Poll time: who's a smoker?
 

I just read the thread on vices...and I remember reading the one about bad habits..so I'm curious. Who in here is a smoker? Have you ever attempted to quit before? For those who have kicked the habit--what worked for you?

I myself didn't start smoking until after I got to college. In fact, I was the one who preached to everyone my freshman year about how smoking is disgusting...yada yada yada. Those breaks in between classes were too much and I eventually started up.

Last summer I quit for about two months out of respect to my BF who hates kissing an ashtray. However, when he got deployed to Japan, I started up again. Quitting cold turkey seemed to work for a while.

I have drastically cut down, though. Initially I had smoked B&H Lights...now I'm down to Ultra Lights and the pack usually goes stale before I actually finish the thing.

It is disgusting, I know...and I am only one of 3 smokers in my chapter. It didn't help that my sister-mom was also chain smoker who spoiled me with packs every other day.

It's something that I want to give up...I just don't know how.

Not a smoker but my boyfriend is. It is a disgusting habit but I won't let him quit unless he's gonna be out of town for the first few weeks. (He travels a lot for his job) He gets worse PMS than I do when he tries to quit smoking! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/eek.gif

I'm not a smoker and never have been. However, I grew up with both a grandmother and a mother who smoked like chimneys! As a result, I suppose, being around secondhand smoke doesn't phase me. I could sit down to meal and have someone light up a few feet behind me and while the other people sitting at my table will be gagging, I don't even notice!

Oh, and while I'm not particularly "pro-smoking", I used to do public relations for Philip Morris, so I guess smoking paid my bills in a roundabout way!

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@~Tracy~@

By the light of the lamp, by the light of the lamp, by the bright shiny light, by the light of the lamp...if you are a DeeZee, you're the best that you can be, by the bright shiny light of the lamp!

My grandmother has smoked since college (50 years) & being around her is enough to make me sick. She depends on oxygen now, weezes, hacks and breathes soo loud. She embaressed by the oxygen so she rarely leaves her house anymore. To make matters worse, she still hasn't quit smoking. She was even in the ICU due to pneumonia (sp?) for 2 weeks, went without smoking that entire time and began again when she went home. I wish I could record her & send it to all of you smokers, I promise you would quit after seeing that.
<stepping off soapbox>
Heidi

I agree, Heidi http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif. My uncle is a HUGE smoker, and it's so sad to hear him wheezing all the time. My grandpa used to be a smoker, too, and that was a factor in his death, too http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif.

Anyway, I hope you guys stop soon just for the sake of your health (and others around you).

OTW, maybe you should tell your dr. that you want to stop but don't know how? That seems like a great first step http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif. Good luck, girl, I know you can do it!!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif



[This message has been edited by newbie (edited June 28, 2001).]

Im not a smoker but I have friends that do and I can see how hard it is really to kick as a habit. Have u tried those patches? I dunno if they really work but I guess for some people it did...

I just hope that it wouldn't take like a drastic medical emergency for smokers to quit. it is NOW, and im sure if u really are determined to do it, you could.

I have never smoked, never had the desire and can't stand to be around it. My mother started smoking when she went to nursing school. She developed a 3-4 pack a day habit for 30+ years. It was so bad that I used to get teased in elementary school because I smelled like smoke all the time. My mom was a fine nurse but she developed Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and had to retire early. Later she developed emphysema and lung cancer. Five years ago she underwent surgery to remove part of one lung. The good news was that they got all of the cancer and most of the emphysema. Eventually she needed an oxygen tank and a Little Rascal (motorized cart) to get around. A month after the surgery she started smoking again. One of the saddest things I ever saw was her removing the cannula so that she could smoke. I always thought that she would set her self on fire because she never turned the machine off before she lit up. My mother died 8 months ago tomorrow after getting pneumonia. I was 9 months pregnant with her first grandchild. She didn't get the chance to see him in this life, but hopefully, she will in the next.

Please stop smoking if not for yourself but for those who love you.

What a touching post. I have to agree with you - don't stop smoking for yourself but for those who love you.

My father was a 3 pack a day smoker from the time he was 15 years old. He quit 8 months before he died. But, by then, it was way too late. He had lost 75% of heart functionality and was too much of a risk for surgery. He was a ticking time bomb, and it went off one day. He dropped dead of a heart attack at the age of 46.

Quitting early is the best thing you can do for yourself. Good luck http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Knowing that I am in the vast minority, I have to admit:
I do like a small cigar (we call them "cigarillos") once a while, best enjoyed with a glass of good single malt scotch whiskey.
I use a maximum of 20 per year, I'd guess.

OT, I have to step up here since it seems like no one has answered this that smokes. I smoke too. Bout a pack a day. I quit too for awhile, and the only way I can see to quit is to quit cold turkey and beat it with your mind. Both my parents smoke so I guess it was just in the cards for me to be a smoker. But I cant think of anything better than a cigarette and a beer. (well, I can, but we wont go into that)

***My name is USFstudent, and I am a smoker****
Does anyone else hate those damn truth commercials....If I'm smoking then it goes out but oddly enough if I'm not smoking I need one right then, I think its a spitefull kind of thing.
I can go for days without smoking and I'll go out and it starts the cycle again. there is definitly nothing like a beer and a cigarette!

Yes, I heard that worked!! Give it a try if you can http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif!

I've actually tried the Nicosh*t gum and I know it's not supposed to taste good, but it's so horrible that I can't even keep it in my mouth! That didn't work.

My brother and my sisters smoke also. My eldest sister tried the patch and it simply screwed with her. My doctor said that while the patch has its side effects, it doesn't happen to everyone.

Hypnosis seems interesting. I'll probably look into that.

Thanks for the info, you guys. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

I decided about two months ago to quit so I did...I can't even imagine having the desire to smoke anymore...It all seems so pointless to me now...I smoked for about 2.5 years casually...but only one year did I really smoke...I'm not against it...all my friends do...It just seems dumb...I was pretty lucky and was able to entirely quit cold-turkey, and it supposedly only takes 21 days to form a habit...so I've definitely not been smoking for 21 days...closer to 50 or 60...and I feel much better about myself...I'm more athletic now..losing my pudge...and was able to run approx. 7.3 miles today and play soccer...i'm getting better...

Hi OTW! I don't know if this helps any, but it's worth a shot, I guess? I was reading a mag the other day, and it had a lil article on why smoking is so bad for you. But anyway, I'm sure you know the reasons - but it also had some tips on quitting.

It said that you should put a post-it on your pack of cigs, and that you should wrap an individual post-it on each cig, too (roll it around). The post-it should list a reason why a cig is sooo bad for you.

For ex: (taken from the mag)
on one post-it, you can write (It's cancer causing - do I really want to be killed so early?)

on another: do I really wanna harm ppl around me and feel guilty for doing so, when they go to the dr. and find out the secondhand smoke is destroying their lungs?

then: do I really wanna reek?

Really, yellow is not my best color. Do I really want it on my nails and teeth?

What a great shortcut to having brittle, dry hair!

Do i wanna waste so much money per year on cigs when I could use it to better things (like that nice coat you've been eying)?


and then create your own notes on why smoking is so bad - and when you are tempted to pick up a cig, you will see the post-its. (Put the best reason to quit on the pack itself.)

I hope this helps somewhat!!!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif