Nicotine is probably the most addictive of all drugs we know of. The addiction process is very complicated, with dopamine receptors, neurotransmitters, etc. This illustration is an oversimplification of the process, but helps smokers to understand the reason for the difficulty in quitting.
Imagine that you have a factory in your brain which makes acetyl choline (you really do, but it doesn't quite work this way.) The acetyl choline workers work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, no breaks, no vacations, no union representation. Acetyl choline is an essential part of our nervous system and without it we could no function very well (ask a smoker who is trying to quit how they feel and you will know how acetyl choline works.)
These factory workers work day and night and produce as much acetyl choline as the body needs. That amount is determined by the foreman who does continual blood testing to make sure there is an adequate amount available. After about 10 or 12 years you decided to try a little tobacco (either smokeless or smoking.) In 7 seconds th nicotine is in the brain and the foreman cannot tell the difference between acetyl choline and nicotine. He announces to everyone, "I don't know what is going on, but there is plenty of acetyl choline available. It looks like you can take a break."
The factory workers go out on the lawn, in the sunshine and have a glorious time. They are only out there about 30 minutes and the foreman calls them back in. He tells them that the acetyl choline levels have dropped and they will have to resume production.
The factory workers continue to work 24 hours a day, but they also remember how nice it was out on the lawn. You decided to have another cigarette. The foreman hardly gets the words out of his mouth and the factory workers are all out on the lawn. Again because the half-life of nicotine is just one half hour, they are soon called back in. You try tobacco again, with their encouragement — and again — and again.
Pretty soon you are smoking quite regularly and the factory workers are on the lawn most of the time, having a wonderful time. So you become fully hooked and smoke on a regular basis. The factory foreman tells the workers, "You haven't been needed for quite some time. Why don't you go on vacation. I'll call you if you are needed."
So they take off to the Caribbean. They are there for many years.
Finally you decide you've got to quit smoking. You stop.
The foreman checks the blood levels and panics. He starts trying to round everybody up, by sending letters and telegrams and making phone calls. The factory workers have to say goodbye to all their friends, find their cool-weather clothes, make airline reservations and prepare to leave. They are not happy and they let the foreman know that. He passes that information on to you and you give in and start smoking again.
One day you finally make it. You quit.
It takes one month for the factory workers to get home and start working again — but they never forget the Caribbean.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Day Two
We'll I made it past day one. I have to admit, last night was kind of rough. I was kinda stressed out for a bit, and I was really jonesing for a coke, a smoke, SOMETHING. There really is very little at my house in regards to drinks, or things for me to snack on when I get a craving. I ended up chewing a piece of gum and keeping that sucker in my mouth for a good hour or so. It worked. I also made myself some roobios tea. Its a really earthy tea, and with a little bit of honey, it really hit the spot. I have to admit it really helped me out alot. I'm going to continue my drinking tea and lots of water routine again today. I did some math last night as far as how much I've cut down my nicotine intake. On any given day I would smoke around 10-15 cigarettes, depending on my stress/traffic level. Each of those cigarettes contained 18 mg of nicotine. Yesterday I had 3 pieces of 2 mg nicotine gum. I am really proud of myself. I was able to handle going from over 180 mg of nicotine everyday, to 6 mg! 6 Muthafuckin MG!!! wowsa. So far today I am doing really well. I didn't need any gum until I got here to work, which made me feel good, because I usually would have 2 smokes on the drive in alone to work. I was really happy that when I went and saw Brian last night, he said I smelled so good. That made me happy, I smell better. I am still hacking things up, and from what i remember thats gonna get progressively worse for the next week or so. Bring it Biatch! lol. I also have been losing my voice at points off and on during the day. I'm trying to research if thats normal. Well here's to day two. I'll post an update later on in the day.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Only on day One
ONLY ON DAY ONE (Repost)
So many times people say that they're on day one and it's an understated, quiet, anti-climatic humble statement. They seem almost apologetic to the crowd. They are only on day one, how insignificant.
Well, let me tell you something ... Day one is the most important day of the entire quit! Without Day One, there is no quit!
It's absolutely the MOST important day! And it should be shouted from the rooftops! It should be heralded with trumpets blaring! Day One is cause for greater celebration than Day 100!
Oh, Day 100 is wonderful. Success is stamped all over Day 100, but without Day One, there is no Day 100. Without Day One there is nothing.
So here is to Day One and all those who were brave enough to enter it and embrace it and allow it to be their reality. Congratulations to you for being willing to enter Hell Week!
I see Hell Week as a challenging, long, suffering, miserable week and here these people are ... Ready - Willing - And Able to walk up to it and say "I'm here!"
Without that, you have no quit. Without that willingness to walk up to Hell Week and offer yourself like some sacrificial lamb on a rock slab, you have nothing. You are the bravest of any day, on Day One! You are the most challenged on Day One. That is the hardest day of the entire quit. Because that is the day that you took your whole world and did the impossible. You turned it around 180 degrees! You turned night into day. You made the sun into the moon. You took everything that seemed normal and right and tossed it into the wind and said "give me abnormal and wrong!"
Ever since Day One, I have been inviting abnormal and wrong into my life. And I have never felt so alive in all of my days on this earth.
If I could do it all over again, I would jump into Day One screaming and cheering with banners and ribbons flowing from my arms. And I would wear a big hat that proudly stated "DAY ONE" on it! Because something happened that I never bargained for. Facing the fear and allowing Day One to enter my life was the first of many more wonderful challenges. And it was as if somebody handed me a key (a master key!) and said "Here, this opens more doors, discover yourself!"
Welcome to Hell. It is the most wonderful place! Because past this lies Freedom. I'd walk this walk 100 more times if I had to. It's that beautiful!
So many times people say that they're on day one and it's an understated, quiet, anti-climatic humble statement. They seem almost apologetic to the crowd. They are only on day one, how insignificant.
Well, let me tell you something ... Day one is the most important day of the entire quit! Without Day One, there is no quit!
It's absolutely the MOST important day! And it should be shouted from the rooftops! It should be heralded with trumpets blaring! Day One is cause for greater celebration than Day 100!
Oh, Day 100 is wonderful. Success is stamped all over Day 100, but without Day One, there is no Day 100. Without Day One there is nothing.
So here is to Day One and all those who were brave enough to enter it and embrace it and allow it to be their reality. Congratulations to you for being willing to enter Hell Week!
I see Hell Week as a challenging, long, suffering, miserable week and here these people are ... Ready - Willing - And Able to walk up to it and say "I'm here!"
Without that, you have no quit. Without that willingness to walk up to Hell Week and offer yourself like some sacrificial lamb on a rock slab, you have nothing. You are the bravest of any day, on Day One! You are the most challenged on Day One. That is the hardest day of the entire quit. Because that is the day that you took your whole world and did the impossible. You turned it around 180 degrees! You turned night into day. You made the sun into the moon. You took everything that seemed normal and right and tossed it into the wind and said "give me abnormal and wrong!"
Ever since Day One, I have been inviting abnormal and wrong into my life. And I have never felt so alive in all of my days on this earth.
If I could do it all over again, I would jump into Day One screaming and cheering with banners and ribbons flowing from my arms. And I would wear a big hat that proudly stated "DAY ONE" on it! Because something happened that I never bargained for. Facing the fear and allowing Day One to enter my life was the first of many more wonderful challenges. And it was as if somebody handed me a key (a master key!) and said "Here, this opens more doors, discover yourself!"
Welcome to Hell. It is the most wonderful place! Because past this lies Freedom. I'd walk this walk 100 more times if I had to. It's that beautiful!
Why do I Smoke
Here are the results of a quiz i took on Quitnet.
Why do you smoke?
To understand your smoking habit, you must first learn what kind of smoker you are. There are generally six traits that describe many people's smoking:
* Stimulation
* Handling
* Pleasure
* Crutch
* Craving
* Habit
Your smoking may fit into any one or a combination of these categories. This test will help you identify what type of smoker you are and give you possible strategies for quitting smoking.
Relaxation
You scored high (100%) as a Pleasure/Relaxation smoker. You may use smoking as a reward to sit down and relax. You enjoy a cigarette after a good meal or in social situations, like a party. For you, alternatives to smoking may include taking a walk after eating or finding other activities that give you pleasure. At parties, try to drink non-alcoholic drinks. Alcohol tends to reduce your willpower for staying off cigarettes. 76% of QuitNet users are Relaxationsmokers.
Crutch
You scored high (100%) as a Crutch/Tension smoker. You tend to use cigarettes as a crutch in moments of stress or discomfort. You may smoke when you are nervous, worried or angry. All these feeling represent some kind of tension. For you to quit smoking, you need to find a release for that tension. Try deep breathing, relaxation or physical exercises to help reduce your stress. 80% of QuitNet users are Crutchsmokers.
Remember
There are no easy solutions when it comes to quitting smoking. This program merely offers suggestions to help you get started. The rest is up to you! Find out what methods work for you and stick to them. Do it for yourself! Do it for your health!
Why do you smoke?
To understand your smoking habit, you must first learn what kind of smoker you are. There are generally six traits that describe many people's smoking:
* Stimulation
* Handling
* Pleasure
* Crutch
* Craving
* Habit
Your smoking may fit into any one or a combination of these categories. This test will help you identify what type of smoker you are and give you possible strategies for quitting smoking.
Relaxation
You scored high (100%) as a Pleasure/Relaxation smoker. You may use smoking as a reward to sit down and relax. You enjoy a cigarette after a good meal or in social situations, like a party. For you, alternatives to smoking may include taking a walk after eating or finding other activities that give you pleasure. At parties, try to drink non-alcoholic drinks. Alcohol tends to reduce your willpower for staying off cigarettes. 76% of QuitNet users are Relaxationsmokers.
Crutch
You scored high (100%) as a Crutch/Tension smoker. You tend to use cigarettes as a crutch in moments of stress or discomfort. You may smoke when you are nervous, worried or angry. All these feeling represent some kind of tension. For you to quit smoking, you need to find a release for that tension. Try deep breathing, relaxation or physical exercises to help reduce your stress. 80% of QuitNet users are Crutchsmokers.
Remember
There are no easy solutions when it comes to quitting smoking. This program merely offers suggestions to help you get started. The rest is up to you! Find out what methods work for you and stick to them. Do it for yourself! Do it for your health!
Hell Yes!
One of the things that seems to get in the way of a successful quit is a lack of belief that it can be done or at least that YOU can do it.
Well let me spell it out for you.
Is today a good time to quit?..................HELL YES!
Can I quit Cold Turkey?...........................HELL YES!
Can I quit using NRT's?............................HELL YES!
Will Hell Week suck?................................HELL YES!
Will I feel different?.................................HELL YES!
Can I do this?..........................................HELL YES!
Will it require effort?................................HELL YES!
Will I need an attitude?...........................HELL YES!
Will I smell better?...................................HELL YES!
Will I breath easier?.................................HELL YES!
Well let me spell it out for you.
Is today a good time to quit?..................HELL YES!
Can I quit Cold Turkey?...........................HELL YES!
Can I quit using NRT's?............................HELL YES!
Will Hell Week suck?................................HELL YES!
Will I feel different?.................................HELL YES!
Can I do this?..........................................HELL YES!
Will it require effort?................................HELL YES!
Will I need an attitude?...........................HELL YES!
Will I smell better?...................................HELL YES!
Will I breath easier?.................................HELL YES!
Some Foods Take Taste Out of Cigarettes
Finding could lead to a diet to help smokers quit, researcher says.
By Alan Mozes
HealthDay Reporter Thursday, April 12, 2007; 12:00 AM
Copyright © 2007 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
THURSDAY, April 12 (HealthDay News) --What do a slice of cheese, a glass of water, and a plate of broccoli have in common?
According to new research, consuming any of these foods seems to diminish the taste of cigarettes.
The research also found that cigarette taste is enhanced after eating meat or drinking alcohol or beverages that contain caffeine.
Taken together, the discoveries raise the possibility of fashioning a so-called "smoker's diet" -- one that could help make quitting easier.
"Smoking is not just about nicotine addiction, it's also about taste and sensory qualities of smoking," said study author F. Joseph McClernon, an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. "So, anything we find that can disturb or disrupt the smoking experience might make it easier for a smoker to quit."
In the April issue of Nicotine & Tobacco Research, McClernon and his colleagues reported on their analysis of questionnaires administered to 209 adult male and female smokers who had already participated in one of six previous smoking studies between 2002 and 2004.
All the participants smoked a minimum of 10 to 15 cigarettes a day and were in otherwise good health. About 70 percent were white, while about a quarter were black.
The authors asked the smokers to indicate which foods they felt either enhanced or worsened the taste of cigarettes. The number of cigarettes smoked per day was noted, as was the participants' choice of cigarette brand, type, size and strength.
On average, the participants smoked about 22 cigarettes a day and had been lighting up for a little more than 21 years. Almost 47 percent said they smoked menthol cigarettes. Just over 40 percent said they smoked "light" cigarettes, while just under 40 percent said they smoked full-flavor brands.
Almost 45 percent of the smokers mentioned some kind of food that worsened cigarette taste, while almost 70 percent identified foods that improved taste.
Fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and non-caffeinated drinks (such as water and juice) were among the foods most commonly cited as worsening the taste of a cigarette.
Participants also pointed to specific situations they said had a taste-diminishing impact, including taking medicines, hot weather, or smoking too much or too fast. Stale cigarettes and a smoky environment also dampened cigarette taste.
On the other hand, caffeinated drinks, alcohol and meat were most often highlighted as improving taste.
McClernon and his team found that younger smokers were more sensitive to foods that worsened taste, whereas those who smoked fewer cigarettes were more susceptible to taste-enhancing foods. Those who smoked non-menthol brands were more sensitive to either kind of influence.
The researchers suggested that clinicians might want to consider advising dietary changes for patients trying to kick the habit.
"There's really no harm in smokers trying some of these things now," McClernon said. "Try drinking skim milk or other dairy products, drinking more water, eating fruits and vegetables before stopping smoking -- and see if that makes smoking less pleasurable."
McClernon acknowledged, however, that further investigation is needed to figure out how exactly foods affect cigarette taste and whether altering a diet might improve quitting success. "But we're going to follow up on that," he noted, "because any kind of clue that has the potential to lead to new treatments is important in dealing with the leading preventable cause of death and disability in the U.S."
Stanton A. Glantz, director of the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California, San Francisco, described the findings as both interesting and plausible.
"It's not going to make the world start spinning in the opposite direction, but it could have some very practical implications," he said. "When you talk about the perceived taste of smoking, there's a lot of psychopharmacology going on there, so it would depend on how big the effect really turns out to be. But it makes sense. And creating a program where you modify your diet in certain ways to make it easier to quit smoking is not unreasonable at all."
Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, agreed.
"This is new," he noted. "No one has written anything about this seriously up until now, at least that I've seen, and it is certainly worth further study. So, ultimately, the significance of this will be to prompt more research into the role of diet into both starting smoking and quitting. It doesn't provide all the answers, but it opens a new avenue to explore."
More information
For additional information on quitting smoking, visit Smokefree.gov.
By Alan Mozes
HealthDay Reporter Thursday, April 12, 2007; 12:00 AM
Copyright © 2007 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
THURSDAY, April 12 (HealthDay News) --What do a slice of cheese, a glass of water, and a plate of broccoli have in common?
According to new research, consuming any of these foods seems to diminish the taste of cigarettes.
The research also found that cigarette taste is enhanced after eating meat or drinking alcohol or beverages that contain caffeine.
Taken together, the discoveries raise the possibility of fashioning a so-called "smoker's diet" -- one that could help make quitting easier.
"Smoking is not just about nicotine addiction, it's also about taste and sensory qualities of smoking," said study author F. Joseph McClernon, an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. "So, anything we find that can disturb or disrupt the smoking experience might make it easier for a smoker to quit."
In the April issue of Nicotine & Tobacco Research, McClernon and his colleagues reported on their analysis of questionnaires administered to 209 adult male and female smokers who had already participated in one of six previous smoking studies between 2002 and 2004.
All the participants smoked a minimum of 10 to 15 cigarettes a day and were in otherwise good health. About 70 percent were white, while about a quarter were black.
The authors asked the smokers to indicate which foods they felt either enhanced or worsened the taste of cigarettes. The number of cigarettes smoked per day was noted, as was the participants' choice of cigarette brand, type, size and strength.
On average, the participants smoked about 22 cigarettes a day and had been lighting up for a little more than 21 years. Almost 47 percent said they smoked menthol cigarettes. Just over 40 percent said they smoked "light" cigarettes, while just under 40 percent said they smoked full-flavor brands.
Almost 45 percent of the smokers mentioned some kind of food that worsened cigarette taste, while almost 70 percent identified foods that improved taste.
Fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and non-caffeinated drinks (such as water and juice) were among the foods most commonly cited as worsening the taste of a cigarette.
Participants also pointed to specific situations they said had a taste-diminishing impact, including taking medicines, hot weather, or smoking too much or too fast. Stale cigarettes and a smoky environment also dampened cigarette taste.
On the other hand, caffeinated drinks, alcohol and meat were most often highlighted as improving taste.
McClernon and his team found that younger smokers were more sensitive to foods that worsened taste, whereas those who smoked fewer cigarettes were more susceptible to taste-enhancing foods. Those who smoked non-menthol brands were more sensitive to either kind of influence.
The researchers suggested that clinicians might want to consider advising dietary changes for patients trying to kick the habit.
"There's really no harm in smokers trying some of these things now," McClernon said. "Try drinking skim milk or other dairy products, drinking more water, eating fruits and vegetables before stopping smoking -- and see if that makes smoking less pleasurable."
McClernon acknowledged, however, that further investigation is needed to figure out how exactly foods affect cigarette taste and whether altering a diet might improve quitting success. "But we're going to follow up on that," he noted, "because any kind of clue that has the potential to lead to new treatments is important in dealing with the leading preventable cause of death and disability in the U.S."
Stanton A. Glantz, director of the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California, San Francisco, described the findings as both interesting and plausible.
"It's not going to make the world start spinning in the opposite direction, but it could have some very practical implications," he said. "When you talk about the perceived taste of smoking, there's a lot of psychopharmacology going on there, so it would depend on how big the effect really turns out to be. But it makes sense. And creating a program where you modify your diet in certain ways to make it easier to quit smoking is not unreasonable at all."
Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, agreed.
"This is new," he noted. "No one has written anything about this seriously up until now, at least that I've seen, and it is certainly worth further study. So, ultimately, the significance of this will be to prompt more research into the role of diet into both starting smoking and quitting. It doesn't provide all the answers, but it opens a new avenue to explore."
More information
For additional information on quitting smoking, visit Smokefree.gov.
I've Quit Smoking
| Time Smoke-Free: 13 hours, 35 minutes and 15 seconds | |||||
 |
| ||||
| Cigarettes NOT smoked: 7 | |||||
| |||||
| Lifetime Saved: 1 hour | |||||
| |||||
| Money Saved: $3.30 | |||||
I'm feeling good. I've posted a few threads onto quitnet.com, I've started a buddy list on there, have already gotten some great feedback, GREAT resource if your looking to quit smoking, I get daily email stats like the one's above, which really help put things in perspective and keep you motivated. I have a good network to lean on if I get desperate or am having trouble. Thanks to Brian, Eddie, and Joey and everyone else who I've talked to about quitting and are there for me. I am ready, I am determined, I will succeed! I am going to the pharmacy at lunch to get some Nicotine replacement gum. I am going to try and keep the use of those to a minimum, but I think at least for the first few weeks, it will be very helpful to have some around. I've started a section in my personal journal to track my cravings and what triggered them, and how I feel about it and what I did to get over it. I think this will help me to pinpoint where I need help on and what I need to work on. Driving today was not too shabby, I LOVE my new stereo and I'm soo glad to have some distractions in the car, thats where I've always had the most trouble with smoking. Joey sent me this article earlier, and I think its another great way to put thing into perspective. I'll be posting here everyday during my quitting time. Thanks for the love and support!
Omar
What Happens to Your body if you stop smoking Right now?
I think one of the main reasons it’s so hard to quit smoking is because all the benefits of quitting and all the dangers of continuing seem very far away. Well, here’s a little timeline about some of the more immediate effects of quitting smoking and how that will affect your body RIGHT NOW. 
- In 20 minutes your blood pressure will drop back down to normal.
- In 8 hours the carbon monoxide (a toxic gas) levels in your blood stream will drop by half, and oxygen levels will return to normal.
- In 48 hours your chance of having a heart attack will have decreased. All nicotine will have left your body. Your sense of taste and smell will return to a normal level.
- In 72 hours your bronchial tubes will relax, and your energy levels will increase.
- In 2 weeks your circulation will increase, and it will continue to improve for the next 10 weeks.
- In three to nine months coughs, wheezing and breathing problems will dissipate as your lung capacity improves by 10%.
- In 1 year your risk of having a heart attack will have dropped by half.
- In 5 years your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.
- In 10 years your risk of lung cancer will have returned to that of a non-smoker.
- In 15 years your risk of heart attack will have returned to that of a non-smoker.
So, you have more immediate things to look forward to if you quit now besides just freaking out about not being able to smoke.
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