for a health coach, and he used one for the first three months.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?
Rock was proud to say NOPE, he had no slips. His motivation to come off the medication superseded any cravings he had. He read almost every post in every forum on the SSC site. He also made sure everyone he knew kept him in check.

Do you have insight or advice for other?
Rock believes that preparation is the key to a successful quit. He says to answer all the questionnaires to understand what kind of smoker you are. He also says to set up a reward system and read everything you can. Plus, post as much as you can. He says to avoid situations where the temptation may be strong. He says to manage the stress in your life. Change the things that you can and accept the things that you can’t. He also believes in paying it forward. He has helped many quitters and many quitters have helped him. He feels that SSC helped a lot in the first few days of his quit. He says it is important to have your friends and family hold you accountable. However, you have to do this for you. “Don't wait until a medical scare to force you to make the decision”. Lastly, don’t let someone pressure you. “If you aren’t quitting for your self, the quit won’t last.”

What a wise quitter! Thanks for sharing your story with us. The courage you displayed in your quit and your warm support you share in the forums is an inspiration. Your story will be enjoyed for years to come. Congratulations on your induction into the Hall of Fame!

We’re very pleased to reveal this months Hall of Fame inductee! Please help us send out big congratulations and a warm welcome to Hot SiO2 for his motivated quit and his kind leadership in the support groups.

Please outline your smoking history.
When we asked Hot SiO2 about his smoking history he replied, “I’m a son, of a son, of a smoker!”  Both of his grandparents smoked and his older brother and sister smoked as well.  Due to his family history, he felt he was destined to smoke.  He said he began “experimenting” with tobacco before he was ten.  By the age of 16 he was an addicted smoker.  He started smoking a pack a day when he was 17 years old.  He felt it was “cool” and all his friends smoked.
 
Hot SiO2 had never thought about quitting until he started working at the local hospital in the early 1980’s. He started to see what smoking had done to others.  In 1982 he attempted his first quit and attended a smoking cessation class.  The quit lasted a couple of months.  At the time he felt that his job was too stressful and he would attempt to quit again when the time was right.  He didn’t realize it would take him 25 years to try again.

What motivated you to quit this last time?
Two years ago Hot SiO2’s father died of lung cancer due to smoking. Similarly, his brother passed on six years ago. His grandmother also died of lung cancer back when he was around six years old. He felt that the “writing was on the wall”; if he did not quit soon, he too, would suffer the same terrible fate. After his father died, he bought some nicotine gum and tried to quit. That quit did not last more than a few days and again, he told himself that he just was not ready to quit. He really did want to quit. While being home for the Christmas holidays in 2007, his remaining sibling, his sister, told him about Chantix and how she tried to quit using the drug. She said the drug worked wonders, but she couldn't stand the side effects. She almost quit, but couldn't. This is when Hot SiO2 started reading about Chantix and made up his mind that he to would give it a try and make another attempt at quitting!

What was different about this final quit?
February 2008 HotSiO2 received a prescription for Chantix. He was motivated to quit but he was lacking confidence.  He started looking up side effects of Chantix on the internet and somehow, he found the SSC.  After going through the SSC program and reading numerous posts he gained the confidence necessary for a successful quit. He was going to quit smoking “come Hell or High Water!” He finally felt he could do it.  “Nothing was going to stop me, as I had all the tools and support I needed”.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?
From the beginning of his quit, HotSiO2 used the SSC as his distraction to keep himself from smoking. He read numerous posts and he posted to support his fellow quit buddies on the SSC. Whenever he had a bad craving he would go to the stairs and slowly climb them, breathing deeply with every step. After a few flights, he no longer had a craving. He also thanks his loving wife who was there to support her "clean, fresh smelling" husband.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?
HotSiO2 told us that “Once I started this quit, I never looked back!” He often wondered what it would be like to try another cigarette, but he learned that he was "one puff away from over a pack a day!" He has lived by the famous acronym N.O.P.E. (Not One Puff Ever) ever since his quit began.

Do you have insight or advice for others?
When we asked Hot SiO2 what insight or advice he had for others he told us that the best advice that he could offer is to follow the 6 P's: Proper Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance! “If you prepare yourself well by using the program and really psych yourself up, there is no way that the Nicodemon will ever defeat you!” He also believes that maintaining a positive mental attitude will help in your journey to become a non-smoker!

A positive mental attitude is definitely a must! Thanks for sharing your advice with us. The determination you displayed in your quit and your continued support in the forums is moving. Your story will be enjoyed for years to come. Congratulations on your induction into the Hall of Fame!

We’re very excited to reveal this months Hall of Fame inductee! Please help us send out big congratulations and a warm welcome to Karren for her optomistic quit and for her continued inspirational presence in the support groups.
 

Please outline your smoking history.

Karren started smoking after she saw her friends smoking; she was just 13 when she tried her first cigarette.  Karren was sad to report that she actually liked smoking.  Karren’s mother had smoked and the smell of her newly lit cigarette evoked pleasant feelings for Karren.  She often wondered if this was why she chose to smoke and why she didn’t  find it as repugnant as others did.  When Karren decided to quit she was smoking 25-30 cigarettes a day and had smoked for 37 years.  She had never attempted to quit before, she always believed that she was too addicted to even try.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

Karren began hating, loathing and detesting being a smoker and everything that went along with it.  She hated how unhealthy and breathless she felt.  She hated her gravelly masculine voice; which she thankfully reports has now recovered.  She said that smoking controlled every aspect of her life.  She hated being seen as a smoker; she felt that non- smoking society, in general, now looked down upon smokers and regarded them with contempt. 

What was different about this final quit?

Karren knew that there was no going back; she wanted this to be her “forever quit”. She says, “unlike a diet where one can cheat, there are no cheats with a smoking quit.”  The tough parts for Karren were the change of routine, the bizarre dreams from the patch and the sick feeling she had from the patch.

The parts Karren enjoyed were the feelings of achievement she had while quitting, how easy her quit was and how astounded she was by what the little patch could do. Most importantly, she enjoyed the overwhelming support she received from the SSC.  Right from the start she was amazed how a group of “strangers” were willing to reach out a hand to guide and support her.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Luckily, Karren did not experience any physical cravings.  She made a conscious effort to re-schedule her routine to avoid psychological association. She did experience smoking “thoughts” at both good and bad times. When the thought of smoking would enter her head she would quickly challenge the thought and it would go away.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

Karren had no slips and she feels very fortunate to say that.  In her words she has had what others call an “easy quit,” for that she is grateful.  However, she believes whole heartedly that her quit was easy because she was determined not to fail, she had the support of the SSC and of course her patches helped (“The most brilliant invention of all time!”).

Do you have insight or advice for others?

When we asked Karren what insight or advice she had for others she was full of suggestions!  First she stated, “Never ever think quitting is impossible. Take each day as it comes and find the method that suits you.”  She feels that there is no shame in using an NRT.  She also advises to never be afraid to ask a question at the SSC.  With the large variety of quitters that there are on the SSC she feels there will always be someone who can answer your question.  Karren explained that she asked a lot of questions in the beginning of her quit, she wasn’t sure what she should be feeling or experiencing.  The Members and Health Educators always had advice that was re-assuring.

Karren is so happy about being quit that she wants to go up to smokers and say. “Hey, look at me, 37 years and 30 a day. If I can do it, so can you. You know what?  Life really is so much better as a non-smoker.” She reports she feels healthier, happier, better off financially and she has also made a whole bunch of good friends at the SSC.

What a great role model for smokers who want to quit! Thank you for sharing your advice with us. The unwavering  determination you displayed in your quit gives hope to others. Your story will be enjoyed for years to come. Congratulations on your induction into the Hall of Fame!

We’re very excited to reveal this month’s Hall of Fame inductee! Please help us send out big congratulations and a warm welcome to Breather (Don). Breather has been a consistent source or information and positive energy in the SSC support group!

Breather’s smoking history.

Breather started smoking at the young age of eleven. All of Breather’s friends were older and smoked; therefore, he thought it was just a matter of time before he would start smoking.   Smoking caused Breather many problems but he was determined to not let anyone interfere with his smoking.  Breather did not really think about his smoking when he was younger. He remembers how his first drag burned as he breathed the smoke into his lungs; he would instantly cough but he kept smoking.   He smoked a pack a day in his younger days.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

Breather was motivated to quit because he felt he wasn’t breathing as well as he should be.   He explains, “I sounded like somebody on their way out with the wheezing, crackling and coughing.”  He became tired of being a social outcast; he couldn’t talk without having a coughing attack.

What was different about this final quit?

Breather was quick to say that it wasn't an overnight decision. He had wanted to stop for months. He had enough of being a slave to cigarettes. The last night he smoked, he found some old cigarettes lying around. Breather describes, “they were particularly stale and nasty.” He felt they were befitting for a person's last cigarettes because there was nothing good about them.  An appropriate memory of what he didn't want to do anymore.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Breather stated he is often described as a stubborn person.  He made up his mind that no matter what he wasn’t going to smoke.  He quit cold turkey, he felt cold water and sleep helped with his craves.  He said he had tried to quit a few times before his final quit; he believed he learned from these previous quit attempts.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

Breather reported that he did not have any slips.  He learned from past quit attempts to take things one day at a time and to try not to look too far ahead in the future. He explains, “I believe that the only thing I have is today.”

Do you have insight or advice for others?

Breather’s advice to others is to stay close to the SSC forum.  He says to read and post often.  He also says if you slip don’t be too proud to come back and better still don’t leave SSC until you are quit completely.  “Others have stopped smoking here and so can you. If I can do this anyone can. Ice water for the craves and don’t smoke no matter what!”

Breather has always been good at motivating others.  Thank you for sharing your advice with us. Breathers caring and determined nature has made him a famous SSC member. Your story will be enjoyed for years to come. Congratulations on your induction into the Hall of Fame!

We’re very excited to reveal this month’s Hall of Fame inductee! Please help us send out big congratulations and a warm welcome to Miss Marple, for her motivated quit and her caring supportive presence in the support group.

Please outline your smoking history.

When we asked Miss Marple about her smoking history, she said she started sneaking around, smoking as a young child. Her parents smoked, they were living in Europe at the time, and then there were even cigarette machines on the street corners. By the time she was 12 or 13 years old, she was smoking pretty regularly. She then smoked steadily for 35 years, working herself up to over two packs a day. In 2006, the Doctors told her she had COPD and needed to quit. She tried quitting a few times but it never stuck. She did have a rather lengthy quit at one point, but as she put it, she “blew it,” due to “junky thinking.”  She has since learned that she cannot handle 'just one'.  She reiterated, “There is no just one for me. I am either a non-smoker or a full-fledged smoker.”

What motivated you to quit this last time?

In October, she was hospitalized for a week with pneumonia, complicated by the COPD. She couldn't breathe, clearly for her that was a big motivator. She knew she wanted to be around awhile longer for her husband, children and grandchildren. She wanted/needed to keep working, and currently she is able to. She didn't want to go through life with oxygen tubes coming out of her nose. She exclaims that this is her final quit.

What was different about this final quit?

Miss Marple informed us that breaking the 'routine' of quitting was hard for her. After a meal, while driving, reading a book, etc. She jokes, “I never knew my car would start without a cigarette between my lips!” Quitting was quite a struggle for Miss Marple. She said it was the hardest thing she has ever accomplished. She feels that the 'light at the end of the tunnel' is when you go a day or two with no smoking thoughts. She says there's hope that in the future she may go weeks with no smoking thoughts. She is looking forward to that.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Miss Marple quit successfully in the past with patches and Chantix. This time she used patches. She consumed a lot of sunflower seeds (to keep busy) and a lot of water. She keeps a 'crave cart' on her desk at work. It contains a stress ball, sunflower seeds, gum, lifesavers, easy crossword books and word searches, and anything else she thinks will serve as a distraction.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

“Not this time,” Miss Marple stats. From past experience, she has learned NOPE. From previous failed quits she has concluded that slips really aren't failures; just bumps and potholes in the road. From each failure, she has gained something valuable, “never quit quitting!”

Do you have insight or advice for others?

Miss Marple says, “don't give up and keep a positive attitude.” She stated that some people who quit make themselves and everyone around them miserable. She says remember, “you are doing something wonderful for yourself and your loved ones, so be happy about it!”

What a positive attitude Miss Marple.  Thank you for sharing your story with us.  Miss Marple, your kind and genuine nature has made you a legend in the SSC support groups.  Your story will be remembered for years to come. Congratulations on your induction into the Hall of Fame!

We’re very excited to reveal this month’s Hall of Fame inductee! Please help us send out big congratulations and a warm welcome to Buggerdb, for his driven quit and his continued presence in the support group.

Please outline your smoking history.

Buggerdb started smoking at the age or 21.  He had a number of social influences at work and started smoking cigars with a friend.  This occasional cigar habit developed into a full time cigarette habit after 9/11.  He felt the stress of being in the New York area at the time and having two workmates lose family members contributed to his addiction. He smoked nearly a pack a day until the end of 2005.  One day he had one cigarette that tasted bad and then used the patch to quit.  He managed to quit for over a year and then started again when his mother in law was in the hospital. One cigarette turned into two and then he was back to having a full time addiction within a week.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

Buggerbd was treated by a new doctor for a chest infection, as he was having trouble breathing.  The doctor did some tests and looked at his previous information and found Buggerdb’s breathing to be horrible.  The doctor told him that he had to quit and with the infection and a vacation coming up Buggerdb decided it was a good time to quit.

What was different about this final quit?

The tough part for Buggerdb was the first couple of weeks.  He felt that this quit was a lot harder than his previous attempt.  Despite this, his motivation was higher.  The light at the end of the tunnel came after three weeks where he felt the tough part of the quit was over.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Buggerdb tried a couple of pieces of nicotine gum to resist cravings; this did not work for him and he did not like the side effects.  He used ice water and sugar free gum to help with the cravings.  Buggerdb continually told himself NOPE whenever he had a craving. He also reminded himself that the craving would only last a couple of minutes.  His cravings were very strong for the first couple of weeks and he went through a lot of packs of gum and water.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

He had a major slip four days into his quit.  He was upset about it and decided to post in the SSC.  He received encouragement to keep going and some tough love from one SSC member who told him to reset his quit meter and start over.  After he had fought hard for four days, part of Buggerdb didn’t want to reset his meter but in the end he was glad he did.  Even though his Hell Week was about 11 days he could honestly say that since his quit date he has not has one puff ever. NOPE!

Do you have insight or advice for others?

Buggerdb advises members to not put off setting a quit date, he says to get motivated and start today.  “Give it your best shot, and if you fail, start your quit over.” He wants all members to know that you too can quit and your lungs will start to heal the day you stop smoking.  He also wants to warn members of the dangers of smoking such as lung cancer, emphysema and other diseases. A couple of years of smoking are enough to damage your lungs and he feels he is living proof of this.  “Use a stop smoking program to help beat the cravings, and the help here from the members on SSC can’t be beat.”

Great advice Buggerdb! Your story is a wakeup call some smokers need to hear. Thank you for sharing your story with us.  Your story will be remembered for years to come. Congratulations on your induction into the Hall of Fame!

We’re thrilled to reveal this month’s Hall of Fame inductee! Please help us send out big congratulations and a warm welcome to Kaiser! Kaiser has been a consistent member of the forums and has had a strong and motivated quit.

Please outline your smoking history.

When we asked Kaiser about his smoking history he explained that he started smoking at the young age of 10.  He would steal cigarettes from his parents or use his lunch money to buy them.  All of his friends smoked as well.  After graduating high school, he joined the Navy and went to Vietnam; there he smoked often.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

Kaiser reported that what motivated him this time was fear.  Prior to his quit he had emphysema and still continued to smoke.  One night while in bed smoking he noticed that his hands were turning grey, this scary observation is what pushed Kaiser to quit. 

What was different about this final quit?

Due to fear motivating him to quit this time he found it less difficult.  Other times Kaiser tried the patch, gum and lozenges and each time he went back to smoking.  This time Kaiser chose Zyban and managed to kick the habit.  When he reached the one year mark he realized that he had finally beat the addiction.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Kaiser said candy helped in his quit, “I thank god for tootsie pops.” Kaiser exclaimed.   He also stated that the SSC was a valuable asset to him.  He felt being able to talk with others who can relate to what he was  going through really helped. 

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

Kaiser reported that he did not slip this time.  He had several previous quit attempts and from them he learned to follow the NOPE acronym.  Not One Puff Ever!

Do you have insight or advice for others?

Kaiser wanted to let potential quitters know, “You will quit when you are ready.”  He also said to not attempt to quit alone.  He believes a support group of some kind is essential to a successful quit. He believes he wouldn’t be able to stay quit without this site.

Kaiser, this site wouldn’t be the same without you! Thank you for sharing your story with us.  Your story will be remembered for years to come. Congratulations on your induction into the Hall of Fame!

 

 

We are excited to announce this month’s Hall of Fame inductee. Please help us to congratulate Brenda for her brave quit and constant participation in the forums. 

Please outline your smoking history.

Brenda totaled up her smoking history for us and said that she has smoked for 31 years.  She had smoked for 12 years, had a three year quit and then smoked for another 19 years.  Brenda stated that she has tried to quit so many times she lost track.  One of her first attempts was when she was 25 years old.  All that helped her cope during this quit was her motivation and will power.  Tragically, however, when her sister was murdered she no longer had the will to fight for her quit. 

Exactly why Brenda started smoking was unclear to her; however, she did start while she was hanging out with other teenagers.  She had started within the first month she went to live at a group home. Smoking was allowed there.  The workers at the group home told her that they did not disallow it as children would often smoke in their closets to hide it.  She feels she started partially because she could and partially because just about all the other kids did; smoking was also another way for her to remain close to her parents with whom she no longer lived with.  Both of her parents smoked.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

Brenda said that she quit this time because she was just, “sick and tired of it.” About 2-3 years ago she started smoking a pack to two packs a day.  She felt it was out of control.  She knew that it would eventually kill her if she continued to smoke.  Her father was still trying to smoke the day he died of lung cancer.  She felt if she had already done damage to her body she at least wanted to become clean of cigarette smoke.

What was different about this final quit?

Brenda reported that this quit attempt was different because this time she was ready.  In the past, she knew she had to quit but she didn’t really want to.  This time she was sick and tired of being sick and tired.  Day 169 is when she first saw the light at the end of the quitting tunnel.  She realized that she didn’t have to check everyday which quit day it was because she knew she was going to just accumulate smoke free days.  She wasn’t going to go back.  Quitting still wasn’t easy for her it just felt like she was sincerely done with smoking.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Brenda used prayer and medication to quit smoking.  She also used meditation.  She has never prayed before to help her with her quit but a successful quitter had told her that they prayed and it helped.  She felt prayer was possibly what her other quit attempts were missing.  She started to pray from day one and also used nicotine gum. 

Brenda reported that after the initial 42 days she only had a few nagging cravings once or twice a week.  When they came on she would distract herself and tell herself that she was not going to give her days back.  She still has low level craves after she eats.  She found that sugar free gum helped her with her cravings and chewing also kept her from eating. 

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

During this attempt Brenda has had no slips.

Do you have insight or advice for others?

Brenda had great advice to offer new quitters. She says to never beat yourself up over mistakes. She says to be disciplined and “bring your brain to the table.” She believes if you are thinking you would never let yourself smoke.  She says to, “practice rigorous honesty.

Very well put Brenda.  Thank you for sharing your story and advice with us.  Your strength and continued support on the forums has made you an SSC legend.

SSC Hall of Fame Recipient for January: Unhooked

Quit date: May 13, 2007

We are proud to announce this months Hall of Fame inductee. A very warm congratulations for Unhooked for her long journey and for the loads of support that she has offered to others along the way.  

Unhooked Smoking History

When we asked Unhooked about her smoking history she told us that she started smoking at 13, like many others in her generation did, to fit in, feel cool and look grown up.  Around this time alarm bells were just starting to sound about the dangers of smoking.  Unhooked tells us that this is where she got her nickname from, at the time there was a TV add about quitting and its slogan was “Kick the habit, join the unhooked generation”.

Warnings about smoking were finally starting to make head lines but weren’t being taken very seriously.  In fact when Unhooked’s dad found out that she was a smokers he was proud of her.  She tells us that she quickly became addicted and was soon smoking 20 – 25 cigarettes per day, earning her money for cigarettes by babysitting and stealing from her dad. She tired to quit many, many times and tried almost every quit aid. When people asked for tips on quit aids she would say, “It all works. Anything will help you quit. It’s the not starting again that’s the problem”.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

Unhooked tells us that there were many motivators for this quit and a lot of them had been there for years. She confesses that she never really enjoyed smoking; she hated the smell, the taste and being a slave to cigarettes.  Her kids had been really nagging her to give it up. She was starting to see some of the adverse effects of smoking on her health. Unhooked tells us that the last stray was when a pack of 25 rose to over $12.00. She quit the day after.

What was different about this final quit?

For Unhooked this quit was different than other attempts because she’d never before seen her addiction for what it was, a dependence. Before, she never believed that she was an addict the same was as an alcoholic or drug user. This was a real eye opener for her.

This quit was also different for Unhooked because she sought support. Not being a joiner or the kind of person to openly ask for help, she had never sought outside help or support in previous quit attempts. A co-worker introduced her to the SSC and as a ‘lurker’ she was impressed with the humor, acceptance and the fun that everybody seemed to be having.  She finally started to see quitting as a positive thing, something to be happy about instead of depressed about and lastly but maybe the most important, she accepted that quitting was a gift to herself instead of having to give up something. She added that they wonderful friends she has made at the SSC have made all the difference in this quit and she would not still smoke free without them.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Unhooked tells us that she first tried to quit smoking and made it through the first few days okay. She had her first major trigger a few days after her quit and started to use the patch.  She followed to program to the letter!

To help resist cravings, Unhooked says that she chewed coffee straws, drank gallons of water, read and posted at the SSC and gave her junkie friends all kinds of verbal abuse to justify her quit. She cried, yelled, beat on walls and furniture, took hundreds of baths and posted for help a few times. She tells us that she also celebrated all of her little victories and rewarded herself VERY generously.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

Unhooked admits that she had a few slips along the way. Her first slip was for two days because she wasn’t properly prepared for a social situation. From this slip, she learned that cold turkey was not the best way for her, that non-smokers don’t smoke when friends come in from out of town and that she hadn’t prepared herself as well as she had initially thought.  

Unhooked also learned from this slip that she could come to the SSC and tell everyone what happened without feeling guilty. When posting about her slip, Unhooked received nothing but support, encouragement and positive re-enforcement. “The feedback that I got when I posted about my slip was so touching that I resolved immediately to never let these amazing people down again.”

Do you have insight or advice for others?  

When we asked Unhooked if she had any insight or advice for other she told us to tell you all to celebrate your quit.

“Celebrate every little positive thing about being smoke-free and nicotine-free, congratulate yourself often, take the time to notice all of the little ways in which your life is better without smoking. If you stay positive and happy about your quit, you will soon find yourself being positive and happy about your life, yourself, and everything around you.”

She insists that quitting is the best thing she ever did for herself and “Quitting smoking has literally changed my life”.

Well said Unhooked!

From the bottom of our hearts we thank you very much for sharing your story with us and for your endless support, humour and acceptance in the Support Groups.  You are a true inspiration to all of the wonderful SSC members and we all look forward to reading your posts.

Oh, and by the way - Welcome to the Hall of Fame!

SSC Hall of Fame Recipient for February: Martha

Quit Date: August 5, 2004

This month’s inductee to the Hall of Fame is a true star. Not only has this recipient quit, she has stuck around and always taken part in supporting, motivating and advising other members to do the same. Please help us pass out a “web-based congratulations” to Martha for her long journey and her induction into the Hall of Fame!

Martha’s smoking history.

When Martha told us about her smoking history it was the same story we get from many of you. As a teenager Martha decided to join the ‘cool’ club and took up smoking. She wanted to fit in with her friends and smoking was the thing to do. Martha tells us she’s always had an ‘all or nothing’ type personality and believed she would live and die as a smoker. So for the next 15 years she smoked a pack a day with no real attempt to quit. She quit briefly for nine days but sure enough found a reason to start up again.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

Two months before her quit, Martha became a born again Christian and realized that her life had to reflect her faith. She tells us that she had witnessed a lot of hypocrisy in the church in the past and when becoming a member she was motivated by the verse, “You cannot serve two masters”. For Martha this meant that she had to give more of herself to the church and less of herself to her addiction – cigarettes. With this motivation, she set her quit date and never looked back.

What was different about this final quit?

When we asked Martha what was different about this final quit, she told us that her motivation was very strong. Her reasons for quitting and staying were much bigger than herself and she knew it was finally time to rid herself of all the things she hated about smoking.  She was looking forward to embracing her new life and faith completely even though she did run into some tough times.

The first two months were really tough for Martha but through all of the emotional upheaval she grew and re-discovered who she was underneath years of stale smoke. After three months of being quit, she turned a corner and knew she was never going back to her old lifestyle. She wanted to enjoy the freedom that she had found.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Martha tells us that she quit cold turkey but insists that it wasn’t because she was brave! She had previously tried the gum but didn’t like anything about it. She had also had some odd reactions to medications in the patch so decided that cold turkey was best for her.

When she was craving she referred to two bible verses;

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

And, of course, like so many other great quitter, she lived on the SSC for the first few months!

Any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

When we asked Martha if she had any slips, she proudly boasts that she had none! When she was craving she would, and still does, imagine herself going to the store, standing in line, buying a pack, lighting a smoke, tasting how awful it really is and then how bad she would feel holding 19 more cigarettes.

Do you have insight or advice for others?

When we asked Martha if she had any insight for others, she told us that she never realized how selfish smoking was and how it negatively affects the people in your life. She also gave us this advice:

“Be positive. Be realistic. Cater your quit to your own life. Quitting is the best thing anyone can do for themselves and those that love them.”

“Get excited because you are moving into a life of freedom and hope!”

Well said Martha!

Thank you for sharing your story, your inspiration and your know how with the rest of us.  Welcome to the Hall of Fame!

 

We are thrilled to present to you a very special quitter and newest member of the SSC Hall of Fame! Please enjoy the story, determination and drive of a great quitter and join us in welcoming Sparky to the Hall of Fame.

Sparky’s Smoking History

When we asked Sparky about her smoking history, she told us the same thing so many other smokers tell us – she started at they young age of 12 because she wanted to be cool and fit it. One day while hanging out at a local park, Sparky was offered a cigarette by a group of older girls and accepted their offer. She took her first puff and coughed and gagged while the other girls laughed at her. Having really low self esteem and wanting to fit in, she spent the summer learning how to smoke and practicing inhaling the smoke into her lungs. It took some patience but by the end of the summer of 1956 she was a smoker. Being so young, Sparky wasn’t able to get her hands on cigarettes very often, but would smoke when she could. When she was old enough to buy cigarettes on her own she started smoking a pack and a half to two packs a day for over 50 years. She was known for always having a lit cigarette in hand.

In 2002 Sparky finally decided to try quitting and decided to use Zyban to help her. Late into her first day she was confronted with the worst trigger she’s faced to date. She’s not quite sure how she made it home, but she arrived and had some cigarettes lying around, so she started to smoke again. Since then, Sparky’s lost count of the amount of times she has tried to quit and has tried many quit aids to help her. She’s learned something from each quit and used her knowledge to prepare herself for this finally quit. She decided to use Chantix and found the SSC and quit for good. 
 
What motivated you to quit this last time?

Sparky was motivated to quit smoking from past events but also because she was just getting tired of many failed quit attempts. Sparky tells us that warning bells started going off for her to quit 12 years ago but she stuffed her ears full of cotton so she couldn’t hear them. It was at this time that her oldest sister died of lung cancer. She was her best friend, her children were Sparky’s children, they did crafts together and spoke everyday for 30 years. She had quit smoking for 13 years and still died. Shortly after the passing of her oldest sister her other sister died from lung cancer. She had never quit, but begged Sparky to quit. A couple years after this, her brother also died from smoking related cancers. The thought of quitting tore at Sparky’s conscious constantly but she was too afraid of quitting to let it go.

She was starting to feel like a hypocrite knowing what could happen and continuing to smoke. She found the SSC almost two years ago and started to read and learn the physical and emotional feelings that smokers go through when they are quitting. She also found a lot of really wonderful people that supported her through her slips and ups and downs. Her husband was also a wonderful motivation and supported her in all of her decisions. She really wanted to quit cold turkey but decided with the help of her doctor that Chantix was right for her. With the help of family, friends, the SSC and Chantix, Sparky gathered all the motivation she could for this final quit attempt.

What was different about this final quit?

Sparky tells us that Chantix made all the difference in the world for her final quit. It helped her get through some rough spots and made her quit more comfortable. She also couldn’t have done it without the help of her husband, online and offline friends. In her past quit attempts she had gathered a lot of knowledge that along with her friends and family helped her prepare for this quit. She hit her first major milestone at 50 days and was so proud and relieved that she had been smoke free for the longest she’d ever been. There were a few ups and downs in between her first milestone and 5 months, but when she realized it was complacency, everything quickly got better. Today smoking is not an issue and she sees the world in a new light.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

When we asked Sparky about cravings she told us “cravings are a strange monster”. She never knew what to expect and sometimes her cravings would get so bad that she gave in knowing full well what she was doing. For previous quit attempts, she could not handle the cravings.

This time, the Chantix really helped take the edge off. She started to learn her danger zone and triggers and how to cope with them. She learned through the site that exercise and drinking water were great ways for her to cope. She also contributes deep breathing and doing affirmations to helping her get over a few cravings. When faced with a craving these days, she knows they will fade shortly and just waits for them to go.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

Sparky had many slips on her journey to quit smoking, some major and others not. She tells us “I learned that N.O.P.E. means just that, Not One Puff Ever!” Quitting was a process for Sparky and each time she slipped she was so disappointed that she was smoking again. She finally decided that she didn’t want to have to endure the heartbreak of going back to smoking all the time so for her final quit she lived by N.O.P.E.

Do you have insight or advice for others? 

“Preparation is so important when you want to give up smoking and move on with life. For those of you wanting to quit: get prepared! Read and understand what quitting is about. Learn what it will do to you mentally and physically.” She found that the SSC was a treasure chest of useful information. She found million of ideas to help her prepare for her quit and distract her to get through the cravings by reading other quitter’s strategies. Some other advice that Sparky has to offer is: “If you can, find a quit buddy.” Online or offline, the support and help that they offer throughout the quitting process are priceless. “If you smoke again, it is not the end of the world. Take a look at where you could have done something differently and quit again. What kept me going was some advice I received from someone: ‘never ever give up quitting, one day you will quit’.”
 
Sparky – We’re very proud to induct you into the Hall of Fame! You’re will to quit and drive to succeed are motivation for us all. Thanks for sharing your story with us and we wish you continued success in all you undertake. Welcome to the Hall of Fame!

We’re pleased to announce this months Hall of Fame inductee!  Please help us welcome Sue in NC to the ranks and send out big congratulations for her continued success and for the advice, inspiration and motivation she has been to others!

Sue in NC’s smoking history.

When we asked Sue in NC about her smoking history, she told us that she started smoking at the young age of 15 by peer pressure. Her parents were going through a bad divorce and she was “rebelling”. Sue in NC smoked for 25 years, about ½ a pack per day. She claims she was a ‘snotty’ smoker; she didn’t like the smell of smoke on her clothes, in her car, on her stuff or on other people. When people became more aware of the harmful effects of smoking many of her friends quit and even her boyfriend of the time asked her to choose between him or cigarettes. She managed to quit cold turkey for a full year but when the relationship went sour over a few glasses of wine it didn’t take long for her to resume her old habits. “It took about 5 cigarettes before they tasted good, those first 5 really burned and hurt my throat, but I kept doing it until they tasted good.” She smoked for 15 years after that.  

Sue in NC had no intentions of quitting. Her husband John also smoked so they would do so together.  Everything was planned around smoking like when they went outside or where they went on vacation. Once, they almost missed their return flight home because they had to re-enter security after going all the way outside in LA to inhale 2 cigarettes. Sue and her husband would go through almost 2 cartons a week. “I just made sure we had enough money for them even if I had to charge it, because you know, we had to have them”.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

The big moment that motivated Sue in NC to quit was when her husband was doing a retirement assessment for his 401k to see if he would have enough money by retirement. Signs indicated that he would not live to spend the money because he was a smoker and had other health issues. With a little determination he would be able to reverse these effects and add years to his life. John came home with Chantix that day, announcing that he was quitting for good. He didn’t ask her to join him, as he had in the past (and she always refused).  Sue immediately called her doctor and asked for a prescription for herself and the two started their quit together.

Sue tells us that this quit was unplanned and a bit of a sporadic decision. It happened to fall when Sue’s mom for Australia was visiting for 5 weeks! Sue tells us that her small house started to feel much smaller as the weeks progressed. This may not have been the best time for Sue’s mom to visit but today, she is tickled pink for Sue’s accomplishment.

A few days into Sue and John’s quit, John stumbled upon what proved to be the biggest aid in Sue’s quit: a web site called the Stop Smoking Center. Sue expressed to us how important the SSC was to her quit, “I lived here, I craved here, I read here, I cried here, I ran here, all of you understood. I got what I needed”. She said that this is why she is still there today, it’s so important to help, even if it’s just one person.

What was different about this final quit?

When we asked Sue what was different about her final quit she said that it was the support that she found on the site and the help from other and that she could give to others. She recently buried a good friend due to a smoking related cancer so she understands the importance of helping; even if it’s just one other person.

Sue also quickly built her coping plan and was able to use it in a variety of different situation. She was able to learn and use this to help with any craving.

She new that this was her final quit when she started having moments when she realized that she would have had a cigarette in an old life in the same situation. She says she rarely craves and when she does it’s like a Mack truck “Wooooosh… and then its gone!”
 
What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Sue used a varied of techniques to resist cravings. She drank plenty of cold water, used Listerine mouth strips to keep her mouth cool and fresh and chewed sour Jelly Belly’s. She also practiced deep breathing techniques when the cravings were bad finding this relaxing and calming.

One of Sue’s best and most used techniques was distracting herself with the SSC. She tells us that she read and read and read, taking advice, learning about withdrawal and the different stages of quitting and offering advice to others. She would use the program and forums as a distraction until the craves past.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

When we asked Sue if she had any major slips she clearly stated “no way!”

Do you have insight or advice for others?

Sue had great insight for those wanting to quit. Here is what she had to say:

“Listen to the people here who quit before you, look at their stats, they know what they are doing and read, read, read. Post if you need help and wait for replies.”

“If you keep quitting, the cravings will also quit.”

“You are worth this quit!”

Well said Sue in NC! From the bottoms of our hearts we thank you very much for sharing your story with us. You’ve inspired many smokers to become ex-smokers with your powerful resolve to quit. Welcome to the Hall of Fame!

We’re elated to reveal this months Hall of Fame inductee!  Following in his wife’s footsteps, please help us send out big congratulations and a warm welcome to John in NC for his continued drive to succeed and the advice he’s offered over the year.

John in NC’s smoking history.

When we asked John in NC about his smoking history he kept it short and sweet. He started smoking like so many others as a junior in high school with the “In-crowd”. All of his friends were smoking and they used to hang out before and after school and during lunch. He always knew he should quit sooner rather than later and three years later his first quit attempt didn’t even last a week. John was surprised at how difficult it was, so five years later turned to hypnosis to help him quit. After just 4 hours John was back smoking. For years he knew that he needed to quit but the time just never seemed right. “It was always; maybe next year and next year came and went with a new excuse.” As a 46 year old, pack and a half a day smoker, John discovered the SSC and had no excuses.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

Everybody under the moon had told John to quit but with little success. His ‘In-crowd” was disappearing quickly and smoking was becoming less and less acceptable in public. Not having any good reason to quit for himself, John kept on smoking. One day he came across an Internet retirement calculator and wanted to see when he would be able to retire. Here’s a little recollection of his experience:

“I began reading and answering the questions. They went sort of like this; ‘In order to calculate how much you need to retire with, we need to ask you some personal and family health questions. Some questions may seem difficult but we need to know your life expectancy in order to calculate the size of your nest egg.’ Huh, easy enough...

1)    How old are you? 45
2)    Do you smoke? YES
3)    How long did your father live? 75
4)    How long did your mother live?
5)    Does anyone in your family have or has had heart disease? YES
6)    How often do you exercise? ONCE A WEEK
7)    What is your BMI? 32
8)    Does your job require much exertion? NO”

After completing all the questions and clicking on the “Show Results” button John received his fate, “CONGRATULATIONS! You have enough to retire! Your funds will carry you to your life expectancy of 72.” John was happy that he had enough but quite unhappy with the prospect of only living until 72. He wasn’t ready to die on the day of his retirement party. He started to really get serious about changing his lifestyle. He started to limit when and where he smoked and prepared to quit.

The final motivation for quitting was when his wife’s cat got sick. Despite never having smoked in the house, the cat developed lung cancer and couldn’t make it from one room in the house to another without stopping to catch his breath. John took this as a sign and quit procrastinating about quitting. He over heard a story of a heavy smoker that quit using Chantix and decided that if he could do it, John could too.

What was different about this final quit?

John used the scare method to help him through this quit. He scared himself straight by watching videos of people living with cancer and heart disease. He watched his cat being put down due to lung cancer. He gathered strength from other quitters and took the Not One Puff Ever approach.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

As a new quitter, John found it helpful to avoid any situation that reminded him of smoking. He kept his distance from his smoking friends, stayed away from his smoking spots and lived for N.O.P.E. By the second week he could predict when he would have a craving and was able to deal with his triggers and cravings. As John became more confident in his quit he slowly began to integrate these activities back into his life and visit places he used to smoke in. As time continued, life as a non-smoker got easier and easier and John found joy in re-visiting life experiences as a non-smoker.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

When we asked John if he had any slips he confidently tells us he didn’t have any slips. He’s committed himself to a life as a non-smoker. He can’t stand the smell or the thought of tobacco and prays that he quit in time to extend his life beyond 72 years.

Do you have insight or advice for others?

John gave us the following answer when we asked him if he had any advice or insight for others:

“If your still smoking when you read this I am feel sorry for you because the Nicotine will not let you understand the true consequences and harsh reality of having to say good bye to a loved one because you chose to smoke. If you have already quit then good for you! Just remember you made the decision to quit. Keep reading the reasons you quit if you ever feel weak. Make your friends who smoke promise that no matter what you say they will not give you a cigarette.”

Well said John in NC! Thanks for sharing your story with us. Your determination to succeed and your will to live a long and fullfiling life is motivation to many. Your story will be enjoyed for years to come. Congratulations on your induction into the Hall of Fame!

Please help us in welcome our newest inductee to the Hall of Fame. Let’s give a HUGE web-based welcome to Ladycigevictor! Enjoy the inspiring story shared by  Ladycigevictor on her journey to change her life.

 Ladycigevictor’s smoking history.

When we asked Ladycigevictor about her smoking history she started to tell us about how it all came to an end. Like so many other quitters, she had reoccurring health and breathing problems and attempted to quit many times with her health deteriorating even more each time she restarted. The doctors told her that her lungs had enlarged and if she didn’t quit smoking she would end up with emphysema soon. After many failed quit attempts lasting only 2 or 3 days, she decided that she would stop trying to quit and accept her fate and smoke until the day she died.

 In the late fall of 2006, Ladycigevictor was told she had a lung infection – this didn’t surprise her, she had already fought many. This one was different though, it was worse than others that she had had. She woke up one night unable to breath due to an asthma attack. “It felt like trying to breathe through one of those tiny little straws from a drink box, it was scary! As I lay there struggling for air, I realized this was how I would draw my final breaths...each one a painful gasp until my lungs would finally give up completely”.

 
What motivated you to quit this last time?

When we asked Ladycigevictor what motivated her to quit the habit after so many failed attempts the answer was simple – fear! Not being able to breathe was a real wake up call. She started to thing about her fate if she remained a smoker and became angry that she had abused her lungs and body for so many years with cigarettes. She decided that she was going to quit; she didn’t want to die like a proverbial fish out of water. She was going to do everything in her power to change her fate.

As Ladycigevictor struggled to breath she started to take stock of her life. She decided it was time to make some major changes in her life.  She had been married to the same man for 30 years and had two wonderful children. She should have been happy but she wasn’t as happy as she wanted to be. Her husband was an alcoholic and their life revolved around his drinking. She decided that she may not be able to change her husband, but she certainly could change herself. She wanted to change her life, everything about it and live a full and rewarding one, for as long as she would. This meant two things; she had to quit smoking and she would probably have to leave her husband.

Ladycigevictor woke up with a zest for life, for the first time she had an active plan to live instead of just sitting around smoking and waiting to die. There was no room for failure in this plan, she was ready to do whatever it took and nothing would stand in her way. Failure meant smoking and smoking meant not being able to breath. “I was going to breathe. I was going to live. I was going to be happy,”

Ladycigevictor tells us. She started to plan her new life and told her daughter about the changes that she was going to make. Her daughter was very supportive, which helped to encourage Ladycigevictor even more. She started to research smoking cessations; set a quit date, wrote a pros and cons list and thought about all of her benefits of staying smoke free. She wrote an eviction letter and said goodbye to cigarettes for good. On January 28 2007 (the day her dad would have been 95) she said goodbye to cigarettes forever and found the SSC on the very same day. She realized it would be very instrumental in her quit and quickly signed on as Ladycigevictor.

What was different about this final quit?

When we asked Ladycigevictor what was different about this quit she told us there was a few things. Firstly she made up her mind that this quit was for her and nobody else. She also picked up books and surfed the SSC website and started to prepare for her days without cigarettes. She started to cut down on cigarettes, limited her smoking to one unpleasant location and journaling how each drag made her feel. She visualized each inhale going into her mouth, down her throat and into her lungs where the carcinogens would go to work. She started to come up with a coping plan to help when she had cravings, she wrote all of her ideas down on flash cards and came up with a great list of fun or distracting activities that she could do within 30 seconds. She bought inexpensive rewards to have on hand when she needed to pamper herself. She started to exercise and walk her way through cravings and sometimes would pull all nighters reading posts on the SSC. She knew that knowledge was power and she felt empowered to kick this addiction.

 Another crucial contributor to this quit was Ladycigevictor's acknowledgement that she was an addict. “This was one of the crucial differences in my quit. I knew an addict could overcome their addiction provided they prepared well, made a commitment to themselves and stayed vigilant each day for the rest of their lives.” She embraced this new positive attitude and found ways to make quitting smoking a positive thing.

 Ladycigevictor also found two really supportive quit buddies at the SSC. She thanks them for their wonderful support and traveling through the quit journey with her. On the night before her quit she smoked her last cigarette and tells us that she felt eerily calm. She had made herself a sincere promise and was determined to never smoke another cigarette for any reason as long as she lived. To this day she has kept her promise.


What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

 As we mentioned above, Ladycigevictor was well prepared with a great coping plan that she had turned into flash cards of fun and constructive things to do in less than 30 minutes. She always had her rewards on hand. She also practiced crave busters until she found out what worked for her. She also started to walk, instead of smoke when a craving would hit.

 She admits that quitting was fairly easy for her. Adopting the N.O.P.E mentality meant smoking was never really an option. She lived on the SSC for the first 3 months, mostly on ‘The Magic Ship’ thread with all of her quit buddies. She was so prepared to deal with cravings and face her nicotine addiction because she had so much knowledge before hand and during her quit. Her craves were fairly minimal and most of them occurred when there was unexpected emotional upsets. She also took Zyban to help her through this quit.

 
Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

 When we asked Ladycigevictor if she had any slips here’s what she said: “I made myself a sincere promise to never smoke another cigarette for any reason as long as I lived. I've kept my promise.”

 
Do you have insight or advice for others?

Ladycigevictor tells us that she believes every quit is different and unique. Here’s her advice for others to help them on their individual journeys to becoming smoke free:

 “Never give up on quitting. Keep searching for that special bit of knowledge you need to set yourself free. Understand addiction and how you can overcome it. Prepare for your quit, both mentally and physically. Make a commitment to yourself, your family, your faith and do whatever you have to do to protect your quit. Find quit buddies and help others whenever you can. Know in your heart you can do this, millions of other addicts are doing it, and so you can too. Be vigilant, even when you think you've got this licked...I believe once an addict...always an addict. Have fun; listen to good jokes and exercise. Humour and exercise releases endorphins that make you feel good. Eat well, as your blood sugars will stay level and your craves won't be so intense (plus you won't gain weight). No matter what it takes to stay smoke free, it's worth it! Enjoy the freedom!”

 
Thank you Ladycigevictor! Your journey to being smoke free is inspiring and your strong resolve to stay quit while improving your life and those around you is appreciated by all. Your story will be enjoyed for years to come. Oh and… Welcome to the Hall of Fame!

 

 

 

We’re elated to reveal this months Hall of Fame inductee!  Please help us send out big congratulations and a warm welcome to MistyMoonlight for her continued drive to succeed and the advice she’s offered over the year.

MistyMoonlight’s smoking history

When we asked MistyMoonlight about her smoking history she tells us that she felt compelled to start smoking at the young age of 15. When she started, in the 80’s, smoking was still socially acceptable and was allowed in markets, restaurants and public places. She had urges and craves for cigarettes before she started smoking that were not unlike those she had when she quit smoking. She attributes these cravings from such a young age to all of the second hand smoke that she had been exposed to as a child. “I was also a very stressed and an emotional teenager. Smoking had a certain appeal in the way the media painted smokers as folks that had a magic relaxing pill for stress”.  

What motivated you to quit this last time?

When MistyMoonlight talks about her motivation to quit, she thanks her little boy for helping her to realize how selfish an act addictions are. She finally understood that her only road to freedom and to finding her true identity would be through quitting. The faithful day happened in a restaurant with her son on her lap. She was craving a cigarette and trying to decide if she could tolerate the looks of the people in the restaurant if she lit up. When she started thinking, she became conscious that she was not concerned for the health or well-being of her child; she just wanted to feed her addiction.

23 years after she first started smoking, Misty was up to 4 packs a day. She tells us that she was so addicted that she couldn’t smoke enough to ease the withdrawal symptoms in between cigarettes. She would inhale as hard as she could, but no matter how much smoke she got she was constantly anxious, had the shakes and unhappy with the feeling on smoking. It got to the point when it became pointless to continue to smoke and quitting would be the only relief. For her health and her sons, she decided to quit smoking and find her true identity.

What was different about this final quit?

Misty tells us that this quit was very difficult and painful. For the first time, she had to learn how to live life – how to cope with and deal with adulthood. She says that this was the hardest part of her quit. In quitting, Misty also had to deal with a lot of physical problems that smoking was masking such as hormonal imbalances that are still an ongoing problem.

She tells us that the one positive of this quit being so tough and painful is that she is not scared that she will ever start to smoke again. Misty is a firm believer in N.O.P.E. She’s convinced that she will never start again as she never wants to go through that again. “The good thing about it being so painful, tearful, and difficult is that I am scared to death of ever trying to have even one puff, because I don't ever want to go through that again!”  

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

MistyMoonlight choose not to use any prescription or over-the-counter meds and quit cold turkey. To help diminish the cravings she spent a lot of time at the SSC posting, reading and learning about quitting. She also drank lots of ice water and practiced deep breathing exercises to help her through cravings.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

When we asked MistyMoonlight if she had any major slips, she gave us a very short answer, “I didn't slip - I was afraid to.”

Do you have insight or advice for others?

MistyMoonlight was full of great insight and advice for other quitters. When we asked her to share her knowledge, here’s what she said:

“Align yourself with a group that truly "knows" about quitting smoking - A quit professional, support group such as the SSC, or some other group with smoking cessation professionals in it. Have place to go that you can get your questions answered - even when your doctor looks at you like you've lost your mind.”

“Educate yourself! Read, read, read, and know all that you can about what you may or may not go through and what is happening to your body at different phases along your journey. This is so incredibly important. 3 or 4 months down the road when everyone around you thinks you should 'just be over it by now" you will know that you are having a crave and that it will end soon, and that your body is heeling and that's why you feel this way, or that you have the blues because you are in mourning, and it will pass... Knowing what is happening is so very important so that these small events don't become reason to begin smoking again!”
 
Well said MistyMoonlight! Thanks for sharing your story with us. Your determination to succeed and your will to find your true self is motivation to many. Your story will be enjoyed for years to come. Congratulations on your induction into the Hall of Fame!

We are very pleased to announce this our newest Hall of Fame inductee. Please help us give a very deserving welcome to Daily Llama. Daily Llama has written his own story by hand for all to enjoy!

Daily Llama's smoking history

I quit on 18th January 2008
 
I have the usual story about getting hooked on smokes. Ten years old and wanting to impress the older guys I inhaled two long drags and nearly fell over but "proved" that I was tough.
I went from buying one and then two to buying a pack a day at age eighteen. I never tried to quit. I was locked into the "rebel stance" which was accompanied with the need to drink myself into oblivion every Saturday night... I don't know how I managed to dance, smoke and drink my youth away but I did it like a Class 'A' Champion idiot...

What motivated you to quit this last time?

I only woke up when my lungs failed to take anymore of the abuse I'd been doling out for 50 years. I got massive lung infections over Xmas of 2007-8 and I thought I was ready to die unless I tried to crawl back from the edge and give up the addiction to smokes.
 
What was different about this final quit?

This was only the second time I have tried to quit in 50 years. I gave up for 6 months in 1985 ( costing me $400 to quit) and broke the quit by drinking and and dabbling at a pack of my "favourites" I found on the bar... I was back in the addiction within 24 hours...  This last and final time I found Champix and I found the SSC and both of these elements helped me to make the quit work. I needed to be online getting and giving help to fellow members all day and everyday of the first three weeks of my quit. Without SSC I'd have let it all go again, I'm sure... One needs to be reminded everyday and all day that quitting the addiction is paramount.  By the end of week 3 I was off the Champix and feeling more confident that I could really handle this addiction that has been plaguing me for so many years... I hardened that resolve by posting and reading on the forums most everyday.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

I swore by the glass of iced water and by distractions like jumping up and 'doing' something when I had insistent thoughts about cigarettes. I cut out caffeine in all forms as the stuff caused all sorts of trigger-actions in me.  I realized that it was an addiction that could buzz off with the smokes!!

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?
 
I slipped on the original day of my quit ( the 17th January, Thursday, 2008) but, with the help of my new found friends on SSC I quit the very next day.
 
Do you have insight or advice for others?

I have no special insight into the quit mechanism... I agree that it's largely a desire to be able to breathe clean air, to walk without running out of breath, to maybe, stave off  cancer in the lung area ( but even if it is not to be I'm still very proud to have stopped smoking at 60 and dropped the longest-lasting addiction in a long list of dropped addictions!). Prepare for the Quit well in advance (kill off the impulse-drive by studying how you will quit...) and really understand that you're saving your own life by not smoking.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Daily Llama. Your dedication to keeping your quit and helping others keep theirs is truely inspiring. Congratulations and welcome to the Hall of Fame!

We are very proud to announce this months Hall of Fame inductee. Please help us pass out a “web-based congratulations”to Blue Cloud for her long journey and all of the support that she’s offered to others along the way.  
 
Blue Cloud’s smoking history

When we asked Blue Cloud about her smoking history, she told us that she started smoking at age 13, sneaking around her folks until she finished school and got married. Smoking had coolness about it at the time. Blue Cloud never really thought about being addicted until 40 years later when she began trying to quit. A sick spell or a bad cold would slow her down but just as soon as she felt better, Blue Cloud was at it again.

She decided she would try to give up the habit when cigarettes prices started to rise. She would always beat the Nicodemon for a couple of days but all of her attempts were lost to the addiction and she would start smoking again. 

What motivated you to quit this last time?

After Blue Cloud turned 55 a lot of things started changing in her life. Her children began having babies and she was a grandmother. Her grandkids really shamed her for smoking, growing up in a world where smoking wasn’t socially accepted. She also started to feel dumb for continuing to do something that she knew was putting herself in harms way.

When she first decided that she was ready for change she was dependent on other people around her to change too. When they didn’t she failed and realized for her mistake that this method wasn’t going to work and she would be better off just focusing on herself.

Blue Cloud always tried to blame other things and not addiction. She was sick all the time and at the doctors at least four times a year with bronchitis. Every time her doctor told her to quit smoking. She tried to blame it on everything but the addiction. She finally wrapped her head around what she had to do and to help herself and got prepared to quit.

What was different about this final quit?

When we asked Blue Cloud what it was that made this quit final she expressed to us that her life was just about in the bottom of the barrel in every manner of speaking. She was separated from a husband of 40 years because of addictions. She was avoiding her family of ex-smokers as they thought that she had already quit. She decided that she had nothing to lose and everything to gain. She was always dragging around with a cough and a headache and figured it was time to take control of her life.

Her grandson caught her smoking one day and he told her he felt betrayed. She new then and there that she was going to quit smoking. She fessed up to her family and asked for help. They accepted her request with open arms. Her daughter showed her to the SSC, helped her sign up and the rest is history.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Blue Cloud told us that she had many ways to resist cravings. She would cut straws and sucked thru them, ate tic-tacs, prayed a lot and took deep breathes. Blue Cloud also cried and cried some more but made a promise to herself that she would give up smoking for at lease six months. If she didn't see a positive result in 6 months, she would go back to her old habit. Little did she know that when six months came, she had learned a great set of coping skills and a lot of life lessons that had helped her to see life in a new light.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

Blue Cloud told us that she didn’t have any slips; she knew that would be deadly. She needed to feel good about herself and this was her journey. Blue Cloud could not fool herself or the people around her, N.O.P.E. was her saviour.

Do you have insight or advice for others?

When we asked Blue Cloud what advice or insight she had for others she kindly shared that if you would like to quit, you should read, join in and pour your heart out.

 “I have learned so much from my group of quitters. It has been a blessing to be able to quit on this site. So many people here have really become my friends. I have laughed with them and really had fun. When you are depressed and down in general and have a place like this to turn to for encouragement it is priceless”.

She also told us that with the advice she received from the SSC, she kept a journal this past year. “It is amazing to me now to read back about just how mis-guided my thoughts were. Thanks to all of you here I have been able to recapture the real me; the one I haven't seen since I started smoking at 13”.  Blue Cloud started her Journal with the words, "It's hard to find yourself 61 years old and know you've been under the influence of nicotine for the past 48 years. Can I really break this addiction now?" She now knows the answer and is so pleased to say "YES YOU CAN!."

Well said Blue Cloud! From the bottom of our hearts we thank you for sharing your story, your know how, and for helping out so many others in our Support Community.

Oh, and by the way- Welcome to the Hall of Fame!

This month we are very proud to announce our newest Hall of Fame inductee. This months inductee has contributed in countless ways to the community; offering support, advice and friendship to all our member. Enough said - please help us in welcoming Goofy to the Hall of Fame!

Goofy’s smoking history

When we asked Goofy about his smoking history, he didn’t give us the typical answer! Goofy started to smoke in 1972 while he was in basic training at the Air Force in San Antonio. He was a hard worker and spent long hours in formation under the hot Texas sun. His instructor was a smoker and encouraged the trainees to follow suit, “If you got 'em, light 'em”, he’d say. The smokers were allowed to break formation and go smoke in the sun while the non-smokers had to stay in the smoldering heat. Goofy decided to join the smokers in the shade and 35 years later he decided he wanted out.

After 35 years of smoking, Goofy was a 2 pack a day smoker. He was rarely seen without a cigarette in hand. He had tried to quit one time previously while his wife was pregnant with their third daughter. He managed to stay quit for a full year but started smoking again when she was three months old.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

For Goofy, this quit was motivated purely by financial reasons. He and his wife were bi-weekly time share holders and had been for the last 10 years. They were visiting a new building that was part of their timeshare system when they were offered to purchase an annual week for the same price as they had originally bought. They discussed it and decided that if the two of them quit smoking they would have an additional $300.00 a month in their pockets. The decision was a no brainer. Goofy quit that day and his wife followed him the next.

What was different about this final quit?

Goofy tells us that the biggest difference this time was that he had the support of his wife. Him and his wife quit together, enduring the ups and downs of the quit process and sticking it out as a team. He also found the SSC, where the greatest bunch of quitter have helped to show him how to cope with his own misgivings and help him and his wife through their quits.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

To help Goofy make it through this quit, he tells us that he ate a lot of peanuts, drank a cleansing drink consisting of water, fresh squeezed lemon, real maple syrup and cayenne pepper.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

When we asked Goofy if he had any slips, here’s what he said – “Not one slip! I'm very proud of this!”

Do you have insight or advice for others?

Goofy has some great insight and is always full of advice for others as we see consistently on the boards. He is always there to congratulate, help and support his fellow quitters.

He would like everyone to know, “Post often!! if you have the heavy urge to smoke...Post wait for five replies.. Someone on the SSC will always have been in the same position as you, and can help you get through whatever the problem is.”

Goofy – thank you for sharing your story with us! It will continue to motivate and encourage many quitters for years to come! Congratulations and welcome to the Hall of Fame!

ter724’s smoking history.

When we asked Terri about her smoking history, she gave us the traditional answer. She started at 15 like so many other smokers, stealing cigarettes from her parents and smoking with her friends to fit in. By 18 she claims she was a full fledged smoker, straight through 2 pregnancies until the day she quit in 2006. She was a fairly heavy smoker at 15 – 20 cigarettes a day and more on special occasions.

Ter724 tells us that she though a lot about quitting but didn’t really know how to. She made several quit attempts that would last a day or two and then just go back to her old habits. She consulted with her doctor who suggested Wellbutrin which she took for a while but never managed to quit. Terri had a neighbour who shared a similar smoking history and had recently quit. The more that she talked to her neighbour the more determined and motivated she became towards quitting.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

Terri’s answer was short and sweet when we asked her about her motivations for quitting smoking. She said, “I was SICK of smoking!”

What was different about this final quit?

There were a couple of things that were different for Terri this quit from previous quit attempts. This time she was done with smoking, the lifestyle didn’t appeal to her and the habit was becoming tiresome and starting to wear on her. She found the SSC shortly after her quit date and by using the site and the program started to learn how to quit. She learned about cravings, triggers, coping mechanisms and rewards for her new behaviour.

About four months post quit, Terri knew that she was strong enough to kick the habit for good. She had made good friends at the SSC to help her through tough times and was starting to embrace life as a non-smoker!

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Ter724 used many different techniques to quit smoking and resist cravings as most quitters do. She was prescribed Wellbutrin by her doctor to help her quit which helped with the initial cravings. She also planned her quit around the time that a smoking hypnotist was going to be in town. Two days later, she found the Stop Smoking Center. With these three techniques working for her she’s made it where she is today and never looked back!

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

When we asked Terri if she had any major slips along the way, she humbly recites us her motto - NOPE. She thought about getting it tattooed on her middle finger where she would have held her cigarette as a reminder to never have another puff. She’s never slipped and is thankful for it.

Do you have insight or advice for others?

When asked if she had any insight or advice for others Terri says that motivation and willpower are key to success. Never stop quitting, learn how to quit and prepare yourself for the road that you will face as a quitter.

“You can do it! I was the person who people think "she'll smoke forever". My two best friends and my husband smoke still, it's the truth if I can do it, you can do it! I did it!”

Stormy’s Smoking History

When we asked Stormy about her smoking history she told us that she started toying with the idea of smoking in her teens. She was an occasional smoker for a few years so when she became pregnant at the age of 20 it wasn’t a big deal to quit. Shortly after the birth of her daughter she resumed smoking regularly and continued to smoke for 26 years. Everyone around her was smoking and she used it as a way to escape everyday stresses. She started out smoking lightly but as time went on she worked her way up to a pack a day. Near the end of her years smoking she slowly began to cut down until she was only smoking 3-8 cigarettes per day. Throughout her life as a smoker Stormy had many unsuccessful quit attempts. Her longest quit lasted for two months before she was able to quit for good.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

When we asked Stormy what motivated her to quit she said without hesitation her husband! HE was a pillar of support throughout her quit. He encouraged her endlessly and listed to her when she was having struggles.

She also used the members at the SSC for motivation and support. “The SSC made a world of difference”, Stormy tells us. It was comforting to have interaction from people going through the same experiences.

What was different about this final quit?

The difference in this final quit was mostly internal for Stormy. She was getting to a point where she was tired of the self defeat of previous attempts – it consumed her with every cigarette that she smoked. She was also starting to feel sick in strange, subtle ways. For Stormy she associated so much of her life to smoking that it was hard to see beyond the cigarette. Although she thinks it took her longer than most people to ‘let go’ of smoking and accept her quit. Once she got to this point, she was able to move forward and embrace life as a non-smoker.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

This quit, Stormy decided to quit cold turkey. She decided that this was the best method after she had tried and failed with NRT in previous quit attempts. She figured that quitting cold turkey would be similar to yanking off a Band-Aid; it may hurt at first, but then you get over it quicker.

To help resist the cravings Stormy drank lots of water, chewed lots of straws and gum and stayed busy to keep distracted. She also said that sometimes she just had to ride it out and remained patient until the craving pasted.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

When asked this question, Stormy proudly boasts that she had not one slip up this last quit!

Do you have insight or advice for others?

When asked if she had any advice or insight for others, Stormy had lots of great input.

“Maintaining a positive attitude is a key factor. Also, lots of support from the SSC will help you along the way, because we have ALL been there, felt that, and we just plain understand. When your emotions take you on those "roller coaster rides", try to relax and know that it's only temporary, you might go through a little down-time, then things will be on the up and up again, and life becomes normal once again. Really it does! There really is a good life to be lived without smoking it away. It's just a nasty habit, but it's a habit that can definitely be broken. If I can do it, I KNOW you can too.”

Coben Fan (Christine)

Quit date: March 25, 2006

Please outline your smoking history. You may want to tell us how long you smoked, how many cigarettes a day you used to smoke, how many unsuccessful quit attempts you've had in the past, and why you started smoking in the first place.

Out of curiosity, Coben Fan started smoking with her boyfriend at the age of seventeen. She smoked almost a pack a day for 23 years. Coben Fan says: “I like to say this quit is 2 trips in 1, first and LAST. I take it one day at a time.”

What motivated you to quit this last time?

Coben Fan re-assessed her life and realized that she actually hated the smell of smoke. She could not understand why she continued to smoke when she couldn’t stand the smell. She also wanted to set a good example for her children which would enable her to see them grow. Finally, the thought of friends and loved ones who had had passed away as a result of cancer of all kinds made her more determined to quit. “I wanted to quit for a long time and really just wanted to be as prepared as I could be and ready with lots of knowledge on how to best go about my quitting. I always hated the smell of smoke on my clothes and hair even though I smoked. I decided that I didn't want smoking to rob me of my own life anymore.” Says Coben Fan.

Tell us what was different about this final quit, its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel":

The toughest point for Coben Fan was getting used to NOT smoking. During the first few weeks, she distracted herself by engaging in many activities. She was confident that she wouldn’t break her quit since most of her time would be taken up by her children’s activities, household chores and her full time job in the medical field. She managed to suppress her cravings by eating healthy, drinking a lot of water and deep breathing.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

She stayed away from smokers, drank tons of water, had cinnamon candies and sugar free chewing gum.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

None!

Do you have insight or advice for others?

“The most important thing I can share is that you TRULY have to want to quit more than anything you have ever wanted or it won't work. You must prepare yourself mentally and physically for a whole new lifestyle. Look at the experience as a health initiative for yourself, with the benefit of living longer, exercising and eating right (to keep the weight off!) Having other people around going through the same experience was helpful as well. I enjoy helping others and it empowered my quit to "be there" for other people.”

Can the SSC say more? Coben Fan’s description of her quit process is truly motivating, and we are more than pleased to share it with our members.

Coben Fan– Congratulations. Your story is most fitting for the Hall of Fame. Thank you for sharing it with us.

N2k

 Quit date: August 20, 2005

Please outline your smoking history. You may want to tell us how long you smoked, how many cigarettes a day you used to smoke, how many unsuccessful quit attempts you've had in the past, and why you started smoking in the first place.

N2k’s father found a pack of cigarettes in her purse when she was a teenager. By making her smoke an entire pack in one sitting, he hoped to put an end to her habit. She became very ill and although she stopped smoking for a while, she was unable to break the habit completely. The lesson her father hoped to have taught her, only lasted for a few years. The day she left home for college, she became a full-fledged smoker and smoked a pack a day for 23 years.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

N2k was motivated to quit by two incidents: The sudden death of TV News anchor, Peter Jennings to lung cancer and also because every other member of her family had quit.

Tell us what was different about this final quit, its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel":

When N2k joined the SSC she immediately began preparing a quit plan. She researched and learned how to identify and break the habits that lead to smoking. She then quit cold turkey and began learning how to deal with stress and depression without lighting up. She also learned how much damage nicotine does to our brains and how to assist the healing with rewards. N2k says, “Quitting smoking put ME in control, rather than feeling weak and angry from constantly giving into or fighting the urge to smoke. I just pushed myself through the earlier days. I was proud of every new day that I stayed quit. I refused to dwell on any smoke thoughts and considered hardships (like “the void” feeling or insomnia) a part of the healing process. Just a few months into my quit I didn’t feel deprived anymore. I knew I could smoke if I wanted to. I no longer wanted to smoke.”

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

To resist cravings N2k stayed busy, recited positive mantras, and used deep breathing and stress management techniques. She also temporarily changed her routine. Items in her toolbox included coffee stir sticks, sunflower seeds, sugar free gum and mints.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

"Starting the quit" was harder for N2k than staying quit. She had no slips.

Do you have insight or advice for others?

In a post called “My quit story”, N2K says: “I believe exercise is key to combat depression and that ones desire to not smoke needs to be greater than ones desire to smoke. I believe knowledge IS power and ‘researching cessation’ can produce the desire to quit and stay quit. I believe I could never ‘enjoy’ smoking like I once did because I know too much now. I believe it is ‘possible’ to stop smoking and not gain a lot of weight. I believe the way to stay quit is N.O.P.E. (not one puff ever) I believe quitting is easier if you have a plan and a positive attitude. I believe staying quit is easier if you have on-going 'reward plan' and support. Finally, I believe that the members of the SSC helped save my life.”

Congratulations N2K and thanks for sharing your story and advice. We’re all so proud of your progress and success, and grateful for all the help and untiring support you give to everyone. We wish you a healthy and happy new life as an ex-smoker!

 

 

Luna

Quit date: June 28, 2004

Please outline your smoking history. You may want to tell us how long you smoked, how many cigarettes a day you used to smoke, how many unsuccessful quit attempts you've had in the past, and why you started smoking in the first place.

Luna started smoking at the age of 15 and by the time she went to college, she was hooked. “I never had a sentimental attachment to my habit, but was unable to quit for more than a month or two.” She smoked a pack-a-day and remained that way for 20 years. She achieved her longest quit after her two-year-old daughter shouted from her car seat, “Mommy, throw that thing out the window, it stinks!” For seven years, she was successful and hardly gave a moment’s thought to cigarettes and smoking. However, she started smoking again after several trips abroad with smoking friends. “It started with a puff here and there but I started bargaining with myself; only at the dinner table. Just until I get back on American soil. I’ll wrap it up when the weather turns cold.” It turned into a slippery slope and became more difficult to stop.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

Luna’s decision to turn away from smoking for good was as a result of fear. “I was terrorized by stories of lung cancer and emphysema and it was clear to me that I was pressing my luck.” She had lost more than one relative to a smoking-related disease and was saddened by their inability to kick the habit. “I felt sheepish and guilty when the Quit Smoking advertisements came on television.”  She was also ashamed of her habit and became a closet smoker as she got older, going to extraordinary measures not to be found out. “I was an expert at rushing home to wash my face and hands, dousing myself in perfume, and Febreezing the house! It was a ridiculous waste of mental and physical energy.”

Tell us what was different about this final quit, its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel":

“I found myself surfing the net for inspiration and advice and stumbled across the Stop Smoking Centre (SSC) which proved to be a godsend. I believe this final quit worked because I was interested in learning what motivated me to keep smoking despite how deadly I knew the habit was. I did an enormous amount of reading at this site, asked questions of the experienced quitters and did my fair share of soul-searching. I finally came to understand the nature of the addiction and the grip it had on me.”

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

To resist the physical cravings Luna took the advice of a friend. For a few days, she made notes when they occurred and their duration. Detecting the pattern of her cravings was predictable and she developed a technique to detach from them mentally. Whenever she felt a craving she said to herself: “waddya know, here comes another one.” Once she got used to the physical sensation, it wasn’t bad and she realized that it was nothing compared to appendicitis or childbirth! “Distractions were key and because I quit in the summer I was able to spend a lot of time outdoors: on long dog walks, in the garden or kayaking.” Her favourite distractions were heading off to the beach, swimming to a raft offshore where smoking was out of the question, lying in the sun and being rocked by the waves. She rewarded herself with onion rings and ice cream sandwiches.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

“I had a slip early in the quit and was able to recover. Being smoke-free for several weeks gave me just the taste of freedom I needed to realize that I much preferred my non-smoking state in every way.”

Do you have insight or advice for others?

“Firstly, don’t give up. Don’t be afraid to come back if you slip. Someone in the SSC Support Group said on this site: It can take anywhere from 7-27 times to quit successfully and I believe it. You cannot be half-hearted about this, jump in with gusto and be determined to give it your best effort.” She found that the SSC was a treasure trove of useful information. She found a million ideas to distract and get through the cravings by reading other quitter’s strategies. As awful and as painful as the process was in the first few weeks, it helped to remind herself that her body was in the process of healing and that healing takes time. Being told by the SSC community not to be afraid to post helped in reaffirming her decision to quit. She asks smokers to remember that: “Any accomplishment, be it for an hour, a day or a week is extraordinary so reward yourself often. Do your best to keep an upbeat attitude.” Luna is grateful for the funny people who kept her laughing and from taking herself too seriously. Lastly, she asks that everyone be proud as its not easy! “There are obvious rewards in becoming a non-smoker but it’s the little things I appreciate like having my sense of smell and taste return fully. I can proudly answer “No” when filling out forms at the doctor’s office asking, “Are you a smoker?” And I have forged some wonderful friendships here at this website including one very special one.”

Luna– we’re very proud to include you as a Hall of Fame inductee! Your story is now posted for all to follow. 

We wish you continued success in all you undertake, and we know that you can do anything you set your mind to. Welcome to the Hall of Fame!    

Mr Ed

Quit date: Feb 13 2006

Please outline your smoking history. You may want to tell us how long you smoked, how many cigarettes a day you used to smoke, how many unsuccessful quit attempts you've had in the past, and why you started smoking in the first place.

Mr Ed, as a youngster, saw field upon field full of horses. None of them smoked. Foolishly, trying to act the big man, at a mere 13 years of age on a school trip to a London Zoo, he had his first cigarette. As time passed, the number of cigarettes he smoked daily increased. With time he started doing well for himself.  Ed was playing in a band, which lead to heavy drinking and smoking.  By the age of 30, he was smoking 40 cigarettes per day.  It took a very wild life and several relationships until he found happiness with Mrs Ed. He says: “Perhaps it was this which initially triggered the desire to stop!”

What motivated you to quit this last time?

This is Mr Ed's first quit. He is very happy in his domestic life and has no desire to end it prematurely by smoking.

Tell us what was different about this final quit, its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel":

This quit was not as difficult as Mr. Ed thought it would be. The worst part is that he was short-tempered and grumpy at times. He hopes that Mrs Ed can forgive him for this!

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Patches worked very well for Mr Ed. By the time he was patch-free, he found it relatively easy to cope.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

No, no slips as such. Mr Ed had a bad time at the end of June and thanks his friend Penitent for keeping him sane.

Do you have insight or advice for others?

Mr. Ed advises: “Keep your sense of humour and humility and keep your quit!”

The Stop Smoking Center would like to congratulate Mr. Ed on a job well done! We also thank him for helping others who experienced the same difficulties that he once had. Please join us in welcoming Mr. Ed to the Hall of Fame and congratulate Mr. Ed on his first lazy smoke-free summer at the beach!

Stickintoit
Quit date: Jan 22, 2006

Please outline your smoking history. You may want to tell us how long you smoked, how many cigarettes a day you used to smoke, how many unsuccessful quit attempts you've had in the past, and why you started smoking in the first place.

Stickintoit started smoking when he was eleven. He started a club with a friend called: “The two a day club.” By the age of fifteen, he was a chain smoker who smoked 20 to 30 cigarettes a day – and this lasted for 30 years. For the next ten years he went down to 15 to 20 smokes a day until he finally quit. Other than being able to quit for six months when he was twenty-four years old, smoking was part of his daily routine almost his whole life.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

A number of factors prompted Stickintoit to put an end to his 40 year habit. These include:

·    the high cost of cigarettes ($6-$7.50 per pack),
·    the hassle of having to look for acceptable places to smoke, and
·    perhaps most importantly - his need to prove that cigarettes did not have a stronghold on him.

He realized that most of his friends and family members who had once smoked had quit and he was one of the last few who continued smoking. He started feeling embarrassed about his addiction to cigarettes and saw his inability to give it up as a sign of weakness. Quitting was something he had always wanted to do and the love for his family helped him to maintain that decision. Questions asked about his being a smoker, his search for a match or lighter at all times and his pre-mouth cancer were all factors that played a big role in his final decision to quit.

Tell us what was different about this final quit, its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel":

As time passed, Stickintoit simply got fed up with smoking. His love for his life, wife and friends motivated him to make this a final quit. He tells us, “I knew if I could make the quit stick for two weeks, I had a very good chance of quitting.”

At 90 days, he was certain that he could do it. The most difficult point for him was at his fifth month when he had a few days of what he calls “the most horrible cravings.” But they were his final serious cravings. Giving in at that time was not an option and here he is – still smoke free!

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

His followed the advice in the quitting program and created distractions. His Coping Plan included drinking water while driving (instead of smoking) and staying active by lifting weights, walking and hiking.

Stickintoit also decided to munch on carrots and celery sticks; and perhaps most importantly he left places were he felt his quit would be at risk.

Self-talk was also important as he constantly re-assured himself that he could take that next step.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

Stickintoit proudly says: “none!” His major slips only occurred in his very vivid dreams.

Does he have and insight or advice for others?

Stickintoit’s advice is to identify triggers ahead of time and to plan ahead by creating distractions beforehand.

He recommends smokers to reduce the number of smokes before quitting so they can prepare themselves. For example, in 10 days he managed to reduce the number of cigarettes he smoked per day from 24 to four. He maintained smoking four per day for four days until he reached his quit data - and finally quit for good!

He suggests that people looking to quit make a plan ahead of time that includes their quit date, list of triggers, coping tools and reasons for quitting. “Know that you have the power of choice, know that you can quit, know if you need help you can get it from this program and above all always, always think positive and tell yourself: ‘I’m gonna do it’”.
 

All the best, Stickintoit! We are proud of your success and grateful for the help you give to everyone in the Support Group. Welcome to the Hall of Fame!

We’re thrilled to announce that June the recipient of our Hall of Fame award is (drum roll please)…. fagashlynne!

Please outline your smoking history. You may want to tell us how long you smoked, how many cigarettes a day you used to smoke, how many unsuccessful quit attempts you've had in the past, and why you started smoking in the first place.

This isn’t the first time that we’ve heard about kids stealing cigarettes and developing a nasty habit. Like those other kids, fagashlynne first tried smoking at the age of 11 when she and a friend and stole 20 of her mother’s cigarettes. Fagashlynne tells us, “I felt so ill that I thought I was going to die. Mom was very amused, though – but not to my face of course.” At the age of sixteen, she started smoking menthol cigarettes full-time. Fagashlynne smoked for a total of 31 years, although at one time she did in fact manage to stay quit for two-and-a-half years before slipping back into her habit.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

In March of 2006 fagashlynne was diagnosed with diabetes. In October, while she was picking up a prescription, her doctor asked her if she was still smoking. When she told the doctor that she was in fact smoking, her doctor asked some information about her smoking patterns. Before she knew it he had written her a prescription for Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).

Tell us what was different about this final quit, its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel".

Fagashlynne tells us, “I knew it was different this time because I couldn’t physically afford to continue smoking because of my diabetes.” She also tells us that some very stressful health issues made her realize that there was no question - she just had to quit. Smoking is especially dangerous for diabetics and a few close calls gave fagashlynne the motivation she needed. After about six weeks of staying smoke free, and between doctor’s appointments, she realized that she wasn't really thinking about smoking any more, even while stressed. This made her realize that she could quit for good.

What did you use or what techniques did she use to resist cravings?

Fagashlynne ended up using patches, but after about 3 weeks she felt she didn't need them any more so she stopped using them. She also chewed sugar free gum and an artificial plastic cigarette to keep her hands busy, but only for the first few weeks. She also feels that distraction is the key to resisting craves as it takes your mind away from focusing on “the demon nicotine”. So far, fagashlynne hasn’t had any slips but she stays on guard as she’s realizes that a slip can happen at any time.

Do you have insight or advice for others?

For anyone looking to quit smoking, Fagashlynne offers us these words of wisdom: “To successfully quit smoking you must be positive, and you must believe in yourself. Quitting smoking is very much a matter of mindset. If you’re sure you can do it – you will. If you’re not - you won't.“

Fagashlynne – thank you for sharing your story with us. Your t-shirt and key chain are on their way and welcome to the Hall of Fame!

Member: Phil
Quit Date: August 9, 2006

There’s no better time to celebrate quitting than the summer, and we’re please to announce that our Hall of Fame inductee for July 2007 is Phil! Phil is very well known and is very active in our Support Group, so his induction into the Hall of Fame is well supported by other members - and is very well deserved.

As he quit on August 9, 2006 Phil is fast-approaching his one-year anniversary of being smoke-free – and this is after 50 years of smoking! How’d he get there? Read on!

Please outline your smoking history. You may want to tell us how long you smoked, how many cigarettes a day you used to smoke, how many unsuccessful quit attempts you've had in the past, and why you started smoking in the first place.

For at least 50 years, Phil regularly smoked 20 cigarettes a day. Back when he started, smoking was fashionable, and no one really knew about the dangers and risks that are associated with smoking.

However, with a little push in the right direction from someone very important in his life, he has managed to push those 50 years aside and is now smoke-free.

What motivated you to quit?

Basically, Phil let us know that a key component to his successful quit was … listening to his wife!

He tells us, “My wife nagged and nagged and eventually I went to my doctor. She made me a weekly appointment with my doctor and I was put on patches.” And for Phil, failure is not an option. “I couldn’t admit failure to her so I stuck with it.” He also notes that the weekly meetings with his doctor were very important, and only recently has he been able to confidently see his doctor once every two weeks.

Tell us what was different about this final quit, its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel":

Phil may not be one for failure, but he’s also not one to put himself through the hardships of quitting all over again. He tells us, “I got to the point after about 10 days of not smoking where I decided I wasn’t going to go through the hell of stopping again. So for me it was all or nothing. (Luckily so far it has been ‘all’).”

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

As mentioned, Phil felt that nicotine patches were really helpful to him. Other than NRT (nicotine replacement therapy) Phil attributes his success to raw willpower.

Although, Phil has made some other lifestyle changes that have seem to have helped him out. He tells us, “I must confess I’ve been eating more - but that is a good thing as I wasn’t eating a real breakfast before - which one should. My old ’breakfast’ (basically one coffee and three cigarettes) wasn’t very healthy at all.”

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

When we asked Phil if he had any major slips, he said, “No! I haven’t touched a cigarette and never will!!”

Do you have insight or advice for others?

When asked if he has any insight of advice, Phil told us that staying active on the Support Group and helping others was a key component for his staying smoke-free. “Keep going. Spend time as I do helping others. I’ve made a resolution to help at least one ex-smoker a day on the web. Today alone, I’ve helped 4.”

Please join us in congratulating Phil as he makes his way to his first one-year smoke-free anniversary. Please also join us in thanking Phil for all of the time he’s spent helping others on our Support Group.

Phil – welcome to the Hall of Fame!

SSC August HOF
Member Name: Nonic
Quit Date: December 25, 2006

We’ve been rewarding our quitters with the Hall of Fame distinction every month since June 2001, and every one of these 73 success stories have been beyond honest, heartfelt and inspiring. They’ve also followed somewhat of the same format.

The 74th recipient of the Hall of Fame distinction submitted their own story in their own format. We applaud Nonic’s creativity and inventiveness, and since we all quit in our own way, we invite future recipients to tell us their own story so we can publish it in a way that’s meaningful to them, and certainly others.

But enough of us, let’s listen closely to Nonic:

Somewhere around the age of 5 or 6 I had a vision, an experience. Intensely at play in a sandbox in my parents backyard, I suddenly fell into a state of what I now call, rapture. Staring at the grains of sand I felt at peace and I was still. Suddenly and with no effort on my part I was knew who and what everything else was. It was a state of total concentration that was absent of all concentration.

I am sure at that age I would not describe the experience to you in such a fashion, but I have had a great many trips around the sun since then and sadly the experience is long ago. Perhaps that single unifying experience lies at cross-purposes to the mostly fragmented and diffused world I have experienced as an adult.

One of the ways I found to unify my journey through the world was to fall in love with nicotine and depend on its ability to help me deal with the unavoidable inconsistencies of living as a human being.

When I was 18 years of age I knew everything there was to know. There was something about a black tee shirt and a bright red pack of Marlboros tucked up in the sleeve. The effect highlighted the bicep and added a few grams of testosterone to ones perceived manhood. There was a magical component in having the ability to light a match with one hand, stoke up the smoke and do it all while carrying on a conversation with some equally confused female adolescent.

I liked the whack, the buzz and the jingle that I got from those little joysticks. Having one of those sticks smoldering away at the corner of my mouth, while pouring over the likes of Sartre, Camus and Tillich seemed like the natural way of things. Just add in a cup of mud-thick black java and you were right there with Kerouac flying down route 66, howling in the night. The smoke drifting skyward on a hot, humid summer’s night seems now like an offering to the gods of my younger days. Besides, I knew everything there was to know; I was 18 years old.

In a year I was a soldier. In this place I really knew what hot and humid meant. Smoking came along for the ride. I no longer carried my smokes on my sleeve, but in the band of a helmet. By this time I was a stone cold nicotine junkie. Not that I thought of myself as having a problem. No, I was dealing with other more immediate concerns. This is the time in my life when I began using nicotine as a self-medicating substance. Of course I didn’t know that then. What I did know then, was that I was plenty scared. I was scared for myself and equally fearful that I would do something that would cause harm to my comrades. This was a time that only a 20 something could endure. Fear kept you sharp. Fear kept you alert. Fear kept you alive. And in those days I remember only two states of being.

On the one hand, the world was very, very loud and chaotic and on the other, it was extremely, intensely, densely quiet. I savored the latter, but lived off the adrenaline rush in the former. I smoked the fear down in the quiet times, resting in a nicotine dream but always restlessly anticipating the loud times. I wasn’t a very good soldier; but then again I was 20 years old.

On returning to the States, I became a student. My former experiences had hardened me to the point that I found campus activities to be a bit frivolous. I was amused by all of the protestors and the professors. The students seemed to be mostly middle class and upper middle class kids whose families where footing the bill for their education. Most of them did not seem to have much of a sense of the realities of the world, as I knew them to be. I am still amused by one kid’s obsession with getting the administration to offer pass/fail options for all course work. “Wow that will stick it to the man”, I thought. And most of the professors seemed equally as ill informed about life. I imagined that living in a cloistered educational community with the sweet siren song of tenure made them soft timid souls with limited imaginations.

In any case I always felt ashamed, alienated and endlessly amused there. So I continued to do the rational thing, I smoked two packs a day. Eventually they gave me a degree. I depended even more on my ever faithful friend’s at Phillip Morris. I was now a fully evolved “emotive” smoker. As I moved on in life, I handled all of my emotions, the good, the bad and the semi-rational by sucking down clouds and clouds of smoke. If I lost a job, no problem, I got my friends right here… broken heart, no problem I got my friends right here, death of a loved one, got my friends in my top pocket.

I believed that a cigarette could make anything better. And that is just what the tobacco companies wanted me to believe. Bored….smoke, angry…smoke, hurt…smoke, happy…smoke… ”Just smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette”.

Smoking for me was a way of unifying my experiences in the outer world with my internal way of being. And it is for that reason that I wrote about my experience with the sandbox.

Maybe we are all trying to find our sandbox, and for some of us, smoking has been a way of soothing that bitter sweet longing while we live in this rather disjointed, cruel and sometimes seemingly meaningless world. In these years, the meaning of the sandbox has been turning into a desire to return home. In my younger years the quest was always outward. It took me to live and travel in many countries through out the world and a good number of cities in this blessed country. Now I am going home in a spiritual as well as a physical sense.

For some unexplained reason, I have managed to retain a fairly high level of physical well being despite my addiction to nicotine. This is a blessing from God and a calling to use what I have been given to the greatest good. I am going home now and dealing with whatever life presents, sans nicotine.



What motivated you to quit this last time?

It was time. I have been blessed with good health despite my disregard for my body. I thought God needed some help keeping me in this world a little longer.

What was different about this final quit?

I knew I could quit at any time. At least that is the lie I made myself believe. I enjoyed the activity of smoking. It wasn’t that I had to smoke, no not at all, I wanted to smoke. And when I did try to quit on many, many occasions, I always returned, making up some excuse or other as to why I “wanted” to smoke. The junkie in me was alive and well, and speaking with the authority of a zealot.

This time out, however, I admitted that I was a junkie. I shined a strong light on the meaning of addiction and read the foot notes. It said… nicotine is what it is. It cannot change. You are what you will yourself to be. You can change. I decided to change...

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

I use a lot of mind visualizations to fend off the cravings. For instance I will visualize what 2,000 cigarettes look like and realize that that if I keep going I will not have smoked them.

When I run I visualize my lung capacity expanding... deep breathing is another effective device. Water, water and water is the best... just keep drinking it, there is a connection between dehydration and the wish to smoke that has yet to be explained. However, I know it is there, I just don't know why it works.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

No. I wanted to smoke many times, but did not.

Do you have insight or advice for others?

Find a new activity that you could not do while you smoked and put your heart and soul into it. I chose running and weight lifting. Ballroom dancing is just as good. It doesn’t really matter what it is.

You must want to quit from the inside out. This is not an activity for the faint of heart.

Discover why you smoke, understand what keeps you smoking and then do something about it.

Remember nicotine will never change, it is what it is. You, however, are an entity that was born to change and evolve. That is your birthright, and it is your choice to decide what and who you will become.

Thanks very much Nonic for sharing your story and for showing us how to make your quit your own. You’re a most deserved inductee and you’ve inspired our whole SSC family.

Welcome to the Hall of Fame.

Hall Of Fame Recipient For September - Dutch Fini

Quit date; April 1, 2006

This month’s inductee to the Hall of Fame is truly amazing. Not only has this month’s Hall of Fame recipient a champion because she quit smoking, she’s championed a new initiative which has resulted in helping countless others quit.

Did you ever think that quitting smoking could lead to your own book? How about your own publishing company?

Are you intrigued? We’d like to introduce you to Dutch Fini!

How did you start smoking?

When we asked Dutch Fini to tell us about her smoking history, she said: “I started smoking because my mother gave me a cigarette when I was about 15 years old. She wanted me to join her when she smoked after dinner. The first one made me sick and my face was almost green. The next day she gave me another one and that's how I started smoking. I smoked 30 cigarettes a day for about 40 years. I had one successful quit but I never gave it a serious try. In fact I never thought about quitting, because I believed it would too hard.”

What motivated you to quit this last time?

Although the will to quit must come from within, at times, other life events or making a commitment with a loved one can be great motivators, like in Dutch Fini’s case:

“My son in law had a heart attack when he was 37 years old. He didn't even smoke but it was a family thing. My daughter wanted to quit smoking but she tried it so many times and she always failed. She couldn't do it on her own. The fact was that my smoking was a trigger for her, but truthfully - I had no idea. One day I asked her if she wanted to quit together and that thrilled her. So, we set a date and said: ‘We’re going to quit this time! Together it won’t be as hard’. And that is what we did. We promised each other not to smoke again ever.”

What was different about this final quit?

When we asked about what was special about this final quit, Dutch Fini said: “This final quit was not really that hard for me. I got a feeling of relief on the fourth day because on that day I realized how easy life would be if I didn't have to think about cigarettes all the time.

When we asked Dutch Fini to give us examples of what she really had to give up when she quit, she told us: “I know longer say things like: ‘Oh I only have 3 cigarettes, I need to go buy more’, I can leave the house without searching for smokes - stuff like that. Basically, quitting made my life easier. This kind of positive attitude made me strong and allowed me to keep my quit.”

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

We asked Dutch FIni about techniques that she used to either quit or resist strong cravings. We were really pleased to hear she analyzed her past smoking behaviour, thought about her costs and benefits, and created a new plan.

She told us: “The first day was not hard for me at all. The next morning when I woke up I didn't want to drink coffee because I that it’d remind me of smoking, so I made myself tea. I never drink tea, so I discovered that I didn't even think about smoking when I was drinking it. Then I had to call my boyfriend and I discovered that I always did the same things: Sit in the same chair, use the same phone, smoke the same kind of cigarettes, drink coffee, then do the dishes, and then smoke again. There were so many habits and they all ended with a smoke. When I realized that, the quit became easy. I simply rearranged all of my daily tasks I didn't feel the need to smoke anymore. I changed everything in my life that was related to smoking - that was the trick for me.”

Any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

When we asked about any major slips or learning points, Dutch Fini told us: “I didn't slip at all. All I wanted to do was to tell other smokers that quitting was not as hard as people think and I tried to explain that to them but no one listened to me.”

She took that energy and decided to start writing about it: “That's when I decided to write everything I discovered down and after a few weeks my son in law saw my work and he said that I should write a book about the things I’d found out. I had time for this because I also found out that I had wasted more than 3 hours a day smoking. So, all the smoking time became writing time and after eight months the book was finished. The title of the book (In Dutch) is: “Help!! There is a cigarette between my ears”.

After the book was published I started to help people who wanted to quit smoking and started my own little company. People come to my office and I tell them how to go about quitting. After the first meeting they set a quit date and after the final cigarette, they get help to stay quit and call me when they need to talk about it.”

Do you have insight or advice for others?

Dutch Fini has this advice for others: “I want to tell people that motivation is the key to success. Without good motivation it can be really hard to quit. With a good positive attitude it’s not as hard as people usually think. If you want the quit to be hard, it will be. If you think positive about quitting, it will be way easier. In fact, there is not a single negative thing about quitting. You're health is better; you don't smell anymore, you have less chances of terrible smoking-related illness and you get more air. Once you believe that, you'll see that it is not hard to quit at all. The only thing you have to do is to stay positive and think like a non-smoker.”

Finally, she wants us to share this with everyone who is quitting, or is thinking about quitting: “Realize what a great gift you give yourself by not smoking.”

Well said and what a productive and inspiring story!  

Dutch-Fini: Thank you SO MUCH for all of your hard work and inspiration. We are incredibly inspired by your story. Welcome to the Hall OF Fame!

 

SSC Hall of Fame Recipient for October- Mercy

Quit date; January 21, 2007

We’re proud to announce this month’s inductee into the Hall of Fame! Big hearty congratulations to Mercy on a fantastic journey - and for the great support she’s offered to others!

Mercy’s smoking history.

When we asked Mercy about when she first started smoking, she told us: “My first cigarette was at the age of 17. My boyfriend smoked. There was a cigarette sitting on the console of his car and I tried it. It was the first and only rebellious thing I’d ever done.”

Like most young teenagers Mercy she had to practice at smoking. She gradually learned how to hold it, how to look cool and she studied what the popular brands were. She tells us: “I was raised in a strict religious environment, so I quickly became a closet smoker. I remained a half-pack closet smoker for 30 years!”

Mercy tells us that she only stopped being a closet smoker during her last 7 years of smoking. But even though everyone really did know that she smoked, by “coming out of the smoking closet” she increased her habit from half-a-pack to a pack a day. She tells us: “I tried to quit for almost the whole 37 years. I usually tried once or twice a year and lasted about two or three days. The past three years I became more serious and at each quit attempt I’d last two or three weeks. I think I failed because I knew I ‘should’ quit, but deep down I really didn't want to.”

What motivated you to quit this last time?

Mercy reached for faith to help her quit. She tells us: “I became much more serious in my faith and relationship with God. The more I read His word the more I realized that smoking was not something He would want me to do. I also knew I was getting older and the risks of serious health issues were becoming more real.”

Health also became motivating force for Mercy. “Finally, this past summer I had a bad flare-up with Fibromyalgia. The test showed I also had autoimmune factor acting up. After doing extensive research I learned how smoking affects every facet of your body. I saw it could be a catalyst in how my joints and muscles were aching. It just became time to care and respect myself spiritually and physically or suffer the terrible consequences of smoking in the future.”

What was different about this final quit?

Like most quitters, Mercy had her ups-and-downs during her quit. She tells us: “The beginning of this quit was not too bad. I’d quit so many times before that I knew what to expect during the first week. The stress and cravings during the first week were familiar to me. I learned from all my failures and put quite a bit of time reflecting on why I had failed in the past.”

Mercy also relied heavily on here faith to get her through her rough spots. She tells us: “I had also learned the importance of a positive mental attitude. Well into the 100 day mark I began to see some light at the end of the tunnel. I’m not saying it was very difficult the whole time, but I did begin to really gain confidence as situations in my life evolved and I remained committed to not smoking.”

She sums her quit process up by reflecting on the evolution of her faith and positive attitude: “I needed time on my side, and to live life’s experiences as a non-smoker to really begin to feel comfortable and more confident.”

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Mercy used the 7mg patch for one week, along with three to four pieces of nicotine gum. For her second smoke-free week she stopped using the patch and used three to four pieces of nicotine gum. “After that I remained using two pieces of nicotine gum. I then used half pieces and started to wean myself off the Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).”

Her biggest challenge was working at maintaining her positive mental attitude and her ability to focus. “I used bible devotionals to keep me focused on my commitment to God and myself. I also continued to do Internet research on every aspect of smoking, from how cigarettes are made, to the human body’s physical and mental response to the chemicals that are taken in while smoking.”

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

Fortunately, Mercy didn’t have any major slips. She tells us: “Like everyone, I’d feel weak and worn down at times. I also had a few very close calls. I told my self the reality is this: ‘smoking is serious stuff and I wasn't going to throw away so many days of hard work and feelings of self worth’.”

Mercy also used our online Support Group for help. “I felt very responsible to be an encouraging example to those that come to the Support Group. I cared about the wonderful people here.”

Do you have insight or advice for others?

When we asked Mercy if she had any advice for others, she told us: “My advice to others is basically what I keep putting in my Support Group posts. I say over and over again, the mental attitude should be:

‘I don't HAVE to quit, I GET to quit’

This is the type of attitude that makes quitting all about YOU!”

Well said Mercy! From the bottom of our hearts we thank you for sharing your story, your know how, and by helping out so many others in our Support Community.

Oh, and by the way - Welcome to the Hall of Fame!

SSC Hall of Fame Recipient for November - Lainey

Quit date: March 5, 2007


We’re proud to announce this months Hall of Fame inductee. Please help us pass out a “web-based congratulations” to Lainey for her long journey and all of the support that she’s offered others along the way.  

Lainey’s smoking history.

When we asked Lainey about her smoking history she told us, “I started smoking when I was 16 - to be cool of course.” But it was the start of a long smoking journey as she continued to smoke for 37 years.

Like so many smokers Lainey tried quitting many times during her 37 years. She tried a host of NRT’s; the gum, the patch, prescription drugs and still her longest quit was only seven months. She found our Support Group in September 2006 but only lasted for a week because, as she now reflects, she wasn’t prepared. In March, Lainey was prepared to face quitting for the last time. She joined our program again, put a patch on - and the rest is, well, history.  

What motivated Lainy to quit this last time?

When we asked Lainey what motivated her to quit she told us: “It finally dawned on me. ‘I’m an addict. I’m no different than someone on crack or heroin and I have to treat myself as such!’”

Lainey went through our program and prepared herself (both mentally and physically) for the challenge that she knew she was going to face when quitting.  She says, “I waited until I thought I had my head in the right place, and a patch on my arm. I read everything on this site for the first two weeks, I printed everything I thought would help me. I thought I knew a lot about quitting from my many past quit attempts, but as I kept surfing I realized that I knew nothing! I read and read and read some more. Then I was ready”

What was different about this final quit?

Lainey spent a lot of time preparing for this quit and, from the beginning, she know it’d be her final quit.  With some help from a quiting buddy - who taught her about closing a door and opening up another one - she realized there was only one option.  

She sums her quitting up to her determination and attitude.  “I realized I could never take a drag from a cigarette again. NOPE (Not One Puff Ever). From that day it seemed final, there was no other choice.”

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Lainey knew that this time she was quitting for good. She also knew that she had to get through her cravings and deal with her triggers in order to quit for good.  

She told us: “All the knowledge I learned and the advice I had gathered from this Internet program gave me the confidence I needed to keep going one day at a time.” Lainey really relied on her quit buddies and the group “March Mellow” to help her through all of her cravings.  She also used straws and gum for the times that she had strong urges.  

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

Because she followed the program and prepared, Lainey was fortunate enough not to have any slips - but she tells us that she definitely encountered a few bad times. “I came to my computer a few times, in tears or very upset, but someone was always online to make me feel better or make me laugh.”

She also contributes her success to helping others: “Helping others helps you!”  When she was craving and looking for support she realized that if someone else needed help, to help them always made her forget her own worries and cravings.

Does she have any insight or advice for others?

Lainey’s advice:

“Learn, learn, learn, everything you can learn about how to quit, what will happen, how you will feel. Read everything you can on this program. Fill in all of the exercises –they help.”

“Realize you‘re an ADDICT. Watch a documentary about addiction and apply it to your life. That’ll really open your eyes.”

“Make the commitment. Say: ‘I can never have a puff of a cigarette again, no matter what!’ Gather your Quit Buddies, it’s so much easier when you have someone to share it with, good or bad! “

“Give back! Help a newbie or someone who’s having trouble, it’ll help you in your own quit.”


Well said Lainey! From the bottom of our hearts we thank you for sharing your story, your know how, and for helping out so many others in our Support Community.

Oh, and by the way - Welcome to the Hall of Fame!

SSC Hall of Fame Recipient for December: Alohakeia

We’re thrilled to reveal this months Hall of Fame inductee!  Please help us send out big congratulations and a warm Hawaiian hello to Alohakeia for her continued success and for all of the great advice and support she has offered to others!

Alohakeia’s smoking history.

When we asked Alohakeia about her smoking history she told us she tried and tried to like cigarettes but to no avail. She was often around smokers and tried her first cigarette at 14 but like so many other smokers she hated the taste, the smoke and the coughing that came along with it.  

After many years of not smoking, Alohakeia gave birth to her first son and on the way home from the hospital was craving a cigarette for the first time in her life. She was warned that she would get addicted but insisted, “No way, not me” and stopped to by a pack. She told us that it started out with the occasional cigarette, maybe one or two a day and then it increased to stronger cigarettes (there was an unfiltered Camels phase) and more and more. It finally got to the point when she was smoking two packs a day.  

Alohakeia tells us that she first attempted to quit about ten years later on a trip to the wilderness of Hawaii.  She has no smokes available for three ‘miserable’ days so she relied on straws and spaghetti. She inspired one of her friends so much with her quit attempt that he decided to quit and threw two whole packs of cigarettes out. When the coast was clear, Alohakeia retrieved them like a Blackbeard unearthing his treasure and was soon back to smoking a pack a day. 

After 25 long years of trying everything (Wellbutrin, the patch, gum, inhalers, Zyban, smoking hand rolled and natural cigarettes) and an experience with nicotine poisoning (while wearing the patch for 24 hours a day and smoking) Alohakeia still couldn’t quit and returned to her 2 pack a day habit.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

When we asked Alohakeia what motivated her to quit for good she told us it was her spiritual beliefs, that she should be living life to the fullest, that really motivated her through her journey. 

She told us that her children begged her to quit endlessly and she always blew them off with a short answer or by getting angry with them. One day, when approached by a friend encouraging her to quit she realized that she really did want to quit, but just couldn’t. This realization sent her into a six month bout of depression that she described as wearing a 100 pound lead suit and not being able to muster up enough energy to do anything but work and smoke. She avoided friends, the beach and told herself that the only thing she really liked doing was smoking so she might as well smoke herself to death.

Despite her profession, which is to help others, Alohakeia was not helping herself. She was coughing constantly; when she laid down, when she laughed, walking up the stairs and her heart was doing little flip-flops in her chest but she just didn’t believe that she could stop. Finally one of her heavy smoking friends told her about Chantix and that she had been quit for 6 weeks. This caught her attention and she started feeling guilty about ‘wasting’ her time on earth. Alohakeia started to reconnect with her friends, go to the beach and slowly lifted herself out of depression.  She told us that she began to reconnect with her spirituality and that it was the right time to quit. Besides, she could no longer ignore the bad ‘juju’ of harming herself and was sick of coughing.

What was different about this final quit?

Alohakeia insists that it was her preparation before her quit that really helped her through. She went to the doctor and bit the bullet to buy Chantix. She carefully set a quit date around a visit from her friend (she didn’t want to expose her friend to her moodiness and withdrawal symptoms but was okay exposing her to her smoke!), took a few days off work and started to search the internet for tools and ex-smokers experiences. 

As soon as Alohakeia started taking Chantix she realized her urges to smoke were not as strong. She managed to accumulate three packs in the week prior to her quit. On the morning of her quit she tells us that she was anxious and excited.  She took her friend to the airport and made it home without smoking, this was a major victory.  With her days off work she planned on sleeping the withdrawals away.  This didn’t happen. “I was too agitated. Somehow I made it through that first day. I can't even remember it.....kind of like childbirth I think.” After searching the internet to find only cessation sites that accepted cold turkey quit methods, Alohakeia found the SSC on day 4 and used it to calm all of her anxieties about quitting.

Alohakeia tells us that the easiest part of this quit was dealing with the withdrawal from nicotine thanks to Chantix. Even living with her smoking son, she didn’t find it hard to stay quit (he tried to quit, but didn’t make it). She was never tempted to open up a pack and smoke. She says the hardest part of her quit has been the dealing with the emotional aspects of quitting. “A lifetime of running to a cigarette when times were hard, or I felt sad, scared, or angry, has not prepared me for ‘sitting with my emotions’ very comfortably.” Alohakeia constantly has her alert on high for those emotions that may trigger a cigarette but can never envision a day when she smokes again!

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

When we asked Alohakeia what techniques she used to resist craving she told us there were two very important things for her: Chantix and the SSC!

Chantix helped Alohakeia through her withdrawal symptoms and she did a lot of preparation before she stopped talking it. She was terrified due to her history of depression that she would slip back into the abyss after stopping Chantix. She made a step down plan and with the exception of a couple rough weeks and one really bad day she thanks if for helping her in her quit. 

Then there was the SSC!! Alohakeia tells us that she lived here constantly for the first six months, reading and posting, reading and posting. “If posts were cigarettes, I would have smoked way more than two packs a day. But what a better addiction!” She laughed, cried and found many wonderful people to make her journey with.  She thanks the members and moderators for all of their support, knowledge, honesty and humor.

Alohakeia completed all of the activities in the Glove Compartment but missed the Workbooks in her nicotine-free state. She now wishes she had seen them but thanks the members for their tips to make it through the rough times. “I used their suggestions. I breathed like a locomotive, I had constant dialogues going with myself, sometimes out loud, I posted for help when I needed it, I got more active, I planted a garden, I substituted good stuff for cigarettes; a glass of ice tea during gardening, a spoonful of peanut butter in between sessions, boogie boarding instead of laying in bed, more boogie boarding at the beach instead of getting out to smoke.” And lastly, she told us that she sought out people who could make her laugh insisting that you can’t feel bad and smoke when you’re laughing.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

When we asked Alohakeia if she had any major slips, here’s how she responded: “Not a one...and I'm very, very proud of that.”

Do you have insight or advice for others?

“Quitting is not a punishment, it is a joy, and one of the best gifts you can give yourself. Once you understand that, it is not very hard at all. I love myself so much more because of making this decision and sticking to it. I wish that for everyone else, too. It helps to understand your own personal triggers, whether they are times of day, related to events, or emotions. Then you can be more fully prepared for them. Look around you, there are millions of people who don't smoke. You can be one of them. Enjoy your life.” -aloha

Well said Alohakeia! From the bottom of our hearts we thank you for sharing your story, your know how, and for helping out so many others in our Support Community.

Duffis

Quit Date: February 13, 2005

Duffis' Story:

Duffis was born in Los Angeles, California, in very tough times during the latter part of the Great Depression in 1933. His father worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad, which moved Duffis and his family inland to a small township were he grew up. During World War II, the family lived in Long Beach from 1941 thru to 1948 and during this time Duffis began smoking. Looking back, Duffis says he started because of peer pressure. He always ran with older kids and cigarettes were always available and not hard to purchase. There were no warnings of the dangers of smoking so he continued to smoke with his friends and family. All of his aunts and uncles were smokers and the only family member who did not smoke was his mother. “Most of the military people had cigarettes hanging out of their uniform pockets so all in all cigarettes were widely accepted during those years,” says Duffis. “I never did smoke more than a pack a day, however, I never tried to quit until I came to The Stop Smoking Center in February of 2005”.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

Duffis explains that his motivation was his wife. He found her lying in their backyard unable to breathe. He was helpless to get her up because he had three compression fractures of the spine. Duffis states, “Thank goodness my neighbor was around and picked her up and rushed her to the emergency room where they immediately admitted her with pneumonia. This episode occurred on January 17th of this year. My wife spent eight days in the hospital and her doctors told me that she had severe COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and definitely had to quit smoking immediately. During these eight days she was in the hospital, I realized that I would have to quit smoking if I was to make her environment easier. I started searching for websites that offered information and support to help quit smoking and I found The Stop Smoking Center.” Duffis followed our program and took his quit seriously by using all of the tools tools offered to him. After he completed the workbook and completed all the steps, he set his quit date for Valentines Day as a present to his wife. “That was it” explains Duffis, “I quit and have never looked back!”

Tell us what was different about this final quit, its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel:"

Duffis admits to us that this question was a bit difficult for him to answer since this was his first quit and only quit. The first week was extremely hard for him. He thought quitting was going to be a piece of cake but he was in for the surprise of his life. Every form of rationalization went through his mind from that point on. “Heck, I was too old to quit! Why should I put my self through all this misery? I really began to use the SSC and it really kept me in the frame of mind to complete this odyssey. I felt like Hercules fighting off the monsters and doing battle with everything.” He began to realize that he was an addict and that was very hard from him to admit.  He never looked at smoking as an addiction.  He thought of smoking as a bad habit. The longer he studied nicotine addiction and the longer he read posts within the SSC support group, the stronger he became. He then began to share his story by posting and trying to help others with their quit. “I think that is when I began to see the light at the end of the tunnel!”

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Cravings were a whole new can of worms for Duffis! As he was reaching his third week of his quit he began to go through a craving phenomenon. “I began to substitute food for cigarettes. I was very under weight at the time I quit.  I was 6 feet 2 inches and weighed 153 pounds. My doctor was concerned about my weight loss within a year. I started eating everything in sight and really was enjoying food. I hit 200 pounds in about two months.  I now weigh 185 and every one tells me how good I look. I am happy and feel great! I also realized that I would have to keep busy and especially alter my routine habits to get rid of the triggers that would occur. I then started to ‘hunt down’ all of my triggers and eliminate them before they got to me. This was the biggest help of all for me in dealing with cravings.” Today Duffis is not bothered with his cravings.  He has the occasional vague feeling like he is missing something in his life but feels very fortunate to be alive!

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

Duffis was very fortunate that he did not have any slips. However, he did observe his wife slip after being five months quit. “At first I was angry, I mean really angry!  I expressed this anger through a post within the support group and was immediately rescued by what have turned out to be really great friends. You know who you are so I don’t have to name names. They taught me that my quit was mine and that I needed to protect it. Don’t worry about other people who slip, try to help where you can but keep your own quit intact which is what I did. I remember my father telling me that people who learn from their own mistakes are damn fools. Learn from others and don’t fall into their traps.”

Do you have insight or advice for others?

Duffis advice that he would give to others is to have a plan and work your plan. As Duffis says, “it is a proven fact that people with goals succeed because they know where they are going. Don’t just quit on a whim or an emotional swing but rather sit down with your self and really do some reading and planning. Understand that this is not a light task you are about to undertake, you will need all the help you can get. Gather coping tools because you will need them. Gather the will and determination to succeed. If you really want to do something you will find a way. If you don’t want to do something you will find an excuse.” Duffis remembers some great advice from Thomas Edison: “many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

Congratulations for reaching your goal. We hope you feel a big pat on the back from the thousands of people who read this piece every month. We know you'll continue to delight, inspire, and help others for many years to come.

Congratulations on being the first quitter of 2006 to be inducted into our Hall of Fame!

 

 

Joe, aka Golferman

 

 

As a young buy growing up in the late 50's and throughout the 60's, Joe started playing with cigarettes as if they were toys. He jokes by saying that this was due to irresponsible parents (in reality knowing this definitely wasn’t the case as the true dangers of smoking were not as well known at the time).

 

Joe grew up on a farm and every adult that he knew smoked. At the time you could smoke anywhere and everywhere - even in hospitals or waiting rooms. Following high school Joe had a few different jobs - spending some time as a welder and also a mechanic. Eventually he ended up in the Army where, Joe says: “all the barracks had butt cans and when you took a break you were told to ‘smoke‘em if you’ve got em’”.

 

It still amazes Joe to think that only a few decades ago society fully embraced smoking.

 

Joe didn’t make any attempts at quitting until he was in his forties. “I made several half-hearted attempts,” says Joe.

 

On January 6, 2004 at 9am, Joe got serious about quitting. He actually quit for 10 months and 8 days - but he was a hateful quitter. His anger got to him and he lost his quit to temptation just before his 11 month anniversary.  According to Joe: “that slip was actually the beginning of my final quit. I smoked for the next six months but during that time I really looked at myself, my life and my desire to stop smoking. I read all I could and studied the smoking and quitting process. My wife Sharon picked my quit date and it turned out to be exactly six months from the day I lost my quit”.

 

Joe was fully prepared this time and used the patch.  Since the morning of May 15^th, 2005 Joe’s never looked back. Based on all of the facts he collected, he changed his attitude and he attributes preparation as the key to his success.

 

What motivated you to quit this last time?

 

Joe has always considered himself to be a person who is in control. However, he now realizes how enslaved he’d become to cigarettes. As the years went by he also realized his own mortality and decided that if he wanted to live healthier he needed to make some pretty big changes. His father passed away at the age of 67 due to complications arising from smoking, but his father’s passing allowed Joe to clearly see how he could change his life.

 

“Change is what life is all about,” says Joe. “We must constantly adapt if we are to survive. If I didn’t adapt to a smoke free life, my addiction would seriously impact my health and my quality of life”.

 

Tell us what was different about this final quit (its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some light at the end of the tunnel)

 

Joe tells us: “Even though it took a while my final quit actually began the day I lost my second last quit. When the day arrived for my final quit it was like a tremendous burden had been lifted off my shoulders. There was no doubt about it – I’d smoked my last cigarette!”

 

Since he’s been through the process himself, Joe understands that many people struggle through quitting smoking. He finds it difficult to explain why this quit was so different than any other quit attempts because this time, there were virtually no rough points. He tells us: “The only rough day I had was day 58. I woke up that morning and everything looked like a cigarette. I couldn’t escape so I immediately posted in the Stop Smoking Center Support Group.”

 

After Joe’s post he quickly found that many members responded with words of support and advice. Based on some feedback from other SSC members who were in the quitting process he headed to the store to kick his craving with some ice cream. “I’m very glad that was the only time I had to resort to food to get me past a rough spot. Day 58 was the last real crave I’ve had. I have to admit I’ve had some fleeting thoughts, but I’ve just blown them off.”

 

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

 

Joe approached this final quit from the standpoint of a recovering nicotine addict.  Joe understood that he’d have to deal with thoughts or temptation about smoking, probably for the rest of his life. He tells us: “part of the price that you have to pay to stay smoke free is occasionally cravings. I keep my perspective by focusing on the recovery process in front of me. This allows me ignore the cravings and move forward.”

 

He also tells us: “I wish I had some special technique to share with everyone – but I don’t. It was and still is mind over matter. But the thing is, cigarettes no longer matter to me – my life is more important than smoking.”

 

How about any slips?

 

Joe is pleased to report that he had no slips. According to Joe, slipping is not being quit.  For him there’s been no in between – are Joe has most definitely quit for good.

 

What insight or advice for others?

 

“As for advice for others, I could write a book! Here are some important points when quitting:

 

·        Preparation, knowledge, strength, determination, commitment and a positive attitude are key

·        The physical aspects of a quit are minuscule compared to the mental games that quitting plays with you

·        Never underestimate the power of nicotine addiction

·        Never take quitting for granted.

·        If you don’t succeed at first, keep quitting!

·        Most people who have ‘forever quits’ have also had several failed quits. Keep getting on that wagon and eventually you’ll stay there!”

 

On behalf of all of the staff and members of the SSC we’d like to congratulate Joe on achieving success and for becoming an ex-smoker. Like all of our other Hall of Fame inductees Joe is being recognized not only for beating addiction, but for offering advice and supporting those who need it most.

 

Way to go Joe!!

You’re Never to Old to Quit or Surf!

 

This is Surfin’ Nan’s Story:

 

Nan started smoking after her first year in college. Everyone in her dorm smoked except her. When all of her friends went home for the summer, she went to summer school and decided to practice smoking. Nan tells us: “It was a little embarrassing to cough after each puff when everyone was around, so I practiced!” When her schoolmates came back in the fall she was a confirmed pack-a-day smoker. This was during World War II and although cigarettes were cheap, they were hard to come by. So Nan and her roommate bought the equipment for "roll your own cigarettes". Soon after, their dorm room soon became “the place to be” for their group of friends.  “During this time no one ever mentioned smoking was bad for your health - although some people thought it was a bit immoral”, says the ever-rebellious Nan.

 

Nan smoked through three pregnancies, two bouts of cancer, pneumonia, and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). “I thought about quitting many times. I promised myself many nights that I wouldn’t smoke the next day. Nothing seemed to work. I tried patches, gum, tranquilizers but I never lasted more than a week or two”.

 

It was not until last April that Nan and her two daughters went to Florida to visit her son. They planned on spending most of their days on the beach enjoying the nice weather. It was a great visit, but just before they were ready to leave Florida, Nan began to have a very hard time breathing and walking. So, Nan’s son had to go out and find her a wheelchair. As could be expected, Nan was very scared. At this time Nan swore to herself if she lived long enough to get back home to Iowa she’d quit smoking. Nan tells us: “Two days after arriving home I said, ‘today is the day!’ That was April l8, 2005 and I was 79 1/2 years old. You see, you’re never too old to quit!”

 

Nan had some patches left over from her last quit attempt so she tried them again. When Nan visited a friend, her friend told her about StopSmokingCenter.net. Nan then went home and the first few weeks of her quit she read the posts for hours at a time. “I’d smoked for over 60 years and this wasn’t an easy road for me to travel. Smoking had been a major part of all my adult life. I had ashtrays and cigarettes throughout the house. Was I ever going to keep this quit? When my quit meter told me I hadn't had a cigarette for 1 whole month I began to believe I was truly becoming a non-smoker!”

 

Nan’s quit has not been easy. It had been made a bit easier for her this time because she prepared: for several months before her quit date she didn’t allow anyone (including herself) to smoke in the house – and smoking outside during the winter in Iowa is not exactly inviting, smiles Nan. Like any other smoker her addiction took over and she suffered through it. Nan tried patches several times before but always stopped using them early on in her quit. But this time, she read the information on the box and used the patches safely and effectively. With the help of friends, family, prayer and her quit partners at the Stop Smoking Center, she kept her quit strong without a single slip!

 

Her late husband was a recovering alcoholic and he always said “one drink is too many and one hundred are not enough.” Early on in her quit a Support Group member posted: "Not One Puff Ever = N.O.P.E." According to Nan, “because I was a ‘recovering smoker’ that phrase rang a bell and it reminded me of my husband! I realized that a single puff was the cause of all of my other failed quits, so I kept repeating ‘N.O.P.E.’. I’ve posted N.O.P.E. so often in the hope that it might ‘ring that bell’ for another struggling quitter because it’s really helped me. God bless you all!”

 

We can't help but celebrate and feel inspired when we read a success story such as Nan’s. Her sincere respect and gratitude for the members of this board who’ve helped her through her quit is evident – if you want to check for yourself please read Nan’s posts.

 

We at StopSmokingCenter.net celebrate that Nan has now moved from discouragement and frustration, to one of our most respected members. To her we say, "Well done, Nan!" Please join us as we offer Nan warm congratulations on her induction into the Hall of Fame. Like all members of the Hall of Fame Nan is being recognized not only for beating addiction, but for offering advice and support to those who need it most.  May you continue to lead by example, and we hope that you continue to inspire others as you enjoy a healthy and happy life.

 

Remember: You’re never too old to quit smoking, or surf StopSmokingCenter.net!

 

Nan - Welcome to the Hall of Fame!

Quit date?: 7/1/2005

Lady’s Quit Story:

Lady grew up in Illinois in the 70’s and began smoking at the age of 15. She grew up in an upper middle class neighborhood but didn’t feel like she belonged. “I didn’t fit in with the rich kids so I guess I decided to hang out with the smokers”. Both of her parents smoked and kept their cigarettes in the fridge. She started by stealing packs of her father’s cigarettes every now and then. Lady admits that smoking made her sick, but she continued to smoke just to “fit in” and eventually became a full-time smoker. Lady ended up smoking one or two packs a day for 23 years. Along the way she tried to quit for financial reasons. Then, about five years ago, she seriously tried to quit and cut down from two packs a day to one. This is when Lady became a closet smoker…

What motivated Lady to quit this last time?

Over the years smoking had become really inconvenient for Lady. She was a closet smoker outside of work and always had to find excuses and places to sneak off for a cigarette. “There is also the guilt that came along with knowing that I was lying to people about my smoking,” says Lady.

Her biggest motivation to quit was her father. He had smoked over two packs a day for most of his life when he came to live with her about two years ago. Lady would hear him get up in the morning and sound like he was “coughing up a lung.” It was awful to hear her father suffer and Lady decided she didn’t want to end up that way. Unfortunately, Lady’s father is not doing well due to his smoking. She can hear him breathe from across the room and hears him get up periodically throughout the night to smoke and cough. As unfortunate as this is, it only keeps her motivated to stay quit. “I always loved smoking and never wanted to quit,” says Lady. “Smoking was my best friend. I didn’t realize until I quit that I’d been a slave to cigarettes. My whole world revolved around when my next opportunity to smoke would be. I guess you could just say that I was sick of smoking!”

Tell us what was different about this final quit, its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel":

Lady tells us that the Stop Smoking Center made a difference with her last attempt to quit. “There is a loving, caring feeling that comes from the members here,” explains Lady. I joined the site on day seven of my quit and I have been here ever since. The N.O.P.E. [Not One Puff Ever] phrase is the one that sticks in my head. As long as I don’t light that next cigarette, I’ve got it made”.

Even with her determination, the first few months of Lady’s quit were awful. She says she fought her quit instead of embracing it. Lady suffered tremendously from depression and would have given up many times if it hadn’t been for the support of the members in the Stop Smoking Center Support Group.  Somewhere around her 60 day mark she’d just gone through an awful week. Everyone in the Support Group kept telling her to just hang on. Finally one morning, Lady woke up feeling good and began to taste the freedom from smoking. Since then she has had a few rough days, but so far nothing like the beginning.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

To get through the cravings, Lady drank a lot of water to get the taste of smoking out of her mouth. After every meal, she had peppermint candies, chewed fruity gum, sucked on mints, went to movies so she could be distracted and took lots and lots of deep breaths. Lady kept a quit journal and copied posts from the Support Group that encouraged her to stay quit - and she read them often. Lady always turned to the people on the Support Group before giving into temptation. “It worked every time!” says Lady.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

Lady doesn’t believe in the term “slip”. According to Lady, “slipping is something you do on ice. You either smoke or you don’t! Since I quit I haven’t smoked. I believe that if I ever ‘slip’ I’ll smoke for the rest of my life. I couldn’t go through that first 60 days again!”

Do you have insight or advice for others?

It takes a lot of courage to quit smoking and Lady never really thought she had it in her to quit. She was tired of smoking and she was willing to try. The best advice she can give anyone is to take it one day at a time, and one step at a time. “Smoking is a horrible addiction,” says Lady. “It takes time to get through the quitting process”. She suggests that all quitters lean on members in the Stop Smoking Center’s online support group. “Find yourself a couple of quit buddies because they will save you from yourself when you need it most in your quit,” she says. “It is my new mission in life to help as many people as I can beat this horrible addiction and this is the forum I choose to do it on…When you smoke, you’re a slave to the addiction. Don’t be a slave any longer! Dig down deep and pull out every bit of strength you can get your hands on your quit. My quit has brought about changes in my life in all areas. It has been a journey of discovery and I’m really starting to enjoy the person I am becoming. There is life after smoking and it is a good one!  Quitting is worth every second of agony that you experience in the beginning”.

There’s no going back to smoking for Lady! Her life is too important and she doesn’t want to ever go back to the way things were. Because of this she feel’s that her journey isn’t over, in fact it’s just begun. Lady tells us that she can’t change the past, but the future is waiting for her.

With all the difficulties Lady has had to overcome, her story is nothing short of inspiring. We're delighted to offer our sincerest congratulations to Lady as she continues to help others on her journey to remain smoke-free. Here’s a well-deserved honor: Welcome Lady, to the Hall of Fame!

Ladybugg’s Story:

Even though she grew up in a family of eight smokers, Ladybugg never really smoked in her youth. Finally at the age of 24 she tried smoking, not because she was exposed to so many other smokers, but because she wanted to lose weight.  Her habit continued for 17 years, during which she tried to quit many times. “I tried to quit several times. I even smoked through three pregnancies (oh, the guilt!). Every time I relapsed, I ended up smoking more than ever. Before this, my final quit, I was smoking 3 packs a day”.

What motivated Ladybugg to quit this last time?

Over the past ten years Ladybugg dealt with the loss of many family members.  She lost her grandmother, mother and father to lung disease and cancer. Over the past two years she has been hospitalized twice with a hole in her lung. Ladybugg explains, “I was tired of waking up coughing and tired of my children being sick. Therefore, I wanted to quit!  I also love to hug people but couldn't because I was so embarrassed to have anyone smell the smoke!”

Tell us what was different about this final quit, its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel":

About a month before her final quit, Ladybugg had a relapse. She was three weeks quit but bought a pack of cigarettes. She simply didn't care if she smoked or not. According to Ladybugg, “I had to just make up my mind to not smoke.  I made a choice to quit smoking! I would not allow myself to make a new decision while I was going through the withdrawals”.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Ladybugg tells us she used the NRT lozenges, hard candies, water, trail mix, and a double-serving of the SSC! One thing that kept her from resisting cravings several times was her wanting to help others in the SSC stay quit. “I couldn't very well smoke if I was encouraging others not too” says Ladybugg.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

Just like so many other quitters, Ladybugg has had many major slips. She slipped and relapsed when attempting to quit over the years. However, since March 17 of last year, Ladybugg has been smoke-free!

Do you have insight or advice for others?

Ladybugg tells us that preparation is key to a successful quit.  “Use every tool available to you!” says Ladybugg. “Educate yourself! Once you've quit know that you will be tempted and trust the decision you made to be free from the addiction. We CAN do this!”

Ladybugg believes in determination and making a commitment! Quitting smoking is tough at times, but it's rewarding to work really hard to achieve your goal.  With all the difficulties Ladybugg has faced, her story is inspiring. We're delighted to offer our sincerest congratulations to Ladybugg as she continues to help others on her journey to remain smoke-free. Welcome Ladybugg, to the Hall of Fame!

Luna’s Story

Quit Date: April 15, 2005

Luna started as a “casual smoker” when she was in her twenties and thought she wasn’t addicted. She had convinced herself that she could take or leave cigarettes, but by the time she was thirty, cigarettes had become her closest companion. She enjoyed smoking and did so when she was happy, relaxed, angry, sad, scared, grieving and even frustrated. As with a lot of smokers, Luna reached for a cigarette at every transition in her life. “I am an impatient person so I smoked every time there was a moment when I had to wait,” says Luna. “I smoked to reward myself for all the stress I handled by being the strong responsible daughter, friend, sister and wife.  I was taking care of everyone else and not myself!” 

Luna admits she was a closet smoker. Few people knew she smoked and she believed that if no one knew, then she wasn’t really a smoker. “If no one knew, then no one would ever say ‘I told you so’ if I got some smoke related disease”, says Luna. She was in denial: “I really believed that I would never have a health problem. I made mental lists of people who were older than me or healthier than me who smoked. I constantly reminded myself that the longevity genes in my family are extraordinary. I ignored the fact that none of my long-living relatives were smokers”, explains Luna.

Luna did try to quit several times. She would set time limits like when she was about to turn 35, 40 and eventually when she turned 50.  Holidays were also a common time for Luna’s quit attempts. “I often would try to quit on vacations,” she says. “But it would start ruining the vacation, so I would resume smoking”.

Luna’s quit attempts also caused problems with her family, especially with her husband. She would feel out of control, angry, crabby and emotional, leading her to give in and start smoking again. Luna says her quits were also be full of sneaking. “A drag here, a full one there”, says Luna. “I never realized the importance of throwing out every cigarette, every butt, cleaning out every ashtray, getting rid of the garbage. The memories, the vision of me looking through the garbage for an old cigarette to smoke is not pleasant. Even my most successful quit was full of illusions”.

Quitting was scarier than smoking. She knew the withdrawals were going to be extremely difficult. Being a strong, knowledgeable person, Luna says she was terrified at not being able handle her emotions. She saw returning to smoking as a return to sanity and equilibrium, despite the fact that her smoking didn’t fit in with her image of herself as a healthy person. “I garden, raise chickens, sell organic eggs and I live on a farm. I ride a tractor, I freeze beans and make homemade salsa and pesto. Doing something as toxic as smoking didn’t really fit into my picture as an earthy mother type of person”.

What motivated Luna to quit this last time?

A close friend of Luna’s was diagnosed with a spot on her lung. The news came as a shock since her friend was a cute, active, vivacious tennis player and dancer. Being ten years older Luna thought she would be like her, beating the odds and never getting cancer. But when her friend passed away Luna was really scared. The dangers of smoking were finally hitting close to home.

Tell us what was different about this final quit, its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel":

This time Luna accepted that she was addicted to nicotine.  Afraid that she would fail, Luna lay in bed unable to sleep. She finally decided that no matter what, no matter how awful it may be, she was going to quit smoking! This time Luna did it without her husband’s support because he didn’t believe that she would quit. After so many attempts, he assumed she would just go back to smoking like she had in the past. But Luna wouldn’t be discouraged:  “Well, you know what? This was my quit and I decided to believe in myself this time. The other thing that was different for me this time was this site. I live on this tiny island in the Northwest and it is a total hassle to seek for support. I found support here within the support group and it made all the difference for me. I spent loads of time reading what other people were saying so I didn’t feel so crazy. I vented here, and gave advice, learned about this addiction, and got super support.”

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Commitment is Luna’s technique. She made up her mind that quitting smoking was what she wanted in life. Luna educated herself on smoking cessation and the preparation proved to be very helpful in staying quit. Luna also rewarded herself on a regular basis. “My rewards! They helped a lot” she says. “I gave myself massages, pedicures and on my three month anniversary I gave myself a river rafting and road trip. These rewards helped me feel proud and I noticed how far I had come in my quit.”

Luna also used the patch which she found very helpful in gradually reducing the amount of nicotine in her system. Even with the patch Luna acknowledges our online support group members for providing much-needed support and distraction: “I stayed on line almost non-stop through the first week and whenever my cravings seemed impossible to ignore”, says Luna. “I came to the support group and read and posted and read and posted some more. I was on line as much as possible that first month. The support, the love, the sharing, the info, the wisdom, the perspective, the camaraderie and the humor was all invaluable to me.  Thank you!”

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

Luna is proud that this time she did not have any slips. “I had been there and done that. I finally knew that with even one puff I would become a smoker again!”

Do you have insight or advice for others?

For Luna the most important part of her quit was the initial realization and acceptance of the fact that she was a addict. Although very difficult to acknowledge, she knew that she wanted to change her behavior. Now Luna tells us that she can never have another cigarette, not even a puff.

Luna also says preparation was key. “I made a list of junkie talk and got my answers ready while I still had my wits about me”, Luna explains. “Take each step, each five minutes, each crave, each hour, each day at a time. Climbing the mountain is much more doable if you keep your eyes on the ground rather than looking at the summit. The only way to becoming a non-smoker is to not smoke.  The more I reached out to others and put into words what I was doing and feeling and thinking, the stronger my own commitment was. This is my life I am fighting for. I want to live.”

Luna is strong and determined and followed a great plan. Through her hard work she’s been able to overcome smoking and we welcome her to our Hall of Fame.

Our sincerest congratulations to Luna. Your story is truly all about determination and success!   

 

Like so many others Wendy had tried to quit many, many times.  She’d lost count of how many times she tried to quit as she continued to smoke for 36 years. “It’s been so long that I don’t even remember when I did start or how I started?  It just seems like I always smoked!” says Wendy. “I smoked a pack a day and smoked with my three pregnancies and continued as my children grew up”.

 

What motivated Wendy to quit this last time?

 

At the beginning of 2005 Wendy convinced herself that she’d quit smoking some time within the year. “I started by cutting back on my smoking and I delayed that one smoke that I really enjoyed. I went from a carton a week to almost a carton every two weeks”.

 

Tell us what was different about this final quit. What were its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel":

 

One day in February 2005 Wendy was visiting a close friend, Wilma, who had had breast cancer and a mastectomy. Wilma had tried to quit smoking and just couldn’t stay quit. She gave Wendy an extra box of patches that her doctor had recommended (Wilma found that this particular band of patches made her jittery). Wendy took them home and put them away thinking that she’d look at them later. Finally, one day in April Wendy opened the box and started reading the directions. 

 

There was a booklet inside that lead Wendy to StopSmokingCenter.net (SSC). Wendy took the time to register and started her online quit program.  When the program was helping Wendy prepare for a quit date, she checked her pack of cigarettes and since the pack was almost empty, she thought to herself: “It’s time to quit!”

 

Wendy set Thursday April 21, 2005 as her quit date! On the 20^th Wendy came across another pack of cigarettes and was thinking of changing her quit date - but the confidence, knowledge and support she received from the SSC helped her decide to wake up on the morning of the 21^st knowing that she was, forever, smoke free.

 

Wendy tells us: “When I got up on the morning of the 21^st I felt like a new person. I started my day with my coping skills in hand. The first day wasn’t too bad until supper time and then the cravings hit me!  I logged onto the SSC website and a wonderful member (Rusty) answered my cry for help and the rest is now history. The first three days had to be the worse days of my life.  I don’t ever want to go through those three days again!”

 

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

 

Wendy vowed she would not gain weight along with her quit because she felt that gaining weight would give her a reason to go back to smoking. She told herself that she wouldn’t replace smoking with food and had gone on a diet the week before her quit and lost weight.

 

When she decided to quit she simply tried to eat healthy and increase her daily exercise routine. She also decided to walk two miles every morning and two miles every night, to use her bike whenever she could and to stay as active as possible.

 

She checked out the low fat, low sugar alternatives and was surprised to see that there were plenty of products available. “I bought low sugar candies and used them as a substitute for my smoking.  I still use them to this day because I like them. And I actually went from a size twelve to a size six!”

 

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

 

Wendy is proud to tell us: “No slips - I was one of the lucky ones.”

 

Do you have insight or advice for others?

 

The courage to quit gave Wendy courage in other areas of her life, and she applied for a job that she had never had the courage to apply to before. The reason she applied was that the company’s policy was to not hire smokers. So, as a new non-smoker, Wendy applied and was hired for seasonal help. The great news was that she was asked to stay on after Christmas. Wendy was definitely proud of herself!  

 

According to Wendy. “I had many ups and downs with my quit, but they were all worth it. To be smoke free is amazing! I reward myself all the time. I’ve given myself a trip to Vegas and also reward myself with daily cappuccinos. Rewards are so important to me and something I look forward too.”

 

Sadly, Wendy’s friend Wilma (who gave her the patches) passed away on October 18, 2005. “Wilma is forever in my heart and I’ll stay quit for her as well as for me. She fought a long hard battle with cancer and died at a tender young age of 66. Whenever I went to visit her she always asked if I was still not smoking. When I answered yes, she’d smile her wonderful smile.”

 

Wendy’s story is nothing short of inspiration for those who think that it’s too hard to quit. The Stop Smoking Center is thrilled to offer our sincerest congratulations to Wendy as she continues her new life as an ex-smoker. 

 

Here is a well-deserved tribute to you and your success. Welcome Wendy, to the Hall of Fame, a place where all ex-smokers want to be!

 

Hummybird’s Quit:

5.5.2005

Hummybird began smoking at the age of twenty-three.  It was the first summer after her first husband passed away from cancer. Her close friend came to visit her and they sat in her apartment reminiscing by drinking wine and smoking cigarettes. At this time, Hummybird believed smoking gave her something to do when she was lonely.

Hummybird smoked for thirty years and she wanted to quit twenty-nine years ago, but did not know how to.  The last few years before her quit date she was smoking two packs a day. “What a waste of time, money and health, explains Hummybird.  I tried hypnosis, the patch, medication, nicotine gum and just quitting cold turkey. Nothing worked for me because I didn't really want to quit.  I needed help!”

What motivated you to quit this last time?

Hummybird became fed up with smoking.  She developed a cold and her health was deteriating.  She could remember how exhausted she was after climbing a flight of stairs.  The cost of cigarettes were increasing and she was really starting to worry about her everyday health.  As a school teacher, Hummybird had to hide her smoking during the school year. Her own children had been asking her to quit for years. Finally, after reading tons of information within The Stop Smoking Center, Hummybird was ready to attempt to quit one last time! Hummybird tells us; “This time I wasn’t quitting because my doctor told me I needed to!  I wanted to be free of cigarettes for good!”

Tell us what was different about this final quit, its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel":

Hummybird’s preparation to quit was key to her success. She read all the content within The Stop Smoking Center and learned a lot about addiction.  After reading many posts within The Stop Smoking Center, she admits that in the past she had considered smoking a habit, not an addiction. This was quite a shock to Hummybird! 

After surviving the first few weeks with literally no sleep she knew that she would succeed. Each day, her new accomplishments gave her confidence to stay quit. Hummybird tells us, “When you’ve smoked as long as I have, the difference in the way you feel is noticeable after just a few weeks. I was thrilled with the extra energy. Having a tremendous support group of people fighting to win against this horrible addiction was definitely a quit saver!”

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

There were several people logged into The Stop Smoking Centers online support group when she quit.  Their posts and encouragement is just what Hummybird needed to get through the tough days.  She would search for their earlier posts and read them all. She also printed out many of these posts and carried them with her when she was offline. According to Hummybird; “Whenever I thought about buying cigarettes, I took the posts out and read them.  This would help my cravings pass.  I also copied photos of my children onto the posts I carried.  I promised myself that I’d stare at those photos while I smoked that first cigarette. I continued the breathing exercises, chewing on straws, eating lemon drops, and drinking lots of ice water helped with cravings.”

Hummybird spent the majority of her summer on the computer increasing her knowledge about quitting smoking.  She would answer posts and gather strength from her colleagues in the SSC. “Rewarding myself was often another incentive; explains Hummmybird. The rewards might be taking the time to read a book, take a nap, take a bubble bath, or go for a walk in the park. They didn't have to be big rewards; they just had to be pleasant.”

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

According to Hummybird; “I did not have any major slips. Reading posts from members who had slipped helped keep me working towards my goal.”

Do you have insight or advice for others?

Hummybird’s advice to all smokers and ex-smokers:

“Believe in yourself. Get help from any source that is useful. Use any method or help aid that will assist you and learn everything you can about the nicotine addiction. Learn about the withdrawal symptoms and what to expect with each new step. Make sure you have a plan in place before you quit.  Really prepare yourself on what you are going to do to ward off cravings. Know that you absolutely, positively can quit smoking! It is a most rewarding experience that will give you a heightened confidence in yourself and your abilities.”

Please join us in congratulating Hummybird for her induction into the Hall of Fame! Like all our Hall of Fame recipients, Hummybird is being recognized not only for beating addiction, but for offering advice and support to those who need it most.

Congratulations Hummybird for being elected to the Hall of Fame - the place where all ex-smokers want to be!

Shevie’s Quit Date:

May 23^rd, 2005

 

Shevie started smoking at the age of 15 in an attempt to “fit in and be accepted” at school.  His addiction started out with a few cigarettes which eventually cumulated into purchasing his own. Within a year Shevie was up to smoking a pack a day and continued to smoke for 38 years.  During these years of smoking, Shevie made two attempts to kick the habit, one at 18 and another at 26.  He explains, “Around 18 I quit for about a week because it was making me feel terrible.  Then I visited a girl I’d known most of my life.  She smoked and had just broken up with her boyfriend”.  Shevie was trying to comfort this girl and thought a smoke with her would help.  He tried again 26 years ago on a weekend camping trip with his wife to-be.  He let himself run out of cigarettes the first night. He was feeling great, but after about two hours his wife to-be insisted they go to a store about five miles away and buy a pack of cigarettes.  That was Shevie’s last real attempt until this his final quit on May 23^rd, 2005.”

 

What motivated you to quit this last time?

 

In the spring of 2003, a health scare had Shevie convinced that he had lung cancer.  Thankfully, it wasn’t cancer, but this scare was enough for Shevie to ask his doctor about quitting smoking.  His doctor gave him advice on why people start smoking in the first place.  Shevie watched his smoking and studied the emotions and drives behind every cigarette.  After two years, Shevie had enough!  He was sick of smoking and his only option was to quit.  During his attempt to quit, Shevie went on line to find out more about Zyban.  As Shevie searched the internet he found The Stop Smoking Center (The SSC).  After fifteen minutes of looking through The SSC he had found the final link to quit smoking.  After this eye opening experience, Shevie immediately called his doctor to make an appointment, and told his wife and boss he was quitting smoking.

 

Tell us what was different about this final quit, its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some “light at the end of the tunnel”:

 

It was Shevie’s willingness to quit that lead to his final decision to quit smoking.  He explains, “The reason this quit worked for me was because I was ready for it.  I needed the help of a nicotine replacement therapy to get started and the SSC to guide me, but my disgust for smoking and my desire to be rid of it were my primary motivators.”  Shevie mentions that among his highlights was the fact that he was able to pass on help to others in the program.  It wasn’t an easy process at times for Shevie, “the low points were around days 85-89 and in early November.  I spent three evenings totally shut down on the couch just waiting for the craves to pass.  The latter was when my six month reward was snatched away a week before I was to receive it.  That week I came as close to a slip as I have ever come.  But I mindlessly clung to the teachings of my SSC mentors once more and got through slip-free.”  Shevie credits other members of the SSC for help and advice during his hard times.  He always knew that there was someone in the program ahead of him who he could turn to for advice, “I listened to their advice, believing that they had my best interests at heart.” 

 

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings? 

 

For the first little while, Shevie used sunflower seeds as a coping mechanism and would continually eat them. He explains: “that caused a whole lot of activity for the mouth and hands, but very little intake.  I hate sunflower seeds to this day!”  Shevie was creative in his resistance and used what he calls a “strewerette.” He explains, “I cut a straw in half, put a couple of folds in one end, and bit the folds to crimp them down until it felt like a cigarette when I sucked on it.  It made a great prosthetic by reducing craves to merely the loss of nicotine because hands and mouth were actually going through the smoking actions.  Plus I could “smoke” anywhere, anytime.”

 

Did you have any major slips?  And if you did, what did you learn?

 

According to Shevie, he had none!  “Close, but N.O.P.E.  That is the thing I’m the most proud of in this whole event.”

 

Shevie’s advice to all smokers and ex-smokers:

 

“I have clung to the memory of smoking.  I exercise it every day.  Not the romantic “Gee, it was so nice/claming/relaxing/easy/etc.” What I remember is the heat, the smoke in the eyes, the stink and stain on the fingers.  I also remember the burning that went into my mouth and down my throat, the rattle in my chest and the overall ache throughout my body.  I remember every detail, every day. The memory still makes me cough.  I know as long as I hold that memory, I can never smoke again.” 

 

Congratulation Shevie for being elected to the Hall of Fame – the place where all ex-smokers want to be!  Please join us in congratulating Shevie for his induction into the Hall of Fame!  Like all our Hall of Fame recipients, Shevie is being recognized not only for beating addiction, but for offering advice and support to those who need it most.

 

 

 

HealerWithin’s Quit Date:

March 5 2006

HealerWithin started smoking in between classes during high school. “I was very athletic in high school.  I limited my smoking to one cigarette at a time and continued to smoke until the end of high school.” In her twenties, HealerWithin was smoking 1-2 packs daily.  Her habit continued until the age of fifty-four. Her quit on March 5^th, 2006 was her first and final quit.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

The smoke related illnesses her friends and colleague were being diagnosed with alarmed HealerWithin. Jessie, her lifelong friend who had experienced serious health issues over the last five years was diagnosed with lung cancer. “Her diagnosis frightened my very soul and the fear of losing her caused me to make a commitment to quit smoking. My employee, Sandy, also became quite ill at the age of 54.  I promised myself that I would stop smoking at the same age Sandy became ill. By my fifty fourth birthday, I honoured my decision to quit and never looked back.” Says HealerWithin

 What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

HealerWithin managed to quit cold turkey by distracting herself and searched for support. With the help of a quit buddy, she dealt with temptation and watered a pack of cigarettes that she found in the back of her SUV.  She found that cravings are only powerful for a short amount of time and that diversion was most helpful when the craving hit. “I went to the bathroom with a toothbrush and a spray bottle of bleach, spending hours cleaning the grout between the tiles. If I felt like crying, which was part of my quit process, I would stop and cry, rather than try to push what I was feeling away.”

She pampered herself during this challenging time by getting weekly full body massages and also by being kind and compassionate to others. This enabled her to remain calm, grounded, nurtured and in control.

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

HealerWithin had no major slips except for the time when she felt that her quit was in jeopardy. She realised that she was one puff away from 2 packs a day! She called upon the love and support of her most trusted friends.  These friends provided her with a place of comfort during a tough and challenging period of vulnerability. “I also learned that N.O.P.E. is a very simple rule to follow - not one puff ever! I knew, without question, that if I owned the N.O.P.E. rule, I would never go back to smoking.”

Do you have insight or advice for others?

“Allow your quit to be yours! Everyone’s quit is different.  Some quitters experience extreme challenges during their quit.  They often find themselves calling out for help.  I have to say that I did not have any craves or dramatic challenges. Remember that you are human and that nicotine is a powerful addiction. Quitting is tough and has been one of the hardest things I've ever done for a myriad of reasons. If you find that some days present challenges that you feel you just cannot handle, take it all one moment at a time. Focus on your commitment to yourself. Quitting is one of the most loving gifts you can give yourself. If I can do it, so can you! Quitting is like the healing process, it takes time!  Be true to yourself and honour your process.”

The Stop Smoking Center would like to congratulate HealerWithin for being elected into our Hall of Fame!  Please join us in applauding HealerWithin’s induction and her last attempt to quit smoking.  Like all our Hall of Fame recipients, HealerWithin is being recognized not only for beating addiction, but for offering advice and support to those who need it most.

Quit Date:

October 28, 2005

Butterfly Swimmer started smoking when she was seventeen.  Out of curiosity, rebelling and ways to fit in she continued to smoke for eleven years. Butterfly believed that smoking was something she could put a stop to whenever she wanted to.  Butterfly tells us, “Like most people who start smoking, I had no idea how hard it would be to quit.” She panicked at the age of twenty-one when she realised that she was addicted. After thirty or more failed attempts to quit over the last five years, she resigned herself to the fact that quitting was not meant for her.

What motivated you to quit this last time?

A constant cough which caused concern amongst co-workers and bosses led Butterfly Swimmer to quit. The cough lasted eight months and the various prescriptions from her doctor did not work. She decided to quit for three weeks and bought a supplement to help her deal with her cravings. On the fifth day of her quit, her roommate emailed her information as well as websites after a discussion they’d had on nicotine addiction. “Through the sites that she sent me, I found the SSC. It has really been the key to my quit. I have stumbled several times, but I am sure that if I hadn’t had the SSC to help me back up each time, I would not be quit today.” The knowledge she gained from the SSC and its community helped her to follow through with her decision. “The people I met here guided, supported, encouraged, comforted, aided, and even kicked me throughout this journey. Without all of you here, I certainly would have failed!”

Tell us what was different about this final quit, its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel":

Butterfly Swimmer found that she couldn’t smoke a pack of cigarettes she had purchased. “I destroyed the cigarettes, one by one, and from that time on, I just knew that I would not smoke again.”

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Butterfly Swimmer resisted by smoking twizzler pull n’ peel cherry flavoured licorice. They had the same resistance as cigarettes and helped relieve the symptoms of cravings. She gained a sense of control over the addiction and bought cheap cigarettes.  It was not long before she destroyed them.  Butterfly does not recommend this method to those who have trouble exercising self discipline. When she bought the cigarettes, she knew that she could control herself and made sure that she destroyed all cigarettes that night. “There was no saving them for another time because I knew my limits.”

 Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

Butterfly Swimmer has slipped three times and says that the key to a successful quit is believing in yourself.  By her third quit, she wondered if quitting was something she could do. “Was I really going to be able to quit? I thought I was doomed to be a smoker for the rest of my life and be stuck in ‘relapse hell’ forever!” She realised that she could do it and only had two options: She could either smoke for the rest of her life or make a final quit. She decided on the latter but it took a lot of courage, determination and a reset of her quit meter. Her desire to keep her promise and not have to face the SSC community because she had slipped made her quit a success. “The difference with this quit has been the fact that when I smoked and didn’t reset my meter, I gave myself an excuse to do it again, and again.”

Do you have insight or advice for others?

“Don’t allow yourself to smoke that first one. Understand that the craving or tough time in your life will pass and smoking will not help. If you do smoke, don’t give up on yourself! Quitting after a slip is possible and I am proof of that. Finally, get yourself a buddy or two. They will stand by you and support you when you’re not strong enough to go alone. I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for my quit buddies.”

Congratulations Butterfly Swimmer for being elected to the Hall of Fame – the place where all ex-smokers want to be!  Please join us in congratulating Butterfly Swimmer for her induction into the Hall of Fame!  Like all our Hall of Fame recipients, Butterfly Swimmer is being recognized not only for beating addiction, but for offering advice and support to those who need it most.

 

Phillip aka RiverdaleMan
Quit date: February 17, 2006

RiverdaleMan started smoking when he was 13, both at home and in front of his parents. By the age of 18, he was smoking a pack of 20 cigarettes per day. Most adults he came in contact with smoked so he felt that it was the right thing to do in order to fit in. Although he excelled, at most subjects in school, he didn’t feel as if he belonged. He thought smoking would give him a sense of belonging. Smoking made him feel ‘cool, grownup and accepted.’ By the age of 21, he had increased the number of smokes to 25 cigarettes per day. This continued until he was 49. “Some days I would smoke less and some days I would smoke more. I always smoked from first thing in the morning to last thing at night.” RiverdaleMan has this to say. The turning point for him was spending the last two months with his sister as she slowly died of metastatic breast cancer. His first quit, which lasted one week, was with the aid of nicotine gum. His second quit was a year later with Nicotine patches. This lasted for about two months within which he experienced many side effects. His inability to keep up with his quits made him feel as if he was a failure. A year later, he managed to quit for another week before surgery upon the insistence of his dentist. A few months later, he tried quitting cold turkey but failed after about eight hours. Two days later, he decided that he would make his quit a reality. “I went shopping got through the day and used every technique I could imagine to remain quit ever since.”

What motivated you to quit this last time?

The death of his sister, his deteriorating health, determination and documentaries on AIDS and Cancer motivated RiverdaleMan to quit for good. “Determination came from previously failed attempts as well as my poor breathing.”

Tell us what was different about this final quit, its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel"

Initially, RiverdaleMan doubted himself and didn’t think he possessed the determination and will power to quit. However, the stories of successful quitters in the Stop Smoking Centre kept him going. His first 100 days, were the most difficult but he didn’t want to compromise his quit and sought the help of an addiction counselor from a live quit smoking group he attended. By his 120th day, he was more determined to maintain his quit. “I realized what I was doing for myself and was acknowledged what great benefit I was getting in my life. I was finally able to notice a difference in my breathing.” Having bronchitis didn’t help. Being in pollution or on damp days I still think that I smoke. I simply go swimming and work through the brain junk that goes on and get serious with my determination to never smoke another cigarette ever.

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

RiverdaleMan distracted himself by joining a swim club. He needed something that would take his mind of his cravings. “It is really hard to crave while you are in 12 feet of water, my mind has to deal with the water.” He also walked his dog and indulged in all kinds of sweets. By doing this, he never felt as if he lacked anything. “I let myself eat whatever I wanted and never let myself feel I was lacking anything. I came to SSC read, posted, laughed and cried.”

 Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

None! His previous attempts prepared him for the cravings and withdrawals. For him, the lesson learned was to get help and to seek advice from counselor and recent quitters.

Do you have insight or advice for others?

“Let yourself go, believe in yourself and your ability to conquer your addiction to nicotine. Know that this is a tough addiction to break and you can do it. Be patient, kind and gentle with yourself. Know that hard or easy, simple or complex, that quitting the use of nicotine in any form is a loving intervention you provide for yourself. You will see benefits that will compound and increase as you give yourself a life of freedom. Quitting smoking is the greatest gift I could every give myself, because I have my life back.”

Well done, Phillip! The Stop Smoking Center is proud to induct you into the Hall of Fame! We celebrate your tenacity in the face of the lessons you had to learn in order to get well on your way. We salute your determination to help yourself and to help others remain quit. Here’s to your healthy, smoke-free life!

Lizzies Story

 

Lizzie came from a smoking family: her grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles were all steady smokers. Her first attempt at smoking came in her early teenage years: My friends mostly smoked and Id occasionally smoke as well say once a week. The addiction crept up on me slowly. By the time I was eighteen I was smoking around fifteen cigarettes a day and more on nights out.

 

Lizzie continued to smoke for twenty-two years.  When she turned thirty she thought to herself, I ought to quit! But this first attempt at quitting lasted only two weeks. During these two weeks Lizzie first noticed that nicotine was her security blanket.

 

Lizzie did not try quitting again until she was thirty-five. That second attempt was much shorter than her first, and once again she found herself smoking full time. Although frustrated and embarrassed from this second failed attempt she said to herself: Ill quit when I am forty 

 

Soon enough five years had pasted. At forty she knew her time had come.

 

What motivated Lizzie to quit after her 40^th birthday?

 

When asked why she wanted to quit after her 40^th birthday, Lizzie quit candidly tells us: I just didn't want to smoke anymore or be known as a smoker. Lizzie told us she wanted to be an ex-smoker for the following reasons:

        Ex-smokers don't cough unless they have a cold.

        They don't have stained teeth.

        Their hair, clothes and breath don't stink of stale smoke.

        They don't have to sit in an all day workshop thinking when can I get my next fix?!

        They can go to lunch with colleagues rather than heading straight outside alone.

 

I was increasingly alone because non-smoking was now the norm. It had become a professional embarrassment as well as the fact that it was probably going to kill me. I had a long, hard think of my life ahead: as a smoker and as an ex-smoker. In the past, Id always assumed that Id fail in my quit attempts and that Id always be a smoker. 

 

Lizzie finally got to the stage where she wanted to quit. Before she quit she seriously contemplated success. This time is different!  Maybe I won't die early after all? Maybe I do have a choice!

 

 

 

 

Tell us what was different about this final quit, its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel:"

 

This time I used the patch. I took a week off work so that my routine was changed and I did not have to concentrate. I kept busy physically by decorating and cleaning. In the first three weeks I got through each craving one at a time.

 

Lizzie thought back to how she felt after six weeks of being smoke-free, and she tells us: After six weeks I was still feeling unwell. I felt lethargic and unable to concentrate and was emotional. When I read information about stopping smoking these symptoms were supposed to stop in a couple of weeks. So what happened next you ask? It was then that I found The Stop Smoking Center and started reading through their website. After two or three weeks of lurking I eventually signed up.

 

Lizzie explains how the SSC helped her out of her six week hump: I needed the reassurance that I was not going mad, that there would be end to my cravings and withdrawals.  I needed to hear from people who where also quitting to tell me the truth and show me the way. Then the worse was yet to come. In month three I started having whole days of depression. I needed the reassurance that this was not just me and that I could get through it as others before me had. I also had the friendship of those at the same stage of quitting. The Stop Smoking Center Support Group members became my lifeline.

 

Around her forth month Lizzie started to notice significant improvements in how she felt. Beyond month four things started to improve. I still had clusters of days where the depression returned, but I had come too far now to turn back. Beyond six months things just got better and better bit by bit.

 

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

 

With combating cravings I learned to develop a positive mindset. This craving will not kill me. This craving will go within five minutes. Even as a smoker you experience cravings - anywhere you can not smoke - work/travelling etc. The only way to make the cravings stop for good is to quit for good.

 

Did Lizzie have any major slips?

 

Lizzie is proud to tell us that, despite having a tough time for the first six months of her quit: Not one!

 

Do you have insight or advice for others?

 

Lizzie feels that quitting is a journey, rather than an event. She tells us: Whereas the worst of the cravings are over in 2-3 weeks, the body takes some time to heal and recover from the years of poisoning. The best way to do this journey is one day at a time. Believe me, it does get better!

The Stop Smoking Center would like to take the time to thank Lizzie for sharing her story.  As youve read, she attempted to quit many times but she only succeeded after she finally took a serious approach to the challenge quitting. Lizzie is now eight months quit and is still going strong. 

 

Lizzie: your story has indeed touched our lives and we thank you for supporting others during your quit. You have shown our thousands of members, from all over the world, that quitting smoking is indeed possible. 

 

On behalf of all of the staff and members of The Stop Smoking Center wed like to congratulate you on achieving success on becoming an ex-smoker. As the first Hall of Fame recipient of 2005, we hope you have inspired others to have a very healthy New Year!

This month’s Hall of Fame inductee, affectionately known by our Support Group as Southpaw, begins her story in a way that is familiar to most of us. When we ask Southpaw how she started smoking, she tells us:

 

“I’m thirty-five years old and I’ve been smoking for approximately twenty years. Like so many people, I was a teenage conformist. I wanted to be liked and accepted by my peers. That meant I had to smoke. I figured it was alright. After all, my mom and dad smoked. Heck, half my family smoked and after all I am the daughter/granddaughter of tobacco farmers! I'm supposed to smoke, right? Wrong! I had no idea how different my life would be because of smoking. Ironically, I was excluded by my peers because I smoked. My health suffered and I was just too tired and breathless to participate in any fun. I tried to quit several times over the years and failed because I always found an excuse to start back. Usually it was because my husband still smoked and I couldn't succeed around him. Years passed and more and more of my friends and family became non-smokers. Suddenly I was the minority. I didn't like that and I thought if my tobacco farming family can quit smoking, then so can I!”

 

What motivated Southpaw to quit this last time?

 

“On August 2, 2004, I woke up feeling pressure as I breathed. That scared me and I realized one important thing: I WANT TO LIVE! I thought, ‘I'm not ready to have my life end early because of smoking.’ So with that thought, I quit cold turkey. Each day I get stronger and stronger. During tough times I tell myself that I'm in charge this time and I can't let myself down. It always works. I also do not want my children to pick up the habit of smoking. I want to show them that I care about life; theirs and mine!”

 

Tell us what was different about this final quit; it’s tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel:"

 

“This is the first quit I’ve ever tried cold turkey. I did this because I could not afford to purchase any NRTs. My determination motivated me too. Surprisingly, this is the easiest quit yet! Maybe it is because I want it so badly this time or maybe because I fear what my future will hold if I continue to smoke.  What is important is that any reason is a reason enough to quit! The toughest part of this quit is how very little direct support I receive, meaning my husband still smokes and has not maintained a respectful distance from me when he smokes. He seems to be oblivious to my resolve. His resistance gives me the courage to succeed all the more.”

 

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

 

“Cravings came and went just like everyone said they would. I relied on the Stop Smoking Center for tough moments and reveled in the wealth of encouragement. At home, I exercised and wrote in my journal. Self-talk was also helpful. I was surprised to learn that I could talk myself out of something as well as I could talk myself into something!”

 

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

 

“No! I have remained true to myself.”

 

Do you have insight or advice for others?

Southpaw encourages others: “Never give up and don't be afraid to ask for help!”

 

Southpaw – Congratulations for reaching your goal. We hope you feel a big pat on the back from the thousands of people who read this piece every month. We know you'll continue to please, inspire, and help others for many years to come.

Congratulations on being inducted to the Hall of Fame. The place where all ex-smokers want to be!

Darkmyer’s Story

 

“As a kid, when older people told me: ‘You’re not allowed’ or ‘it is dangerous’ – it was always a direct challenge to me,” explains Darkmyer.

 

It was with this in mind that a 13-year-old Darkmyer and a close school friend snuck into a garage, crawled through old furniture and headed to the back to try their first cigarette.

 

As he grew older, Darkmyer realized the dangers of smoking and felt that he ought to quit. His original plan was to quit when he turned 30. Feeling guilty in his mid 30’s he attempted to quit but ended up giving into junkie thoughts and had ”just one” cigarette. “I’d have just one or two when I was out, then if there were a few left over from going out I’d smoke them. Then, I’d have a pack to get through this difficult day. Then, ten a day, Then, I finally admitted I was back where I started.”

 

His next attempted would be his 40’s. “I resolved that I would give up before I was 40 - not realizing that there’s a good number of smokers who die much earlier than that. When 40 passed it really started to plague me. I know that time was running out.”

 

What motivated Darkmyer to quit this last time?

 

“Very shortly after reaching 40 my marriage broke down and things changed. I found a new partner slightly older than myself who also smoked. With stress levels lowering, my parents and family still nagging me about quitting and the realization that the time I might have with my new partner may be short, we both decided one February day to quit at the end of May.” Darkmyer chose the month of May because “it is warmer outside, easier to keep busy and I was able to take long walks with out freezing.”

 

Tell us what was different about this final quit; it’s tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel:"

 

“After about a month of quitting, things got unexpectedly difficult with a severe depression taking hold with sporadic anxiety attacks. I freely admit that I was beginning to stumble - when searching and scrabbling to avoid failure I found the Stop Smoking Center. When I read about different parts of quitting, Hell Week, Heck Week, The Blahs or The CrabbyAss Club I felt like I was traveling a well worn path after the pioneering quitters.”

 

Darkmyer continues by telling us: “Here I found real people traveling the same road, people pleading from the bottom of the soul, people comforting and encouraging, people reaching back to help others over the obstacles along the way. Here was a veritable cornucopia of information and help, which I picked through and scavenged the techniques I needed to get through. Comments like ‘Get your head out of the Fridge’ made me laugh even in the darkest times and reminded me I was not alone.”

 

When asked about his journey to being smoke-free, Darkmyer tells us: “I like to think of quitting as a long walk which never ends. This is probably particularly apt because I’ve taken many walks while quitting to help sort out any chaotic thoughts. I still have a picture in my mind of my dog looking at me with a lopsided grin as if to say ‘this is fun’ as we stood on a woodland path in the rain whilst tears streamed down my face. I do not know why I was upset, and I don’t believe there was a particular reason, but I do know that I was howling with distress from the very core of my being. Realizing that the dog perceived this to be fun (whilst I was in such distress) was enough to trigger me to calm down and think rationally. Here I was amongst flowers and trees with no worries in the world for a few minutes and my perception was of misery rather than pleasure.”

 

When asked to reflect on his quit Darkmyer tells us: “My whole quit has been about perception. Perceiving that smoking is relaxing keeps you going, is supportive, calms you down, makes you feel better, helps you to think, is impossible to give up, will not affect my health yet. These are lies and to suddenly find out that a large part of your life is a lie is a big shock. Shock enough to make some want to return to those lies and not face up to the truth. These truths have perhaps been the most terrifying part of quitting. It is curious that I should resort to the outdoors, a place I love, to try to sort out my thoughts. I am reminded of an idyllic picture in my mind that I use to try to get to sleep.”

 

“As a child I’m sitting propped up beneath the shade of a tree on a hot summer’s afternoon. There is a gentle cooling breeze, and I hear the gurgling of a near by stream. Nobody is likely to disturb me for a long period and I can sit with my eyes closed dreaming the dreams of the carefree. I believe this feeling of being carefree is the key. Those tears were the tensions releasing after all those years with the burden of smoking and repressed feelings. This woodland path was the place where I truly started to be free. That carefree child I once was had escaped and was mourning all those lost years. I doubt whether the rest of my life will be carefree but that woodland path will be forever etched in my memory as a turning point in my life. I hope when I am old I can return just to recapture the vitality of that moment one last time.”

 

“I’m fortunate to have parents who live in a beautiful national park area whom I visit a couple of times a year. Neither of them smokes and they don't like anybody smoking in their company or house. I could describe to you a mountain ridge walk or a lake side walk but his particular walk is a family tradition walk along the river after an evening meal and it usually takes about an hour. When I smoked this was a walk to be hurried to be got over so that I could escape my parents company to have a cigarette. When I visited them recently I must confess I was looking forward to seeing them without the worry going outside for a smoke.”

 

“On the first day of my visit the evening meal took a little longer than usual probably because my partner and I were not in a hurry to get outside for a smoke so the walk started late. The first thing that struck me was that mountain river meadow flowers smell wonderful and I never knew. My dad stopped to point out all the different ones and tell me there names and I never knew he could name them all. We stopped to look at the fish in the river jumping to catch the flies and I never knew because I’d never stopped to look. We saw the bats start to fly which I had never seen before because we had not been out this late before. At the end of the walk we turned to see the sun setting over the mountains and my dad said: ‘That’s why I love this walk' and I almost choked with shame because I never knew. My dad said nothing because I think he understood I had learnt what he knew all along. Not once on the walk did I think 'I need a cigarette', I was much calmer and at peace than I have been for a very long time.”

 

What techniques did Darkmyer use to resist cravings?

 

“I guess drinking plenty of water, packets of skittles and avoiding trigger situations early on helped. I think my greatest aid to quitting was a simple promise to myself that I was going to quit. If you are like me, when you promise something you pledge your decency as a person to fulfill that promise. Nothing in the world, even nicotine will ever turn me away from trying to be a decent person. The difficult moments of choice became do I want a cigarette or am I a person who keeps his promise and does what he says.”

 

“During my quit I have also had to try to develop a positive attitude. When I thought I loved smoking I was wrong. What I love is people smiling, people laughing, seeing the first flower of spring bloom, the view from a mountain top, the reflections from a lake, someone’s gratitude, and someone who is glad to see you. I would not have got this far into my quit without this attitude and must warn any new quitter than they may have to delve deep within themselves.”

 

“There are those who can travel through this world with a big smile no matter what life throws at them and I will never be one of those magical people. This is a perfection I can never achieve or have any desire to achieve, for if I reach that far then I will always be disappointed. I don't wish life to slip through my fingers like grains of sand while expending all my energy reaching for an illusion. It is an illusion because those who are happiest are people who have stopped trying to be something they are not, and they notice all those little magic moments amongst the many tragic ones.”

 

“I am not changing the world, up heaving my life but spending a little time each day to do something that I can say I enjoyed doing that. It can be stop to smell a flower, splashing in a rain puddle, winking at a stranger, give advice or anything provided at the end of each day I can say at least once in the day I had a special moment. I think if I do not enjoy and see the value in where I am now then I will never get the motivation to try to make those dreams come true.”

 

“Quitting brings it home that you either control your attitude or it controls you.”

 

Did Darkmyer have any major slips?

 

Darkmyer is proud to announce that he had no slips.

 

Do you have insight or advice for others?

 

“It is not easy but with determination, a positive mindset, this site to rant and rave on, and the fabulous support and encouragement you will receive here, YOU CAN DO IT”!

 

“I like to think of preparing to quit as a bit like preparing to decorate a room.  First you need to visualize how it will look, then you need to get all the materials and finally you need to prepare and plan the steps you are going to take.  If you don't have a clear view of how you want the room to look or if you miss out things or do things in the wrong order then you end up with a right mess. Similarly with quitting you need to try to visualize yourself as a non-smoker, get whatever quitting aids you need and plan out your coping strategy.” 

 

“Don’t worry if at the start you don't quite believe it is possible.  Just take it five minutes at a time, because we can all last five minutes without a cigarette and lots of five minutes add up to days”.

Can the SSC say more? Darkmyer’s inspirational and poetic description of his quit process is truly motivating, and we are more than pleased to share it with our members.

Darkmyer – Congratulations. Your story is most fitting for the Hall of Fame. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Sylvia smoked a pack a day for thirty-nine years, and although she attempted to quit several times in the past, each quit only lasted a few days.

 

With each quit attempt Sylvia became more frustrated, which made her reluctant to try quitting again. Sylvia tells us, “the most prominent emotion in my quit was fear. For the first two months I felt like a cat - I was jumpy, temperamental and afraid of my own shadow.” But she took it one day at a time. “I stuck it out and here I am celebrating my first anniversary! Yippee for me! I'm very proud of my quit I and feel that it's the most courageous, character building accomplishment that I've ever done in my life.”

 

The Stop Smoking Center agrees with Sylvia, and we welcome her to the Hall of Fame.

 

What motivated Sylvia to quit this last time?

 

Although she tried to quit unsuccessfully many times in the past, Sylvia says, “on my last quit attempt I lasted ten days until a pain in my shoulder blade wouldn’t go away. I went to the doctor and even though the doctor said that my lungs sounded alright she decided to send me for a chest x-ray.” The prospect of a smoking-related disease terrified Sylvia. “I thought that there may be something wrong. I prayed that if my x-ray was normal I would never smoke again.”

 

Two days later when Sylvia found out that her results were normal she kept her promise and had a new inspiration driving her to remain smoke-free. But it wasn’t easy. “At first it felt like a constant battle between me and the addiction. I thought that I would give in. Determination made me keep my promise and it became a game for me.”

 

Sylvia took her quit one hour at a time in the beginning. She also notes how key her supportive family was to her quit, and that they helped her immensely.

 

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

 

Sylvia went for many walks and practiced deep breathing exercises. To ease cravings and to “flush out” her system she also drank water. She tells she “also ate green tea lozenges from the Health food store and cut down on the drinking coffee.”

 

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

 

Sylvia is proud to announce: “I did not have one slip!”

 

Do you have insight or advice for others?

 

Sylvia wants to let the Stop Smoking Center community know: “Just don't give in! The cravings get fewer and farther apart after a while. Go for walks when you feel the urge – and when you go for walks take in that fresh air! Talk to yourself, get a support network of people that will be there for you and visit the Stop Smoking Center support group!”

 

Please join us in congratulating Sylvia for her induction into the Hall of Fame! Like all of our other inductees Sylvia is being recognized not only for beating addiction, but for offering advice and supporting those who need it most.

Congratulations Sylvia for being elected to the Hall of Fame - the place where all ex-smokers want to be!

 

Quit date: Nov 25, 2004

 

Like many people of  her generation Lolly was brought up in a household of smokers. Both of her parents smoked cigarettes and her grandfather smoked a pipe. Lolly’s memory of a typical Sunday afternoon was driving into the countryside with her parents and grandfather. She’d be in the back seat, next to her grandfather and his pipe, while both parents smoked cigarettes, with all the windows closed. Lolly tells us “it used to make me feel really sick. My parents always assumed I was car sick, but now that I think about it I really hated smoke. In those days I vowed to never become a smoker.”

 

However, like most smokers she ended up becoming a smoker in her teens. “By the age of sixteen with all the pressures of adolescence and the sixties culture I wanted to spread my wings. Due to my strict upbringing this was not allowed. In fact any feelings of self-esteem were eroded away. I wasn’t allowed an opinion on anything and I was taught never to show emotions in public and to only focus on my studies. To help improve my language skills I was sent off for a month on an exchange visit to Germany. There I stayed with German family friends and this was the first time I was ever taken seriously. Unfortunately, the members of the family were also smokers, including the teenage kids. One day they persuaded me to try a cigarette. I liked it at once. The rush was exciting and the image in my mind was of sophistication and adulthood. At that very moment I was hooked! I had acquired the self-esteem which was lacking back home.”

 

Coming Home a Smoker

 

Years later, when she was back home and gradually increasing how much she smoked, Lolly remembers dissecting cancerous lungs during her years at school. During study breaks Lolly and the doctors would head outside for a cigarette. By the time she was twenty-one years of age, Lolly was smoking ten to fifteen cigarettes a day.

 

After marrying a smoker, Lolly lived where cigarettes were much cheaper. Because they were so inexpensive, Lolly and her husband continued to increase the amount they smoked. Lolly also admits to smoking during her first pregnancy. “I was lucky that no harm was done to my baby, but when she was eighteen months old she stated commenting on how she didn’t like the smell of smoke. This is where I first decided to stop smoking and went cold turkey.”

 

Lolly’s First Quit Attempts

 

Lolly’s first quit attempt didn’t go so well. She tells us: “By day three of my quit I was having tremors and panic attacks, so I went to the doctor. But the doctor told me to go away because he was too busy to see me. If you can believe this, I was actually told to have a cigarette and the symptoms would vanish!”

 

However, around that time the true facts about smoking and health were publicized. Lolly made various attempts to quit her habit as she recognized that smoking was truly an addiction. But getting support and encouragement was difficult: “I kept asking why we didn’t have a Nicotine Anonymous group and why no one could help. I received little or no encouragement or help to quit no matter who I asked. Any requests were never taken seriously.”

 

Her most successful quit was for three months, and Lolly used a combination of Hypnosis and NRT.  But around her three month mark her father had died suddenly. The stress proved too difficult for her. “When I saw someone with a cigarette it was like a hand beckoning to me, and I fell for it: ‘I just had one’! One was all it took to get my emotional crutch back.”

 

For the next ten years Lolly increased her habit until she was smoking more than thirty-five cigarettes a day. “The effects of smoking had taken their toll and I coughed a lot. Finally, after forty years of smoking I made the commitment to quit for good.”

 

What motivated Lolly to quit this last time?

 

Lolly tells us: “The main reason I quit was to regain control of my life. I watched myself become thinner, my skin greyer, and my body more and more unfit. I coughed every night and was diagnosed as having asthma. For eight years I used inhalers and only now that I’ve quit do I realize that I was allergic to the various chemicals in cigarettes.”

 

Her final motivation came from her granddaughter. “My little granddaughter asked me why I smoked if it was bad for me. And to tell you the truth, I had no answers. I knew she was right and I decided that I’d like to live long enough to see my grandchildren grow up. This is when I seriously began to contemplate quitting.”

 

What was different about Lolly’s final quit, the tough and easy points, or the point in which she saw some "light at the end of the tunnel:"

 

Like the majority of successful quit attempts, Lolly’s quit became personal. “I felt that this would be a now-or-never opportunity. I told no one about my decision.  I went on the Internet to learn about any possible quitting aids as I planned to use either hypnosis or an NRT. As I live away from many friends and family, I decided that I’d need extra support to do this.  I then again searched the Internet for support groups. After reading through many sites I found The Stop Smoking Center (SSC). I knew immediately from reading the posts on this site that I would be able to relate to the people here.”

 

Getting support was key to Lolly’s success. She tells us: “I planned and prepared with The SSC’s online program. By the time I did quit, it was a lot easier than I had imagined. The toughest times for me were days before my quit.  It was sheer terror at the idea of quitting and I nearly gave up the whole idea. The people on the SSC site kept me going until I finally did it. Later, during some stressful moments, I had real problems controlling my emotions. Suddenly I had to face these emotions without having a cigarette.  In SSC I was able to release these emotions, learn to understand them, and accept this new non-smoking me. The support I received here has without a doubt been the single most important reason I am still quit today!”

 

The SSC community helped Lolly through some rough spots. “Through my husband’s two surgeries and my dental problems, everyone carried me along, wrapped in a blanket of caring that astounds me to this day! At my age, I’d never imagined that I’d be chatting to people on the SSC’s Quitting Buddies Instant Messenger.  Ten years ago I had never even had a computer! I’m still amazed at how one can get to know someone so well, yet never meet them.”

 

The SSC tools helped Lolly begin to feel more comfortable in her quit, especially between the four and six week mark. Although Lolly tells that there was no sudden ‘light at the end of the tunnel’, and that she could not pinpoint the exact time that she began to feel like a non-smoker, she always knew that there was no going back. In her own words, she tells us: “I knew that I was in control again, not my addiction controlling me! I was free and able to write my final farewell to smoking.”

 

What did Lolly use to quit, or what techniques did she use to resist cravings?

 

“The Hypnosis tapes helped to relax me for the first week and NRTs did their job by keeping my body stable without too many intense side effects. My main problem was with the emotional and psychological cravings. I’d read about so many methods of resisting cravings on the SSC that I probably tried all of them at least once!”

 

The main technique that worked for Lolly was water. “I carried my bottled water everywhere. The other thing I had from previous quits was a plastic dummy cigarette. I filled it with menthol crystals and carried it in my pocket. At every craving I’d use it; it kept my hands busy and got me through the cravings and to this day, I still carry it around – just in case!”

 

Did Lolly have any major slips? And if she did, what did she learn?

 

“I never had any major slips. I give the credit for this to all the people who helped me through bad times, particularly here at the SSC. Just reading and posting was a huge help.”

 

What advice or insight does Lolly have for other quitters?

 

Lolly feels that two things really give her a better chance of making her successful. “The first is a strong positive mind-set from the start and a determination to succeed. The second is planning and preparation.”

 

She feels that learning where you may be weakest will prepare quitters for resisting cravings, and that knowledge is power: “Being fully prepared helps you to have a stronger mindset, and it gives you the power to overcome your addiction. I’ll always have a space in my life where smoking once existed. Quitting is much like losing a family member. Nothing will ever fill that space, so try not to fill it. I may look back with misplaced fondness, anger or regret at years lost but I can’t replace them nor will I return to smoking.”

 

Lolly also feels that as she moves forward in her new free life she’s found that mantras have a very positive effect on keeping her focused and determined. Three of them had the most impact on her: “smoking is not an option,” "whatever it takes, just don’t smoke,” and “never look back, the future is ahead.”

 

Lolly’s Husband and Her Support Team:

 

“I’d like to thank my best friend, my husband. When I was first quitting, he had to live with my raw emotions and the new me without complaining. One thing did keep me from slipping after the eight-day day point.” Lolly also had this message to everyone in the Support Group: “Thank you to everyone for my new life! It’s wonderful!”

 

Is it any wonder why Lolly’s quit is so successful? Her personal quit program is perhaps the most thorough and well-thought-out quit plan we’ve seen to date. We’re proud to know her, and we’re thankful for the opportunity to learn from Lolly’s success.

 

Congratulations Lolly - and we welcome you to our Hall of Fame!

Quit date: September 21^st, 2004

NoNicSticks first experience with smoking started….

when she was in Jr. High School. “I remember my friend Linda and I would hang out behind our elementary school on the weekends during the summer. All we did was smoke and talk. That afternoon I walked by my mother and she called my name and said "Stop smoking!" I never smoked again until I started dating a guy when I was in my mid-twenties. We only smoked when we went out for drinks. However, him being an alcoholic, we went out often to the bar. Our relationship was an unpleasant one and I began to smoke more from stress. I moved to the south with my parents when they retired and once again I quit. My mother had a history of heart disease, so smoking was not allowed. You think that would get me to stop!  Why do we always think that smoking will never affect us? After my mom passed away I began to smoke on a regular basis.  When I was younger I could have smoked and then quit for a while without having any symptoms of withdrawals or cravings.  Now that I am in my late thirties, the addiction has taken its toll on me!  I was addicted!  Instead of buying packs of cigarettes I was buying whole cartons thinking I could save money that way.  It was like the whole thing crept up on me while I was asleep.”

How did you finally make the decision to quit smoking?

“It would have to be a comment made by a guy that I was interested in dating. He said he liked me in every way except for that I smoked. It all occurred to me that I limited many things in my life because I smoked. People I dated, where I could sit for dinner, travel, exercising, even sleep. Then one day I woke up and said today is the day! I went to buy my first box of patches. I woke up that morning, threw out all the butt filled ash trays, washed all my curtains and went food shopping to buy healthy foods and snacks. I decided this was going to be a turning point for me! I was tired of being tired. I was tired of control the cigarettes had on my life. They ruled my life instead of me living my life!”

Why was this quit different than the other attempts?

“What made this transition the easiest is that I live alone. I did not have the burden of having another smoker in my home. On the third day of being smoke free, I emailed everyone I knew and told them of my venture of quitting. How wonderful it was to come home and find ten emails waiting for me from friends and family congratulating me on my decision.”

How did you resist the cravings?  Did you use any techniques to resist the cravings/withdrawals?

“I used the patch up to the seven week mark. I threw out all my ashtrays and lighters.  I replaced them with pretty candy dishes filled with sugarless gum, lollipops, hard candy or my favorite, “Twislers!” I now wash my dishes after I finish eating. It keeps my hands busy instead and prevented me from craving my “after dinner cigarette”.  Drinking cold water with a straw helped. The cold water was a good shock to the taste buds and the straw gave me the "inhale" benefit.  Finally, the idea of mind over matter really does work. When I felt a craving coming on, I would do my breathing exercises and remember that the craving will soon. disappear”

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

Not any major slips I would have to say.  I did secretly steal 1 cigarette from a friends pack and took about three puffs after he left. Even though I still love the smell of a fresh cigarette, it tasted like dry dirt and made my head spin and I felt nauseous. This was a test to me, not a slip. Right then and there I knew I mad the right choice to quit.  I wasn't about to fill my house with the smell of smoke again after I just finished cleaning it from top to bottom [laugh].”

What advice can you give our members?

“It is hard but you can do it if you want to!”  NoNicSticks wants everyone to tell the world that you have quit smoking!  She states; “Do not feel ashamed of your accomplishment! You have total bragging rights. You must do it for yourself and no one else! Family and friends will be happy for you. No one is ever disappointed because you gave up smoking!”

Well done, NoNicSticks!  The Stop Smoking Center is proud to induct you into the Hall of Fame!  We celebrate your persistence in the face of the lessons you had to learn in order to get well on your way.  We salute your determination to help yourself and to help others remain quit.

Here’s to your healthy, smoke-free life!  

The Stop Smoking Center Support Team

Quit Date: Jan 1, 2005

 

Melanie’s Story

 

Melanie smoked twenty cigarettes a day for twenty years. Melanie tells us, “I thought was cool - one of the gang!”  Melanie had tried to quit smoking many times but never won the battle. She attributes her fallings to the many stresses in her life. “The first cigarette after an attempt to quit was given to me on holiday in South Africa. I was in a Casino and a ninety-two year old spirited guy had a drink sent over to me. In minutes I was talking to him and he offered me a cigarette. He wouldn't accept a simple ‘no thanks’ and he even pushed aside the fact that I’d quit smoking for eight weeks. Temptation took over and I had that cigarette.”

 

Before she visited the Stop Smoking Center Melanie had a tough time quitting. “I couldn't even give up when I was pregnant. I feebly managed to cut down during my pregnancy. I don't know how all my children were born healthy and at decent birth weights. I was lucky again I think? But I became afraid of pushing my luck all the time - I needed to quit!”

 

How did Melanie quit? What motivated her to quit this last time?

 

Melanie tells us, “I had a scare! It’s sad that this is sometimes what it takes for us to wake up and smell the roses.” Her scare didn’t come from her doctor – it came from her dentist. “I had a really bad recession due to gum disease caused by smoking. I had to have my crowns removed along with gum tissue. He warned me that if I didn’t stop smoking I’d lose all of my teeth before I was forty – I’m currently 34! After my surgery I had a post operation bleed. Reason why? I had a cigarette after my surgery! I couldn’t wait to have one! Even though I was fully aware of the negative outcomes that my dentist pointed out to me -  I still smoked.”

 

With a career in nursing and counseling, Melanie’s smile is important to her. “I work in very close contact with people and I’m also a very happy person – I’m usually always smiling. My plan to quit smoking happened just over a year ago. I sat and thought long and hard about smoking and I couldn’t remember a time without smoking, which scared me. I thought about what my dentist said and wondered what my lungs must be like if my gums were already suffering. I didn't want to put on weight and I wanted to stay attractive for my partner. It was very important to me to look and feel good. So, I started planning. I said my New Year resolution for 2004 was to lose weight. Then for 2005 it would be to quit smoking. I lost the weight in 2004 and now I’ve been quit since January 1^st, 2005! It’s been a great couple of years.”

 

What was different about this final quit? What were its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel?"

 

Melanie says, “this time was different, I felt confident that I could do it because of my weight loss. Also, the fact that I’d been psyching myself up for this for a whole year really helped! On New Year’s Eve, the night before my quit I chain smoked. It was as if I was cramming it in as if I was going into hibernation! I was incredibly anxious and scared about my quit. My light at the end of the tunnel was the Stop Smoking Center! Yes, I know it sounds cliché but it’s true. I can be strong for other people, but not always strong for me. I decided to be strong for the world and lead by example. Meeting with like-minded people who were all struggling with the same demon in slightly different ways gave me the confidence to be sure that I can do this! I have the love and support of people all over the world in the Support Group. At home I also have the support from my three children and my partner and the rest of my family were also encouraging.  I have a great cheerleading squad behind me!  How can I fail?”

 

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

 

“My cravings techniques were to shout, yell, cry, laugh, run, walk, take hot baths with lavender, and drink water, deep breathing, cinnamon sticks, singing, dancing, sarcasm, humor, sadness, delay, to drink no alcohol and no caffeine! And from all of this I can honestly say I haven’t had one puff since January 1^st, 2005!”

 

Do you have insight or advice for others?

 

Melanie offers this advice for new quitters, or for quitters who are having a tough go: “Inform yourself! Read all you can about nicotine and what smoking does to your body. Find out everything you can about the realities of quitting as honesty is a key factor!  Be honest with yourself. You know the ‘it won't happen to me’ is wishful thinking - not reality! It can happen to you and it will happen to you if you don’t quit!”

 

Melanie also advises quitters “to read the stories of real people, real successes, real tragedies and real families that have been torn a part by the effects of smoking related diseases. You have to make that decision and stick with your quit! You really have to want to do it for you and you only!”

 

Now that Melanie’s Success Story is posted for all to see, she is one of the inspiring stories that new quitters can read about. Congratulations Melanie – and welcome to the Hall of Fame!

Leslie (aka Koala)

Quit date: August 16, 2004

This month’s Hall of Famer is Leslie, aka Koala. Here’s her story!

“My first cigarette was with a girl I used to hang out with when I was a teenager. She handed me my first smoke and taught me how to inhale. It was after a day of skiing, and we were standing behind a garage in an alley beside out junior high school. I knew if my parents ever caught me I’d be grounded for weeks! However, this thought did not deter me - I was hooked! It’s actually a little bizarre that I still remember someone teaching me how to inhale. I was coughing and had a though time breathing but I still smoked. Unbelievable! I hid smoking from my parents, or so I thought. My dad says he knew and when my mom found out she was very disappointed in me. Despite my mother’s disappointment, I still continued to smoke.

“I thought it was cool to smoke. I'd hang out with my friends and listen to heavy metal music while we chain smoked. All the time thinking that I could quit whenever I really wanted to. I thought, ‘I’m not addicted. I'm too young to get sick.’ I even watched my beloved grandmother die of lung cancer, and I still smoked. It wasn't until I was in my twenties that I decided to try to quit smoking. I quit for a month and then started up on Christmas Eve. I told myself, ‘see I can quit any time, I just don't want to right now.’ What a lie!

“A few years later, I quit again, this time for 18 months. Why did I start up again? I thought I could have just one. Peer pressure was still an influence in my late twenties. Everyone I hung around with smoked. I started off thinking ‘I'll just smoke when I'm with them or out partying.’ That thought did not last! Before I knew it I was smoking full time. I hated it! I hated it so much I quit once more, this time because I was pregnant. I didn't want to harm my baby so I quit. Once my son was born I was standing outside the hospital having my first smoke. Then in July 2004 my uncle called to tell me that my favorite aunt was in the hospital. She had been having seizures and they thought she had a tumor. It was then that I realized that I was only a few years younger than her.  I was scared - really scared!”

Leslie used her aunt’s diagnosis for motivation to quit smoking

“I used my aunt for motivation. We quit roughly the same time, but during the early part of my quit my motivation changed. I realized that I was tired, tired of being addicted, tired of being a slave to smoking. I also realized that I didn't want my son to grow up around smoking. I never want him to go through what I experienced as a smoker. I want to see him grow up and do all the wonderful things he wants to in life. I didn't want to miss that for the world. I knew quitting smoking was going to be hard, but I didn't want one more person telling me my son stunk of cigarette smoke. I wanted to do this for him. In the long run, I’m quitting smoking for many reasons, but the biggest reason is for me. I want to live and I want to be free of smoking forever!” 

Quitting isn’t easy. Leslie struggled from day one!

“I struggled from day one. I fought this quit tooth and nail. After four days of fighting and almost giving in I thought maybe there was some information on the internet. While I roamed the internet I came across this site. It was amazing! Without this site, I would have failed and started smoking again. Having support and understanding was a need, however I still found it a struggle to quit. I’ve fought a lot of stress, anger, and major depression throughout my quit. As my journey continues I’ve learnt to deal with these emotions. I hated myself during the early stages of my quit, but now I’ve discovered that I actually like myself and I’m even learning to love myself.”

Leslie started with the patch

“The day before I quit smoking I went out and purchased a box of patches. I knew I needed all the help I could get. I was on the patch for about six weeks when I had to stop due to medical reasons. From that point on it was cold turkey. I chewed gum and drank tons of water (my water bottle become my new best friend I still carry it with me). I took long hot bubble baths during the cravings and big, long deep breaths. I told myself that I choose to not smoke. I wrote down all of the reasons why I quit and I carried them with me wherever I went. Of course I posted in the SSC Support Group and read and learned from other quitters. I found many great quit buddies who helped me through the darkest days. They’ve been my guardian angels. I owe them everything! The great friends on this site who’ve encouraged me to quit smoking, who’ve and laughed with me, I'm proud to call you my friends.

Did she slip? How Leslie fought back…

“Not a major slip but a slip nonetheless. I lit a smoke and put it out right away, it was like an out of body experience. I hated myself for that and felt so guilty! I was only two months into my quit. I came back with the encouragement and support from my family and friends. I jumped right back on track and I haven’t slipped since. Looking back now I think I needed that slip (not that it's a great idea) but I got it out of the way and I learned a lot from it. I learned how to deal with stress without having a cigarette.”

Leslie’s insight and advice for others

“Just take your quit one day at a time. Quitting is possible and it does get better. You have to want this quit more than you’ve ever wanted any thing in your life. You can't ever give up! To live life without smoking is life changing and the freedom is amazing! Stay proud in your quit. Reward yourself no matter how small or large your milestones are. Just know that it can be done and stay strong!”

Congratulations Leslie!

Leslie has maintained her quit for almost a year and her one year anniversary is on August 16, 2005! Leslie is a strong and determined individual who followed a great plan. Through her hard work she’s been able to overcome smoking and we welcome her to our Hall of Fame.

Our sincerest congratulations to Leslie. Your story is truly all about determination and success!   

Ros :)

 

Quit Date: Dec 16th 2004

 

Ros is our Hall of Fame recipient for September, 2005. She started as a social smoker at the age of fourteen, but since most of her family and friends were full-time smokers, she ended up smoking one and a half packs of cigarettes a day for about 36 years. “It was just a normal thing that most people did,” says Ros. “I quit a few times earlier on in my twenties for about a year. It is scary to look back and realize how many decisions in my life were affected by my need to smoke!”

 

What motivated Ros to quit this last time?

 

Ros says there was a combination of reasons to quit smoking rather than a single reason or event. She knew it was time to quit and knew it would be difficult to become an ex-smoker. “I don't think I really believed I could actually quit and I'm not convinced I particularly wanted to. Now I can look back and wonder why on earth it took me so long to try!”

 

What was different about this final quit, it’s tough and easy points, or the point where you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel?"

 

Ros had tried the patch a few years earlier but it didn’t seem to work for her at that point in her life. This time Ros decided to try Zyban. “I think I was ‘playing’ with it,” says Ros, “just like I had experimented with patches many years before when they first came out. I read up about Zyban before asking for the prescription. I was attracted by the idea that you might cut down before the quit date.” Ros was happily surprised to see the results: “three days before my quit, without any effort on my part, I had cut back dramatically!” After seeing her smoking cut almost in half before she even reached her quit date, Ros began to be convinced that she might really quit smoking.

 

“I was very badly prepared. I stumbled into the Stop Smoking Center on day two when searching for information on smoking cessation. I was looking for support and solidarity, needing distraction. Belatedly I filled in the workbook and did all the prep work I should have done beforehand. I got the support and help I needed and began to educate myself about cigarettes and tobacco addiction. More importantly, I started to work at staying quit. I turned a corner at five weeks quit. Even though there were still one or two light cravings a day, at that point it all became manageable. This was when I knew that this was my forever quit. I never wanted to be a slave to cigarettes again!”

 

What techniques did Ros use to resist cravings?

 

Although many quitters are concerned about putting on weight, Ros used food to resist cravings. She tried sweets for the first few weeks. “If it wasn't nailed down I ate it!” Ros also chewed cinnamon sticks, burnt incense and drank specialty teas such as Chai and more recently Rooibos and Vanilla. Ros still finds a small piece of strong cheddar cheese good as an after dinner treat. She also distracts herself by spending time online at our Stop Smoking Center. “I also play trivial computer games to break up the day instead of smoking cigarettes,” explains Ros. “I tried to concentrate on all the positive aspects of quitting and found fresh pleasures to enjoy instead of dwelling on missing cigarettes.”

 

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

 

Ros did not have one puff since her quit date! “I did find half a cigarette under my car seat (what a slob!) at around four weeks quit,” confesses Ros. “For several days I was desperately tempted to try it. I even got as far as having it in my mouth with a lighter in my hand a couple of times. What prevented me from taking that one puff was I was going to be posting a perfect month in the Stop Smoking Center’s Stats Parade. Thankfully soon after I learnt that I could never be a social smoker and have the odd one occasionally, that was the end of my temptation!”

 

 

 

Do you have insight or advice for others?

 

Ros has a wonderfully positive, practical philosophy to encourage others to take advantage of all the resources available to them. “Learn as much as you can about smoking and quitting. Blow a hole in the myth that you enjoy smoking. Accept that it is an addiction that messes with the reward pathways in your brain. The pleasure you think you get from cigarettes is simply a temporary release from a craving. Stay close to the Stop Smoking Center support group. Read, post, do anything that distracts you from cravings. This will give you knowledge and support. Knowing withdrawal symptoms are shared by others often helps you to cope with it better. Reward yourself frequently! Draw a line under your smoking past and forgive yourself for it. Finally, be gentle with yourself while quitting, there is a lot of healing going on, both mentally and physically.”

 

Congratulations Ros on reaching your goal! We hope you feel a big pat on the back from the thousands of people who read this piece every month. We know you'll continue to delight, inspire, and help others for many years to come.

Congratulations on being inducted to the Hall of Fame. The place where all ex-smokers want to be!

Jags

Quit date: Jan 19, 2005

 

The Stop Smoking Center would like to congratulate Jags on being our Hall of Famer for October, 2005!

 

Jags started smoking when he was 14 - which was over 21 years ago. He started smoking because he admired his older brother, who was a smoker.  “I worshiped the ground he walked on! I wanted to be cool just like him!” says Jags. At first Jags didn’t smoke much, about a pack or two a week. But just like all smokers, by 16 he increased his habit to a pack a day. He tried to quit in college due to his lack of finances. He tells us, “it was either I eat or smoke. I was quite fond of eating, so smoking wasn’t a concern.” He made it to three years before smoking re-introduced itself to his every day life because his full-time job gave him the opportunity to afford cigarettes. “At first it was just smoking a few when going out after work for a beer with the guys. It didn’t take long before I was back to a pack a day.”

 

What motivated Jags to quit this last time?

In the middle of January 2005, Jags was at work and started having chest pains. He ended up making a trip to the emergency room at his local hospital and was admitted for observation. He was hooked up to heart monitors and was given all kinds of medication. Needless to say, Jags was extremely frightened! Jags explains, “It gave me a huge incentive to quit smoking and to straighten out my life. If I can actively take some steps to lessen my chances for heart attack, then by golly, I'm going to do it”.

 

Tell us what was different about this final quit, its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel:"

This quit was much harder than Jags remembered during his college years. He was very grouchy for the first week. Also, one of the major issues for Jags was the fact that his wife continued to smoke as he attempted to quit. According to Jags, “she (his wife) had no desire to quit smoking. For the first few days she didn't smoke around me. However, in no time she relapsed back into her normal routine. At this point I had to adjust my quit around her. I needed ways to avoid her when I knew she was going to smoke.”

 

Being at work and not smoking was easy for Jags because he was used to not smoking while working. Because he couldn’t smoke at work, he actually tried to find excuses to work late. The second weekend for Jags was extremely difficult for him. “I was having cravings after cravings and nothing I did seem to help. But I didn't smoke! After making it through that weekend, I knew that I wasn't going to have any more problems in my quit”.

 

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

Jags ate a lot of hard candy and mini candy bars when he was at home. When he drove he made sure he always had something to drink. Jags put in a bunch of his favorite tapes that he could sing along to when he had a craving. Most of all he’d also remember that day in the hospital and being afraid losing his life. He tells us firmly: “This memory worked every time!”

 

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

Jags explains, “I didn't have any slips.  Although the nicodemon sure gave me its best shot!”

 

Jags insight and advice for others?

“About the only advice I could give would be to stay strong!  Log on to this site as often as needed.  Remember, in all of our lives there was a time that we didn't smoke. It doesn’t matter how long ago it was. If we could become smokers, we can become non-smokers once again”.

 

Such great advice! We so heartily wish you continued success Jags! We’re all so proud of your progress and success. We are also grateful for all the help and untiring support you give to everyone in our Support Group. Congratulations Jags and welcome to the Hall of Fame!

 

 

 

Wendywoo’s Quit!

 

November 1, 2005

 

Unlike the majority of smokers, Wendy started at a time when most people were realizing it was time to quit. “It was a case of crass stupidity, which, as time went on, ultimately became a lesson in humility,” explains Wendy. “I had absolutely no excuse to start smoking. No one in my family smoked, my husband didn't smoke, and the majority of my friends didn’t smoke. I was not unkind to smokers, but I wasn’t particularly tolerant of smokers throughout my life”.

 

Never having been addicted to anything in her past, Wendy couldn't understand why anyone would do something like smoke – because it seemed so unpleasant. Wendy even believed smokers were selfish! “These smokers would light up after a meal in a restaurant and would then blow smoke near non smoking dinners. Or, they’d walk through the town center with their cigarette relaxed in their hand at their child's eye level, generally not considering non-smokers at all!”

 

Wendy knew nicotine was more addictive than most other drugs, but she’d never been addicted to anything in the past so she didn't really understand what addiction meant. She had a part time job in the evenings where she mostly worked alone. Her boss was a heavy smoker and was transferred to another part of the country. Upon her boss’ leave a cigarette and lighter was left on her desk. Wendy explains, “I don't really believe they were left there for my benefit, he seemed to have a little stash around in most offices in the building, but a little part of me still wonders why it was on my desk?” That cigarette sat on her desk for many days without her even being actively conscious about it. One particularly quiet evening curiosity took over.

 

I thought to myself: “What happens when you smoke that makes it so irresistible? I don't know what I expected? Some amazing feeling of euphoria? Hallucinations? Communion with a higher spirit? It was a real let down, it lasted less than ten minutes! I created clouds of smoke and felt absolutely nothing. I talked about my ‘smoking experience’ to one of my friends who smoked, and he explained that you have to actually breathe the smoke into your lungs, which I thought pretty disgusting.”

 

The next time she was in her office she bought her first pack of cigarettes – now she was really curious as to what made cigarettes attractive. Wendy says she doesn’t even know when it happened… she didn't enjoy cigarettes, but she did get that “buzz!” According to Wendy, “The consumption increased and I found myself fancying one even when I wasn't working, but I didn't know I was getting addicted. I was eventually smoking between 12 to 15 cigarettes a day when I realized that smoking was interfering with my life.”

 

What motivated you to quit this last time?

 

What was her motivation to quit? Wendy tells us that the motivation was simple because she only smoked for about five years. She remembered how it felt to be free and she wanted her life back. She also realized that smoking interfered with everything. For example, she kept smoking a secret from her family, which anyone will agree is no easy task! Wendy tells us how she hid her smoking from her family: “I could never have justified smoking, which meant that I had to go to enormous trouble to hide it. I showered several times a day, ate parsley, mints and brushed my teeth after every cigarette. I only smoked outdoors and used air freshener and body sprays as though they were going out of fashion. I felt shame. I no longer enjoyed the peace of hill walking, sitting amongst the heather or bluebells and looking across fields and countryside for as far as they eye could see. I cut short holidays, avoided social situations, and to my shame even came up with excuses as to why I couldn't watch my daughter perform at concerts because I couldn't cope with the hours not knowing when I’d get the chance to smoke.”

 

One day Wendy and her friends decided to get a Chinese take-out. Since she was a closet smoker she made her poor her husband drive past the restaurant to take her home - with the excuse that she was desperate for the loo! But actually, the excuse gave her enough time to sneak a cigarette while her husband drove back to the restaurant. At this point she knew that smoking was running her life; she wanted to be in control but clearly, her addiction was controlling her.

 

Tell us what was different about this final quit, its tough and easy points, or the point in which you saw some "light at the end of the tunnel":

 

Wendy had tried quitting several times before by using a variety of methods, but the cravings always got her to start up again. So, Wendy continued to quit and relapse. She hated this cycle, felt stuck, and didn’t know what to do. She noticed how she felt after she smoked, which she says was “normal.” “I wasn't craving and I felt normal. I liked feeling normal. Normal was how I felt before ever smoking and I could still remember what that was like. If I smoked I would need to smoke another one within the hour. If I didn't I’d suffer cravings. If I could be brave and ride out the cravings then one day I’d have my life back!”

 

Wendy decided to quit once she finished her two last packs of cigarettes. Before she smoked each of her last cigarettes she made herself really think about why she was quitting. She knew that she had to smoke these cigarettes because her body was telling her that she needed them to survive. With each inhale Wendy questioned what she liked about her habit. It wasn't the taste, it wasn't relaxation - so what was it? She also noticed that before starting her last cigarette she knew she wanted it with a passion. While she was smoking it she couldn’t kid herself that she experienced the relief from her “need to smoke.” But after she finished her cigarette she could not understand why she bothered lighting up in the first place. After all, it wasn't that great!

 

When she realized this she quit cold turkey. Days and weeks went by and she was feeling normal. However, within a month’s time she was climbing the walls and knew she needed support. Wendy explains, “The Stop Smoking Center (SSC) and their support staff were my life-line. Without the kindness of the members, I might have caved in! The members were telling me that I could quit! So, I did!  I don't know, but I do know that quitting in the beginning was the hardest!”

 

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

 

Wendy had a number of methods to resist her cravings. She drank iced water, chewed on cinnamon sticks and breathed though cut up straws. However, the best motivator for Wendy was posting in the SSC Support Group. Whenever a craving set in she’d do her best to log on and with great enthusiasm she’d congratulate other members who were doing what she wanted to do – quit for good.

 

Like Wendy, they too were reaching toward milestones that were not yet in sight, but with every day they were getting close. Wendy would tell people how great not smoking was and tried to be a shoulder to cry on and as time progressed she desperately wanted people who had become real friends to feel the success that she was feeling. 

 

After working in the Support Group for a while Wendy realized that she was on a high!  The high to feel normal again! By the time Wendy reached her 100 day milestone she knew her smoking was history. There was no way she was going to turn back. She tells us: “Maybe I’ll never be quite the person I was pre-smoking but at least I feel at peace and I don't suffer cravings anymore!”

 

Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?

 

Wendy is proud to say that she didn’t have a single slip. “I came close within the first week of finding the SSC. I was under a great deal of stress and found a stray cigarette, which I lit. But I’m proud to say that I didn't smoke it! In fact, it was the turning point for me because I knew I’d never attempt to quit again. That day I cried for hours, I knew it was over.” These were tears of joy for Wendy - her final attempt to quit was finally working.

 

Do you have insight or advice for others?

 

Wendy’s advice to others:

 

“Every person who is ditching cigarettes has my utmost respect because it’s so hard in the beginning. Be optimistic and believe in yourself! Refuse to allow cravings to undermine the goal that you know you desperately want and know that what you feel at the beginning of your quit is nothing like the peace you’ll feel further down the line. Smoking takes your hard earned money and destroys your health.  This addiction steals your soul. We all deserve better! “

 

We at the SSC would like to congratulate Wendy on winning her hard-fought battle. She’s not only jumped those amazing hurdles, she’s actually improved her own general health while reaching out to many of our members - and she continues to help others to this day. We all appreciate her wisdom and guidance.

 

Congratulations Wendy and thanks for sharing your story and for offering your wise leadership. We wish you a healthy and happy new life as an ex-smoker!

December HOF “Rusty”

Quit date: 12/13/04

 

Rusty started smoking in the mid 1960’s while she was in high school. Her friend thought they were very stylish and bought Benson and Hedges cigarettes. “They were in a cool box and were imported,” says Rusty “so we felt very sophisticated”.

 

Rusty and her friend would pool their money to buy a pack, which would last for at least a few days. But that didn’t last for long. “By my mid twenties I was smoking a pack a day and that increased to two packs in my thirties and forties. My only serious quit was in the early eighties. I’d been taking birth control pills and one day decided to read the papers that came with the prescription. I remember how shocked I was by the strong language in the literature. Basically, it said to me ‘If you smoke and take birth control pills, you’ll die immediately!’ At that moment, I crumbled up my cigarettes and threw them away.”

 

After the shocking news Rusty didn’t smoke again for a year. Then it all started again… she’d ask friends who smoked for one cigarette here and another there. Eventually, she was once again hooked.

 

The habit continued, and so did the attempts to quit smoking. Rusty tells us, “I had a few other times when I tried to quit, but none lasted more than a day or two. I was a committed smoker. I smoked before I got out of bed in the morning and had one last cigarette before I went to bed.”  Smoking was running her life and she saw cigarettes as a constant and faithful companion.

 

Waking up to a new life

 

Like all smokers, Rusty knew smoking was bad for her. But also (like all smokers), she kept pushing the thought aside. Over the years, many doctors had told her how important it was to quit. Plus, her mother died of heart disease and her father died of cancer. No one knew better than she did about the dangers associated with smoking. But she was both hooked and afraid.

 

“During the past five years or so, I moved into my fifties and began to face the facts of middle age. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. I had a lot of dental work completed and my blood pressure and cholesterol were very high.” Depression also set in and Rusty saw that her life needed a change. 

 

One evening she sat at her kitchen table and cried – she thought that her life was falling apart.  She was limited to what she could do and it was scaring her. Rusty tells us, “It was too overwhelming to even think about. I just wanted to get into my closet and shut the door.” But little did she know that a change was taking place, a positive change that would literally breathe new life and show her that she did indeed have a very bright future in front of her.

 

It all happened one morning some weeks later. Rusty woke up and her first thought was, “I haven't had a cigarette for 8 hours! I might as well quit right now." She got up and didn't smoke. She had a cup of coffee and didn't smoke. She got dressed and didn't smoke. She drove the 22 miles to work and didn't smoke!

 

Somehow, Rusty felt that she’d turned a corner and that she could make this happen! Her therapist hypothesized that her left brain and right brain finally connected during her sleep that night. “Whatever it was,” says Rusty, “it was my final quit!”

 

Tell us what was different about this final quit

 

Rusty laughs that she was persistent and stubborn to the point of being obnoxious about her final quit. Her husband, a committed smoker, offered no support. In fact Rusty says that he was a big threat to her quit. To be fair, Rusty admits having horrible mood swings and she made life miserable for him. At one point, she told him that he could leave her if he wanted, but nothing could every make her go back to smoking.

 

Rusty felt that she had to hold on tight to her quit because someone or something might take it away from her. At the same time, she didn’t ask her husband or anyone else to not to smoke around her. She felt like she had to put an invisible shield around herself. She lived, breathed, ate, and slept with her quit at the forefront of her mind and found a therapist who specialized in substance abuse. Her therapist helped her learn relaxation techniques, anger management strategies and other coping mechanisms. Only time has made it easier for her and although she still considers herself an addict she still holds her quit very tenderly and protectively.

 

According to Rusty, “I’ve never thought of the battle as ‘me against the cigarettes’ as much as ‘me against my addiction.’” When she found the Stop Smoking Center, her life started to even out as she realized that there were others out there who felt like she did. She never imagined that there could be a network of people who could hold each other up and help each other quit. “The fact that others were going through the same thing as me made my quit even more possible - and the Support Group helped me regain my balance.”

 

What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?

 

Rusty used nicotine gum for a couple of days because a coworker recognized her distress and brought her some on her second day of her quit. That day she went out and bought her own gum, which she used temporarily to help her get over her first cravings.

 

She cut back on coffee and discovered little boxes of raisins and carried them with her everywhere she went. She drank water by the gallon and searched out books and music on the Internet that would help her relax and calm down. She meditated and kept a journal and wrote in it constantly.

 

Did Rusty have any major slips?

 

Rusty is happy to report that she did not have any major slips.

 

Rusty’s insight and advice for others

 

1.      Prepare, prepare, prepare. I didn't! I think it would have made a major difference in my emotional health early in my quit if I had prepared a bit more.

2.      Keep a journal. It can be handwritten or on a computer, but have a place where you can collect your thoughts and the thoughts of others. This will be a focal point that you can turn to time and time again like an old friend.

3.      Don't analyze every little thing. Not every physical symptom is caused by your quit. But when something seems not right, either physically or emotionally, do seek outside help. If you can’t shake your dark moods, if you can’t function after a couple of weeks, get talk therapy.

4.      Cherish the friendships that you make on the Stop Smoking Center and value the differences of opinions. At first you may find that not everyone will become your best friend - but if you reach out your hand you’ll connect with others in wonderful and mysterious ways. Don't be afraid that you'll say the wrong thing or that you'll sound stupid.  You’ll find more understanding on the Stop Smoking Center Support Group than anywhere in the world.

5.      Know that you’re not the weakest or the worst case or the heaviest smoker. Know that there are others who have struggled harder than you or who have more to overcome - and they’ve made it.

6.      Know that quitting smoking can be accomplished.  It can be done and you can do it!

 

We can't help but celebrate and feel inspired when we read a success story such as Rusty’s. We also salute her sincere respect and gratitude for the members of our Support Group who helped her along.

 

We look forward to reading her posts for a long time to come, so please join us in congratulating Rusty for her induction into the Hall of Fame!  She’s being recognized not only for beating her addiction, but for offering advice and support to those who need it most.

You can definitely sit back, think of that day when you woke up and quit, and realize that you’ve reached your goal. Congratulations Rusty for being elected to the Hall of Fame!

 

 

Hall of Fame

Recipient: Mouse

Quit Date: September, 2002

Please join The Stop Smoking Center (SSC) on congratulating 2004’s newest addition to the Hall of Fame!

 

This month we are recognizing Mouse because of her well designed, well organized, proactive and health-focused quit smoking plan. Since her quit date Mouse has not only maintained a successful quit and improved her entire lifestyle, but has selflessly reached out to new quitters in the SSC’s Support Group.

 

Mouse’s Story

 

Mouse started smoking at age 15. She came from a family of smokers and found it quite easy to sneak cigarettes from her parents pack. At an early age she moved away from home and landed a good paying job in a factory, which meant that she could afford to buy her own cigarettes. As the years passed she didn't even think of quitting. But this started to change when she saw many family members begin to pass away from smoking-related illness.

 

Despite the smoking-related illnesses her family, Mouse continued to smoke. As she grew up with cigarettes she felt that smoking was a way of life and held the attitude that “you're going to die anyway - might as well smoke!” Even after having four children, she never thought of quitting and smoked through all four pregnancies. As she looks back she tells us, “that’s something I'll always regret!”

Her Quitting History

 

On September 2002, after lurking for about a week, Mouse took the plunge and joined the SSC. She was impressed with the knowledge everyone seemed to have about quitting, and she needed the tremendous spirit of help and encouragement that ebbs from the entire group. This constant support was important to her because she was quitting alone, and didn’t receive much help or encouragement from home. 

 

But it wasn’t easy. In fact, Mouse has slipped 3 or 4 times since she first joined the SSC. However, the group helped Mouse identify that each slip was a result of drinking alcohol. Moving forward with resolve, she came to the site, admitted slipping, asked for advice, and then continued on her quitting journey. Had she not jumped right back into to her quit, Mouse tells us that she would not be where she is today - which is almost 6 month’s sober!

 

What Mouse learned from those past slips is that for her, smoking and drinking go hand in hand. She tells us, “In order for me to quit I had to give up alcohol. What I didn't know until 6 months ago was that I replaced one addiction for another. I always drank but I started drinking heavily after I quit smoking. What soon became clear to me was that I was also addicted to alcohol.”

Mouse’s Quit Plan

 

When we asked Mouse about her personal quit plan she tells us: “I've had people many ask me how I knew it was time to quit. My answer to them was that I got to a point where I’d be consistently telling myself ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Sooner or later you begin listening to that voice.”

 

She started her last quit by using the 14mg patch and stayed on the 7mg patch a week longer than needed. As far as handling nicotine cravings, she tells us, “Most times when I craved early on in my quit I exercised. Exercise really helped me with this last quit. If I couldn't get to the gym, I exercised at home and sometimes I just called it a day and went to bed. I learned to accept the cravings instead of fighting them.”

 

Posting her thoughts, struggles and feeling on the SSC’s Support Group was a real asset to her quit. And when a craving hit, she soon realized that posting a message not only helped the others identify what she was going through, but allowed her a safe place to vent her frustrations. “By the time you’re done replying to somebody, the cravings and or junkie thoughts are gone. And you've probably just taken your own advice that you've given to someone else without really realizing it.”

 

Mouse found the SSC very valuable and we appreciate her kind comments: “Without the SSC Support Group, I know I'd still be one of the many who are still contemplating about quitting. People there are not just cyber people to me, but real human beings with hearts of gold.”

Making Changes and Sticking with Them

 

Mouse’s advice to anyone who wants to quit:

 

·         Post messages regularly and ask for support, especially in the beginning.

·         Reward yourself for each week you've been quit. Mouse created a reward plan for each month and  it has been a great incentive.

·         Drink lots of water.

·         Don't be afraid to ask for help - especially if you're about to slip or having a real bad craving spell.

·         Go to your doctor and ask about a nicotine replacement therapy. If going cold turkey
scares you, using a NRT shouldn't make you feel weaker than others who are quitting without. Any means that will get you to be successful in the end is worth every penny.

·         Be stubborn! Let nothing stand in the way of your quit! You don't smoke anymore and smoking won't help you in any situation.

·         Dealing with your emotions head on is something that you’ll have to learn, so be prepared for it! When you have an angry moment, go for a walk, have a shower, or maybe do some deep breathing. Each emotion has to be relearned. You can no longer hide behind a cloud of smoke. 

·         Plan ahead of what you’ll do in all and every situation you can think of that may push you toward sneaking a smoke.

·         Quit living in the past! The past is gone and can't be changed. You are the only one in control of your future!  Live each day to the fullest and keep taking your quit one day at a time.

 

Great advice from someone who most definitely knows how to quit!

 

We at the SSC would like to congratulate Mouse on quitting smoking, improving her own general health AND for consistently reaching out to others who need her wisdom and guidance.

 

Thanks Mouse for sharing your story with us and we wish you a healthy and happy life as an ex-smoker. After months of being smoke-free, you can change your mantra from “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!” to “ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH!”

 

Congratulations and thanks for your leadership!

Hall of Fame

Recipient:  John W

 

Quit date:  March 10, 2003

 

JohnW’s Story

 

John (known to our Support Group as JohnW) was in his twenties when he left home to pursue a career at a greeting card factory. During his breaks he met many friends, and most of them smoked. One day, while John was on his daily break, a friend offered him a cigarette. That first cigarette turned into a 24-year, pack-and-a-half a day habit.

 

Fortunately, John has been able to meet his addiction head on. 24 years later, John is an ex-smoker who is committed to helping others beat the addiction. We are proud to announce that JohnW is the newest inductee into our Hall of Fame!

 

Motivation to Quit

 

In April of 1982 John started to experience heart problems. Very soon after he had had a heart attack and surgery was the only choice. His doctors told him that quitting smoking was not an option, but a requirement, but even after all of the tests and diets John just couldn’t kick the habit.

 

But he did try. On every New Years Eve, like so many others around the world, John would make a resolution to kick the habit. But the resolution didn’t stick. John tells us: “that nicodemon had too much of a hold on me. I was too addicted to just quit. I just didn’t have the willpower, and most importantly, the belief in myself that’s so essential to quitting smoking.”

 

That all changed in February of 2003 when John was reading his daily newspaper. He saw an advertisement that offered help to quit smoking. “The ad said that they were going to supply me with Zyban. All I had to do was answer a few questions and then visit my doctor while I kept taking the pills so my progress could be monitored.” 

 

Thinking that this was not a bad idea, John signed up. A few weeks later John received an e-mail form his sister. The note said: “You just got to get on the Stop Smoking Center, that’s the only way to actually quit smoking – you need the support and encouragement behind you.” John immediately logged onto the SSC and “from that day forward, after taking the program’s public pledge, I was off and running.”

 

Moving Through the Quitting Process

 

John reports that after moving through the SSC’s “Road to Success” program his quit was fairly easy. “Yes, I had the usual withdrawal symptoms, for like 8 weeks, but for some reason I felt so strong in this quit. I really didn’t have any cravings.”

 

John attributes his success to the SSC and Zyban. “I used the pills for 7 weeks and I took the SSC’s advice and rewarded myself every 3 or 4 days for being smoke-free.” Temptations were present, but John’s coping skills kicked in whenever the urge to relapse appeared: “I’d see a person smoking on the street corner and I’d automatically wonder what it would still be like. But it was just a junky thought that didn’t last a minute. I very seldom dwelled on cravings! I just said ‘What’s the use?’ I was enjoying myself too much being smoke-free after smoking for 45 years!  I wasn’t going to make a u-turn and go back down that road. I suppose I could say that I really started believing in myself. And I won! Yes - I beat that nicodemon.”

 

The Value of Support

 

John also felt that the relationships he built within the SSC Support Group were essential. “I was trying to prove to the people on the SSC that I really could quit!”

 

By staying in close communication with his Quitting Buddies and online Support Team, John had the motivation to keep going. “How I could possibly let my new friends down? I didn’t want to show them that I was a loser. I never had that kind of backing in my life.” By creating a solid quitting plan, using Zyban and working within the Online Support Group, John is nearing his one year anniversary.

 

Did John have any major slips?  “Knock on wood I haven’t had a single slip in 10 months, 2 weeks and counting! Do I intend too? Absolutely not. Positive thinking and self-talk quickly eliminates any slipping thoughts. Now that I’m free, a cigarette will never get the best of me.”

 

John’s Advise for Others

 

As a former smoker who has been nicotine free for almost an entire year, John passes on the following advice to those who are just starting out on their journey:

 

“Get out of that fast lane! For the first 2 months of your quit put everything else on the back burner - and reward yourself! Believe in yourself, have high self-esteem, and above all listen to the people on the SSC. Without their support and encouragement, it is really hard to pass the test and graduate from the Stop Smoking Center. Believe me, I’m living proof!”

 

Please join us in congratulating John - as he nears his one-year anniversary he is living proof that it can be done!

 

Welcome to the Hall of Fame, and thanks so much for supporting others!

Hall of Fame

Please congratulate this month's Hall of Fame inductee: Pat!

 

Here's what some of Pat’s nominators had to say:

 

“Pat’s journey as documented in the posts has inspired many people. Again and again you see references to Pat's honest and heart-wrenching posts, and how they’ve helped other people who happen to read them. Pat is now one of the brightest people on the site and she is around every day helping others. She readily acknowledges that the difference is in the change she has made to her outlook on life. She is one brave lady.”

 

“I feel like she has really fought it hard to get where she is, and she deserves to be recognized for it.”

 

“Pat continues to reach out daily to help others reach their own goals. Her humor, sincerity and her undoubting English writing style are a warm and lovingly addition to the SSC family. I would like to nominate Pat to be inducted into the Hall of Fame! Today she posts with confidence and spunk, a true extraordinary change form the Pat only a few months ago.”

 

“I think Pat is an inspiration to all of us on the site.”

 

“Pat has found it to be somewhat harder than the rest of us. At times, she still struggles with her quit, but throughout it all, she's maintained it beautifully. She's learned SO much and has used it all to help her maintain her quit. She's finally coming to the end of her long journey and I think that she really deserves this Hall of Fame success to bring it home.”

 

Pat’s Story and her Motivation to Quit

 

Pat had smoked a good part of her adult life. She didn’t even think about quitting until she started to experience physical health problems like chest pains and weight loss. She was sent for many tests, but was amazed to find that they all came back negative, and no one knew the reasons behind her illness. 

 

Pat started to fear the worst. This fear created a new Pat and she attempted to quit smoking. “It was my first real attempt at quitting and I knew I had to do it with no slipping, this had to be my one and only quit, now or never. I would not have the courage to have another go at it.”

 

Pat prepared first through education. She read as many materials as possible on smoking cessation, and even saw a smoking cessation counselor who suggested the use of Zyban. “I really don't know if it helped or not because my desire to smoke never waned, and I was not able to cut down before I quit. But I stuck to it and did all I should and I smoked my last cigarette at midnight on June 7, 2003.”

 

Pat did experience withdrawals, but found the courage to stick to her quit. There were times for the first days that she cried for hours and curled up in misery in her bed. “I totally fell apart and thought I was going insane, but I didn't smoke.”

 

On the second day of Pat’s quit, her daughter let her know about a website she found called “The Stop Smoking Center.”  “I used to print out every reply and read them over and over again - I still have them all, I treasure them!”  The Stop Smoking Center Support Group became Pat’s lifeline.  “I virtually stopped doing anything other than read and post!”  Pat joined the quitting buddies and met Melofga. “She saw me through some horrendous times. I will never be able to thank her enough for putting up with me and my rantings and ravings.” 

 

Pat’s Thoughts Today

 

“I will never be able to thank everyone on here who have helped me enough. I know without a doubt that I wouldn't have done it on my own, it was just too hard. No two quits are the same and we all have to find what suits us best. But whichever method you choose, cold turkey, or with assistance, The Stop Smoking Center is invaluable in its support and advice. I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone for being there for me. You are too many to mention, but you know who you are, and I love you all.”

 

Pat you are an inspiration to all of us. You have not only conquered an addictive habit, but through offering support and advice in The Support Group, have helped save the lives of others.

 

Please join us in congratulating Pat as our Success Story for March 2004!

Recipients: Lin, Bubba and Fran

 

This month’s Hall of Fame is celebrating some of the long-standing friendships that have evolved in the Stop Smoking Center Support Group. Instead of inducting one quitter to the Hall of Fame this month we are recognizing three members who have maintained their quit and supported new quitters for well over two years: Lin, Fran and Bubba.

 

Please join us in celebrating these success stories!

 

Lin

Quit Date: March 20^th, 2002

 

Lin first told her quit story in March of 2003 when she was first inducted into our Hall of Fame. Lin states, “Quitting smoking was something I had always wanted to do but had never been successful at, something I never really understood how to successfully go about it, until I came to the SSC. I was confident at that point, with one year under my belt that I would never go back to smoking”.

Lin is now two years quit and still going strong. “I celebrated my two year quit anniversary with my friends at the SSC, many faces have changed some have moved on, some remain, but still the SSC is a very important part of my life. Who better to share my celebration with?”

Lin’s words of wisdom

“We often say on the site that quitting smoking is a journey, and yes it is! The journey seems to go on and on and it never fails that we uncover new and exciting things about ourselves and about our lives. This past year has been one of those years!  Being very confident in my quit, I have found the need to expand on my overall health and attitude of life. Once again I turned to my friends at the SSC to help me embark on a Fitter lifestyle. With the help and encouragement of the members I have started an exercise program, healthy eating and further awareness of who I have become. The emotional aspects of being a non-smoker have also blossomed too! No more hiding my thoughts and emotions behind a cloud of smoke, not necessary! With time and practice a new you emerges like a butterfly from her cocoon and flies off into the horizon, ready to meet the challenges of life head on”.

Lin feels that quitting smoking “is an empowering feeling to know that you have beaten an addiction!  It is truly empowering to know in your heart that no mater what life throws at you, you will never use a cigarette again to ease the pain.”

Fran

Quit Date: March 15^th, 2002

 

Fran also felt that quitting smoking was more than just giving up a bad habit – it was a process that has changed her whole outlook on life.

 

“Quitting changed my life. I have a confidence in myself I never had before. I always felt weak because I couldn’t seem to shake my addiction. I never realized that you had to prepare yourself and educate yourself in order to have a successful quit. I would never go back now and give up this feeling of accomplishment. Quitting had a domino effect on my life, it changed other things. I realized that I dealt with anger by stuffing it down and smoking. That first time I couldn’t run to my smokes when I became angry was huge! But slowly I am learning to deal with my feelings in a more healthy way.

 

Bubba

Quit Date: October 9^th, 2001

 

Bubba tells us: “Having been quit now for 934 days at the time of this writing, I can told you it is a wonderful thing that I have done for myself.  My life and the lives of those about me have been radically changed for the better.  Those I cherish in my life tend to want to be with me more now than before. Lastly, my beloved Granddaughter is so proud of her Grandfather she tells everyone what I have done.”

 

Please join us in congratulating Lin, Fran and Bubba. Their stories and ongoing support are truly an inspiration to us all!

 

 

 

This month’s Hall of Fame goes to a member who is celebrating his Two Year Anniversary of being smoke free. Please join us in welcoming Rick to the Hall of Fame!

Rick’s Story

Rick had been a smoker for 38 long years. It all began in the sixth grade when he started smoking because like many, he though it was "cool to smoke.”  He maintained his new habit by stealing cigarettes from stores and from his parents until finally his dad said he'd rather buy cigarettes for Rick because he didn’t want his son to get caught stealing.  By the time Rick was 16 he smoked four packs a day. “I continued to smoke until 2 years ago, never thinking or wanting to quit”.

In 1996 Rick’s mother was diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, his mother did not survive the illness. The passing of his mother put his life into perspective and as a result, Rick decided to take action and quit.

To help him in his quest to become and remain free, Rick searched the Internet at work, looking for sites about smoking and how to quit. “I found sites everywhere that cost you money to join, or get a monthly membership you for a fee, and then I found The Stop Smoking Center. Here was a site that let you post and reply and it didn’t cost you anything”.

As each day passed Rick would check into the support group on a daily basis. As we all know, smoking is often lonely and frustrating, but through the Stop Smoking Center Support Group he didn’t feel so alone. Rick tells us: “There were other people like me thinking and actually trying to quit”.

Finally after about a week of lurking he gathered the courage to write his first post, and he found that after the replies kept coming in dozens. “First they (the members in the support group) said get rid of everything, and I did. When I was away from home I told my wife to throw it all away. Cigarettes, lighters, ashtrays, everything! The next morning I ran to my computer to announce I'd quit!” Everyone was supportive and Rick’s began his journey to become an ex-smoker.

Rick decided not to use any cessation aids or products: “Cold turkey was hard! This site totally surprised me because I didn't think anyone would let me join. Was I ever wrong! Not only did they let me post but they also helped me quit!” 

Rick’s first week was rough - he had cravings and constantly wondered if he would ever feel "normal" again. But with continuous support and advice from The Stop Smoking Center he was able to cope and face his addiction.  “I would get a bad craving and someone like Lin, Kat, Kathy or Bubba (and other members of course) would come up with ways I never would have thought of.  For example, I was having a terrible day and the cravings were unbearable.  A member said ‘a craving only lasts 3 minutes.  You can time the craving if you want, or you can have a smoke and continue your life as a smoker.’” The lights went on! By focusing on his goal, Rick was able to overcome his habit. His cravings didn’t last very long, and before he knew it he had quit for a month.

Please join us in congratulating Rick for beating a four pack-a-day habit and remaining smoke-free for 2 years!

 

Quit Date: June 1 2003

Not yet in her teens, Poppie started smoking by stealing a few of her father's cigarettes and sneaking outside to smoke. Her father was a heavy four pack-a-day chain smoker so even though he always had his cigarettes on hand, sneaking a few away when he wasn’t looking was pretty easy to do.

To make things worse her father smoked non-filtered camels, and although she only smoked on rare occasions, Poppie and her siblings constantly inhaled second-hand smoke.

By the time Poppie was a teenager she was already buying her own cigarettes, and she’d smoke with her friends.  Poppie still didn’t consider herself a “real” smoker until she became pregnant. She then decided to quit, and she stayed quit for 4 full years. 

“After the birth of my second son I was told I could not have any more children, and shortly after that I picked up cigarettes again and became a full time smoker.” Poppie says that when she began smoking again she was not educated about the immense harm her smoking was doing to her children. To this day she still feels ashamed that she exposed her children to second hand smoke because her oldest son developed asthma, and her doctor said that her smoking was the primary cause. 

Poppie was devastated with this news and immediately decided to quit. “I quit smoking, but without any preparation, support or knowledge it only lasted 2 weeks. But, at the very least I never did smoke inside our house again. I’d sit outside or hover on the porch, but my fear of failing again kept me from trying to quit again for 12 long years.”

A New Life

On June 1, 2003, Poppie decided that enough was enough. She was tired of the dirty ashtrays on the porch and decided to quit. “One morning I woke up and went and sat on my porch and lit up a cigarette as usual. But this time something inside of me told me that if I didn't make a real effort to quit I’d eventually be diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. It was time to quit.”

In order learn how to quit Poppie turned the SSC and set her quit date. She educated herself about smoking, talked about setting a quit date with Support Group members, and really prepared for her quit. “I read as much as I could about what I was about to do, and it worked!”

Poppie’s Journey

Although it wasn’t easy, Poppie can now sit back and reflect on what it’s like to be one-year smoke-free. She tells us: “As it is for most people who attempt to quit, withdrawals were tough, but I found the mental aspect of "letting go" of smoking to be much harder. That feeling of grief and loss were very difficult for me.”

 

Like many new quitters Poppie used the SSC Quit Program and Support Group to help differentiate between withdrawal symptoms, cravings and perhaps most importantly letting go of her old “smoking self” and reintroducing and embracing the new Poppie – the one who was smoke-free and did not depend on smoking to deal with issues, stress or self-definition.

“From the very beginning I felt moments of pure joy at the thought of being free from this horrible addiction. I knew it’d be hard but even through the depression I never really thought about giving up. But it was probably at around my fourth month that I could really see that light at the end of the tunnel.”

And one year later, the new Poppie is much healthier and much happier.

How did Poppie cope with her withdrawals?

Poppie tells us: “I avoided situations that would trigger a craving.  If I couldn’t avoid these situations, I’d suck on straws. I found this technique on the Stop Smoking Center Support Group. I can’t remember who recommended it to me, but that idea was a life saver.”

A major trigger for Poppie was driving her car. “It was a real trigger as I always smoked in the car - but I kept a supply of straws with me at all times, and they really helped tremendously in passing the time it takes to get over a craving.”

Poppie’s insight and advice for others

Poppie has not had one slip or a single cigarette since 4 a.m. on June 1^st, 2003.

Here advice for others is:

·        Stay the course. The pain and agony of withdrawals will pass and you’ll never regret quitting once you get to a certain stage – it will happen!

·        Do not let your feelings (no matter how powerful) be the guiding force as you quit. Let intelligence and logic prevail.

·        Quitting is the right thing to do. There is no logical reason to smoke. Your emotions may say otherwise, but do NOT let that be your guide.

·        Strengthen your resolve and remember that just because you have a feeling (longing for a cigarette, cravings, urges to smoke, wanting to smoke because you are depressed, etc.) it does not mean you have to act on that feeling.

Poppie’s story is inspiring, compelling, and full of self-growth and knowledge. Not only has Poppie improved her lifestyle, she has been a great help to the Support Group.

Before Sarah quit she smoked two packs of cigarettes a day. Her addiction was taking over her body but it did not occur to her that she was addicted to smoking.  She loved to smoke and nothing else came in the way of her to even think of quitting.

One day the light came on and Sarah decided to quit. She tried cold turkey, gum, and hypnosis. When thinking about these frustrating attempts Sarah was convinced she could not and would not ever quit.  So Sarah continued to smoke her two packs a day.

Sarah was tired of having health problems and was trying so hard to find a way to quit. She knew she had to quit for her health and for the love of her family and friends.  Sarah was not giving up!  She found a doctor who gave her a prescription for Zyban and recommended she use the patch. Working closely with her doctor to make sure her quit was safe, Sarah came across The Stop Smoking Center. 

Sarah signed up for the Online Treatment Program and used our Support Group to help her through her journey. “It was difficult at first, but when I saw that other people were going through what I had been experiencing, it made my determination to quit stronger!” 

Sarah continued her journey and jumped on The Stop Smoking Center Support Group when she needed help with questions and when the cravings kicked in. One day Sarah almost slipped and did not know what to do, so she visited the site and talked to other members and staff. “I was on for almost 2 hours.  I was eating veggies and chewing gum and crying because I wanted a cigarette. I was 15 days into my quit and I never though I could get through that craving, but I did!”

As this month's nominee, we asked Sarah to share some advice to others: "Be true to you!  Take that child within and be the adult.  Learning to resist the cravings and the withdrawals is an act in itself.  Without my family and friends I could not have had success as an ex-smoker.  The Stop Smoking Center allowed me to find my way.  I am truly grateful for this and will pass on what I have learned through my quit to others on this site and in life!”

We can't help but celebrate Sarah’s achievement.  Her respect and caring approach is obvious.  Please join us in congratulating Sarah for her induction into the Hall of Fame!

Congratulations Sarah for being elected to the Hall of Fame - the place where all ex-smokers want to be!

Lou’s habit began when she began a personal relationship with a smoker. First, Lou grew accustomed to the small of second-hand smoke. Then, she started smoking the odd cigarette. Smoking was casual, but it was always convenient to have her partner’s cigarettes handy.

 

Within a few months her morning habit turned from casual to consistent.  The alarm clock went off, she propped her pillow, and with her eyes barely open she reached toward the bed table and searched for her own pack. After about s