I’ve had quite a few people commenting on my posts at Help Me Quit Smoking recently. I’m always pleased to hear from anybody who has enjoyed reading or been inspired by my experiences of quitting smoking and I enthusiastically welcome new comments. But regrettably there are a lot of people who are simply ‘spamming’ and using the success of this blog as a promotional medium for their own (quite often dubious) Web content.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all in favour of promotion, but there are a couple of things that really wind me up and are guaranteed not to get published here.
For example I have no intention of publishing a comment which says something like; “I also have a blog about quitting smoking. It is at www.etc…” or even worse; “Hey dude! Check out my [money making affiliate link]!” (And if you think I’m exaggerating a little there then believe me I really do get plenty of them – including the exclamation marks.)
So, just to make things clear: If you have a genuine and worthwhile comment to make then I’ll probably publish it – including the link back to your site if you have one – but please, please, please make it something on topic and of value to readers who are interested in giving up smoking. Oh, and preferably more than half a dozen words too. Fair enough?
By the way, I will soon be celebrating my 4th anniversary of quitting smoking. Yes really, FOUR YEARS since I gave up the cigarette habit and I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever. I am healthier, wealthier, and happier too.
So if you are currently trying to become an ex-smoker and want to follow my example then don’t quit on quitting!
View full post on Help Me Quit Smoking
Originally posted 2010-02-28 16:26:59. Republished by Old Post Promoter
Related posts:
- Comments For some reason I can’t seem to moderate the...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Tony, Congratulations on your achievement of four years of not smoking.
I know it is really hard to quit smoking and sometimes it may take more than one attempt at it.
It helps if you have friends around that will encourage you as well.
I have been off them for over 30 years thank goodness.
So as Tony says if you want to quit don't quit quitting.
Thanks Julia, and the very best of luck with your own efforts to quit smoking. It's not always easy, but is well worth it. And I promise that if you stick with it the day will come when you don't even think about smoking.
Oh, and congrats on the 4 years!!
Just ran into your blog… This is my second attempt to quit, it's been only 2 days, but for the first time cold turkey! And I have to say i'm feeling pretty good and confident! I do think about cigs a lot, but mostly about how i don't want to smoke, and rarelly about actually wanting one. Can't wait when the day i don't think about them at all arrives! I know it will take a long time and efort, but for the first time i REALLY want to quit! Bookmarking you and will start reading from the beggining now…
(PS. Been smoking for 15 years Marlboro Red)
4 years victory is a real stroke of luck. Are you still interested in posting inside this "Help Me Quit Smoking" blog? If the answer is negative you can contact me, because I am ready to pay you for this blog, if you wish to sell it. Thank you for your efforts and sonorous post about comments spamming…
Sorry to hear about the spam its the internet!!!
Congrats on your four years of being smoke free, I know exactly how it feels, I especially liked the last line of this post
"Don't quit on quitting"
Will use this with my encounters on helping others quit.
Thanks
i just started to quit smoking on the 12th of jan 2010. i am doing a blog on it, just to see if i can get anyone to join me,its my first time doing a blog lol not 100% on what i'm doing lol, well its only been a week, but its a start, i found your blog so i just thought i'd pop in and say hi and well done on quiting,
i quit smoking almost 6 years.. it's very hard to quit.. but i believe i can and prove it. now i'm free from smoking bad habit
Nice blog.
Just wondering : have you ever tried electronic cigarettes ?
This is not spam , I know how you feel . It has been a struggle for me.
They have helped me ALOT !
One brand that I would check out is Greentip electronic cigarette .
The only reason why I am giving this brand a plug is because there are many crooks out there. Just saving you some time.
But you should also do some research on your own
Good luck.
Hello, I am a Dr. of Chiropractic and I quit smoking many years ago. Here is my entire first entry. I hope it helps.
Monday, December 14, 2009
This is my first Blog – it is a test!
Hello All this is a test but I hope it is filled with some useful information. Maybe you or someone you know is going to try to quit smoking this New Year (or some other habit). This may be of some help to them.
"How to Quit Smoking Easily and Effortlessly"
Do not attempt until YOU are ready to quit. It does not matter what others want you to do.
If you are looking for specific step by step instructions this is not it. If you are a little analytical this may not be the best approach for you.
If you can FEEL, if you can transition or evolve – go with the flow, you will enjoy the power this process will give you.
What will change is how you identify with yourself over time. If part of your identity is that you are a smoker, that part of your self-perception must shift first.
Be easy about it and allow this change to occur do not force it. Love yourself right now for who you are!
When ever you think about it – once a month, once a week, once a day, or while smoking a cigarette at your favorite time of day, think or say to yourself something positive about your smoking habit. "Wow, I did not smoke as many cigarettes as usual yesterday." or Wow, this cigarette does not taste as good as usual." or "Every day I am smoking less and less!"
Id does not matter if it is "true" you are creating a new truth for yourself. Speak or feel these works with excitement. Be amazed, be happy about it!
Never condemn yourself, recognize and clear any guilt feelings – and always praise your progress especially the baby steps.
In time – what ever time it takes, what ever time will serve you best, you will eventually find no use for the because you identity of yourself will change.
This process works for things you want to improve as well. You are "Youthful", "Creative", "A Good and Patient Parent", "An Appreciative and Loving Spouse", etc.
The resistance you will feel is the contrast or conflict between your mind trying to keep the facts straight and your subconscious mind willing to experience something new and different. Your are not under oath, you are daydreaming the possibilities. Day dreams become reality all the time.
I can't remember the number of times I tried to give up smoking (and of course, failed dismally) in the past. I knew all the benefits of giving up smoking it didn't seem to make any difference, I still continued. Over the years I'd tried different methods although I always felt that when it came to the crunch, if the frame of mind wasn't right then failure was inevitable.
From July 1997 to March 2009, I worked in the Middle East as a Field Service Engineer for communications and radar equipment. One of the radar stations I used to maintain was situated on an island (more like a rock) some 12 miles from the mainland. Access was mainly by boat and of course I dreaded this because once on the jetty, it was a climb of about 80 very steep, uneven steps up to the bottom of the rock. Then another 200 meters up a 30 degree path to the radar station itself at the top. What with the heat as well, I was struggling for breath at the top of the steps and sat it out for a few minutes wishing I knew how to give up smoking. Then came the climb up the path to the top, this was just as bad as the steps.
I thought a great deal during these excursions and was still giving it some thought on one of my leave periods back to England. I really wanted to give up smoking but knowing my history it still only remained a desire.
While on leave back in January of 2003, as with other leaves I paid visits to various arms of my family dotted around different parts of the country. One person I visited was a cousin and she greeted me with, "We all love you and want to see a lot more of you. Will you give up smoking?" Well, with everything else that had been going around in my head I do believe this was the one thing more that I needed to to put my mind in the right frame.
That was 29 January 2003 and after leaving my cousin's house, on my way home I dropped into the local chemist and bought a full course of patches (10 weeks worth) and it cost me a fortune. That was added incentive to stop smoking.
Since that day, I have never looked back and it's my belief that will power was the main driving force. The patches – well, I think they probably controlled mood swings I had suffered in the past when trying to stop.
Looking back, what did it for me was everything fell into place at the right time. My desire to stop was very strong and had been for some time, I saw some very sickly stop smoking advertisements on the TV and the final gel was that short request my cousin made. I will forever be in her debt.
Within a few months (or even weeks) I was reaping the benefits from it. A trip out to the rock in the middle of the sea saw me walking from the jetty to the radar station at the top without a stop. I seem to have lost a persistent cough I used to have. I always blamed it onto the last cold I had, just a hangover from that.
If I was asked to advise anyone, I think I tell them to really look for all the reasons you want to stop for and of course, the family theme is a very strong one too.
Congrats on your fourth anniversary! Quitting is so difficult (I, being in the fledgling stages myself…) I commend you on the progress you've made. Give yourself a pat on the back for all the suffering and hard work you've been through! Keep it up, you are inspiring to me and all your readers. Great job!
http://www.kristinkickash.blogspot.com
Quitting is hard. I've been there and done that many years ago and helped others do it too. I have a book about it being published soon and there is a free competition for anyone to enter who wants to win a copy (10 paperback copies being given away and the competition closes on 18th December 2009) at http://cheritonhousepublishing.com.Anyone who enters and doesn't win, will receive a free PDF ebook "How to Stop Smoking."
Really!! 4 Years!!!! Tony I thought it was less. A real achievement which you should be very proud of. Hope you never want to go back to the dirty habit. Well Done, Geoff
I quit smoking almost 5 years ago! And there is nothing more powerful, enlightening, or invigorating as this accomplishment!
Do you still think about it? I do, but only on rare occasions in the right setting. It passes though and there is no crave. FINALLY. It took a while to get to that point, and I didn't believe other people when they said that nagging feeling would go away.
Everyone uses different strategies to quit smoking and I say whatever works, is great!
I do have an article on my website that touches on a few techniques I used to quit smoking if you would care to check it out.
Thanks for this blog and doing your part in providing support to smokers. Great job!