Mission challenge #2 -- Quitting Smoking

Quote: wudged

Do I hear rematch?!

No, not what I meant, sorry! I just mean I don't want to be congested next time, the congestion happened almost immediately.

Quote: Paradigm

I'll add $100 to Wiz's $500 and give Mission 6 to 1 odds (Mike you keep the $100 if Mission fails).......I too want to write a check in 12 months!

Thanks for the gesture, but as you can see, Mission said "no."

To anyone who is grateful for the free work Mission puts into the site, I think he would accept some small free-rolls on his endeavor to quit smoking. For example, $20 if he makes it, $0 if he doesn't.

For those who don't know what he does, he helps to prowl the forum, looking for rule breakers. He also gives me his wise consult when I'm on the fence about how to handle the many borderline cases that bubble up.

Quote: Wizard

Thanks for the gesture, but as you can see, Mission said "no."

To anyone who is grateful for the free work Mission puts into the site, I think he would accept some small free-rolls on his endeavor to quit smoking. For example, $20 if he makes it, $0 if he doesn't.

For those who don't know what he does, he helps to prowl the forum, looking for rule breakers. He also gives me his wise consult when I'm on the fence about how to handle the many borderline cases that bubble up.

Thank you for the compliments, Wizard!

I don't believe I would be inclined to accept any Free Rolls of $20, or larger, in my endeavor to quit smoking. Although, I wouldn't mind having some, "Surprise cash," to essentially have a partial Free Roll on Loose Deuces or my precious Joker Poker when I come back in January of 2015. I would encourage anyone who is kind enough to thank me in this way, if I am successful, to arrange sending the money to Wizard towards the end of December of 2014, please no amounts larger than $10, and the total will be a surprise to me when I get there.

Quote: Mission146

No, not what I meant, sorry! I just mean I don't want to be congested next time, the congestion happened almost immediately.

Haha yea I know, was only kidding!

Mission, if you can get a copy of 'The Easy Way to Stop Smoking' by Allen Carr then it is well worth the read and gives you a more positive mindset for quitting.

Quote: SOOPOO

Is there any precedent on WoV for such a bet?

I just read all 273 pages of that thread. It took me almost 5 hours. That was some craziness.

Quote: Switch

Mission, if you can get a copy of 'The Easy Way to Stop Smoking' by Allen Carr then it is well worth the read and gives you a more positive mindset for quitting.

Thanks you for the tip!

Quote: Wizard

Thanks for the gesture, but as you can see, Mission said "no."

To anyone who is grateful for the free work Mission puts into the site, I think he would accept some small free-rolls on his endeavor to quit smoking. For example, $20 if he makes it, $0 if he doesn't.

For those who don't know what he does, he helps to prowl the forum, looking for rule breakers. He also gives me his wise consult when I'm on the fence about how to handle the many borderline cases that bubble up.

I just want to know if he has the balls to seriously suspend you, if you break the rules.

It begins in fourteen minutes.

The one time that I had quit for about a year, I had a screw-up on the second day, so I'm quitting a few days prior to the New Year.

Quote: Mission146

It begins in fourteen minutes.

.

So this will be you in 20min?

I'm not really planning on throwing up as a result, though I am hoping not to gain a substantial amount of weight this time.

Quote: Wizard

To make a long story short, he is going to attempt to quit smoking effective at midnight Jan 1, 2014. He must go the entire year without smoking. He may use the patch, but may not put anything in his mouth that delivers tobacco or nicotine.

Mike, this is exactly how I quit. I made a New Year's resolution, December 31, 1997. I bought bags of jelly beans and nuts and didn't leave my apartment for about 10 days. I hope Mission can do this.

My son started smoking at age 15. He is 34 now. I can't imagine how he will ever quit. It's way deep in his brain chemistry.

Quote: teliot

Mike, this is exactly how I quit. I made a New Year's resolution, December 31, 1997. I bought bags of jelly beans and nuts and didn't leave my apartment for about 10 days. I hope Mission can do this.

My son started smoking at age 15. He is 34 now. I can't imagine how he will ever quit. It's way deep in his brain chemistry.

I'm chewing my pinky finger right now, but it's hard to say whether or not I'd be doing that anyway. My last one was actually about an hour and a half ago, I didn't bring enough mini-cigars to work, just the rest of my Tatiana's and thought I had a pack of Captain Black's here, didn't, so might as well start tonight.

For psychological and motivational purposes, have you thought about putting all the money you would have spent on smoking items into a savings account or somewhere else and putting money in weekly or a couple times a week(maybe even when you would have made your regularly scheduled smoke runs). Then by this time next year it will be Xmas again so you could either use it for presents or have a nice big stash to gamble with.

Just might be another trigger to help when you actually see the cost savings firsthand by making those deposits each time. Either way I'm looking forward to you beating this and winning the bet. I have my own issues and need to confront this year so I will be checking up and hopefully can derive some extra motivation from it.

Quote: Mission146

I'm not really planning on throwing up as a result, though I am hoping not to gain a substantial amount of weight this time.

Are you challenging me to photoshop you into a fat
guy in the pic? Challenge accepted!

Quote: Perdition

For psychological and motivational purposes, have you thought about putting all the money you would have spent on smoking items into a savings account or somewhere else and putting money in weekly or a couple times a week(maybe even when you would have made your regularly scheduled smoke runs). Then by this time next year it will be Xmas again so you could either use it for presents or have a nice big stash to gamble with.

Here's the thing about that, I don't really spend very much on them. I smoke an average of, if forced to pick a single number, let's say nine per day. I smoke a mini-cigar known as Captain Black about 30% of the time and they are $2.69 for a pack of twenty. I smoke Smoker's Friendly Vanilla the other 70% of the time, and they are $1.69 for a pack of twenty.

365 * 9 = 3,285 Mini-Cigars or 3,285/20 = 164 Packs

(164 * .3) * 2.69 = $132.35

(164 * .7) * 1.69 = $194.01

$194.01 + $132.35 = $326.36

I suppose that's not too bad, probably about 1/5th of the kids' Christmas budget.

Quote:

Just might be another trigger to help when you actually see the cost savings firsthand by making those deposits each time. Either way I'm looking forward to you beating this and winning the bet. I have my own issues and need to confront this year so I will be checking up and hopefully can derive some extra motivation from it.

Thanks for the tip and the vote of confidence! I hope everything goes well, for you, as well.

And, we're chewing, might be time for a bowl of cereal...

Quote: Mission146

Here's the thing about that, I don't really spend very much on them. I smoke an average of, if forced to pick a single number, let's say nine per day. I smoke a mini-cigar known as Captain Black about 30% of the time and they are $2.69 for a pack of twenty. I smoke Smoker's Friendly Vanilla the other 70% of the time, and they are $1.69 for a pack of twenty.

Wow, those are cheap! What makes them that much cheaper than cigarettes? Is there a lot less tobacco in them?

Quote: AcesAndEights

Wow, those are cheap! What makes them that much cheaper than cigarettes? Is there a lot less tobacco in them?

It has something to do with the way cigars are taxed as opposed to cigarettes, from what I've heard, but can't confirm that. They taste better and have less crap in them, too.

So far, so good.

Today was easy enough, bit tired when relief came in, so slept in my armchair at work from 4:00a-10:00a. The only real urge I've had to smoke was at about 1:00p.m. when I made the kids Green Bean Fries for lunch, six minutes on each side, just enough time to go on the back porch. Didn't do it, though.

Left for work at 3:30 and bought two packs of Winterfresh and two Big Red, $1.40, better make them last or chewing gum will be more expensive than smoking!!!

I intentionally don't have a lighter or matches, but have plenty of both at home. My reasoning is that I am too fundamentally cheap to pay for something that I already have, so wouldn't buy any smokes because I'd have to buy a lighter or matches.

You have to get rid of everything smoking
related. Ashtrays, lighters, matches, pitch
it all. If you don't, you aren't serious and
it's a waste of time and effort to go thru
this. I remember when I got rid of everything,
it was a feeling of freedom. No more thinking
about smoking, can I do it here or there, do
I have enough, does my lighter work, did I
remember to bring them. What a load off
me, I distinctly remember when I realized
it.

Not a smoker myself but grew up in a family of smokers...terrible habit. I'm rooting for you mission, good luck.

Quote: Transcend

Not a smoker myself but grew up in a family of smokers...terrible habit. I'm rooting for you mission, good luck.

It was worse a hundred years ago. Most men
either smoked cigars or chewed tobacco. There
were spitoons everywhere. Banks, stores, barber
shops, any place the public went. I remember
my bank still had them in the 50's when I was
a kid. Just a part of everyday life.

Quote: EvenBob

It was worse a hundred years ago. Most men
either smoked cigars or chewed tobacco. There
were spitoons everywhere. Banks, stores, barber
shops, any place the public went. I remember
my bank still had them in the 50's when I was
a kid. Just a part of everyday life.

Oh I am sure it used to be much worse, but back then it was also not as bad for you because they had not been adding other chemicals to the cigarettes or fiberglass to chewing tobacco. Not complaining about growing up in a family of smokers, just that I have seen what it does first hand. Losing someone senselessly to smoking related diseases is never pleasant, nor the I'll effects it causes before that stage. To each their own but if someone is trying to quit I am going to support them all the way.

Thanks, Transcend!!!

Quote: EvenBob

You have to get rid of everything smoking
related. Ashtrays, lighters, matches, pitch
it all. If you don't, you aren't serious and
it's a waste of time and effort to go thru
this. I remember when I got rid of everything,
it was a feeling of freedom. No more thinking
about smoking, can I do it here or there, do
I have enough, does my lighter work, did I
remember to bring them. What a load off
me, I distinctly remember when I realized
it.

1.) My wife may or may not still smoke, she's trying to quit as of today, too. Except, she smoked one today because she has a few left. She's probably going to try to gradually decrease while I am going cold turkey. For her to quit would save us substantial money, close to $700/year, because she smokes cigarettes.

2.) Because of #1, there are still lighters in the house, and I collected matches from the casinos I visited. I usually get the urge to smoke more at work than home, usually just home when I have nothing to do, so I figured I wouldn't have that stuff with me at work.

3.) I'm pretty serious, it's easy so far at nearly 24 hours. 48-72 hours is the worst, and after that, if you can make it fourteen full days, you're pretty well in the clear.

Quote: Mission146

if you can make it fourteen full days, you're pretty well in the clear.

I quit for 2 weeks or 2 months many times and went back to smoking. It took me over 2 years from when I finally quit to feel like I was completely in the clear. Don't kid yourself. This is one f*king tough addiction.

Quote: teliot

I quit for 2 weeks or 2 months many times and went back to smoking. It took me over 2 years from when I finally quit to feel like I was completely in the clear. Don't kid yourself. This is one f*king tough addiction.

Quote:

24 Hours: Anxieties have peaked to intensity and within two weeks should return to near pre-cessation levels.

(1)

(1)http://whyquit.com/whyquit/a_benefits_time_table.html

48-72 is the time during which your body is getting rid of the last of the nicotine, artificial production of dopamine is done...

Two-four weeks is when anger, anxiety and difficulty concentrating ends.

Those have pretty much been my experiences.

If this is the peak of my anxiety, (three hours, anyway) I've got this pretty well in the bag. I feel just fine.

Would anyone who voted "yes" care to make a bet?

What are the conditions? Are you offering the same 5:1?

Quote: Wizard

Would anyone who voted "yes" care to make a bet?

That I will succeed? If you want the, "No," you'll have to get them to lay you some serious money. I just thought about ordering one of my free pizzas, but then I ate some Raisin Bran instead, if I feel hungry again (artificial!) I'll chew another piece of gum. I'm trying to quit two things at once, smoking and chewing my fingernails, that way if I have to give in to something, it'll be biting my nails.

Quote: wudged

What are the conditions? Are you offering the same 5:1?

Nope. Seven people voted "yes" (that he would succeed) so I'll start with even money and if don't get any takers I'll move the line.

I would put $50 up at 2:1 since the current voting shows 15:7.

Quote: Wizard

Nope. Seven people voted "yes" (that he would succeed) so I'll start with even money and if don't get any takers I'll move the line.

I mean, if you're actually serious about that line, I'd take some Even Money action in addition to my 5:1 action...

Quote: Wizard

Nope. Seven people voted "yes" (that he would succeed) so I'll start with even money and if don't get any takers I'll move the line.

I did not vote, but I believe Mission to be one tough and stubborn SOB. I might take you up on the offer, had a few cocktails tonight so I better revisit sober.

Quote: JW17

I did not vote, but I believe Mission to be one tough and stubborn SOB. I might take you up on the offer, had a few cocktails tonight so I better revisit sober.

Thanks for the compliment!

I also have an Ace in the hole if I get desperate:

http://www.smokeysnuff.com/index.html

No tobacco, no nicotine, snuff made from:

Quote:

Smokey Mountain Snuff – Molasses, corn silk, water , glycerine, kudzu root, salt, flavor/oil (e.g., wintergreen), sodium bicarbonate, propylene glycol (food grade), food color, methyl & propyl paraban (preservatives) cayenne pepper.

All FDA approved, "Food Grade," ingredients.

http://www.smokeysnuff.com/faq.html

I don't think I'll ever need it, but keeping it in the back of my mind. I remember those are what I used (along with cigarettes) to get off of actual chewing tobacco when I used it. If you want to talk about a REAL addiction, try smokeless tobacco as opposed to smoking, you'd have a good chew in for 4-6 hours at a time if you kept, "freshening it up," a little every now and then...

Quote: Mission146

I mean, if you're actually serious about that line, I'd take some Even Money action in addition to my 5:1 action...

I'd be happy to accept that, but you refused action at 5-1 from another forum member. So, I'll give you a chance to reconsider.

Quote: Wizard

I'd be happy to accept that, but you refused action at 5-1 from another forum member. So, I'll give you a chance to reconsider.

Boz was just trying to motivate me to quit smoking to a greater extent, he didn't actually think that line was realistic. That's the only reason I would take Even Money action, you seem to think that's realistic, even though you honestly have the worst of this.

Can you confirm that the Smoky Mountain is okay? Not tobacco, no nicotine, it's actually technically food.

Either way, I don't foresee much of a problem. Twenty-six hours, no headache, no cravings, just ate an apple, extremely sleepy and that's about it.

Quote: Mission146

Can you confirm that the Smoky Mountain is okay? Not tobacco, no nicotine, it's actually technically food.
.

Mad Men is set in the 60's and that's all they
smoke, the fake cigarettes. Looks very real.

Quote: EvenBob

Mad Men is set in the 60's and that's all they
smoke, the fake cigarettes. Looks very real.

Oh yeah, there are stage cigarettes which I believe are often talcum powder, but Smoky Mountain is basically chew made out of food. Just gives my mouth something to do, this Winterfresh and Big Red is starting to hurt my jaw, but at least I haven't gone after my nails today...that I soaked them in vinegar has kind of helped with that.

Quote: Mission146

Oh yeah, there are stage cigarettes which I believe are often talcum powder,

They smoke what you're talking about, they have
to be able to inhale it or it doesn't look right.

Quote: wudged

After seeing his persistence with the nuggets, I think Mission can do it. Any takers on the no side? odiousgambit, AxiomOfChoice - "rematch" ?

I though about it. But, honestly, I'd feel kind of dirty betting against Mission here (unlike the nuggets thing, which was clearly less serious)

Quote: Mission146

Even Money action, you seem to think that's realistic, even though you honestly have the worst of this.

We can resume talk of the bet by PM.

Quote:

Can you confirm that the Smoky Mountain is okay? Not tobacco, no nicotine, it's actually technically food.

I'll allow that.

Quote: Wizard

I figured the bet would motivate him even more. In other words, I want to lose.
The question for the forum is will he succeed?
May the betting begin.

Yipes. I can't follow these weird betting challenges and thought nuggets was the name of a casino.

Perhaps I should point out that the original post still bears the tagline about having had a good bet. Is the desire to lose worse or better than having a mere expectation of loss. I certain have a desire to win when I bet Big Red. You will allow him a patch but not nicotine laden tobacco well that in itself seems strangely generous but we all remember Big Louis from Cleveland who remembered where the spots on his blank dice were located.

Perhaps you should rephrase this as Will Nugget's selfish desire to screw me out of five hundred dollars be off sufficient strength and persistence to enable him to engage in behavior which favors his own health?

Whose the underdog here?

Mission, have you tried those fake cigs where you blow out vapors.

There are a few that have nicotine in them and some that are pure water vapor.

I have a few friends that they have worked wonders for.

Quote: Wizard

I'd be happy to accept that, but you refused action at 5-1 from another forum member. So, I'll give you a chance to reconsider.

He refused action from me at infinity to 1!!!!! Mission is a weird dude!!! I'd say the odds of him succeeding are as outlandish as a woman losing 90 pounds in a year....

Quote: FleaStiff

Perhaps you should rephrase this as Will Nugget's selfish desire to screw me out of five hundred dollars be off sufficient strength and persistence to enable him to engage in behavior which favors his own health?

I guess I should point out that I didn't propose the bet initially...Also, in my defense, I am an Administrator here and help the Members here in any way I can whether it be doing whatever Math I can handle, or making calls, or stuff like that...so, if I succeed, I'm mainly looking at it as compensation for that more than anything, though some of it is the smoking...

EDIT: That's also the reason I am refusing all other lines skewed in my favor, but Even Money might be fair, even though I'd still have a slight advantage. Anyway, there's no reason for anyone else to compensate me for running the Forum, so I am refusing all other action where I feel I have too huge an edge.

Quote: Wizard

He may use the patch, but may not put anything in his mouth that delivers tobacco or nicotine.

There is little difference between a cigarette delivering nicotine and a patch delivering nicotine. Both deliver nicotine to the brain in commensurate amounts. Quitting smoking means quitting a nicotine addiction. Without overcoming this addiction, the nasty habit has not been kicked.

Many times when I tried to "quit" I used the patch. These patches only increased my addiction. After a few days, I would apply more and more patches. Then, I started to smoke again AND I used the patch. The patch only made it harder for me. If he is going to quit, he should quit. One year without nicotine.

Quote: Mission146

If you want to talk about a REAL addiction, try smokeless tobacco as opposed to smoking, you'd have a good chew in for 4-6 hours at a time if you kept, "freshening it up," a little every now and then...

I was a 2 can a week user of that before I quit. Quitting was a lot easier than I thought it would be. But I do get minor cravings when I discuss this, even after 15 years.
Yikes!

So of course no one should ever start this garbage!

Forget the money, the patches, the vape, all of it. None of it matters, none of it will help. Your only hope is wanting it.

I don't mean like wanting a certain car or wanting a lady friend; it just has to be deep in your brain that "this is going to happen". It doesn't even have to be "big", "shouty", or "all encompassing". Just a little grain of pure certainty, a meek but certain voice - "I want this".

Thinking you can crutch your way through this is a recipe for guaranteed failure. There are many more things besides nicotine in your smoke that your body will crave, and your nicotine supplements won't touch that fire. You might sate the nic fix, but your brain will still be on fire for a true smoke. There are no supplements for all the other delicious, sultry poisons in that intoxicating fog.

Here's the best advice ever. It's one that carried me through addiction of almost every drug on the planet, and made them a piece of cake to kick with no assistance whatsoever...

Remember that your brain is a conniving, undermining, selfish bastard. It has no end of ways to get what it wants, and it'll try them all. Worst of all, it is persistent to the point of madness. It will never tire, it will never stop. Think of the battle between the starfish and the clam. While the clam has every reason in the world to resist, it does so only by desire. Eventually, it will tire, it's muscles will falter, it will get weak. The starfish needs only swell and hold it. It's pressure remains constant, ever present, and takes no effort whatsoever. It is always there, never waning, never hurrying. It knows it will wear it's prey down, it will be victorious. Your brain will do the same to you.

Remember your brain is yours. You, not it, is in control. You cannot control its actions on you, but you can control your actions on yourself. It can make you want to smoke (and it will, oh yes, it will), but only you can make you actually smoke.

And the "best advice ever"? You will not think, ever, that you're going to go nicotine free for a year. You will not think, ever, that you're never smoking again. You will not think of the money won, lost, or saved, you will not think of the pride gained or lost. You will not think of the improvement or destruction of health, the improvement or destruction of clothes, or any single other event, save for one.

All you will think is "I'm not going to smoke right now". You don't have to go the rest of your life. You don't have to make it a year. You don't have to wait a month, not a week, not a day, not an hour. You don't even have to think about one minute from present. All you must focus on is "I'm not going to smoke right now". THAT is your only goal.

Just. Don't. Smoke. Now.

Quote: teliot

If he is going to quit, he should quit. One year without nicotine.

Good point. However, I can't go back on a deal unless Mission agrees. What do you say Mission, can we add a "no patch" rule? Since you weren't planning to use it anyway, it shouldn't matter.