You wouldn't believe how addictive smoking is... and of all people I should know better. My father died 2 years ago after a year and a half battle with lung cancer. The lung cancer itself didn't kill him, but when you get lung cancer it is hard to keep it from spreading. My dads case was common, it spread to his bones, resulting in hip surgery to replace the Ball in the hip, then it took hold up and down his backbone, affecting the nerve endings, putting him in constant pain. From there it went to his brain.Like I said this is a common scenario once you have lung cancer. My mother died nine years ago, from various illnesses, the main one being "c.o.p.d." This is a respiratory illness and in her case, if not the sole cause of this was at least the fuel that feed this disease was her addiction to smoking. It affected the oxygen levels in her blood and her ability to expel fluid from her lungs. I would watch the doctors take a large needle stick in my mom's back to pull excess water from her lungs. She spent the last year of her life in a nursing home, the last three months she was bed ridden, you know this is becoming tough for me to write, I am just touching on what I seen. This is what smoking can result in. I now find myself fighting this addiction, and I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy smoking, just makes it harder to quit. Didn't mean to be so long winded here, Thank you for your comment-Lee

The addiction I have to smoking is probably similar to someone addicted to alcohol. I had a close friend who was an alcoholic, I know you have fought your own battles with alcohol. I never considered myself an alcoholic but I did go through a stretch where I drink to ease personal pain. You reminded me of how one night I drunk too much too quick, went to bed (cause I had to work the next day) and the room would not stop spinning, but I figured out if I knelt in a praying position beside my bed, with my head on the mattress, and my arms covering and gripping my head, the room would not spin as fast. But, of course, I feel sleep in that position. Whew... the next morning! I think alcoholism is a far tougher battle than smoking and even tho I have not commented on your post concerning this, I have read them and commend you, being careful not to say you have won this battle, but to say I am glad you are "winning" this battle, I know you have to face this everyday. Thanks for your positive comment on my post take care-Lee

Oh....PS... The next morning the first thing I had to have
was a cigarette..

I am pretty active too, but I have never smoked WHILE I was exercising, I play basketball a lot and seen people play with a cig in their mouth... When I was in my twenties I could smoke all I want, never bother me, but at 43 I am feeling it.... take care-Lee

so many times, I had stopped for 3 months and a month ago picked it back up. It is frustrating because I know I only have me to blame, makes me feel weak. By the way, you quit smoking when you turned eight(I did the math)? Thanks for the heads up on eating too... I will make sure I have something to snack on if I am going to be around any dogs or kids, but I have to quit first.... Thanks Linda, for the supportive words, I will keep trying-Lee

Hows it going? You know its something I need to do, I can't handle it like I use to,lol... it is hard to quit when all your friends smoke, and part of me still enjoys a good smoke, man, a cold beer and camel lights, after a hard day at work... but I feel better when I don't, Hey thanks for the comments, take care-Lee