KillTheCan.org Accountability Forum

Community => Introductions => Topic started by: steffano626 on April 24, 2014, 08:29:00 PM

Title: set me straight
Post by: steffano626 on April 24, 2014, 08:29:00 PM
I was not planning on quitting when I stopped chewing 4 days ago. But something inside got me to search for this site. It may mean that I am ready for this time to be THE time.

I started chewing at age 20, but didn't become addicted until almost 30 years later. I've now been an addict for almost 5 years. I've chewed 2-3 cans per week with intermittent stoppages of 1-14 days. Those stoppages have given me an education in the physical withdrawal from nicotine.

Why haven't I committed to quitting until now? I liked it too much--that rush/buzz when you have your first dip after a long stoppage... Honestly, that's one of the best feelings I've ever had. But I get that maybe 1 out of every 1000 chews and then only after going through painful physical withdrawal and powerful psychological cravings.

I've pretty much ignored the cancer risk, which is kinda ironic since I deal with cancer every day in my work (I'm a pathologist). I guess I rationalize that I have the addiction under control and that will make me safe.

That's plenty to start off. Thank you to you quitters for educating me on some of the tricks this addiction is playing on my brain to keep me hooked. Thanks to my fellow July pre-HOF'ers for being partners in my final quit. I commit to quitting nicotine today with my brothers and sisters here!
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: starr_78 on April 24, 2014, 09:22:00 PM
Quote from: steffano626
I was not planning on quitting when I stopped chewing 4 days ago. But something inside got me to search for this site. It may mean that I am ready for this time to be THE time.

I started chewing at age 20, but didn't become addicted until almost 30 years later. I've now been an addict for almost 5 years. I've chewed 2-3 cans per week with intermittent stoppages of 1-14 days. Those stoppages have given me an education in the physical withdrawal from nicotine.

Why haven't I committed to quitting until now? I liked it too much--that rush/buzz when you have your first dip after a long stoppage... Honestly, that's one of the best feelings I've ever had. But I get that maybe 1 out of every 1000 chews and then only after going through painful physical withdrawal and powerful psychological cravings.

I've pretty much ignored the cancer risk, which is kinda ironic since I deal with cancer every day in my work (I'm a pathologist). I guess I rationalize that I have the addiction under control and that will make me safe.

That's plenty to start off. Thank you to you quitters for educating me on some of the tricks this addiction is playing on my brain to keep me hooked. Thanks to my fellow July HOF'ers for being partners in my final quit. I commit to quitting nicotine today with my brothers and sisters here!
I really like your intro and believe you understand the addiction part of nicotine. Read the welcome portion of this site. Find out how to post roll and understand the importance of roll. Those are the building blocks of this site. Also try and understand why have you only stopped in the past and think, what can I do differently this time? Stick with KTC and you will not regret it.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: steffano626 on April 24, 2014, 09:43:00 PM
Thanks, starr. I'm coming to understand how posting roll is the key to this time being different. My problem up til now has been my unwillingness to face down my biggest trigger--playing poker. I did not want to give up chewing and poker. Pretty much all of my caves have been due to that one trigger.

I'm using the fake stuff for the first time and I think having that crutch will help me get through the next 3 days: my poker league tomorrow night, a home game Saturday, and the annual league tournament Sunday. Fake chew plus posting roll everyday!
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: pbrain04 on April 24, 2014, 11:02:00 PM
Quote from: steffano626
Thanks, starr. I'm coming to understand how posting roll is the key to this time being different. My problem up til now has been my unwillingness to face down my biggest trigger--playing poker. I did not want to give up chewing and poker. Pretty much all of my caves have been due to that one trigger.

I'm using the fake stuff for the first time and I think having that crutch will help me get through the next 3 days: my poker league tomorrow night, a home game Saturday, and the annual league tournament Sunday. Fake chew plus posting roll everyday!
We will quit with you everyday. Post roll early and make your promise.

You are in the right place. Welcome to freedom

Pb
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Thumblewort on April 25, 2014, 08:30:00 AM
Ha, poker strikes again. I was on a stoppage last September, bought a can for poker night, for just that night of course, and was a slave for another 7 months.

I am now a KTC member, so when I do finally play my first monthly game since being quit I will be armed with knowledge. Read these boards, post roll, and quit each day.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: jayd41 on April 25, 2014, 08:54:00 AM
I have a question....how did you dip for 30 years and know you weren't addicted until the last 5? I'm a little confused by that statement and just want to clarify
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: srans on April 25, 2014, 08:54:00 AM
Welcome; I'm going to be the a-hole in the bunch. If you want this quit to be the one it's time to begin getting the mind right.
Quote
It may mean that I am ready for this time to be THE time.
Get rid of may in this ^^^^^ sentence. This post indicates failure before the day is out.
Quote
I liked it too much--that rush/buzz when you have your first dip after a long stoppage... Honestly, that's one of the best feelings I've ever had. But I get that maybe 1 out of every 1000 chews and then only after going through painful physical withdrawal and powerful psychological cravings.


So let me get this straight. You like going through withdrawal only to start again for the buzz it brings!?!? If I was you I would read this statement again and again until you see what everyone else will see. This ^^^^ kind of thinking has to change. Let me fill you in on what you was really enjoying after a long stoppage.

You were getting the rush/buzz of death and failure. Right now you love the poison more than anything, including yourself, family and life itself. Think about how sad that is. You are believing lies my friend.

I could go through your intro and point out some more addict speak but I won't. Begin reading everything you can on nicotine/addiction. Time to start learning about this enemy. There is a lot of information on this site. Start replacing the lies with truths and you got a chance. Right now i wouldn't bet a nickle on it.

Read welcome center. Learn how and why we post roll. I've been proven wrong many times? Am I wrong about you? Roll would be a good start. How bad do you really want this?
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: steffano626 on April 25, 2014, 10:24:00 AM
srans, there is a reason for the title of my intro post...I figured someone would point out my addict speak.

jayd41, the reason i've only been addicted for the last 5 of the 35 i've chewed is because i was a very intermittant chewer for the first 30. I honestly didn't even notice withdrawal symptoms until these past 5 years.

I'm not going to be defensive, I'm just taking this all one day at a time. I'm quit today.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: srans on April 25, 2014, 10:40:00 AM
Quote from: steffano626
srans, there is a reason for the title of my intro post...I figured someone would point out my addict speak.

jayd41, the reason i've only been addicted for the last 5 of the 35 i've chewed is because i was a very intermittant chewer for the first 30. I honestly didn't even notice withdrawal symptoms until these past 5 years.

I'm not going to be defensive, I'm just taking this all one day at a time. I'm quit today.
I'll boost that bet up to 10 cents if i see that roll post. Let's see what u got! Stay a while, make some friends. Life is to precious to be lead around by a can.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: jayd41 on April 25, 2014, 10:51:00 AM
Quote from: srans
Quote from: steffano626
srans, there is a reason for the title of my intro post...I figured someone would point out my addict speak.

jayd41, the reason i've only been addicted for the last 5 of the 35 i've chewed is because i was a very intermittant chewer for the first 30. I honestly didn't even notice withdrawal symptoms until these past 5 years.

I'm not going to be defensive, I'm just taking this all one day at a time. I'm quit today.
I'll boost that bet up to 10 cents if i see that roll post. Let's see what u got! Stay a while, make some friends. Life is to precious to be lead around by a can.
well i'm not going to get into a pissing match with you about the length of time you've been addicted...as long as you know that you are. You need to know though that addiction is not something that can be "cured"...it will never go away. The good thing is though...if you don't feed your addiction, it won't kill you. If you do it most likely will. Post roll...quit for today. Worry about tomorrow when it gets here.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: jtbrown on April 25, 2014, 05:48:00 PM
Whatever brought you here, I hope it keeps you here. I haven't been here long at all (5 days), but I already like the accountability aspect of quitting here. If you don't post roll, you get questioned. Like a football coach in your ear when you miss a block. Except this block can kill you. You get my drift. I quit with you today!
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: srans on April 26, 2014, 09:00:00 AM
You going to post roll today with us? You going to join our little group with accountability. It works, try it.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Ginet on April 26, 2014, 12:00:00 PM
Quote from: srans
You going to post roll today with us? You going to join our little group with accountability. It works, try it.
Why fear poker night? Take nicotine off the table, out of the equation. It only has power if you allow it to. You USED TO dip and play poker. You DON'T anymore. You WON'T. There's no other option.

Are you a river rider? :)

Lady G
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Grady on April 26, 2014, 12:10:00 PM
Yo stef are you still quit? You haven't been on since yesterday. Come on man this ain't about posting roll when it's a convenient for you. Make your promise, stick to it and look the monster in the eye and say fuck you!
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: srans on April 26, 2014, 01:21:00 PM
Quote from: Grady
Yo stef are you still quit? You haven't been on since yesterday. Come on man this ain't about posting roll when it's a convenient for you. Make your promise, stick to it and look the monster in the eye and say fuck you!
He came and went a little while ago like a peeping tom. I'm wondering if this guy is even quit or not?
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: steffano626 on April 26, 2014, 01:36:00 PM
Man, this is a rough bunch! I made it through the first poker night with the help of Smokey Mountain. Got another couple cans to get me through tonight's game and tomorrow's tournament. I even won a few dollars last night!
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: MonsterMedic on April 26, 2014, 01:52:00 PM
Nice! Whatever works!
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: srans on April 26, 2014, 02:18:00 PM
Quote from: MonsterEMT
Nice! Whatever works!
Smoky mountain does work, but it's nothing in comparison to positing roll. Making a promise to yourself and everyone else on this planet that for today you will not use.

What says you? Will you take that stand, or are you leaving the door open. Right now i still wouldn't bet one nickle on your quit.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: steffano626 on April 26, 2014, 02:36:00 PM
OK, srans...I think I'm getting it. Guess I'm a little slow. I'll let you decide when you want to bet your nickel on my quit.

I realize that this "one day at a time" approach without clearly committing to QUITTING for good looks pretty wishy-washy. I am also getting an idea just how big a promise to my brothers and sisters posting roll is. And how big an insult a cave would be.

So here are the words--I am quit today FOR GOOD. I will not cave to nicotine today, tomorrow, or the next day. Nicotine is NOT my friend...my fellow quitters are my friends. Thank you for your support!

I resolve to be worthy of the company on this site. May my promise be worth at least a nickel to srans!
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: srans on April 26, 2014, 02:47:00 PM
Quote from: steffano626
OK, srans...I think I'm getting it. Guess I'm a little slow. I'll let you decide when you want to bet your nickel on my quit.

I realize that this "one day at a time" approach without clearly committing to QUITTING for good looks pretty wishy-washy. I am also getting an idea just how big a promise to my brothers and sisters posting roll is. And how big an insult a cave would be.

So here are the words--I am quit today FOR GOOD. I will not cave to nicotine today, tomorrow, or the next day. Nicotine is NOT my friend...my fellow quitters are my friends. Thank you for your support!

I resolve to be worthy of the company on this site. May my promise be worth at least a nickel to srans!
Seen your promise. Great job. Check out the roll, i fixed you're post where it needed to be. Get it right tomorrow and I might just have to take it up to a dime.
Lol.

This site works my friend. Jump all the way in and immerse yourself. You want quit, that's what we do. Qlf!

You need anything let me know. Just click on anyone name and look for pm. Send anyone a message that way. Again, welcome.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: srans on April 26, 2014, 03:43:00 PM
Quote from: srans
Quote from: steffano626
OK, srans...I think I'm getting it. Guess I'm a little slow. I'll let you decide when you want to bet your nickel on my quit.

I realize that this "one day at a time" approach without clearly committing to QUITTING for good looks pretty wishy-washy. I am also getting an idea just how big a promise to my brothers and sisters posting roll is. And how big an insult a cave would be.

So here are the words--I am quit today FOR GOOD. I will not cave to nicotine today, tomorrow, or the next day. Nicotine is NOT my friend...my fellow quitters are my friends. Thank you for your support!

I resolve to be worthy of the company on this site. May my promise be worth at least a nickel to srans!
Seen your promise. Great job. Check out the roll, i fixed you're post where it needed to be. Get it right tomorrow and I might just have to take it up to a dime.
Lol.

This site works my friend. Jump all the way in and immerse yourself. You want quit, that's what we do. Qlf!

You need anything let me know. Just click on anyone name and look for pm. Send anyone a message that way. Again, welcome.
I guess i should have checked the right group earlier and i might have seen steffano posted up. 'bang head' . My bad bro. I'll gladly throw that nickel in.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: steffano626 on April 26, 2014, 03:49:00 PM
Thanks, srans! I will prove worthy. I am learning to hate fucking nicotine.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Derk40 on April 26, 2014, 10:03:00 PM
Quote from: steffano626
Thanks, srans! I will prove worthy. I learning to hate fucking nicotine.
Being worthy is simple... post roll EDD and keep your word. You can do it if I can.

I will throw a nickle in the pot as well.

Quit on bro.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Doc Chewfree on April 26, 2014, 11:50:00 PM
Quote from: derk40
Quote from: steffano626
Thanks, srans! I will prove worthy. I learning to hate fucking nicotine.
Being worthy is simple... post roll EDD and keep your word. You can do it if I can.

I will throw a nickle in the pot as well.

Quit on bro.
I will bump a quarter. Just post and roll!
Quit with you!
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: steffano626 on April 27, 2014, 04:01:00 AM
Thanks to all for the support! Got through another poker night with the help of Smokey Mountain...lost a few dollars this time. Fuck nicotine!
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: yemtig on April 27, 2014, 04:10:00 AM
You are doing great! Keep it up and stay Quit, that's all that matters to me and anyone else here... Whatever it takes in the beginning stages, k..

Post roll and conquer each day, one at a time, and the days will just roll by... The crowd here is tough.. And the will hold you to your quit...

Check your inbox, use my number if you ever need anything... You'll look back in a month and thank yourself for being a badass quitter...
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Derk40 on April 27, 2014, 07:34:00 AM
Quote from: steffano626
Thanks to all for the support! Got through another poker night with the help of Smokey Mountain...lost a few dollars this time. Fuck nicotine!
7 days quit! Well done. Keep it going today.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Steakbomb18 on April 27, 2014, 07:39:00 AM
Steffano, your attitude is right where it needs to be and your response to Srans was exactly what we want to see. A full on, head first dive into the quit. A earnest promise to not use nicotine for that day. I also see you getting involved on the board. Again, this is how you do it. Follow Yem's advice and his actions, there is no better quitter to follow. And lastly, I'll double down on your next bet, I like what I'm seeing.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: srans on April 27, 2014, 08:04:00 AM
Quote from: Steakbomb18
Steffano, your attitude is right where it needs to be and your response to Srans was exactly what we want to see. A full on, head first dive into the quit. A earnest promise to not use nicotine for that day. I also see you getting involved on the board. Again, this is how you do it. Follow Yem's advice and his actions, there is no better quitter to follow. And lastly, I'll double down on your next bet, I like what I'm seeing.
Yea,, I might need to reevaluate. I might be able to make some cold hard cash here. Might have to see a couple loan sharks. 'aqua' . Always wanted to use that one.

You keep doing what your doing my friend. Good things headed your way. Things can be tough on some days. Get in here when it does. Use them numbers that are being thrown at you.

Glad to be quit with you.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: steffano626 on May 29, 2014, 05:03:00 PM
It's hard to believe that over a month has gone by since my last post to my intro thread. 39 days of quit now--it feels awesome!

I continue to try to strengthen my quit by reading and posting here. My understanding of WHY KTC does things the way it does gets deeper and deeper.

For example, I noticed one of the quotes in Mule's signature: "I know I will never cave on a day that I have posted roll.....ever." Why is that such a powerful statement? Because it acknowledges what a big deal giving your word is. The only way I could ever cave on a day that I posted roll is to forget what posting roll actually means OR to admit that my word doesn't mean shit.

I don't like either reason. I so I join Mule in promising to you all, "I know I will never cave on a day that I have posted roll.....ever."
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: thewolfe on May 30, 2014, 02:28:00 AM
Quote from: steffano626
It's hard to believe that over a month has gone by since my last post to my intro thread. 39 days of quit now--it feels awesome!

I continue to try to strengthen my quit by reading and posting here. My understanding of WHY KTC does things the way it does gets deeper and deeper.

For example, I noticed one of the quotes in Mule's signature: "I know I will never cave on a day that I have posted roll.....ever." Why is that such a powerful statement? Because it acknowledges what a big deal giving your word is. The only way I could ever cave on a day that I posted roll is to forget what posting roll actually means OR to admit that my word doesn't mean shit.

I don't like either reason. I so I join Mule in promising to you all, "I know I will never cave on a day that I have posted roll.....ever."
You have a bad assed quit going on now Steffano. Proud to be in your quit group.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: steffano626 on June 05, 2014, 01:24:00 PM
It's been another 7 days (46 now) and I will be hitting half a HOF on Monday. As I pointed out in the beginning, I really didn't expect this quit to be any different than any other stoppage...I fully expected to continue my addiction, possibly until it killed me. Why? Well, honestly, I thought nicotine was one of the high points of my current life and that I would never want to give it up for good.

Something, perhaps a higher power, guided me to KTC and opened me up to the possibility that I could defeat the nic bitch. Two days into my stoppage, I decided to make this THE quit and walk the road to freedom with the July 14 pre-HOF quit group.

What a wonderful life this is turning out to be! Quitting nicotine alone is very, very hard, as most of you know. But when you find a site like this with dozens, even hundreds of other quitters, the difficult becomes possible.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: slinger on June 05, 2014, 01:36:00 PM
Quote from: steffano626
It's been another 7 days (46 now) and I will be hitting half a HOF on Monday. As I pointed out in the beginning, I really didn't expect this quit to be any different than any other stoppage...I fully expected to continue my addiction, possibly until it killed me. Why? Well, honestly, I thought nicotine was one of the high points of my current life and that I would never want to give it up for good.

Something, perhaps a higher power, guided me to KTC and opened me up to the possibility that I could defeat the nic bitch. Two days into my stoppage, I decided to make this THE quit and walk the road to freedom with the July 14 pre-HOF quit group.

What a wonderful life this is turning out to be! Quitting nicotine alone is very, very hard, as most of you know. But when you find a site like this with dozens, even hundreds of other quitters, the difficult becomes possible.
Great post. Keep doing what you're doing. You've got a real nice quit going. Congrats.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: SirDerek on June 05, 2014, 05:39:00 PM
Quote from: slinger
Quote from: steffano626
It's been another 7 days (46 now) and I will be hitting half a HOF on Monday. As I pointed out in the beginning, I really didn't expect this quit to be any different than any other stoppage...I fully expected to continue my addiction, possibly until it killed me. Why? Well, honestly, I thought nicotine was one of the high points of my current life and that I would never want to give it up for good.

Something, perhaps a higher power, guided me to KTC and opened me up to the possibility that I could defeat the nic bitch. Two days into my stoppage, I decided to make this THE quit and walk the road to freedom with the July 14 pre-HOF quit group.

What a wonderful life this is turning out to be! Quitting nicotine alone is very, very hard, as most of you know. But when you find a site like this with dozens, even hundreds of other quitters, the difficult becomes possible.
Great post. Keep doing what you're doing. You've got a real nice quit going. Congrats.
Anything is possible when you want it bad enough, when you put your mind to it and when you go all in 100% and honor the decision that you made back then and the one you make every day to yourself and to your new family here at KTC.

remember to keep your mind straight on this path and you will succeed with the Accountability and the Brotherhood.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: srans on June 05, 2014, 08:54:00 PM
Glad to see your hanging tough.
You have no idea what's around the corner.
Stick with the plan.
There is a lot of reasons this place works and your one of them.
Post roll, keep your word and eventually the new you is built with a solid foundation.
Glad to be quit with you.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: mule on June 05, 2014, 10:27:00 PM
Quote from: slinger
Quote from: steffano626
It's been another 7 days (46 now) and I will be hitting half a HOF on Monday. As I pointed out in the beginning, I really didn't expect this quit to be any different than any other stoppage...I fully expected to continue my addiction, possibly until it killed me. Why? Well, honestly, I thought nicotine was one of the high points of my current life and that I would never want to give it up for good.

Something, perhaps a higher power, guided me to KTC and opened me up to the possibility that I could defeat the nic bitch. Two days into my stoppage, I decided to make this THE quit and walk the road to freedom with the July 14 pre-HOF quit group.

What a wonderful life this is turning out to be! Quitting nicotine alone is very, very hard, as most of you know. But when you find a site like this with dozens, even hundreds of other quitters, the difficult becomes possible.
Great post. Keep doing what you're doing. You've got a real nice quit going. Congrats.
very nice quit you got going steff......

very well done bro
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Thumblewort on June 06, 2014, 08:25:00 AM
Steffano, damn proud to be in the July 2014 group with you, see you in the HoF and EDD in July roll brother!
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: B-loMatt on June 06, 2014, 10:24:00 AM
Hell of a quit going on here! Nice watching the 'light bulb' go on. PM me if you ever need anything.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: steffano626 on July 23, 2014, 11:39:00 AM
Singing fake dip's praises

It's my last week before my HOF and I'm appreciating my fake chew as much now as I did during my first week of quit. I wanted to share my thoughts. First of all, I realize the fake stuff is not for everyone. It does so closely mimic dipping that it scares some folks that it might lead to a cave. It also has sugar, which can't be wonderful to be sticking in your mouth.

But for someone with a strong oral fixation like me, it makes all the difference in the world. I actually think my oral fixation is a big part of why I got hooked on chew in the first place. Other than the buzz with that first dip, I can't say that nicotine did much for me. But chewing satisfied my oral fixation and saved me from constantly stuffing food and fattening drinks in my mouth. And it didn't bother my jaw like gum did.

Lastly, it is helping me now that I've decided to tackle my obesity. I was surprised and disappointed to learn how much more weight I had gained after quitting tobacco. Not that I wasn't already fat, but I had moved into a whole new level of obesity. Now that my dip craves have greatly decreased I can begin to address my food and drink craves. And fake chew helps me to do that.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Smeds on July 23, 2014, 11:48:00 AM
Right there with ya bud ... on all counts. I'm still embracing the Jerky Chew, and someday I'll lay it down for good as well. I looked at / tasted the other types of fake stuff, but it just looked too much like the real thing for me. Plus with Jerky chew, no spitting (not that it matters to me, I gutted Copenhagen for the last 10 years or so). The wife and I bought a couple of mountain bikes, and are starting to log some serious miles (for us anyway). Feels good to feel good. Thanks for sharing!

I grabbed a high-top in the bar car, and I'm sitting here with drink chips in hand waiting for you, Scoot ... the rest of my July brothers. Somebody is passed out in the corner, a bunch of others are fapping over a picture of Celine Dion ... and there is an unknown sticky substance grabbing at my shoe with every step I take, but it stills smells great in here (in a quit sort of way).

Quit with you my July broski!
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: srans on July 23, 2014, 08:51:00 PM
Quote from: steffano626
Singing fake dip's praises

It's my last week before my HOF and I'm appreciating my fake chew as much now as I did during my first week of quit. I wanted to share my thoughts. First of all, I realize the fake stuff is not for everyone. It does so closely mimic dipping that it scares some folks that it might lead to a cave. It also has sugar, which can't be wonderful to be sticking in your mouth.

But for someone with a strong oral fixation like me, it makes all the difference in the world. I actually think my oral fixation is a big part of why I got hooked on chew in the first place. Other than the buzz with that first dip, I can't say that nicotine did much for me. But chewing satisfied my oral fixation and saved me from constantly stuffing food and fattening drinks in my mouth. And it didn't bother my jaw like gum did.

Lastly, it is helping me now that I've decided to tackle my obesity. I was surprised and disappointed to learn how much more weight I had gained after quitting tobacco. Not that I wasn't already fat, but I had moved into a whole new level of obesity. Now that my dip craves have greatly decreased I can begin to address my food and drink craves. And fake chew helps me to do that.
Keep doing whatever works for you. 100 is just the beginning. The first 100 is about getting your feet back underneath you. Taking back your freedom. The beginning of a new life.

Your on a new journey. You have know idea. The blocks are still getting layed. Good job.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: steffano626 on July 29, 2014, 11:40:00 AM
Quote from: srans
Quote
I liked it too much--that rush/buzz when you have your first dip after a long stoppage... Honestly, that's one of the best feelings I've ever had. But I get that maybe 1 out of every 1000 chews and then only after going through painful physical withdrawal and powerful psychological cravings.


So let me get this straight. You like going through withdrawal only to start again for the buzz it brings!?!? If I was you I would read this statement again and again until you see what everyone else will see. This ^^^^ kind of thinking has to change. Let me fill you in on what you was really enjoying after a long stoppage.

You were getting the rush/buzz of death and failure. Right now you love the poison more than anything, including yourself, family and life itself. Think about how sad that is. You are believing lies my friend.

I could go through your intro and point out some more addict speak but I won't. Begin reading everything you can on nicotine/addiction. Time to start learning about this enemy. There is a lot of information on this site. Start replacing the lies with truths and you got a chance. Right now i wouldn't bet a nickle on it.
After reminding myself of how I got addicted to nicotine in my own HOF speech today, I had to bump this up in my intro as a reminder. I knew I needed someone to "set me straight" and srans helped me out. I need to reread and reread--never again, not for any reason.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Thumblewort on July 29, 2014, 01:22:00 PM
Quote from: steffano626
Quote from: srans
Quote
I liked it too much--that rush/buzz when you have your first dip after a long stoppage... Honestly, that's one of the best feelings I've ever had. But I get that maybe 1 out of every 1000 chews and then only after going through painful physical withdrawal and powerful psychological cravings.


So let me get this straight. You like going through withdrawal only to start again for the buzz it brings!?!? If I was you I would read this statement again and again until you see what everyone else will see. This ^^^^ kind of thinking has to change. Let me fill you in on what you was really enjoying after a long stoppage.

You were getting the rush/buzz of death and failure. Right now you love the poison more than anything, including yourself, family and life itself. Think about how sad that is. You are believing lies my friend.

I could go through your intro and point out some more addict speak but I won't. Begin reading everything you can on nicotine/addiction. Time to start learning about this enemy. There is a lot of information on this site. Start replacing the lies with truths and you got a chance. Right now i wouldn't bet a nickle on it.
After reminding myself of how I got addicted to nicotine in my own HOF speech today, I had to bump this up in my intro as a reminder. I knew I needed someone to "set me straight" and srans helped me out. I need to reread and reread--never again, not for any reason.
Enjoy your day man!
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: srans on July 29, 2014, 08:24:00 PM
Quote from: Thumblewort
Quote from: steffano626
Quote from: srans
Quote
I liked it too much--that rush/buzz when you have your first dip after a long stoppage... Honestly, that's one of the best feelings I've ever had. But I get that maybe 1 out of every 1000 chews and then only after going through painful physical withdrawal and powerful psychological cravings.


So let me get this straight. You like going through withdrawal only to start again for the buzz it brings!?!? If I was you I would read this statement again and again until you see what everyone else will see. This ^^^^ kind of thinking has to change. Let me fill you in on what you was really enjoying after a long stoppage.

You were getting the rush/buzz of death and failure. Right now you love the poison more than anything, including yourself, family and life itself. Think about how sad that is. You are believing lies my friend.

I could go through your intro and point out some more addict speak but I won't. Begin reading everything you can on nicotine/addiction. Time to start learning about this enemy. There is a lot of information on this site. Start replacing the lies with truths and you got a chance. Right now i wouldn't bet a nickle on it.
After reminding myself of how I got addicted to nicotine in my own HOF speech today, I had to bump this up in my intro as a reminder. I knew I needed someone to "set me straight" and srans helped me out. I need to reread and reread--never again, not for any reason.
Enjoy your day man!
A nickel I'm Damn proud to have lost. ;) proud of you bro.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Steakbomb18 on July 29, 2014, 10:01:00 PM
Quote from: srans
Quote from: Thumblewort
Quote from: steffano626
Quote from: srans
Quote
I liked it too much--that rush/buzz when you have your first dip after a long stoppage... Honestly, that's one of the best feelings I've ever had. But I get that maybe 1 out of every 1000 chews and then only after going through painful physical withdrawal and powerful psychological cravings.


So let me get this straight. You like going through withdrawal only to start again for the buzz it brings!?!? If I was you I would read this statement again and again until you see what everyone else will see. This ^^^^ kind of thinking has to change. Let me fill you in on what you was really enjoying after a long stoppage.

You were getting the rush/buzz of death and failure. Right now you love the poison more than anything, including yourself, family and life itself. Think about how sad that is. You are believing lies my friend.

I could go through your intro and point out some more addict speak but I won't. Begin reading everything you can on nicotine/addiction. Time to start learning about this enemy. There is a lot of information on this site. Start replacing the lies with truths and you got a chance. Right now i wouldn't bet a nickle on it.
After reminding myself of how I got addicted to nicotine in my own HOF speech today, I had to bump this up in my intro as a reminder. I knew I needed someone to "set me straight" and srans helped me out. I need to reread and reread--never again, not for any reason.
Enjoy your day man!
A nickel I'm Damn proud to have lost. ;) proud of you bro.
I'm down a dime, seeing how I doubled down on sran's nickel. These are the types of bets I'll be happy to pay every time...every time there's a badass quitter on the other end. Congrats Steffano.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: steffano626 on August 18, 2014, 03:55:00 PM
My July 14 quit group got the bad news that one our post-HOF group caved. I am very sad to hear this. Can you imagine how it must feel? Not only have you let down yourself, your quit group, your family, friends, and coworkers, but you are now back in the clutches of that horrible addiction. Remember how the only time you felt somewhat normal was when you had that shit in your lip? The rest of the time you were withdrawing and feeling like shit, angling for your next fix. Remember how raw your lip and gums were? How it stung, but you stuck the shit in anyways because you needed your nicotine.

I hope my brother immediately realizes that he made a huge a mistake and flushes the rest of the can down the toilet, answers the 3 questions, and posts a day one. I also hopes that he builds a strong web of accountability with his new group, realizes that a successful quit requires effort.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Thumblewort on August 18, 2014, 04:10:00 PM
Quote from: steffano626
My July 14 quit group got the bad news that one our post-HOF group caved. I am very sad to hear this. Can you imagine how it must feel? Not only have you let down yourself, your quit group, your family, friends, and coworkers, but you are now back in the clutches of that horrible addiction. Remember how the only time you felt somewhat normal was when you had that shit in your lip? The rest of the time you were withdrawing and feeling like shit, angling for your next fix. Remember how raw your lip and gums were? How it stung, but you stuck the shit in anyways because you needed your nicotine.

I hope my brother immediately realizes that he made a huge a mistake and flushes the rest of the can down the toilet, answers the 3 questions, and posts a day one. I also hopes that he builds a strong web of accountability with his new group, realizes that a successful quit requires effort.
It's a wake up call to all of us in July, it's our first HoF'er that caved, and it hurts. Protect your quit everyone.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Smeds on August 18, 2014, 06:33:00 PM
Quote from: Thumblewort
Quote from: steffano626
My July 14 quit group got the bad news that one our post-HOF group caved. I am very sad to hear this. Can you imagine how it must feel? Not only have you let down yourself, your quit group, your family, friends, and coworkers, but you are now back in the clutches of that horrible addiction. Remember how the only time you felt somewhat normal was when you had that shit in your lip? The rest of the time you were withdrawing and feeling like shit, angling for your next fix. Remember how raw your lip and gums were? How it stung, but you stuck the shit in anyways because you needed your nicotine.

I hope my brother immediately realizes that he made a huge a mistake and flushes the rest of the can down the toilet, answers the 3 questions, and posts a day one. I also hopes that he builds a strong web of accountability with his new group, realizes that a successful quit requires effort.
It's a wake up call to all of us in July, it's our first HoF'er that caved, and it hurts. Protect your quit everyone.
100% agree, with both of you. Complacency kills quits. I WILL NOT become complacent. Lessons to be learned, every day here ... QLF with you two, proud as hell to call you my brothers!
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: steffano626 on August 25, 2014, 09:05:00 AM
I saw this quoted in BigRedDude's intro (originally posted by David.M) and decided to repost here for my own reference:

Quote:

Day 26

Some interesting research:

on Nicotine as a dopamine releasing drug, ala heroin and other opiates:

"Nicotine and opiates are very different drugs, but the endpoint, with respect to the control of dopamine signaling, is almost identical. It demonstrates the seriousness of tobacco addiction, equating its grip on the individual to that of heroin. It reinforces the fact that these addictions are very physiological in nature and that breaking away from the habit is certainly more than just mind over matter."
- Daniel McGehee, University of Chicago Medical Center.


"The 10 Hardest Drugs to Kick"
- by Jacqueline Detwiler

The chemical makeup of drugs guarantee that certain drugs are more addictive than others. The hardest ones to kick actually train your brain to crave them. A team of researchers led by professor David Nutt of London's Imperial College recently set out to determine which drugs were most harmful based on their addictive properties. Dutch scientists replicated the London study and devised a "dependency rating" that measured addictive potency of the biggest drugs out there on a precisely calibrated scale of 0-to-3.
1. Heroin - 2.89
2. Crack Cocaine - 2.82
3. Nicotine - 2.82 (tied with Crack for second "most addictive and hardest to kick" drug!!!)
4. Methadone - 2.68
5. Crystal Meth - 2.24
6. Alcohol - 2.13
7. Cocaine - 2.13
8. Amphetamines - 1.95
9. Benzodiazepines - 1.89
10. GHB - 1.71


on the first 100 days:

"There is growing evidence that on average, it takes about 90 days for the brain to break free of the immediate effects of the drug and reset itself. Researchers at Yale University call this 90-to-100 day period the 'sleeper effect,' a time during which the brain's proper... functions gradually recover."
- Tony O'Neill, in his article, "The 100-Day Hangover"


"Whatever substance you're detoxing from, there's always an attachment. We're talking about people who are cutting off something that has started to feel as vital to them as the air they breathe. So you inevitably go through this painful period of wrenching yourself away from it, and now you're feeling lousy. It's pretty common for many recovering addicts to ask, 'Is this the reward I get for getting clean?' Most people are led to believe that once they stop using, their life will start to get better, when in reality this next period can really suck. But it gets better."
- Dr. Arnold Washton, author of Willpower is Not Enough: Recovering From Addictions of Every Kind


on not replacing nicotine-addiction with other dopamine-releasing-addictions:

"If you stop using your drug of choice but continue to use alcohol or another drug, you're saying that you don't want to learn new coping skills and that you don't want to change your life. You're saying that you want to continue to rely on drugs or alcohol to escape, relax, and reward yourself. But if you don't learn those new skills, then you won't have changed, and your addiction will catch up with you all over again.
- www.AddictionsAndRecovery.org (http://www.AddictionsAndRecovery.org)


I read another article (can't find it now to post the quotes) that essentially explained that "addicts are addicts." Meaning, after nicotine has left the body, our cravings are not really cravings for nicotine... they're cravings for dopamine. After years of nicotine use we've created extra "gates" in our brain through which the excess amount of dopamine was able to get to the brain. Now that we've stopped using, those "gates" are huuuungry. We get normal-sized shots of dopamine when we eat, have sex, exercise, complete tasks, etc... but we may also find our cravings pop up soon after (like the post-meal crave)... that's because the brain is used to getting bigger drops of dopamine at a time... so the natural ways we produce it aren't equal to the unnatural/drug-induced ways. So it wants more. The brain doesn't know (or care) what source is feeding it the excessive amounts of dopamine it's used to. So, often nicotine quitters will transition to another addiction - usually alcohol - and they're not actually breaking addiction at all, only shifting it to a new dopamine-source. The article advised steering clear of all drugs/alcohol during the first 100 days of nicotine-quitting so that the brain has time to recover and re-learn proper balance.

Addendum: This is a link to a great article borrowed from Brettlees.
http://whyquit.com/whyquit/linksaaddiction.html (http://whyquit.com/whyquit/linksaaddiction.html)
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: brettlees on August 27, 2014, 10:37:00 AM
HI Steffano i just read your intro for the first time and wanted to say I wish i'd have been with you all through your quit so far, you're doing great! Thanks for coming to Jan '14 and signing onto our 365 day challenge- proud to be quitting with you now! Reach out if you need any more support- glad to back another guy with his mind made up!
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: steffano626 on September 10, 2014, 01:15:00 PM
The following is from the Nicotine Addiction 101 (http://whyquit.com/whyquit/linksaaddiction.html) link listed above. I wanted to put it here as part of a discussion in July 14.

Nicotine Dependency a Mental Illness and Permanent Disease

I'm sorry but there's simply no nice way to say this. Nicotine dependency, like alcoholism, is a real mental illness and disease. While able to fully and comfortably arrest our chemical addiction, there is no cure. It's permanent. Like alcoholism there's just one rule. Once we're free, just one, using just once and we have to go back. You see, it isn't a matter of how much willpower we have, but how the brain's priorities teacher teaches, how nerve and memory cell highways that recorded years of nicotine feedings have left each of us wired for relapse.

So why are some people social smokers able to take it or leave it, while the rest of us got hooked? Referred to as "chippers," they probably account for less than 10% of all smokers. Jealous? If so and still using don't worry, it's normal. That's what enslaved brains tend to dream about, to want to become like them, to control what for us is uncontrollable.
Being immune to addiction is believed to at least in part be related to genetics. But with up to 90% of daily users hooked solid under DSM standards, spending millions studying nicotine dependency genetics seems almost laughable. Before feeling too sorry for yourself, imagine what it's like to be an alcoholic and forced to watch roughly 90% of drinkers do something that you yourself cannot, to turn and walk away. We only have to watch the 10% who are chippers.
Then again, we were each once chippers too, at least for our first couple of cigarettes or oral tobacco uses. There was no urge, desire, crave, hunger or wanting for those first couple of smokes. Nicotine stimulated our nervous system without our brain begging us to come back and do it again. There was no dopamine "aaah" relief sensation, as nothing was missing and nothing in need of replenishment. But that was about to change.

Most of us became hooked while children or teens. What none of us knew prior to that first hit of nicotine was how extremely addictive smoking it was. Roughly 26% of us started losing control over continued smoking after just 3 to 4 cigarettes, rising to 44% after smoking 5 to 9.

What we didn't then know was that within ten seconds of that very first puff, that up to 50% of our brain's dopamine pathway acetylcholine receptors would become occupied by nicotine, or that prior to finishing that first cigarette that nicotine would saturate almost all of them.

No one told us that once saturated, that continued smoking would cause our receptors to become de-sensitized, which would somehow cause our brain to grow or activate millions of extra receptors, a process known as up-regulation.
Every two hours the amount of nicotine remaining in our bloodstream declined by half (known as nicotine's elimination half-life). At some point in the process, continued stimulation, de-sensitization and up-regulation left our brain wanting and begging for more. An addiction was born as our brain was now wired to function with gradually increasing amounts of nicotine.

Not only does nicotine stimulate the release of dopamine within ten seconds of a puff, smoking it suppresses MAO, a dopamine clean-up enzyme. Suppressing MAO allows wanting's satisfaction to linger far longer than a natural release, such as the short lived sensations felt when eating food or quenching thirst.

One cigarette per day, then two, then three, the longer we smoked nicotine, the more receptors that became saturated and desensitized, the more grown, and the more nicotine needed to satisfy resulting "want" for replenishment.

As America's leading drug addiction expert puts it, the NIDA's Dr. Nora Volkow, drug addiction is a disease where brain changes translate into an inability to control drug intake. These drug induced brain modifications then signal the brain with a message that's equivalent to "when you are starving," the signal to "seek food and eat it," that the drug is "necessary to survival," that dopamine pathways ensure "long-lasting memory of salient events."

Our priorities hijacked, our mental disorder having left us totally convinced that that next nicotine fix is as important as life itself, where do we turn once we awaken and realize that we've been fooled?
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: brettlees on September 10, 2014, 01:32:00 PM
Quote from: steffano626
The following is from the Nicotine Addiction 101 (http://whyquit.com/whyquit/linksaaddiction.html) link listed above. I wanted to put it here as part of a discussion in July 14.

Nicotine Dependency a Mental Illness and Permanent Disease

I'm sorry but there's simply no nice way to say this. Nicotine dependency, like alcoholism, is a real mental illness and disease. While able to fully and comfortably arrest our chemical addiction, there is no cure. It's permanent. Like alcoholism there's just one rule. Once we're free, just one, using just once and we have to go back. You see, it isn't a matter of how much willpower we have, but how the brain's priorities teacher teaches, how nerve and memory cell highways that recorded years of nicotine feedings have left each of us wired for relapse.

So why are some people social smokers able to take it or leave it, while the rest of us got hooked? Referred to as "chippers," they probably account for less than 10% of all smokers. Jealous? If so and still using don't worry, it's normal. That's what enslaved brains tend to dream about, to want to become like them, to control what for us is uncontrollable.
Being immune to addiction is believed to at least in part be related to genetics. But with up to 90% of daily users hooked solid under DSM standards, spending millions studying nicotine dependency genetics seems almost laughable. Before feeling too sorry for yourself, imagine what it's like to be an alcoholic and forced to watch roughly 90% of drinkers do something that you yourself cannot, to turn and walk away. We only have to watch the 10% who are chippers.
Then again, we were each once chippers too, at least for our first couple of cigarettes or oral tobacco uses. There was no urge, desire, crave, hunger or wanting for those first couple of smokes. Nicotine stimulated our nervous system without our brain begging us to come back and do it again. There was no dopamine "aaah" relief sensation, as nothing was missing and nothing in need of replenishment. But that was about to change.

Most of us became hooked while children or teens. What none of us knew prior to that first hit of nicotine was how extremely addictive smoking it was. Roughly 26% of us started losing control over continued smoking after just 3 to 4 cigarettes, rising to 44% after smoking 5 to 9.

What we didn't then know was that within ten seconds of that very first puff, that up to 50% of our brain's dopamine pathway acetylcholine receptors would become occupied by nicotine, or that prior to finishing that first cigarette that nicotine would saturate almost all of them.

No one told us that once saturated, that continued smoking would cause our receptors to become de-sensitized, which would somehow cause our brain to grow or activate millions of extra receptors, a process known as up-regulation.
Every two hours the amount of nicotine remaining in our bloodstream declined by half (known as nicotine's elimination half-life). At some point in the process, continued stimulation, de-sensitization and up-regulation left our brain wanting and begging for more. An addiction was born as our brain was now wired to function with gradually increasing amounts of nicotine.

Not only does nicotine stimulate the release of dopamine within ten seconds of a puff, smoking it suppresses MAO, a dopamine clean-up enzyme. Suppressing MAO allows wanting's satisfaction to linger far longer than a natural release, such as the short lived sensations felt when eating food or quenching thirst.

One cigarette per day, then two, then three, the longer we smoked nicotine, the more receptors that became saturated and desensitized, the more grown, and the more nicotine needed to satisfy resulting "want" for replenishment.

As America's leading drug addiction expert puts it, the NIDA's Dr. Nora Volkow, drug addiction is a disease where brain changes translate into an inability to control drug intake. These drug induced brain modifications then signal the brain with a message that's equivalent to "when you are starving," the signal to "seek food and eat it," that the drug is "necessary to survival," that dopamine pathways ensure "long-lasting memory of salient events."

Our priorities hijacked, our mental disorder having left us totally convinced that that next nicotine fix is as important as life itself, where do we turn once we awaken and realize that we've been fooled?
Thank you! this stuff is key! we are dealing with one hell of a situation here- no way it should be legal. I'm so glad to be clean of it and glad for people like you taking is seriously and processing ways we can fight it.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: steffano626 on October 15, 2014, 03:20:00 PM
Why does someone cave after 200 days of quit?

This question is on my mind after July 14 has seen a second cave in the past 2 weeks. I wonder if a possible answer lies in the following quote from Brettlees' HOF speech (http://forum.killthecan.org/topic/10661592/1/) that was posted today:

"But what is it mostly the opportunity to do something you have never done before, and something few ever can- the opportunity to stop feeding your nicotine addiction successfully, and if you choose, the opportunity to actually start healing from that addiction and whatever created it in you."

Could it be that the cavers have not healed whatever created their addiction in the first place?

Clearly, caving is self-destructive. No one that I have ever heard of says that it was worth it, that one dip, or a can of dips was better than staying quit in the first place. But how many of us engage in self-destructive behaviors other than dip? Is there something inside of some of us that makes us vulnerable to addiction? If yes, then are we just a cave waiting to happen if we don't address this inner issue?

I know that I personally have engaged in numerous dangerous behaviors besides chew: heavy drinking, chronic overeating, and even contemplation of suicide at one particularly dark time in my life.

Unfortunately, I have more questions than I have answers. My hope is that whatever part of me that led me to this site and to the decision to quit nicotine has grown even stronger and will keep me on this path with my quit brothers and sisters. I believe it has.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Doc2quit4good on October 15, 2014, 04:27:00 PM
Quote from: steffano626
Why does someone cave after 200 days of quit?

This question is on my mind after July 14 has seen a second cave in the past 2 weeks. I wonder if a possible answer lies in the following quote from Brettlees' HOF speech (http://forum.killthecan.org/topic/10661592/1/) that was posted today:

"But what is it mostly the opportunity to do something you have never done before, and something few ever can- the opportunity to stop feeding your nicotine addiction successfully, and if you choose, the opportunity to actually start healing from that addiction and whatever created it in you."

Could it be that the cavers have not healed whatever created their addiction in the first place?

Clearly, caving is self-destructive. No one that I have ever heard of says that it was worth it, that one dip, or a can of dips was better than staying quit in the first place. But how many of us engage in self-destructive behaviors other than dip? Is there something inside of some of us that makes us vulnerable to addiction? If yes, then are we just a cave waiting to happen if we don't address this inner issue?

I know that I personally have engaged in numerous dangerous behaviors besides chew: heavy drinking, chronic overeating, and even contemplation of suicide at one particularly dark time in my life.

Unfortunately, I have more questions than I have answers. My hope is that whatever part of me that led me to this site and to the decision to quit nicotine has grown even stronger and will keep me on this path with my quit brothers and sisters. I believe it has.
Cavers cave, because it is no longer important for them to stay quit. It may never have been that big a deal for them to be in here every day in the first place. The ones that realize they made a big mistake come back in here and recommit to their quit but it is rare. But what the heck do I know after 393 days today. Not much, cause I dipped for 11315 days, and that is a conservative figure... The only way we win is to know that we can't fall back on our commitment to quit... That's all........
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: 30isEnuff on October 15, 2014, 05:46:00 PM
Quote from: doc2quit4good
Quote from: steffano626
Why does someone cave after 200 days of quit?

This question is on my mind after July 14 has seen a second cave in the past 2 weeks. I wonder if a possible answer lies in the following quote from Brettlees' HOF speech (http://forum.killthecan.org/topic/10661592/1/) that was posted today:

"But what is it mostly the opportunity to do something you have never done before, and something few ever can- the opportunity to stop feeding your nicotine addiction successfully, and if you choose, the opportunity to actually start healing from that addiction and whatever created it in you."

Could it be that the cavers have not healed whatever created their addiction in the first place?

Clearly, caving is self-destructive. No one that I have ever heard of says that it was worth it, that one dip, or a can of dips was better than staying quit in the first place. But how many of us engage in self-destructive behaviors other than dip? Is there something inside of some of us that makes us vulnerable to addiction? If yes, then are we just a cave waiting to happen if we don't address this inner issue?

I know that I personally have engaged in numerous dangerous behaviors besides chew: heavy drinking, chronic overeating, and even contemplation of suicide at one particularly dark time in my life.

Unfortunately, I have more questions than I have answers. My hope is that whatever part of me that led me to this site and to the decision to quit nicotine has grown even stronger and will keep me on this path with my quit brothers and sisters. I believe it has.
Cavers cave, because it is no longer important for them to stay quit. It may never have been that big a deal for them to be in here every day in the first place. The ones that realize they made a big mistake come back in here and recommit to their quit but it is rare. But what the heck do I know after 393 days today. Not much, cause I dipped for 11315 days, and that is a conservative figure... The only way we win is to know that we can't fall back on our commitment to quit... That's all........
your hope is not in vain
you made it to the train.

Fear is okay...but I believe any addict can cave. Will all addicts cave? Hell no!
Eventually we have to surrender to our quit, releasing the fears and OWN/KNOW your quit.
I know I will never put the poison in my mouth. Each day my feet hit the floor I promise you and I that I will not dip today. I hate the poison and all her pimps. Nothing good comes from it. Nothing at all. I love being quit. My family loves me quit. I'm sure yours does too.
Fuck nic, let's live life! ODAAT and NAFAR.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: OSAGE on October 22, 2014, 10:08:00 AM
Steff - Good to be quit with you in July. You are a badass quitter.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: brettlees on October 23, 2014, 12:50:00 AM
Quote from: 30isEnuff
Quote from: doc2quit4good
Quote from: steffano626
Why does someone cave after 200 days of quit?

This question is on my mind after July 14 has seen a second cave in the past 2 weeks. I wonder if a possible answer lies in the following quote from Brettlees' HOF speech (http://forum.killthecan.org/topic/10661592/1/) that was posted today:

"But what is it mostly the opportunity to do something you have never done before, and something few ever can- the opportunity to stop feeding your nicotine addiction successfully, and if you choose, the opportunity to actually start healing from that addiction and whatever created it in you."

Could it be that the cavers have not healed whatever created their addiction in the first place?

Clearly, caving is self-destructive. No one that I have ever heard of says that it was worth it, that one dip, or a can of dips was better than staying quit in the first place. But how many of us engage in self-destructive behaviors other than dip? Is there something inside of some of us that makes us vulnerable to addiction? If yes, then are we just a cave waiting to happen if we don't address this inner issue?

I know that I personally have engaged in numerous dangerous behaviors besides chew: heavy drinking, chronic overeating, and even contemplation of suicide at one particularly dark time in my life.

Unfortunately, I have more questions than I have answers. My hope is that whatever part of me that led me to this site and to the decision to quit nicotine has grown even stronger and will keep me on this path with my quit brothers and sisters. I believe it has.
Cavers cave, because it is no longer important for them to stay quit. It may never have been that big a deal for them to be in here every day in the first place. The ones that realize they made a big mistake come back in here and recommit to their quit but it is rare. But what the heck do I know after 393 days today. Not much, cause I dipped for 11315 days, and that is a conservative figure... The only way we win is to know that we can't fall back on our commitment to quit... That's all........
your hope is not in vain
you made it to the train.

Fear is okay...but I believe any addict can cave. Will all addicts cave? Hell no!
Eventually we have to surrender to our quit, releasing the fears and OWN/KNOW your quit.
I know I will never put the poison in my mouth. Each day my feet hit the floor I promise you and I that I will not dip today. I hate the poison and all her pimps. Nothing good comes from it. Nothing at all. I love being quit. My family loves me quit. I'm sure yours does too.
Fuck nic, let's live life! ODAAT and NAFAR.
There's some real gold in here. Thanks Steffano !
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Mthomas3824 on October 23, 2014, 04:57:00 PM
Quote from: brettlees
Quote from: 30isEnuff
Quote from: doc2quit4good
Quote from: steffano626
Why does someone cave after 200 days of quit?

This question is on my mind after July 14 has seen a second cave in the past 2 weeks. I wonder if a possible answer lies in the following quote from Brettlees' HOF speech (http://forum.killthecan.org/topic/10661592/1/) that was posted today:

"But what is it mostly the opportunity to do something you have never done before, and something few ever can- the opportunity to stop feeding your nicotine addiction successfully, and if you choose, the opportunity to actually start healing from that addiction and whatever created it in you."

Could it be that the cavers have not healed whatever created their addiction in the first place?

Clearly, caving is self-destructive. No one that I have ever heard of says that it was worth it, that one dip, or a can of dips was better than staying quit in the first place. But how many of us engage in self-destructive behaviors other than dip? Is there something inside of some of us that makes us vulnerable to addiction? If yes, then are we just a cave waiting to happen if we don't address this inner issue?

I know that I personally have engaged in numerous dangerous behaviors besides chew: heavy drinking, chronic overeating, and even contemplation of suicide at one particularly dark time in my life.

Unfortunately, I have more questions than I have answers. My hope is that whatever part of me that led me to this site and to the decision to quit nicotine has grown even stronger and will keep me on this path with my quit brothers and sisters. I believe it has.
Cavers cave, because it is no longer important for them to stay quit. It may never have been that big a deal for them to be in here every day in the first place. The ones that realize they made a big mistake come back in here and recommit to their quit but it is rare. But what the heck do I know after 393 days today. Not much, cause I dipped for 11315 days, and that is a conservative figure... The only way we win is to know that we can't fall back on our commitment to quit... That's all........
your hope is not in vain
you made it to the train.

Fear is okay...but I believe any addict can cave. Will all addicts cave? Hell no!
Eventually we have to surrender to our quit, releasing the fears and OWN/KNOW your quit.
I know I will never put the poison in my mouth. Each day my feet hit the floor I promise you and I that I will not dip today. I hate the poison and all her pimps. Nothing good comes from it. Nothing at all. I love being quit. My family loves me quit. I'm sure yours does too.
Fuck nic, let's live life! ODAAT and NAFAR.
There's some real gold in here. Thanks Steffano !
Never forget your day 1. Never forget the fight and cost of freedom from vice. Never forget you are addicted. Never forget your brothers have your back. Never forget to be humble and swallow your pride. Never forget that KTC is fail proof. If you follow the plan...You can't, You won't fail.

Answer to the question: caver's forgot.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Smeds on November 06, 2014, 09:32:00 AM
Steve,

Proud as hell to quit with you bro! Congrats on the 2nd floor ... as the first (and only) person I've met at KTC, we share a pretty cool bond. A "keep your pants on there fella" type of bond (for clarity). I'll quit with you again today, and EDD! 'Cheers'
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Thumblewort on November 06, 2014, 11:10:00 AM
Quote from: Smeds
Steve,

Proud as hell to quit with you bro! Congrats on the 2nd floor ... as the first (and only) person I've met at KTC, we share a pretty cool bond. A "keep your pants on there fella" type of bond (for clarity). I'll quit with you again today, and EDD! 'Cheers'
Well done my man!
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: AppleJack on November 06, 2014, 11:20:00 AM
Quote from: Thumblewort
Quote from: Smeds
Steve,

Proud as hell to quit with you bro! Congrats on the 2nd floor ... as the first (and only) person I've met at KTC, we share a pretty cool bond. A "keep your pants on there fella" type of bond (for clarity). I'll quit with you again today, and EDD! 'Cheers'
Well done my man!
Sweet!
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Scowick65 on November 06, 2014, 03:45:00 PM
Quote from: AppleJack
Quote from: Thumblewort
Quote from: Smeds
Steve,

Proud as hell to quit with you bro! Congrats on the 2nd floor ... as the first (and only) person I've met at KTC, we share a pretty cool bond. A "keep your pants on there fella" type of bond (for clarity). I'll quit with you again today, and EDD! 'Cheers'
Well done my man!
Sweet!
Nice job friend.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: steffano626 on November 06, 2014, 09:57:00 PM
Quote from: Scowick65
Quote from: AppleJack
Quote from: Thumblewort
Quote from: Smeds
Steve,

Proud as hell to quit with you bro! Congrats on the 2nd floor ... as the first (and only) person I've met at KTC, we share a pretty cool bond. A "keep your pants on there fella" type of bond (for clarity). I'll quit with you again today, and EDD! 'Cheers'
Well done my man!
Sweet!
Nice job friend.
Thanks to everyone for the congratulations AND for saving my life. As I have stated before, I never even considered quitting for good until I found KTC. Second floor may just be a baby step, but it sure feels good!
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Thumblewort on February 14, 2015, 09:39:00 AM
Happy 3-hundo brother! Enjoy the day!
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: brettlees on February 14, 2015, 11:15:00 AM
Quote from: Thumblewort
Happy 3-hundo brother! Enjoy the day!
Solid quit- soak it in, you've slammed it this far! Who would have imagined how good it feels to be free, right?!?
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Scowick65 on February 16, 2015, 02:19:00 PM
Quote from: brettlees
Quote from: Thumblewort
Happy 3-hundo brother! Enjoy the day!
Solid quit- soak it in, you've slammed it this far! Who would have imagined how good it feels to be free, right?!?
B)B
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Smeds on April 20, 2015, 06:51:00 AM
365 days!! Congrats Steve, great quit you've been killing all along. Never a doubt in my mind. See you on roll for your 366 ... proud to call you a July '14 DD brother, and friend!
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Thumblewort on April 20, 2015, 08:22:00 AM
Quote from: Smeds
365 days!! Congrats Steve, great quit you've been killing all along. Never a doubt in my mind. See you on roll for your 366 ... proud to call you a July '14 DD brother, and friend!
A year is bad ass, let's do it again!
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: steffano626 on April 20, 2015, 08:53:00 AM
Quote from: Thumblewort
Quote from: Smeds
365 days!! Congrats Steve, great quit you've been killing all along. Never a doubt in my mind. See you on roll for your 366 ... proud to call you a July '14 DD brother, and friend!
A year is bad ass, let's do it again!
Thanks, guys! It sure helps to have fellow quitters leading the way! And belated thanks for the 300 congrats...I sometimes forget to check my intro.

Since this bumps my intro up, I will share a bit of news I heard on the radio Saturday:
Setting The Record Straight On The Phrase 'Gateway Drug'

They have studied nicotine as a gateway drug to other substances like marijuana and cocaine. It seems nicotine "primes" the brain for other addictions. This is a concern given the popularity of ecigarettes among young people.

Here is a link to the NEJM article:
A Molecular Basis for Nicotine as a Gateway Drug
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Done4Me on April 20, 2015, 08:59:00 AM
Quote from: steffano626
Quote from: Thumblewort
Quote from: Smeds
365 days!! Congrats Steve, great quit you've been killing all along. Never a doubt in my mind. See you on roll for your 366 ... proud to call you a July '14 DD brother, and friend!
A year is bad ass, let's do it again!
Thanks, guys! It sure helps to have fellow quitters leading the way! And belated thanks for the 300 congrats...I sometimes forget to check my intro.

Since this bumps my intro up, I will share a bit of news I heard on the radio Saturday:
Setting The Record Straight On The Phrase 'Gateway Drug'

They have studied nicotine as a gateway drug to other substances like marijuana and cocaine. It seems nicotine "primes" the brain for other addictions. This is a concern given the popularity of ecigarettes among young people.

Here is a link to the NEJM article:
A Molecular Basis for Nicotine as a Gateway Drug
Congrats on a year dude. See you on 366.
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Thumblewort on September 02, 2015, 08:26:00 AM
Nice half comma dude! Thank you for the support!
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Smeds on September 02, 2015, 08:26:00 AM
*poof
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: Smeds on September 02, 2015, 08:26:00 AM
Congrats on the 1/2 a dangler bro! 'boob'
Title: Re: set me straight
Post by: brettlees on April 19, 2016, 04:04:00 PM
and in this corner.... a stalwart quitter, posting daily, who has just reached 2 years free!! way to be, you got set straight allright!!

'band' 'party2' 'chew2'