By the friggen way!!!!

[tmgs]

I know who cares right but WTF

Four weeks, two days, 14 hours, 27 minutes and 0 seconds. 918 cigarettes not smoked, saving $160.66. Life saved: 3 days, 4 hours, 30 minutes. Since I walked into the hospital and dropped the smokes!

Almost covers Karen's new bike payment!



Tom (and I ain't in jail<g>) Gallo

[SilverBuffalo]

That's a start, now keep it up.
This is a personal accomplishment you'll never regret,
soon you'll start to despise the smell of cigarrette smoke and will be going out of your way to avoid the places and people that are still addicted to this useless drug.
I have friends whom I dearly love as people, but I can't stand to be around them because....
well frankly, they stink and can't do without their drug for more than 15-20 minutes.
The last pack of cigarrettes I bought cost 35 cents, just think of all the money I've saved since then.

[grifscoots]

Now quit drinking and the savings go up. TV and cable? Tons of bucks. A/C? We didn't have it as kids, don't need it now. Fact is, they're all addictions of some sort.

Pick your poison, it's all fun!!!

[DaveDragon]

I know who cares right but WTF

Four weeks, two days, 14 hours, 27 minutes and 0 seconds. 918 cigarettes not smoked, saving $160.66. Life saved: 3 days, 4 hours, 30 minutes. Since I walked into the hospital and dropped the smokes!

Almost covers Karen's new bike payment!



Tom (and I ain't in jail<g>) Gallo

Way to go Tom, hang in there Buddy!

[BLBantz]

As someone who lost his father to lung cancer in 1986, when I was still young enough to need him around (and I found out you are never really too old to need your parents around) I commend you. Keep up the good work. (And by the way, ignore all the advice about quitting drinking. It's way too important to quit!)

[Ted]

congratulations Tom - but just fyi - if you quit "cold turkey" you are not out of the woods yet....anytime between now and about 6 months out you will get cravings which are equal to if not greater than the ones you experienced during the first week.

Whatever you do, do not give into them and do not take even one puff or you will undo everything you have gained up to that point.

I quit in 1989, and was a 3/4 - 1 pack a day smoker. Other than the obvious health benefits - the nicest thing was being free - not having to calculate if you have enough cigs to get wherever you were going, or the next morning or whatever.

Good luck - and farkle-ize w/ the $ saved!!

[hschisler]

Good for you, hour health, and those who love and care about you. :thumb:

My mom started smoking at age 16; died 3 years ago from lung cancer. I can't wish that on anyone. Yes, I understand you can get lung cancer and never have lit a cigarette, but our family's recollections of Mom always include her persistent cough, her first out-of-bed-in-the-morning coughing jags until she turned blue, and chain-smoking 24/7. She never was able to quit, even being helped outside by the nursing home staff to get a cigarette several times a day, all while she was on morphine with terminal cancer.

Keep it up!

[hschisler]

Now quit drinking and the savings go up. TV and cable? Tons of bucks. A/C? We didn't have it as kids, don't need it now. Fact is, they're all addictions of some sort.

Pick your poison, it's all fun!!!Make mine 91 octane, please. :cool:

[STEBS]

I know who cares right but WTF

Four weeks, two days, 14 hours, 27 minutes and 0 seconds. 918 cigarettes not smoked, saving $160.66. Life saved: 3 days, 4 hours, 30 minutes. Since I walked into the hospital and dropped the smokes!

Almost covers Karen's new bike payment!



Tom (and I ain't in jail<g>) Gallo


I commend you, now I have to know how you did it, was it cold turkey or did you have help as in nicotine patches and/or other drugs to help you. I think about quitting everyday as I fire up another, as far as the savings, mine would be about double that since I live in Michigan and the taxes alone are probably close to what a pack of cigerettes cost down there.

[jayz9705]

Way to go, Tom!!!

It's been 30 years for me, but just like AA, ther's no such thing as an "ex-smoker". I can say that it has been worth the effort to stop and stay that way. Make the decision to not smoke every day, one day at a time. Soon enough, you'll only have to remember a few times a month.

Good on you!

[hagar]

If you can get by the first 2 weeks, you should be OK. If the cravings drive you nuts, ask your doctor for Welbutrin. That made it real easy for me, took it for 6 weeks and never missed the smoking. I did it because my wife HAD to give it up, she was getting pre cancerous tumors on her mouth.

[tmgs]

That's a start, now keep it up.
This is a personal accomplishment you'll never regret,
soon you'll start to despise the smell of cigarrette smoke and will be going out of your way to avoid the places and people that are still addicted to this useless drug.
I have friends whom I dearly love as people, but I can't stand to be around them because....
well frankly, they stink and can't do without their drug for more than 15-20 minutes.
The last pack of cigarrettes I bought cost 35 cents, just think of all the money I've saved since then.

35 cents, heck I wasn't even born yet!

<g>

Thanks!

tom

[tmgs]

I really don't drink anymore,
havn't had TV since may, seriously we havn't got around to having a dish installed here yet.
AC? shoot it hasn't turned on in a couple weeks now!
weather has cooled down drastiaclly our last elec bill was under 100 bucks

but two new bikes will make up for it all hahahahaha

[tmgs]

Way to go Tom, hang in there Buddy!

Thanks ,I figured it's been this long I'm done i'm officially a quitter!

[tmgs]

I commend you, now I have to know how you did it, was it cold turkey or did you have help as in nicotine patches and/or other drugs to help you. I think about quitting everyday as I fire up another, as far as the savings, mine would be about double that since I live in Michigan and the taxes alone are probably close to what a pack of cigerettes cost down there.

well I ended up in the horspital (cause hell up here it ain't much more than that ) ya know good for fixin horses),
I was there a couple days and I have wanted to quit, I conviced myself since I had not had one in a couple days I was over the withdrawel of nicotene (ok it worked so far) no nothing, patch shot laser notta, I figured why hide it with another vice,
I dumped all the soda, tea at the same time, I cut my coffe down to half of what i usually make it out of. I have had a big change , WOW



the first week was a real PITA, it's not so bad now....... the wife let me have my guns back so I must be doing better <HAHAHAHAHAHA>

[tmgs]

Way to go, Tom!!!

It's been 30 years for me, but just like AA, ther's no such thing as an "ex-smoker". I can say that it has been worth the effort to stop and stay that way. Make the decision to not smoke every day, one day at a time. Soon enough, you'll only have to remember a few times a month.

Good on you!

Thanks Jay, the hard part was right after I quit i went to the races with two other couples that all smoke! WOW that was TOUGH!

[tmgs]

If you can get by the first 2 weeks, you should be OK. If the cravings drive you nuts, ask your doctor for Welbutrin. That made it real easy for me, took it for 6 weeks and never missed the smoking. I did it because my wife HAD to give it up, she was getting pre cancerous tumors on her mouth.

I tried to do zyban before (basically the same stuff) broke out itchinglike crazy!

[jayz9705]

Sounds like you got the method down, though. Stop EVERYTHING all at the same time. It's tough on people around you, but makes it easier for you!:rotf:


I decided to lose weight and stop smoking. I lost 15 pounds in 2 weeks, never picked up a cigarette, so far, drove people so crazy they are STILL reminding me about it 30 years later!!!

[mneblett]

I know who cares right but WTFI think we all care! Good on ya, Tom! I went cold turkey off sodas the first of the year after 47 years of guzzling the stuff. Not as bad an addiction as nicotine, but caffine and diet coke are close :)

Like the prior post sez, getting past the first 6 months was the toughest. Like you, the money motivator was a great help; in my case the amount saved each month pretty much covers the difference in payments between the previous Mustang and the current C5 Corvette :)

Seriously, I'm *really* happy to see you quit. Those @#$*&^ cancer sticks are going to take my sister in the next couple months -- nice to know you've greatly improved the chances of being around with us a lot longer.

[Daman858]

Congrats on the quitting. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do!

I started, like so many others, on those freebies in the army C-rats! Next thing ya know, I'm a friggin' chimney!

Quit 20 years ago and glad I did but I will be honest here...I could put a glow on a Lucky right this instant and sit back and relax and........

[NOGILLS2]

Keep it up Tom!


I quit when they were 50 cents a pack. smoking 3 packs marlboro reds a day! Got mad when they went to 55 cents and quit. Thats my story and I am sticking to it!

[Dman]

I know who cares right but WTF

Four weeks, two days, 14 hours, 27 minutes and 0 seconds. 918 cigarettes not smoked, saving $160.66. Life saved: 3 days, 4 hours, 30 minutes. Since I walked into the hospital and dropped the smokes!

Almost covers Karen's new bike payment!



Tom (and I ain't in jail<g>) Gallo

Good for you Tom!
For me it was the easiest thing I'd ever done and the toughest time getting it done (A non smoker wouldn't understand.):)
Hang in there, it gets easier but never goes away.

21 months and still counnting

[Dman]

I commend you, now I have to know how you did it, was it cold turkey or did you have help as in nicotine patches and/or other drugs to help you. I think about quitting everyday as I fire up another, as far as the savings, mine would be about double that since I live in Michigan and the taxes alone are probably close to what a pack of cigerettes cost down there.

If I may "steal" the thread for a few lines:

Ron,
The "patch" you refer to is in the grey matter between your ears. Right, just what you wanted to hear but it's true. Someone had told me that and I didn't believe them.............until I quit. Sounds really wierd, but now I understand.
First: You have to convince yourself that smoking is not acceptable anymore.
Second: Believe in yourself
Third: It's a one day at a time thing, and it's everyday. (Another part that sounds wierd, until you quit.)

Good luck, you can do it!

[LarryR]

I commend you, now I have to know how you did it, was it cold turkey or did you have help as in nicotine patches and/or other drugs to help you. I think about quitting everyday as I fire up another, as far as the savings, mine would be about double that since I live in Michigan and the taxes alone are probably close to what a pack of cigerettes cost down there.



Ron,

The following formula is working for me:

NicoDerm CQ 21 mg Nicotine Patch and then follow the program by following it with the 14 mg. PLUS, and very important, get your doctor to prescribe Wellbutrin pills. The first week I took one tablet per day. After the first week, I take two tablets per day. It is amazing how it takes the taste away (nasty) and mutes the desire for Nicotine as well. Technically, Wellbutrin is an anti-depressant but doctors are now using it to help people kick the habit.

It works!!!!

The usual disclaimers apply of course for whatever good it does.

This combination is about as easy as it gets. Be sure you check with your doctor about combining the two. My doctor said it was no problem and I have experienced none at all.

Good luck.

[tmgs]

Good for you Tom!
For me it was the easiest thing I'd ever done and the toughest time getting it done (A non smoker wouldn't understand.):)
Hang in there, it gets easier but never goes away.

21 months and still counnting

Thanks Duane!

Tom

[UncleRock]

That shit ain't good for you, use tabacco for medicine.
I quit myself about 97 still hit a El Rico Cubano now and again.
If your gonna smoke, make it pot, keep you from getting glocacoma :D Of course look what it does to the speeling
Rock

[tmgs]

That shit ain't good for you, use tabacco for medicine.
I quit myself about 97 still hit a El Rico Cubano now and again.
If your gonna smoke, make it pot, keep you from getting glocacoma :D Of course look what it does to the speeling
Rock


hehehe THanks I think <g>

maybe if I smoke pot I could spell?

Tom

[DaveDragon]

hehehe THanks I think <g>

maybe if I smoke pot I could spell?

Tom

Only just a little slower..
http://www.davedragon.org/pink/walking-weed.gif

[Lynn_Keen]

I know who cares right but WTF

Four weeks, two days, 14 hours, 27 minutes and 0 seconds. 918 cigarettes not smoked, saving $160.66. Life saved: 3 days, 4 hours, 30 minutes. Since I walked into the hospital and dropped the smokes!

Almost covers Karen's new bike payment!



Tom (and I ain't in jail<g>) Gallo
CONGRATULATIONS. It's tough but well worth the suffering. I quit in '98 after 40 years of smoking. Was working with my grandughter trying to teach her to ride a bicycle and found I couldn't run more that about 50 feet without gasping for air.
Based on my experience I would advise you to save that "extra" money for a new wardrobe. Unfortunately I gained about 40 lbs after I gave up smoking. When I complained to my doctor and told him that now I would die of obesity rather than cancer I was told not to worry because it would be much less painfull!! :~)

[bikebum]

Tom, I quit in 1998 after smoking for 47 years(2 packs a day). My wife stopped 12 months later. We have been able to finance a Caribbean cruise each year since then with the money that we would have spent on tobacco.

Of course I have gained 40 pounds. I don't know if it's from not smoking or due to all the cruise food; however, I have found out that they make clothes in all sizes.

[zippy_gg]

I quit smoking cold turkey when I was... 14!:o
Please don't ask how old I was when I started.
With the money I save every month I buy stuff from Raffy and other vendors from this site.:D

[STEBS]

If I may "steal" the thread for a few lines:

Ron,
The "patch" you refer to is in the grey matter between your ears. Right, just what you wanted to hear but it's true. Someone had told me that and I didn't believe them.............until I quit. Sounds really wierd, but now I understand.
First: You have to convince yourself that smoking is not acceptable anymore.
Second: Believe in yourself
Third: It's a one day at a time thing, and it's everyday. (Another part that sounds wierd, until you quit.)

Good luck, you can do it!


I know everything you said is true, I don't have to convince myself that it's not acceptable anymore, what I have to convince myself of is that I can do it like a lot of you have done. I have talked to my doctor about it and he will not prescribe welbutrin or any other drug. He is in full agreement with what you said. Smoking is one the hardest habits to quit and I have heard of people using welbutrin for this before so I thought if I did this it would make it easier. Which it might, but I am not depressed and my doctor is not one to prescribe medicine unless it's absolutely neccasary. #2 on your list is the toughest one after smoking for years and years and years. I have a sign on my computer at work that says (Just Do It) for those days that you know you have a job that must be done and you just keep procastinating about it. Sometimes that little sign works after staring at it for a while, I wish it was that easy for this.

[STEBS]

That shit ain't good for you, use tabacco for medicine.
I quit myself about 97 still hit a El Rico Cubano now and again.
If your gonna smoke, make it pot, keep you from getting glocacoma :D Of course look what it does to the speeling
Rock

I was going to post something like this a while ago when Dave Dragon posted a picture of his bike in front of his house and someone said ( damn Dave you have some good grass), I just didn't think it was right for this group even though most people have smoked it, I know I have and I know some here still do because I seen it at CCR 2006. ( No Names ) But i'm sure if I smoked something like this theres a lot of things I wouldn't do.

[nbroca]

Congratulations Tom!

I quit cold turkey on March 27, 1977 going from THREE packs a day to 0 cigs in less time than it took to write this. However, there are still some days that the smell of a just lit cig evokes very urgent desire to have another one...

Keep going man, it is worth it.

[tmgs]

CONGRATULATIONS. It's tough but well worth the suffering. I quit in '98 after 40 years of smoking. Was working with my grandughter trying to teach her to ride a bicycle and found I couldn't run more that about 50 feet without gasping for air.
Based on my experience I would advise you to save that "extra" money for a new wardrobe. Unfortunately I gained about 40 lbs after I gave up smoking. When I complained to my doctor and told him that now I would die of obesity rather than cancer I was told not to worry because it would be much less painfull!! :~)


Thanks Lynn, can you run 50 feet now without gasping for air?
due to other reasons i have changed my diet as well so I won't be gaining any weight, the doc has tobe right.
My mom died of cancer at 51, it _WAS_ painfull for her.

See ya soon!

BTW what the ehck happened to choctaw willies or whatever it was called?

Tom



(ok One CAN dream I'm alreadyup 5 lbs)

[UncleRock]

I was going to post something like this a while ago when Dave Dragon posted a picture of his bike in front of his house and someone said ( damn Dave you have some good grass), I just didn't think it was right for this group even though most people have smoked it, I know I have and I know some here still do because I seen it at CCR 2006. ( No Names ) But i'm sure if I smoked something like this theres a lot of things I wouldn't do.
Well it has been my experince over the years that LEO's always have the best stash at events. :cool: YMMV
Rock