Smokers

Craig Schwartz · Post by **Craig Schwartz** » 30 Dec 2014 11:00 pm

I smoke cigs, I want to quit , 40 years and a 1/4 million nails is long enough , Gonna do it tommorow night,

Anyone with me on this ?

Craig

Craig Baker · Post by **Craig Baker** » 30 Dec 2014 11:32 pm

Craig,
Yes, I'm with you brother. All the best with your decision, and why not? New Years Eve is a great night to kick it.

Thumbs Carllile once told me: "Quittin' smoking is the easiest thing in the world. . . I've done it over a thousand times"

Hoping you'll do it once!

Sincerely,
Craig

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 31 Dec 2014 3:58 am

The way your avatar comes busting out of the building looks like you can do it.
I'm with Thumbs, but tonight might be the night, and a new year.
I'll be with you in spirit, at the least, and maybe more.

An old topic about money and smokes has resurfaced:
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=218645

'Smokers!' Reminds me of what the pirates are called in 'Waterworld.'

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 31 Dec 2014 6:05 am

I quit in 1984 - cold turkey. I worked in a computer room and couldn't smoke in there which helped. But, I was still playing in smoky bars but that didn't really make me want to start smoking again.

Good luck and I hope it works out.

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 31 Dec 2014 6:14 am

The smartest thing in the world is to never have started
in the first place.
I'm sure most every teenaged kid has tried smoking at one time or another.
In the 1950s @ 25 cents a pack it wasn't an expensive habit. Today @ $6.00+ a pack I have no idea how a teen could afford it.???

Roger

Kevin Lichtsinn · Post by **Kevin Lichtsinn** » 31 Dec 2014 6:52 am

GO FOR IT !!!!!!!!!

Craig Baker · Post by **Craig Baker** » 31 Dec 2014 7:36 am

While I've never smoked, Jack Stoner's post reminded me. . . Years ago, I worked as an engineer in a TV station. No one was allowed to smoke in the control room, the transmitter room, or the computer room. Amazing. . . Companies would protect their equipment rather than their people. Go figure.

Happy New Year everyone.

Craig

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 31 Dec 2014 7:59 am

Craig Baker wrote:Companies would protect their equipment rather than their people. Go figure.

At least you and Jack were the ancillary beneficiaries, public health in a fashion.

I'm becoming inspired myself; not to have to go to the tobacco shop on icy roads, might be a good thing all the way around.

Aaron Jennings · Post by **Aaron Jennings** » 31 Dec 2014 8:00 am

It's worth it. (190 days in, after 10 years)

The first few days can feel like hell (physically). But it does get easier.

I recommend going cold turkey as well.

Good Luck!

john buffington · Post by **john buffington** » 31 Dec 2014 8:04 am

Congratulations on your decision. I have been off them 36 years (3 pack a day). Just take it an hour at a time and before you know it hours turns in to days. I tried several methods but the Lord was the most successful for me. Hang in there.

Wally Pfeifer · Post by **Wally Pfeifer** » 31 Dec 2014 8:22 am

One morning in 1960,- my wife and I were down to 1 cigarette. We argued a little bit as to who would get it. Finally, I told her "I'm not driving a mile to get cigarettes". "You can have it because I'm quitting". I haven't had a cigarette or any type of tobacco since. Sadly,- she passed away in 2007 at age 78 from COPD and other problems. And I'm still here on my birthday(Dec 31)today.
This post contains some sad parts and some happy parts.

Depends on the way you look at it.
Wally

Ray Leroux · Post by **Ray Leroux** » 31 Dec 2014 10:55 am

Quit in 75 and took up the pedal steel, 2 yrs hard woodshedding by the time my head came up smoking was miles behind me. All the best in the new year.

Ray Harrison · Post by **Ray Harrison** » 31 Dec 2014 11:26 am

It is so much easier to quit when it is your decision to stop smoking. When the Dr or your friends or family want you to stop it is really difficult.
I quit in 90-91 after 35+ years of smoking and it makes a world or difference in health and money....
Best wishes on your success.

Rick Schacter · Post by **Rick Schacter** » 31 Dec 2014 11:44 am

I started smoking when I was 14 years old.
When I finally quit, I was 25 and smoking 2 packs a day.
I haven't had a cigarette in 30 years now.

It's very difficult for about the first two weeks or so, but it is sooo worth it.
My dad couldn't (or wouldn't) stop smoking and I lost my dad to lung cancer in 2003.
It was awful to have to watch him waste away from that terrible disease.

Best advice I could give you:

Put all of the money that you would have spent on cigarettes in a big mason jar.
The more you see that money adding up, the more you'll be motivated to stay on track.
At the end of the year, reward yourself by buying something really nice.

May you have a very happy and cigarette free new year!

James Kerr · Post by **James Kerr** » 31 Dec 2014 12:02 pm

I think a lot of you would stop if asked to pay UK prices, $12 per 20 pack. most of which is Tax.

James. former smoker (ran out of money)

Pete McAvity · Post by **Pete McAvity** » 31 Dec 2014 3:07 pm

You could go cold turkey, or give yorself a fighting chance and buck the physical withdrawl with the patch. Seriously. I'm about 12 years out now and what i did was go to use those little brown filter tips you get at walgreens (one filter tip for each pack) for about 2 months, which sucked a ton of the tar out and gave me a lot less nicotine. Then after about 2 months of reduced nicotine intake (and an ability to breath easier w/ less tar) I started using the patch. Use the system associated w/ the product- that is get the appropriate dosage pach (in milligrams) for your cigarette intake, and titrate down to the lower mg patches as you go until you've weened yourself off the patch. You will have psychological triggers to smoke no matter how you quit, but this lets you gradually adjust. Your body wants balance, so be nice to it and ween yourself rather than inducing withdrawal. When you want to stop your car, you don't slam on the brakes, do you?

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 31 Dec 2014 4:22 pm

Ray Harrison wrote:It is so much easier to quit when it is your decision to stop smoking.

It's true. I quit following hypnosis, but it lasted some seven years.
Funny, it was like I forgot I smoked....
I wonder if I could do that again....
Why not?
I tell ye, right now I'm doing it by listening to Sandy Denny sing Bob Dylan's 'Tomorrow is a Long Time' with Sneaky Pete https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI_8ArJ ... M&index=17 ... listen, pedal steel doesn't get any better than this.

A college architecture school/musician friend George... well, he said Paul Simon told him 'It's a game.'
He told me the way to quit was to roll up a pack of joints and smoke them. This was in the late 60's.
It seemed to work for him; saw him at the Bijou in San Antonio, his name on the marquee. 'We should be playing music, not building buildings,' he said.
He didn't seem to be smoking, and he's still playing and singing. I bought a bass after that, my fretless Precision.
Back to Sneaky Pete. You gotta hear it.

baxter vaughan · Post by **baxter vaughan** » 31 Dec 2014 4:37 pm

Go for it. All the best....God knows I need to.

baxter vaughan · Post by **baxter vaughan** » 31 Dec 2014 4:38 pm

Go for it. All the best....God knows I need to.

Craig Baker · Post by **Craig Baker** » 31 Dec 2014 5:09 pm

Pete,
Your post reminded me of something else Thumbs Carllile said:
"I started using the patch a while back and now I'm up tp three patches a day".

Happy New Year all.

Craig

Norman Evans · Post by **Norman Evans** » 31 Dec 2014 5:34 pm

I quit in 1986 after smoking for about 25 years. I made a decision to quit buying cigarettes and to not accept one from a friend under any circumstances. After almost 30 years its the best decision I ever made. I can't stand to smell smoke anymore.
Good luck on your effort, if I can quit, you can too.
Regards, Norm

Brendan Mitchell · Post by **Brendan Mitchell** » 31 Dec 2014 6:25 pm

Roger Shackelton wrote:The smartest thing in the world is to never have started
in the first place.
I'm sure most every teenaged kid has tried smoking at one time or another.
In the 1950s @ 25 cents a pack it wasn't an expensive habit. Today @ $6.00+ a pack I have no idea how a teen could afford it.???

Roger

Smokes in OZ are $20 and up for a pack of 20 , still plenty of smokers around though .

Lee Dassow · Post by **Lee Dassow** » 31 Dec 2014 6:44 pm

My wife started smoking when she was 14. Last year,
from Christmas day to new years day she was in the hospital. She almost didn't make it. She's been on
oxygen almost night and day. Still has 30% lung
function. Now I have to tell you I never thought she smoked that much, but everyone's lungs handles nicotine and tar differently. Future? Not to bright for her. She Walks 30 ft. and she's gasping for air,
even on oxygen. Oh yeah memory lose too. I'm not looking for sympathy, just want to let smokers know what they could be facing. Be healthy.
Tennessee Lee

Larry Carlson · Post by **Larry Carlson** » 31 Dec 2014 8:30 pm

Lee Dassow wrote:I'm not looking for sympathy, just want to let smokers know what they could be facing. Be healthy.
Tennessee Lee

Well, you'll get my sympathy anyway. It isn't easy.

I am retired from radiology and worked the local hospitals for what seems like forever.
I can't even begin to describe what smoking can do to the human body.
It is one of the most horribly destructive habits anyone can have. Some of what I saw still gives me chills.

To anyone who smokes, try your best to stop.
For those who are trying to quit, give it everything you have.
It could save your life and you and those around you will both benefit.
Best of luck to everyone.

Sorry if I sound preachy. I smoked for 15 years after starting in college.
I ended up with double pneumonia and the doctor said I could quit smoking or die. I quit. Scared the heck out of me.
So I know what it is like to smoke and how difficult it is to quit. It's just something with which I didn't think I had a choice.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 31 Dec 2014 9:36 pm

I'm lucky. I tried smoking cigarettes when I was 14, and didn't like it, so I didn't do it any more.

My mother in law, who, contrary to the stereotype, was actually a very nice lady who I liked very much, died at the Age of 57 from lung cancer. She did not smoke, but worked in an office where others did. It was the 2nd hand smoke that caused the cancer.

Fortunately, smoking inside all public buildings is now illegal in California. It's one of the best things that ever happened here.