Quitting Smoking, Alcohol and other vices.

Flyingsolo07

I'm hoping this thread will provide advice and support to myself and any others struggling to quit any vices they may have.

Since i'm only 22, I haven't had the time to seriously damage myself with smoking and drinking, but I really need to quit both. I've been smoking for the last 3 years, but I can still make it through most of an Insanity video without dying from lack of O2. Varying from half of a pack to a full pack a day. I quit for about 2 months once. I got really stressed one night, bought a pack and continued smoking. For the last 8 months I suffered from slight depression and self-image issues. I turned to alcohol and began drinking about a fifth of rum (with tons of Coke and Dr. Pepper) a night, every night. Today would mark my one week straight without a single drop and it's been harder than I thought.

Smoking:
I smoke more during my work day than I do at home and on the weekends. I'm guessing stress and other smokers at work are the cause there. Looking at my pack of cigs now, I have a total of 6 left at around 5 p.m. which would usually last me until tomorrow morning. Weening off would mean buying another pack tomorrow morning and trying to make it last 2 days instead of one. Then another pack after that and trying to make it last 4 days, so on and so forth. Cold Turkey would mean bad withdrawal issues, as I remember the headaches and strong cravings I used to get when I quit for 2 months. Should I ween myself off or stop cold turkey?

Alcohol:
I feel like i've done well so far, but I get cravings nearly every night. I try to tell myself things like, "It's 2 a.m., you need to sleep, a rum and coke would help," but i've been good at not giving in. Since I am 22, I get offers all the time to go out to a bar or a club and have a few drinks. So, it's really dificult to ignore those. Should I have a beer or mixed drink with my friends on the weekends, or just stick to not having a drop for at least a while?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

vslnrunner

Smoking: Have you considered Chantix? In the past, did you try quitting with Nicotine patches/Nicorette. You definitely have to quit, it's more a matter of how you want to do it. What will be easiest for you.

Drinking: This one I can say with certainty, you need to not drink for awhile, as in months. Not only does it serve no nutritional purpose, but it sounds like you're borderline, at least psychologically, addicted. Letting yourself drink on weekends is too risky that it won't just be the weekends. You'll talk yourself into it being ok during the week because it was ok on Saturday and really what's the big deal.

Flyingsolo07

I've considered Chantix. Even with a prescription it's pretty pricey though. As of this moment I have two cigarettes left. I'm going to finish these off and go the rest of the weekend without buying another pack. I think i'll be able to do it. It's at work Monday morning i'm worried about. Hopefully I can do this. I really want to quit for good. I'll update how I am doing on it. I agree on the drinking. That's actually what i've told myself before. I think i'm just gonna steer clear for a while.

mummybabyjojo

I stopped smoking 3 1/2 years ago (cold turkey) after 11 long years of being addicted with the help of Allen Carr's easy way to stop smoking book. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Allen-Carrs-Easy-Stop-Smoking/dp/0718194551/ref=sr_1_1/277-0321596-3714003?ie=UTF8&qid=1392663253&sr=8-1&keywords=allan+carr+quit+smoking

Check it out I'm not the only person I know who it has worked for. It isnt a smoking is bad for you because bla bla bla book but it addresses the reasons why you began smoking to begin with and makes you realise that you dont need cigarettes in your life. You are told to continue smoking as much as you like whilst reading the book and then once you've finished reading it its up to you whether you stop or not. I believe you can! Anyone can do it if they really put their mind to it (and it's not that hard once you've really made your mind up)

After this long the only real time I think of smoking is when I've had a drink or two but the idea soon melts away once I smell the smoke coming from the smokers - it's very off putting!

You can do it! Believe in yourself

cpcoursec

I quit "chewing" tobacco yesterday, and I am absolutely about to kill people.:mad: I decided there is no point cutting out bad food and then turning around and still ingesting poison and chemicals. I am also going to attempt to go four weeks without alcohol.

Flyingsolo07

I've had three cigs today. None of them were mine, and they were all handed to me by people at work. This is why I said work is the biggest temptation. Of course I could say no, but when it's put in your face like that it's hard to say no. I'm hoping I won't have anymore the rest of the day. @cpcoursec I understand the feeling, people just irritate me more now. I've done well with the alcohol. I actually had a couple beers with my mom over dinner yesterday. Didn't feel the need to continue drinking til I passed out like I used to. That was also just a random treat and I want to keep it that way. I've also stopped drinking Monster. If anyone here knew me in real life they would freak out hearing this. I've had an average of 2-3 a day, everyday for the last 3 years. Between cutting out alcohol, cigarettes and Monster, especially all at once, it feels like my brain is punching me in the face. I will struggle on and hope that it gets better.

MountainMoverJosh

Hey, I have experience in this department, and I was 100% successful. Not so much for the drinking, as I do not have any problems with it (I get drunk about once or twice a month, if that). But for the smoking, I quit cold turkey.

Here is the thing....you have to HATE smoking. Hate it, feel guilty for even smoking it, are annoyed with it, and every time you step off to the side to smoke, think to yourself that you are really a nuisance with this second hand smoke.

I cannot speak for the meds, because I have no experience with it. But in my experience, if you are dependent on something to "prevent" you from smoking, you are just borrowing from Peter to pay Paul.

The Only thing I can recommend is to quit cold turkey, BUT you must be okay with gaining weight. I got over my sickness of smoking by eating. Now, I know this is a fitness site, and "you shouldn't tell people to stuff their face," but science proves that the real addiction to smoking is keeping your hand/mouth busy. yeah, sure, the hit feels good for the 10 to 12 times you get it per cig. sure. I loved that feeling. But isn't that the same feeling you get when you just get done with a Double Western from Carl's Jr? Try it, write it down, and tell me how that feeling is the same or different.

I gained 22 lbs in about 2 months. Went from 204 to 226. I ate a bunch of junk food. But I know it was just food. I could conquer a sugar craving, but I know that by letting myself eat junk all the time, I was getting healthier and healthier, because I was done with smoking. After about a month, I despised cigarettes. I didn't care for them, but I could be around people who smoked and have absolutely no desire to have one.

Quitting while doing INSANITY takes extreme will power. I don't think I could do it. Now, that was just my method (letting myself eat all I wanted). It might not work for you, and not many people have the courage to try it (especially women, no offense), to get fatter like that. But it worked for me, so it is my recommendation.

If you do Insanity while smoking, you are limiting yourself because the toxins in a cigarette inhibit muscle growth. In addition, and more importantly, HIIT makes the blood move faster, and therefore, you need to get to the oxygen. The fit test is nothing compared to what Shaun T will put you through. If your Lung capacity is limited, you will endanger yourself, so know your limits. a good illustration of this would be a Magic School Bus episode, "Works Out." I know, elementary, but very useful information.

If you decide to follow through with it, I will be one of many cheerleaders, and fellow participants. Good luck!

edit: in addition, it is better if you are in a low-stress part of your life. Don't quit if you are worried every night about paying the rent, or about that big test every week. You probably will not get anywhere. I quit when bills were taken care of, and I had no real worries.

cpcoursec

I've had three cigs today. None of them were mine, and they were all handed to me by people at work. This is why I said work is the biggest temptation. Of course I could say no, but when it's put in your face like that it's hard to say no. I'm hoping I won't have anymore the rest of the day. @cpcoursec I understand the feeling, people just irritate me more now. I've done well with the alcohol. I actually had a couple beers with my mom over dinner yesterday. Didn't feel the need to continue drinking til I passed out like I used to. That was also just a random treat and I want to keep it that way. I've also stopped drinking Monster. If anyone here knew me in real life they would freak out hearing this. I've had an average of 2-3 a day, everyday for the last 3 years. Between cutting out alcohol, cigarettes and Monster, especially all at once, it feels like my brain is punching me in the face. I will struggle on and hope that it gets better.

Man, kudos to you and good luck. That takes a lot of discipline and self control to reduce everything like that. Working out helped my nicotine craving for a bit, and I am trying to be mindful not to go pig out.

Flyingsolo07

@ cpcoursec Thank you, it's hard to do all at once. Insanity did give me a bit of a distraction yesterday, and I'm trying not to pig out either.

@MountainMoverJosh Thanks for all the advice. Last time I quit for a short period of time I did the same thing you did. I just ate constantly. I gained about 10 pounds, and when I started smoking again I lost it. I'm going to be trying to quit while watching what I eat. I just bought a container of toothpicks and i'm hoping that'll help. Stress at this current time in my life is pretty high, but I can usually handle it well. I guess Insanity really is going to push me to my limits. It's going to be more of a lifestyle change than a work out. Let's hope I can power through and make it out the other side still alive.

NyxButterfly

It's not the same as quitting smoking or drinking, but I'm realizing I need to stop eating refined sugar. Not necessarily going 100% natural so much as all the chocolate, candy and such I eat. Things like honey or cocoa powder and maple syrup (the REAL kind) I'll still have. And fruits of course. I'm gonna probably go into withdrawal; I tried before and... yeah.

Wish me luck!