Quit Smoking

[Amar]

The last time I tried my friend gave me a cigarette on day 3.

Ill try again when I have kids.

[Arkan Bladesinger]

Stopped smoking somewhere in last year´s february, so it´s almost a year and a half now. Granted I´ve had an occasional cigar in a bar now and then and used snus (scandi thing; tobacco you put under your lip) for a long time after actually quitting smoking and still chewing nicotine gum, so it´s not the best of success stories.

Hard to give a good advice as I just decided to quit one day after 14 years of smoking. With the replicas it wasn´t hard, but I do recognize that psychological craving even now once in a while, so it´s lot about the willpower.

[Veilan]

I stopped smoking permanently at age 6, when my mother indulged my curiosity in letting me have a pull from her cigarette.

I coughed and hacked so bad, I never even thought about touching a cigarette again until I was old enough to know just what a fucked up decision it would be to start smoking.

And guess what, that's what she intended all along.

She quit smoking herself, as did my grandmother.

[NESchampion]

I stopped smoking permanently at age 6, when my mother indulged my curiosity in letting me have a pull from her cigarette.

I coughed and hacked so bad, I never even thought about touching a cigarette again until I was old enough to know just what a f*cked up decision it would be to start smoking.

And guess what, that's what she intended all along.

She quit smoking herself, as did my grandmother.

Sounds like a smart woman.

[paazin]

Bah, does everyone here who smokes only do cigs?

[Jeppan]

Bah, does everyone here who smokes only do cigs?

I smoked a pipe for a while but it hurt my throat

[Grand Fromage]

Omigod Germans force their children to smoke :O

I only smoke the occasional cigar, paaz. It is delightful. And accidentally inhaling once was enough to remind me why I hate cigarettes.

[paazin]

Bah, does everyone here who smokes only do cigs?

I smoked a pipe for a while but it hurt my throat

You sure that was a pipe you were smoking...?

[Lusipher]

Stop smoking and you will feel 10x better as well as helping out others around you. My daughter is very allergic to smoke and it has caused her to have problems for days. I get onto my wife every single time she ever takes our daughter over to her grandparents. They all smoke and dont care if katie gets sick or not.

On a side note, I have a friend who has not had a cig in over a month now and she is doing very good. She got the whole wanting to eat everything in sight for a time, but now shes cut down on food as well. Your body just needs time to adjust.

[NickD]

Okay, the tips I gave you are because of my work involvement with big tobacco. They work. The sudden drop in nicotine levels is what creates the cravings for sugar. Specifically simple carbs and lots of them which is why the average person packs on 10 lbs after they quit. So, because quitting is actually chemical warfare you need to fight it on that level.

Enter Endorphins.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endorphin

Thanks, I do appreciate it. Although hearing why and how I should quit by people who have never smoked before sometimes sounds a bit hollow. Like how can you know what it's like. Almost as bad as a born again non-smoker, who can be worse than those guys who stand on street corners with bibles in their hands...

Pain exercise is temporary and a sign that you're doing too much too soon. As you exercise more often you'll find that muscle recovery times will grow shorter. Associated nausea could be a result of your bad lungs and their inability to get enough oxygen into your blood. Start slow and get a physical if you’re badly out of shape.

Yeah the pain goes quickly enough... except the shin splints.. My theory on the nausea from watching Biggest Loser is that my muscles are filled with toxins due to inactivity and exercise is releasing those toxins into my system, which is the explaination for why so many of them throw up all the time at the start of the regime.

It can be done with the right approach and mindset so just keep reminding yourself that nicotine addiction is harder to kick than cocaine or heroin addiction.

Hope that helps some.

... So you're suggesting I take up heroin to take the edge off?

[Joos]

When I quit smoking I found the social habit a lot harder to change than the physical addiction. It's been two years now, and when I smell/hear/taste something that I would usually associate with smoking, I still get the urge from time to time, and its been two years since I quit smoking cigarettetes. The toughest two toghest things are not to have a smoke with coffee and not to smoke while having beer.

From time to time, I still load up a shisha, though. I wan't to beleive thats better than cigarettes. The reason that I make these wild assumptions, is that:

• Doesn't contain only tabacco, but other good stuff as well such as (fermented) fruit. Makes it both taste and smell nice.
  Isn't spliced with addiction enhancing chemicals.
  Smoke is cold when it enters your lungs.
  It's not convenient to lug a shisha around. You can only smoke when you really feel like it when you are at home. Loading it up becomes a bit of a ritual so there is no everyday social habit forming.
  It doesn't make you smell bad.

If endorfin's doesn't do it for you Nick, I don't think heroin is going to be much help for you either. Good luck though, and good job for keeping it up for 18 days. Basicly, your physical addiction should be over and done with already. Good luck in reprogramming your social habits.

[MorbidKate]

Thanks, I do appreciate it. Although hearing why and how I should quit by people who have never smoked before sometimes sounds a bit hollow. Like how can you know what it's like. Almost as bad as a born again non-smoker, who can be worse than those guys who stand on street corners with bibles in their hands...

I used to smoke Nick. Not too long but I quit when I started to work for big tobacco because employees are "strongly" encouraged to quit due to the insurance premiums and whatnot. Ironic, no? The tips I passed along were given to me by those in the know and it worked. Even though it's been almost 10 years I still get temped after a nice dinner out so dark chocolate is my best friend You'll understand why in a minute.

Yeah the pain goes quickly enough... except the shin splints.. My theory on the nausea from watching Biggest Loser is that my muscles are filled with toxins due to inactivity and exercise is releasing those toxins into my system, which is the explaination for why so many of them throw up all the time at the start of the regime.

Then cycling and other low impact cardio are the way to go. Plenty of options really. For the nausea I can almost assure you it's related to the crap caked to the walls of your lungs that are being released and broken down by the body. Add in decreased lung capacity due to smoking which causes nausea all by itself and it's easy to see why starting an exercise regimen can be difficult. Point is, the initial nausea goes away rather quickly and your lungs will improve dramatically in the years after you quit.

So you're suggesting I take up heroin to take the edge off?

Nah, just giving you a real comparison of just how entrenched nicotine addiction can be because the key brain chemicals involved are almost the same:

1. Dopamine helps to control human appetites for both food and sex. Heroin causes a release of dopamine and so does smoking. This is the chemical that creates your cravings.

2. Norepinephrin controls the sympathetic nervous system: nerves of the body that cannot be voluntarily controlled. Heroin suppresses the middle part of the brain called the locus coeruleus and therefore provides the user with feelings of safety and contentment. Smoking causes the release of Epinephrine which is actually just Adrenaline that is synthesized from you guessed it, Norepinephrine. I'm sure you know what Adrenaline does.

3. Endorphines. Morphine-like chemicals that are used by the body to modulate mood, promote pleasure, and manage reactions to stress.

So, the logic behind what I outlined earlier in this thread should make a bit more sense to you now:

A) Simple sugar (ideally dark chocolate) for the Dopamine-like affect after exercise to make it calorie neutral.

B) Cardio and resistance training (weights) for the Adrenaline release during the workout.

C) Cardio and resistance training (weights) for the post workout Endorphin release.

Most people who are addicted to heroin are given drugs that mimic these 3 chemicals to help the user detox and break the addiction but there isn't nearly the same help for smokers trying to quit. So, if someone really wants to quit the best chance is through chemical warfare.

Know your enemy as they say

Best of luck.

Kate

[Rotku]

If you are finding you get shin splints, swimming is always a great alternative. Has the advantage over biking in that it doesn't cost so much, while still been a great way to exercise with no impact at all on your legs.

[mxlm]

wtf does biking cost, me lad?

[NickD]

Bikes, tires, repair kits, helmets and stuffs?


I tend to fall off bikes, so I don't own one. And kids pee in swiming pools!