Great Americam Smokeout; Giveaway Winners
Giveaway Winners of 6 Week Cure to the Middle-Aged Middle: South Beach Steve & FJ!!!! Email me at jody@truth2beingfit.com with your full name & mailing address & I will send it out to you! Congrats!
For those that do not know, today is the American Cancer Society’s 34th Great American Smokeout. "Smokers are encouraged to use this day to quit smoking altogether, or to finally put that action plan into place. If you smoke around others, it should come as no surprise that secondhand smoke is a huge problem, causing between 35,000 and 40,000 deaths from heart disease every year."
I have lost family members to smoking. My husband's mom, a wonderful & loving woman, lost her life to small cell cancer, a cancer directly related to smoking, about 5 years ago. It was not a "pretty death". Heck are any BUT cancer robs you of so much. She smoked most of her life & did not stop smoking after the diagnosis either. She was in an advanced stage when diagnosed & I guess she figured what good would it do. Me, I would have tried anything but it was her life. We miss her dearly!
My mother also smoked from the time she was 17. She had stopped smoking for about 5 years when my father passed away suddenly. She started smoking again after that & then struggled with it on & off until her death. The doctors said her sarcoma cancer was not related to her smoking but to me, ya never know. I also still have relatives that smoke after all this. These are people closely related to the ones that died from cancer. I don't get it.... well, I do. I know it is hard to stop smoking, drinking, eating etc. BUT, if I saw it first hand, I think that would make me stop!
TODAY IS YOUR DAY! MAKE THE CHOICE TO STOP NOW. ONLY YOU CAN DO IT FOR YOURSELF & ALSO FOR ALL THE LOVED ONES YOU WOULD LEAVE BEHIND IF YOU DIED FROM A CANCER RELATED TO SMOKING. DO IT FOR THOSE AROUND YOU THAT HAVE TO BREATHE IN THAT SECOND HAND SMOKE BUT MOSTLY DO IT FOR YOURSELF & YOUR HEALTH! DO IT TODAY, NOT TOMORROW OR THE NEXT DAY. THERE ARE PLENTY OF ORGANIZATIONS & GROUPS TO HELP YOU. TAKE THE CHANCE TO LIVE LONGER & BETTER TODAY!
Here is the article from Care2 with statistics on death & survival
Quit smoking and you’ll not only live longer, but you’ll live better.
November 19 is the American Cancer Society’s 34th Great American Smokeout. Smokers are encouraged to use this day to quit smoking altogether, or to finally put that action plan into place.
Smokers who quit at age 35 gain an average of eight years of life expectancy; those who quit at age 55 gain approximately five years, and even quitting at 65 will add about three years.
In the long-term, within five to 15 years after quitting, the risk of stroke is reduced to that of a non-smoker; after 10 years, the death rate from lung cancer is cut to about half that of the person who continues to smoke; and after 15 years, the risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker’s.
Even if you don’t care about celebrating additional birthdays, the benefits to quitting can result a healthier, more vibrant life.
Short term effects are immediate. Heart rate and blood pressure drop within 20 minutes after the last cigarette. Between two weeks to three months later, circulation improves and lung function increases. Between one to nine months after quitting, things really begin to change for the better. Coughing and shortness of breath decrease and you begin to feel the benefits of normal lung function -- increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection. If you’re a long-term smoker, you probably can’t even imagine how good that would feel.
The American Cancer Society wants to help you quit and is offering online resources (Great American Smokeout website) as well as personalized telephone coaching (American Cancer Society Quit for Life ® 1-800-227-2345) by trained specialists.
One very important component to real health care reform rests with individuals and our responsibility for our own health and well-being. Use of tobacco is the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States, responsible for 30 percent of cancer deaths and 87 percent of lung cancer deaths.
The financial consequences of tobacco use are staggering -- $193 billion in health care expenditures and loss of productivity. That’s a lot of expense for something completely preventable.
If you smoke around others, it should come as no surprise that secondhand smoke is a huge problem, causing between 35,000 and 40,000 deaths from heart disease every year.
If you don’t care to celebrate more birthdays, and you don’t care about enjoying a healthier life, then may I appeal to your vanity? Smoking adds years to your age, causing added lines and wrinkles; stains the hands and teeth; all the cologne in the world can’t mask the smell, one which non-smokers generally find quite unpleasant; and let’s face it, it doesn’t make you particularly kissable.
If you love someone who smokes, ask them to pledge to quit. If you are a smoker, please... for your sake and for the sake of those who love you... join in the Great American Smokeout. Pledge to quit right now. Live longer, live better!
Are you a smoker? Do you know someone that smokes? Are you going to join in today or help a loved one or friend start their journey to health today?
Hi Jody - I linked here after seeing your award to South Beach Steve - he is amazing!
I wanted to thank you for this post -- a vitally important message. My sister died of lung cancer due to smoking. She was only 42 years old and she left behind three young sons -- 3 beautiful boys without parents as her husband had died in a freak occurence 7 years earlier.
Her death, a terrible torturous thing to watch, was not, shamefully, the point at which I quit smoking. A number of years later I did successfully kick a 31 year smoking habit. I have never once missed that nasty habit and each year just gets better and better!
I hope many, many people find the strength of participate in this smokeout and never, ever look back.
Thanks again for sharing the stories of your mothers.
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Wendy, thank you so much for visiting & sharing your very hard story! I am so sorry for your loss & thankful that you were able to eventually stop yourself!
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its amazing how promoted and focused upon this was when I was in high school and you rarely hear much about it any more!
I know fewer people are smoking but STILL people are smoking.
thanks for taking the time to address this.
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Jody, this is something that always amazes me - smokers. My brother did not start smoking until he was well into his adult years. It makes me want to smack him upside the head.
I am pretty happy to have won the book; it will be a great read. Thanks for the contest.
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My father smokes and has for his whole life. The worst kind, too - Lucky Strikes! I got him to quite one time when I lived at home by cutting out all those little surgeon general warnings and pasting them around the house. It annoyed him enough that he quit for a while, but then started again. I worry for him as he just has absolutely no desire to quit. At least he does not smoke in the house, so my mother isn't exposed to it.
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Lori, I hope your dad stops eventually. Cancer, such a horrible thing! Like you, I lined up my mom's cigs all across the kitchen floor one time when I was young... I so hated the smell even then! I lived back east & riding in the car in cold weather with the windows up, I thought I was going to die! Who knows the long term effects of that....
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Not smoking is probably the smartest decision a young person can make in their lives!
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I smoked for over 10 years and quiting was one of the hardest things I have done but so worth it in the end-thanks for the reminder! Now, I'm a STRONG girl!
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Sian, so glad you quit! Yes, addictions whether it be food, alcohol or cigs, very hard to stop. It takes all your strength & more!
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Thanks for posting such an important subject. I hadn't realized today was the smokeout. My husband smokes. He tried to quit on the same day I started this weightloss journey. He was doing so good until he lost his job...and started up again.
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This is really an important topic and I wish people were more motivated to stop their nicotine addictions and QUIT! My aunt suffered a stroke and still smokes even after the doctor said she could die from it. If that can't make someone stop what the heck will?! Its a terrible addiction and I hope more smokers participate today to help start a smoke free life!!! Thanks for the info Jody
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What's sad is that they need a "smoke out day"... like the rest of the 364 days in a year aren't reason enough. But if this is what it has come down to, then so be it.
I've done leisurely smoking in the past. The hookah, few bong hits... you know the typical young person shit but you see, the hookah is flavorful, weed gives you a sensation.
A cig? It's fucking useless. The shit in there isn't even clean. Go eat some tar why don't you? Then there is the smell... *barf*
Yeah I duno why people continue to smoke. I can think of many quicker, easier and more exciting ways to kill yourself. Death by cancer because of smoking is not a pretty sight... I've seen it.
So yea. Quit that shit.
On a more cheerful note.. I WON! Hell yes.
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i'm a smoker. i always found it funny when ppl said.. "but you don't look like a smoker" or "you're too cute to smoke". guess for me addiction doesn't have a "look".
i've tried several times to quit, and just haven't found the right course for me. it's a chemical drug addiction so it's more than just willpower or wanting to. it's more addictive than crack and heroine so it's not something that's easy when your body chemistry and reaction to withdrawal hits you.
i'll continue my fight to end my addiction and hopefully find something that will stick.
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Cher, yes, it is an addiction like an alcoholic or food addict but the chemicals make it so much worse! I know you have tried & I hope you succeed in stopping. You need to be around for your kid & also you don't want him to think it is OK.
Keep trying!
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