Alberta Quits Group

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Alberta Quits

4939

This group is for quitters from Alberta both new and migrating from Alberta Quits allowing us to...

4939

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Thought for today

Friday Smile

Teach

10 hours 10 hrs

6,813 Days Quit

Repost:  Romancing the Smoker in Ourselves

I felt the same way once upon a time. I can honestly say that today I have 0 desire or interest in smoking - It happens newbies!
KTQ
Cara
D6813

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Romancing The Smoker In Ourselves ~
From BilliB on 1/30/2004 1:31:40 PM

In reading some of the posts I was reminded of old thoughts that have drifted through my own head....... wanting to be able to be a social smoker. The frustration that I had to face at not being able to smoke. The deep emotional connection I had with nicotine. I honestly didn't know if I could live without it. Truth be known, since I was 14, I had smoked. So I was scared to death to even try. Maybe that is why I could not keep a quit. Fear !! I was angry also........ why did I have to have this addiction ?

I even remember getting "down wind" so I could catch a wiff ~ lol My eyes would gaze over to where they keep the cigarettes in the grocery stores. I would check out the price on my brand. I would see that they were "on sale" this week. Oh WOW !!! Just maybe I could have a couple. I loved smoking. WHO said that ? As I think back, I hated smoking. It tasted nasty many times. I was a prisoner, chained with this monkey on my back that dictated my life.

Junkie thinking, every thought like that. We kid no one but ourselves when we allow that addict to start whispering in our ears. Lies, nothing but lies. We are caught in the web....... wanting to smoke, needing to smoke, yet knowing we are playing with poisons. I cannot smoke socially!! Well damn !!! I have finally gotten past that point in my thinking. I am an addict, and can never have another puff unless I want to be right back into the grips of an addiction that will kill me.

So if I can't smoke socially because I am an addict........ I cannot take that first puff. There is no debate here. This is a line in the sand kind of thing we face in life. I can't sugar coat this and pretend that "just maybe" ~ nah, I have to KICK BUTT here. Get serious, get tough, and fight to kill the addiction to nicotine. No games, no excuses. That approach only keeps me in hell.

The picture isn't as pretty as I thought it was.

~~ Billi

Repost: Romancing the Smoker in Ourselves

I felt the same way once upon a time. I can honestly say that today I have 0 desire or interest in smoking - It happens newbies!
KTQ
Cara
D6813

*******************************************************************************************************

Romancing The Smoker In Ourselves ~
From BilliB on 1/30/2004 1:31:40 PM

In reading some of the posts I was reminded of old thoughts that have drifted through my own head....... wanting to be able to be a... Show more

Tman55

13 hours 13 hrs

3,852 Days Quit

TGICFF! Off to pball, then Lethbridge for fuel, groceries and beer. Family coming down for weekend. Enjoy your cig free day!

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Thought for today

Thursday Smile

Teach

yesterdayyesterday

6,813 Days Quit

Repost:  Just One Cigarette

It took me a long time to wrap my head around this.  I had blown many quits with just one, but I kept trying to tell myself I could have that one - which led to a pack a day.
Smoking must come off the table as an option in life in order to succeed.  I never forget - I am one puff away from a pack a day - be that 12 days or 12 yrs quit.
KTQ
Cara
D6811
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Just One Cigarette
 By Allen Carr
 'Just one cigarette' is a myth you must get out of your mind. 
It is just one cigarette that gets us started in the first place. 
It is just one cigarette to tide us over a difficult patch or on a special occasion that defeats most of our attempts to stop. 
It is just one cigarette that, when smokers have succeeded in breaking the addiction, sends them back into the trap. 
Sometimes it is just to confirm that they do not need them any more, and that one cigarette does just that. It tastes horrible and convinces the smoker he will never become hooked again, but he already is. 
It is the thought of that one special cigarette that often prevents smokers from stopping. The first one in the morning or the one after a meal. 
Get it firmly in your mind there is no such thing as just one cigarette. It is a chain reaction that will last the rest of your life unless you break it. 
It is the myth about the odd, special cigarette that keeps smokers moping about it when they stop. Get into the habit of never seeing the odd cigarette or packet - it is a fantasy. Whenever you think about smoking, see a whole filthy lifetime of spending a small fortune just for the privilege of destroying yourself mentally and physically, a lifetime of slavery, a lifetime of bad breath. 
It is a pity that there isn't something like a cigarette that, during good and bad times, we can use for an occasional boost or pleasure. But get it clearly into your mind: the cigarette isn't it. You are stuck with either a lifetime of misery or none at all. 
You wouldn't dream of taking cyanide because you liked the taste of almonds, so stop punishing yourself with the thought of the occasional cigarette or cigar.

Repost: Just One Cigarette

It took me a long time to wrap my head around this. I had blown many quits with just one, but I kept trying to tell myself I could have that one - which led to a pack a day.
Smoking must come off the table as an option in life in order to succeed. I never forget - I am one puff away from a pack a day - be that 12 days or 12 yrs quit.
KTQ
Cara
D6811
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Just One Cigarette
By Allen Carr
'Just one cigarette' is a... Show more

Teach

yesterdayyesterday

6,813 Days Quit

Good morning all
Happy Thursday - can see the long weekend coming!

Up and going for the day today. Heading out to Cochrane for the day today. Smoking is not going to be part of my day not toda not any day thank you much. I am saying NO to smoking and keeping to my path along the Freedom Road. I hold my hand out to the next winner joining me kicking that ash to the curb.
Have a great day
Cara
D6812

3Y 11M
Life Saved
$101,158
Money Saved
183,924
Unsmoked

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Yhought for Today

Wednesday Smile

Repost:  Why a Smoker Smokes

Good info.  We do not smoke cause we "love it".  That is addictions lie!  I believed that one waaaayyyy tooooooo long!

KTQ
Cara
D5871

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Why a Smoker Smokes
From SheriTaylar on 7/25/2013 7:22:38 AM
I found this article on the addiction of nicotine and thought someone here might find it interesting.

What makes nicotine so dangerous and so addictive? The answer begins in the brain. When a person takes a puff on a cigarette, the nicotine is pulled into the lungs and absorbed directly into the bloodstream. Within eight to 10 seconds, nicotine has penetrated the brain and begins to cause its characteristic “rush.”
Nicotine and the Brain
A logical question is, how could the brain be affected so quickly? Part of the answer has to do with the shape of the nicotine molecule. Its shape is similar to a natural neurotransmitter in the brain called acetylcholine. Because the shape of nicotine is so close to that of acetylcholine, it can fit into the receptor sites on brain cells that actually belong to acetylcholine.
One might think of nicotine as an interloper in the brain's messenger system. Once nicotine has connected with the acetylcholine receptors, a person's heart rate, blood pressure, and respirations increase as does the release of glucose into the bloodstream. The person smoking may experience these changes and interpret them as increased mental alertness.
Another way that nicotine affects the brain is through the now familiar dopamine pleasure pathway. Nicotine stimulates the release of large amounts of dopamine, the neurotransmitter that causes intense feelings of pleasure. For some unknown reason, components of cigarette smoke block the reabsorption of dopamine. It remains in the space between the neurons called the synaptic gap, contributing to the intense feelings of pleasure that a person addicted to nicotine experiences.
Beta-endorphins are another type of neurotransmitter that have the ability to enhance moods. Nicotine stimulates the release of beta-endorphins as well as dopamine. In addition to these significant effects of nicotine on one's brain, it also has been found to interrupt the flow of oxygen to the brain, especially the right hemisphere. Nicotine also elevates the body's levels of cortisol, which is a hormone involved in relieving stress by arousing the sympathetic nervous system.

Repost: Why a Smoker Smokes

Good info. We do not smoke cause we "love it". That is addictions lie! I believed that one waaaayyyy tooooooo long!

KTQ
Cara
D5871

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Why a Smoker Smokes
From SheriTaylar on 7/25/2013 7:22:38 AM
I found this article on the addiction of nicotine and thought someone here might find it interesting.

What makes nicotine so dangerous and so addictive? The answer begins... Show more

Show previous comments (1)

Good morning all
Happy Hump Day to you!!!!!!

Up and going for the day today - down to sub for the day in the south but hey it is not snowing and raining so life is good. Saying NO to smoking today and keeping to my path along the Freedom Road. I offer my hand to the next winner joining me kicking some ash to the curb today.
Have a great day
Cara
D6811

3Y 11M
Life Saved
$101,143
Money Saved
183,897
Unsmoked

Show previous comments (3)

Thought for today

Tuesday smile

Repost: Cravings

Excellent repost from Gummer that honestly we simply cannot read enough. Please read this and accept what he is saying. Quitting is not easy but starting and stopping over and over again is even worse.
Have a good one.
Cara
D6810

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Cravings... are a sign that your quit is working. They are a symptom that your body and mind are trying to find equilibrium again. Never be alarmed or... Show more

Good morning all
Happy Tuesday!!!!!!

Up and going for the day - rain and snow last night so I am moving quick to get out the door as I am subbing in the south of Calgary today. Saying NO to smoking and keeping to my path along the Freedom Road. I offer my hand to the next winner joining me kicking ash to the curb today.
Have a good one.
Cara
D6810

3Y 11M
Life Saved
$101,129
Money Saved
183,870
Unsmoked

Show previous comments (2)

Thought for the day

Monday Smile

Repost: Don't confuse openness with emptiness

Very true - I love this repost.
KTQ
Cara
D6809

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Don't Confuse Openness with Emptiness
From phoenixri5550 on 1/6/2015 12:02:57 PM
When quitting, I thought I was feeling a real emptiness. I just read something that might spark a new direction of thinking for those starting out, and for all of us.

~~~There may be a feeling of openness that should not be mistaken... Show more

Good morning all
Happy Monday to you!!!!!

I am up and going for the day. I am off to visit a centre but I have yet to decide which one. I will decide when I get in the car today lol. While I cannot decide where to go today, what I do know is I am saying NO to smoking and keeping to my path along the Freedom Road. I offer my hand to the next winner joining me kicking ash to the curb today.
Have a good one
Cara
D6809

3Y 10M
Life Saved
$101,114
Money Saved
183,843
Unsmoked

Show previous comments (2)

Alberta Quits

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