Quit Smoking is the best thing you can do for you! When I quit smoking it was "The Best Day of my Life!"

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#9966FF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="2ef96df3.png"> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="12dc8640.png" border=0 width="200" height="100" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.multimilliereiki.com/contact_me.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.multimilliereiki.com/contact_"><B>Contact Me</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.multimilliereiki.com/contact_me.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.multimilliereiki.com/contact_"><B><Click Here></B></A></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="33196960.gif" border=0 width="150" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B><U>My Quit </U></B></div> <div> <B><U>Smoking Links:</U></B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.network54.com/Forum/210097" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.network54.com/Forum/210097"><B><IMG SRC="3e696450.gif" border=0 width="150" height="69" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.network54.com/Forum/210097" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.network54.com/Forum/210097"><B><Click here></B></A></div> <div> <B> <img src="HTMLobj-766/aniGif.gif" border="0" align="bottom" width="40" height="35">  </B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.freedomvillage.net/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.freedomvillage.net/"><B>Quit Smoking Help </B></A><B>-<--click here</B></div> <div> <B>Your complete directory </B></div> <div> <B>to quit smoking resources!</B></div> <div> <B> <img src="HTMLobj-767/aniGif.gif" border="0" align="bottom" width="40" height="35">  </B></div> <div> <B>Need a quit Smoking Mentor?</B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/i"><B><Click Here></B></A></div> <div> <B> <img src="HTMLobj-768/aniGif.gif" border="0" align="bottom" width="40" height="35">  </B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.roofchek.com/quitsmoking/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.roofchek.com/quitsmoking/"><B>Bob's Place</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.roofchek.com/quitsmoking/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.roofchek.com/quitsmoking/"><B><Click Here></B></A></div> <div> <B> <img src="HTMLobj-1476/aniGif.gif" border="0" align="bottom" width="40" height="35">  </B></div> <div> <B>Click here-</B><A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/i"><B>My One year Celebration</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="302624a0.jpg" border=0 width="98" height="74" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.smoking-video.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.smoking-video.com/"><B>Smoking Video <Click Here></B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/godsaidno.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/g"><B>God Said NO</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/id137.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/i"><B>Laughter Is good For the Soul</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/id137.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/i"><B>(Has Sound!)</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/id137.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/i"><B><Click Here></B></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=115 style=" border-bottom: 1px solid #999980;" BGCOLOR="#9999FF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="2f396731egceij.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>cheryldickinson.com                                                                                                                                                                                                </B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="cheryldickinson.com "><B>home</B></A></div> <div>                                                   </div> <div> <B>                                                                                                               </B></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=365 width="100%" colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#9966FF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="2f196df3.png"> <div> <I>Quit Smoking is the best thing you can do for you!     When I quit smoking it was "The Best Day of my Life!"</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://www.llerrah.com/thebestdayofmylife.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.llerrah.com/thebestdayofmylif"><B>The Best Day Of My Life Site <click here></B></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="52b4b410.gif" border=0 width="75" height="65" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="52b4b410.gif" border=0 width="75" height="65" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="52b4b410.gif" border=0 width="75" height="65" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>My Quit Smoking Stats on June 1, 2008:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I have been smoke free for:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Six years, four days, 11 hours, 1 minute and 48 seconds. 65893 cigarettes not smoked, saving $15,946.29. Life saved: 32 weeks, 4 days, 19 hours, 5 minutes.</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Hi!   Welcome!!!</B></div> <div> <B>If you want to or are even just thinking about quitting smoking this page is for you!  Please feel free to contact me if you would like to talk about your quit smoking desires and journey!  I do not charge you money, so there is no risk involved.  I am just a person in the world who quit smoking and wants to be there for others who have the same desire.  I provide honest and direct advice.  I can take you through your journey step by step, it works!</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Many Blessing to you!</B></div> <div> <B>Cheryl aka Chez</B></div> <div> <B>Email:  Cheryldickinson3@yahoo.com </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/i"><B><IMG SRC="52ae03c0.gif" border=0 width="480" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="775" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="176"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="176" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="592"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="592" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <B>Hi! I am a quit smoking mentor and worked with many people to help them quit smoking. I decided to add some methods to work on a journey to quit smoking that worked for me and is working for others. It's a work in progress:) </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>THE FIRST STEPS TO QUIT SMOKING </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>- Make up your mind that you would like to quit smoking! </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>- Pick a future quit date, I think about 1 month in the future is great. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>-Don't wait for a good time, sometimes it's better to quit when you are sick, lost a job, grieving etc.. Because if you can quit during a hard time, you can cope better in the future when hard times come up:) </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>-Pick your NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy), i.e. Gum, Patch, Wellbutrin etc.. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>-If you can go see your doctor and tell them your plan, they often can give you great advice or even local support groups. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>-Put a post it note or tape a paper on your pack and every time you smoke write it down and one emotion to how you are feeling and when you are smoking. Doing this will help you plan how to deal with triggers when you quit. If you like to smoke after a meal, you will notice this and when you do quit, you will have a new habit to replace it. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>-Change your smoking habits, no more smoking in the car or your house. Clean you house and car really well and throw away all ash trays and lighters. Spring clean!!! </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>-No automatic smoking, smoke only when you can sit and smoke the cigarette with out doing anything. Sit with these and visualize that they are not good for you. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>-During your last month smoking, start a journal. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>-Tell supportive people you are going to quit and tell them your date. This is a good idea at work incase you get grouchy. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>-Each week in your last month cut you smoking habit at least in half or more. Plan to smoke fewer everyday. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>-Plan to take up a new hobby the day you quit or even better exercise routine. Light walking, swimming, join a gym or start knitting. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>-Make a list in your journal of things you could do after you quit to get over cravings. Here are a few of my favorites: Drink a big glass of water, cry, sleep, scream, have sex, Reiki, cleaning, walk around the block or in place, get on Internet support board and vent or ask for advice, play on computer, write, play with you pet or children, laugh. Craving usually on last a few minutes. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>-Be nice to yourself!!! List rewards for yourself for every week you stay quit. It could anything from a massage, an ice cream, dinner out, etc... </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>-Never stop trying to quit! Think about each step of your journey, I never wanted to have to quit again, that helped me stay focus. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>-Get Support is key. Pick several quit smoking mentors, boards, and even see your doctor. I think all smokers are hiding a lot of emotion behind the smoking and it is a roller coaster, but you can manage it and DO IT!!! </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>We can do this together!  Love & Reiki Blessings *Cheryl*</B></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>SMOKER'S PRAYER</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>It was foolish to have started</B></div> <div> <B>I don't know why for sure.</B></div> <div> <B>I was young and fit and able</B></div> <div> <B>Now I only want a cure.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>For this habit now it grips me</B></div> <div> <B>It holds me in its spell.</B></div> <div> <B>This smoky weed I must deny</B></div> <div> <B>I never liked the smell.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>My lungs are full of badness,</B></div> <div> <B>My fingers stained and dark.</B></div> <div> <B>Lord, free me from this madness,</B></div> <div> <B>This sadness grips my heart.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Let me see a future</B></div> <div> <B>When the person I will be</B></div> <div> <B>Is a calm and healthy figure</B></div> <div> <B>With lungs that are "smoke-free.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>And now as I look forward,</B></div> <div> <B>I know how well I'll feel.</B></div> <div> <B>As I walk a thin line onward,</B></div> <div> <B>In God's love and mercy I'll heal.</B></div> <div> <B>Autor Unknown</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>THIS PAGE WAS PUBLISHED MAY 28, 2005!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="16786630.gif" border=0 width="134" height="99" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <I><B><U>The dove</U></B></I><B> is a symbol of peace, tranquility, love, sharing, friendship and fellowship in faith.                </B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>CHERYL RAMBLES:</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Where did all that money go $13,256.76?  </B></div> <div> <B>My Void Course</B></div> <div> <B>A Five Year Ramble</B></div> <div> <B>May 28, 2007</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I could have never imagined back on May 28, 2002 that I would be sitting 3000 miles across the country sitting down to type up a five year quit smoking ramble.  I honestly do not even know what to write! The five year mark has been a real big deal to me.  For some reason my 1st year and 3</B><B>rd</B><B> year were very striking.  Maybe it has to do with odd numbers?  But WOOOHOOO five years ago I quit smoking and it was the BEST day of my life!!!!!!!!  I now believe my lungs are completely healed and I am so happy not to be glued to such an addiction.  I can remember running out of airports to smoke, in and out of security.  Could you imagine now with the security, I most likely would have had heart failure not being able to pass in and out of security whilst I wait at airports!  So yes I would be dead!  I could go on how awful the smell was, how bad it was for my health and let's not forget the cost.  Between Gas and smoking if I still smoked I would have to get a third job!  If the airport did not kill me three jobs would!   Besides all that stuff, do you know what the best thing is to me about quitting smoking?  It is freedom from the addiction and knowing that if I can quit that addiction, I can do anything I set my mind to!  That is right, I set my mind to it and it happened.  Simple?  No not at all, in fact I was reminded of the frenzy, you know that nervous energy when you want to smoke, but know in your heart you quit and you run around your house/life and have stuff half done and forget where you put things and sometimes you get that nervous stomach and fast heartbeat from the oxygen and blood that is now flowing through your body, but instead of realizing it is detoxing from the pollution in your body you slip into the thoughts you are having a panic attack and think you are flipping out?  You know that feeling?  Well I assure you that that really does pass!  Be rest assured it's not a panic attack, you are feeling what it is like not to be intoxicated by chemicals!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>So what is the frenzy about?  I recently received a free corner desk/table and it had to be unscrewed into three pieces to fit in my car.  When I finally brought the pieces into the house, I realized I had broken one of the corners.  So I have this desk all up in my office and it is on its third attempt to be glued.   The desk it like a large island in my office, it really has caused disruption in my life.  It seems to have left me off centered, running around with things half done, half projects and cleaning all over my house.  Kitchen half cleaned, house not cleaned, laundry half done and I could go on.  So besides having plans to run errands and meet up for a Reiki session, I have done everything to avoid not only the desk but the house.  So I went out instead!   Well, I was being punished for that, I was overcharged on a sale item at the store, 411 tried to tell me they did not have a listing for something I verified in the phone book, the car shop did not complete me service and something I ordered by mail arrived in a used condition/broken!    Some one told me there was a void course in progress which is some astrology term for a bunch of chaos, well it's true.  When I got home I thought, OMG I have to write my ramble and I realized that five years later I was in the same frenzy I was when I quit smoking.  Mind you this is not my typical state of being, but it was funny how that frantic discombobulating appeared.  Discombobulating is my favorite work btw!   So what I used to do is run around until I got it done and would pass out from exhaustion each night, no time to dream about smoking there.  Today I remembered, smiled and took a deep breath and raced around trying to clean up some of the half done jobs and started to write my ramble.  Deep breathe void course, its just a void course or is it coarse?   But, you know?  I have the least desire to ever smoke again! I am cured!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I am so blessed to have embarked on this path of beating the addiction of smoking.   I have met the most awesome people through Freedom Village and also now my web pages.  I am proudly part of a quit smoking mentoring program which give others trying to quit smoking just someone to talk to and support the journey of quitting smoking.  For all my friends who have supported me endlessly for the past 5 years and all the smokers have quit or are working on there quit, I love and cherish you with every bit of my heart!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>No smoking!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Peace</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Love & Reiki Blessings</B></div> <div> <B>Cheryl aka Chez</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Five years, 0 minutes and 3 seconds. 54780 cigarettes not smoked, saving $13,256.76. Life saved: 27 weeks, 1 day, 5 hours, 0 minutes. Where did all that money go?</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/chez5years.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/c"><B>My Five Your Quit Celebration Page</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/chez5years.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/c"><B>(LYM Bubba James) 5/28/07</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/chez5years.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/c"><B><Click Here></B></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>___________________</B><B>_____________________________________________________</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/chez.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/c"><B>MY FOUR YEAR QUIT CELEBRATION PAGE </B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/chez.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/c"><B>(LYM BUBBA JAMES)</B></A><B> 5/28/06</B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/chez.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/c"><B><CLICK HERE></B></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> _________________________________________________________________________________________</div> <div> <B>My Lucky Three</B></div> <div> <B>My Three Year Ramble</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>When I started to sit down to write my three year quit smoking ramble, I felt like I was at a loss to what to say.  So I decided to go back and look at my one and two year quit ramble to find something clever and impressive to write!  When I looked back I realized I did not have a two year quit ramble as I was too consumed at the time with moving my household from the east coast to the west coast.  My one year quit ramble is cute, but I feel have healed myself so much more since that time!  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>My friends and supporters at Freedom Village have encouraged and inspired me to create a web page dedicated to my journey and also to help others on a path to quit smoking.   Besides finding the perfect three year ramble, I decided that the purpose of this  page is a gift to celebrate my three year quit smoking mark.  I hope that it will grow and I can continue to inspire and help others in their journey to quit smoking.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I consider three my favorite and most lucky number!  So my three year quit date is very special to me.  I do know that I will not ever fall back to smoking.    When I first quit I said "If I live to 80 I am going to start smoking again", but since I have changed my mind.  I consider myself one of those ex-smokers and you know what they say about those, they are the worst.   The smell of cigarette smoke and people who have smoked really bother me.   If I could have only smelled myself I don't think I would have smoked for as long as I did.   On my many attempts to quit smoking for good, like any addiction I used to say Oh I have to work through this or that before I quit smoking.   It always seemed like there was something to keep me from quitting, earthquakes, family crisis, my friends smoke or it was my stressful job.  I can see now that it was just a slow moving and killing crutch to keep me from having to feel any pain.  Not that I walk around in pain now as a non smoker, well sometimes I do .... but I have worked through how to cope without any foreign substance.  They also say most smokers are depressed people hiding behind the smoke, I believe it, I do.   I also believe that quitting smoking is the hardest habit to break away from, but since I did it,  I think anyone can do it.   I also think once you quit smoking for good, you can overcome anything in life.   It takes work and perseverance and support.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>One of the main reasons I am convinced I am cured from smoking starts with how I feel.  I feel really good.  I have more energy and no longer have that awful cough.  When I quit smoking my life was devastated by the tragic loss of my best friend at the time.  I picked my friends's favorite date of the year just a few months after her death to quit smoking.  I decided that it was something I could do for myself to honor my friends death.  I am convinced that using a bad time to quit smoking was a good move.  I was already at my lowest and I went even lower than low in the first few months of my quit, but it helped me learn how to cope with lows without smoking.  In the last three years I remained smoke free during deaths, accidents, moving across the country to name a few, so this convinces me I am cured.    I recently realized that most of my friends now are non smokers.  I did not go around saying if you smoke I am not hanging out with you, I still have smoking friends I love, but It just happened most of the people I choose to hang around or new friends don't smoke.  My success in my quit was also contributed to my quit smoking support friends at Freedom Village; learning Reiki Healing, a group of Reiki Healers and one special spiritual advisor, that helped me work through my grief and new coping skills.  All my angels know who you are!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Now I dedicate a good portion of my time helping others by teaching Reiki and giving Reiki sessions/healing circles.   I have also use Reiki and mentore others in their journey to quit smoking.  I think the first most important thing I did and I see others doing to quit smoking for good, is really make up their mind that they want to quit.   I find that once I made up my mind, all the tools and support I needed just fell into place.  It is also important to ask for help, because quitting smoking is easier when you have support! </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Finally, I want to show you my before and after photos of my quit journey so far:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Before                                                                                          </B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="2f5e8b60.png" border=0 width="232" height="182" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">(</B><B>The little girl in this photo is my Beloved Friend Kim's daughter. I asked Nikkii if I stunk when I smoked, she said, "Yeah", I asked her why she did not tell me, she said, "I love you and did not want to hurt your feelings.")</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>After</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="2f8c5920.png" border=0 width="197" height="146" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>This is for you Bubba as if it were not for you I would know nothing about publishing this site:  A photo of me in a "Pink Tutu" my costume of a recent clown stage performance:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="2fa96c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">                                  <IMG SRC="30696c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>In closing of my perfect three year ramble today, I want to just thank everyone at FV and my spiritual friends, specially Edie Britt for your unconditional love & support in my path! </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Love, Blessings and Peace to everyone!</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="2fc2d2b0.gif" border=0 width="45" height="43" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Cheryl aka Chez (5/28/05)</B></div> <div> <B>________________________________________________________________________________________</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Cheryl's Journey </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>A One Year Ramble</B> </div> <bR> <div> <B>OMG! Here I am sitting down to write a one-year ramble and I really do not know where to begin. I will approach this with talking about how I feel about my quit now and go backwards. Yeah that’s the ticket. </B></div> <div> <B>Well, I recently got back from a business trip and I saw so many smoking people (that is what I call them) shaking the leg and squirming in their chairs waiting for a break to run out of the meetings to make a mad dash outside to smoke. I was so curious that I actually went out in the smoking section and saw these people sucking in on the smokes and chatting to one another about how they were going crazy not having a smoke. I just stood there and smiled, I did not share that I did not smoke, I just had this overwhelming pleasant thought that I am no longer a slave to this! I used to even think that smokers were friendlier and that people that did not smoke were boring. </B></div> <div> <B>Well, at this conference of 500 plus people, I found that I was actually missing out on meeting so many other people and really the people who smoke are really much fewer. I did not even talk about smoking or the fact I quit, I just talked about other things and interesting subjects. Just this little trip made me realize that I am not a boring non-smoker I am free!</B></div> <div> <B>Oh the list goes on, I saw people racing off airplanes and out of restaurants to go smoke. I could tell who these smoker people were cos’ when they walked in the room, I could smell them! Not only did they reek of smoke, one guy even shared the breath to go along with it, come on buddy eat a mint or something!!! </B></div> <div> <B>Besides feeling this newfound freedom from the smoking slave, I woke up one day about a month ago and realized I really do feel better. I do not have that morning cough, any cold or bug goes away much faster and slowly but surely I do not loose my breath as fast going up lots of stairs. Amazing!</B></div> <div> <B>If I think back to last March 9, 2002 that is really when it begun. I did try to quit smoking several times from 1989 to 2002, even for 8 months once, but I did not have the sparkle I have now to make it stick. I realize that I can overcome the urge I still get to this day to smoke. I am stronger than this addiction. </B></div> <div> <B>Well, on March 9, 2002 I tragically lost my best friend suddenly. After the initial shock of this whole ordeal I was trying to grab on to something I could do to deal with my overwhelming loss.</B></div> <div> <B>Somehow, I thought of quitting smoking and even though I was totally not ready at this time, I logged on to BV where I had once been in 1999-2000 to quit smoking and lurked. During this period I selected May 28 to quit as it was my beloved friends favorite day of the year. I thought that would give me something to do and it would be closely connected to my friend. </B></div> <div> <B>In April I posted and said I was going to quit and I just went off and smoked my brains off until May 27th at around 10pm I had my last smoke and went to bed! I posted but I also left town the following day to go to conference and visit my family and friends on the West Coast. I think that was my saving grace to get through hell week really. I came home and started to have acupuncture and was chewing the gum. It really did help me tons and I was on the board posting like a mad woman for the first 3 or more months of my quit. I was not only fighting this addiction I was really in a deep grieving for the loss of my friend. </B></div> <div> <B>It was the fine people of BV and now on FV that I did not even hurt myself in some pretty dark moments. I had been at my job for almost 12 years and when I told people at the office I was gonna quit, they made comments like "Oh we’ll see." No real support or even asking me "how is your quit". I come home and my dog I know was interested in what I was doing, but she could not talk. The board was the single place that I could come and embrace the love of so many fantastic people that understood me for who I was and what I was going through. These are just words, but for that I feel so blessed and am so grateful.</B></div> <div> <B>I now do believe what they say about smokers all really being depressed people hiding behind these chemicals. I was pushing along in my quit and between months two and three I was feeling so lost so dark and so alone that I just cried and cried and cried, well heck I been in tears all year but it was overwhelming. </B></div> <div> <B>I tried taking Prozac and Wellbrutrin but I get to many side effects and it makes me feel worse. I realized that I had to do something to make me start learning how to deal with life. Before, smoking did that for me, and I was really walking around in a fog. I prayed a lot and grieved a lot, and over the last three months of my quit, I have been in a deep spiritual search and by the grace of God I have touched my own spirit. </B></div> <div> <B>I am not 100% cured of how to deal with life now that I do not have a cloud of smoke following me around any longer, but I can see a light at the end of this tunnel and can cope so much better. I have fewer anxiety attacks, fewer chest pains and I am more relaxed and can socialize with out smoking out of my skin like when I first started my quit. I did this all working part time in a Smokey bar and I contribute my success this far to all my friends in FV! The board and FV friends I have made were the center of my success!!</B></div> <div> <B>One last note: If you are reading this and just started, don’t look back! If you are reading this and have been with me on my journey, I love you and you are a true blessing to me… If you are somewhere in-between, keep on path and know that you can overcome this. Post…Post…Post…</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>God Bless everyone.</B></div> <div> <B>Hugs</B><B> </B></div> <div> <B>Chez (5/28/03)</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Feel free to contact me:  Email:  Cheryldickinson3@yahoo.com or learn more about me and Reiki... visit my home page by clicking on Home above or</B><A HREF="http://www.multimilliereiki.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.multimilliereiki.com"><B> http:www,cheryl.dickinson.com</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#333399" FACE="Arial" ><B>I</B></FONT><B>f you would like to have one or more  Quit smoking mentors to connect with in your quit process, this is a free program hosted by Freedom Village.  A small group of former smokers formed a mentor program to add additional circle of support for anyone interested.   </B><A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/i"><B> <<Click here>>></B></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Please visit my page often for updates:)</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U><IMG SRC="35896470.gif" border=0 width="150" height="71" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Thank you Edie Britt for the following contribution:</U></B></div> <bR> <div> Quit Smoking Remedies</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="288" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="48"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="38" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="48" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> From <U>Cathy Wong, N.D.</U>,</div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Is There a Natural Zyban?</div> <div> Zyban, also called bupropion, is a prescription drug originally developed and marketed as an antidepressant. It was later discovered that smokers taking it lost interest in cigarettes and had minimal physical withdrawal symptoms when they tried to quit.</div> <bR> <div> Zyban appears to help smokers quit by increasing the availability of two neurotransmitters (chemicals that help transmit messages between nerve cells), dopamine and norepinephrine. Dopamine is involved in initiating and regulating thoughts and behaviors. It's also critical for motivation, reward, and the experience of pleasure, which is why it can result in difficulties in many areas of a person's life, from overeating to depression to drug and nicotine addiction. </div> <bR> <div> Studies have found that cigarette smoking increases dopamine concentrations in the nucleus accumbens, a key motivation and reward center in the brain. </div> <bR> <div> There are many alternative therapies that are used to help people quit smoking, such as acupuncture and herbs. A common thread among these remedies is that many of them work by altering the activity of dopamine. </div> <bR> <div> Here are some of the most promising natural quit smoking remedies to boost dopamine: </div> <bR> <div> <B>Diet</B></div> <div> Diet can influence the way the brain functions. When we eat protein, it's broken down into smaller units called amino acids. One particular amino acid, tyrosine, is used to make dopamine, which is why a diet that's slightly higher in protein is often helpful for smokers. </div> <bR> <div> But there should also be sufficient amount of good carbs, otherwise other important brain chemicals can get depleted. A Zone-type diet with a ratio of 40% carbohydrates, 30% fat, and 30% protein is often a good place to start. Intake of sweets and refined sugar should be minimized.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Stress Reduction</B></div> <div> Chronic stress is a <I>major</I> depleter of dopamine. There are other things you can doâ€”besides smokeâ€”to restore dopamine levels. The following are just some suggestions. Everyone should find a solution that works best for them: </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066006600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Humor â€” A study out of Stanford University found that humor engages the nucleus accumbens, a key component of the dopamine reward system. What are some ways you can bring humor into your life?</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066006600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Music â€” Music has been shown to increase dopamine synthesis in the brain. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066006600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Exercise â€” Exercise elevates dopamine levels.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066006600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Helping others</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066006600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Spending quality time with friends and family. Plan a fun activity.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066006600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Get a pet â€” pets bring unconditional love into our lives and can reduce stress.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066006600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Find a passion that inspires you and commit to it.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066006600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Spirituality â€” pray, go to church, or read books about spirituality.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066006600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Knitting or crocheting - our Thyroid guide, Mary Shomon, found crocheting particularly helpful. Read about her experience <U>here</U>.</div> <div> <B>Supplements</B></div> <div> Certain vitamins and supplements have been found to improve dopamine. Always check with your health provider if you are interested in trying supplements.</div> <bR> <div> Magnesium -- Dopamine is a magnesium-dependent biochemical. Low levels of magnesium can result in low dopamine levels in the brain, possibly triggering cravings for cigarettes.</div> <bR> <div> Vitamin B Complex -- A supplement that combines the B vitamins, a B complex is one of the top helpers to manage stress and replenish dopamine. B complex vitamins are water-soluble, meaning they donâ€™t store in the body and your kidneys excrete any excess of what your body needs. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066006600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Vitamin B6â€”assists with more than 100 enzymes. The enzyme that converts tyrosine to dopamine is dependent on vitamin B6. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066006600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Folic acid and Niacinâ€”these B vitamins are also co-factors in the conversion of tyrosine to dopamine.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066006600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)â€”particularly important in the repair process. It allows the adrenal glands to keep up with your level of stress without depleting you. It also helps to control cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood.</div> <div> Note: The vitamin B-2 in the B complex supplement can turn your urine a bright yellow, but this is a harmless change. </div> <bR> <div> Tyrosine -- An amino acid found in meat, and the raw material needed to make dopamine and norepinephrine. It increases the release of dopamine by brain cells. Tyrosine is also a precursor for thyroid hormone, which is one way dopamine depletion is linked to hypothyroidism. Tyrosine appears to be safe, although some people have reported nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, or nervousness at high doses. It should not be combined with antidepressants or Zyban.</div> <bR> <div> Ashwagandha -- An Ayurvedic herb sometimes called â€œIndian ginsengâ€, the roots of this evergreen shrub have been used for thousands of years to promote stamina and strength. It is considered an adaptogen, a substance that helps the body withstand stress, and is said to reduce the stress hormone cortisol and improve anxiety, energy, sleep, mood, overall health, and immunity against colds and flu. Ashwagandha increases dopamine. </div> <div> <B>Acupuncture</B></div> <div> Acupuncture is a popular treatment to help quit smoking. Acupuncture appears to influence dopamine activity in the nucleus accumbens. The needles used are usually hair-thin, and they are inserted into various points in the ear where they remain for about 20 minutes. For help in between sessions, many acupuncturists provide tiny balls (the size of the tip of a ball point pen), that are taped with invisible tape to the ear. When there is a craving for cigarettes, the smoker presses gently on the ball, which stimulates the acupuncture point. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Make Sure You Don't Have Iron Deficiency Anemia</B></div> <div> An enzyme that makes dopamine relies on iron, so iron deficiency can shift the balance in the dopamine system. Iron deficiency anemia is common in women before menopause. </div> <div> Sponsored Links</div> <div> Common symptoms are low energy, weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, and fainting. People shouldn't take excess iron supplements unless they've been diagnosed with anemia however, because excess iron promotes cell injury, called free radical damage. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Strategies for Defusing Common Traps</B></div> <div> <I>Trap #1)</I> Out of Control Cravings: For example, <I>â€œI still have some cigarettes in my purse that are calling my name."</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Strategy:</I> Dopamine cravings are so powerful they drive people to smoke, drink, do drugs, gamble, overeatâ€”even when they're trying their hardest to resist. </div> <bR> <div> The first step is to clean out your drawers and your purse, so there are no cigarettes lying around. Schedule another dopamine-stimulating activity, like a daily workout, during vulnerable times and situations when cravings tend to occur.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Trap #2)</I> Group Pressure: For example, <I>â€œCome on out and have a smoke with us!â€</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Strategy:</I> You would think that if you wanted to quit smoking the people around you would be supportive, right? And yet it is a very real situation that when someone wants to quit they are often met with resistance from people in their lives, especially their old smoking buddies. That's because your quitting smoking changes the way you interact with them. Maybe it means that you don't have your mid-morning smoke break together anymore. Be prepared, because it can be hard feeling separated from the group. </div> <bR> <div> So what do you do when someone says to you â€œCome on, keep me company. I feel silly going out for a smoke myself.â€ What do you say when people unwittingly pressure you to smoke? There are other ways to strengthen relationships and bond than smoking together. Try and think of new ways you can connect with them, such as making plans to have lunch together instead. </div> <bR> <div> One of the most important things that can help quit smoking is to find people who support your decision and know your pain. The <U>Smoking Cessation</U> site on About has a <U>community forum</U>, reader stories, a library of information, and more that can provide you with the support and help you need to resist. Good luck!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>References</B></div> <div> 1. Chae Y, Yang CH, Kwon YK, Kim MR, Pyun KH, Hahm DH, Lee HJ, Shim I. Acupuncture attenuates repeated nicotine-induced behavioral sensitization and c-Fos _expression in the nucleus accumbens and striatum of the rat. Neurosci Lett. 2004 Mar 25;358(2):87-90. </div> <bR> <div> 2. Kim SE, Shim I, Chung JK, Lee MC. Effect of Ginseng Saponins on Enhanced Dopaminergic Transmission and Locomotor Hyperactivity Induced by Nicotine. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2005 Oct 26. </div> <bR> <div> 3. Warner C, Shoaib M. How does bupropion work as a smoking cessation aid? Addict Biol. 2005 Sep 10(3):219-31. </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="58d90060.gif" border=0 width="400" height="262" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>A message from Edie & Cheryl about quitting smoking or any addictions:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You have to save yourself. You’re the only one who will care enough, and go through the effort to make the changes you need to make. Tell yourself that you’re going to do what it takes to get healthy.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Tell yourself "I’do not need to smoke to function now or I've eaten we enough now. I can cope with out smoking now or I am full and I don’t need so much food." Tell yourself. "I can shift my mood, I have taken enough hurt now, I'm done smoking or I'm full. I don't need so much pain."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Tell yourself "I have to get up and be positive and active today."</B></div> <div> <B>Commit to every moment of every day, not just the beginning. Commit to your new healthy lifestyle. Commit to saving you. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Copyright © EdieBritt.com / Wovenwoman.com</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Remember:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Smoking, like other addictions, has an anaesthetizing effect. It temporarily pushes away feelings. When smokers say, "Smoking helps me concentrate," or "Smoking helps me deal with stress," this is what they are talking about.</B></div> <div> <B>Seeking this escape really creates more problems than it solves. While lighting a cigarette may bring the illusion of short term relief, it really just ensures that the problem causing the unhappiness will not get dealt with.</B></div> <div> <B>My commitment to stopping smoking is also a commitment to be engaged with life.</B></div> <div> <I>Out of the Ashes</I></div> <div> Peter & Peggy Holmes</div> <div> ©1992</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><IMG SRC="5902cdd0.png" border=0 width="300" height="221" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>In Memory of Liddie Wilham:</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="58e5d730.jpg" border=0 width="93" height="115" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> August 15, 1941 - August 29, 2007</div> <bR> <div> <B>Entered Eternal  Rest on August 29, 2007</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Liddie was a good friend of Freedom Village and </B></div> <div> <B>touched all of us deeply with her warm heart!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>We lost a good friend to COPD caused from Smoking</B></div> <div> <B>and I recall Liddie saying one day:  Her advice was stop smoking!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Rest In Peace and thanks for being our angel!</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/id159.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/bubbajamesfl/i"><B><Click here to read more about Liddie's Journey></B></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  <script type="text/javascript" src="http://ss.webring.com/navbar?f=j;y=chezd313;u=defurl"></script> <noscript><center><table bgcolor=gray cellspacing=0 border=2 bordercolor=red> <tr><td><table cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr><td align=center> <font face=arial size=-1>This site is a member of WebRing. To browse visit <a href="http://ss.webring.com/navbar?f=l;y=chezd313;u=defurl"> here</a>.</font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></center></noscript>  </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>  <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://pub8.bravenet.com/counter/code.php?id=388042&usernum=605424809&cpv=2"></script>   </B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>My Multi-Millie Reiki Hands/Cheryldickinson.com</B></I></div> <div> Copyright © 2004-2008,  by Cheryl Dickinson.  All rights reserved.</div> <bR> <div> No portion of this website can be copied without permission.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>