The Quit Smoking Report Ezine

The Quit Smoking Report 08/04/99
Published on the first and third Tuesday of each month

Brought to you by The Quit Smoking Company
http://www.quitsmoking.com

In this issue:

<> Letter from the Editor
<> 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!

Yes, this issue is coming out a day late, due to an outage at my
ISP, which prevented me from sending the email.

The last issue of The Quit Smoking Report was a rather long
issue, and after I sent out that issue numerous emails were
returned to me as undeliverable. The main cause seemed to be
that the email boxes were full, or that the email size was too
big. So, if you didn't receive the last issue, which covered
how to avoid gaining weight when you quit smoking, be sure to
read the issue in the archive section of our web site. Here's
the direct link to the issue in question:
http://www.quitsmoking.com/ezine/report990720.htm

+++

Looking for nicotine patches and nicotine gum? Now you can get
them online through our association with an online pharmacy.
Visit this page to begin shopping:
http://www.quitsmoking.com/patches.htm

+++

Did you get your FREE i-quit-smoking.com email account yet? No!?
What are you waiting for? You haven't quit yet? Well, that's no
excuse. To achieve a worthy goal you've got to think and act AS
IF IT IS TRUE--AS IF IT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED. By having an email
address in this format:
yourname@i-quit-smoking.com

you will be telling yourself and the world that you quit.
Convince yourself, and the battle is won!

So get your free email account, and start sending and receiving
self-motivational emails today!

Just visit http://www.i-quit-smoking.com for all the details!

+++

As I like to do periodically, I have devoted this issue to
letters and stories from other readers of The Quit Smoking
Report. Let them inspire you or be sure to send your ideas to
the writer of the letter if they have asked for help.

+++

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
The Quit Smoking Company

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A Word From Our Sponsor:

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what if this product came with a money back guarantee if it
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SMOKERS' STORIES

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

JorieZ@webtv.net writes:

Hi there.
Time to tell my story, even though I have still not quit...
maybe someone out there has gone through the same thing as I am
currently dealing with! Insight, PLEASE!

I am a 28 year old female who has smoked socially since the age
of 14. Through stressful times, my smoking increased, but it has
also decreased here and there.... I'm not sure why.

I am a triathlete, that is, I competitively swim, bike and run
all throughout the summer. My friends and I subject ourselves to
"rigor" weekends where we will go to the mountains and beginning
around 4am Saturday, we will hike, climb, run, walk, snowshoe,
bike, WHATEVER, but we will do it for the ENTIRE weekend without
breaks. Sunday night rolls around, and all I can think about is
lighting up! We barbecue and I feel so good and energetic, but
as soon as I smoke that first cig, I feel tired and even
depressed. It is so damn frustrating to be an athlete who
SMOKES! I run regularly on my lunch hour, and last week I had an
extremely stressful morning. So instead of people see me in the
locker room changing into my running gear, they caught me
outside dragging furiously on a cigarette. At least ten people
commented to me within the next couple of days.... they said
things like "I didn't know you were a SMOKER." or "how can you
be so good to yourself and then smoke? " They looked at me as
though I was STUPID! (or at least, that's how I took it.)

The worst part of all is that I don't even enjoy smoking, well
no, I guess that I do. But, why the hell can't I quit? I don't
smoke in my car, I don't even have a first cigarette of the day
until eight or so at night after my daughter is in bed. I CAN"T
SLEEP unless I have two or three smokes, I have tried!!! I know
that quitting would make me feel and perform better.

One last thing, I am moving out of state in three weeks. I am
trying to mentally prepare to QUIT since the move will mean a
new life for me and my daughter. However, I know that the move
will be STRESSFUL, therefore, not smoking might actually make
things terrible!!!

I have not seriously tried to quit before, only because I really
don't smoke THAT much. But I shouldn't be smoking at all!

Please HELP!!!:-) Any other athletes out there with this
problem????

+++

JSF0426@aol.com writes:

I love the stories from people in your report!! I can relate to
95% of them. I tried my darndest to be a smoker in the 9th grade
back in 1951 when I attended boarding school with Nancy Gore and
we rode the train together from Maryland to D.C. on the weekends
that we did not have demerits for being caught smoking. At every
train stop we were off for a cig, and as painful as it was at
the time, I finally got the hang of it.

I smoked 1 to 2 packs a day for all of those years until I made
up my mind that when I ran out of cigs -that's it- That occurred
on Feb. 23, after a guest at a super bowl party that I hosted
told me about his success with Smoke-Away. [Ed. note: see our
sponsor ad above for more information on Smoke-Away] I followed
it to the letter. I can't tell you if it would have been more
difficult with no help at all or not, because I have never tried
to quit before. I will tell you that I spent more time in the
bathroom! So I am coming up on 5 months with only a drag from
someone else's cig just to see if it really makes you dizzy.

I entered into this with the knowledge that nicotine plays a
part in appetite control and have adjusted to what works for me.
I exercise a little more and often have a swizzle straw in
hand!! I have not gained weight- I think it is a brain thing.
They say this that and the other will happen so you program your
brain for that to happen-a bit like women when they find out
that they are pregnant.

So this is where I am at this stage, and I feel good! P.S. My
smoking instructor died of lung cancer at age 46.

+++

Kiki <BurkeKiki@aol.com> writes:
Subject: What I was never told about smoking

I was asked to write something about smoking to be given to a
teen who was starting to smoke. I thought some of your readers
may benefit from my experiences. A copy of what I wrote is
below.

______________________

Aaaaaahhhhh smoking!....gasp-wheeze-cough-choke...Oh, that was
so hard to say! (Damaged voice, no wind, depletion of energy)
Ooooh how I hate it! This thief has managed to damage almost
every fiber of my life, my character, my desire to show love to
others and my ability to serve God. It has robbed me of so many
of the things I cherish! Like being with people, laughing,
singing, talking, hugging, kissing, cuddling, sitting near to
comfort or talk intimately with someone I care about. It has
forced me to be less affectionate, less expressive, less tender.
Smelly people can't do these "feely" types of things freely
(can't hug someone if they get nauseated by your smell!) NO ONE
TOLD ME IT WOULD BE LIKE THIS WHEN I STARTED TO SMOKE!

Smoking denies me so many freedoms! Not only the freedom to love
others at will or burst into song and praises to my King, but
also the freedom to laugh at a good joke or cry during a sad
movie. I can no longer do these things as smoking has damaged my
vocal cords. (Oh how I hate the sound of my own deep, raspy,
wheezy, harsh voice! A smokers voice......everyone can recognize
a smoker by it) When I want to express tenderness or gentleness
with my voice......I can't. I always sound angry or harsh. I
want to be able to use my voice to express the way I feel....but
my voice won't let me....from smoking...and NO ONE TOLD ME IT
WOULD BE LIKE THIS WHEN I STARTED TO SMOKE!

It has stolen my freedom to go places that I long to go to or to
join in with others, at will, for fun activities like vacations,
conferences, trips to the city to shop or whatever my friends
are up to. I am unable to go away on trips with friends, drive
any distance in a car with them to concerts, games,
events etc. I am unable to stay in their homes or share a motel
room with them. Smoking has not only made me an unaccepted,
twitted, disrespected person (for smoking grosses everyone out)
it has forced me to become a recluse. Something I hate!
Sometimes I feel a need to hide from others because of shame and
embarrassment or sometimes to simply avoid hearing another
lecture on why smoking is no good for me (like I don't know that
already!) I have found that I don't handle seeing their
repulsion at the sight of me smoking or their comments very
well. I know they have less respect for me when they see me
smoke and they are truly disappointed in me. Kids seem to be
really affected by it. It breaks their hearts to see me
smoke...but NO ONE TOLD ME IT WOULD BE LIKE THIS WHEN I STARTED TO SMOKE!

I feel it is rude to smoke in "someone's face", while in their
homes, in their cars or even while just sitting like at a
ballgame with them. Therefore I have learned to avoid these
types of situations. I don't want to offend them or insult them
or hurt them with my second hand smoke. I don't want to be rude
and since I can't go more than a few hours without a
smoke......I just DON'T go! It makes me feel so left out all the
time. I miss out on so much fun.......why DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME
ABOUT ALL THE THINGS I WOULD BE LEFT OUT OF WHEN I STARTED TO SMOKE.

You say, "then just quit you idiot!" Yeah
right........especially since it is the most addictive drug
known to man! Well, I would tell you, "I have tried" more times
than I can count.....been hypnotized three times, punctured with
over 100 needles (multiple acupunctures), had vitamin B shots in
my face (whoa that one hurt!), gone to hospital clinics, Park
District classes, zapped my self with rubber bands, tried
Nicoretes, Nicoderm, fasted, prayed, and of course the "cold
turkey" method. (And people still feel the need to tell me I
should really try to quit....if they only knew!) All I have ever
gotten out of all this was disheartenment, a huge let down,
emotionally beat up and fatter with each attempt. I am still
hooked because it is harder to quit than ANYONE EVER TOLD ME IT
WOULD BE WHEN I STARTED TO SMOKE!

Health issues? You're probably aware of cancer, heart disease,
emphysema, etc...but have you ever consider the real heart
issues at stake here? The isolation, loneliness and sadness one
feels because they smoke? The rejection, hurt and embarrassment
one feels by being a smoker? The good times lost or the missed
chances to go places and be with people you love? But the real
clincher is........have you ever wanted to sing a lullaby to
your child...but couldn't? Or whisper sweet nothings in your
husbands ear...but couldn't? Or touch someone's face gently and
say I care about you...but wouldn't? Lost moments, lost
memories, lost chances to say I LOVE YOU......all because of
smoking! NO ONE TOLD ME IT WOULD HURT LIKE THIS WHEN I STARTED TO SMOKE!

As far as I can tell, there is ONLY one good thing about the
fact that I am a smoker, and that is that I have the right and
the confidence to stand up and be a WILD WAVING RED FLAG of
warning to others who consider starting....IF I could scream,
without a gasp-wheeze-cough-choke, you'd hear me hollering at
the top of my lungs.....DON'T SMOKE!! DON'T EVEN PLAY WITH THE
STUFF! YOU WILL REGRET IT FOR AS LONG AS YOU LIVE.....I
GUARANTEE IT!

I hope someday, somewhere, someone will be able to say ....I
LISTENED AND BELIEVED WHAT SOMEONE TOLD ME ABOUT SMOKING, THINGS I DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE AND THAT IS WHY I NEVER STARTED! (And that would be good)

Kiki

+++

CEvans8268@aol.com writes:
Subject: MY STORY

One day i was smoking, i smoked heavily. While i was smoking, i
just did not feel good. It became draining and breath taking. I
smoked for 25 years. I went to the pharmacy and bought the
patch. The pharmacist said, do not push yourself, just do it
when you are ready. Well, that was what i did. I can't help but
to add that there was something inside of me telling me to quit.
It would be easy, then hard, then easy, and then hard. But i
always went back to the patch within the 10 week period. I have
been smoke free since 1/1/99.

Three days ago, i was notified that my mother had chronic liver
cancer and she had the most, a year to live. Could that have
been the voice? I still think about smoking, i was highly
addicted, i loved it. i never imagined that i would be a non
smoker. But as i said to this day, that voice haunts me. I still
do not go back to cigarettes. I don't know what it is. My
mother, is going to die. She was a heavy smoker. Very heavy
smoker. It seems to have caught up to her. I can only help to
make it more comfortable for her. I still crave, but i will not
go back to it. I fight this craving with everything that i have
inside of me. Because now, that i do not smoke i have the good
end of the stick and i also, have the strength. The nicotine has
lost so far. The tobacco companies have lost so far, my mother
has lost, but i can fight for her and i will.

What really keeps me going is that i always have money in my
pocket and i am not supporting a company who intentionally sells
a product that harms, maims, and kills people. I am the one with
the strength not them. It was a hard and difficult battle, but
i, am, and i do not want to go back to smoking due to being the
winner of this war!

+++

Renan Wisenbaker <winkykitty@hotmail.com> writes:
Subject: Thanks for the support

Hello there-
I just wanted to take a moment out to thank you for the
wonderful support that you are giving those out there so anxious
to quit. I hopefully have beat the demon this time for good but
I think what you are doing is wonderful. I have recently moved
from Atlanta, Georgia to Frankfurt Germany and the amount of
smokers here is astronomical!!!!

It was very hard to quit because it is not looked down on here,
quite the contrary, I find myself feeling guilty for NOT smoking
when offered a cigarette. I will continue to use your website on
those difficult days (they are becoming less and less) I am
actually testing myself this evening by going to a cafe, which
are basically just big ashtrays!!! It is my greatest temptation
but I feel strong enough to get through it.

Oh- one thing that has worked well for me......
As I wake every morning I tell myself "Today I am not a smoker "
. It sounds funny and so simple but the days pass into weeks,
months, etc....

Again, thank you-
Renan Wisenbaker

+++

Stormer34@aol.com writes:
Subject: I Quit smoking again

After smoking 2 packs of cigarettes per day for 20 years I quit.
Tried smoking low tar cigarettes for several weeks and then quit
smoking cold. It worked! Felt so proud of my self that after 4
weeks of not smoking I lit up my pipe. Bango! I was back smoking
a pipe for the next 35 years. Even waking up after 2\3 hours
sleep to smoke. Tried to keep my son off tobacco by giving him
$10.00 on his 8th birthday and doubling it each year that he
didn't smoke. It got up to $135 and thought I had saved him.
Found out he was smoking pot!!! Stopped paying him, but he
didn't smoke tobacco until he was thirty-one.

I decided to stop smoking, no particular reason, I had become
accustomed to the heavy cough, getting up at night, burn holes
in clothes, etc. Still have my pipes around and tobacco. The
physical addition only lasted two days, the mental addition is
still with me. Think at least 5 times a day how nice it would be
to smoke. The phrase that keeps me going is one I developed and
I will share. "The way to stop smoking, is to stop smoking". No
weaning away, no cheating (although I did under stress twice)
Just keep repeating the phrase, knowing that the tools for
smoking are at hand.

I beat 55 years of smoking. Do I feel better? No.. Does food
taste better? No. Too spicy now. More energy? No Grouchy? No.
More ambition? No. Feel better about self? very definitely!!
Have no problems getting seated in restaurants, take either
smoking or non smoking sections. Find smokers somewhat shell-
shocked.

+++

Marie Gladis <Jupitermg@aol.com> writes:
Subject: Update...

I've made it past my record! It's been over two months since I
wrote last (this is like confession!), hesitantly stating that
my girlfriend and i have quit smoking together, not sure of how
we'd do... But we've had surprisingly little problems getting to
this point! In only two months, without the patch or nicotine
gum, we have experimented with being around smokers, being in
bars, and survived all these situations without cigarettes.
Whenever she'd want one all she would say is, "We're non-
smokers!" to which i would reply with either a delighted or
frustrated "Mmm hmm!" depending on how i felt being a non-smoker
at that point in time... When I'd want one, I'd whine about it,
which annoyed everyone around me, thus indicating that not only
whining, but smoking, is a bad thing. :) I'm at the point now
where I do want a cigarette in my hand sometimes, but when i
picture myself actually smoking, it feels dirty to my body and
disgusting to my mouth. So I know I need to support that feeling
whenever times get rough. All in all, I just wanted to update
the list and everyone reading about how my personal experience
is going. I know for sure that it's different for everybody,
especially harder if you're not doing it with someone else, but
there certainly is hope and it IS possible to quit. My life is
better for it, and I can't wait until I can look back on these
two months as hard months.

Thanks,Marie Gladis

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

Where's your story? I'd sure like to share it with the other
subscribers to this email list. Submit Your Smoker's Story

I hope to hear from you!

Next Issue: 08/17/99

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

Until next time, BREATHE CLEAN AIR,

Fred Kelley

The Quit Smoking Company
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 The Quit Smoking Company make no warranties,
either expressed or implied, about the truth or accuracy of the
contents of The Quit Smoking Report.

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