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I had a heart attack and I have to quit smoking

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I had a heart attack and I have to quit smoking

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 24

Hi Dreamer, yeah I have a stress ball, but will look into the beads, or something similar to occupy my hands. Because doing the motion 70,000 times a year is bound to make some kind of habit. I bought a puzzle too, that might make me nuts but willing to try anything.

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2

Hi Wendel, I am new at quitting smoking for real...(I have quit many other times but they weren't the real thing...this time I will become a non-smoker!) I knew, from the many other times I wasn't successful at quitting. the habit of doing "something" with my hands, other than smoking a cigarette, was going to be my biggest hurdle to overcome. A while back I heard someone say that to break a habit you have to find something to replace it with...that made sense to me and I started thinking about what could replace the actual "handling a cigarette" habit. Then one day I saw a politcal leader on TV who had quit smoking and the reporter asked him how he did it and he held up a small string of beads! That was my AH HA! I went to Michael's and bought some pretty glass beads and bead string. I made three strings of seven beads and put one string by the TV, another one in the car, and the third one on my desk at work. All the places where the act of smoking is strongest to me. Now, when I get that urge to do something with my hands I pick up the beads and play with them for a while...and you know it's almost as relaxing as smoking! Cleaning out drawers, walking the dog and working on a hobby do help but having something that you can put in your pocket and pick up anytime you need to do "something" with your hands other than smoke has really helped me believe that this is my time to really, really quit once and for all! Good luck to you. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/20/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 10 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 213 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $25 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 6 [B]Seconds:[/B] 33

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 24

Too funny, you know what evian is backwards

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1155

By the way, Tutti works for Evian! ;p [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/24/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 34 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,209 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $221 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 21 [B]Mins:[/B] 48 [B]Seconds:[/B] 36

Quit Meter

$1,135,600.00

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 5541 Hours: 17

Minutes: 25 Seconds: 28

Life Gained
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45424

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

908,480

Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 24

Tutti, thanks for all the helpful tips, I will try the breathing techniques you described when urges come, and drinking a lot of water, It all starts Monday I know its time. I know I am ready. I plan to post often with my progress. Thanks again.

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 932

Hey Wendel, I'm sorry to hear that you were ill. I know that you're going through a tremendous life change right now and it's a huge adjustment. But you really can do this. Right now you're shaken up and probably a bit depressed...or a lot depressed. But come in here and vent all that you want and need to. We're always here and want to help you through this. I'm diabetic and it really took it's toll on me. I know about having to make those life change and it sucks....but it can be done. My diabetes and your heart attack doesn't mean death sentence. It means we have to live with some pretty big changes but by God, it means we're going to live for a hell of a long time. Monday is your quit date so you'll need to stock up on some things. REAL important is water. Drink lots and lots of water because it helps with cravings and flushes that system out. Water is so, so important. Get hard candy, gum, toothpicks, sunflower seeds, straws, etc. for that "hand to mouth" thing. Think about your triggers....You know, those things, places, times that you associate with smoking. Avoid those triggers in the beginning or, if you can't avoid them, change them up. One trigger for me is my computer, I couldn't avoid it at work so I rearranged it, cleaned it, put out pictures of my family, and sat a candy jar on top. Things like that. Think of things you can do when a craving comes like take a walk, brush your teeth, take a shower, clean something in the house or office, etc. Yea, and drink that water with each crave!!! Remind yourself with each and every crave that your body is healing. This is the true too. Every time a crave or a withdrawal symptom comes, remind yourself that you're going through that healing process as you DRINK THAT WATER. Practice deep, slow breathing during cravings or if you have any anxiety. Here's the instructions: Deep Breathing: 1) Take a slow deep breath in through your nose to the slow count of five. Push your tummy out at the same time. 2) Slowly breathe out through your mouth to the count of 7. 3) Repeat this 3 times, as you feel yourself relaxing and the stress dropping away. Tension Releasing: 1) Let go of the tension in your neck and shoulders. 2) Let go of the tension

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3207

Oh! and btwe...I had trouble logging in the first two days too...but it finally got straightened out. Glad you persevered! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/22/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 7 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 310 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $47.6 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 1 [B]Mins:[/B] 37 [B]Seconds:[/B] 34

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3207

Good, Good, Good, Wendel! Already you are seeing what this support can do for you. People are saying, and I think it's true, that when quitting is looked at as a wonderful, awesome new beginning towards health and freedom, instead of a dreaded event, it is easier to hang in there. And really, I've found that substituting a little hit of SSC for a cig, has helped me through many a craving. Good luck guy, and keep us posted -aloha [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/22/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 7 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 310 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $47.6 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 1 [B]Mins:[/B] 37 [B]Seconds:[/B] 24

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 24

Ok I had to change my user name a little to get back on the website because it would not let me back on which of course freaked me out a little, alright alot. Its still me Wendel. Ok my quit date has changed for Monday. I got in touch with my Dr. and hopefully going to get one of the helpful prescriptions, we shall see. Thank you everyone for your kind words and success stories, I will be on this site as much as I can. Today is a good day. My heart gets better knowing that there are people in this world like you guys.

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 62

Hi Wendel Sorry for what you experienced, I am 46 yrs old and today I couldn't wait to enjoy this warm weather here around Toronto,Ontario GTA so I persued my hobby of Metal-detecting and I went to this manmade ski-hill and I walked up and down up and half way down then criss-crossing and then went over a few more hills,,,then I went and parked my vehicle between the mall and library so I don't have to start vehicle twice so I walked. When I approached the library it was then I thought I really can feel the lung capacity from abstaining from the ciggys ,,it is a wonderful feeling It is hard ,however the end result is worth it,Hope it goes well with your quit, [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/20/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 68 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,429 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $612 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 10 [B]Hrs:[/B] 16 [B]Mins:[/B] 2 [B]Seconds:[/B] 38

Quit Meter

$168,977.28

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 9144 Hours: 1

Minutes: 33 Seconds: 14

Life Gained
Quit Meter

45424

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

545,088

Cigarettes Not Smoked

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I had a heart attack and I have to quit smoking