KillTheCan.org Accountability Forum
Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: chewie on December 31, 2023, 09:17:43 AM
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Happy New Year Quitters! Welcome to 2024!
If you’ve made a New Year’s Resolution to quit dipping know that you’re NOT alone! KillTheCan.org will provide you with the resources, support and answers that you need to get and stay quit. Accountability is KEY.
Quitting is NOT easy… but it’s simple. Let us show you the way.
Here’s to a new DIP FREE year! Cheers!
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Happy New Year quitters! Welcome to 2024!!!
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New Year – New Quitters – Kill The Can Podcast Episode 23
https://www.killthecan.org/new-year-new-quitters-ktc-podcast-episode-23/
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Celebrate Your Milestones – Kill The Can Podcast Episode 24
https://www.killthecan.org/celebrate-your-milestones-episode-24/
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Quit Quotes
https://www.killthecan.org/quit-quotes/
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Three Weeks In… Struggling With Stress – Kill The Can Podcast Episode 25
https://www.killthecan.org/struggling-with-stress-episode-25/
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First Quitter Meet of 2024 – Hydro and Cbird!
https://www.killthecan.org/first-quitter-meet-of-2024-hydro-and-cbird/
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Well, pretty shitty ending to 2023 and a shitty start to 24. My Father In Law passed away the day before Xmas and Xmas night a lady that I have been calling mama for closer to 30 years passed away. Shortly prior to that, my cousin felt life wasn't worth it no more and went out on her own terms.
Ring in 2024 for me with a trip to another oncologist! Good times for all eh?
Looking back, Years ago I would have had a big ass stoagie in one hand, maybe a cigarette in the other and a big old fat ass lipper on stand by. I gave up all the smoking and stuck with the lippers of dippers and kept my lips packed all damn day. Situations like this called for big fat lips, double shots all around and chased them shots with multiple beers. I will say this much though, a bunch of people have came and went here and called many of folks a fucking asshole on the way out the door for the tough love when it came to holding each other accountable and helping each other stay quit. I did split once and came back and never left ever again. I took my lumps and there were many. Today, thanks to them assholes that I no longer consider to be assholes but BIQ (Brothers In Quit) I can deal with these situations as they arise without the need to pack my lips full of cat shit ... err uhh dip or load big ass plugs of leaf in my mouth. As well, I don't need cigarettes or stoagies either. And through it all I have had but a few beers and a shot or 2 of some good old fashioned Moon .. Uhhh we will call it Creek ;-)
Everyone from the Eternal QUitters to the Old timers to the Newbies and especially my Decembros in Dec 15. You assholes are all a bunch of awesome M'Fers!!! I quit with you all EDD! 3046
I look forward to many more 24 hours of quit together the KTC way!
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@DjPorkchop (https://ktcforum.org/index.php?action=profile;u=933) - sorry 23 went out like a fart in church... here's hoping 24 is far better. Honored to be quit with you!
Chewie
Well, pretty shitty ending to 2023 and a shitty start to 24. My Father In Law passed away the day before Xmas and Xmas night a lady that I have been calling mama for closer to 30 years passed away. Shortly prior to that, my cousin felt life wasn't worth it no more and went out on her own terms.
Ring in 2024 for me with a trip to another oncologist! Good times for all eh?
Looking back, Years ago I would have had a big ass stoagie in one hand, maybe a cigarette in the other and a big old fat ass lipper on stand by. I gave up all the smoking and stuck with the lippers of dippers and kept my lips packed all damn day. Situations like this called for big fat lips, double shots all around and chased them shots with multiple beers. I will say this much though, a bunch of people have came and went here and called many of folks a fucking asshole on the way out the door for the tough love when it came to holding each other accountable and helping each other stay quit. I did split once and came back and never left ever again. I took my lumps and there were many. Today, thanks to them assholes that I no longer consider to be assholes but BIQ (Brothers In Quit) I can deal with these situations as they arise without the need to pack my lips full of cat shit ... err uhh dip or load big ass plugs of leaf in my mouth. As well, I don't need cigarettes or stoagies either. And through it all I have had but a few beers and a shot or 2 of some good old fashioned Moon .. Uhhh we will call it Creek ;-)
Everyone from the Eternal QUitters to the Old timers to the Newbies and especially my Decembros in Dec 15. You assholes are all a bunch of awesome M'Fers!!! I quit with you all EDD! 3046
I look forward to many more 24 hours of quit together the KTC way!
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FranPro… Rest In Peace – The Kill The Can Podcast Episode 26
https://www.killthecan.org/franpro-rest-in-peace-podcast-episode-26/
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Forgive the intrusion if if I am in the wrong place for posting this please. I am back but not for the usual reason, I have not caved. I have been completely nic free for 2716 days now pop/soda free for 365 days, and energy drink free 780 days. I am just writing to say thanks to the caretakers and fellow quitters that have helped along the way.
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Forgive the intrusion if if I am in the wrong place for posting this please. I am back but not for the usual reason, I have not caved. I have been completely nic free for 2716 days now pop/soda free for 365 days, and energy drink free 780 days. I am just writing to say thanks to the caretakers and fellow quitters that have helped along the way.
Boom! Thanks for stopping by and congrats on 2,700+ days of freedom @R3bauer (https://ktcforum.org/index.php?action=profile;u=59) !!!
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Change the Way You Look at Things
https://www.killthecan.org/change-the-way-you-look-at-things/ via @BrianBrianBrian (https://ktcforum.org/index.php?action=profile;u=20674)
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pktmkm700 and Bill – Working Their Quit at Work
https://www.killthecan.org/pktmkm700-and-bill-working-their-quit-at-work/ @PKTmkm700 (https://ktcforum.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1253)
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Catching Up With Old Friends – The Kill The Can Podcast Episode 27
https://www.killthecan.org/catching-up-with-old-friends-the-kill-the-can-podcast-episode-27/
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https://www.lung.org/research/sotc The 22nd annual American Lung Association “State of Tobacco Control” report evaluates states and the federal government on the proven-effective tobacco control laws and policies necessary to save lives. The report serves as a blueprint for what state and federal leaders need to do to eliminate the death and disease caused by tobacco use. In the report, the Lung Association assigns letter grades, A through F, to the state and federal policies best proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use.
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Podcasting About Podcasting With Duathman – The Kill The Can Podcast Episode 28
https://www.killthecan.org/podcasting-about-podcasting-with-duathman/ @duathman (https://ktcforum.org/index.php?action=profile;u=781)
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Ayotkc, Bfo, and Steven.f
https://www.killthecan.org/ayotkc-bfo-and-steven-f/ @bfo (https://ktcforum.org/index.php?action=profile;u=27596)
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Cmark – Grateful In Monterey
https://www.killthecan.org/cmark-grateful-in-monterey/ @cmark (https://ktcforum.org/index.php?action=profile;u=878)
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How Long Will Symptoms Last – The Kill The Can Podcast Episode 29
https://www.killthecan.org/how-long-will-symptoms-last-podcast-episode-29/
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TeaZa Creamsicle Chill Pouches Review
https://www.killthecan.org/teaza-creamsicle-chill-pouches-review/
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Black Buffalo Wintergreen Pouches Review
https://www.killthecan.org/black-buffalo-wintergreen-pouches-review/
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Black Buffalo Wintergreen Pouches Review
https://www.killthecan.org/black-buffalo-wintergreen-pouches-review/
Rarely use fake anymore (if fact it's been years) but based on your review, I may have to give these a try, maybe during summer softball season.
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Black Buffalo Wintergreen Pouches Review
https://www.killthecan.org/black-buffalo-wintergreen-pouches-review/
Rarely use fake anymore (if fact it's been years) but based on your review, I may have to give these a try, maybe during summer softball season.
Nice - if/when you do let me know your thoughts!
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Chewie Visits Health Transformation With Travis – The Kill The Can Podcast Episode 31
https://www.killthecan.org/health-transformation-with-travis-episode-31/ @duathman (https://ktcforum.org/index.php?action=profile;u=781)
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Big Tobacco’s Alleged Targeting of Children With ZYN
https://www.killthecan.org/big-tobaccos-targeting-of-children-with-zyn/
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Big Tobacco’s Alleged Targeting of Children With ZYN
https://www.killthecan.org/big-tobaccos-targeting-of-children-with-zyn/
:angrymob:
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Vapers and Zyn Users Too? – The Kill The Can Podcast Episode 32
https://www.killthecan.org/vapers-and-zyn-users-too-podcast-episode-32/
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All In Insanity – The Kill The Can Podcast Episode 33
https://www.killthecan.org/all-in-insanity-podcast-episode-33/
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Feet On The Floor – Chewie at The MAC Tournament
https://www.killthecan.org/feet-on-the-floor-chewie-at-the-mac-tournament/
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Quit Perspectives With Kramer – The Kill The Can Podcast Episode 34
https://www.killthecan.org/quit-perspectives-with-kramer-episode-34/ @kramer (https://ktcforum.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1082)
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jefferysavage and Sandman0176 – OKC Thunder Game
https://www.killthecan.org/jefferysavage-and-sandman0176-okc-thunder-game/ @jefferysavage (https://ktcforum.org/index.php?action=profile;u=21676)
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Chewie on Mount Snow, Vermont
https://www.killthecan.org/chewie-on-mount-snow-vermont/
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When To Leave KTC? – The Kill The Can Podcast Episode 35
https://www.killthecan.org/when-to-leave-ktc-podcast-episode-35/
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Finish the Story and Start Again – The Kill The Can Podcast Episode 36
https://www.killthecan.org/finish-the-story-and-start-again-episode-36/
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Hello All -
I am an "old timers" from the days of quitsmokeless.org, a website started by Matt Van Wyk around the turn of the century. Since that website is no longer functioning, I thought I would come here and just provide some perspective for you, wherever you may be on your quit journey.
By way of background, I was an everyday, all-the-time smokeless tobacco user for approximately 20 years, from early high school through 35 years old. I quit using tobacco on November 3, 2001. I was a "heavy user" of the forum at the time, which was little more than a "bulletin board" style chat forum, probably to a fault, but it was critical to my success in the battle with tobacco addiction. Three things brought me back today.
I thought about QS.org because I had to use the "Count Days Between Dates" website for another purpose (to figure out a deadline) and, just for the heck of it, ran my old quit date through the calculator. Today is Day 8,200. I have not thought about smokeless tobacco is so long that the number blew me away. I still remember how hard it felt, in the moment, to get to Day 4, and Day 30, and so on ... and I just casually strolled up upon Day 8,200 without any awareness or thought of tobacco whatsoever. I often forget that I even used tobacco at all. This is what I mean by perspective. At the beginning of this battle, you scratch and claw and fight to get from one moment in time, to just another moment in time, with your commitment intact. It feels like a Herculean Task, and our mind is often on the "wrong side," trying to convince us to give in, give up, stop suffering, etc., trying to make you believe you will have to fight this addiction like this for the rest of your life ....
And it's just nonsense. It is the addicted mind, the addiction itself, fighting for its own existence. It is the core lie of addiction. While it is true, in the early stages, hours must become days, days must become weeks, and so on, just think how ridiculous, absurd, and pathetic the lie is. Let's say that I actively suffered with tobacco addiction withdraw (mental and physical) for 100 days ... the reality is that some days sucked (whiny, complaining, feeling sorry for myself), some days were awesome (proud of myself, feeling powerful), and some days were in between, but let's just assume that the first 100 days sucked. THAT WAS MORE THAN 22 FUCKING YEARS AGO. I reclaimed my entire life and truly enjoyed the next 8,100 days, because I was willing to suffer and sacrifice 100 days of my life for these long-term benefits. It is an absurd return on investment. If you gave me the choice to invest in Apple on Day 1 or quit smokeless tobacco on Day 1, I would always choose the latter ... money does not mean anything to dead people.
Second, I attended a high school reunion recently, and I was just floored to find out that many of my high school friends still chew, including some who did not originally chew tobacco in high school. They were shocked to learn that I quit chewing tobacco more than 20 years ago, and I was shocked to discover that they were mid-50 year old men, still sticking a wad of chemically-treated, cancer-causing weed in their mouth and spitting into empty beer bottle. In my head, I was like "you're still chewing tobacco, what in the actual fuck???" ... but then it occurred to me again. My perspective. I cannot even imagine what my life would look like, what I would think and feel about myself, what kind of health concerns I would have, if I had not made the decision on November 3, 2001 to just suffer through the quit withdrawal for a few months of time.
Which leads me to my third and perhaps most important point and piece of perspective. If I had caved, if I had kept chewing in 2001, if I had found some excuse or rationalization to buy another tin, my life would have been completely different. I changed the trajectory of my life. My success in the battle with tobacco addiction is what (in my head) I call and refer to as a "Proof of Concept" ... I proved to myself that, with a genuine personal commitment, with resilience and perseverance and patience, and with the support from family, friends, and colleagues, I can do fucking anything. Anything. I possess the power of Self-Determination, meaning I decide who I am, what I am, what I do, what success (and failure) I realized and achieve, and every other facet of my life, through volitional choice. Since quitting tobacco, I have achieved virtually every life goal that I set for myself ... and I continue to do so, knowing that achievement is on the other side of a genuine personal commitment, a little resilience and perseverance and patience, and the love and support of my family, friends, and colleagues.
So if you are reading this, and you are considering whether you are ready to quit, or really need to quit, or whether you can put it off until next week, next month, next year, fill-in-the-blank-quit-deadline, here is the stone cold truth ... you are not merely wasting time, you are not only jeopardizing your long-term health and well-being (and that of your family and people you love), but you are denying yourself of the opportunity to achieve your First Great Accomplishment, your own Proof of Concept. This is the testing ground for the kind of person you are now, and what kind of person you will become. Your decision and success will resonate and reverberate through the years and decades of your life. I think of that moment in Back to the Future, when George McFly changes his life, and the life of his entire family, by one courageous decision (in his case, standing up to the bully). This is the moment when you can change your own life, and perhaps the lives of your family (and perhaps countless other people), by standing up to your own "bully" of addiction. In support of my perspective, I present to you 8,100 Days, as my Proof of Concept, against the 100-Day challenge that stands before you.
If any old-timers still check in, including Matt Van Wyk, I again say thank you. I still think of our success together as the springboard for broad scale success in my life. The "Bleus kids" are now adults and moved out, still happily-married to the same gorgeous woman (approaching 34 years), still practicing law and enjoying it, still running and cycling, still playing guitar and listening to great music, old and new (latest recommendations are Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweat (go see them live) and Will Evans (latest album, love the song "Breathe") ... so life is good.
Take care all and good luck,
The Bluesman
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Good to see you @Bluesman (https://ktcforum.org/index.php?action=profile;u=33211) and thanks for stopping by to drop this nugget of wisdom. AMAZING accomplishment with more than 22 YEARS of freedom. MASSIVE!
Thanks for leading the way and showing others it can be done all these years later!
Chewie
Hello All -
I am an "old timers" from the days of quitsmokeless.org, a website started by Matt Van Wyk around the turn of the century. Since that website is no longer functioning, I thought I would come here and just provide some perspective for you, wherever you may be on your quit journey.
By way of background, I was an everyday, all-the-time smokeless tobacco user for approximately 20 years, from early high school through 35 years old. I quit using tobacco on November 3, 2001. I was a "heavy user" of the forum at the time, which was little more than a "bulletin board" style chat forum, probably to a fault, but it was critical to my success in the battle with tobacco addiction. Three things brought me back today.
I thought about QS.org because I had to use the "Count Days Between Dates" website for another purpose (to figure out a deadline) and, just for the heck of it, ran my old quit date through the calculator. Today is Day 8,200. I have not thought about smokeless tobacco is so long that the number blew me away. I still remember how hard it felt, in the moment, to get to Day 4, and Day 30, and so on ... and I just casually strolled up upon Day 8,200 without any awareness or thought of tobacco whatsoever. I often forget that I even used tobacco at all. This is what I mean by perspective. At the beginning of this battle, you scratch and claw and fight to get from one moment in time, to just another moment in time, with your commitment intact. It feels like a Herculean Task, and our mind is often on the "wrong side," trying to convince us to give in, give up, stop suffering, etc., trying to make you believe you will have to fight this addiction like this for the rest of your life ....
And it's just nonsense. It is the addicted mind, the addiction itself, fighting for its own existence. It is the core lie of addiction. While it is true, in the early stages, hours must become days, days must become weeks, and so on, just think how ridiculous, absurd, and pathetic the lie is. Let's say that I actively suffered with tobacco addiction withdraw (mental and physical) for 100 days ... the reality is that some days sucked (whiny, complaining, feeling sorry for myself), some days were awesome (proud of myself, feeling powerful), and some days were in between, but let's just assume that the first 100 days sucked. THAT WAS MORE THAN 22 FUCKING YEARS AGO. I reclaimed my entire life and truly enjoyed the next 8,100 days, because I was willing to suffer and sacrifice 100 days of my life for these long-term benefits. It is an absurd return on investment. If you gave me the choice to invest in Apple on Day 1 or quit smokeless tobacco on Day 1, I would always choose the latter ... money does not mean anything to dead people.
Second, I attended a high school reunion recently, and I was just floored to find out that many of my high school friends still chew, including some who did not originally chew tobacco in high school. They were shocked to learn that I quit chewing tobacco more than 20 years ago, and I was shocked to discover that they were mid-50 year old men, still sticking a wad of chemically-treated, cancer-causing weed in their mouth and spitting into empty beer bottle. In my head, I was like "you're still chewing tobacco, what in the actual fuck???" ... but then it occurred to me again. My perspective. I cannot even imagine what my life would look like, what I would think and feel about myself, what kind of health concerns I would have, if I had not made the decision on November 3, 2001 to just suffer through the quit withdrawal for a few months of time.
Which leads me to my third and perhaps most important point and piece of perspective. If I had caved, if I had kept chewing in 2001, if I had found some excuse or rationalization to buy another tin, my life would have been completely different. I changed the trajectory of my life. My success in the battle with tobacco addiction is what (in my head) I call and refer to as a "Proof of Concept" ... I proved to myself that, with a genuine personal commitment, with resilience and perseverance and patience, and with the support from family, friends, and colleagues, I can do fucking anything. Anything. I possess the power of Self-Determination, meaning I decide who I am, what I am, what I do, what success (and failure) I realized and achieve, and every other facet of my life, through volitional choice. Since quitting tobacco, I have achieved virtually every life goal that I set for myself ... and I continue to do so, knowing that achievement is on the other side of a genuine personal commitment, a little resilience and perseverance and patience, and the love and support of my family, friends, and colleagues.
So if you are reading this, and you are considering whether you are ready to quit, or really need to quit, or whether you can put it off until next week, next month, next year, fill-in-the-blank-quit-deadline, here is the stone cold truth ... you are not merely wasting time, you are not only jeopardizing your long-term health and well-being (and that of your family and people you love), but you are denying yourself of the opportunity to achieve your First Great Accomplishment, your own Proof of Concept. This is the testing ground for the kind of person you are now, and what kind of person you will become. Your decision and success will resonate and reverberate through the years and decades of your life. I think of that moment in Back to the Future, when George McFly changes his life, and the life of his entire family, by one courageous decision (in his case, standing up to the bully). This is the moment when you can change your own life, and perhaps the lives of your family (and perhaps countless other people), by standing up to your own "bully" of addiction. In support of my perspective, I present to you 8,100 Days, as my Proof of Concept, against the 100-Day challenge that stands before you.
If any old-timers still check in, including Matt Van Wyk, I again say thank you. I still think of our success together as the springboard for broad scale success in my life. The "Bleus kids" are now adults and moved out, still happily-married to the same gorgeous woman (approaching 34 years), still practicing law and enjoying it, still running and cycling, still playing guitar and listening to great music, old and new (latest recommendations are Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweat (go see them live) and Will Evans (latest album, love the song "Breathe") ... so life is good.
Take care all and good luck,
The Bluesman
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Thanks Chewie -
And thanks for "keeping the lights on" here. I know that it takes your time, effort, and money to keep doing this, and it is an awesome, selfless undertaking.
I just donated to KillTheCan.org and encourage/challenge other quit smokeless.org alumni to do likewise.
Bluesman
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@Bluesman (https://ktcforum.org/index.php?action=profile;u=33211) - You're too kind sir... thank you.
Would you be OK if I shared your post below on the main site as a 'words of wisdom' from a long time quitter?
No pressure either way, but it's super inspiring IMO to see it can be done!
Thanks Chewie -
And thanks for "keeping the lights on" here. I know that it takes your time, effort, and money to keep doing this, and it is an awesome, selfless undertaking.
I just donated to KillTheCan.org and encourage/challenge other quit smokeless.org alumni to do likewise.
Bluesman
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Weight Gain When Quitting Dip – The Kill The Can Podcast Episode 37
https://www.killthecan.org/weight-gain-when-quitting-dip-episode-37/
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Cold Turkey, NRT or Fake Dip? – The Kill The Can Podcast Episode 38
https://www.killthecan.org/cold-turkey-nrt-or-fake-dip-episode-38/
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You and I Will Never Be Fully Free
https://www.killthecan.org/you-and-i-will-never-be-fully-free/
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Canker Sores – Kill The Can Podcast Episode 39
https://www.killthecan.org/canker-sores-kill-the-can-podcast-episode-39/