The GUS Library
From dKosopedia
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Diaries and stories tagged as |
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What is GUS?
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. This is a community diary with one particular aim: to provide support to quitters. Please respect the commitment that GUSsacks are making by doing your part to keep this conversation space safe and supportive. You can click the GUS [1] tag to view all previous diary posts in this series.
Please check out the discussion page to read stories from real-life quitters.
Information on the Quit
There has been a ton of information on smoking cessation posted within the GUS diaries. To a new person with the desire to quit smoking it may seem a daunting task to go through the early diaries and hunt the information down. The main purpose of this page is to provide one place for this information to be available to all GUS members and those who may be considering quitting.
A great source of information about quitting smoking was published on DKos in a diary by Kossack Dallasdoc. In his diary, the following links were provided and they are must reading for any former or current smoker looking for information on quitting smoking:
[2] Smokefree.gov
[3] The American Cancer Society
[4] The American Lung Association
Free soures of information
[[5]] Smoking Cessation
By far the least effective method of quitting is the 'cold turkey' approach, where the smoker abstains from cigarettes through pure willpower. Tobacco is highly addictive, and this method only has a success rate of about 3-5%.[1]. One popular method for discouraging tobacco consumption is the use of 'nicotine patches'. These patches deliver doses of the addictive chemical nicotine, thus reducing the unpleasant effects of nicotine withdrawal. These patches can give smaller and smaller doses of nicotine, slowly reducing dependence upon nicotine and thus tobacco. This method becomes most effective when combined with other medication and psychological support. In clinical trials, medical nicotine replacement patches or gum, the tricyclic anti-depressant nortriptyline, bupropion (Zyban, or Quomem in some countries), and the nicotinic partial agonist, varenicline (Chantix in the U.S. and Champix elsewhere)proved to be effective medication/pharmacological quitting-aids.Notable news (11.24.09): [6] Nicotine Patch Plus Lozenge Best Therapy for Smoking Cessation
[[7]] About.com. When you have a good amount of spare time, check this site out; it's a web surfing paradise and a whole bunch of information.
[8] The Tobacco Atlas, a comprehensive information source on all things tobacco.
[[9]] Nicotine
[[10]] Tobacco Smoking
http://www.becomeanex.org is a great site sponsored by the non profit American Legacy Foundation. The site provides a good deal of evidence-based quit information, tools to help you quit, and a social community with blogs, discussion groups, ask-the-expert capacity. Worth joining
http://www.naquitline.com Provides information on telephone quitlines available in every US state, and Canadian provence. Quitlines have been shown to increase success in quitting and can all be accessed at 1800 QUITNOW, although the services provided differ depending upon where you are calling from. Many provide free or subsidized nicotine replacment medicine.
[[11]] Cigarettes
[[12]] Nicotine Anonymous
[[13]] Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
[[14]] The History of Tobacco
[15] Smoking Cessation
[[16]] Quitnet is a quit smoking chat room, support group, networking sort of thing. Like GUS.
[[17]] Benefits of Quitting is a quit smoking benefits timetable with more detail than I have seen in similar outlines. The table is from WhyQuit.Com, which has tons of information and tips. This page was chosen because it is pertinent to many of us now. I picked out some of my favorites that are within most of our timelines. Recommended reading, as the benefits start immediately!
Smokeless Tobacco
[18] Smokeless Tobacco - help for stopping the spit (National Institutes of Health)
[19] QuitSmokeless.Org is for those who are struggling to quit the smokeless tobacco habit.
[20] "All smokeless tobacco is not created equal" (HAMS Network on safer alternatives)
Harm reduction
[21] CASAA (Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association): a non-profit organization that works to ensure the availability of reduced harm alternatives to smoking and to provide smokers and non-smokers alike with truthful information about such alternatives.
Commercial links
[22] Smokenders is a 4-week smoking cessation program, founded by Jacquelyn Rogers over 35 years ago (citation of date needed). Though Smokenders is a seminar, the information therein can be found inexpensively, in the book You Can Stop Smoking (1977). In this book, Rogers emphasizes the importance of coming up with highly personal, even selfish reasons to quit smoking, as a foundation of postive motivation to remain smoke-free.
[23] Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking
Hubby and I read The Easy Way to Stop Smoking by Allen Carr. Then we quit cold turkey. While cold turkey may not work, or be appropriate for everyone, the book is well worth reading. We had tried to quit before and it always ended in failure. This time it was successful. It was also easier. We haven't craved a cigarette since that first month.Thanks to our quit, we are able to hike a lot more than we used to. :)
GUSsack FrugalGranny
[24] Smokefree Cessation Programs (NYC area), developed by GUSsack smartcookienyc, utilizes one-on-one coaching, quit buddies (2 people), and group programs, to help break the 3 aspects of smoking: physical addiction; psychological dependency and habit.
Tools
Quit Time 1.1.1 [25] is an 832KB Windows program that calculates your individual information to determine affirmative statistics (clean time from smoking, money saved since quitting, estimated time of "life saved," and even total number of cigarettes not smoked:
A similar tool for firefox users is found here [26]
Posting a GUS diary
Chrome (aka "how to write and host a GUS diary")
This section is designed to enable any GUSsack to produce and post a GUS diary in the shortest time possible. It is also a brief tutorial on the mechanics of DKos diaries, in that role it is incomplete. The Blockquotes are meant to be copied and pasted. Edit them as you see fit in your diary.
Here at GUS all diaries are openthreads, some have more substance (yeah).
New. This isn't quite true. Some diaries have restrictions.
DKos diaries consist of five parts
Title
Intro
Body
Poll
Tipjar/buttcan
New.
The title starts GUS: We like snark, add your topic and in most cases 'openthread.'
GUS: Edition and Openthread
The Intro- when I do it, starts with a greeting and a photo, and contains the mission statement.
<a href="http://dailykos.com/tag/GUS">GUS</a> (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. We avoid discussion of political issues. If you are quitting or even thinking about quitting, please -- join us! <a href="http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/The_GUS_Library">GUS Library</a> at dKosopedia is organically evolving, and stocked with free-range information: quit-smoking links, helpful GUS diary writing tips, and <a href="http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/The_GUS_Library#The_GUS_Buddy_List">the GUS buddy list</a>.
There are a number of versions out there, The one above works well for me. N.B. shorter is better than longer because the intro section is character limited. For extra credit GUS and GUS library should be working links. If you copy the contents of the above blockquote the links work. Put the results into a blockquote.
The Body- This is where your content goes followed by two blockquotes
The buddy list or butty list, goes in a blockquote. Copy/paste from the previous diary. Check the previous diary's butt can for recent members who have not been added. This is the most time sensitive element and has in the past caused some annoyance, quitters hate to be left out. I bold the names of recent GUSsacks.
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:
The diary schedule is next and goes in a blockquote. This can be done further ahead of time. Copy/paste from the previous diary, delete the past and add some future if it seems necessary. Openspaces are asking for snark entries. I bold the real ones. Recently we have been accumulating regular diarists which is a good thing. They are denoted by asterisks as in **aoeu** or **FrugalGranny** so when I copy the diary schedule I cut the top line and paste it at the bottom.
So you've had some experience with the effects of smoking, and want to write a GUS diary or host an open thread? Please sign up in the Butt Can (Tip Jar), and name the day and time that works for you (AM, PM, late-night, early-bird...) How to write a GUS diary <a href="http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/The_GUS_Library#Posting_a_GUS_diary">the easy way</a>.
This blockquote is for adding blank future to the diary schedule. I don't know who fixed this for me, but thank you.
<blockquote>
Fri AM: open
Fri PM: open
Sat AM: open
Sat PM: open
Sun AM: open
Sun PM: open
Mon AM: open
Mon PM: open
Tue AM: open
Tue PM: open
Wed AM: open
Wed PM: open
Thu AM: open
Thu PM: open
Fri AM: open
Fri PM: open
Sat AM: open
Sat PM: open
Sun AM: open
Sun PM: open
Mon AM: open
Mon PM: open
Tue AM: open
Tue PM: open
Wed AM: open
Wed PM: open
Thu AM: open
Thu PM: open
</blockquote>
The Poll- is optional and uneditable and not deletable either after you publish your diary. We like snark. Don't forget the pie option.
The tags- Every DKos diary must have at least one tag for searching purposes only. Every GUS diary gets the 'GUS' tag.
GUS, community, personal
GUS, community, personal, smoking cessation, nicotine, tobacco, recovery, addiction
Feel free to add others if you want but please note that tags must be comma separated.
The tip jar/butt can- Every DKos diary gets a tip jar as the first comment. This is a new feature and has caused some confusion. If you do not customize your tip jar it just says tip jar. Here is how to make it a butt can. Before you publish your diary You must 'preview' it. Scroll all the way down. Click Preview Diary. Click on the lower shaded post a comment link, add your title, for example 'butt can,' add your content, click preview, and click post.
Butt can or can't
For administrative use only e.g.
I'm awesome, put me on the buddy list.
I'm so awesome that I feel compelled to write and host a GUS diary.
You are an idiot, did you see that typo?
To publish your diary click preview diary, and then publish diary.
After your diary is published you may edit it. There are only two restrictions on editing, the tip jar and the poll if you have included one. So, if you are running late knocking together an open thread start with the title, the mission statement, the GUS tag and the butt can.
And away you go. Try to keep up with the comments, hand out mojo, and answer questions.
This is how I do it and is the end of the section that I edit. GUS on . . .
--Aoeu 15:58, 18 December 2009 (EST)
Who can write a GUS diary?
Whether you are freshly off the smokes or a grizzled veteran; whether you are still smoking while on a cessation plan, or just have a plan to quit, anyone who is on the GUS buddy list can write a diary. You can also write a diary for GUS if you are a non-smoker whose life has been affected by the habit.
What should go into a GUS diary?
Personal check-in: How did your day go? Did you have any stressful or triggering moments? Is there a success (time away from cigarettes, money saved, a situation handled without resorting to smoking) that you would like to report?
Informational: Diaries on breaking news as it pertains to smoking are welcome, especially those that involve health issues. Please keep in mind that GUS is about personal recovery from the effects of cigarettes, not a lobbying committee with any particular political motives. However, many of us find the G.O.P./Big Tobacco lobbyist factor to be a powerful motivation to stay free of cigarettes.
Positive distractions: ... but ultimately, anywhere your spirit leads you to go. Your diary can be substantive with personal or informative content, or it can be humorous, irreverent, and high in fluff content (i.e. photos, pooties, and youtubes). As former smokers, laughing at ourselves can be healing...or it can just feel really damn good.
When should I post my GUS diary?
Without too much kerfluffle on specificity, GUS schedules an AM and a PM diary, daily. We invite you to post a GUS diary outside of these time frames, with respect to proper spacing between scheduled diaries (3-4 hours recommended).
Why the importance of hosting after posting my GUS diary?
#1 Reason: to reach out to the GUS commenter who may be going through a tough spell. We at GUS are not professionals, but any one of us can offer congratulations, an encouraging thought, or mojo, to someone who is having a hard time quitting.
Also important is to recognize fellow Kossacks who request to be included in the GUS Buddy List. Although they are usually found in the Butt Can/Tip Jar, such comments can be anywhere. Please keep an eye open for them.
In the event that you are unable to monitor comments after posting your diary, it is recommended that you enlist someone to help guest host your diary, so that any needed updates are successfully transferred to the next GUS diarist in line. If you are unable to do this, don't sweat it... usually there are plenty of GUSsacks keeping an eye on the most recent diary.
GUS Diary Series
The GUS Demon Diaries
On the 3-month anniversary of GUS came these four diaries. Known as the "Demon Diaries," they serve as an excellent reminder for us quitters to stay vigilant during the "Terrible Threes" (3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months, 3 years).
GUS: 3 Months Old! Beating The First Demon [27] (3 days) (bsmechanic)
GUS: 3 Months Old! The 2nd demon speaks [28] (3 weeks) (ChocolateChris)
GUS: 3 Months Old, The Third Demon is Lurking [29] (3 months) (bgblcklab1)
GUS: 3 Months Old! Mastering The Fourth Demon [30] (3 years) (Positronicus)
Click here [31] to view the original tale (both text and illustrated) by Positronicus.
Chris the Science Geek
These diaries were originally posted by GUSsack Eclectablog [32] on Quitnet.com [33], where he quit smoking and met his wife of 6 years. Great stuff! Now go check these out:
CRS (Can't remember sh!t) explained by the Science Geek [34]
Quitulence (farting) explained by the Science Geek [35]
Wait, why am I getting sick MORE after quitting???! [36]
The Science Geek explains quitzits and stuff [37]
GUS diaries: Recommended (under construction)
The following diaries made the rec list of their own accord as a GUS diary, or as a DailyKos diary with a tag entitled "smoking," "nicotine," etc. that is judged to be a good resource for the GUS community.
GUS Community diaries
- Help me get through tonight [38] by Rosebuddear The beginning of Rosebuddear's inspirational quit. Her following diary on quit day number 2 contains the origin of GUS in this thread. 06.07.2010
- DKos Quit Smoking Day: The GUS Group [39] by bgblcklab1 06.14.2009
- Gave Up Smoking: GUSsacks starting Day 6 [41] by bgblcklab1 06.20.2009
- GUS: Romancing The Smoke [44] by Vacationland 07.02.2009
- Unofficial GUS diary: Cold turkey isn't as delicious as it sounds [48] by droogie6655321 08.11.2009
- GUS: Giving Up Smoking: The Pooties and Woozles and Birdies Edition [49] by triciawyse 11.24.2009
- GUS: Saturday Night Boring Open Thread [50] by flumptytail 06.05.2010
GUS tag: informational diaries
- Thursday Night Health Care Night: Dallasdoc's Guide to Quitting Smoking [51] by Dallasdoc 04.03.2008
- Welcome New Users: Celebrating DKos Communities (with poll) [53] by smileycreek 01.07.2010
- ADDICTED! [54] by KAMuston An ironic and philosophical history of tobacco and the addictive drug nicotine. 02.21.2010
- Smoking and Bladder Cancer - A Warning [55] by Granny Doc 09.08.2010
The GUS Buddy List
(includes 389 members as of Friday, June 22, 2012 @ 10:16 PM CST)
1BQ, 3rdGenFeminist, Abra Crabcakeya, Actbriniel, addisnana, AfroPonix, aishmael, Alise, allensl, Alpha99, A Man Called Gloom, ambeeeant, American in Kathmandu, amk for obama, andsarahtoo, angry marmot, Anne933, anodnhajo, aoeu, aquarius2001, arcadesproject, Archie2227, arodb, Arthur Wolf (in memoriam), assyrian64, awkawk, b4uknowit, bamablue, BARAKABETH, barnowl, b barrie, bdizz, beatpanda, Beefydaddy18, BFSkinner, bgblcklab1, BigAlinWashSt, Bike Crash, BirderWitch, BJKay, bleeding heart, blingbling65, bluedust, blue husky, Blue Intrigue, BluejayRN, BlueJessamine, Bluerall, bluestatedem84, BoiseBlue, boudi08, Brahman Colorado, breedlovinit, BrenP, Bronxist, BrowniesAreGood, bsmechanic, buddabelly, bumbi, burrow owl, BusyinCa, Carol in San Antonio, CathiefromCanada, CathodeRay, CDH in Brooklyn, cee4, Cen Den, ChiTownDenny, ChocolateChris, ChurchofBruce, ciganka, cinnamondog, citizenx, ClapClapSnap, Cleante, Code Monkey, codobus, Coldblue Steele, Colorado is the Shiznit, coloradomomma, common green, commonmass, Common Sense Mainer, congenitalefty, coppercelt, dadanation, dangoch, DarienComp, Dauber, Dauphin, Dave in AZ, Dave in Northridge, deedogg, demkat620, Dexter, Diana in NoVa, Dickie, DiegoUK, Dingodude, dirtdude, distraught, djMikulec, dolfin66, donnamarie, Donna O, dotsright, DRo, droogie6655321, Dube, duckhunter, Eclectablog, Eddie C, EdgedInBlue, effervescent, elbamash, El barragas, el vasco, ericlewis0, Everest42, Ex Con, ezdidit, fhamme, Fineena, fiona2, fishhawk, Flea, flumptytail, Friend of the court, fritzi56, FrugalGranny, Garrett, Gator, gchaucer2, GDbot, Geiiga, GenXangster, Georgianna Darcy, glpaul, GN1927, gooderservice, gooners, gravlax, greylox, grndrush (in memoriam), GrumpyWarriorPoet, gzodik, Haole in Hawaii, HappyinNM, henlesloop, here4tehbeer, HeyMikey, hideinplainsight, High Tide, hiliner68, hold tight, hulibow, I love OCD, Im a frayed knot, imisa, Indexer, indubitably, indyada, Interceptor7, inventor, I said GOOD DAY sir, itsbenj, Jahiz, JamesEB, janl1776, Janeo, JayinPortland, jayjaybear, jbou, Jeffersonian Democrat, jmadlc55, jmonch, Joe's Steven, john07801, johngoes, johnny wurster, jsfox, JVolvo's Mom, jwinIL14, kai99, kailuacaton, Kamakhya, kat herder, Kelly of PA, kestrel9000, khloemi, Khun David, Kitsap River, kittania, Kodiak54, KrazyKitten, Kristina40, Ksholl, labwitchy, Lady Kestrel, ladypockt, Lahdee, langerdang, LarsThorwald, LA rupert, last starfighter, LaughingPlanet, Laurie Gator, Lipstick Liberal, litoralis, lmdonovan, lockewasright, Lonely Texan, longislandny, luvsathoroughbred, maggiemay, magicsister, mango, Marc in KS, Marjmar, Mark E Anderson, marknspokane, marsanges, maryabein, Matt Esler, mdemploi, Meteor Blades, Micburke, michael1104, MillieNeon, Minerva1157, MinervainNH, Missys Brother, mjbleo, MnRaindog, mntleo2, Morague, Mr Bojangles, mrsgoo, mskitty, msmacgyver, MsWings, Murphoney, nannyboz, ncsuLAN, NearlyNormal, Nedsdag, Nick Zouroudis, notgivingup, NY brit expat, OleHippieChick, one pissed off democrat, Onomastic, operculum, OrangeMike, Ordvefa, Overseas, OverTheEdge, pager, paige, PaintyKat, paradox, parryander, paulitics, Pennsylvanian, phrogge prince, Positronicus, post rational, PowWowPollock, Proud Mom and Grandma, psycho liberal, ptolemynm, Purple Priestess, PvtJarHead, racheltracks, randallt, ray bob, real world chick, red mittens, Reepicheep, regis, relentless, revelwoodie, revsue, Rex Manning, rexymeteorite, RiaD, rickeagle, ridemybike, rightiswrong, Rileycat, rincewind, rkex, roadlion, Roger Fox, Rosebuddear, roses, rscopes, Rudini, Safina, SallyCat, Sanuk, Sark Svemes, sboucher, scooter in brooklyn, Scrapyard Ape, seenaymah, sfbob, sgary, Shahryar, sheddhead, shesaid, Shifty18, shmuelman, shopkeeper, sidious666, slowbutsure, smartcookienyc, smeesq, Smoh, snoopydawg, snorwich, SnyperKitty, SoCalHobbit, sofia, soonergrunt, sostos, sowsearsoup, SpecialKinFlag, spmozart, spotDawa, SpotTheCat, StateofGrace, Statusquomustgo, stiffneck, sunbro, Super Grover, Syoho, tallmom, Tay, tdslf1, teknospaz, theatre goon, The Eyewitness Muse, TheGeneral, TheStoopingRabbit, TigerMom, Tim Delaney, tiredofcrap, TomP, tonyahky, Toyotabob7, Treefrog, triciawyse, tripodisblack, trs, trueblueliberal, ttanner, Tulsonian, Turn VABlue, Turtle Bay, Tyto Alba, uc booker, UncleCharlie, Unduna, Unforgiven, ursoklevar, USArmyParatrooper, VA02 femocrat, Vacationland, valadon, Vayle, Vetwife, vgranucci, Village expects idiot home soon, waytac, webranding, weelzup, Wes Opinion, Whimsical Rapscallion, willy be frantic, willy mugobeer, Wood Dragon, wolfie1818, Wordsinthewind, Wreck Smurfy, x, xopher, yet another liberal, Zotz
This edit by aoeu deletes ThAnswr,adds stiffneck, and changes Labwitchy to LABWITCH but does not aspire to make up for the changes since 4 Feb 2011.
11Feb Pager 03Mar xopher, 05Mar Kristina40, 14Mar jmonch, 24Mar UncleCharlie 25Mar gzodik, USArmyParatrooper 10May Alexi Hershey 12May LA rupert 12May TomP fixing a bit of a SNAFU, fritzi56 14May Alise 15May Coldblue Steele 24May Eddie C, tdslf1, elbamash 27May VA02 femocrat
28May TheGeneral
05Jun Whimsical Rapscallion replaces Mikeguyver
15Jun ChiTownDenny
24Jun codobus
06Jul deleted Alexi Hershey,
23Jul GDbot
07Aug mntleo2
09Aug Kamakhya
11Aug angry marmot
19Aug ciganka
20Aug Dave in AZ
21Aug CathiefromCanada
30Aug Actbriniel, BluejayRN
04Sep Janeo
15Sep Murphoney
12Oct Overseas
06Nov DarienComp
15Dec shesaid
01Jan Lonely Texan
04Jan allensl
27Jan Bronxist
29Jan Note-- These GUSsacks joined earlier than today but got missed. aoeu. OleHippieChick and ezdidit. FlipperWaves is deleted on account of Bojo
30Jan boudi08 and ray bob. The first is new and the latter is catch up.
16Feb Dave in Northridge
17Feb ClapClapSnap
18Feb Beefydaddy18 a couple of days late
1Mar here4tehbeer
12Mar bumbi
02Apr Marjmar
Copy the above into your GUS diary or in the comments, blockquote it, personalize it as you wish... and thank you for posting!
Images
Quitters' Bingo
Go on... Try it!
Quitters' Bingo 2 - Electric Boogaloo
Is the sequel better? Or is it a trap? Better look!
Chrome
Use these for your desktop wallpaper, or better yet... put 'em in a GUS diary!
To do this:
- Right-click on the desired image
- Select "Copy Image Location"
- Paste image location into your diary field
- Type <img src= before the pasted text, with no spaces
- Type width=200> after the pasted text, with one space between file name (gif, jpg, etc) and width command. For a larger image, increase the width (500 pixels maximum); for a smaller image, decrease the width.
- Please visit the Dkosopedia FAQ for more information on posting and formatting images
Little GUS
The GUS Wagons
Create your own GUS wagon! Go to Roflbot, enter the web address of the wagon photo, and use Courier font (tiny print) to include GUSsacks on the wagon.
