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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-01-15, Page 3A difficult habit to break bit it can those who have done it be done say By Joanne Buchanan Of all the New Year's resolutions made by people, the resolve to quit smoking is perhaps one of the most common and pro- bably one of the most difficult just ask anyone who has quit or is trying to quit. You don't have to look far to find such peo- ple. Right in the Clinton News -Record tffice are two employees who have given up the smoking habit. Mary Ann Hollenbeck quit smoking 12 years ago after going through a pack to a pack and a half of cigarettes a day for 12 years. She hada cold at the time and had cut back on her consumption. "I didn't really expect to quit but as each day went by, it got a bit easier, she recalls. That doesn't mean it was easy to quit though. Mary Ann remembers that she suffered side effects like depression' and insomnia. "I would get into bad moods and would cry easily and lots of nights I couldn't sleep for thinking about having a cigarette," she says. She also gained some weight in the beginning but says she lost it again. Mary Ann is glad she no longer smokes: She used to grab for her cigarettes first' thing in the morning when her alarm went off and if she didn't have time for both Lunch and a cigarette on her noon hour, she'd stop eating. Mary Ann thinks quitting 'cold turkey' is - the best method. She also says it's better if you don't tell anybody you're quitting so they won't keep' asking for 'a progress report every time they see you. Another tip she would give to those trying to quit smok- ing is to take up a hobby to keep the hands busy. Mary Ann says she didn't drink any alcohol for the first three months she was' trying to quit smoking as it seemed to in- crease her desire for a cigarette., Cold Turkey Best Freda McLeod, another News -Record employee, quit smoking two years ago April 1st after smoking a pack of roll-your- 8Wn cigarettes per day for about 25 years. "Nobody thought I could do it, so I prov- ed them wrong," she says. She agrees with Mary Ann that cold turkey is the best method of quitting. The fact that nobody else in her office smokes made it easier too she says. The first time she was around others who were smoking, she found itdifficult but she doesn't any more. Freda didn't suffer any side effects from. giving up smoking, except for weight gain. One good thing she discovered was that she no longer had the feeling of dizziness she used to experience from time to time as a smoker. Up the street from the Clinton News- Record at tfit 'Huron ' biinty "Board 'of . Education office, plant manager Mike Rau will tell you that he feels giving up smok- ing is the single most important thing he'll ever do for himself. It also sets a good ex- ample for one's children he says. "Cigarettes can rule your life," explains Mike who smoked two packs of cigarettes per day for 15 years before quitting this past fall. - Mike took the quit smoking course of- fered by the Huron County Health Unit. He had taken it once before and failed. This time he started in mid-September and was taught how to reduce his consumption. His 1 'quit -clay' occurred in mid-October and Mike figured out he had accumulated $650 in savings from that day until..January 8 because of not buying cigarettes. But more than the money saved, he says he feels a lot better about his health too. Recommends Health Unit Course Mike would recommend the health unit's course to others trying to quit smoking. "They give you a lot of good hand-out material and a real good method for reduc-` ing your consumption." ' Mike says taking up a hobby, exercising and chewing gum are some of the tips he would suggest for others trying to quit smoking. He would also tell them not to think that they can get away with just smoking one ortwo cigarettes once they quit. "Every time you have the . odd one, you have to quit all over again,"• he says. Mike maintains that a person has to be really determined to quit smoking. "It's a matter of attitude," he states. • Pat Taylor, a secretary at the board of education office, made a New Year's resolution to cut down on smoking this year. From January 2 until January 8, she had smoked three cigarettes. For the past 17 years, she has been smoking a pack per day. "Quitting on your own is really tough," she says. "I've been really grumpy. I final- ly bought a pack of cigarettes and put them in my purse. Just knowing they are there makes me feel better." The first day without cigarettes, Pat says she chewed' so much gum that her jaws were sore. She finds that "trying not to think about it", cross country skiing and snacking on low calorie foods are helping her through her effort to quit, "The worst part is after meals. I used to rush through my meals to have a cigarette," she says. It's also difficult being around other peo- ple who smoke, explains Pat. However, at the board office, • the majority of employees don't smoke. He's a Non -Smoker Paul Carroll, superintendent of student services with the ,hoard of education, says he hasn't quit smoking. He has become a non-smoker instead. "If I say I've quit that implies that I can start again. By becoming a non-smoker, I have no connection with smoking at all," he explains. Paul became -a-,non-smoker as of New Year's Eve after smoking a pack to a pack and a 'half of cigarettes per day con- tinuously for the past 30 years and he feels it is one of the best Christmas presents he could have given his family. Paul says he wanted to become a 'non- smoker for many reasons. The number one reason washis health. As a. smoker, he .. found himself coughing and often short of breath. "Also, in terms of just plain cleanliness, smoking is a nuisance. You don't always hit the ashtray and it's very messy," says Paul. Another reason for his becoming a non- smoker is the negative effect that smoking has on others. "Given today's social environment, I always made a point of asking others if they minded if I smoked. I was conscious of non-smokers' rights and now that I am a non-smoker myself, . I won't ' be self- righteous about it. I think smokers and non-smokers have to be equally conscious of each other's rights. I don't mind being in the presence of others who smoke now," says Paul. He explains that he has tried to quit smoking many times in the past but it has never worked. He says he became "a bear" and "very irritable". However, this time, by declaring himself a non-smoker, he feels he has finally succeeded. He says he has no cravings for cigarettes and has suffered no side-effects since he became a non-smoker. "I really believe that these withdrawal symptoms are eight parts psychological and two parts physical," he states. Although he says substitutions don't work, he is keeping jube-jubes in his ashtray now. "What else am I going to use it for," he asks. Paul says his appetite has improved along with his sense of taste and smell since he has become a non-smoker. "The bottom line is that you just have•to make up your mind. I feel really happy and comfortable about what I've done," he concludes. Group Psychology Cam Addison, a Grade 6, 7 and 8 teacher at Clinton Public School, found success through a company called Smoke Enders Canada. He took one of their courses in Goderich after seeing in advertised in a newspaper. Before quitting, Cam had smoked for 33 years and was up to two packs per day. He had tried many methods of quitting before Smoke Enders, including acupuncture, hypnosis and chewing Nicorettes. His resolve had never lasted longer than a day. The reason he thinks that Smoke Enders worked for him was the group psychology method and positive approach used. The cost of taking the course was an incentive too. "It was a sizeable, investment and I didn't want to waste the money," he ex- plains. But smoking was costing him $2,000 a year and he estimates that he has saved about $900 already since he quit. Cam says he had many reasons for wan- ting to `quit smoking, the main one being his health. He says he was also tired of be- ing tied up to cigarettes. "I planned my whole life around smoking. I'd panic if I didn't have a cigarette,',' he explains. Cam says quitting smoking Was the hardest thing he's ever done. He gamed 'weight and became very hyper and short tempered he explains. It seldom bothers him now to be around _others who are smoking. When he gets 'momentary tw- inges' of wanting a cigarette,, he tries to change his thinking and to get up and do something. i • Cam says the best metliad for quitting i. 'cold turkey'. He suggests setting a 'quit day' ahead of time.. Beforehand, he says to switch to lighter brands of cigarettes or brands you don't like. Also, he says don't keep a . lighter handy. He' explain that. alcohol, caffeine or any other drug ,will in- crease one's urge to smoke and he sug- gests eating lots of fresh fruit and drinking ' orange juice. Getting someone to quit with you (the buddy system) is also suggesteck As many people who have quit smoking will tell others still trying to quit, it may be the hardest thing you will ever do but it can also be the most rewarding., CLINTON NEWS-IUCORD, WEDNESDAY, DAY, JANUARY 1,5, 1986—Page 34 su�Ts �175,.a X275. SPORTCOATS DSHIRTS ❑CAR COATS ❑WINTER JCKETS 2 0 % g85 .ta ❑SWEATERS'Y 5 . GLOVES to S ' OFF MAIN CORNER, CLINTON 432-9732 Take the Weedless Wednesday challenge help smokers be successful in meeting the - Butterless popcorn without a lot of salt ad - challenge on Weedless Wednesday. ded, is another low -calorie snack that could - Geta group of friends or co-workers to go help you get through the day. , smoke free with you. - Take a walk at lunch - fresh air and a - You could challenge another group or change of pace will help reduce the craving department where you work to go smoke for a curette. free on Weedless Wednesday. Make it a fun day! Additional information is available by - Put carrot and celery sticks and pie'Ces of calling the Huron County Health Unit at 524- . fruit where the ashtrays are usually placed. 8301. Take the challenge and go smoke-free on Weedless Wednesday, Jan. 22. This is the final day of National Non -Smoking Week 1986 which is sponsored by the Canadian Council on Smoking and Health. Join the majority those 70 percent of Canadians who are smoke free - this could be the start of a healthier new lifestyle for you. Here are some survival tips which might COT —11 COt( •Quality Burner Repairs and Tune -Ups •Hi -Efficiency Replacement Furnaces •Call Us For Automatic Fuel Delivery SPECIAL NOTICE RE: CLINTON BY-LAWS By -Law No. 25-1979 Please take note that Owners or Occupiers of all com- mercial or business buildings in the Zone 3 or Downtown area are required to keep all sidewalks adiolning their buildings clear of *know and ice. • You must also remove snow and Ice from the roof overhang so that pedestrians will not be endangered. By -Law No. 2-1981 Citizens are forbidden to deposit snow or ice on the travelled or plowed' portion of any Clinton street or in any manner that would obstruct normal visibility for the safe movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. By -Law No. 3-1972 and 5.1974 Operators of snowmobiles are forbidden to operate their machines: 1) On private property without the permission of the owner 2) On any sidewalk or boulevard In Clinton 3) Within the Community Park without the permission of the Clinton Recreation Committee 4) On No. 4 or No. fl highways 3) Or from mldnlpht to 7 a.m. excerpt to return to your residence. ....: 2 Further Inform otlon on any Town by -few may be obtain- ed from the Cleric's office. C.C. PROCTOR Clerk -Treasurer. Wtes Men's, Ladles', Boy's and Girls' ACTIVE WEAR by Osage, Nike and Adidas Men's and Ladles SKINes"..,: JACKETS'r8499 by O.P. SASHED PRICE Men's & Ladles 2 piece SNOWMOBILE SUITS $ SLAS_ . Children's 2 piece SNOWMOBILE SUITS Reg. $66r to'$6' NOW $4999 to $6999 Pictured above,.. BILL VANSTONE...the service man you can count on! SKI PANTS by Topher • Reg. $9$.99 NOW $6899 Eleuer 100 Supreme Itl1. Phone DON SCRUTON...for all your furnace needs. 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