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Mary Ella’s Weekly Message

November 7, 2011

Great American Smokeout

Every year, the Thursday before Thanksgiving is the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, a day when they urge all smokers to quit for at least 24 hours. This year, the Great American Smokeout is November 17. Of course, the American Lung Association supports our sister organization in this effort. We also think this is a great day for you to talk with people you know about quitting smoking and for you to inspire them with your success. You can encourage friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to become smokefree by talking about your experience. Consider discussing these specific topics with those you know who are still smoking:

• When it was “time” for you to quit. What made you seek out FFS Online or made this your time to quit for good? What was happening in your life that made you know it was the right time for you? Tell them how you knew “This is it for me!”

• Your reasons for quitting. Tell others about your reasons to become smokefree. Mention the specific things that motivated you such as wanting to climb stairs without getting winded, wanting to see your children or grandchildren grow up, or because you had a health scare.

• How you developed your plan to quit. Talk about how you figured out your triggers and what you decided to do to cope with them. Perhaps relaxing after dinner was one of those triggers so you changed your routine to take a quick walk instead. Don’t be surprised if they start telling you about their triggers!

• Your determination to become and stay smokefree. Tell them that although quitting is hard work, there are tools available to help them quit including many from the American Lung Association. Let them know that building a solid foundation to quit and planning ahead are both essential for success. 

• Finding the FFS Online program.  Let others know how you found the FFS Online program. Send the FFS Online link in an e-mail to those that you know are thinking about quitting: www.ffsonline.org. If the Great American Smokeout is being promoted at your workplace, let your supervisor and your Human Resources department know the FFS Online program is available and that it helped you to quit.

• What helped you to become smokefree? Talk about the activities in FFS Online that were “Aha!” moments for you, the ones that were most helpful. Many participants tell me that figuring out how much they smoked over the years and what they spent on all those cigarettes was a real eye-opener. Have you increased your physical activity or watched what you ate in order to control your weight while quitting? Share those successes as well

• Talk about the support you received from your family members, friends, co-workers and others in the FFS Online program and how that has helped you. Let others know that you’ll be a “buddy” to them as they quit.

In short, let everyone around you know what worked for you. You could be the spark of inspiration someone else needs to join you in becoming smokefree for good!

I’ll see you on the Message Boards!  :-)   Mary Ella

Don’t forget: If you're in the Premium program and want help fast on the Message Boards, put "HELP NOW" in the subject line of your post. If you're looking to offer help, watch for those, "HELP NOW" posts and alert your other FFS Online buddies to offer some assistance as well.