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HELENGMORRIS
11/14/06 7:53 A
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You deserve congragulations too. It has been 7& 1/2 years for me and quit smoking was a battle for me just as losing the weight I gained is now. I admire everyone that is able to quit and stay smoke free.
a spark friend
helen
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RAYLYONADIET
11/14/06 7:34 A
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No the congrats go to you for taking care of a 4 month old at the age of 54. I know at my age (64) it would be almost impossible.
  
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HELENGMORRIS
11/14/06 7:13 A
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JOKOKO All those congragulations and awards go to you for what you are doing for your daughter and grandson. I know God will Bless you.
Have a Great Day
A spark friend
Helen
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on reaching your 9 months!! 
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Hello Sharon,
 Yes, we are raising our grandson. It is quite an adventure starting over at 54 with a baby. Our daughter lived at home till she passed away so our grandson has been with us from birth. He was only 4 1/2 months when his Mommy died.
It is because of him I got motivated on losing weight. Now that he is walking we need to keep up with him and stay healthy.
 Josie
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RAYLYONADIET
11/10/06 7:24 A
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9 Months today Yea
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KAREN1953
11/10/06 7:13 A
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hi all.
i am the same as helen: i quit 6 years ago, and gained 50 pounds, but would never want to go back to smoking, and being thin! NO THANKS!! 2 years ago i was diagnosed with early emphezema. i was crushed then, but am dealing with it very well now. the only time i notice it is when i try running. then my lungs feel "junky" (only word i can think of to describe it) the doc was so glad when he diagnosed me, to hear i had already quit. he said that would save me!
take care all, and have a great day
karen
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HELENGMORRIS
11/9/06 6:36 P
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Thanks Sharon for the invite. Talk to you there. I have two close friends that are cancer survivors. Cancer survivors are such marvelious and inspiring people.
Your spark friend
Helen
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Hi Josie...thanks for your kinds words. I, too, more people will be cancer survivors and many more, too, will quit smoking. It's such a monkey on people's back. Josie, are you raising your grandson?
Helen...you can join the other thread even if you're not 60. Don't let that stop you. Everyone is welcome there.
Hugs,
Sharon
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HELENGMORRIS
11/9/06 5:13 P
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Hi Sharon Congragulations on being cancer free. I hear of lots of people that quit smoking and then being diagnoised with cancer.And of people that never smoked having cancer. My maternal grandmother died with liver cancer my daddy died with liver cancer and my mother had breast cancer. So you can see why I am concerned.
And we all know the extra weight makes for other problems such as high blood pressure, cholerestrol and feet and leg problems.
I Pray all your scans will come back clean. And good luck with your weight loss also.
Thanks for the invite to your other site. Just 3 more years and I will be A Fun Loving Person 60 and over.
your spark friend
Helen
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Sharon,
on having been cancer free for over a year.
 It is great to hear survivor stories.
 Hopefully in the years to come we will hear more and more lung cancer survivor stories.
Josie
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Hi Helen..glad to see your post. I think most of us that has quit smoking has the weight thing to deal with now. I know I do. The 14th of this month will be five years that I've quit. If you read my other post though you will see that I didn't dodge the bullet and was diagnosed with lung cancer in April of 2005 and operated on the next month. The cancer was caught very early so, knock on wood, I am doing fine now and have been cancer free for over a year. Every four months I have to have another scan though and see the oncologist so it's a dark cloud hanging over my head each time I go see him. If you need any encouragement just email me or come to my other thread..."Fun Loving People Over 60". It's the nicest bunch of ladies you would ever want to meet and chat with. Take care of yourself and I wish you much success in your weight loss journey.
Sharon
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HELENGMORRIS
11/9/06 10:45 A
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Josie - Hi my name is Helen and So very Sorry about your Daughter. Cancer runs in my family. But I quit 71/2 years ago. I did gain 80 pounds but I would not go back to smoking for anything. I had to take it one day at a time as I do now with trying to lose weight.
Now I Pray for my family and friends that still smoke.
Ypur spark friend
Helen
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Three cheers for all of you who have quit smoking!!
Did you know that November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month? We know that October is for breast cancer, but lung cancer just does not get the same attention, yet the disease is only 5% survivable.
Please visit http://lauriannes-hope.blogspot.com/ for more information about lung cancer and smoking cessation links.
My 25 year old daughter died of lung cancer, 4 1/2 months after the birth of her son, October 22, 2005. She was a non-smoker. She was very brave and courageous throughout her short battle.
One time we were walking to a store and in front of the store sitting on the side walk, there was a person smoking and begging for money. We made a big loop around him to avoid the smoke especially since we had her baby with us. When we came out of the store she told the guy off because he was exposing us to second hand smoke. It was the only time that I recall that she was extremely angry. Her anger was out of concern for her child who has a higher risk for getting lung cancer.
Why am I writing this? Because I would love to be able to walk with my grandson in a smoke free environment and not have to worry about cancer.
Josie
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| Good Morning. I just came across this forum. I decided to take a look. I'm glad that I did. I am a smoker who want to quit. Having read just about all the post have given me a renewed sense of urgency and resolve. I wrote down a lot of the websites that you folks have posted and I'm on my way to the sites. I like the support that I've seen here. Thank all of you for sharing. to all of you who have quit.
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Hi..I'm new to this board but know first-hand what cigarette smoking can do. I smoked for 45 years and enjoyed every cigarette I smoked. They were my pals and companions and went everywhere with me. Five years ago this month, on the Great American Smoke Out Day, I decided to quit. I had thought about for a few months and tried to prepare for it by cleaning out the car and having it detailed, washed everything in the house that smelled like smoke, only smoked outside after that, and when the day came I put them down and have never had another smoke since then. Thinking about quitting, for me anyway, was harder than actually doing it. I do think preparing for it beforehand was a big help as I had broken a lot of habits in the process. However, in late April of 2005 a "spot" showed up in my right lung. I was operated on May 5th and it was determined that the "spot" was indeed malignant so my lower right lobe was removed. Believe me my friends, this was a major wake-up call. Most of us that have smoked for many years do not "get away with it". We certainly can improve our lives though and pray that nothing comes of it. It's the best gift you will ever give yourself. Good luck to those of you who are taking it day by day. I'm in your corner and I do know what a challenge it can be. I agree with GrannieG about inhaling a big puff of air when you feel the urge to smoke. It really does work.
JOKOKO...my heart goes out to you for the loss of your DD.
Any help I can give please just ask. I'm off now to go see my oncologist for my 6 month check-up. These are always nerve wracking appointments because every test MIGHT be the one I don't want to hear about. It's like living on egg shells. So please, to those of you who are trying to quit or thinking about it,just do it! You will feel more empowered than you've ever felt.
Hugs,
Sharon
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Way to go!!!! 23 days is awesome. Keep it up.
Marty
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MOMMAWASS
10/26/06 2:32 P
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| hi it,s me today it,s 23 days and it is getting easier you have to truly have it in your mind that it,s time to stop and stay that way we can do it try going on all the web sites it does help
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| Thanks for the encouragement. I can say that this time (and yes I have quit several times) was much easier. I guess I was ready to stop smoking this time around.
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The quitting part does get easier and the craves fewer and farther between but don't ever think that the occasional desire for a smoke won't come. If you are prepared for the fact that you will still occasionaly want a smoke even 5 years from now, it is easier to just say nope.
I have been quit over 18 months. I rarely even think about smoking but sometimes out of nowhere, I want a smoke. A quick walk or sometimes just N.O.P.E, I am a non smoker does the trick. It is no longer a huge struggle.
Ya'll are awesome!!! Celebrate!!!!
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RAYLYONADIET
10/26/06 7:30 A
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| Way to go. Keep up the good work. It gets easier everyday.
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| I am 5 weeks smoke free now!!!
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RAYLYONADIET
10/10/06 8:14 A
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I want to thank everyone for all the support. I read this thread everyday.
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MOMMAWASS
10/10/06 1:21 A
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well today being thanksgiving day in Canada I did it was with people who smoke and it really didn,t seem such a big deal I really didn,t want to have one Today is 7 days Thanks for the web advice i got from my spark pals
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On the 8 months mark and to everyone else who has stopped  smoking.
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| 8 Months is great.
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RAYLYONADIET
10/9/06 7:40 A
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| Today is my 8 month mark!
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Can also work for anything else we are trying to control whether it is smoking, food, temper, etc. You name it!!
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| Oh I like that. `Crave, not cave`, can also be applied to Chocolate.
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| Thanks - We all need the positive feedback from someone who has "been there, done that". I know there will be times (have already been times) that I will crave. I decided it is ok to crave - just don't cave!!!
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| Congratulations on 18 days. It does get easier all the time.
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Hi - I am 18 days as a non-smoker. I was in the grocery store the other day and passed a man - Ewwww!!! I realized that I had smelled like that before as well. I was amazed at how fast my sense of smell came back. One of the things I do is something I heard my older sister say. I tell myself that other people do that without smoking so I should be able to. My sister was a 4 pack a day smoker who quit cold turkey (well, maybe something her husband said may have been the "drug" that helped - he was going to leave her and take the kids with him if she did not quit). Anyway, she used to tell herself that non-smokers drank and didn't have to have a cigarette. Now, I do a lot of doodling when I am on the phone, and take breaks @ work with a book and an apple.
One thing that I keep telling myself also is that 18 days - WOW! that is longer than ever before and the nicotine is out of my body.
I am already enjoying the benefits - I am putting the money I would have spent on packs into a gallon jar. When it is full I am going to do something really special for myself.
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