Mission challenge #2 -- Quitting Smoking

Quote: Face

All you must focus on is "I'm not going to smoke right now". THAT is your only goal. Just. Don't. Smoke. Now.

Obviously you are someone who has dealt big-time with addiction. That's 12 step stuff. Glad you've made it to the other side.

Quote: Mission146

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.

Cigar and Pipe tobacco are taxed at a much lower rate that cigarette tobacco. One of the first things Obama did was put a huge tax increase on cigarette tobacco. I smoke Drum rolling tobacco. Don't try it. It's a blend of Kentucky dark and Virginia light. It's the crack cocaine of cigarette tobacco. I started rolling cigarettes when I was poor. I ran across Drum and have been smoking it ever since.

The poorer guys at the bar smoke Top, a very cheap rolling tobacco. During the 2008 election, being the poor socialists they are, they were all Obama! Obama! Obama! Shortly after he took office their Top went from $2.67 a pack to $4.50 a pack. I was like "How do you guys like Obama now?"
My Drum went from $5 a pack to $8.79 a pack.

Some of the smoke shops are now selling cigarette tobacco packaged as pipe tobacco to avoid the tax.

Quote: Wizard

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.

Sure, no nicotine whatsoever.

Quote: Face

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.
All you must focus on is "I'm not going to smoke right now"..

Thanks, Face, I just remembered how I quit.
I took smoking off the table as an option for me.
If I wanted to smoke, it wasn't an option. I had
no cigs on me, or in the car, or in the house. It
wasn't an option. I made it so I would have to
got extraordinary measures to get a smoke. Go
to the store, buy them, and matches. But none
of that was an option, so I never considered it.

It really does work. I made smoking cease to exist
for me, it was no longer something I could do. I
also quit eating sugar 40 years ago doing the same
thing. Anything where sugar is one of the first 3 ingredients
is no longer an option for me. It's poison, I can't
eat it. Anybody who's known me for a long time will
tell you they've never seen me eat candy or dessert or
anything like that. It's not an option.

Face is right, your brain is insidious. You have to cut it
off at the pass. Yup, you want it, you crave it, but it's
a moot point. It doesn't exist for you anymore.

Bob, sugar is not "poison." Sugar is the most basic and essential possible fuel for your body. All the food you eat gets broken down to simple sugar.

I guess we'll have a quick little update, and then I have a project to work on.

Okay, I got up at 10:00a.m., so 10:30a.m.-10:30p.m. are hours 36-48, or something like that. I slept just fine last night, despite the fact that I read insomnia was a possibility. If nothing else, I'm more tired than I would usually be.

I can't say I've had any true cravings today, stressful day at work with tons of f***-ups to fix, and all I could think was, "I should want a smoke at this point," I never actually wanted one, though.

Enough whining, let's talk positives.

My sense of smell is already starting to improve, and I can pick out people at the store who have smoked recently or smoke a good bit. It used to be that I could smell only the foulest cigarette smokers, we're talking three packs of unfiltered Pall Malls a day, and then I could start to smell them. I can pretty much smell all smokers now. I hope I didn't smell as bad as some people do, even though I know I probably did, maybe you non-smokers out there should just go around telling people, "You stink," that'd be good motivation.

Okay, so I smell like a strange combination of Dove White Bar Soap, Tresemme' for Color-Treated Hair (I just share whatever my wife is using) and Big Red. I have eight out of twenty sticks of gum I bought 29 hours ago, if you count the stick in my mouth right now.

I've been trying to stop biting my nails anytime I have noticed myself doing it, can't hope for too much all at once, though. Nails will be the tough one, maybe I'll never stop. I sure as Hell wouldn't take Even Money on my ability to ever finally stop chewing my nails. I think I was seven when I started...

Okay, so sense of smell is awesome, it's just you smell the bad stuff along with the good, so that sucks. I feel a bit sleepier than usual, which is fine, and I haven't actually had a craving all day, just times when I have wondered why I was not having a craving.

I think this will be a piece of cake, chewing gum has basically replaced smoking, I believe. 10:30EST tomorrow will be the big 72 hours, no more active nicotine, that's why I started early, to give myself one potential failure. I don't plan to use it.

Quote: teliot

Obviously you are someone who has dealt big-time with addiction. That's 12 step stuff. Glad you've made it to the other side.

Is it? I'm aware of AA, NA, 12 step, etc, but never formally entered it.

I went into "drug programs" as a result of workplace drug screens, but they were hilariously poor. And really, you can't force someone to quit. You have to want it.

I've just always been very introspective. Even if experiencing euphoria or abject misery, I'm constantly examining how I feel, why I feel, reflecting on what I've done or what happened to make me feel. And those habits were present during my process of getting clean. By doing so, I basically "figured it out", so to speak. At least for me, I identified what worked, what didn't, what made it worse, and it allowed me to sort of build a system to get out of what ailed me.

The most important of all, at least for me, is focusing on the present. After all, that's what's actually happening, it's the only place anything happens. Try to think about quitting for a whole year and your mind can't comprehend how it will ever make it. And it won't, I promise you it won't, and you'll be smoking again by day's end. But a year doesn't matter, it doesn't even exist. A year is not a "thing", it's a compilation of things. And those things are "now".

The only way to get a year is to have a bunch of nows. The only way to not smoke for a year is to not smoke now. Easy peasy ;)

Quote: sodawater

Bob, sugar is not "poison." Sugar is the most basic and essential possible fuel for your body. All the food you eat gets broken down to simple sugar.

Sugar has no nutritional value whatever. It's
empty calories. My mother died from a
sugar addiction, sticking an insulin needle
in her arm 3 times a day. Type 1 diabetes
can be completely controlled with diet in
many people. For them, sugar is most
definitely a poison, and is probably responsible
for much of what ails modern society.

Quote: EvenBob

Thanks, Face, I just remembered how I quit.

Face is right, your brain is insidious. You have to cut it
off at the pass. Yup, you want it, you crave it, but it's
a moot point. It doesn't exist for you anymore.

You're welcome.

I can remember vividly all my failures and my successes. That "want" is a huge deal.

Attempts to quit when I didn't "want" it, when I was forced to or just thought I should, were a nightmare. My brain wasn't a part of me over which I had control, it was a terrifying, omnipresent demon of sadism. I remember talking to it, bargaining with it. "Dude, it hurts. Please stop, just let me be, let me get through this. Please, just dial it back a little." And it knew every sore to poke, every weakness to expose, and it did so incessantly, sadistically, with ever increasing intensity. Even something as "harmless" as weed, I came off that with tremors, cold sweats, night terrors, the whole nine. I was powerless against my own self.

But with that little kernel of "true want", that tiny yet solid idea of "I want this and it will happen", my brain went from the darkest, most imposing and terrifying demon to little more that a petulant child. It would try its games, and instead of cowering in fear from it or lashing out at it or losing my mind over it, my talks to it became very simple and even tempered. "I'm not going to do that now". And if it turned the dial up to 11, I just carried on with my day. When it got really bad, I'd just utter those few words "not going to do that now".

With that tiniest kernel of want and only focusing on right now, I kicked it all. Every one. And forget tremors, sweats, whatever, I hardly had a bad day of sleep.

If Mission wants it, he already has everything he needs. All he has to do is not do it right now.

Quote: Face

If Mission wants it, he already has everything he needs. All he has to do is not do it right now.

AA says one day at a time. But they concentrate
too much on how long they've been sober. If
some guy is sober for 5 years and slips once,
he starts over again counting the weeks and
months.

Quote: EvenBob

AA says one day at a time. But they concentrate
too much on how long they've been sober. If
some guy is sober for 5 years and slips once,
he starts over again counting the weeks and
months.

A day is too long, IMO. If you're in the throes of ball crushing detox, a day might as well be a lifetime. You got this rusty fishhook tugging at your brain, you gonna leave it all day? I mean, I could do (generic time frame), but a day? I mean, really, I could do a day, but it'd be a lot easier if not for this one fishhook. You know, I don't even need a whole cig to get rid of it, even. Like, even a vape, or maybe one puff, I'm sure it'll be gone. That's all it would take. Then I could do a whole day. No problem. But like this? A day?!

Just one puff...

Forget a day. Forget all time except for right now. Now is all that matters.

That sounds a lot rougher than quitting smoking, Face, though I do appreciate the advice and will revert to it, if necessary. I'm glad you got out of whatever had you. So far, the only thing that I have done is to pop in a stick of gum anytime I think about smoking, or sometimes I just throw one in to freshen up my breath...stale gum mouth is weird when the flavor is gone from your mouth.

Suck on sugar free cough drops if you get
tired of chewing. Or even a sugar free sucker.
Telly Savalas got away with it in Kojak, and
looked cool at the same time.

Thanks, I might give them a try!

Greetings!

I hope this is not becoming tedious, though I guess you could stop reading, if so, but I think posting in this thread has been helpful.

Basically, I'd hate to have to come to this thread and post that I failed and fired one up, so reporting my progress in this way kind of creates a peer-pressure (though self-imposed) and is somewhat therapeutic.

I reached the 72-hour point a little over two hours ago, so any nicotine that was actually still active in my brain chemistry is now gone. I am officially no longer influenced by nicotine in any way whatsoever.

Either way, everything is still going pretty easily. I've only chewed three pieces of gum today, but I've also allowed myself a few sessions of two minutes each at my fingernails, so I need to chew more gum tomorrow because I am supposed to be quitting biting my nails, too.

As far as the not smoking goes, I barely notice. It just registers that there are times when I would normally be smoking, such as when I had to take something from work and put it in my car so I wouldn't forget it, but I didn't feel compelled to smoke.

I didn't really know what to expect, to be completely honest, but this has been really easy so far. I probably could have quit smoking basically anytime I wanted to, and as strange as this is going to sound, the thought of quitting smoking never really occurred to me. It just seemed like something that I always did, so I never thought about quitting one way or another, didn't have any interest in quitting.

At the same time, I did not have any interest in continuing to smoke, either. This bet is pretty cool in terms of winning $500, but otherwise, whether or not I smoke is immaterial to me. I don't believe I'll ever smoke again because being a non-smoker is healthier than being a smoker, so if I am already a non-smoker (which I will rightfully be by 1/1/15), then there is no reason for me to smoke ever again.

If I may, I'd like to speak about the other times that I have quit smoking.

Neither Smoking, Nor Dipping

There were a few periods, totaling about two years, that I neither smoked nor dipped. These would have been mainly during football season prior to my Senior year of High School. I didn't smoke because I needed to have my wind, and I didn't dip because I hadn't ever seriously tried dipping until my Senior year of High School.

Dipping, Not Smoking

First Time

Okay, so my Senior Year of High School I had this girlfriend who was fine with the smoking for awhile, but then she said that it kind of irritated her asthma. At this time, she requested that I discontinue smoking if in her presence, so I suggested that I would just quit entirely and switch to chew (I'd tried it a couple times at this point) if she had no problem with me chewing.

She said that she had no problem with me chewing, but we would only kiss with an open mouth if I had brushed my teeth since my most recent chew. I told her that I didn't really care for kissing with an open mouth to begin with, and to be quite honest, rather prefer kissing with a closed mouth. She was fine with that.

She and I would go on to discontinue our relationship about eighteen months later, very close to that time, I saw a news story about a kid who got cancer from dipping and essentially lost half of his face. I'd go on to forget all about that kid a couple of years later, but at the time, it was enough to compel me to switch back to smoking.

Second Time

This was over a woman too, of course, isn't it always?

I was planning to move to Kansas City, MO, to go to Park University located in Parkville, MO. Prior to moving, I decided it would be a good idea for me to have a girlfriend out there, so I hopped on the Internet in March (Planned to move on campus in August) and got to work on getting a girlfriend, if not more than one.

In any event, I happened upon this girl on Yahoo! Personals and we got to talking and had some mutual interests, primarily in the realm of Philosophy, Card Games and Board Games. Either way, we got to talking and through some coincidence and strange circumstances we found ourselves in Orlando, FL sharing a hotel room and meeting for the first time. It was odd as she was from the Kansas City, MO area and I was from West Virginia.

The Florida trip was shortly after our respective school years ended, and we had gotten along quite nicely on the trip. A few weeks later, she suggested that I should just move out and live with her and her parents in June until it came time for me to live on campus in August.

Because I'm a moron, this seemed like a great idea! I secured a few job interviews for myself in Kansas City (Figuring I'd be offered at least one, got offered three) put every single possession I had in a Chevy Cavalier and drove the 800 miles, stopping only for fuel, to Kansas City, MO!!!

What was the point of this story, again?

Oh, yeah! Okay, so we're in Florida and she totally knows I smoke, her only request is that I not do it right beside her, that's it! Anyway, I'm outside smoking a cigarette a week after moving out there, and she comes up and basically tells me she is sick of my clothes stinking, and I need to choose between smoking or finding another place to live!!! Well, I had just started my job selling furniture, so that would look like crap on a resume', and I wasn't about to cash advance myself a couple grand for first month's rent and deposit on my credit cards, so what choice did I have?

I asked about dipping and was told that dipping was 100% unacceptable.

I did what any good boyfriend would do and dipped behind her back. Mainly on my way to work, on lunch from work, and on my way back from work. I recall stopping at the QuikTrip every day to toss out my spit cup and brush my teeth on the way home from work...lol!

im surprised the first g/f was okay with it too. My current g/f wouldn't want me to do either. Dipping is pretty gross to women unless all the men around them do it.

Mildly interesting: http://www.salon.com/2013/12/29/sciences_obsession_the_search_for_a_smart_pill/

Quitting smoking is obviously good for you. Giving up nicotine: maybe not so much...

Good variance to you Mission. I have a no smoking bet since November for one year, and after the first day I completely blocked it out of my system. The only times I crave one is if I am going through something terrible (such as running bad on video poker, or a bad day) but even though I'm surrounded by smokers I seem to do well. My "staycations" at casino hotels usually end up with a cigar watching the strip through my windows, and now have been replaced by champagne or an expensive dinner everytime I hit a royal.

Quote: sodawater

Bob, sugar is not "poison." .

Really? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2530885/Cut-sugar-intake-HALF-New-health-warning-says-limit-cut-five-teaspoons-day-fears-contributes-heart-disease.html

Sugar today is where tobacco was in 1961. It's
killing people globally at an appalling rate and
in 30 years will be where tobacco is today. A
recognized and regulated poison, use at your
own risk. Like tobacco, the body wasn't designed
for it and can't handle the amounts people consume.

Mission did you get that box of cigars I sent you?

One thing that helps a bit. When you think you want a smoke, just tell yourself I will wait 15 more minutes. That I want one felling goes away and you wont think about it for a while, then when the feeling comes back, do the same thing, It will get longer and longer each time. Eventually you wont even think about it or want one. After eating is the worst.

Quote: AxelWolf

One thing that helps a bit. When you think you want a smoke, just tell yourself I will wait 15 more minutes. That I want one felling goes away and you wont think about it for a while, then when the feeling comes back, do the same thing, It will get longer and longer each time. Eventually you wont even think about it or want one. After eating is the worst.

Thanks, that's similar to what Face suggested. This is technically Monday, now, I don't think that I've had the actual feeling of wanting one since that point on Saturday when I put those Green Bean Fries in the oven and had to wait for six minutes to pull them out and flip them. What do you do for six minutes!?

I just pull out a stick of gum and chew it now when I can't think of what I should do next. I should have done that on Saturday, but chewing gum while at home seemed like a strange thing to do.

Two things

You will get fat. Accept it.

You will never notice that you have more money. Forget that too.

All the things that are supposed to suck will suck.

Quote: Mission146

I hope this is not becoming tedious

Not at all. I'm fascinated.

Quote: AxiomOfChoice

Mildly interesting: http://www.salon.com/2013/12/29/sciences_obsession_the_search_for_a_smart_pill/

Quitting smoking is obviously good for you. Giving up nicotine: maybe not so much...

It's a book excerpt. Basically, the research appears to suggest that nicotine improves brain function. It's not addictive, and there's no withdrawal if you stop taking it.

It's only "bad" in combination with tobacco additives.

It occurs to me that cigars without additives could actually be beneficial, except there may be some "bad" chemical changes that occur during tobacco processing.

I have no idea what I'm talking about, but it's very interesting.

Quote: odiousgambit

Two things

You will get fat. Accept it.

I wouldn't necessarily say fat, besides, I'll drop it come the Summer when I can get outside more.

Quote:

You will never notice that you have more money. Forget that too.

All the things that are supposed to suck will suck.

I don't think I will have more money, I don't pay that much less to keep myself at adequate gum stock levels!

Nothing has really sucked so far, just taking it one day at a time.

FWIW, I just voted for you to succeed, Mission146.

It was 1998, so almost 16 years to the day....New Year's Eve at Ballys, AC....I quit that very night. And it was the very first time that I'd ever attempted to quit, one and done. And I'd been a smoker for over 25 years.

But I was ready to quit, and that made it just so much easier to accomplish. IMHO, you've really got to want to do it. If you really want to do it, my vote will prove prophetic. Good luck, my friend.

(Sidenote: In about 2005, I did begin to smoke a nice cigar every now and again, and still do. But cigar smoking is not the same as cigarette smoking IMHO. I can go days without smoking a cigar, I couldn't do that when I smoked cigarettes. And I do happen to believe that the health risks are greatly mitigated when smoking cigars as opposed to cigarettes, so I consider my occasional cigar smoking only as a mere personal indulgence.)

Thanks for the vote of Confidence and encouragement, Gr8Player, it's much appreciated, if not a bit surprising.

My wife has officially thrown in the towel, she says she refuses to gain the weight at this time. She has stated that she endeavors to lose between 10-15 pounds, and having done so, will then quit smoking. She says that she did not have any nicotine fits, but did gain three pounds in as many days.

I've gained two pounds since Thursday, stupid f****** carbohydrates. I've been eating a good bit of Raisin Bran at times when I would normally be eating nothing...I can only chew so much gum before I get sick of it!!!

There won't be any room in my stomach, soon enough, I think I swallow four sticks of gum for every one that I actually manage to throw away!

Quote: gpac1377

It's a book excerpt. Basically, the research appears to suggest that nicotine improves brain function. It's not addictive, and there's no withdrawal if you stop taking it.

It's only "bad" in combination with tobacco additives.

It occurs to me that cigars without additives could actually be beneficial, except there may be some "bad" chemical changes that occur during tobacco processing.

I have no idea what I'm talking about, but it's very interesting.

The nicotine patch is an interesting alternative. I love the part of the article where it says that the nicotine patch works for a lot of things, but not for the one thing that it's approved for (which strongly suggests that the "addictive" part of smoking is not actually the nicotine)

Oh well, I'm gonna go smoke a cigar and get smarter :)

Greetings!

I'm sorry this has been so non-dramatic, I could lie if you guys want, but I'm up to day six of not smoking, officially, in about three hours and still having an easy time of it.

Positive Variance, I guess.

Because I like knowing what to expect, so I pulled up a few lists of withdrawal effects online hoping for something more specific than my initial thought, "Well, you'll probably want to have a smoke at some point."

Anyway, I just pulled up those lists again, and I'm going down and taking an inventory of these things, and it's like, "No...no...no...headache...that's weird...no...not experiencing that...oh, gas, yeah, I guess some gas...no....not that..."

And I come to INSOMNIA, and it's crazy, because my experience is the exact opposite...I can hardly stay awake! I mean, I can, but let me assure you that when I am not chewing a piece of Winterfresh gum, I am sucking down all of the caffeine I can get like there's no tomorrow.

Dopamine is one Hell of a neurotransmitter, and that's something I knew before I even looked anything up about not smoking. Basically, I knew I was going to miss the dopamine that gets created as a result of smoking, so in addition to replacing the smoking with gum (from an oral fixation standpoint) I also had to replace the smoking with something else that would create dopamine.

So what do you do when you already drink a lot of caffeine?

DRINK EVEN MORE CAFFEINE!!!

It's pretty sad that it comes down to that, but I knew it would come down to that (and the gum) and that's why this is easy. I'm very simply making one addiction (caffeine) worse to get rid of another addiction (smoking).

Sue me. At least caffeine won't give me lung cancer.

Anyway, yeah, there's no anger, aggression, hostility, aggravation, irritation or any of that stuff because dopamine also works as adrenaline and as a mood enhancer.

The result of all of this is that I pretty much feel like normal, except for when the caffeine stops.

I would estimate that I went from drinking approximately 60 ounces of caffeine (Six 8oz coffees, one 12 oz Diet Pepsi) per day to drinking about 200 ounces of caffeine (Sixteen 8oz coffees, six 12 oz Diet Pepsi) per day.

In other words, I went from about 576 mg's of caffeine per day to about 1,656 mg's of caffeine per day.

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!

Except not.

They say that anything over 600mg's in a day is too much, but I was already near that, this is not nearly enough caffeine per day to die of a caffeine overdose, so we're good there, but...

This is just basic living and being conscious here, folks, I'd be pretty much a zombie if not drinking this much caffeine right now. I'm still tired between 2:00-3:00a.m., times when I'd usually never be tired, in fact, I didn't really get tired except for really prolonged periods without sleep.

But, I'm sleeping great, waking up less irritated than I used to, and we're really in business once that first cuppa is just cool enough to drink.

Nail Biting

The tempest's at the end of my fingers.

The impossible addiction.

Okay, not impossible, very hard.

I have a few fingers with nails actually starting to grow outward, and the rest of my fingers have at least begun to regenerate nails at this point, yes, two of my fingers (pinkies) were literally very close to not having a nail at all anymore.

I don't think I have caught myself unintentionally chewing yesterday or today, but that's because I have kept the stream of chewing gum more steady. If I'm not either chewing gum, eating, or drinking something, I must be asleep. The only exception is that I will take my gum out (or swallow it) and wait five minutes to either eat or drink something.

Gum and caffeine, right arm and left arm, two crutches.

Pretty weak, I know, but it's working, it's easy, I'll take it.

I can wean myself off of the caffeine later, and eventually switch to a sugar-free gum.

But right now, it's Winterfresh, Coffee and Diet Pepsi...and copious amounts of it!!!

Have you tried a 5 hour energy or any of that kind of stuff? I remember I would always have a weird effect with energy drinks like red bull and the like. Like 10-15 mins after drinking one, I would get very very tired where there was no way I could do anything but rest my head for a few. After a short nap(like 5-10 mins) I would be wired and good to go for the next day or so. It helped I had a low impact job like night security but since you are in the same boat with the hours, thought maybe it would be something to try.

For the nail biting maybe try to wear gloves at all times. To bite your nails you would have to remove your gloves and mentally maybe adding an extra step will send the signal that it is more trouble than it is worth.

Hey you are almost to week 1 so you have that milestone to look forward to. Hope it continues to work out in your favor.

Quote: Perdition

Have you tried a 5 hour energy or any of that kind of stuff? I remember I would always have a weird effect with energy drinks like red bull and the like. Like 10-15 mins after drinking one, I would get very very tired where there was no way I could do anything but rest my head for a few. After a short nap(like 5-10 mins) I would be wired and good to go for the next day or so. It helped I had a low impact job like night security but since you are in the same boat with the hours, thought maybe it would be something to try.

I appreciate the suggestion, but I rather enjoy the taste of both coffee and Diet Pepsi, and drinking things that you enjoy (even non-stimulants) aids in Dopamine production. Honesty, Dopamine is the end-all and be-all of neurotransmitters with respect to how you feel at any given time. If you are doing something you enjoy, Dopamine will be produced, it's true for anyone.

I've drank a five-hour energy before, tastes like shit. I love coffee, always have, I only drink the Diet Pepsi because it helps me burp (when nobody is around, of course) too much coffee (without burping) gives me gas cramps.

Quote:

For the nail biting maybe try to wear gloves at all times. To bite your nails you would have to remove your gloves and mentally maybe adding an extra step will send the signal that it is more trouble than it is worth.

I appreciate the advice, and I happen to agree with you, but what others think of me is an overriding factor on that one.

Quote:

Hey you are almost to week 1 so you have that milestone to look forward to. Hope it continues to work out in your favor.

Thanks! Yes, about 26 hours will be a full week, I think I'll be done paying attention to the specific length of time after that. It won't matter.

Here's a cool note: I usually drink coffee black, and prefer it black, but I just found out I can keep my gum in if I put creamer in the coffee. It's pretty gross, but not unbearably gross.

First off the caffeine is going to make your cravings worse. Second two patches is idiotic and dangerous. When you have a craving rub the patch a bit. You really have to just not think about it. Don't forget thinking about not thinking about it is thinking about it. The body processes caffeine faster when the body has a supply of nicotine at twice the rate. Coffee has an effect on gas and when you quit it, you're going to start getting stomach problems such as heart burn. Anyways it's only a hundred bucks at risk so Don't be stupid with endangering your health WORSE than smoking. Use those patches as directed. I would probably call the 1800quitnow line too.

We'll mission I have $100 on you to succeed. So I am pulling for you. If you need someone to talk to call me. I need this $100 for rent!

I know you will make it. This is easy money, I wish I was getting the 5-1 you are though

Quote: JW17

We'll mission I have $100 on you to succeed. So I am pulling for you. If you need someone to talk to call me. I need this $100 for rent!

I know you will make it. This is easy money, I wish I was getting the 5-1 you are though

I wish taking 5:1 from others didn't bother my conscience when it was offered!

Quote: onenickelmiracle

First off the caffeine is going to make your cravings worse. Second two patches is idiotic and dangerous. When you have a craving rub the patch a bit. You really have to just not think about it. Don't forget thinking about not thinking about it is thinking about it. The body processes caffeine faster when the body has a supply of nicotine at twice the rate. Coffee has an effect on gas and when you quit it, you're going to start getting stomach problems such as heart burn. Anyways it's only a hundred bucks at risk so Don't be stupid with endangering your health WORSE than smoking. Use those patches as directed. I would probably call the 1800quitnow line too.

I'm not having cravings, thus, my cravings cannot be worse.

I'm also not using any patches, I'm chewing regular old Winterfresh (Sticks, I hate the square gum) and drinking a little over 2x caffeine.

Doh! Misread the part about "gum and caffeine, left arm and right arm, two crutches." Read it too fast.

Its great to be optimistic and I hope you succeed. Your biggest obstacle will come when you get stressed or you have an exceptionally bad day.

Youuu can dooooo itttt

Quote: GWAE

Its great to be optimistic and I hope you succeed. Your biggest obstacle will come when you get stressed or you have an exceptionally bad day.

Youuu can dooooo itttt

I've had one such day, no cravings. I have two kids, five and two, so being stressed is a daily occurrence. I have a mess in one room, on occasion, and then I hear the bathroom sink turn on (when my wife is not home, so must be one of the kids in the sink without me) and a small part of me dies...lol

Quote: Mission146

I've had one such day, no cravings. I have two kids, five and two, so being stressed is a daily occurrence. I have a mess in one room, on occasion, and then I hear the bathroom sink turn on (when my wife is not home, so must be one of the kids in the sink without me) and a small part of me dies...lol

What, you don't have a basement to lock them in?

Quote: AxelWolf

What, you don't have a basement to lock them in?

Or a closet? They work very well too. Give them a
book to read in there, get them started on a new
hobby. I would lock myself in the closet and read
comic books when I was a kid.

I chewed so much gum I could have built a basketball of gum the first week I quit smoking. The only reason why I didn't bite my nails is because I am touching dirty machines and gunk builds up in the nails so I prefer not to eat them. Play sigma derby for a bit and watch how black your fingers get lol.

Quote: EvenBob

I would lock myself in the closet and read
comic books when I was a kid.

Obviously

Quote: Mission146

I've had one such day, no cravings. I have two kids, five and two, so being stressed is a daily occurrence.

When my kids were that age, I thought I was stressed. Looking back, I didn't know what stress was.

Now, my kids are 17 and 14. And I know what stress is.

Know why God makes teenagers like they are ? So you won't miss them when they move out !

Has no news been good news so far?

How do we know if mission fails? He just admits to it?

Quote: Beardgoat

How do we know if mission fails? He just admits to it?

http://www.homehealthtesting.com/home-tobacco-test-p-80.html?gclid=CIHgz-iH6LsCFQbl7AodD1oA7g

Or dunking. If he drowns he didn't smoke and he is not a witch.

Mission seems to be a man of his word so I don't think it is an issue. I was just curious. I made a bet with a coworker/ boss 11 years ago that I would not gamble at all until I went to Vegas for my 21 st. That meant no Indian casinos in CA and no online poker. Mind you i also worked at a casino at the time. I gambled quite a bit.

The bet was about 6 months long. I lasted about 3 months and I cracked. I had to fork over $500. He would have never known if i didnt tell him but i am an honroable guy. Luckily on my b-day my boss gave me a card with $500 inside. I thought it was pretty nice of him.

Quote: rxwine

Or dunking. If he drowns he didn't smoke and he is not a witch.

What if we floats? How do we know if he's a smoker or a witch?

Quote: AxiomOfChoice

What if we floats? How do we know if he's a smoker or a witch?

Light him on fire. A witch will survive, a smoker will burn like a cigarette.

Quote: wudged

Light him on fire. A witch will survive, a smoker will burn like a cigarette.

Sounds fair to me.

Wait, what if he's both a witch AND a smoker?