‘Butting out’ no problem–so far

So far, so good.
It’s been two weeks since Debbie Kempf had a cigarette and, for the most part, she’s not suffering at all.
The Fort Frances woman butted out March 1 as part of the province-wide contest “Quit Smoking 2000.” Sponsored by the Council for a Tobacco-free Ontario, the contest encouraged smokers to quit until at least April 3.
At this stage, Kempf isn’t planning to start again.
“It’s awesome, I have no withdrawal symptoms,” she said Sunday evening.
“The only thing that happened after I quit was that five days later I had a big headache and a ‘spacey’ feeling but other than that, I’ve not had any trouble–it’s wonderful!” she enthused.
Kempf got active when she quit smoking, working out and walking to help increase her odds on beating her habit. Her breathing has improved, and she doesn’t miss the smell of a lit cigarette.
Prior to March 1, Kempf also had written down a list of what she would do when she wanted a cigarette. While she hasn’t had to use it to ward off nicotine cravings yet, she’s had to deal with other “old habits” directly related to smoking.
“When I get in the car, I still think about [smoking] but I let the moment pass and it goes away,” she noted. “But I definitely have to find something to do with my hands.”
Kempf adopted a ball of wax as a deterrent. “I pull on [the wax], it’s sort of like playing with plasticine,“ she said.
Those who quit smoking during the month-long contest are eligible to win a Caribbean vacation for two (including airfare from Toronto), a diamond necklace, television/VCR sets, or a three-day weekend stay for two at the Sheraton Hotel of their choice with $500 spending money.
Winners must verify their non-smoking status by a simple urine test.
Locally, the Fort Frances Sportsplex will provide a free one-year membership as a contest prize.