Oh, that's a shame it isn't there for everyone to read. The Sparkster fought so hard for this quit. She is truly inspiring, especially for those who need encouragement to keep going after a slip or two. So, here, for Sue and anyone else who uses version 5.0
welcoming Sparky to the Hall of Fame.
Sparky�s Smoking History
When we asked Sparky about her smoking history, she told us the same thing so many other smokers tell us � she started at they young age of 12 because she wanted to be cool and fit it. One day while hanging out at a local park, Sparky was offered a cigarette by a group of older girls and accepted their offer. She took her first puff and coughed and gagged while the other girls laughed at her. Having really low self esteem and wanting to fit in, she spent the summer learning how to smoke and practicing inhaling the smoke into her lungs. It took some patience but by the end of the summer of 1956 she was a smoker. Being so young, Sparky wasn�t able to get her hands on cigarettes very often, but would smoke when she could. When she was old enough to buy cigarettes on her own she started smoking a pack and a half to two packs a day for over 50 years. She was known for always having a lit cigarette in hand.
In 2002 Sparky finally decided to try quitting and decided to use Zyban to help her. Late into her first day she was confronted with the worst trigger she�s faced to date. She�s not quite sure how she made it home, but she arrived and had some cigarettes lying around, so she started to smoke again. Since then, Sparky�s lost count of the amount of times she has tried to quit and has tried many quit aids to help her. She�s learned something from each quit and used her knowledge to prepare herself for this finally quit. She decided to use Chantix and found the SSC and quit for good.
What motivated you to quit this last time?
Sparky was motivated to quit smoking from past events but also because she was just getting tired of many failed quit attempts. Sparky tells us that warning bells started going off for her to quit 12 years ago but she stuffed her ears full of cotton so she couldn�t hear them. It was at this time that her oldest sister died of lung cancer. She was her best friend, her children were Sparky�s children, they did crafts together and spoke everyday for 30 years. She had quit smoking for 13 years and still died. Shortly after the passing of her oldest sister her other sister died from lung cancer. She had never quit, but begged Sparky to quit. A couple years after this, her brother also died from smoking related cancers. The thought of quitting tore at Sparky�s conscious constantly but she was too afraid of quitting to let it go.
She was starting to feel like a hypocrite knowing what could happen and continuing to smoke. She found the SSC almost two years ago and started to read and learn the physical and emotional feelings that smokers go through when they are quitting. She also found a lot of really wonderful people that supported her through her slips and ups and downs. Her husband was also a wonderful motivation and supported her in all of her decisions. She really wanted to quit cold turkey but decided with the help of her doctor that Chantix was right for her. With the help of family, friends, the SSC and Chantix, Sparky gathered all the motivation she could for this final quit attempt.
What was different about this final quit?
Sparky tells us that Chantix made all the difference in the world for her final quit. It helped her get through some rough spots and made her quit more comfortable. She also couldn�t have done it without the help of her husband, online and offline friends. In her past quit attempts she had gathered a lot of knowledge that along with her friends and family helped her prepare for this quit. She hit her first major milestone at 50 days and was so proud and relieved that she had been smoke free for the longest she�d ever been. There were a few ups and downs in between her first milestone and 5 months, but when she realized it was complacency, everything quickly got better. Today smoking is not an issue and she sees the world in a new light.
What did you use or what techniques did you use to resist cravings?
When we asked Sparky about cravings she told us �cravings are a strange monster�. She never knew what to expect and sometimes her cravings would get so bad that she gave in knowing full well what she was doing. For previous quit attempts, she could not handle the cravings.
This time, the Chantix really helped take the edge off. She started to learn her danger zone and triggers and how to cope with them. She learned through the site that exercise and drinking water were great ways for her to cope. She also contributes deep breathing and doing affirmations to helping her get over a few cravings. When faced with a craving these days, she knows they will fade shortly and just waits for them to go.
Did you have any major slips? And if you did, what did you learn?
Sparky had many slips on her journey to quit smoking, some major and others not. She tells us �I learned that N.O.P.E. means just that, Not One Puff Ever!� Quitting was a process for Sparky and each time she slipped she was so disappointed that she was smoking again. She finally decided that she didn�t want to have to endure the heartbreak of going back to smoking all the time so for her final quit she lived by N.O.P.E.
Do you have insight or advice for others?
�Preparation is so important when you want to give up smoking and move on with life. For those of you wanting to quit: get prepared! Read and understand what quitting is about. Learn what it will do to you mentally and physically.� She found that the SSC was a treasure chest of useful information. She found million of ideas to help her prepare for her quit and distract her to get through the cravings by reading other quitter�s strategies. Some other advice that Sparky has to offer is: �If you can, find a quit buddy.� Online or offline, the support and help that they offer throughout the quitting process are priceless. �If you smoke again, it is not the end of the world. Take a look at where you could have done something differently and quit again. What kept me going was some advice I received from someone: �never ever give up quitting, one day you will quit�.�
Sparky � We�re very proud to induct you into the Hall of Fame! You�re will to quit and drive to succeed are motivation for us all. Thanks for sharing your story with us and we wish you continued success in all you undertake. Welcome to the Hall of Fame! (v-cc systems, Inc., March 2008)
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/22/2007
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 365
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 14,600
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2,482.00
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 51 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 37 [B]Seconds:[/B] 16
