Posts by Amy Smith

I’ve got roughly 10 GB on my Hard Drive that I listen to more or less regularly, whereas my collection of MP3 CDs comes out to about 1,600 😁😁

Hannah Mendoza8 said:[B.....................

I mean, now that I really think about it, I’m never going to quit smoking. Why would I deny myself something that actually gives me pleasure? 👋 [/B]

Because honestly, only a fool would go against their own nature and sabotage their own health...

brisknomad6 said:It's been 6 days 😁

Thanks for all the kind wishes...

Today, a business client walked into my office, and the very second he stepped through the door, I could smell the stench of smoke🙂 😁

It started, it really started...😁

Honestly, it’s truly incredible just how much smokers actually stink...😁

mellowcanyon20 said:100😛

558 days ago 🙂

😁😁

John Hughes26 said:It’s binary, really—you either quit or you don't. As long as those cigarettes are sitting in your pocket, that devil on your shoulder just won't leave you alone.

So true...

boldpuma89 said:I really appreciate the advice, Amy Smith. 🙏
I suspect this phase where I’m just content with three or four cigarettes will eventually pass, leading me toward either a total quit or a period of heavy smoking. But honestly, my mind is already made up. I'm choosing to quit once and for all!

I'm pulling for you...👍

boldpuma89 said:Tomorrow marks exactly one month since I managed to cut down from two or three packs a day to just three or four cigarettes. I haven't hit my ultimate goal of quitting entirely yet, but I'm honestly not unhappy with the progress I've made.

Anyway, just wanted to give a quick update to those of you following along.

I’d love to hear—or rather, read—what former smokers and those planning to quit think about this current phase I'm in...

It might feel okay for your wallet, but it’s definitely not doing your health any favors. As I mentioned before, smokers develop an enzyme that breaks down nicotine, whereas non-smokers don't; if you keep going like this, that enzyme will eventually disappear in a few months anyway...

Honestly, this feels like you're just kidding yourself. You either quit, or you don't.

As for me, I haven't touched a cigarette in a year and a half (specifically since March 12, 2003), and I haven't had a single one since then because I just quit cold turkey.

I actually had about ten cigarettes left in my pack at the time, but I just tossed them in the trash. I didn't sit around waiting until they were all gone or anything like that...

Try to actually quit, rather than just cutting back...👋

Amy White2 said:Oh, really? Because as far as I can tell...
but all I can find online are Mein Teil and Amerika—just those specific music videos. As for the actual albums or any other tracks? Nothing. I've scoured Azureus and even tried Kazaa, but zilch. If there's some hidden treasure out there that I'm missing and you happen to know where it's buried, please, for the love of god, spill the beans!

np: KMFDM-Anarchy

I actually stumbled upon it on an FTP server at www.xftpx.com
I can't remember the exact directory since I didn't download it locally, but I'm pretty sure there's more available on that site...

Amy White2 said:Wait, how on earth do you know that? Don't tell me you've already heard the news... how is that even possible?! 😕

The internet really is a wonderful thing, isn't it? 😁

The rest of the tracks are actually even better...

boldpuma89 said:Day one: You can't have a cigarette for at least an hour after you wake up; then, you're allowed one every two hours later on.

Day two: You can't light up for at least two hours after waking up, and you can only have one around 5:00 PM and another around 9:00 PM.

Day three: YOU CAN'T SMOKE UNTIL THE YEAR 2100!

(Is this an easier way to quit?)

No, honestly, it’s much easier if you just break the cycle in that exact moment of craving. Telling yourself you'll just "reduce" the amount is really just self-deception to make the process feel less daunting...

boldpuma89 said:It’s true that quitting isn't always about cutting down on the number of cigarettes you smoke.

I have two questions for everyone here:

1. "If you knew for a fact you could stay at just 0 to 3 cigarettes a day—with absolutely no chance of increasing that amount—
WOULD YOU DECIDE TO QUIT FOR GOOD?"

2. "ARE 1 TO 2 CIGARETTES A DAY CONSIDERED A HARMFUL AND BAD HABIT THAT NEEDS TO BE ELIMINATED?"

Just so there's no confusion, I am ABSOLUTELY in favor of being a non-smoker. It seems I struggle to tell myself "never again," so I find a bit of comfort in thinking about just having one or two a day...
I should mention that this is my VERY FIRST attempt at quitting (and I really want it to be my last—and a successful one).

Actually, smoking just 1 or 2 cigarettes can be more dangerous and harmful than smoking about 10. This is because regular smokers develop a tolerance where their bodies break down nicotine much faster; the excess is processed and expelled by the body quite quickly (within 5 to 10 minutes). However, for a non-smoker, that processing period is significantly longer (around 1 to 2 hours), which means a higher concentration of nicotine actually enters the system compared to a regular smoker...

mellowcanyon20 said:We’ll forgive you for that...

Just light up a cigar after some damn good dinner (maybe finger foods, shrimp, lobster, or something like that) and don't inhale deeply.

But stay away from cigarettes! Those things are absolute garbage (well, low-grade garbage at least).

Actually, you know, I completely forgot to mention—I still love having a nice cigar after a meal and all that. It might actually help you manage those cravings, since you'll still get a little bit of nicotine absorbed through your stomach...

goldenowl said:I thought I’d jump in and share my own experience too... 🙂
For about the last five years, I was smoking over two packs a day, with a total smoking history of ten years. Finally, I made the decision that I am never picking up a cigarette again (well, hopefully that stays the case!) and I’ve officially been smoke-free for six days now. Those first four days were honestly pretty brutal. Everything seemed to ache, and my mood was all over the place—swinging from slight irritability to absolute rage. These last two days, though, things have started looking up 🙂
Whenever the urge to light up hits me, I just grab a glass of water instead. Because of that, the amount of water I was guzzling during those first few days was insane—over 6 liters a day—though I've dialed it back to about 4 liters now 😁
I can already feel a difference when I wake up; I feel like I'm breathing so much easier, even though it's only been a few days without nicotine. My sense of taste is shifting too, and everything feels different. Some foods don't even appeal to me anymore, but since my stomach is constantly full of water, I don't really feel hungry anyway. I only eat because I know I need to, not because I actually feel an appetite.
I’m really hoping I can stick it out, and I want to wish everyone else here massive success in their journey, too... 👋 👋

Maybe try chewing some gum? It really helped both me and my old man...

Lawrence Garcia93 said:Man, you totally misread my intentions here.
I don't give a damn about anyone else; honestly, who cares? They’re just poisoning their own lungs and wasting their own money...
It's just that right now, this horrible smoke is really getting to me.
Believe it or not, it's actually true...

I can be quite the grouch myself, too. If someone decides to light up a cigarette in a section of a restaurant—even when it's strictly prohibited—I'll practically yell at them to get out. I suppose it’s because back when I was still smoking, if I was bothering anyone, I'd make sure to step away immediately...

Jamie Clark74 said:Those who need a little extra encouragement... asking how dangerous smoking really is...
You shouldn't feel like a failure if you don't succeed right away; there are plenty of people out there who need a bit more time to get there... but if you do manage it, then I wish you nothing but the very best...

For me, it’s been over 17 years since I quit. Before that, I smoked for 32 years, averaging about 60 to 80 cigarettes a day... so I certainly know the damage I've done.

🙂 😉 😎

Well, look at you, Smile; I'm just teasing a little bit...

I actually quit about a year and five months ago, though back then I was smoking around 40 to 50 a day...👋

Jamie Clark74 said:Tobacco use claims 660,000 lives across Europe every single year.

In fact, about 15 percent—that’s roughly 660,000 people within the European Union—pass away every
year due to the consequences of smoking. Tackling tobacco use remains one of the most massive hurdles in global health policy, according to Irish Health Minister Michel Martin.
Looking ahead at the next two decades, the number of people suffering from or dying because of smoking-related illnesses is expected to double globally, potentially hitting 9.8 million, warned Dr. Catherine Le Gales-Camus, an assistant director at the World Health Organization.
Currently, various European governments are passing laws to ban smoking in public spaces, including restaurants, cafes, and even inside cars, while in America, perhaps hiking up cigarette prices could help drive those numbers down...

🙂 😎

arrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggghhhhhhhhh 😁

You've posted this in the wrong thread; basically, everyone here is either trying to quit or has already kicked the habit...

analogwolf26 said:I’ve officially hit nine months smoke-free today, which is a huge win—Bravo to me. 🙂

The only downside is that I still really miss that damn phlegm clearing out. 😢.
Some people tell me this stage can drag on for years. For those of you who quit, when was the first time you realized the phlegm was gone and you didn't actually need it anymore?

I still find myself missing 😢, but it isn't a physical craving; it's more just those moments where I'd honestly love nothing more than to light up...

Joseph Davis5 said:Alright, I’m genuinely lost here.
I honestly can't tell if the folks over at Microsoft actually read the reviews on CNET, where McAfee was crowned the absolute best back in 2004, with Norton coming in second. During that run,
McAfee and Norton were the only ones pulling top marks for efficiency, while the Norton instance currently guarding my machine only managed to scrape by in 5th or 6th place.
Since my license is about to expire, I'm asking because I'm genuinely curious—not because I'm trying to act like a know-it-all or prove how smart I am, but because I actually want to know! It’s also pretty interesting that Kaspersky, which I've heard nothing but glowing praise for, didn't even make the list... maybe it's just some sort of imperialist propaganda, haha, just kidding. But really, us regular folks (the little guys) rely on these ratings, and when you "experts" can't even agree among yourselves, it just leaves us feeling more confused than ever!
Peace!😕

Like I mentioned at the very start,

it honestly doesn't matter which antivirus you end up using (at least regarding the commercial versions, which you can easily grab for free anyway). The detection accuracy for known threats within a massive database—say, a zip file containing some 10,000 viruses—stays right around 99.5% to 99.8%, and they all hit nearly 100% when it comes to catching brand-new threats...

As for me, I'm looking at 9 days, one year, and 4 months left...👋