People with a quit date of 1/22/2006 - 2/21/2006, this is your Quit Group.

Junkie, burn-out, addict, drug abuser,
drunk, alcoholic, chew-a-holic
________________________________________


Some people would argue that chew-a-holic is just a cute euphemism which should not be compared to what they consider degrading syndromes. Contrary to this belief, nicotine addiction can be equally as strong and deadly as any of these other conditions. In fact, if you total the number of people who die yearly of all these other conditions combined, they would not add up to the number of premature deaths attributed to chewing and smoking.

Until recent times, the idea of nicotine being a physiologically addictive substance was controversial in the world-wide medical community. For a drug to be considered addictive, it must meet certain criteria. First, it must be capable of inducing physical withdrawal upon cessation. Nicotine abstinence syndrome is a well documented, established fact.

Second, tolerance to the drug usually develops. Increasingly larger doses become necessary to achieve the same desired effects. Chewers experience this phenomenon as their chew consumption gradually increases from what probably was sporadic occasional use to a required daily consumption of one or more cans.

The third criterion is that an addictive substance becomes a totally consuming necessity to its user, usually resulting in what is considered by a society as anti-social behavior. Many have argued that chewing and smoking fail to fulfill this requirement. True, most chewers do not resort to deviant behaviors to maintain their dependency, but this is because most chewers do manage to easily obtain the full complement of chews they need to satisfy the addiction. When chewers are deprived of easy accessibility to chews, the situation is totally different.

During World War II, in concentration camps in Germany, prisoners were not given enough food to fulfill minimum caloric nutritional requirements. They were literally starving to death. A common practice among smoking prisoners was to trade away their scarce supplies of life sustaining food for smokes. Even today, in underdeveloped countries, such as Bangladesh, parents with starving children barter away essential food for smokes. This is not normal behavior.

During the "stop smoking clinics" I conduct, numerous participants admit to going through ashtrays, garbage cans and, if necessary, gutters looking for butts which may still have a salvageable value of a few dips when their own supplies are depleted due to carelessness or unforeseen circumstances. To them, it is sick to think that they ever performed such a grotesque act, but many realize that if they were currently chewing or smoking and again caught in a similar predicament, they would be fully capable of repeating the repulsive incident.

Nicotine is a drug. It is addictive. And if you let it, it can be a killer. Consider this when you get the urge for a chew. One dip can and most often will reinforce the addiction. Don't take that chance.


Joel

© Joel Spitzer 1982, 2000
Page last updated by Joel Spitzer on August 24, 2003

DRAMA QUEENS
27 JUNE 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
500 - QuittinTime (06/06/07) Congrats to all stepping up to the 500 club.
484 - Fishforsale (05/21/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
507 - DFloyd (06/14/07)
525 - CoryB (7-2-7)
520 - Redspringer (06/27/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
500 - 4myfamily (06/29/07)
378 - TZA (2/8/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
27 JUNE 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
500 - QuittinTime (06/06/07) Congrats to all stepping up to the 500 club.
527 - Fishforsale (7/03/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
507 - DFloyd (06/14/07)
525 - CoryB (7-2-7)
520 - Redspringer (06/27/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
500 - 4myfamily (06/29/07)
378 - TZA (2/8/07)

HAPPY BELATED 4TH!!!!!!!!

I Chew Because I Like Chewing!
________________________________________


Ask almost any current chewer why he continues to indulge in such a dangerous activity and he will normally reply, "Because I like chewing." While he may say this in all honesty, it is a very misleading statement, both to the listener and to the chewer himself. He does not chew because he enjoys chewing, rather he chews because he does not enjoy not chewing.
Nicotine is a powerfully addictive drug. The chewer is in a constant battle to maintain a narrow range of nicotine in her blood stream (serum nicotine level). Every time the chewer's serum nicotine level falls below the minimum limit, he experiences drug withdrawal. He becomes tense, irritable, anxious and, in some cases, even shows physical symptoms. He does not enjoy feeling these withdrawals. The only thing that will alleviate these acute symptoms will be a chew. The nicotine loss is then replenished and, hence, the chewer feels better. He enjoyed chewing.
A chewer must also be cautious not to exceed his upper limit of tolerance for nicotine or else suffer varying degrees of nicotine poisoning. Many chewers can attest to this condition. It usually occurs after parties or extremely tense situations when the chewers finds themselves exceeding their normal level of consumption. They feel sick, nauseous, dizzy and generally miserable.
Being a successful chewer is like being an accomplished tightrope walker. The chewer must constantly maintain a balance between these two painful extremes of too much or too little nicotine. The fear which accompanies initial chewing cessation is that the rest of the ex-chewer's entire life will be as horrible as the first few days without chews. What ex-chewers will learn is that within a short period of time, the physical withdrawal will start to diminish. First, the urges will weaken in intensity and then become shorter in duration. There will be longer time intervals between urges. It will eventually reach the point where the ex-chewer will desire a chew very infrequently, if ever. Those who continue to chew will continue to be in a constant battle of maintaining their serum nicotine level.
Included in this battle is the great expense of buying can after can and the dangerous assault on the chewer's body of sucking the poison nicotine along with over 4,000 other toxic chemicals inherent in the tobacco. These chemicals are deadly by themselves and even more so in combination.
So the next time you think of how much you once seemed to enjoy chew, sit back and take a serious, objective look at why you have such an idealization of this dangerous product. Consider all the consequences. You will probably realize that you feel physically and mentally better now than you ever did as a chewer. Consider all of this and - NEVER TAKE ANOTHER DIP!

Joel

© Joel Spitzer 1983, 2000
Page last updated by Joel Spitzer on August 24, 2003

DRAMA QUEENS
9 JULY 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
500 - QuittinTime (06/06/07) Congrats to all stepping up to the 500 club.
527 - Fishforsale (7/03/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
507 - DFloyd (06/14/07)
525 - CoryB (7-2-7)
532 - Redspringer (06/27/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
500 - 4myfamily (06/29/07)
378 - TZA (2/8/07)

Caring for Your Recovery

The recovered cocaine addict, the heroin addict, the nicotine addict, each knows the law of addiction. They’ve heard it over and over and over. Just one, just once, that's all it ever takes and it's back! They’ve also read or heard about the relapse study data indicating that 95% to 97% of recovered addicts who take just one chew, one hit, one snort or one injection, experience full and complete relapse. They know the rule of addiction and they know what happens if they break it. Then why do we?
There are three primary factors associated with relapse: (1) rewriting the law of addiction; (2) an excuse; and (3) a vague memory. It doesn’t matter if it happens within two weeks after quitting, two months, two years, or twenty years, the factors remain the same and apply to all of us. Rewriting the law of addiction is easy and you don’t need a pencil, paper or computer to do it.

“Just one chew” and then “do not pass go, do not collect $200, but go directly to the addict’s prison and surrender your freedom for good.” It isn’t that the recovering nicotine addict doesn’t know or believe the law of addiction, because we do. It’s just that we begin to believe that we’re the exception. We convince ourselves that we’re stronger than those who wrote the law, and wiser than the addicts who came before us. We amend the law. We put ourselves above it. “Just one, it’ll be ok, I can handle it, I'm stronger than the others, a little reward, it's been a while, I’ve earned it.”

I’m sorry. As soon as those words are spoken, it's over. Instead of saying that you can handle“ just one ” a truthful statement would have been “I can handle them all, give them all back to me, my entire addiction, all the spittoons, the sore throat and tongue, the bad breath, I want it all back.” It’s far easier to create an exception to the “law” than to admit the truth. A one can a day addiction is approximately 4,000 chews of tobacco a year. Don’t picture chewing just one. Picture taking 4,000 slave-driven chews each and every year. “To thine own self be true.” You deserve the truth - you paid the price - you earned it.

The excuse can be anything. Usually the addict waits for that great excuse to come along, but some get tired of waiting and any old excuse will do. Even joy! A reunion with an old chewing buddy, a few drinks with friends, a wedding, a graduation, or even a baby’s birth and a free nicotine laden cigar, why not! But joyful relapse is harder to explain to yourself and to those you love.

The smart nicotine addict waits for the great excuse, the one that we know we can sell to ourselves and others. As sick as it may sound, the easiest to sell and the best of all is the death of a loved one. Although everyone we love is destined to die and it will happen sooner or later, for the reformed addict it’s the perfect excuse for relapse. I mean, who can blame us for ingesting highly addictive drugs into our bodies upon our mother’s death. Anyone who does would have to be extremely insensitive or totally heartless! Right? Losing a job, the end of a relationship, illness, disease or financial problems are all are great excuses too - it’s drug time again! The addict is back!

But an excuse doesn’t work alone. It needs help. Failing memories of “why” we were willing to climb walls and endure tremendous internal agony in order to break free, breathes fatal life into any excuse. Most of us failed to keep a detailed record of why we quit or what it was like. Instead, we're forced to rely upon our memory to accurately and vividly preserve the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. But now, the memory in which we placed all our trust has failed us.

It isn’t that your memory is bad, faulty or doing anything wrong. In fact, it’s working as it should to preserve in as much detail as possible the joyful events of life, while forgetting, as quickly as possible, all the pain and hurt that we’ve felt, including all of the wrong we’ve done. To have our brains do otherwise would make life inside our minds unbearable. If women were forced to remember the true agony and intense pain of childbirth, most would have just one. God blessed us with the gift to forget.

So how does the reformed nicotine addict who failed to keep accurate records of their journey, revive their passion for freedom and recall the price they paid for liberty. If we forget the past, are we destined to repeat it? Not necessarily. It doesn’t have to be. But just as any loving relationship needs nourishment to flourish, we can never take our quit for granted or the flame will eventually die and the fire will go out. We have to want to protect it until the day we die. We have to turn that "want" into action. If we do, we win. If not, our fate may be similar to almost all who don’t - relapse followed by crippling disease or early death.

Whether daily, weekly or monthly our quit needs care. If you don’t have a detailed log to regularly review upon each quit anniversary or birthday, do your best to create one now. Talk to chewing friends and ask for help in revitalizing your memories. Encourage them to be as truthful as possible. Although they may look like they’re enjoying chewing, their primary joy is in keeping their body’s nicotine level within the comfort zone, so as to avoid the onset of early withdrawal. Show them your pen and paper. Let them help make your list. You may even spark their desire for freedom. Be kind and sincere. It wasn't long ago that those were our shoes.

Think about that first week. What was it like? Can you still feel the powerful craves as your body begged and cried to be fed? Can you still feel the pain? Do you see yourself not being able to concentrate, having difficulty sleeping, feeling depressed, angry, irritable, frustrated, restless, with tremendous anxiety, a foggy mind, sweating palms, rapidly cycling emotions, irrational thinking, emotional outbursts or even the shakes? Do you remember these things? Do you remember the price you paid for freedom?

If you have access to a computer, you wont’ need a Chewer’s help. You can go on-line to scores of chewing cessation support groups and find thousands of battles being fought, hear tons of cries and watch hundreds who won’t make it through “Hell Week” to the hope that lies beyond. Visit as often as possible. Make a few posts to those in need. Share your valuable quit wisdom and give the gift of hope. Most don’t know what it’s like to be free. Most have few remaining memories of the days before their addiction. Fear of the unknown is frightening. Help them and in doing so help yourself.

If you find yourself attempting to rewrite the law of addiction, stop, think, remember, read, revisit, revive and give to others, but most important, be honest with you. Terrible and emotional events will happen in each of our lives - such is life. Relapse won’t fix, correct or undo any of them. In your mind, plan for disaster today. How will you cope? What will do? Remember, your addiction is real. Today it sleeps. Will it sleep tomorrow?

John R. Polito

© WhyQuit.Com 2000, 2002

DRAMA QUEENS
11 JULY 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
535 - QuittinTime (07/11/07)
527 - Fishforsale (7/03/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
507 - DFloyd (06/14/07)
525 - CoryB (7-2-7)
532 - Redspringer (06/27/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
500 - 4myfamily (06/29/07)
378 - TZA (2/8/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
11 JULY 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
535 - QuittinTime (07/11/07)
527 - Fishforsale (7/03/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
507 - DFloyd (06/14/07)
525 - CoryB (7-2-7)
534 - Redspringer (07/11/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
500 - 4myfamily (06/29/07)
378 - TZA (2/8/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
11 JULY 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
535 - QuittinTime (07/11/07)
540 - Fishforsale (7/16/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
507 - DFloyd (06/14/07)
525 - CoryB (7-2-7)
534 - Redspringer (07/11/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
500 - 4myfamily (06/29/07)
378 - TZA (2/8/07)

How have you been Fish?

Every Quit is Different


Every quit is different. Not only that, but when a person quits multiple times, each one of those quits is different also. Some people quit and have a terrible time, relapse down the road and are terrified to quit again because they "know" what will happen the next time. Well, actually they don't know. The next time may be a breeze in comparison. On the alternate side, some people have an easy quit, go back with the attitude, "Oh well, if I have to, I'll just quit again." They may find the next quit horrendous, and possibly not be able to pull it off.

The reason I mention this is it is possible that you won't have any major symptoms this time. I have had a lot of can or two a day Chewers who chewed 40 plus years who toss them with minimal withdrawal or discomfort. The reason they never tried to quit before is that they witnessed people who chewed one fourth of what they did go thorough terrible side effects and figured, "If it did that to them, it will kill me." But when the time came, their quit was easy in comparison.

You may find that this quit will be relatively easy. Stranger things have happened. But if it does, don't think that this doesn't mean that you were not addicted. The factor that really shows the addiction is not how hard or how easy it is to quit. What really shows the addiction is how universally easy it is to go back. One chew and the quit can go out the window.

Summing up, the first few days may be relatively easy, or for some, it may be very difficult. Who knows? The only thing we know is that once you get past the third day nicotine free, it will ease up physically. Psychological triggers will still exist but more controllable measures can be taken with them, basically keeping your ammunition up for why you don't want to be a Chewer.

Easy or hard, quitting is worth it. Once you have quit for even a few hours, you have invested some effort, time, and maybe even a little pain. Make this effort count for something. As long as you hang in there now, all of this will have accomplished a goal. It got you off of chewing tobacco.

© Joel Spitzer 2002
Whyquit.com

How effective are over-the-counter NRT products?

We nicotine addicts have been lied to by so many for so long that it's getting hard to believe. One of the biggest lies of all is that few successful quitters are quitting cold turkey, that you have to be a superhero to do so, or that it requires a Herculean effort to succeed.

To the contrary, even today with Chewers being drowned in a sea of magic cures that include NRT products, Zyban, Wellbutrin, magic herbs, the traveling hypnotist, Chew-Away, acupuncture, and every quick fix magic cure ever devised by man, the American Cancer Society's 2003 Cancer Facts and Figures report asserts that 91.2% of all successful long-term quitters quit entirely on their own. When it comes to magic quitting cures there is only one cure with the potential to keep you 100% nicotine free for the remainder of your life and it is "you!"

The websites and commercials of those marketing nicotine replacement therapy products (the nicotine patch, gum, chewer and lozenge) are not advertising the fact that a March 2003 study, published in Tobacco Control, combined and average all over-the-counter NRT patch and gum studies and found that 93% had relapsed to chewing within six-months. It’s even worse as a November 2003 study (also published in Tobacco Control) found that as many as 7% of nicotine gum quitters and 2% of patch users may still be dependent upon the gum or patch at six months.

Nor will those with a financial stake tell you that if you've already tried quitting with the nicotine patch once that they have known since as early as 1993 that your odds during a second or subsequent attempt drop to almost zero (see Tonnesen, Addiction, April 1993). Also don't expect them to reveal that 36.6% of all current nicotine gum users are chronic long-term users of greater than 6 months (see Shiffman, Addiction, Jan. 2004), but why?

The hypnotist and acupuncturist will never tell you that governments around the world (including the U.S.) have reviewed all credible studies and found no evidence whatsoever that either is effective in helping Chewers quit. Why? They're not telling you the truth because they know just how badly you want to break free and know you're willing to pay hard earned money for a quick and painless magic cure.

If you are able to get your brain's dopamine, adrenaline and serotonin pathways adjusted to again functioning without nicotine while continuing to use it, be proud of yourself because you are in fact a superhero. But if you are among the 93 out of 100 first time NRT users who quickly relapse, or among the nearly 100% who gave the patch a second try and again fell flat on your face, then don't get discouraged as you are in some wonderful company.

There is only one quitting aid that can 100% guarantee success and it is you!

Whyquit.com – by John R. Polito

DRAMA QUEENS
17 JULY 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
535 - QuittinTime (07/11/07)
540 - Fishforsale (7/16/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
540 - DFloyd (07/17/07)
525 - CoryB (7-2-7)
534 - Redspringer (07/11/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
500 - 4myfamily (06/29/07)
378 - TZA (2/8/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
18 JULY 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet.... :elmer:
540 - Fishforsale (7/16/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
540 - DFloyd (07/17/07)
525 - CoryB (7-2-7)
534 - Redspringer (07/11/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
500 - 4myfamily (06/29/07)
378 - TZA (2/8/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
19 JULY 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
540 - Fishforsale (7/16/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
540 - DFloyd (07/17/07)
525 - CoryB (7-2-7)
534 - Redspringer (07/11/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
521 - 4myfamily (07/19/07)
378 - TZA (2/8/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
19 JULY 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
540 - Fishforsale (7/16/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
542 - DFloyd (07/19/07)
525 - CoryB (7-2-7)
534 - Redspringer (07/11/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
521 - 4myfamily (07/19/07)
378 - TZA (2/8/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
21 JULY 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
540 - Fishforsale (7/16/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
542 - DFloyd (07/19/07)
525 - CoryB (7-2-7)
544 - Redspringer (07/21/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
521 - 4myfamily (07/19/07)
378 - TZA (2/8/07)

Please remember to take the time to stop by in Oct 2006 to congratulate Chewie on his 1st year free from tobacco.

Thanks

DRAMA QUEENS
21 JULY 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
540 - Fishforsale (7/16/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
542 - DFloyd (07/19/07)
547 - CoryB (7-24-7)
544 - Redspringer (07/21/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
521 - 4myfamily (07/19/07)
378 - TZA (2/8/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
30 JULY 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
540 - Fishforsale (7/16/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
542 - DFloyd (07/19/07)
547 - CoryB (7-24-7)
553 - Redspringer (07/30/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
521 - 4myfamily (07/19/07)
378 - TZA (2/8/07)

Are you ready for some football?!?!?

Alright, I know baseball is still going on but the time has come to start thinking about football. Training camps opened up this past week and preseason games start soon. First regular season game is September 6th.

So that means it is also time to start thinking about Fantasy Football. I have set up a league. I have limited it to 16 teams, first come first serve. Draft will be Sunday night, August 19th. Come and play.

http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/league/quitdip

League ID: 285903
Password: dipsucks

wOOt

DRAMA QUEENS
30 JULY 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
540 - Fishforsale (7/16/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
542 - DFloyd (07/19/07)
554 - CoryB (7-31-7)
553 - Redspringer (07/30/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
521 - 4myfamily (07/19/07)
378 - TZA (2/8/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
07 AUGUST 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
540 - Fishforsale (7/16/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
542 - DFloyd (07/19/07)
554 - CoryB (7-31-7)
561 - Redspringer (08/07/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
521 - 4myfamily (07/19/07)
378 - TZA (2/8/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
07 AUGUST 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
540 - Fishforsale (7/16/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
542 - DFloyd (07/19/07)
562 - CoryB (8-8-7)
561 - Redspringer (08/07/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
521 - 4myfamily (07/19/07)
378 - TZA (2/8/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
07 AUGUST 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
570 - Fishforsale (8/15/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
542 - DFloyd (07/19/07)
562 - CoryB (8-8-7)
561 - Redspringer (08/07/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
521 - 4myfamily (07/19/07)
378 - TZA (2/8/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
07 AUGUST 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
570 - Fishforsale (8/15/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
542 - DFloyd (07/19/07)
569 - CoryB (8-15-7)
561 - Redspringer (08/07/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
521 - 4myfamily (07/19/07)
378 - TZA (2/8/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
07 AUGUST 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
570 - Fishforsale (8/22/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
542 - DFloyd (07/19/07)
576 - CoryB (8-15-7)
561 - Redspringer (08/07/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
521 - 4myfamily (07/19/07)
378 - TZA (2/8/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
07 AUGUST 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
570 - Fishforsale (8/22/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
542 - DFloyd (07/19/07)
576 - CoryB (8-15-7)
561 - Redspringer (08/07/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
521 - 4myfamily (07/19/07)
578 - TZA (8/27/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
07 AUGUST 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
570 - Fishforsale (8/22/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
542 - DFloyd (07/19/07)
581 - CoryB (8-27-7)
561 - Redspringer (08/07/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
521 - 4myfamily (07/19/07)
578 - TZA (8/27/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
04 SEPTEMBER 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
570 - Fishforsale (8/22/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
542 - DFloyd (07/19/07)
581 - CoryB (8-27-7)
589 - Redspringer (09/04/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
521 - 4myfamily (07/19/07)
578 - TZA (8/27/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
04 SEPTEMBER 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
597 - Fishforsale (09/11/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
542 - DFloyd (07/19/07)
581 - CoryB (8-27-7)
589 - Redspringer (09/04/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
521 - 4myfamily (07/19/07)
578 - TZA (8/27/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
04 SEPTEMBER 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
597 - Fishforsale (09/11/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
542 - DFloyd (07/19/07)
598 - CoryB (9-13-7)
589 - Redspringer (09/04/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
521 - 4myfamily (07/19/07)
578 - TZA (8/27/07)

*chirp*chirp*chirp*............*needeep*needeep*needeep*


Someone feed the fucking crickets, would ya? <_<

DRAMA QUEENS
04 SEPTEMBER 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
597 - Fishforsale (09/11/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
542 - DFloyd (07/19/07)
605 - CoryB (9-20-7)
589 - Redspringer (09/04/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
521 - 4myfamily (07/19/07)
578 - TZA (8/27/07)

"Minimizing the Most Common
Side Effects to Quitting Chewing"

Blood sugar plummets in many people when first quitting. The most common side effects felt during the first three days can often be traced back to blood sugar issues. Symptoms such as headache, inability to concentrate, dizziness, time perception distortions, and the ubiquitous sweet tooth encountered by many, are often associated with this blood sugar drop. The symptoms of low blood sugar are basically the same symptoms as not having enough oxygen, similar to reactions experienced at high altitudes. The reason being the inadequate supply of sugar and/or oxygen means the brain is getting an incomplete fuel. If you have plenty of one and not enough of the other, your brain cannot function at any form of optimal level. When you quit chewing, oxygen levels are often better than they have been in years, but with a limited supply of sugar it can't properly fuel your brain.

It is not that chewing tobacco put sugar into your blood stream; it is more of a drug interaction of the stimulant effect of nicotine that affects the blood sugar levels. Chewing tobacco cause the body to release its own stores of sugar and fat by a drug type of interaction. That is how it basically operated as an appetite suppressant, affecting the satiety centers of your hypothalamus. As far as for the sugar levels, nicotine in fact works much more efficiently than food. If you use food to elevate blood sugar levels, it literally takes up to 20 minutes from the time you chew and swallow the food before it is released to the blood, and thus the brain, for its desired effect of fueling your brain. Chewing tobacco, by working through a drug interaction cause the body to release its own stores of sugar, but not in 20 minutes but usually in a matter of seconds. In a sense, your body has not had to release sugar on its own in years, you have done it by using nicotine's drug effect!

This is why many people really gorge themselves on food upon cessation. They start to experience a drop in blood sugar and instinctively reach for something sweet. Upon finishing the food, they still feel symptomatic. Of course they do, it takes them a minute or two to eat, but the blood sugar isn't boosted for another 18 minutes. Since they are not feeling immediately better, they eat a little more. They continue to consume more and more food, minute after minute until they finally they start to feel better. Again if they are waiting for the blood sugar to go up we are talking about 20 minutes after the first swallow. People can eat a lot of food in 20 minutes. But they begin to believe that this was the amount needed before feeling better. This can be repeated numerous times throughout the day thus causing a lot of calories being consumed and causing weight gain to become a real risk.

When you abruptly quit chewing, the body is in kind of a state of loss, not knowing how to work normally since it has not worked normally in such a long time. Usually by the third day, though, your body will readjust and release sugar as it is needed. Without eating any more your body will just figure out how to regulate blood sugar more efficiently.

You may find though that you do have to change dietary patterns to one that is more normal for you. Normal is not what it was as a Chewer, but more what it was before you took up chewing with aging thrown in. Some people go until evening without eating while they are Chewers. If they try the same routine as ex-Chewers they will suffer side effects of low blood sugar. It is not that there is something wrong with them now, they were abnormal before for all practical purposes. This doesn't mean they should eat more food, but it may mean they need to redistribute the food eaten to a more spread out pattern so they are getting blood sugar doses throughout the day as nature really had always intended.

To minimize some of the real low blood sugar effects of the first few days it really can help to keep drinking juice throughout the day. After the fourth day though, this should no longer be necessary as your body should be able to release sugar stores if your diet is normalized. If you are having problems that are indicative of blood sugar issues beyond day three, it wouldn't hurt talking to your doctor and maybe getting some nutritional counseling.

Joel Spitzer

© Joel Spitzer 2001

DRAMA QUEENS
04 SEPTEMBER 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
597 - Fishforsale (09/11/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
542 - DFloyd (07/19/07)
609 - CoryB (9-24-7)
589 - Redspringer (09/04/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
521 - 4myfamily (07/19/07)
578 - TZA (8/27/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
24 SEPTEMBER 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
597 - Fishforsale (09/11/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
609 - DFloyd (09/24/07)
609 - CoryB (9-24-7)
589 - Redspringer (09/04/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
521 - 4myfamily (07/19/07)
578 - TZA (8/27/07)

Hall of Famer Hangout

A proposal: For some of us, our quit groups have diminished. Folks just are not posting any more. There's nothing wrong with this. It is a natural progression in quitting. Life goes on.

But for those of us that are still posting, it can be a little lonely.:(

So, let's band together! :)

I've been posting roll call in the Hall of Famer Hangout. This could be pretty cool. One day last week, with only a few others posting, the days added up to 3,500!!! That's over 9½ years! :o

We already sort of know each other as quit brothers and sisters. Let's get to know each other better and help each other keep our quits. :)

Keep a positive mental outlook everyone. You are fighting for freedom, for your own life, you are NOT depriving yourself of these toxins. Don’t let your addiction confuse the issue.

Have an awesome day everyone!
Rob


Do you feel like you've lost a close friend (half empty) or do realize that friends don’t slowly kill friends (half full)? Are you “quitting” (half empty) or engaging in recovery knowing that the real quitting took place on the day that nicotine took control of your mind (half full)? Do you fear the arrival of that next crave (half empty) or do you look forward to the opportunity to re-condition yet another subconscious nicotine feeding cue and reclaim another aspect of life (half full)? Will the next episode last forever (falsehood) or will it end within a couple of minutes (truth)? Will withdrawal never end (falsehood) or will its intensity peak within 72 hours and then begin to gradually subside (truth)? Will you continue to experience daily craves forever (falsehood) or will you experience that very first day where you never once think about wanting to chew within the next few months (truth)?

Do you truly find joy in being addicted to one of the most powerful substances on planet earth or is that just something you convinced yourself of in order to justify your addiction, your next fix, and to avoid the challenge of withdrawal? Will 5, 10 or even 20 temporary extra pounds actually kill you (if they even happen at all) or have you learned that it takes 75 to 100 extra pounds to equal the health risk associated with one can of chewing tobacco a day?

Do you tell yourself that chewing helps to calm and reduce stress, or have you discovered that stressful acid producing events rapidly neutralize the body's reserves of the alkaloid nicotine, and that chewing more nicotine simply replenishes a rapidly falling blood-serum nicotine level bringing you back into that artificial comfort zone? A Chewer and a non-Chewer both experience flat tires. The nonChewer reaches for a jack while the Chewer reaches for nicotine. The Chewer doesn’t do so because he wants to but because they must.

Do you tell yourself that you're growing weaker by the hour and won't be able to handle the next crave episode (if any), or do you find comfort in the fact that it’s a very necessary part of your healing and won’t last longer than 3 minutes? Do you show fear that breeds and fuels extra anxiety or does education, understanding, and planning have you celebrating? Do you feed your mind visions of going to the store and purchasing that relapse can of decay, destruction, defeat, disease and a 50/50 chance of a very early death, or do you delight in the extra coins gradually filling your pockets or purse?

Are you missing the toxic chew? Crushing chemically laden cans and dumping an endless cycle of spittoons? Or are you marveling in a new spittoon-free world that's clean, bright and refreshing? Is your cup half empty or is it half full? We are what we think - attitude is everything.

DRAMA QUEENS
28 OCTOBER 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
597 - Fishforsale (09/11/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
643 - DFloyd (09/24/07)
609 - CoryB (9-24-7)
589 - Redspringer (09/04/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
521 - 4myfamily (07/19/07)
578 - TZA (8/27/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
02 NOVEMBER 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
597 - Fishforsale (09/11/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
643 - DFloyd (09/24/07)
609 - CoryB (9-24-7)
589 - Redspringer (09/04/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
627 - 4myfamily (11/02/07)
578 - TZA (8/27/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
04 NOVEMBER 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
597 - Fishforsale (09/11/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
654 - DFloyd (11/4/07)
609 - CoryB (9-24-7)
589 - Redspringer (09/04/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
627 - 4myfamily (11/02/07)
578 - TZA (8/27/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
13 NOVEMBER 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
597 - Fishforsale (09/11/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
654 - DFloyd (11/4/07)
609 - CoryB (9-24-7)
658 - Redspringer (11/13/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
627 - 4myfamily (11/02/07)
578 - TZA (8/27/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
13 NOVEMBER 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
597 - Fishforsale (09/11/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
654 - DFloyd (11/4/07)
661 - CoryB (11-15-7)
658 - Redspringer (11/13/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
627 - 4myfamily (11/02/07)
578 - TZA (8/27/07)

Hey Cory! I don't visit the site much anymore (too busy with everyday life and just plum forget about even thinking about dipping). I hope all is well is your world. Just thinking about ya. Peace!

DRAMA QUEENS
19 NOVEMBER 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
666 - Fishforsale (11/19/07):fly28:
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
654 - DFloyd (11/4/07)
661 - CoryB (11-15-7)
658 - Redspringer (11/13/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
627 - 4myfamily (11/02/07)
578 - TZA (8/27/07)

DRAMA QUEENS
19 NOVEMBER 2007
ROLL CALL

500 - Warbird (06/06/07)
365 - Remshot (01/22/07)
542 - QuittinTime (07/18/07)Be vewry verwy quwiet....
667 - Fishforsale (11/20/07)
471 - Danoj (05/09/07)
654 - DFloyd (11/4/07)
661 - CoryB (11-15-7)
658 - Redspringer (11/13/07)
365 - snoborder (02/05/07)
627 - 4myfamily (11/02/07)
578 - TZA (8/27/07)

QSXtreme / Kill the Can - 365
Remshot - 667

Flavius - you banned us, you censored us, you told lies. We are better for your weaknesses.