TexasCHLforum.com

don't switch to red licorice, they say too much causes cancer ... and watch the Blood Pressure with salted seeds ...sodium

Also, when my mouth wants a "nasty taste" ... I make a cup of black instant coffee with
1 spoon of Taster's choice
and one spoon of Cajun blend Community Lousiana coffee ...
(A Starbucks double shot tastes like water compared to that)


Oh, also, the doctor said I may no longer need to take my blood pressure medicine soon .... nicotine was what raised my blood pressure all these years ... BP is getting back to normal

Congrats.

I quit smoking in the 1970s when I had nose surgery and couldn't breathe, months later found an old cig under the seat in the car, lit it (stupid) ... smoked until 1984 when I quit for 6 months, told myself "all I need to do is control the one arm and hand that put it to my mouth (and used patches) ...... started again intentionally in 1985 (stupid) ... Then I quit in 2007, kept 1 cig in the car "for when I need it" and always when I craved one I'd tell myself, "not yet, I may need it worse later" ... and stayed off for 6 months, then my dad got ill, I retired, moved to take care of him, he passed away and I smoked until last Thanksgiving ....

My brother does the anti-smoking celebrex/welbutrin pills ... says they work for him ... I worry about side effects ... didn't try them but ///

1)
In October a chain smoking friend my age went to the E.R. they said he had 2 weeks to live, lung cancer, by Thanksgiving he was able to travel to Lubbock from Austin and was looking good at church last week chemo and radiation seem to be working, but he has a loss of hearing from chemo ...

2)
Took my sis-in-law to a doctor 3 weeks ago and saw a guy on oxygen who was having trouble breathing from walking 20 feet.

3)
a) I gave up trying to quit (I quit several times before) ... AND I realized I am powerless to stay quit (like a 12-step program)
b) I admit there is a higher power than myself (Nicotine addiction is one, but One greater than that)
c) I disposed of all cigs, lighters etc ...
d) I taped a post-it note on my ashtray that says "GOT INSURANCE? .... GOT ENOUGH?"
e) Dr Oz had a show (Patches and Welbutrin and rubber band to keep hands busy) http://www.doctoroz.com/challenges/kick-habit-plan" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
f) TIP: Walgreens sells a "Punch Balloon" two for a dollar ... This is a balloon on a rubber band, to keep both your hands and mouth entertained ... My doctor said blowing up the balloon is good respiratory therapy too ...
e) I wrote the following on a post-it and carry it with me in the pocket cigs used to live in /// and also taped it on the ashtray

Luke 17:32 Remember Lot's wife.

Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

2 Peter 2:22 ... The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Jude 1:5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

Numbers 16 (the story of how of those saved out of the bondage in Egypt, Korah and his followers wanted to return.turn back/looked back and were destroyed)

=================
Conclusion:
After being saved from something ... don't look back .... don't be as a dog which returns to its vomit.

=========================================

Yeah, Thanksgiving wasn't that long ago, and I'm not at the 6 month mark, but I'm doing an AA type thing by myself (I used to work in drug/alcohol counseling in the 1970s) and TIP: I'll reward myself after 30 days, (like AA groups do with a chip ...but maybe I'll join a buy a gun of the month club lol) and monthly thereafter as well as annually ... a fellow at church said he quit 6 years ago and would hate to give up 6 years for 1 puff ... just like that first drink for an alcoholic ...

So ... in my own mind, this is working for me, and each meal I pray for God to bless the food for the nourishment, repair, rejuvenation and proper regeneration of this body He gave me which I've messed up, and apologize and give thanks for both His mercy and grace.

---------------------------------
I "quit" before ... it's the "staying quit" after being saved from something (toxins band addictive stuff) that I'm now doing,
If I "look back/turn back/return like a dog to the vomit" it dishonors myself and the One who saved me from it.
I don't real often speak of "religion" in public forums, but this is about quitting tobacco, and what's working for me.

"Good luck"