Anyone giving up smoking for Lent?

[Myangel]

beckers:

I’m not a smoker but just wanted to let you guys know that i will be praying for you. I’ve watched many friends pick up this habit and know that it has been hard for them to quit…Just remember it is okay if you fall because each day…each hour is a new chance to succeed. (this is what i tell myelf everytime when i fall off of my horse to give up bad habits).

Here are some benfits from
lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=33568
When smokers quit, within twenty minutes of smoking that last cigarette the body begins a series of changes.

At 20 minutes after quitting:
blood pressure decreases
pulse rate drops
body temperature of hands and feet increase
At 8 hours:
carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal
oxygen level in blood increases to normal
**At 24 hours:**chance of a heart attack decreases
**At 48 hours: **nerve endings start regrowing
ability to smell and taste is enhanced

Look just within the first 2 days you already have positive results…You can do it…I have faith in all of you…GOD BLESS you all in your struggle to pick up this cross…

:bowdown: Thank you this has made me realise that no matter how tough things are, its always worth the struggle.

Originally Posted by MSGirl
I really wanted to quite smoking this Lent, but I have two breast biopsies scheduled for Monday, and I’m just too nervous.

I am saying the rosary every day and am trying to give up swearing.
I did quite for three years, but then 9/11 happened and --oh well.
Maybe after I get the results, I will think about quitting.

Good lucky everyone! I will be praying for you.

Peace,
MSGirl

I hear you, you are in my prayers.

Originally Posted by kaygee
Just want to get my prayer list straight.

Praying for continuing grace to get past the smoking habit for: Shoshanna, Pira 114, and Mike D.

Praying for those who are in initial withdrawl: Lynnie Lew, Tonks, Mr. Tonks, Sadie2723 (Brad), nucatholic, Mary full of grace’s friend, md wright’s mother, and kaygee (me).

Praying for those who want to quit but aren’t ready yet: msgirl (biopsies), melbourne guy, my angel (family), Jeffrey, Kaygee’s husband.

prayers of thanksgiving for support of: beckers, St. Eric, Pira 114, Puzzle Annie, Katie 1723, Celia, Gerry Hunter, Stanmaxkolbe, Detroit Sue and Rides a White Horse.

You folks are great! We’ll make it!

GOD BLESS YOU and EVERYONE here, thanks to you all I have decided to get back on the band wagon starting Monday! I have a big thing on this weekend and I am praying that all goes OK with my parents! A little nervous but hopeful.

Reading all your posts I realise I was being selfish and that I am not the only one with problems, basically I am looking for excuses. Thank you all SOOOOOOOOOO much, I look forward to letting you all know how much I hate the world on Monday! Although it wont be the beginning of Lent on Monday its better late than never!

KEEP UP THE FANTASTIC WORK PEOPLE, Jesus is proud!

Thanks again for your prayers Kaygee I truly appreciate them!

 

[LynnieLew]

How is everyone doing?

Anyone make it through the day? Anyone have a slip?
Who needs more prayers?

Trying to keep cheery myself-not easy though.
Going through some pretty bad withdrawl. Some dizzyness (more than usual), headaches and general crankiness. Oh, and don’t forget the gulping of air (right, like if I breath more deeply it will actually feel like a cigarette is in my mouth). Agh!

So, there is my vent. I’m trying not to focus on the bad stuff, as I think we are all offering it up. That being said, it is still good to vent.

LynnieLew

 

[nucatholic]

I’m not so much feeling badly, just the extreme desire to have a smoke. I have also been doing the gulping air thing. It has actually helped a little bit. I feel like at any time I’m going to drive down the road to buy some. This is so hard. How is everyone else doing?

 

[kaygee]

LynnieLew:

How is everyone doing?

Anyone make it through the day?
Oh, and don’t forget the gulping of air (right, like if I breath more deeply it will actually feel like a cigarette is in my mouth). Agh!
LynnieLew

Congratulations, Lynnie Lew. Actually, breathing deeply will help. One of the things that we did as smokers was take time to inhale deeply. Only now that we’re smoke-free, we are free to take in oxygen! One thing that helps me is a soda straw, cut in half, which I “smoke”, taking in channels of clean air. silly, yes, but it helps me. I’ll deal with the straw habit later. . .

I’m cranky, dizzy and forgetful (all moreso than usual). I’ve also still got a bug and I’m coughing a lot. But I’ve not smoked in more than 24 hours. . .

praying for all of you. . .

 

[sadie2723]

kaygee:

Congratulations, Lynnie Lew. Actually, breathing deeply will help. One of the things that we did as smokers was take time to inhale deeply. Only now that we’re smoke-free, we are free to take in oxygen! One thing that helps me is a soda straw, cut in half, which I “smoke”, taking in channels of clean air. silly, yes, but it helps me. I’ll deal with the straw habit later. . .

I’m cranky, dizzy and forgetful (all moreso than usual). I’ve also still got a bug and I’m coughing a lot. But I’ve not smoked in more than 24 hours. . .

praying for all of you. . .

Good job everyone! Well, about the time that I went to bed last night, I thought that I was going to die. I wanted a smoke so bad I would have done just about anything to get one. But, then it occurred to me. I thought, if you can get to sleep, you can stack up about eight more hours of being smoke free. I did so, and this morning things were better.

We are going to do this. Everyone hang in there!!!

 

[Tonks40]

Hey everyone! Good to hear that everyone is doing their best so far!!

Unfortunately, I haven’t been so good. I had my last cigarette on Tuesday night, and was very committed to doing this starting Wednesday. Well, Wednesday comes…I’m chugging along, I read the posts here to get some inspiration. I even managed to get through a very hectic morning hauling the kids to early-morning Ash Wednesday Mass, without a single cigarette. I thought as I was smacking on my Nicorette gum, “Hey, I can do this!”

Then I get to work.

I guess I didn’t plan this out as well as I thought I should. I was hit with a unexpected project at work that had a deadline, and by 10:30 am, I was bugging my co-worker for a cigarette. By the end of the day yesterday, I had a total of 4, my last one around 9:30 pm.

I guess I could look at the bright side of this - I only had 4 instead of 24…

I also feel physically miserable, cranky, irritated, on top of having one of the first major colds/sinus infections for the season…

I realized now that I had some really high expectations of myself, and I was putting too much pressure on myself to quit. It made me so anxioius Tuesday night that I had trouble sleeping. The realizations I had while I was praying about this all day (the sacrifice for our Lord’s sake, the health benefits, behavioral strategies) all came pretty easy, but it’s not sticking with me as well as I thought it would. So I’m asking you all for extra prayers today as I try and start this up again. I’m resolved to keep plugging away at stopping smoking during this season of Lent, whether I fall one time or twenty-one times. I know that the Lord knows my struggles with this - I will trust in His mercy.

God bless everyone here!!

PS - my hubby is not doing that great either, but he’s doing his best not to smoke around me, which I really appreciate!

 

[LynnieLew]

Tonks40:

Hey everyone! Good to hear that everyone is doing their best so far!!

Unfortunately, I haven’t been so good. I had my last cigarette on Tuesday night, and was very committed to doing this starting Wednesday. Well, Wednesday comes…I’m chugging along, I read the posts here to get some inspiration. I even managed to get through a very hectic morning hauling the kids to early-morning Ash Wednesday Mass, without a single cigarette. I thought as I was smacking on my Nicorette gum, “Hey, I can do this!”

Then I get to work.

I guess I didn’t plan this out as well as I thought I should. I was hit with a unexpected project at work that had a deadline, and by 10:30 am, I was bugging my co-worker for a cigarette. By the end of the day yesterday, I had a total of 4, my last one around 9:30 pm.

I guess I could look at the bright side of this - I only had 4 instead of 24…

I also feel physically miserable, cranky, irritated, on top of having one of the first major colds/sinus infections for the season…

I realized now that I had some really high expectations of myself, and I was putting too much pressure on myself to quit. It made me so anxioius Tuesday night that I had trouble sleeping. The realizations I had while I was praying about this all day (the sacrifice for our Lord’s sake, the health benefits, behavioral strategies) all came pretty easy, but it’s not sticking with me as well as I thought it would. So I’m asking you all for extra prayers today as I try and start this up again. I’m resolved to keep plugging away at stopping smoking during this season of Lent, whether I fall one time or twenty-one times. I know that the Lord knows my struggles with this - I will trust in His mercy.

God bless everyone here!!

PS - my hubby is not doing that great either, but he’s doing his best not to smoke around me, which I really appreciate!

Don’t be so hard on yourself…this is an addiction.

Take it hour by hour. That is all you can do.
It is true that we all have to PRACTICE quitting. But don’t give up.
You slipped but you did not fail.
LynnieLew

 

[Shoshana]

May we continue to pray for each other…:bowdown:

 

[kaygee]

To all of us who have tried and are continuing to try. . .

How many times did Jesus stumble on the way of the cross? and still Simon had to be enlisted to help Him get there. . .

Adoration and Benediction start in 40 minutes at the church across the street. I’m running over there to pray for strength for all of us. . .

This is about the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’m back at work today, coughing furiously, making zillions of errors, dropping things in frustration, feeling that my fingers just won’t respond to my commands, snapping at people. . . but I’m blessed to be at a workplace where everyone understands and they’re keeping a wide berth. . . (I’m the only smoker on the staff).

Keep thinking. . . by Easter we’ll be clean and through all of this for good.

 

[wabrams]

kaygee:

I’ve been smoking cigarettes (2 pack a day habit) for over 30 years. I’ve got a cigarette in my mouth as I’m typing this. Ash Wednesday is my quit date. I’m laying in a stock of Nicorette gum, (to handle the cravings), sugar-free lollipops and rosary beads, centerpieces and crucifixes (making rosaries will give me something to do with my hands – I hope). And I’ve got an appointment with my confessor on Tuesday morning to enlist his prayers and blessing.

I know I will need prayer and support. If anyone else is trying to overcome this sin this Lent, perhaps we can use this thread to offer each other encouragement in this discipline. Former smokers are welcome to offer tips on how they did it. Thank you. . . please pray for me; I’ll pray for you. . .

I quit three weeks ago today, and I feel great. No nicotene gum, patch, etc. One word for you: wellbutrin. The stuff works like you wouldn’t believe as long as you really want to quit.

 

[Jubilatae]

Hi it is Jubilatae here, I am in denial!!! Yesterday morning, Ash Wed, I said I’m doing it, all day I was quite happy, evening came and I just caved in.

Today when I read all the letters re QUIT CIGS, I could nor help feeling ashamed. SO I am with you, I’ll join. Pray for me big time.
Jubilatae

 

[Myangel]

Tonks40:

Hey everyone! Good to hear that everyone is doing their best so far!!

Unfortunately, I haven’t been so good. I had my last cigarette on Tuesday night, and was very committed to doing this starting Wednesday. Well, Wednesday comes…I’m chugging along, I read the posts here to get some inspiration. I even managed to get through a very hectic morning hauling the kids to early-morning Ash Wednesday Mass, without a single cigarette. I thought as I was smacking on my Nicorette gum, “Hey, I can do this!”

Then I get to work.

I guess I didn’t plan this out as well as I thought I should. I was hit with a unexpected project at work that had a deadline, and by 10:30 am, I was bugging my co-worker for a cigarette. By the end of the day yesterday, I had a total of 4, my last one around 9:30 pm.

I guess I could look at the bright side of this - I only had 4 instead of 24…

I also feel physically miserable, cranky, irritated, on top of having one of the first major colds/sinus infections for the season…

I realized now that I had some really high expectations of myself, and I was putting too much pressure on myself to quit. It made me so anxioius Tuesday night that I had trouble sleeping. The realizations I had while I was praying about this all day (the sacrifice for our Lord’s sake, the health benefits, behavioral strategies) all came pretty easy, but it’s not sticking with me as well as I thought it would. So I’m asking you all for extra prayers today as I try and start this up again. I’m resolved to keep plugging away at stopping smoking during this season of Lent, whether I fall one time or twenty-one times. I know that the Lord knows my struggles with this - I will trust in His mercy.

God bless everyone here!!

PS - my hubby is not doing that great either, but he’s doing his best not to smoke around me, which I really appreciate!

Hey Tonks40, you are not alone, I am in the same boat with you, but we are not sinking! I did quit for 2 1/2 weeks then one bad thing led to another, my parents marriage… well its practically over and I am stuck in the middle of it! So I caved and started smoking again! We all fall but we pick ourselves up again. After reading all these inspirational posts I have decided to start again on Monday (have a big thing on Sat and I am sooooooo nervous about it praying all goes well with family).

To all of you who are struggling, keep up the GREAT work, just think by Monday God willing your cravings will subside a little, then you can sit back and giggle/laugh at me taking on everything that moves! My sisters dread the thought of going through the initial stages again They beg me to not quit

You are all doing fantastic! Will say a Rosary for you all today!

 

[FatBag]

Good luck to all of you in quitting! I quit ~6 years ago, and I still get cravings once in a while, even though the actual quitting wasn’t that bad. Of course, I have gained like 500 pounds since then, so…

 

[kaygee]

Yahoo! Got home from work without a smoke and without getting fired!!! (But then my office has been very supportive and left me alone all day) Looked mighty stupid after lunch when I pulled out my cut-off soda straw and started taking “drags” off of it, but it really helped.

Prayed for each and every one of you today. We ARE going to get through this!!! Pray for me that THIS is it. I’ve quit so many times for up to 3 weeks, then crisis hits and I go right back to it.

Tonks, great job! if you can keep it at 4 per day, that’s great, if you can bring it down to 3, super. The soda straw trick works well for me, try it – it might work for you, too. Office pressures are what really starts the urge to smoke for me – the soda straw enables be to take a nice deep drag of air that feels like smoking, hold it in and exhale slowly. Thus far, it’s provided the “feel” of smoking and has helped me cope somewhat.

Welcome, Jubilatae – you’ll be included in family rosary tonight!

My angel, you’re going through so much, I really admire your spirit and willingness to get right back in the fight.

wabrams: glad wellbutrin works well for you; that’s a lesson for us all, keep trying until each finds what works best for each one – will pray for your continued perseverance.

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, EVERYONE!!!
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

 

[Myangel]

Sucking on straws is what I was doing in Bars when I attempted to quit previously, all I was inhaling was stale smoke I also did it walking through the streets running errands for work it does work, may not look that great but as long as it helps who really cares! :whacky:

Thanks Kaygee, I have to keep telling myself, Jesus went before me and my struggle is nothing in comparison to his. So I have to keep the fight for his sake!

 

[Celia]

Keep going guys. If any of you have caved, just start again tomorrow. That happened to me a bunch of times before the quit finally “stuck”.

Still praying for y’all.

 

[cmt]

No! I am not. I have resolved to keep killing myself by smoking to protest the Pro-Choice crowd. If they can kill the innocent unborn and call it free choice…I have a right to smoke and kill myself.

Just kidding…yes, I am trying, but God help the idiot that get’s in my face about it right now. I am NOT a happy camper.

 

[Myangel]

cmt:

Just kidding…yes, I am trying, but God help the idiot that get’s in my face about it right now. I am NOT a happy camper.

Should we also pray for the poor souls that cross our paths I know the people that cross mine DEFINATELY need it.

 

[kaygee]

wow, I talk a really good show, but all it took was one stray comment from my alzheimers’ afflicted father (who lives with us) regarding my parenting skills, and zip, zam, I’d grabbed a cigarette out of my husband’s pact and smoked it down to the filter in about 30 seconds. mea culpa. I’m now sucking on a straw as I type… tomorrow’s another day. . . starting family rosary in a few. . . remembering you all. . . thanks for listening. KG

 

[Myangel]

kaygee:

wow, I talk a really good show, but all it took was one stray comment from my alzheimers’ afflicted father (who lives with us) regarding my parenting skills, and zip, zam, I’d grabbed a cigarette out of my husband’s pact and smoked it down to the filter in about 30 seconds. mea culpa. I’m now sucking on a straw as I type… tomorrow’s another day. . . starting family rosary in a few. . . remembering you all. . . thanks for listening. KG

KG, tomorrow is another day! Your doing fantastic, you have me wanting to quit asap! Keep up the good work, we all fall, just get back up, I NEED YOU lol!