Quit Dipping... Yay

[snatchel]

So, as of today I have officially quit dipping for one week. My gosh, it's been difficult... but the only thing I have found to fix the need to have something in my mouth for most of the day is gum. So far, it's done a decent job at keeping the urges away.... after the initial 24 hour period in which I didn't think ANYTHING could help me . Truth be told--nothing really helps, but I've set my mind to do this and by God it's gonna happen.

I've dipped for 11 years now--since I was 15 years old. Frankly, it's long overdue. My wife and I are on a budget because we are both students, and a can a day was entirely too much money to spend. I was dipping Grizzly, 5 bucks a can, 7 cans a week. I don't need to do the math to explain how expensive that stupid habit had become.

This is what made me stop: The Doctor.... and an ulcer. I would spit the first couple of times after putting a dip in, then would stomach it for the rest of the time. Swallowing all that tobacco juice for eleven years has done a number on my stomach, and at 26 years old I have developed an ulcer the size of a golf ball.

But that alone isn't enough to make me quit-- I think deep down I just needed a reason to. I was sick of it. I'm glad to be moving on I will keep y'all updated. Anyone wanna get on this Misery Train with me? LOL....

[stroguy]

That's great and I hope for quick recovery. You have to program yourself into portraying the vice as an evil that enslaves you. I quit smoking and finally committed because I convinced my brain that I was a slave of the smoke. I also told myself over and over that liberals were profiting from my weakness. It worked. Now if I can only get off the Big Macs.

Congrats again.

[speedsix]

...heeeeeeeeeeeeeey!!!! that's UN-American...

[OldCannon]

I watched my younger brother die from esophageal cancer here at my home less than a year ago. The cancer was likely caused by tobacco use. These things don't necessarily motivate _other_ people to quit, but for the family members left behind, it's an awful memory to bear.

[RoyGBiv]

Good luck..!!

I have a friend that was prescribed Wellbutrin to stop dipping.
Worked for him the first time... Stayed off for about 6 months after he stopped the drug.
He's back dipping again...

I hope you can kick it for good...

Suggestion.... Take the money you would have spent and put it in a glass jar. On the front of the jar, tape a photo of the next gun/rifle/whatever you want to buy. Pay in every day.

[texanron]

I quit smoking years ago and to this day I still get the occasional craving for a smoke. I know it seems tough now but it will get easier.
Hang in there Bro!

[LJM]

I feel your pain. My wife and I have been married 26 years and I had dipped since before we met. This past Valentines day I made the mistake of asking what she wanted and she said quit. I thought about the cost the smell and such and quit. It still bugs me sometimes but I know I am better off. Good luck.

[longtooth]

I am prowd of both of you.

[strider67]

Good job guys!

I have dipped Copenhagen snuff for too many years...quit about 2.5 years ago for about 6 months. Went hunting, started back... 6 months after that, quit for about a year. You guessed it. I'll follow your progress, Snatchel, and maybe you can bring me back from "the dark side". That is one of the hardest dog-gone things I have ever tried to do. Sometimes I think it is harder to break the "habit" than the addiction...if that makes sense.

Wow, LJM...just like that?

[carlson1]

Great job! It is definitely a huge accomplishment. I chewed tobacco years ago when it was cheap!

I quit overnight. I made my mind up and God made it easy.

I sure wish I could leave food that easy.

[gemini]

So, as of today I have officially quit dipping for one week. My gosh, it's been difficult... but the only thing I have found to fix the need to have something in my mouth for most of the day is gum. So far, it's done a decent job at keeping the urges away.... after the initial 24 hour period in which I didn't think ANYTHING could help me . Truth be told--nothing really helps, but I've set my mind to do this and by God it's gonna happen.

I've dipped for 11 years now--since I was 15 years old. Frankly, it's long overdue. My wife and I are on a budget because we are both students, and a can a day was entirely too much money to spend. I was dipping Grizzly, 5 bucks a can, 7 cans a week. I don't need to do the math to explain how expensive that stupid habit had become.

This is what made me stop: The Doctor.... and an ulcer. I would spit the first couple of times after putting a dip in, then would stomach it for the rest of the time. Swallowing all that tobacco juice for eleven years has done a number on my stomach, and at 26 years old I have developed an ulcer the size of a golf ball.

But that alone isn't enough to make me quit-- I think deep down I just needed a reason to. I was sick of it. I'm glad to be moving on I will keep y'all updated. Anyone wanna get on this Misery Train with me? LOL....

I dipped for about 15 years. It was a way to quit cigarettes. Stupid, stupid. When my 1st son was about 5 yo he wanted to know what the can was. It was terribly tough to quit. But, I did and so can you. Ulcers, mouth dry/white patches (pre-cancerous) and receeding gum line.... that's what is in your immediate future if you don't stop. Now that I've properly scolded you and told my story.... a bit of actual help.... I did the gum thing. But, I also ate Tootsie Roll Pops like they were going out of style. I ate Altoids 2 or 3 at a time. Certs every once in a while and Sweet Tarts. I kept a small bag of candy etc on the seat next to me when driving. It took about 3-4 weeks of candy and a extremely high glycemic index diet, but it finally paid off. And no, my teeth didn't rot out from all the sugar. Just don't do it. The longer you go without, the easier it will get. Good luck.
PS I hunt with guys that dip. It doesn't even appeal in the slightest to me anymore. I stopped 20 yr ago. Again, good luck and hang tough.

[longtooth]

Great job!

I sure wish I could leave food that easy.

Meeee Tooo

[texanron]

Food kind of took the place of smoking for me! If it ain't one addiction it's another.

[RPB]

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"

[RPB]

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