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.
Now showing at the GUS Library: links to the Demon Diaries.
In so many words below the fold, I offer a hat tip to Robin Williams, who snuck this one by the censors:
Mork ordered pizza. The delivery person appeared at the door and greeted him, completed the order, and extended his arm, expecting a tip.
Mork asked what the hand out was for. The pizza guy said 'It's for a Tip'.
"A tip?" replied Mork. "Oh, well... 'never eat Mexican food and stand next to an open flame.'"
Anecdotally speaking, I read this tip in an issue of screw up your life People magazine, fresman year of high school, 1979.
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Prince Charming
Now they call you Prince Charming
Can't speak a word when you're full of 'ludes
Say you'll be all right come tomorrow
But tomorrow might not be here for you
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Back to sorbitol, which is found in... what is this? Chewing... gum? And you didn't bring enough for the rest of us??
Some doctors might say to the late great Harvey Korman, "Yeah, well that may be a good thing."
A major source of gas is ingestion of complex carbohydrates (e.g., raffinose, stachyose, verbascose) that cannot be broken down into component sugars for absorption. These undigestible carbohydrates then serve as substrates for bacterial fermentation, yielding gas as a by-product.
Sugar-free foods often contain sorbitol , manitol, or fructose, which are both poorly absorbed in the small intestine. This poor absorption leads to
gas. Reducing intake of sugar-free foods may help prevent gaseousness.
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Sorbitol is found in most name brand gums. So chew with discretion, GUSsacks, and don't hold it in. Find a noisy spot if you can, and step aside. It is worth the time to say "excuse me, I'll be right back."
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Tip of the day --- alternative sweeteners (h/t to Vacationland in the comments)
*Agave nectar
Agave nectar is often substituted for sugar or honey in recipes. Vegans in particular commonly use agave nectar to replace honey in recipes.[13] It is also used as a sweetener for cold beverages such as iced tea because it can dissolve quickly.[14]
Agave nectars are sold in light, amber, dark, and raw varieties. Light agave nectar has a mild, almost neutral flavor, and is therefore sometimes used in delicate tasting foods and drinks. Amber agave nectar has a medium-intensity caramel flavor, and is therefore used in foods and drinks with stronger flavors. Dark agave nectar has stronger caramel notes, and imparts a distinct flavor to dishes, such as some desserts, poultry, meat, and seafood dishes. Both amber and dark agave nectar are sometimes used "straight out of the bottle" as a topping for pancakes and waffles. Raw agave nectar also has a mild, neutral taste. It is produced at temperatures below 118 °F (48 °C) to protect the natural enzymes, so this variety is an appropriate sweetener for raw foodists.[15]
*Stevia
Stevia is a genus of about 240 species of herbs and shrubs in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), native to subtropical and tropical South America and Central America...
... Medical research has also shown possible benefits of stevia in treating obesity and high blood pressure. Because stevia has a negligible effect on blood glucose, it is attractive as a natural sweetener to people on carbohydrate-controlled diets. However, health and political controversies have limited stevia's availability in many countries; for example, the United States banned it in the early 1990s unless labeled as a supplement, although in 2008 it became commercially available as a sweetener. Stevia is widely used as a sweetener in Japan, and it is available in Canada as a dietary supplement.
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Tip of the day --- quit smoking support! Check out GUSsack smartcookienyc's new website, especially if you are a prospective quitter in the metro New York area. It looks great! Congrats for a great cause; may it roll in a giant wave of new quitters!!
More can be found here in last night's Friday PM GUS diary by smartcookienyc. It's not too late to stop by and offer kudos and good mojo!
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Caption this picture
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Speck's Facebook update (1,000,000 to join, my dad john mellencamp will quit smoking): 279,906.
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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, Arthur Wolf (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, ChocolateChris, ChurchofBruce, Colorado is the Shiznit, coloradomomma, coppercelt, dadanation, dangoch, demkat620, Dexter, DiegoUK, Dingodude, donnamarie, DRo, droogie6655321, duckhunter, EdgedInBlue, ericlewis0, Everest42, fhamme, Fineena, fishhawk, Flea, flumptytail, FrugalGranny, Garrett, Gator, gooners, greylox, gchaucer2, Geiiga, grndrush, hideinplainsight, High Tide, hulibow, Im a frayed knot, imisa, Indexer, indyada, Interceptor7, inventor, itsbenj, Jahiz, JamesEB, jbou, Jeffersonian Democrat, Joe's Steven aka Steven, john07801, jmadlc55, johngoes, jsfox, Jyrinx, 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, Morague, mrsgoo, mskitty, nannyboz, ncsuLAN, Nick Zouroudis, notgivingup, operculum, one pissed off democrat, OrangeMike, Ordvefa, OverTheEdge, paige, PaintyKat, paradox, parryander, Pennsylvanian, phrogge prince, Positronicus, post rational, psycho liberal, PvtJarHead, red mittens, relentless, revelwoodie, Rex Manning, RiaD, rickeagle, rkex, roadlion, Roger Fox, Rosebuddear, Rudini, Safina, SallyCat, Sark Svemes, Scrapyard Ape, seenaymah, sfbob, sgary, Shahryar, sheddhead, shmuelman, slowbutsure, smartcookienyc, smeesq, snorwich, sofia, soonergrunt, spmozart, SpotTheCat, SpringtimeforHitler, Statusquomustgo, Tay, theatre goon, Treefrog, triciawyse, trueblueliberal, Turn VABlue, Turtle Bay, uc booker, Unduna, Unforgiven, Vacationland, Vayle, webranding, weelzup, Wes Opinion, willy mugobeer, Wood Dragon, wolfie1818, Wordsinthewind, x
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