sgt.barney

> as the brain fog became unbearable It was perfectly bearable. You wanted to smoke so you *chose* otherwise. This time. Choose otherwise next time and all will be well. EZPZ

QSMB imploded long before that ... and that implosion birthed this site. It finally died years later.

Olde Pharte checking in: QSMB 2011 We're mostly still around. Some more than others. Sarge manages to stop by every quarter or so. EZPZ

Indeed. EZPZ

EZPZ

It is as difficult or as easy as you choose to make it. Your current ... situation ... (whatever it may be) ... is 100٪ self inflicted. You are in control of the outcome here. Time to start making the right choices ... right? EZPZ

Sarge is a child born of the late 1960s. Grew up in the 1970s and early 80's. Back in those days it hovered around 40% of the adult population here in These United States. Just about half of folks smoked. Currently, the CDC lists cigarette usage at about 13% of the US Population. It's down. Considerably. A. Lot. These are legit stats published by the CDC. If you google, you will find them (Sarge is too damned lazy to do it for you) EZPZ

Would you have gone to see The Doc for these symptoms had you not quit? There's your answer. EZPZ.

Why? A horrible Doc visit (after 10+ years of avoiding same). Stage II Hypertension (ridiculously high blood pressure (regularly clocked at 170/110 (YIKES!!!)) Pre-Diabetes (ridiculously high blood glucose levels) Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Syndrome Hypercholesterolemia (ridiculously high cholesterol levels (triglycerides off the motherfucking charts). Quitting smoking was just one of a multi-pronged, life-changing series of events (weight loss (60+ lbs), physical training (became a marathon runner), changed diet (mostly plant-based, healthy diet (used to live on Taco Bell, Doritos, Pepsi, and Pop-Tarts), quit a high-stress job/career, started sleeping (CPAP) ... Quittin smoking (along with the rest) erased all that. It's a decade later and they're still gone. Almost all disappeared within the first year. The blood pressure took almost 6 years, but it's quite normal now. Sarge will enter his 60s with zero meds (other than a Vitamin D defiency (easily correctable with a simple supplement)) and healthier than he was in his 20s and 30s ... and with a bit of luck, no complications from almost 3 decades of suckin' the Death Sticks. EZPZ.

Tip of the hat to my friend, Jon. EZPZ.

It is time to leave The Temple, young Grasshopper ... EZPZ

> Still smoking!!!! Sarge is here to inform you that, well, ... That's just farking stupid. Stop that shit. Now. EZPZ

There is only one "OK" way. Put the cigarettes down and never smoke another so long as you live. Anything else is unnecessarily irrelevant detail. None of that other crap matters. There is one-and-only-one step: Never. Smoke. Again. ALL successful quitters are stuck at this step and will never move past it. ALL failed quits fail when this step fails. Nothing. Else. Matters. EZPZ

It is never too late AND it is always too late. It is too late to avoid the damage that has already been done. Much of it will be reversable. Not at all ALL of it. Permanent damage is permanent, after all. We all have to live with that. The good news: You can avoid doing ADDITIONAL damage. Quit now, and you will do no more damage. What can be healed will start to heal. What can't ... won't. Saying "It's too late" is nothing more than a bullshit excuse. Don't make excuses. Stop. The. Insanity. EZPZ

Sarge cautions you to amend your thinking: You have not had success before. You have not quit before. Had you, we would not be having this conversation. Other than that: go on with your efforts. Have success this time. Actually QUIT this time. EZPZ.