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i am wondering if anyone has any stories about someone who quit smoking and got in shape and lived a long healthy life?
these stories about people quitting smoking and dying are freaking me out!!
:)
Dan
In Reply to: how about some ex smoker turned healthy success stories posted by Dan [846.3362] on April 18, 2007 at 20:46:42:
First of all I think statistics can be interpreted any way the researchers want them to be so unless you understand exactly how they are gathered, they are nearly useless. Did you recently quit?
I quit probably 12 years ago now...SO glad I did! I have had my health issues - breast cancer many years after quitting so I don't think it was related(plus, my mother had it)but I am now past that and very healthy for the most part. Excellent blood pressure, etc., do my SR eat whole foods, started working out regularly again and I feel great for the most part. I am nearing menopause so I have some isues relating to that but I can't imagine smoking again. I hate the smell of it, and I can smell it a mile away!
My dad quit in the ambulance on the way to the hospital probably 16 or so years ago. Thought he had a heart attack. In the end it was probably a panic attack but never diagnosed really. He is 76 now and has COPD. He is not on oxygen, but I saw so many people at his pulmonary rehab classes that ARE on oxygen and have all sorts of trouble. One of them was still smoking! I know dad would be dead by now if he had continued smoking. He has his troubles, but was headed down a really bad path before he quit.
And yes, dad and I are both still going to die... :-)
~~~8>
In Reply to: Re: how about some ex smoker turned healthy success stories posted by labrat [7343.2765] on April 18, 2007 at 21:52:02:
Hi Labrat,
Boy, isn't that is the ultimate truth. Regardless of all of this trying to
be healthy, we will all die. Some sooner than others, regardless of
lifestyle. I have realized recently that more than anything else, even
more than living a life of wellness, I want to meet death without fear.
Sometimes it seems like I am trying to be healthy out fear of death.
That isn't right. I don't want to be afraid to die. It seems like that
fear of death is what gets most people to live a healthier life, rather
than getting healthy to feel good while you are here, whether it be
one more day, or another 40 years. Losing my fear of death is the
biggest goal I have in this life, because it opens up the door to really
looking at oneself, spirituality, and getting right with oneself. In the
meantime, it makes me a better person towards others. However you
dice it, life is short and I just want to be happy to be alive each day!
dd
In Reply to: how about some ex smoker turned healthy success stories posted by Dan [846.3362] on April 18, 2007 at 20:46:42:
I can see people who smoking bothers doing better after quitting.
Funny, my friend who quit and wants to start when he gets feeble, wrote and mentioned smoking tonite. He said he is going to wait till he is 70, and start again. His reasoning is, that lung cancer takes you quick, and he is hung up on not being able to take care of himself, and not wanting to linger.
I don't think it is good to be afraid, since the fear can be for nothing. I used to light up when the stop smoking commercials came on. They reminded me of smoking.) I think I learned my lesson with the Cancer Assn. warning about colon cancer. That put me through some changes I didn't need. At least in my case, the irritation from High fiber, may cause cancer. One size may not fit all, which I have seen in my family, and because of having the same genes, I think that is the first place to look.
In Reply to: how about some ex smoker turned healthy success stories posted by Dan [846.3362] on April 18, 2007 at 20:46:42:
My Mom quit smoking after 25 years, when she was 45, and she is
doing great. Her health is good, she is now 70, and so far so good.
She has never looked back, and didn't mourn her "loss," but actually
left the habit wishing that she had never started. She felt better right
away. My stepmom quit about 3 years ago. She is miserable. She
would love to go back to smoking but wants to be around for the
grandkids. She is healthy, but mentally, she is so miserable that I
could see how that would eventually make you sick. She is doing all
the right things though, diet, excercise, Tai Chi....so go figure. My
Dad quit smoking at the age of 66 and feels much better. He started
young and smoked a great deal. He looks about 10 years younger
with a lot of good color in his face, which he didn't have while
smoking. He walks and eats well. Again, so far, so good. Both my
Mom and Dad do not regret not being able to smoke, only my step
mother. My Mom and Dad are well. My step mom doesn't feel so
great. I think the lack of regret in walking away from it, or the lack of
feeling like they are missing out on something,, is the reason the feel
good and visa versa. But, cancer is usually 20 years in the making...it
isn't something that often grows super fast. If someone gets sick
after quitting smoking, cancer, then it was probably already there, or
had a genetic bend.
dd
In Reply to: Re: how about some ex smoker turned healthy success stories posted by dd [8880.3208] on April 18, 2007 at 23:07:20:
I think the devistating injury I had, and still suffer effects from, make me not worry about dying. I might have almost died, if I wasn't in the shape I was, since even with burned lungs, and gasping for air, they never saw pulminary function tests as good as mine, while Still smoking. I sometimes wonder if I will live as long as my grandfather who smoked or my dad who didn't. Both my parents got cancers late in life, and the Only ones in either family. Neither
smoked, and pretty much did things to try to stay healthy. I look at things that may have caused them, and wether I did the same things or was exposed. Neither me or my sister drink much water, and where we spent summers, I found out the water was pollouted with chemicals from a nearby refinery, and neighbor kids who lived there all year, all got cancers at young ages.
Hearing that cancer just takes longer to kill you if they find it early, I don't think I want to know if I have it, Unless I can't function, or it causes something that makes me not able to function well, or a tumor affects me. Then I will have to decide what to. I didn't like what friends have gone through in treating theirs, and not surviving very long. They didn't have much quality, and a Lot of worry.
I'm not religous, and find it funny when people who are,are affraid to die. Maybe they need to get right with what they believe in.) I think things will happen the way they are supposed to, and I'm not in a rush, but am not affraid. Being severly limited from my injury, I don't think I fear more severe limitations. I'll manage somehow. Been doing it for 20yrs.
In Reply to: how about some ex smoker turned healthy success stories posted by Dan [846.3362] on April 18, 2007 at 20:46:42:
Hi Dan,
Last week I heard a news item that stated that...
Niccotine and Caffeine was able to affect Dopamine in users and could be credited with the ability of moderating mental disturbances..
Some writers simply can not concentrate without a regular puff to constrict their blood vessels..
Office workers also seem to need a coffee to unwind after a hectic trip to work..
If the users are self-treating some physical imbalance in this way, what right does society have to deny them their crutch?
Could the West be heading down the road to decreased
productivity without coffee and niccotine?
Does it really matter since the west is heading down the road to being a 3rd world country as we watch
our jobs being sucked away to less costly areas of business?
(Strange that SMOKING and coffee are big in those
thriving economies. Hmmm? )
Sheesh!!!
I am not even a smoker.. and I suddenly need a cigarette and java!!
In Reply to: Re: how about some ex smoker turned healthy success stories posted by ss [8880.3208] on April 19, 2007 at 00:23:04:
Hi SS,
I wonder if your stepmom would benefit from trying the niccotine patch? It might fill the gap and calm her down.
In Reply to: Re: how about some ex smoker turned healthy success stories posted by labrat [7343.2765] on April 18, 2007 at 21:52:02:
I live in a casino town, labrat, and here I see people in wheelchairs
with oxygen strapped to them, playing the slots and smoking with
cannulas up their nose. I'm not scientifically savvy, but, hello!?
Hopeless health issue aside, seems to me that a lit cigarette in close
proximity to flowing oxygen might be a dangerous thing.
Congratulations on quitting. I quit thirty years ago. Lungs are clear
and heart is good, CT scan of both. Like you am sensitive to smoke
to the max. Can't stand to be near it. Even outdoors I maneuver to be
up-wind.
Amazingly, Nevada just passed a non-smoking regulation for public
places. It is in effect now, but rooms with gambling are exempt…
wonder how they’ll use that to manipulate the law. Arizona's goes
into effect May first...at last!! I live in the tri-state area (including CA),
and now all three states are smoke-free. Hallelujah!!
In Reply to: how about some ex smoker turned healthy success stories posted by Dan [846.3362] on April 18, 2007 at 20:46:42:
I stopped smoking 7-8 years ago. I am happy I did it.It was very easy for me.I don't see many health benefits, but fihgt with my weight since. I could eat what I wanted before, not now. I don't regret I did it.
I hate to think that something is ruling my life and did stop smoking in the past, simply to check if I still can do it.
Matylda
I smoked over 30 years
In Reply to: how about some ex smoker turned healthy success stories posted by Dan [846.3362] on April 18, 2007 at 20:46:42:
quit cold turkey 13 years ago
2 pack a day habit for 20 years
didn't need the patch, no hpynosis
all WILLPOWER,,, in the MIND .....
not easy but can be done :)
i did not have health problems
but knew it was time for a change
feel awesome today at 52 ;) !!!
In Reply to: Re: how about some ex smoker turned healthy success stories posted by Rob [143.2313] on April 19, 2007 at 17:27:15:
that's a Great testimony!!
In Reply to: Re: how about some ex smoker turned healthy success stories posted by Jayne S. [6666.3362] on April 19, 2007 at 21:02:58:
:) thanks Jayne
and the reason I had the strength to do things...
2 fold
I waw having knee surgery in a few days...
I went to the hospital for pre-op stuff.
Saw a lady talkign with one of those voice box thingys and and and
a few days prior i had been walking with my little girl, she reached to grab dad's hand (which had a cigarette in it) and it burned her !!! I FELT HORRIBLE for sooooo long.
Those 2 images did the trick for me to quit - I always called them up whenever the urge hit ..
take care all :) !
In Reply to: Re: how about some ex smoker turned healthy success stories posted by Jim H. [7565.3404] on April 19, 2007 at 07:46:04:
THAT reminds me of the time I visited my mom in freezing Feb. in Michigan.....outside in the cold cold winter,,,by the hospital sat a person in a wheel chair,,,with Oxygen,,,sitting there puffing away................
I'll never be doing that, as I quit when I had my first, and hopefully last, Heart attack several years ago.
In Reply to: Re: how about some ex smoker turned healthy success stories posted by Rob [143.2313] on April 19, 2007 at 21:06:53:
when I was young there was a neighbor with a hole in his throat. Don't know what caused it, but worried that smoking might. Maybe something else was teh cause, and not sure why he had it. Never say anyone like that again.
I was in a hospital lobby visiting my mom, and when I squatted to hug a young nephew, I felt a burning sensation on my thigh. I looked and Smoke was rising and pushed him away. I had 10 packs of matches in my pocket that I had gotten from a diner, since I was sensitive to lighters from my chemical injury that made me sensitive, and 7 of the 10 ignited when I squatted. I never carry more than one pack in a pocket now. Took a few yrs for the scars to fade.
Leaving the hospital I saw a friend, who I used to hang out with while waiting for my mom when I brought her to the ER. He was geting in his car, and said he was going to buy slacks. I went an got some myself. I called the ones I burned, My Hot Pants.))
In Reply to: how about some ex smoker turned healthy success stories posted by Dan [846.3362] on April 18, 2007 at 20:46:42:
My great aunt quit smoking at age 87! after having smoked heavily for decades. She said she felt wonderful after quitting. She lived until age 98.
In Reply to: Re: how about some ex smoker turned healthy success stories posted by Jim H. [7565.3404] on April 19, 2007 at 07:46:04:
It is an amazing testimony to how strong an addiction can be, Jim! I feel sorry for those folks at the same time I'm sort of revolted by them. I remember how hard it was for me to quit - I never want to have to do THAT again!
When I first quit, I would be walking toward the trainstation in downtown Chicago, and smell someone a half block ahead of me smoking! I would have to cross the street to get out of the vortex of smoke. And one time, driving on a highway in my car, I kept smelling cigar smoke! I couldn't figure out where it would be coming from or why it would happen, but we got up to a stoplight, and the guy in the car in front of me turned sideways to look at something, and had a big stogie sticking out of his mouth! I was floored...we were going 50-60 mph and my windows were closed!! I thought I'd get used to it and be able to enjoy my favorite band in the smoky bars where they play, but I had to stop going ... it was just too much. It seems it's gotten worse instead of better.
I have mixed emotions about about a law recently passed here banning smoking in resaurants and bars - I have no problem banning it in REAL public places, like libraries, government buildings, and sidewalks, but bars and restaurants are owned by private folks and are not actually public. I wish they'd provide tax incentives or some other benefit to begin smoke free that the owners could choose to take advantage of instead of violating their ownership rights. People can vote with their dollars. Why not just make smoking illegal if we want to control it? :-) That's a whole 'nother thread...
~~~8>
~~~8>
In Reply to: Re: how about some ex smoker turned healthy success stories posted by Jim H. [7565.3404] on April 19, 2007 at 07:46:04:
I live in a casino town, labrat, and here I see people in wheelchairs with oxygen strapped to them, playing the slots and smoking with cannulas up their nose
Yeah. I wonder if they'd quit doing that if they had an inkling of what I've seen result from it.
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