Still Smoking!!

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Replies

  • piq0409
    piq0409 Posts: 8
    What worked best for me was changing the habits of when and where I smoked. It is a slower process, but made it a lot easier to just stop.
    1st I cut it out of my car. I use to smoke anywhere from 5-10 a day in my car!! Everytime I got in the car, I lit up. So one weekend I cleaned my car out really good, changed the air filters and had the car place clean the vents with something they called ozone. Then no more smoking in the car.
    A few weeks after that I started to look at the other times that it was a habit to have a smoke. After meals was a big one. This habit I couldn't just stop, I had to replace it with something. So now I walk for 10-20 minutes after each meal. I realized it wasn't the nicotine I needed but the aide with digestion or something bc I was eating too much. So this helped in lots of ways. I started eating a little less, becuase I hate that too full feeling, I started walking, and I was having 3 less cigarettes.
    Those 2 habits were most of my cigarettes. The hardest was (and still is) drinking of course. But as my workouts have gotten longer and more intense, the cravings are less. Once I got rid of the bulk of it, it wasn't so hard to just stop the last 2 a day. I still break down once and awhile when I am drinking, but the next day I feel it and am reminded why I don't want to do it anymore.
    Oh! I also put aside my smoking money into a clothing fund. As you start to lose weight, it can get expensive to buy new clothes. But new clothes are so much more fun than cigarettes!!
  • LassoOfTruth
    LassoOfTruth Posts: 735 Member
    I have been working on my Healthy eating habits and going to the gym and loosing weight!!! I am very happy with how things are going . I started about 4.5 weeks ago. Since then I have lost 14lbs BUT I am still smoking!!! I know I need to quit... I want to quit... I know how unhealthy it is.... I have trouble breathing when doing stuff and I know I could do MORE When not IF I quit. Im doing pretty good with my eating habits but I smoke more instead of eating. Before I would sit and munch on chips or candy or whatever Now I Don't do that so I smoke instead of grabbing that bag of chips. Im afraid that when I do quit im going to put weight back on. So how do I quit smoking and LOSE weight at the same time with out wanting to "kill" the people around me... For those that have ever smoked before you know what I mean!!! Please help

    I am attempting to quit smoking as well. I am down to 15 a day (from a pack and a half--so that's a big deal to me.) What I did was buy the packs of cigarettes for the week, and then count out 15 per pack (helpful to have some empty ones laying around... lolz) and next week, I'll count out 14 per day..... following week 13 per day.... until I get down to 1 a day. After that.... I'll either just smoke that 1 or quit completely. But, its been working for me. But, I'm pretty retentive and like lists and plans and "setting up" that plan... so sitting down to count out my cigarettes for the week is sort of therapeutic for me. Don't judge me..... hahahahaha.

    Good luck to you... whichever way you do it! It'll be worth it! Smoking sucks.
  • msjack32
    msjack32 Posts: 15 Member
    I also agree that YOU have to be ready. I quit over 2 years ago and so far so good. My husband nagged me for so long and I tried to hide it from him etc, but I didn't stop until I was ready. I used the patch, which did help with cravings, but you have to tough out the "behaviors", like having a cig after you eat or driving in the car. Those were the hardest for me. My mom died from lung cancer and I am an oncology nurse, so I have seen first hand, many, many times what the end looks like and it's not pretty. But I didn't quit until I was ready. I took care of my lung cancer patients and still went out to smoke on my breaks for about a year, which is ridiculous. Once you do it, you will never feel better. You can do it, if you want to. Good luck!
  • watchhillgirl
    watchhillgirl Posts: 597 Member
    My biggest problem is in the car.
    A friend suggested I buy a bag of sunflower seeds and focus on cracking each one individually.

    I mean, you can just spit them out if you don't want the calories!

    That was my biggest problem when I quit. What I did, was a put a pack of the floss picks in my car, (I know it sounds gross), but I floss my teeth when driving down the road. so I ended up with really clean teeth too. My dentist loved me for it. It is a really tough thing to do, but you can do it. I will tell you, there are days that I could just eat a pack, but you get thru it, and you will be able to really run again. You don't have to worry about your clothes smelling either. You will also notice when you got to places, how many people DON'T smoke, and you will realize you made the right decision!
  • lenniebus
    lenniebus Posts: 321 Member
    I focused on quitting smoking first, then losing weight. I sure don't think I could have done both at the same time...and smoking to me was by far the first thing that needed to go...

    Once I felt I had that under control a bit, then I started incorporating more exercise and healthier eating...
  • Hellbent_Heidi
    Hellbent_Heidi Posts: 3,669 Member
    YOU have to be ready
    I agree with this somewhat...however, its likely you'll never truly 'be ready'...so you just have to decide that its TIME to do it.

    Don't focus on losing weight, but instead set some fitness goals (for now), and watch how quickly your lung function improves. I quit over a year ago and another huge thing I noticed was sodium! The foods that I loved when I was a smoker taste horrible and overly-salty now that my taste buds have recovered from being assaulted by nicotine for years.
  • krissy_krossy
    krissy_krossy Posts: 307 Member
    I quit for a month with the help of Zyban (same thing as the anti-depressant Welbutrin but under a different name) until they realized that SSRI's send me through the roof. So I don't take that, Chantix is pretty awful from what I hear, and I've seen enough people get addicted to nicotine gum instead of cigarettes that I don't go for those aids.
    I smoke, I'm honestly not trying to quit, but if I wanted to I would. I get that it's really hard, but it's one of those things that you don't need to survive (unlike food) and it's something you have to go out of your way to do.
    Like any addiction, you have to be determined to quit. Use some sort of aid if you want, but be aware of side-effects. And just quit. I don't know, add up all the money you'd save if you quit. Ask your doctor too, as a long of places offer help for those trying to quit for free (I know mine does, but it might be just because it's at the Naval Hospital here and the Navy is going bananas with anti-smoking junk lately.)
  • missymakayla
    missymakayla Posts: 309 Member
    I used to smoke, and I loved it. But I quit cold turkey.in August of 2012. I went on vacation to what they call AMSA, it's where you camp on beach for three day's in truck campers( Members only) and I just couldn't do all the activity's (out of breath) and I told myself after this weekend,I was going to stop, and I did. Now I'm not saying it was easy, but I put my mind to it, and did it, just like in Jan 2013 I had enough of being over weight, and have lost 35 lbs since 1/15/13. MIND OVER MATTER ... Good luck......
  • santje00
    santje00 Posts: 95 Member
    I'm a smoker as well and I don't want to quit before being on my ideal weight. Losing weight is already hard enough without extra things to cut back on. I say focus on one thing at a time. Quit smoking is really difficult, but if you want to quit now I'd try one of those electronic cigarettes. It made me cut back to 5 *kitten* a day and once I lost all the weight I will stop completely.

    I wish you lots of luck trying to achieve a healthier lifestyle.
  • paige_eloise
    paige_eloise Posts: 170 Member
    I'm still smoking as well, I figured that I had to lose weight and stop in some sort of order.
    I figured if I train my eating habits first, I won't put on tons of weight when I quit when my hands are bored!
    I have, however, managed to SERIOUSLY cut down. I smoke around 7-10 a day :)
    Good luck!!!
  • loram11
    loram11 Posts: 13 Member
    I quit smoking January 20, 2013. I spoke to my doctor and tried the Chantix, and lucky for me, it is free with our insurance. It worked for me, I also have the habit of holding something (especially when driving), so I did order a e-cig with no nicotine. It works for me and helps when I'm having a beer and want a smoke....I have been lucky and not gained any weight, I think it was because the Chantix really does curb the desire to smoke, I was really afraid of eating everytime I wanted a smoke and it didn't happen.

    Good luck, I wish you nothing but success!!
  • noodlesno
    noodlesno Posts: 113 Member
    Check out Allan Carr's easy way to give up smoking clinic or book. I did 4 months ago and have not smoked (or more importantly wanted to smoke) a cigarette. I also have not put on any weight. It really is an easy way to give up smoking.

    Give it a go. The book cost hardly anything and you will not have lost anything by reading it.
  • jeanababy2
    jeanababy2 Posts: 14
    Thank you all for the great advice and support!!! I need it more now then I ever had... Family support helps but its even better when its from people who understand what im going through.... Sometimes I feel like my family just tells me what I want to hear ya know!!! Congrats to all of you on achieving your goals you are all such a great inspiration... I have decided to call my DR and get some help that way. I will set my "quit" date after I go. For anyone that would like to add me as a friend for support that would be great!!! THANKS AGAIN
  • erinsueburns
    erinsueburns Posts: 865 Member
    I'll third the suggestion to look at electronic cigarettes. I am not saying they are healthy, but they do seem to be healthier.

    I smoked for 2/3 of my life. I tried cold turkey and couldn't do it, tried patches which were ineffective and gave me rashes, tried gum which was ineffective and gave me mouth sores, tried Chantix which was marginally more effective but literally made me crazy and spiraled an existing sleep disorder out of control.

    With electronic cigarettes I have now been free of the products of combustion for 548 days. I was a three pack a day smoker prior to quitting and in the leading months between when I started the electronic cigarette and when I finally put the fire out, I dropped rapidly in quantity of traditional cigarettes. I am no longer on Advair or Nasonex, I can't remember the last time I used my albuterol, and my cholesterol is down. Oh, yeah, and I lost weight too. With the electronic cigarette I was able to vape flavors like butterscotch, and raspberry cheesecake, and basically any of the foods I could not fit into my calorie allotment. I am not advocating starting vaping as weight loss solution but it does make the change more palatable if you are trying to quit smoking. Additionally, if you want to quit nicotine as well, it is relatively easy to step down your nicotine strengths making it easier for some people to quit.
  • Musikelektronik
    Musikelektronik Posts: 739 Member
    One word: Chantix. I used it and have been smoke-free since January 31, 2012.
  • antxoable
    antxoable Posts: 86 Member
    CHAMPIX!!! I have quit smoking 3 month ago and since i start to take them no one cigarrete, when u stop the treatment u feel a litte bit of anxiaty but nothing to drive u crazy, if i have done it everyone can!!i was what everyone calls a heavy smoker!!
  • erinsueburns
    erinsueburns Posts: 865 Member
    CHAMPIX!!! I have quit smoking 3 month ago and since i start to take them no one cigarrete, when u stop the treatment u feel a litte bit of anxiaty but nothing to drive u crazy, if i have done it everyone can!!i was what everyone calls a heavy smoker!!

    That is a remarkably dangerous thing to say. The potential side effects of Chantix are frankly speaking terrifying. And it did and does drive MANY people crazy.

    Some of the "LOVELY" things they warn about:

    thoughts about suicide or dying, or attempts to commit suicide
    • new or worse depression, anxiety, or panic attacks
    • feeling very agitated or restless
    • acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
    • acting on dangerous impulses
    • an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
    • abnormal thoughts or sensations
    • seeing or hearing things that are not there (hallucinations)
    • feeling people are against you (paranoia)
    • feeling confused
    • other unusual changes in behavior or mood

    Also, it increases your risk of cardiovascular problems, particularly if you already have them...which oddly enough most long term smokers have.

    Not saying people should boycott it, but one shouldn't gloss over fairly serious risks.
  • pwnderosa
    pwnderosa Posts: 280 Member
    I use an electronic cigarette and it has been almost a year now since my last cigarette, I feel better in almost every way and started my weight loss journey about 2-3 months after switching.

    I was not "ready to quit" at the time, I did it because my husband was having health issues and I wanted us to quit together, we both used the e cig, he quit his after a few weeks and I still puff on mine (but hope to reduce to zero nicotine soon as I'm contemplating starting a family).

    Just try everything and don't give up! It is the #1 best thing you can do for yourself and you will be so proud! I would suggest to eat at maintenance for awhile as you quit and give yourself lots of rewards, especially ones you can enjoy more as a nonsmoker like perfume & nice smelling stuff and fitness gear. Good luck!!
  • wrentrotter
    wrentrotter Posts: 36
    Read Allen Carr’s Easyway To Stop Smoking.
  • nil8r
    nil8r Posts: 45 Member
    Echoing other's recommendation to look into an electronic cigarette. I originally purchased one for travel and it ended up getting me to seriously ratchet down my smoking. To be fair, I was never a heavy smoker (1-3 cigs a day max), but my biggest obstacle was social situations, especially when alcohol is involved.

    Now, I can breathe easier, and don't even use the e-cig except when I know I'm going to be in an environment that will trigger the craving.
  • DrSketch
    DrSketch Posts: 8 Member
    I'll add my voice for the e-cigarette market. I get the nicotine I crave, the oral fixation satisfied, and get my desert flavors to replace the sugar cravings! Seriously in love with the double chocolate one I have right now, it has saved me from eating so much chocolate. If you can find a local vendor, you'll be able to sample the flavors before buying. I use a Vivi Mini Nova. My wife calls it my new binky, lol.
  • mklassy123
    mklassy123 Posts: 153
    I quit smoking over two years ago. Yes, I gained weight. BUT, I GAINED FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The freedom from not smoking is AWESOME. I can have a drink in an airport. I'm not constantly thinking about when I'm going to have my next cigarette. I can go out and not constantly have to get up and leave to go outside to smoke. My clothes don't smell (at least from smoke). I can breathe so much better. I just started walking 3 1/2 miles home from work everyday. If I still smoked, I'd be huffing and puffing (no pun intended) the whole way.

    With hard work you can lose weight. You can't grow a new lung.

    The important thing to note is that quitting CAN be done. Hundreds of thousands of people have quit smoking. It's hard, I won't lie - but it's doable. Nobody ever died from quitting smoking, but many people have died horrible deaths from NOT quitting smoking.

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