Just Quit Smoking -Advice

MissShivvers

Hello! Long time lurker/user, first time posting.

I am looking for advice because I have JUST (this week) quit smoking. I am not even close to referring to myself as an ex-smoker yet but I am hopeful and feeling good about it.

I did want to see if anyone had any advice for me. I was logging before anyway, but I'm making sure to be extra precise as I don't want to replace cigarettes with snacks. I'm also concerned about how my metabolism may change.

Even when I smoke I still exercise on a regular basis (running combined with home work outs like calisthenics and lifting) so I'm hoping this change will only improve my stamina and overall fitness but I've heard quitting can have adverse effects initially.

Does anyone have any experience in this area that they can impart? I would be very grateful.

kuolo

Congratulations... I've found that exercise got easier quite quickly, yes quitting can affect your metabolism but I quit several times before I quit for good (!) and sometimes I put on a little weight sometimes I actually lost it, so I wouldn't overanalyse it too much. It will even out relatively quickly and you will feel so much better in the long run. Most recently I started drinking lots of different kinds of tea to help with the habit/urge to do something so I didn't start eating instead of smoking :-)
p.s. I don't know if this is relevant but I found staying away from alcohol for a bit made my life easier at first too. And nicotine gum for those times I nearly caved.
Good luck, it gets easier!

aliencheesecake

E-cig really helped me beat cravings and also satisfied my need for the hand/mouth habit.... Pretty soon, I didn't even use that!

Just_Bella

I'm 16 days in using and e-cigarette. i feel great and I have no desire to smoke an actual cigarette

ironrat79

8 days in with an e cig....it gets much easier after the first few days. I don't even want a cigarette now. Good luck and stick with it, it's worth it. Make yourself a little savings account and plop that money you would have spent on cigarettes in there and then do something nice for yourself :bigsmile:

mojohowitz

Hello! Long time lurker/user, first time posting.

I am looking for advice because I have JUST (this week) quit smoking. I am not even close to referring to myself as an ex-smoker yet but I am hopeful and feeling good about it.

I did want to see if anyone had any advice for me. I was logging before anyway, but I'm making sure to be extra precise as I don't want to replace cigarettes with snacks. I'm also concerned about how my metabolism may change.

Even when I smoke I still exercise on a regular basis (running combined with home work outs like calisthenics and lifting) so I'm hoping this change will only improve my stamina and overall fitness but I've heard quitting can have adverse effects initially.

Does anyone have any experience in this area that they can impart? I would be very grateful.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!

I smoked about 16 years. I have not smoked in 13 years. There were no adverse side affects of quitting. No one has ever died as a direct result of NOT smoking. However, I am sure someone will want to argue that fact. here are my suggestions.


1. Avoid other smokers as much as possible.
2. Avoid alcohol.
3. Avoid carbs for a few weeks.
4. Avoid fatty foods for a few weeks.
5. Increase your exercise for a few weeks.
6. Expect the urge to smoke to creep up periodically and unexpectedly for years.
7. Don't try e-cigarettes. You'll just look like a douche. History will prove me right.

Edit to add congratulations.

ironrat79

Hello! Long time lurker/user, first time posting.

I am looking for advice because I have JUST (this week) quit smoking. I am not even close to referring to myself as an ex-smoker yet but I am hopeful and feeling good about it.

I did want to see if anyone had any advice for me. I was logging before anyway, but I'm making sure to be extra precise as I don't want to replace cigarettes with snacks. I'm also concerned about how my metabolism may change.

Even when I smoke I still exercise on a regular basis (running combined with home work outs like calisthenics and lifting) so I'm hoping this change will only improve my stamina and overall fitness but I've heard quitting can have adverse effects initially.

Does anyone have any experience in this area that they can impart? I would be very grateful.

I smoked about 16 years. I have not smoked in 13 years. There were no adverse side affects of quitting. No one has ever died as a direct result of NOT smoking. However, I am sure someone will want to argue that fact. here are my suggestions.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!

1. Avoid other smokers as much as possible.
2. Avoid alcohol.
3. Avoid carbs for a few weeks.
4. Avoid fatty foods for a few weeks.
5. Increase your exercise for a few weeks.
6. Expect the urge to smoke to creep up periodically and unexpectedly for years.
7. Don't try e-cigarettes. You'll just look like a douche.

While I agree for the most part the douche comment was a little unnecessary. If it wasn't for the e cig I'd probably still be smoking and if I look like a douche, so be it.

SkagitYogini

Congratulations on quitting! I quit just over 20 years ago. It was the most difficult, and the most rewarding thing I have ever done. My advice is to replace cigs with water. Have a water bottle with you at all times, and suck on it whenever you feel a craving. Some words of wisdom that helped me at the time: Cigarette cravings will go away within 3 minutes - whether you smoke or not! Keep that in mind and know that you are already getting healthier.

Also, I'd advise you to never cheat! Don't fool yourself that you can take just one drag, or smoke "just one" and be alright. I recently took a "drag" on an e-cig just to see what they were like, and it was awful! Other than that, I have never, ever smoked since the day I quit.

I actually told myself that whatever it was that allowed me to smoke cigarettes had been surgically removed, making it imposssible for me to smoke ever again. Maybe somehting like that will help you.

I also ate a lot of popcorn that first week! Please don't worry about gaining weight. It will most likely happen, as smoking affects your metabolism. Take care of one thing at a time. Once you are firmly settled in your nonsmoking life, you can start to work on any weight you might gain. Even a few extra pounds is healthier than smoking.

Phew! That's a lot. Once again, I'm proud of you for taking this step. You should also be very proud of yourself. And, yes, you can definitely call yourself a nonsmoker. In fact, tell as many people as you can that you have quit. This will help you be accountable, and will increase your chances of success.

Sherry

MissShivvers

Thanks for the advice. I am on the nicotine spray at the moment. I find it quite good. It's a combination of effective and instant NRT and aversion therapy because it tastes DISGUSTING! I call it mouth napalm.

I was considering the e-cigs but they're unregulated here, so I don't quite trust them but I have several friends who have used them to quit successfully.

1. Avoid other smokers as much as possible.
2. Avoid alcohol.
3. Avoid carbs for a few weeks.
4. Avoid fatty foods for a few weeks.
5. Increase your exercise for a few weeks.
6. Expect the urge to smoke to creep up periodically and unexpectedly for years.
7. Don't try e-cigarettes. You'll just look like a douche.

I think some of these might be easier said than done. My best friends are smokers and I spend a lot of time with them. Also, the alcohol may be an issue for a few reasons:
1. It's birthday season (me, my friend, everyone else apparently)
2. I just loves me some cocktails.
But I am going to be extra vigilant when I drink. I wonder how nicotine pepper spray tastes with whiskey?? :drinker:

SkagitYogini

[/quote]
7. Don't try e-cigarettes. You'll just look like a douche. History will prove me right.

[/quote]

Not sure about the looking like a douche part, but I agree. e-cigs are supplying nicotine just like the tabacco kind. Nicotine is what you are addicted to. Stop using nicotine. As data is collected regarding e-cigs, I believe we will see more and more young people getting cancer from using them. No smokes are safe. I don't care what the marketing says.

I_Will_End_You

I quit last October using an e-cig. It's awesome, I didn't even want to smoke! It's the only think that ever worked for me.

7. Don't try e-cigarettes. You'll just look like a douche. History will prove me right.

I think people who make comments like this look douchey.

MissShivvers

I quit last October using an e-cig. It's awesome, I didn't even want to smoke! It's the only think that ever worked for me.

Just out of curiosity, are you still using the e-cig or have you gone off that as well? My friends have used them differently, some weaning themselves off the e-cig and some just doing a straight swap to full on Vaping enthusiasts.

Just_Bella

My e-cig does not contain any nicotine. You can get them without it.

Kotuliak

1. Consider nicotine patches. They will help blunt the cravings. It's still hard, but patches help. Can't speak for e-cigs, but if they help, I'd rather look like a douche for 2 weeks than continue smoking.

2. Don't try to make other big changes in your lifestyle. Focus on the goal of quitting smoking. Otherwise it's easy to get overwhelmed with the feeling "I can't do it."

MissShivvers

My e-cig does not contain any nicotine. You can get them without it.

That's really cool. It didn't even enter my head to use the non-nicotine fluid.

Just_Bella

My e-cig does not contain any nicotine. You can get them without it.

That's really cool. It didn't even enter my head to use the non-nicotine fluid.

They come in all kinds of yummy flavours as well. Right now i'm enjoying chocolate and coffee, but my favourite is green apple yum!

slk_5555

You should think of yourself as an ex-smoker - you are an ex smoker. You will only ever be a smoker again, if you light one up. I went cold turkey 3 months ago - it was so much easier than I imagined. Everyone tells you its hard, but if you have your head in the right place, its not hard at all. I've tried before with nicotine patches, but to be honest anything that gives you a hit of nicotine is just prolonging the cravings & messing with your head. You don't give recovering alcoholics a nip of whiskey to ween them off drink - so why give someone who is trying to quit smoking a hit of nicotine. As another poster said - you are not going to die because you stop getting nicotine.

I wouldn't worry too much about your weight just now. Like you said, just try to keep tracking, but don't put too much pressure on yourself. Just try to get on with life as normal and when you are around your friends who are smoking, just remember that they are most likely jealous of the fact that you are not smoking. Most smokers don't really want to smoke (although we don't like to admit this) we smoke because we are addicted to nicotine - that's why we might say we 'enjoy' smoking. Its 'enjoyable' because you are feeding the addiction.

My husband husband quit the same time as me & now 2 of his friends are giving it a go. Like I said, they didn't really want to be smokers. They probably thought if he can do it, so can we!!

The way I see it. If I could quit smoking - which is supposedly very hard. Then I'm pretty sure I can now get motivated & succeed in shedding some pounds. Also, exercise will be much more enjoyable because my lungs actually work again;-) You should feel proud that you ditched them & take each day as it comes.

I_Will_End_You

Not sure about the looking like a douche part, but I agree. e-cigs are supplying nicotine just like the tabacco kind. Nicotine is what you are addicted to. Stop using nicotine. As data is collected regarding e-cigs, I believe we will see more and more young people getting cancer from using them. No smokes are safe. I don't care what the marketing says.

Maybe instead of marketing, you should look at actual research done on them.

http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/08958378.2013.793439

http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/10/10/5146

http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2458-14-18.pdf

http://www.ecigarette-research.com/EUROECHO2013-ecigs.pdf

http://ntr.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/12/10/ntr.ntt203.short?rss=1

www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/10/10/5146/pdf

publichealth.drexel.edu/~/media/Files/publichealth/ms08.ashx

http://www.healthnz.co.nz/ECigsExhaledSmoke.htm

http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/91/1/52.abstract

I_Will_End_You

I quit last October using an e-cig. It's awesome, I didn't even want to smoke! It's the only think that ever worked for me.

Just out of curiosity, are you still using the e-cig or have you gone off that as well? My friends have used them differently, some weaning themselves off the e-cig and some just doing a straight swap to full on Vaping enthusiasts.

I still use it. I love it! I started at 24mg of nicotine and am now using 6mg. I'll probably drop it to 0mg soon.

SarahAnna87

Best of luck. I quit smoking 10 days ago today (woohoo). I am using Champix (Chantix in the US). And I know it isn't for everyone but it was my only option since I can't chew the gum (sorbitol intolerance) or use the patch (adhesive allergy).

I have found being on here consistently helps me take my mind off of smoking (Excluding this topic, haha) and keeps me from snacking. In general though, keep your hands busy.

If you choose to use an e-cigarette I have one warning, do not use outdoors if the temp is at or below 0 degree Celsius or 32 degree Fahrenheit. You can get pneumonia really easily since you are inhaling water vapor. I know that became a issue that was released on the news.

Regardless of how you quit and how you don't light up. Remember it gets easier! Just never give in.

FYI, I quit three years ago for a year and a half before I decided it would be ok if I just had one...... And now I am going through the process again.

Congrats.

eddiesmith1

I smoked for 40 years, quit cold turkey July 27th last year (So I guess yesterday was 8 months)
I bought (and barely used) a non nicotine disposable ecig (Blu) it gave my hands something to do when i got really antsy in the first few days then i tossed it after not using it for a week
First 2 weeks were tough, drank a ton of water went for walks etc. In the first month maybe 6 weeks i rarely drank and only then at home a cocktail with my wife. Alcohol and Cigarettes are closely tied with me and I needed to break the tie. By late fall I was able to go out drinking without caving. I ended up quitting drinking in December though as part of my weight loss plan
First 72 hours are true withdrawal from the addiction
the next couple of weeks it is all mental your brain saying hey why don't you do this anymore - just as hard as the physical addiction if you ask me

Every time you get an urge find something else to distract you for 5 minutes
the space between urges will get longer and the length of the urge will decline

I rarely get an urge now and they are fleeting

Good Luck with the quitting, it's the toughest thing I've done (and I have quit other more notable addictions)

pinkledoodledoo

I quit a year and a half ago using nicotine patches. They were just the thing that worked best for me, everyone is different. After quitting I developed allergies I never knew I had and became much more susceptible to sinus infections. I also gained 70 lbs because I did not pay close attention to the snacking... I satisfied the oral fixation whenever it suited me and I regret it now but I'm glad I no longer smoke so it was a trade off. I recommend staying away from smokers as much as possible for a few months. That really helped me. I even made the smokers that visited my house cut back while they were over or not smoke at all while there because I couldn't handle it being in front of me right away. Good luck and I really hope it works out for you! It's a tough habit to break but once you do, you will feel SO much better about being rid of the burden of that addiction.

1daylate1dollarshort

Oh, I'm so good at quitting smoking I've probably done it 10 times and I'm 27. Longest stretch was 3 years and I DID use the e-cig. Worked like a charm. Didn't smoke at all and then I got stupid and proud and thought I was invincible. Started bumming smokes in public while drinking because I thought I'd look like a weirdo with the e-cig. What a dumb thing.

Anyway, I recently had to quit again after another 3 year smoking stint. I did it the same way. I used patches at first, then I bought the e-cig. It is a switchover for me. I will continue to use it so that I don't smoke. 3 years was the longest I'd ever gone without smoking. The patches work for a while, but when I get off the last step, I am always more moody than I'd ever want to be. It sucks.

Anyway, I didn't gain weight any of the times I quit. The thing I did the first time around before I got the e-cigs was chew gum. That was so that I wouldn't try to eat to satisfy an urge to smoke. This time, I would just say "okay, you JUST ate, you are not hungry, you want to smoke" then I'd sit back down and wait to actually feel hungry.

It's different for everyone. Good job making the decision and keep it going! You should be proud of yourself. Read up on how your body recovers the longer you've been smoke-free. That always made me smile and want to continue.

Kitship

7. Don't try e-cigarettes. You'll just look like a douche. History will prove me right.

This is the worst piece of advice ever. E-cigs DO help people. Why does it matter how they look? 3 members of my family successfully quit smoking with help from an e-cig. They have since quit the e-cig as well. You can also lower the amount of nicotine in the e-cig over time in order to wean yourself off of the nicotine. Nothing wrong with using one to assist you, especially in the first couple of months into quitting.

Roughgalaxy

they way I stopped smoking was by reading Allan Carr's easy way to stop smoking. It's a bit repetitive but it really helped. I went into it total skeptic and not even trying to quit, read it over the course of 1 day... and by the time I finished the last chapter, I never touched a smoke again. I think you can pick up the small book for about 10 bucks.

slk_5555

Not sure about the looking like a douche part, but I agree. e-cigs are supplying nicotine just like the tabacco kind. Nicotine is what you are addicted to. Stop using nicotine. As data is collected regarding e-cigs, I believe we will see more and more young people getting cancer from using them. No smokes are safe. I don't care what the marketing says.

Maybe instead of marketing, you should look at actual research done on them.

http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/08958378.2013.793439

http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/10/10/5146

http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2458-14-18.pdf

http://www.ecigarette-research.com/EUROECHO2013-ecigs.pdf

http://ntr.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/12/10/ntr.ntt203.short?rss=1

www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/10/10/5146/pdf

publichealth.drexel.edu/~/media/Files/publichealth/ms08.ashx

http://www.healthnz.co.nz/ECigsExhaledSmoke.htm

http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/91/1/52.abstract

In the UK they are not being marketed as an aid to quit smoking at all. They are marketed as a 'new way to smoke' using terms such as 'Take your smoking to a new level' and 'heighten your smoking pleasure' . The branding is no different from years back when cigarette companies advertised, they are suggesting it is cool & enjoyable. One of the main brands here in the UK is called 'VIP'.

Medical research is of little value, if it is marketed as a 'replacement' for smoking rather than an aid to quit. I understand the big cigarette companies are investing in this. Also, if it was an aid to quit, it would have to be regulated (medically) and in the UK, it is not regulated, so it is not considered a pharmaceutical product.

With regard to the OP - if you have managed without any nicotine replacement so far - stick with it.

JCLondonUK

I quit last October using an e-cig. It's awesome, I didn't even want to smoke! It's the only think that ever worked for me.

Just out of curiosity, are you still using the e-cig or have you gone off that as well? My friends have used them differently, some weaning themselves off the e-cig and some just doing a straight swap to full on Vaping enthusiasts.

I quit a year ago using an e-cig (as did some of my friends) and now I'm a vaping enthusiast. If you can manage without them, then do, but e-cigs are a vastly better, healthier, cheaper and tastier alternative to smoking, and after a while with them cigarettes taste disgusting so they're very effective for quitting. If you're really struggling with a craving to smoke, better an ecig than a cigarette.

Oh, and ignore the poster who thinks e-cigs cause cancer. Ignorance abounds!

Congratulations on deciding to quit. You won't regret it. Good luck!

slk_5555

they way I stopped smoking was by reading Allan Carr's easy way to stop smoking. It's a bit repetitive but it really helped. I went into it total skeptic and not even trying to quit, read it over the course of 1 day... and by the time I finished the last chapter, I never touched a smoke again. I think you can pick up the small book for about 10 bucks.

Great book. Yeah a bit repetitive, but puts it all in perspective. It was a great help to me too.

eddiesmith1

Not sure about the looking like a douche part, but I agree. e-cigs are supplying nicotine just like the tabacco kind. Nicotine is what you are addicted to. Stop using nicotine. As data is collected regarding e-cigs, I believe we will see more and more young people getting cancer from using them. No smokes are safe. I don't care what the marketing says.

Maybe instead of marketing, you should look at actual research done on them.

http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/08958378.2013.793439

http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/10/10/5146

http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2458-14-18.pdf

http://www.ecigarette-research.com/EUROECHO2013-ecigs.pdf

http://ntr.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/12/10/ntr.ntt203.short?rss=1

www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/10/10/5146/pdf

publichealth.drexel.edu/~/media/Files/publichealth/ms08.ashx

http://www.healthnz.co.nz/ECigsExhaledSmoke.htm

http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/91/1/52.abstract

While I agree they are better than Cigarette how much of that research was funded by the tobacco lobby? htey are notorious for biased research and have been snce it first came out smoking and cancer were linked in 1964,
Every big tobacco player is in the E-Cig game and they are the ones who fought to allow Nicotine in them. As long as they have you inhaling Nicotine they have you. I quit using several nicotine replacement sytems over the years and always ended up smoking again. You've not truly quit unless you have quit Nicotine. Big Tobacco knows this why do you think they are in all versions of the nicotine replacement game and why they fought to have it so readily available (it's less regulated than cigarettes some places and they are trying to sell vaping as cool - notice all the vaping boards etc, got news for you they are marketing tools for Big Tobacco

The best plan is quit Nicotine cold. it will clear your system in 72 hours. If you need it use the other drug therapies to help with the anxieties and get support form friends and family
(and vaping is not just water, it's water plus additives without long term testing or implications having been done -just substituting one habit for another and that never works long term

JenToms80

Firstly dont be too hard on yourself if you do turn to snacks initally - you are giving up a highly addictive habit!
Once you feel that you have your cravings under control and you start feel the benefits of quitting...those healthy feelings will affect all areas of your life.

I had had my last cigarette on 31st December 2013 and so far so good, I have purposely kept away from situations that I know I would normally "fall of the wagon" in - so for me its going to the pub!

Also I kept a mental list of things that cigarettes were potentially stopping me from doing physically - for me it was increasing my running distance and putting myself up for races.

Well done on giving up those little buggers!

slk_5555

Not sure about the looking like a douche part, but I agree. e-cigs are supplying nicotine just like the tabacco kind. Nicotine is what you are addicted to. Stop using nicotine. As data is collected regarding e-cigs, I believe we will see more and more young people getting cancer from using them. No smokes are safe. I don't care what the marketing says.

Maybe instead of marketing, you should look at actual research done on them.

http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/08958378.2013.793439

http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/10/10/5146

http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2458-14-18.pdf

http://www.ecigarette-research.com/EUROECHO2013-ecigs.pdf

http://ntr.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/12/10/ntr.ntt203.short?rss=1

www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/10/10/5146/pdf

publichealth.drexel.edu/~/media/Files/publichealth/ms08.ashx

http://www.healthnz.co.nz/ECigsExhaledSmoke.htm

http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/91/1/52.abstract

While I agree they are better than Cigarette how much of that research was funded by the tobacco lobby? htey are notorious for biased research and have been snce it first came out smoking and cancer were linked in 1964,
Every big tobacco player is in the E-Cig game and they are the ones who fought to allow Nicotine in them. As long as they have you inhaling Nicotine they have you. I quit using several nicotine replacement sytems over the years and always ended up smoking again. You've not truly quit unless you have quit Nicotine. Big Tobacco knows this why do you think they are in all versions of the nicotine replacement game and why they fought to have it so readily available (it's less regulated than cigarettes some places and they are trying to sell vaping as cool - notice all the vaping boards etc, got news for you they are marketing tools for Big Tobacco

The best plan is quit Nicotine cold. it will clear your system in 72 hours. If you need it use the other drug therapies to help with the anxieties and get support form friends and family
(and vaping is not just water, it's water plus additives without long term testing or implications having been done -just substituting one habit for another and that never works long term

Well said....completely agree with this.