The Quit Smoking Report Ezine

The Quit Smoking Report 03/02/99

Published on the first and third Tuesday of each month

Brought to you by QuitSmoking.com
http://www.quitsmoking.com

In this issue:

<> Letter from the Editor
<> Featured Product: Stop Smoking with Biofeedback
<> Article: Put the Crown on YOUR Head
<> A Word From Our Sponsor
<> Smokers' Stories

You can read previous issues of The Quit Smoking Report on our
web site. Just visit: http://www.quitsmoking.com/ezine

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Hello again everyone!

Last Friday, February 26 at 1:26 PM Eastern Time my wife was
involved in a bank robbery.

Got your attention?

No, she wasn't the bank robber--she was a customer in the bank
and happened to be there when the crime took place.

A man came in to the bank with a ski mask on and demanded money.
Yes, he had a gun, and yes, he pointed it at several people
including my wife.

Fortunately, he got his money and left the bank without
incident. No one was killed or even hurt, thank goodness!

My wife called me afterward to let me know she would be there a
while since the FBI and local police had to interview everybody.
She was okay, but shaken.

So, what does this have to do with quitting smoking? Well,
nothing, directly. However, it really forced me to think about
many different things. I had trouble concentrating the rest of
the afternoon.

How quickly our lives can change, in an instant. One minute,
you're standing at the bank counter, depositing a paycheck. The
next minute, someone is standing next to you, pointing a gun at
you. "Will he shoot me!?"

Last Friday, I could, just as easily, have received a call from
the police telling me my wife was being held hostage, or worse,
dead from a gunshot wound. How quickly our lives can change.

You never know when major events will occur in your life. Will I
have a car accident today? Next month? Will someone break into
my house and steal my possessions? Will someone I love die this
year? No one can predict any of these things. For the most part
they're out of our control.

But there's one thing you do have control over: The day you quit
smoking forever.

See, you never know when your health will take a turn for the
worse when you smoke. It may never happen, but chances are
smoking will degrade your health and cause your early death.
Will you die of a heart attack this Thursday at 10:39 AM? I
don't know. One thing I do know, though, is that the sooner you
quit smoking, the sooner your body will begin to repair itself,
allowing you to live a healthier, longer life.

Does a smoker's health really return to nearly normal after
quitting? Remarkably, yes! Read this short list of the positive
changes your body goes through when you quit.

*Within 30 minutes of quitting smoking, your pulse rate slows
down and blood pressure drops toward normal.

*Within hours of stopping, the level of carbon monoxide in
your blood drops, enabling the blood to carry more oxygen.

*Two days after quitting, nerve endings begin to recover and
your sense of smell and taste begin to return.

*Within 72 hours of quitting, your lungs' bronchial tubes
expand and lung volume increases.

*Months after quitting, shortness of breath diminishes.

*In the first year, the risk of heart attack attributed to
smoking declines for both men and women.

*Two to three years after quitting, the risk of heart attack
attributed to smoking is virtually gone.

*After 10 years, the risk of developing cancer is about the
same as for nonsmokers.

I urge you to seize the moment and quit NOW, not later. You may
"put it off" until you're dead! Once a moment is gone you can't
get it back. Make each moment count. Remember, there's no
"dressed rehearsal." You're living the real show, right now.

Finally, be sure to tell your family and friends that you love
them :)

+++

Response to the last issue of The Quit Smoking Report was
tremendous. Mark Whalen's words and book really struck a nerve
with many of you.

If you missed it, take a look at information about Mark's book,
"How to Quit Smoking Without Willpower and Struggle" here:

http://www.quitsmoking.com/books/howtoquit.htm

You can read samples from his book and get inspired!

+++

Remember, you can read previous issues of The Quit Smoking
Report on our web site. Just visit:
http://www.quitsmoking.com/ezine

Fred Kelley
fredk@quitsmoking.com
QuitSmoking.com

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FEATURED PRODUCT: Stop Smoking with Biofeedback
http://www.quitsmoking.com/biofeedback/index.htm

What's biofeedback?

Biofeedback is the widely-used and medically-accepted technique
for teaching you to control stress, achieve relaxation, and
channel talents and energies toward realizing your full
potential.

Stop Smoking with Biofeedback is a system that includes two
audio tapes and the "heart" of the system, the GSR 2 biofeedback
device. This simple, yet powerful device makes you aware of your
unconscious "involuntary" physical reactions to stress -
"feeding back" subtle changes in stress levels.

Simply place two fingers on the GSR 2. It detects minute
changes in your skin that indicate your level of stress. You'll
be able to hear changes in your stress level through
earphones provided with the system.

When you relax, the GSR 2 transmits a low tone to your
earphones. When you tense up, the tone rises. You'll know
instantly when you relax and when you tense up. Through practice
you'll be able to keep the tone humming at a pleasant low tone.

You'll learn how to take control of your stress and voluntarily
relax your mind and body, with or without help from the GSR 2
biofeedback device.

Overcoming stress is an important step to quitting smoking. Many
smokers respond to stress by lighting up. And for many smokers,
dealing with stress (or not dealing with it) becomes a major
hurdle to quitting.

First, the included audio tapes and booklets will help you learn
to relax using the GSR 2, then prepare you to quit smoking.
Next, you'll take the step of actually quitting. Finally, you'll
learn how to maintain your new life as a non-smoker.

Stop Smoking with Biofeedback may be just what you need to take
control of the stressful situations that keep you puffing.
Overcome your stress and you dramatically improve your chances
of quitting smoking!

Get yours today! Visit
http://www.quitsmoking.com/biofeedback/index.htm
for all the details.

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ARTICLE: Put the Crown on YOUR Head

We all do things because someone else made us do them. When
you're a young child and your parents tell you to go to bed,
you'd better go to bed. At an early age we learn to respect our
parents, respect authority, "do what you're told", follow
directions, etc.

Without doing as we're told, society would be in constant chaos.
Criminals--bank robbers, for example--aren't doing what they're
told. Instead, they disobey laws put in place by our government
to protect the safety and well-being of law-abiding citizens.

Laws and rules and authority and leadership are very important
to maintaining order. They give each of us a cushion of trust
that everyone will do the right thing.

No one would dare drive down the street if they couldn't trust
the other drivers to stay on their side of the road, to stop at
traffic lights and stop signs, and follow all the other laws
governing driving. The laws bring order and control to what
could be a deadly environment. In fact, deaths and injuries
usually only occur when someone disobeys the law.

Clearly, following rules, obeying the law, and doing as you're
told is important to your life.

But what happens when the rules and laws and control over your
life become oppressive? What happens when the control is taken
from you, then taken to extremes over you? Without getting
overly political, you begin to lose your personal freedoms and
liberty. History is filled with stories of oppressive
governments that took away personal freedoms. Government leaders
wanted to control every aspect of their citizen's lives, from
the jobs they held to the thoughts in their heads.

There's another type of oppressive control that may be taking
place right now, in YOUR life. You no longer feel free to quit
smoking.

At first, you were in control. You would smoke only when YOU
wanted to. It was fun, cool, exciting, defiant! You smoked when
and if you wanted to. And you probably had to really WANT to
smoke when you first started, because it tasted so bad and
burned your lungs too much. You didn't like the taste and you
weren't really addicted yet, so you were in control, consciously
making the decision to smoke.

Then something changed. You started to like smoking a little.
You started to need it. You started to crave it. Just a little.

Soon, you had to have a smoke when you got stressed. It relieved
tension and made the day easier. You'd go for a few hours
without a cigarette, but then you felt a gnawing in your mouth
and throat and fingers and your mind telling you you had to
smoke--NOW!

Oh, you didn't like the feeling that you HAD to do anything, so
you told yourself, "I'm not smoking anymore. I quit." But very
soon, often within hours or even minutes of stating your
defiance, you were smoking "just one more."

You realized that your once-defiant act of smoking had now come
to defy you. No longer were you in control of IF you smoked.
Now, you only seemed to control WHEN you smoked: "every morning
when I get up, after breakfast, driving to work, mid-morning at
my coffee break, just before lunch, after lunch, mid-afternoon
when I'm getting sleepy, after work driving home, again when I
get home, after dinner, and just before going to sleep." Then
you realized that smoking had taken over and programmed your
life. It dictated where you went to eat, who your friends were,
who you could date and marry, where you vacation, how much money
you paid for insurance and dry cleaning, and how much money you
had left over each year after paying for cigarettes.

You realized that you had become an oppressed citizen of
Cigarettes, doing, thinking, living, feeling, spending, going,
eating, sleeping, whenever They dictated. You no longer had any
rights. The Cigarettes were now in control of every part of your
life!

But you decided you weren't going to take it any more. Just like
a citizen's revolt in a country with oppressive leaders, you
rose up and demanded your rights! You removed the leaders who
had control of your life and you sent them into exile!

You knew that starting over and setting up new rules for your
life wouldn't be easy, but you knew you couldn't stand the
dictators who once ruled your life. So you gritted your teeth and
set about making a plan of action. You "laid down the law"--the
new law. You were now Sheriff and President and Dictator and
King and you could make any and every law you wanted. The Royal
Crown was placed firmly upon your head!

First, you chose to admit the mistakes of the past, learn from
them and then let them go. You were moving to the future!

Second, you decided to learn from other "Kings" and "Queens" who
successfully revolted. Surely these were some wise men and women
who could properly advise you.

Third, you set a date for yourself for the time when your new
"rule of law" would go into effect. All the old laws of the
previous dictatorship would be thrown out on this specific date.

Fourth, you "cleaned house" by removing all vestiges of your
former rulers. You didn't need reminders of their tyranny lying
around your new palace.

Fifth, you made a commitment to yourself that you would never
allow the dictators whom once controlled you to regain power.
You knew YOUR benevolent form of rule was best for you and
everyone else.

Sixth, you created strategies to deal with the exiled leaders
when they attempted to take your power away from you again. You
knew they would try this so you planned ways to fight them.

Seventh, you mapped out a series of rewards for yourself when
your reign of power reached various milestones. You looked
forward to a royal vacation one year after taking power!

Congratulations on your ascension to power! May you never be
dethroned! May you always wear the Royal Smoke-Free Crown!

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A Word From Our Sponsor:

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someone who's going through the same thing you're going through.
So, jump in and start chatting your addiction away!

http://www.QuitSmokingChat.com

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SMOKERS' STORIES

If you can help these folks with your suggestions please send
them email.

Erin Hardy <ehardy@rccmpls.com> writes:
Subject: I'm trying!

I have decided to quit, along with my fiance who chews (yuck!),
before we get married in June. I also need to lose a few pounds
to get into my wedding dress. I know I shouldn't do both at the
same time, but I was wondering if there is someone out there who
has done this and has any tips for me to help. I'd really
appreciate it.

+++

Dorthe Bastian <Dorthe.Bastian@int.tele.dk> writes:
Subject: I thought it would be harder ?

I'm thirty years old, and I've smoked since i was 14. I've heard
these terrible stories of how hard it was quitting, and quite
frankely, it scared me off. Now I havn't smoked a cigarette for
a week, and yes it is hard, but not that hard. I think that some
people need to now how easy it is instead of scaring them with
how hard it is.

I'm from Denmark, and here we can smoke everywhere. Even in the
office. I'm sharing an office with two smokers. Each of them
smokes ca. 8 cigarettes in the office every day, it doesn't
really help, but it makes me stronger 'cause if I can quit here,
I can quit everywhere.

+++

<artbirds@acadia.net> writes:
Subject: Proud of it!

Hello Everyone! I would just like to share some enthusiasm.....I
finally DID IT!!!! It's only been 32 days, but I have been
strong and stubborn against the enemy, the cigarette. I can
smell once again. It's been 16 years since I've been able to
smell. And taste food again! I am so proud of myself. The way I
feel after being 100% strong against any temptations, is
wonderful. I feel like I can do anything, now. Don't get me
wrong, I still have cravings, as I live with a smoker still. He
doesn't smoke around me other than when we're in the car. Yes,
it's still hard at times. But, those cigarettes are NOT going to
win this time. And that's what I always say to myself. I had to
alter my diet... the first week I could not drink coffee, the
love of my life, and I started to gain weight....So I took the
will-power and determination that I used to quit smoking, and
used it to eat more healthfully, and to exercise everyday. The
exercise helps me to relieve tension, and I have been able to
stick with my new eating plan and exercise plan. I drink lots of
water and herbal tea to rid my body of toxins. I don't stink of
rotten stale cigarettes anymore at all. I'm not embarrassed to
be around nonsmokers any more, since I've joined the non-smoking
team! I feel like training for indurance running!! I'm still
coughing alot, and still cleaning out my lungs. I hope to be
able to breathe normal in 6 months. My cravings have diminished
to only a few very mild ones a day, sometimes non at all. It
took me getting very angry at cigarettes and their makers to
quit. I still feel angry at cigarettes! I believe this is part
of having the strength to stop smoking. I must have tried to
quit 20 times in 1998. I don't know why I was finally able to do
it without sneaking or making excuses, or giving in. I refuse to
let them win! ohh, and my skin isn't blotchy or off-color
anymore. When I was a smoker, I had myself convinced that I
needed them as a weight loss plan! Even after quitting afew
days, I used to get worried about weight gain and immediately
started smoking again. Now I eat very good, and exercise, and I
can breathe better. I feel like a child again. I actually feel
more youthful, and acceptable. In 6 months. I'm going to
celebrate my nonsmoking by taking a trip, a vacation. I can't
wait! -Nonsmoker....and proud of it!

+++

Jackie <JSmith4401@aol.com> writes:
Subject: my story

Hi Fred,
I get such encouragement from your news letter. Hearing other
peoples success stories helps me so much. I first subscribed to
your letter a few months ago when I was trying to quit, but was
unsuccessful. Each time I would receive the letter I would just
delete it, but never did I want to unsubscribe. I guess I was
feeling guilty that I had failed again. I am 34 years old and
have been smoking for about 10 years. I can honestly say that I
enjoy smoking. It was never just "a habit" for me. Well, I am
now smoke free and enjoying it so much. I bought a treadmill and
exercise everyday. I am still using the patches as they help me
mentally. I know that if I smoke while wearing them, I could
have a heart attack. Not a great prospect.

I must give praise where praise is due. Without, my faith in
God, I could never do this. He is so faithful to help in a time
of need. I realize my battle is not over, but I am well on my
way!!! Please feel free to email me anytime. We all need
encouragement.

God Bless,
Jackie

+++

Laura Landseadal <KelAveJor@aol.com> writes:
Subject: Stopped

Dear Fred:
I have quit smoking. Today is eight days for me. I am taking
Zyban. I have had good days and bad. I have also quit before but
it never lasted and I found myself cheating! I was lying to
myself. On January 18th I was smoking in the kitchen and blowing
it out the window and I saw my reflection in the mirror as I
took a puff off my inhaler in between drags on my smoke. That
was a really ugly sight to see. So I decided I have had it, what
was I doing to myself and my children? So no more lies no more
excuses no more tragedies to make me smoke. So I put the smokes
down and I fully intend not to smoke ever again. As far as I'm
concerned I am a nonsmoker. But I still want to get the
newsletters because it keeps me going in a good direction and is
my therapy.

So that was my story not too exciting but really important for
me to remember and talk about. Thanks for listening

Laura Landseadal

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

Where's your story? I'd sure like to share it with the other
subscribers to this email list. Mailto:fredk@quitsmoking.com

I hope to hear from you!

Next Issue: 03/16/99

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You can find additional helpful quit smoking tips and
information at http://www.quitsmoking.com/quitinfo.htm

While you're there, take a look at our products page at
http://www.quitsmoking.com/products.htm for some helpful
quit smoking tools.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Until next time, SHOW THOSE CIGARETTES WHO'S BOSS,

Fred Kelley

QuitSmoking.com
Phone: 770-346-9222
Fax: 770-475-5007
Web: http://www.quitsmoking.com
Email: mailto:fredk@quitsmoking.com

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© Copyright 1999 Fred H. Kelley
This email may be freely distributed and forwarded
as long as the entire email remains intact.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor or professional therapist.
The information included in this email is my opinion and the
opinions of the people sending in their comments.
Fred Kelley and QuitSmoking.com make no warranties,
either expressed or implied, about the truth or accuracy of the
contents of The Quit Smoking Report.

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