GUS (Gave Up Smoking) is a community support diary for Kossacks in the midst of quitting smoking. Any supportive comments, suggestions or positive distractions are appreciated. If you are quitting or even thinking about quitting, please -- join us!
The GUS Library at dKosopedia is organically evolving, and stocked with free-range information: quit-smoking links, helpful GUS diary writing tips, and the GUS Buddy List.
Those names under the fold? That's our latest bunch of quitters. And there's still time for you to join!
coloradomomma
hulibow
indyada
MillieNeon
Sark Svemes
After days and weeks of preparation, the next group quit of GUS is here. How are you doing? We were fortunate to get a check-in from first day GUSsack MillieNeon last evening. Take a moment to stop by and offer mojo and good luck the rest of the way. 1st day quitter Sark Svemes is there as well, and posted a gif that struck me as being behaviorally pertinent, relevant, and a painfully accurate descriptor of the experience that is the first day of staying busy off the smokes.
What the hell. While you're at it, go rec FrugalGranny's AM West Coast Photo Edition. There are great pictures of Yosemite, high waterfalls and all. She and the mister both quit together 4 1/2 months ago, and that certainly deserves a tip, if not a rec.
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GUS 1.5: There's still time to join
You don't have to wait until June 15 of 2010 for the next group quit! If you're ready to break the cigs in half, then sign up. Use this weekend to cut down, gear up, exercise, or even to just say "sayonara" to the cigarettes, and make Monday, December 21 your quit date.
Go into your quit forearmed. Numerous reports rate nicotine withdrawal on par with that of heroin. There are naturopathic remedies, prescription drugs, and over-the-counter nicotine substitutes that can ease the physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Whether using these or going cold turkey, it is highly recommended that you consult your physician through this process. For those of us who don't have this option, pay attention to your body and please take care of yourself. Your chances of quitting improve greatly when you have a plan, and support. All the folks at GUS are here for support.
Some quitters experience a cleaner withdrawal from nicotine, reporting few to no ill effects. This is not grounds for issuing a hide rate! :-) GUS wishes all our quitters well.
Early-stage quitters can create their own good news by adopting the following two cheap and effective practices:
- Drink water. Nicotine is water-soluble, and the liquid will help to clean the junk out of your system faster.
- Take deep breaths. When you inhale deeply, you are satisfying an urge that you had previously done through smoking. Now follow OleHippieChick, and breathe down to the tips of your toes.
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This tool is an oldie in internet years, but it's a goodie! It's the Windows Quit Time meter, it can be stored on your desktop, and it keeps track of your time off cigarettes, the number of cigarettes you haven't smoked, money saved, and health (or, life added thanks to GUSsing).
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Current members of the GUS team! Please post a comment in the butt can if you would like your name added to the GUS Buddy List:
1BQ, 3rdGenFeminist, Abra Crabcakeya, addisnana, AfroPonix, ambeeeant, amk for obama, American in Kathmandu, andsarahtoo, Anne933, aoeu, arcadesproject, Archie2227, ArthurWolf (in memoriam), assyrian64, awkawk, bamablue, BARAKABETH, barnowl, bdizz, bgblcklab1, Bike Crash, BirderWitch, bleeding heart, blue husky, Blue Intrigue, bluestatedem84, BoiseBlue, Brahman Colorado, breedlovinit, BrowniesAreGood, bsmechanic, burrow owl, Cen Den, Chocolate Chris, ChurchofBruce, Colorado is the Shiznit, coppercelt, dadanation, dangoch, demkat620, Dexter, DiegoUK, Dingodude, donnamarie, DRo, droogie6655321, duckhunter, EdgedInBlue, ericlewis0, Everest42, fhamme, Fineena, fishhawk, Flea, flumptytail, FrugalGranny, Garrett, gooners, greylox, gchaucer2, Geiiga, grndrush, hideinplainsight, High Tide, Im a frayed knot,Indexer, indyada, Interceptor7, inventor, itsbenj, Jahiz, JamesEB, jbou, Jeffersonian Democrat, john07801, jmadlc55, johngoes, Jyrix, jvolvo's Mom, jwinIL14, kai99, kailuacaton, Kelly of PA, kestrel9000, khloemi, Khun David, Kitsap River, Ksholl, labwitchy, Lady Kestrel, ladypockt, langerdang, LarsThorwald, last starfighter, Laurie Gator, Lipstick Liberal, litoralis, lmdonovan, luvsathoroughbred, maggiemay, magicsister, marknspokane, Matt Esler, mdemploi, michael1104, Mikeguyver, MillieNeon, Minerva1157, MinervainNH, Missys Brother, mrsgoo, mskitty, nannyboz, ncsuLAN, Nick Zouroudis, notgivingup, operculum,one pissed off democrat, Ordvefa, OverTheEdge, paige, PaintyKat, paradox, parryander, Pennsylvanian, phrogge prince, Positronicus, post rational, psycho liberal, PvtJarHead, red mittens, revelwoodie, Rex Manning, rickeagle, rkex, roadlion, Rosebuddear, Rudini, Safina, SallyCat, Sark Svemes, Scrapyard Ape, seenaymah, sfbob, sgary, Shahryar, sheddhead, shmuelman, slowbutsure, smartcookienyc, smeesq, snorwich, sofia, soonergrunt, spmozart, SpotTheCat, Tay, theatre goon, triciawyse, trueblueliberal, Turn VABlue, Turtle Bay, uc booker, Unduna, Unforgiven, Vacationland, webranding, weelzup, Wes Opinion, willy mugobeer, Wood Dragon, wolfie1818, Wordsinthewind, x
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So you've had some experience with the effects of smoking, and want to write a GUS diary or host an open thread? Please sign up in the Butt Can (Tip Jar), and name the day and time that works for you (AM, PM, late-night, early-bird...)
Wed AM: you are here
Wed PM: open
Thu AM: open
Thu PM: Sark Svemes
Fri AM: open
Fri PM: open
Sat AM: open
Sat PM: open
Sun AM: open
Sun PM: open
Mon AM: open
Mon PM: ChocolateChris (MNF Open Thread)
Diarists: to get a customized embed code for GUS blockquotes, email bsmechanic35 at yahoo dot com. Specify which ones you would like (mission statement, buddy list, diary schedule), and they will be sent via inline text.