Today is your day to go smokefree.
Although public buildings in Ohio will go smoke free on December 7th. Today is the day for your lungs to go smoke free if you are a smoker.
The Great American Smokeout is an effort of the American Cancer Society- and is partially credited for helping American’s go from 37.1% of our adults smoking in 1974 to 20.9% in 2005.
My parents smoked when I was growing up. Dad was a 3 pack of Players guy. Even after his first heart attack, and not smoking for 3 months- the bad habit came back- esp. since he worked with smokers (back in the old days- people actually smoked at work!).
After several other scares, heart attacks, heart surgeries he finally quit. I have to admire my Mom- she quit way before he did. The secret was a program called SmokeEnders which suggested the following:
- Do a surroundings purification ritual before your quit date. Clean the house, top to bottom, carpets, blinds, computer keyboards, bedding, upholstery, etc. Detail your car. Nicotine is a contact drug (hence the patch) easily transmitted through the skin. It’s hard to quit when you keep getting jolts of the drug you crave by touching it.
- On your quit date: purify yourself. 24 hours of nothing but fruit juices to help purge your pores. Also, take three showers that day- wash away the drug.
- Mentally- every time you get the urge, repeat this mantra: I choose not to smoke.
It’s harder than kicking heroin, but the impact on your health, your wallet, your life expectancy makes it worth it.
Best of luck. Let’s make the percentage of people smoking drop some more. Starting December 7th (a good target day for you to do the steps above) lets all celebrate a smoke free life.
Since I got dragged into this discussion, let me make a correction. I smoked four packs a day.
I finally quit after they did a triple bypass on me after my second heart attack.
I feel much better now.
Yay, Mr. Esrati! I do agree – life without smoking is much more pleasant than with. Toward the end, I knew my pack-a-day habit was more or less a form of indentured servitude (looking under car seats for onesies when I ran out the night before, ducking into areas outside where I knew I wouldn’t be seen taking a few puffs, etc.)
I’ve never done – or never had the desire to do – heroin, but I can say quitting smoking is one of, if not THE, hardest thing I’ve ever done. They say third time’s a charm, huh?
A lot of the addiction is totally psychological. I still get in situations that really have me pondering “just having ONE” to calm my nerves, etc. But I’ve held strong. Just hope it gets easier on down the road.
I think this anti-smoking rhetoric is overblown and a total infringement on private business. Isn’t the free market to decide whether smoking is a viable option or not? Not to mention all this health consciousness is total b.s. (when will we tackle obesity, environmental health concerns? etc…should we regulate diets, limit prescription drug use)
I started smoking when I was 14 and thoroughly enjoy it. Although I would advise those who enjoy to smoke to roll their own. A far better smoke.
I haven’t had a cigarette in a few months but I love sitting in a bar with a shot of Jameson’s and a tall Killian’s while exhaling sweet mint tobacco. Unfortunately now me and the twenty percent of people who enjoy this “habit” are resigned to our own residences.
Quitting smoking (or taking a break) is pretty damn easy and to say it is like kicking heroin is a bit of an exaggeration. If you can get past the first week without having a smoke the rest is all will power.