Quit Smoking

Elizabeth_C34

I'm (trying to be an ex) smoker. It wasn't until I started exercising that I actually started to realize just exactly what it is doing to my lungs. I've smoked for years, I know just how horrible it is, but the proof was never right there in front of me. I quit when I was pregnant with my son but started back up just as quick as I could after he was born. I have always enjoyed it. But since I have started running I've realized, hey, I really like this! So obviously I have to kick the habit for good and then I get to replace it with something else I enjoy. I'm sure I can't be the only one facing this hurdle.

How did you finally overcome it? (I don't mean gum, patch, etc-- just mentally)
How did you cut down? (Obviously you wouldn't smoke right before you exercised, but would you right after?)
How quickly did you notice an improvement afterwards? (I know everyone will be different because some have smoked longer than other, if it matters, I'm on year 11 here)
How long did it take?

Or anything tip/comment you would like to share

I know that many people quit for many reasons, but this is a whole different animal to me. It's that, you have to, or you can't do pretty much any sort of fitness very well. I feel like this is the inspiration I need.

I just wanted to wish you all the best.

I buried my gradmother, a woman I loved dearly, from lung cancer that utterly destroyed her before it killed her in March of this year. She died in excruciating pain and was nothing but a shell of the strong lovely wonderful person she was before. She had smoked her whole life, and the type of lung cancer she got was nearly exclusively caused by smoking. She was the youngest of 8 siblings, 3 of whom died from various forms of smoking-related cancers. In only 3 months, the cancer had spread from a small lump in her lung to a tumor the size of a baseball in her liver, another two tumors the size of golf balls in both lungs, a golf ball sized tumor on her spine, and another small one on her ribcage. By the time they caught it, chemo and radiation was not an option. Less than a week later, she was dead. When she died, she weighed only 89 lbs, had not eaten in a week, was bright yellow from liver and kidney failure, and was delusional and had no idea who anyone around her was. Her back was so weak that standing risked literally shattering her back bones from the damage and pressure caused by the spinal tumor. She was on a morphine pump just to keep the pain tolerable. I stayed with her in the hospital nearly every night, and as she lay there terrified and in pain, she told me she was sorry that she was putting me through this and sorry she wouldn't be there to see my children born. The knowledge that she had done this to herself ate her up as much as the cancer did, and we were all powerless to help her. She was a wonderful an amazing woman who lived an incedible life.

I miss her every single day. Lung cancer is a horrific disease, and it breaks my heart that most cases are preventable.

Find a way to get off the cigarettes and be there for your son. Live the best quality life you can.

DeviantDarkwolf2

I found that it was hard to exercise after quitting, when I quit a few years ago for 3 months. I haven't tried since because I'm afraid the same thing is going to happen again and I want to exercise and be able to breathe. My husband and I are going to try to quit this week, so hopefully everything goes ok this time around. I heard somewhere that it takes a few months for your lungs to heal and start functioning normal again, but I don't know if that's true or if it's just a psychological thing.

Me and my partner are also looking at quitting this week tomorrow in fact. I have the same fear as you that it will mess with my head and stop me from exercising. Ultimately smoking is a drug addiction and we are all addicts as bad as the druggies. This is one thing that has really made me want to quit. I want to be a healthy fit individual and reach my peak and I know this won't happen if I continue to smoke. I read the Allen Carr book "Easy way to stop smoking" the way he puts things is fantastic and makes you really think logically I highly recommend it to any smoker.

bada_bing

Was looking for a thread when I came across this one.

I have been quit for 7 months now! I was able to quit using Champix (Canada) and an online forum filled with people who are quitting smoking. It has been a lifeline...just like MFP can be to dieters. If you want to look around, it can be found at http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&webtag=ab-quitsmoking. I found that reading all the information and the true stories of many people really made me realize that this is my last quit, I am done (finally after 40+ years) and I will not let another poison stick touch my lips again. Knowledge is power I found! It is all about changing your mental thoughts (withdrawal only takes 72 hours), it is a mental thing after that!

I have gained a few pounds (which I expected) and naturally, being post meno, it is not as easy to drop the pounds as when I was younger. But hopefully perseverance will pay off because I know that smoking will not make me any thinner, it will only make my life shorter!

And yes exercise is easier...I don't feel my lungs wanted to jump out of my chest when I exercise hard and fast!

Donna

Cait_Sidhe

How did you finally overcome it? (I don't mean gum, patch, etc-- just mentally)
I'm not really sure. I was definitely ready. I never actually thought I could though. I think I'm prouder of myself for quitting smoking than anything else. I knew I could lose weight. I didn't think I could quit. I really didn't think I was capable.

I was my mother's live in caretaker as she died of lung cancer. She never smoked. I tried quitting when I was caring for her, but I just couldn't. I went a week and the stress was just too overwhelming. I no longer enjoyed it. I resented and hated cigarettes. But I couldn't stop.

How did you cut down? (Obviously you wouldn't smoke right before you exercised, but would you right after?)
Electronic cigarette. I bought a cheap one at 7eleven. The day I bought the E-Cig was my last real cigarette. The E-Cig is kind of nasty though, so I don't enjoy it. At this point (a little over 2 months) I'm almost completely weaned off it. I use it once or twice a day. Once this set of refills runs out, I'll likely not buy more.
And yes, I always had a cigarette before exercising. It was a way to psyche myself into doing it. I always had one after too as a stress reliever. I really miss the after part still.

How quickly did you notice an improvement afterwards? (I know everyone will be different because some have smoked longer than other, if it matters, I'm on year 11 here)
I've been smoking for 26 years. I honestly don't notice any improvement yet. I get horribly out of breath when running and my lungs feel like they're on fire. I'm doing C25K, and sometimes I just don't feel I have the lung capacity.

How long did it take?
For? Like I said, I haven't had a cigarette for over 2 months. I think I'll always want one though.

thetiwi1890

How did you finally overcome it?
I knew I wanted to do it so I stuck with it.

How did you cut down?
Cold Turkey baby! No point replacing one addiction with a weaker one.

How quickly did you notice an improvement afterwards?
Maybe 2-3 weeks into it and a continuing improvement ever since

How long did it take?
It only takes one day sweetie.

Or anything tip/comment you would like to share
I used to smoke on several occasions during the day:

1. Getting up
2. After EVERY meal
3. Breaks and Lunch
4. With my smoker friends
5. Socialising with friends every evening
6. With coffee, biscuits
7. When drinking
8. All during the evening

What I did was make sure I stopped associating these acts with smoking. Very hard to do, but if you want to give up you'll do it!!

BEST OF LUCK!!!