LORENE SANDIFUR: How little “White Lies” become big lies.

I make many talks to teenagers and adults about smoking. Here’s a sad story typical of too many adults…..

“When I was 15, I went to a movie with a group of other teens and, while I don’t remember the name of the movie, I do remember how prevalent smoking was in the movie. They made it look so glamorous, so with it. Later, as we gathered outside a malt shop, one of those in our group passed around cigarettes and invited us all to smoke. I had my first cigarette that night.

While choking down the smoke wasn’t pleasant at all, the discomfort was outweighed by the feelings of belonging, of being accepted, maybe even proving I was capable of rebelling against my parents. I told myself ‘little white lies’….that smoking made me more grown up, that I looked cool, that I was hip, smart. I also told myself that smoking was harmless, and that I could quit any time I wanted to.

It wasn’t until many years later that I realized those ‘little white lies’ were really BIG lies after all….that smoking was ruining my health, that I didn’t look cool and that I couldn’t just quit if I wanted to. In fact, I tried many times to quit and still haven’t been able to. In spite of the fact that I have increasing shortness of breath, have had one heart attack and can’t smoke in most public places, I still smoke. God help me…someday I’ll quit.

If only I hadn’t told myself those little white lies in the first place….”

That story has been repeated many thousands of times--just like with my husband, Gary, who always said he would quit when he was 50 (he died from smoking at age 51).

To all you smokers I have good news. You can now get help quitting smoking just by picking up the phone and calling the FREE Indiana Tobacco QUITLINE at 1-800-QUIT NOW. You’ll get free help from the trained coaches 24/7 and, for a limited time, you can also get a free two-week supply of nicotine replacement patches or gum.

Call today and stamp those little white lies out of your life.

Send a blog and tell me how it went...

Best wishes, Lorene

Lorene Sandifur: My Passion

Lowering the smoking rate is my passion.

Those who know me best know that I enjoy teaching high school students, and I enjoy my involvement with church. But I am just as passionate about trying to get teens to not smoke and offering information for smokers to help them quit. I get involved in speaking out to groups about this scourge on our society.

Unless you’re really into reading about the subject or you work in some tobacco prevention organization, you probably don’t know the magnitude of the problem.

Here are a few of the key points about smoking:

1. Tobacco is the only consumer product that kills one-third of those who use it.

2. Smoking-related diseases kill more people every year than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders and suicides combined.

3. Indiana has the second-worst smoking rate in the nation.

4. Smoking costs more than $3 billion a year in lost productivity, illnesses, higher insurance premiums, etc. — not to mention the cost of upwards of 10,000 Hoosier lives.

5. More than 50 percent of teens who start smoking do so because they see it portrayed in movies as the “normal” thing to do (whereas, it really is not the norm — most people don’t smoke).

I would be very interested to hear your comments about ways you think we can motivate our youth to not start smoking. Perhaps you have a story or testimonial that would be inspiring to a teen somewhere.

Let me hear from you.

Lorene

PS: Smokers can get FREE help from the trained coaches at the Indiana Tobacco

QUITLINE: 1-800-QUIT NOW. Also, you can receive a FREE two-week supply

of nicotine replacement patches or gum for a limited time.

Lorene Sandifur: There’s nothing like winning

“I was so excited at the beginning of the Boston Marathon. As I anticipated the start, I thought, Wow, this is what I trained all those hours for. This is where Gary challenged me to be. And now, it’s here. It almost seems like a dream. It is a dream, and I’m making it come true.

So then the race started, and it all seemed easy the first few miles. Then maybe around the eighth or ninth mile, I started thinking, What if I don’t make it? But I’ve got to make it –– for all my family and friends who are rooting for me. For myself for all the time I’ve invested. For Gary who I wish were here to see me. That buoyed my spirit, and I just said, “God, I have to make it. Give me the strength and endurance I need.”

At about 3/4 of the way to the end, I again felt a bit of anxiousness. But I went through the same mental exercise again –– and it worked. Then the finish line came into sight, and I made it. Let me tell you: There’s nothing like the feel of victory when you’ve done what you set out to do.

I think quitting smoking must be like that for many people. You set out very determined, then discouragement sets in. You want to quit, but the addiction is so strong.

But if your commitment is strong enough, if you will be patient with yourself, if you will seek God’s help as you use all the resources available to you, like the Indiana Tobacco Quitline, you can do it. You can win the race and know that wonderful feeling of accomplishment.

I challenge all smokers to make the commitment, then call the quit line at 1-800-QUIT NOW. It’s free. And the coaches are trained to give you the counsel you need to run the race all the way to the finish.

Plus, for a limited time, there are free nicotine patches or gum available. Call today.

Send me your comments and tell me how it’s going or ask me questions.

Leave stories/comments here or on our FaceBook page

Best wishes, Lorene

It's not supposed to be easy!

Quitting smoking can be intimidating and very stressful. The key is to make a daily commitment to yourself. When I was training for the Boston Marathon, there were times I wanted to stop and just go back to an easy routine. I had to tell myself that stopping wasn’t an option. That same attitude should apply to you if you’re a smoker — and your motivation should be the ability to enjoy a longer life.

If you are ready to quit smoking, there’s free help available — just by calling the Indiana Tobacco QUITLINE at 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669). Not only will you get free help from trained coaches, but also — for a limited time — a FREE 2-week supply of nicotine replacement patches or gum.

Make that call today and begin your path to a better lifestyle. Then drop me a line to tell me how you’re doing...

~ by Lorene Sandifur

LORENE SANDIFUR: "Quitting smoking is like running a race!"

'Tell us your story…..

"If you're a smoker, think about your addiction as a race against time... with your life at stake. I know it can be hard to quit. It takes a daily commitment. But, like running the Boston Marathon, it's not impossible. And victory is sweet. The reward of a tobacco-free lifestyle will make it worth it for the rest of your life.

"And, NOW there's free help available. Just by picking up the phone and calling the Indiana Tobacco QUITLINE—1-800-QUITNOW—you'll not only get free help from the trained coaches, but also a free 2-week supply of nicotine replacement patches or gum (for a limited time).

Share your story...

"Tell my readers about your attempts to quit, send your blog, what you've tried, how it made you feel. Even better, if YOU HAVE QUIT, tell us how you did it. Success stories will be encouraging to all our smokers out there..."

Leave stories/comments here or on our FaceBook page

by Lorene Sandifer