|
Smoking
Oct 22, 2003 15:57:05 GMT -5
Post by FreshBrewed on Oct 22, 2003 15:57:05 GMT -5
Anyone out there have suggestions on how to stop smoking? I've tried the patch, cold turkey and Zyban. None of them worked. Castle tried to help me but it didn't work out too well. I think the stress of work may have something to do with it. And yes I REALLY do want to quit because I'm approaching a wall in my playing and the root of my problem is lack of air. Any help would be greatly appreciated no matter how odd the solution. Thanks.
|
|
gzent
Junior Member
"6 Sharps? You've got to be kidding!"
Posts: 68
|
Smoking
Oct 22, 2003 16:16:32 GMT -5
Post by gzent on Oct 22, 2003 16:16:32 GMT -5
Well, this might sound like BS, but in 1985 my Dad quit after smoking 40 years and in 1986 my Mom quit after smoking over 30 years. Neither have smoked since.
They both quit cold turkey after getting hypnotized. Really, its true!
Greg
|
|
|
Smoking
Oct 22, 2003 17:03:34 GMT -5
Post by Tootsall on Oct 22, 2003 17:03:34 GMT -5
Man, that's a toughie. If there was a "magic formula" the owner would be making millions! I used to smoke up to 2 packs a day when I was in university (of course, they were MUCH cheaper then...that was 35 years ago). The funny thing is, over time I've been able to cut back to where I don't buy them at all any longer but will accept one in certain social settings if someone offers. In other words, I can take'em (and sometimes do) or leave 'em (and sometimes do). I probably don't smoke any more than 20 or 30 cigarettes a year. Why not stop completely? I dunno...why not stop drinking alcohol completely? or why not always drive at or below the speed limit? or give up possibly risky sports?
How was this accomplished? I don't really know. Peer pressure maybe? The high cost? The fact that my wife used to bring home Xrays and photos of the disected lungs of ex-smokers (and ex-living!) might have had something to do with it. Sleeping in hotel rooms that had been frequented by smokers? (those pillows? yeeeeuck!)
The thing is that once you get USED to being "smoke free" you notice very strongly the tobacco odors on other people who are smokers....light OR heavy smokers! A lot of fresh air helps too. I know that when I get in a "relatively" polluted atmosphere like a city (or a welding shop) I'm more likely to accept a smoke than when I'm outdoors in fresh air.
We're slowly implementing an absolute ban on smoking in our workplace. There are a few folks who are very bitter about this new policy but they've been offered programs for a couple of years and several of them simply refuse to even consider giving up their smokes (and those smokes are getting up to $9.00 a pack here). The fewer smokers you are around, the less strong the "cravings" are.... and as I recall you are in a situation where there are liable to be a lot of smokers.
I know one guy who managed to quit smoking by convincing his wife to let him buy a sports car, arguing (successfully) that the cost of smoking would offset the cost of the car. To my knowledge he's kept his promise "cold turkey". It's been about 4 years for him now. Maybe you could make a promise to yourself to bring back one of those Mercedes Kompressor models as a "reward" when you rotate back to the U.S.! (With the trunk full of good beer, of course).
Motivation.
|
|
|
Smoking
Oct 23, 2003 1:28:50 GMT -5
Post by TrumpetPlayer on Oct 23, 2003 1:28:50 GMT -5
Anyone out there have suggestions on how to stop smoking? I've tried the patch, cold turkey and Zyban. None of them worked. Castle tried to help me but it didn't work out too well. I think the stress of work may have something to do with it. And yes I REALLY do want to quit because I'm approaching a wall in my playing and the root of my problem is lack of air. Any help would be greatly appreciated no matter how odd the solution. Thanks. Mike, I still have not done my home work on this but I can give you a suggestion or two. Take a good look at your habits of when you light up to smoke and change those situations by either taking a false cigarette which some do or reminding yourself right at that moment that you are taking another step at this time in your life to purify your body. Take one step at a time and don’t think about tomorrow but only at that moment you are dealing with this effort. What is the most important thing/person/event in your life? Will you trade a cigarette in place of that thing/person/event? If you are religious then think about your body as being the Temple of G-d. Aaron’s two sons died because they offered a strange fire (where there is smoke, there’s fire and the converse is true as well). The fire and smoke allowed in the Temple were the offerings and incense and nothing else. Thanks for opening up this thread. Great idea. Liad Bar-EL
|
|
|
Smoking
Oct 23, 2003 21:07:28 GMT -5
Post by Thevor on Oct 23, 2003 21:07:28 GMT -5
My father started smoking at the ripe age of 14 years old. He was able to stop smoking at the age of 51........ it was more like the smoking stopped him. He died.
Just something to consider while you're taking the time trying to give them up.
I'm not one to judge though, I've tried to give up my coffee habit a few times and that dredded cup keeps ending up on my desk in the morning........ dang, if its that hard to give up coffee, how hard is it to give up the really addictive stuff?
Thevor
|
|
|
Smoking
Oct 24, 2003 7:51:31 GMT -5
Post by TrumpetPlayer on Oct 24, 2003 7:51:31 GMT -5
We are endowed with the power to choose what we want to affect us in your lives.
My brother in law was the same age as me, one month ago. He died of lung cancer due to smoking. Everyone in the family, the wife and children, are still suffering. If he would have know how much suffering he has caused himself and his family, I am sure he would not have chosen to smoke.
Liad Bar-EL
|
|
|
Smoking
Oct 24, 2003 9:20:35 GMT -5
Post by TrumpetPlayer on Oct 24, 2003 9:20:35 GMT -5
I realize that my previous post was not directed to you specifically because you are not choosing to smoke but rather are choosing NOT to smoke and wanting to know how to do it. Let me say here you are 50% cured already.
During graduate school, we studied for 2 years the answer to one question, “how to make people change”. The key is first to have the person recognize that he/she has a problem. You already recognize this; so, you are already on your way to recovery.
I and there are others who are giving you support even in this forum. Have you noticed or felt anything different in your daily activities for the past couple of days? Have you felt really good and like you were not alone but that someone was with you or was thinking about you?
Hey guys, let’s give Mike our support. We know you can lick this problem Mike.
Liad Bar-EL
|
|
|
Smoking
Oct 24, 2003 11:14:53 GMT -5
Post by Tootsall on Oct 24, 2003 11:14:53 GMT -5
"Lick" tobacco? (insert mental image of cleaning an ashtray out with your tongue) :oEwwww! How gross is THAT! Seriously, Mike. For most folks out there who what to quit smoking but are having a real hard time of it, there will be as many suggestions as there are folks who have managed to give it up. Whether it is difficult or not is the inverse function of your real desire to quit. You want to play. Trumpet requires air and you know that you need to have an efficient and effective breathing system for that. You love making music with your trumpet. How much? You are making a career out of it. This is one time that being labelled "a quitter" is a GOOD THING!
|
|
|
Smoking
Oct 24, 2003 12:46:48 GMT -5
Post by FreshBrewed on Oct 24, 2003 12:46:48 GMT -5
To All, Thanks for the words of encouragement and support. I'm already smoking 50% less at work than I did and that is where I used to do my "heavy" smoking. I think that is due to the fact that I've been practicing about 4 hours a day at work and even more when I get home. I just hope my neighbors and co-workers can tolerate hearing me that much every day. I'm also trying to find things to do right after I eat so that I don't go straight for the smokes. My wife likes me doing the dishes every night! I'm aso listening to trumpet music constantly while at home. It lets me know that I'll never play with the "big guys" if I keep smoking. I'll write more after I get back from Berlin with the band and let you all know how that goes. Nothing makes me crave a smoke like drinking German beer so this will be rough!
|
|
|
Smoking
Oct 24, 2003 15:53:29 GMT -5
Post by Thevor on Oct 24, 2003 15:53:29 GMT -5
Dang Fresh, if I start smoking would that mean I'd be able to get out of doing the dishes? I always wondered what the secret was. ;D
Thevor
|
|
|
Smoking
Oct 24, 2003 17:57:55 GMT -5
Post by Tootsall on Oct 24, 2003 17:57:55 GMT -5
Hey Mike! I got an idea. Can you convince your wife that the money you save on smokes can be yours to spend on extra Eclipse horns? Man, to hear the way you guys talk about those things I'd have to think it would be one heck of an incentive! BUT!!! You gotta save the money FIRST! (yeah, yeah...nag nag nag). ;D
|
|
|
Smoking
Oct 25, 2003 5:29:29 GMT -5
Post by FreshBrewed on Oct 25, 2003 5:29:29 GMT -5
Actually, I already have the money saved for the new flugel. ;D As for the dishes, my hands are starting to look like prunes! Believe me Thevor, smoking is NOT worth getting out of doing dishes! This morning I even opted for raking leaves instead of having that morning smoke. If this doesn't kill me it will definitely make me more physically fit.
|
|
|
Smoking
Oct 25, 2003 9:02:04 GMT -5
Post by Tootsall on Oct 25, 2003 9:02:04 GMT -5
Ahhh, now there's a REAL MAN. Not afraid to let his "sensitive side" show while he rakes the leaves (probably got one those turbo-charged Bavarian leaf blowers) ;D Come on, Mike...you can do it! We're all pullin' for ya. Remember..if the women don't find ya handsome, at least let them find ya handy! (thanks, Red Green)
|
|
|
Smoking
Oct 25, 2003 12:37:40 GMT -5
Post by TrumpetPlayer on Oct 25, 2003 12:37:40 GMT -5
Mike and others who are wanting to quite smoking, the whole answer to quitting smoking is quite simple. It’s called “willpower”.
It is not hard to quit, but it is hard to keep on the non-smoking trail. You have to gradually reduce the quantity, never smoke when you wake up, in the car, after (eating, toilette, sex etc.) any of the activities from which you tend to want a cigarette. I mentioned this before. By doing this, you will brake every habit that you may have connected with smoking.
When you actually decide to quit, the first three days are hard and one must be prepared for the next two months as well for they are the critical time. Never ask for a cigarette and try to stay away from "secondary smoking" – other people who smoke in front of you.
There are also gum and nicotine packets to reduce the physical addiction. There are even fake cigarettes that are plastic with a mint taste that don’t light up but give you the looks and “lip feel” of a cigarette … along the idea of a pacifier (for adults?). ;D
Last point is to be careful of what you eat. Try to be on a diet when you quit smoking. Most people gain more than 5 kg during the first months.
That's the whole essence of quitting smoking. There are support groups that you can search for on the internet as well if you like.
Good luck,
Liad Bar-EL
|
|
|
Smoking
Oct 30, 2003 18:14:09 GMT -5
Post by TangneyK on Oct 30, 2003 18:14:09 GMT -5
Smoking... I'm a smoker too (as FreshBrewed knows). Having stopped a couple of addictions in the past, I'll tell you a few of things that worked for me:
One day at a time!! (Sometimes this meant one day, one hour, one minute, even one second at a time staying away from the substance in question.)
Focus on the root of the problem, not the symptoms. (Smoking makes me feel good. Not smoking doesn't. Thinking about that is not going to help. Thinking about why you need a cigarrette--stress, digestion, etc.--will help you "think out" your craving.)
Do things that make you feel good. (Again, smoking makes me feel good. I want to try and replace that with something positive. You've already mentioned practicing as an alternative, and I can't think of a better one.)
Drink lots of water!!!! (Water is good for everything--except breathing!! It'll flush out those chemicals a lot faster if you're well hydrated.)
Excercise. (Excercise produces/releases dopamines into your brain, so you feel better.)
Get a buddy. (Find someone that wants to quit smoking with you. You can share your nicotine fits together, and laugh at each other through them. Support is always a good thing, especially if you have someone that is going through the same thing you are.) .............
Smoking is a pregnant dog to quit... Nicotine is the most addictive substance known to man. I hope some of this will help.
--Kevin
|
|