Quitting a habit

[GeneV]

Well for me, it's a race to kill my body before my mind goes (dementia), but not to kill it WAY before that happens. Hence, I'm on a strict regimen of 3-4 cigarettes per day, and 2 whiskeys per night. I'm hoping that with that, everything will work out according to plan.

 

[Jstpssng]

I had panic attacks and flutters, and the EKG (wore a harness for two weeks) & stress test said "you're fine". That by itself helped reduce my overall stress (hey I'm not obviously dying! (at least not rapidly)) and taking a work break helped a bunch more and NOW IT'S ALL FINE TILL I WRECKED MY SUBSOILER oh wait

Thanks. I did delete my post as you were typing. It's something new to me and I need to figure out what's going on. It was pretty frustrating. When I tried to give blood I had to list what meds I'd taken, including that for my stress test. Because of that they wouldn't let me, because I don't know what's going on; they were more concerned about it than my doctor is.

 

[Jstpssng]

I've always said that kissing someone who smokes is like kissing an ash tray. Luckily, my wife doesn't smoke, and she doesn't allow me to kiss other women on the mouth. So, I haven't had that experience in about 37 years.

I was interested in someone a few weeks ago and it seemed mutual. One day at the store where she's the manager, she put some hand cleaner on her hand and held it out so that I could see how "nice it smelled". All that I could smell was the cigarette she had just smoked... I quickly lost interest. Too bad, we could have gotten along well.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

What was the rational behind it?

I think the sea salt has some trace elements in it that the regular salt doesn't. My palpitations were never serious, but it seemed to work for me...until my doctor changed my BP meds, and then it meant a trip to the emergency room. Doc said what I had was Atrial tach, not A fib. Taking meds for it now.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Jstssng. That might have given the poor soul the incentive to quit. Sometimes irrational thinking can work out, although it's a long shot. Depends so much on the individual. Most simply have no fortitude to endure any pain for their own good.

You were interested. Did she show any signs of interest in return? Most guys, never rewind and listen to the tape and are simply driven by their interest. A woman who doesn't ask a few personal or leading questions likely "isn't" interested. An excuse to reach out and TOUCH "IS" usually a positive sign though, unless she is a totally touchy-feely person.

 

[turnkey4099]

Anyone here have a similar story? Mine was quitting chewing tobacco about 10 years ago. I chewed Beechnut from HS till after 50. Kids and wifey were always on me to quit, but chewing was my thing, I loved it. Then one day I just up and quit, cold turkey, right out of the blue. I haven't had a chew in 10 plus years. But... I still have days I would crawl across broken glass for a chew. I dream about having a chew. Not too long ago I was cleaning out some old tool boxes looking for something and I came across an old pack of Beechnut, half full. I opened that up and stuck my whole face in it and took a long, deep breath; my God that smelled good. I seriously thought about putting some in my mouth, but didn't, after several moments though of considering it. I am determined not to backslide, but boy are there days...

Much like me. Chain smoked cigs from 1954-2000. 3or more packs a day. Then one day I was on a 50mile one way trip to the base to buy a months supply at the commissary. About half way there I decided I had a lot better use for that money. Pulled a U-turn went home, smoked up what I still had and quit cold - turkey. The old habits die hard. Working, take a break and my right hand was probing my shirt pocket. Withdrawal was not bad but fighting off the urge to light up was hard. I was a

Corrections Officer at the county jail. A few years after quitting the jail went no-smoking but we officers took Trustees out for smoke breaks. I decided to bum one. Took one drag and decided no more. I still do like smell of fresh smoke and occasionally still reach fro my pocket when taking a break.

 

[drssg]

Well for me, it's a race to kill my body before my mind goes (dementia), but not to kill it WAY before that happens. Hence, I'm on a strict regimen of 3-4 cigarettes per day, and 2 whiskeys per night. I'm hoping that with that, everything will work out according to plan.

That sounds like a solid plan. I've always said, "I don't want to die TOO healthy!"

 

[Industrial Toys]

No joke about it for me. Would I rather die of Cancer now, or live to see the eight billion depopulated?

I thought there was a right and wrong side to this. I found out not.

Kind of funny in a way. Depopulation. Like the first time I heard that term, deplane. Not really that different.

 

[Frankenkubota]

I have had virtually every bad habit on the list. not proud but not ashamed, just human. imho it's probably 75% biology and 25% how you were raised. That's over thank goodness.

Imho, a bad habit is something that impacts things in a negative way. OD on heroine, it happens pretty fast, use tobacco, over eat or lead a sedentary life, it happens slower.

The problem is, the habit has become a huge part of a persons life. In many cases, the most important part of their life.

Once you give it up you create a huge vacuum that MUST be filled. I was lucky, left home at 17, grossly obese, and on my own. I was lucky because I had no choice, no money, no full refrigerator but the most important detail was..... I was presented with lots of ways to spend my time, activities to fill the vacuum. Called survival. I was young, full of it and never looked back. Next thing i know, i lost 75 lbs.

Going on a diet is the opposite of filling the vacuum. You constantly think about food, just not eating it. If your going to quit something you better have something to fill the vacuum. You must change the way you think. Problem there is, it's hard. Many People don't like to do hard things.

I'm giving free guitar, golf and piano lessons, don't tell me you can't do it! Tell me you won't do it.

 

[Gem99ultra]

Yikes! Now I am a drug addict with a Vice.

Better get another cup of coffee!

MoKelly

I'm with you MoKelly! I love my coffee. Love it all day long.

I think I read somewhere (May have been Nati'l Inquirer, I don't know and I don't care) that coffee was good for your health. They may have said 5 cups per day, but I have selective memory so I ignore that part. So far, after 75+ years, it hasn't killed me.