Anybody else ever done this? I almost through day 4 and it's not so bad. I found the gum to be worse than the cravings. Disgusting stuff. Has anyone ever tried the patch? How'd that work? Right now, my big concern is gaining weight. I'm actually looking to shed another 10lbs. I've been using push ups and walking the dog as replacement activities. Does the weight gain come from the increased appetite, or are there other factors involved?
I think part of it is that people sometimes eat more when they quit smoking. Probably something to do with the oral fixation or whatever from having cigarettes all the time. The first time I quit, I know I put on weight. Partly from not smoking any more, but I had just taken a job working overnights and I drank a lot of sodas and ate a lot of crap food to stay awake (plus, I'd gone IRR at that point and no longer had to stay in shape for PT tests).
The patch didn't do anything for me, I still wanted a cigarette. The biggest help was simply chewing on, or sucking on sugar free mints or gum.
Nice one, Ash. When the smoking ban came in over here, I know a few people who took it as an opportunity to quit and they didn't seem to put on weight or anything. I guess a lot of it comes from breaking the routines of when and where you usually smoke and filling it with something else that keeps your attention from thinking about it. Isn't it supposed to be after a couple of weeks or something you don't get nicotine cravings and you can ditch the gum/patches? Anyway, whatever it is, good luck! ETA: Just noticed your post is 2 weeks old! Have you kept up with it?
I think it varies between people. I quit cold-turkey for two years. I wanted one every moment of every day. Then some bad shit happened, I broke, and bummed a smoke from someone. I've been back smoking a pack a day ever since.
That's harsh after two years of resisting the lure. You did so well, but I guess it shows there isn't a one-solution-fits-all.
It's odd, and I probably need to talk to a therapist about it. I smoke during the normal smoker occasions. After a big meal, during stressful events, etc. But, during normal times, if I have a pack in my shirt pocket, I don't need to smoke. But, let me run out and it's almost a panic-type response to get another pack. Edit: I'm worst when I'm driving. I smoke like a chimney when I'm driving. Six or seven times a year, for reasons that are nobody's concern, I have to drive roughly 2,000 miles in two days. If I didn't mentally force myself to limit my smoking, I'd go through three packs a day.
"To cease smoking is the easiest thing. I ought to know. I've done it a thousand times." Mark Twain Gums and patches are crap, IMO. One is still addicted to nicotine, and the patches are extremely expensive and one has to use them for several weeks. Cold turkey is the only solution. Ash, after four days, you should have the worst time behind you. Congratulations! I'll try to quit with the shit next month. Again... I managed to quit for a few weeks in the past many times, but just like Elwood, I fail when I come into stress situations. On gaining weight: Many people gain weight even though they don't eat more after quitting. It's because the metabolism of a heavy smoker burns 3 - 14 % calories more a day. The weight gain normally starts two or three weeks after the last cigarette. Shit, nicotine is the devil.
Quit cold turkey back in 2003. I usually smoked only half a pack. More during social occasions, of course. The thing that did it for me was coughing up nice little green pieces of phlegm one morning. You might want to limit your beer and soda intake (elimate soda completely, if you can) and stick with water to avoid any weight gain. I put on a lot after I quit and slowly lost it after looking like the Michelin Man.
Maybe 6-7 years ago, I quit cold turkey by replacing it with exercise. This last year or so, I've been bumming the occasional smoke off of a friend, and having the occasional Black & Mild. No sign of addiction, so I may actually have learned to moderate myself. And of course, me "quitting" just means I don't habitually smoke tobacco.
I'm still doing well, although I bummed some smokes while in Chicago about a week back. Other than those three days, I haven't had any trouble. I've used push ups and other activities to subdue cravings and it works well. I was smoking a pack a day and more when I drank, so I still get cravings during or after certain activities or events. Other than those times, I don't even think about smoking anymore.
been two weeks now of less than 2 cigs worth of tobacco a day. I blend a wee bit in with joints, but I've been substituting damiana instead lately. The theory being to break the nicotine habit rather than the hand to mouth fetish. I'd call it a start at this point as i can do without the cig for the most part, but am burning a noticable amount more pot. The flip side is that I'm already breathing better anyways (ie: no morning lung butter)
Well, smoking pot instead of cigs is as good for the lungs as drinking whiskey instead of beer is for the liver... (I can say that without blushing because I quit smoking pot... )
There may be more bad stuff in it by volume, but it's dishonest propaganda to mention that without acknowledging that pot is usually consumed in smaller daily quantities than tobacco. I try to buy the good stuff and limit myself to a bowl or two a day. Now tell me that's as bad as someone who smokes a pack+ a day.
^I've heard otherwise by my doctor. He said that smoking two joints a day does the same damage to the lungs as smoking 20 cigs. There is a difference between weed and hash, though. Well, perhaps my doc is is an idiot.
Hhhmm, did a quick google search and found this: http://www.lycaeum.org/nepenthes/Drugs/THC/Health/pot.vs.cigarettes.html Seems to support UAs position. However, there is always a study that claims the opposite.
I'm jumping on too, already quit with the snuff.... mmmm Skoal Mint.. Errr. Only have about 15 smokes left in my last pack, been cutting back a lot since I deployed from at least a pack a day down to at most 2-4 total cigarettes a day. After this pack is gone in the next few days, I'll be done for good. Hoping I can knock another minute or two off of my 2 mile run time by February 1st.
Depending on what you're running now, it might be possible. Having normal levels of carbon monoxide in your blood makes a difference right off the bat.
On top of the fact that my FOB is about 7000ft above sea level as well. I usually run about a 14:40-14:55 2 mile right now. And, I've successfully quit smoking (all but the occasional cigar) and dipping teh Skoal so far. It's wierd too, I've been smoking for about 5 years now, and I really don't crave a smoke at all. Only been hitting the snuff for about a month, and I want a dip almost constantly. :santa_huh:
You can knock at least a minute off your time in as little as two weeks. The key to the 2 mile is the understanding that it's short enough that you don't have to be in truly good shape to run it effectively. Pay special attention to your leg muscles and build up the stamina there. I recommend lunges. Then knock out a good 6 mile run the week before you time so that the 2 mile distance is fully in perspective. I once shaved 2 minutes off my time doing that.
I went from running 16:45 to 15:44 in 2 weeks as of yesterday. I think once you get your legs used to the distance you can run through the breathing pain.
