Quitting Smoking.
 

I was going to join some quit smoking forum, but I said..what do I need to do that for? There are a bunch of amazing ppl on 3fc that can help me through this..so..here goes the post I was going to put on the other site..

I am on my 2nd day without a cig, and It's really hard. I feel like I am going to go absolutely BONKERS. But, I am trying to get through it. This is my third time trying, and yanno what they say..third time is a charm. hah.

I was watching a movie with some friends the other night, The Butterfly Effect...and there was this woman on there..and she was in the hospital DYING from LUNG CANCER..because..she smoked for 14 years. Here I am turning 23 in a few months, and I've been smoking for SEVEN years already. I decided that I don't want to go through the pain that that actress was acting out..she was so pale..and was on oxygen..and that night I had this hacking cough and my lungs were hurting, etc. I just don't want to go through that. So, that's my reason..I want to be able to breathe better, and I want to live longer. And also, save money.

Support from you all would be great. I am starting to go through what they call the "Quitters Flu"..and it's awful.

Oh, and I am really tired of chewing gum...so..if anyone has any suggestions that would be awesome. I have almost gone through three packs of gum. lol..

How about sugar free lollipops, or sugar free Popsicles? :) You can do it!

Good for you tackling smoking in conjunction with weight loss. If you can get your hands on some reading material about smoking and the brain, it might help you understand what you are going through. (I think You on a Diet even has some information in it) Just take it minute by minute...and I have heard many times that exercise helps a lot......fresh air, a walk. I hear it gets a little bit easier day by day......just think of those changes that have happened in your body already.......the carbon monoxide is gone, your breath is better! Hang in there.

I smoked for 10 years and spent about the last 5 quitting! I quit for good though a couple years ago (age 29). The following website helped me tremendously: www.whyquit.com.

It has a "scary" section, a "support" (interactive) section, and an "education" section. I found the education section very helpful and interesting. I learned a lot about the psychology of addiction which I try to implement with dieting.

Good luck!

http://whyquit.com/whyquit/CraveChart.gif

That's a great idea, thanks! I will have to get some tomorrow. By that chart down below..tomorrow is going to be R-O-U-G-H! Whew! I've been 8 days without smoking the last time I quit, and that chart is very accurate. lol. Day 3 & 7 are the hardest...by far..

I have that book, Mary. I will take it a look at it in a bit. Guess I haven't gotten to that part of the book yet. lol.

Exercise and water have helped me today. I had to take my Mom to the DR because she has a migraine..and she had to get a shot. While I was waiting I played a game or two of mahjong on my phone..and then I decided to not sit around and do nothing..so I got out and walked and kicked rocks. haha. Ate a healthy portioned dinner...had a lot of water..settled my stomach..burned 200 calories on DDR..and then took Dixie on a walk...which turned into a jog/run. MAN WAS IT NICE! I COULD BREATHE!!!!!!!!! hahaha. I was still out of breath at times, but I'll be that way for awhile until a lot of the gunk is gone from my lungs and until I lose more weight..but man..I love it. I feel so free when I run...heh. :)

Thanks for the info! I really appreciate it. Congrats on quitting! :)

It's extra rough for me because I take care of my Mom during the day, and she smokes like a freight train. I am going to hang in there though. She told my GF last night that if I was quitting she would quit. Let's hope! She's been smoking almost 40 years. =/

Musik -- just want to say POWER TO YOU, girl. My hubby quit last year using Chantix and really had great success. He recently confessed that he's been sneaking a couple every few days when he gets stressed and is considering another round of the Chantix. He had tried and quit and totally restarted at least 5 times before trying the chantix. Good luck to you!!!!!

I have read and heard about that medication. Must really work. But, I don't have the moonlah to fork over to go see the doctor AND to get the medication. So, I will do it the old fashion way, cold turkey. lol.

Yes, it WAS expensive. I quit cold turkey, but it's been about 15 years. I'll be pulling for you... YOU CAN DO IT!!

A coworker of mine who smokes like a chimney was put on wellbutrin to quit smoking for surgery, and she said it works like a charm.

Good for you for quitting, Brooke! I don't have much to add, unfortunately, just wanted to put a little :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: out there for ya.

Thanks, Claire. I really appreciate it. :)

LOL. I appreciate the pom poms and such, Dana. You can never have too many cheerleaders in this type of situation. haha.

Oh, and Claire? Have you ever had a craving or wanted to start back up again in the past 15 years? I am worried that all this work will be for nothing, and later on down the road I might pick it back up again. =/

Yes, I must confess. I quit solidly for probably close to a full year. Then started having a social cigarette or two occasionally when I was out and had a little too much to drink. I never picked the habit up again, but for years I would do the light 'social' smoking (sometimes that would be just a couple drags off a friend's cig). Now that I don't drink much anymore, that has pretty much died out. I did smoke one about 6 months ago when I was out and yes, I had been drinking. I can still remember how icky it tasted -- thankfully, I just do not enjoy them anymore. It's true what people say that after you quit just the smell of smoke is a real turn off. For me, having a buzz was the only exception to that. If you drink, I would advise you to totally avoid drinking, and for that matter BARS, until you have quit for a while. At least for me, that was critical.

By the way, congrats on your awesome weight loss! Wow... 62 lbs!!! I remember when I first came on here back in December, you and I had a few conversations (I believe about salad dressing and/or maybe Trader Joe's?). Anyway, it looks like you are doing great on your weight loss! Keep up the good work

I just wanted to poke my head in to say I am cheering for you! I need to quit smoking really really badly and haven't gotten there yet, but I've been keeping you in my thoughts!

I am kind of scared of the social smoking thing. If I have one, I might start back up again....Hopefully I will be like that..and won't even be able to stand the taste or smell of it. It kind of sucks though...Melody's birthday is in less than two weeks and she wants to go bar hoping. She is about a week ahead of me in the quitting smoking, so I guess we'll be each others crutch. :)

And thanks for the congrats. I have lost it over the years since 2003. I lost about 20 pounds..then gained it back..lost it..gained it...etc...and now I've lost it again. lol. So, hopefully I keep going in the right direction this time! :)

I think we were talking about trader joes with, um..jeez...who was that. haha. Someone that's in Charlottesville, VA...I forget her user name. 0_o

Thanks, khep! I appreciate it. For today being a rough day, I did a pretty good job. :)

Still going strong all! w0ot! :carrot:

You can do it! :D

Thanks! :)

I just wanted to say good luck!

Thanks! I really appreciate it. Still going strong. I am about to look up how long it possibly takes for the cravings to go away, and for my brain to stop thinking I need one. lol. I hope it's soon!! The past two times I tryed to quit I gave in right after a week. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THIS TIME! LOL. :P

Thought I'd stick my head in and say that I'm still doing great. This is my fifth day! Thanks for all the support and prayers, etc! :)

Still doing ok. I started having a REALLY bad craving after dinner. But, I got up...came upstairs..and brushed my teeth. Now I am chewing on a piece of gum..and I am ok. :)

I know no one has posted anything lately, but I just want to keep everyone up to date..the ones that have kept me in their thoughts...and told me they believed in me, yanno. So, I thought I'd let ya'll know that I still am doing great. The cravings aren't as bad, and I don't have as many. But, when I do...mannn. Whew. hah. But, I'm going to make it! :)

Musik... You are doing GREAT. Stick with it, girl... it is SOOO worth it!!!

Honestly about the bar hopping thing... even though it's HER birthday and you want to honor that... umm... I might rethink it. I'm only saying that because I know I would have had a very tough time 2 weeks in being in a bar - drinking and smoking -- environment. Some people may disagree and say that sooner or later you'll have to be in that position, but I just know for me it would be HARD. If you do go, could you be the designated driver? that might make it easier.

And good job on that craving... teeth brushing is a great idea!!!!!

wooooooooo!!! you can do it! i quit in january and have cheated only a few times. it is soooooo worth it. it is like a noose is taken away from around your neck. exercise isn't torture. you won't grow older with those icky mouth lines that lipstick creeps into. you will get to grow older, period! surely by now you have smelled smokers, and realize how you used to smell icky too. but you don't now! sniff your hair too! i bet it smells good. mine smells like shampoo, not smoke. if you are smooching on anyone i bet they think your breath is better. ;)

hay, think of whatever works right? those are things that i clung to when i went through the hard parts. there are still times where i really want one. but they pass and i feel better for having not had one.

word of advice. step up your exercise a bit. my weight loss stalled a bit for a while there. you are making major changes in your body by quitting, and they are all good, but your metabolism may slow a bit. and food will taste SOOOOO GOOOOOOD once all your little taste buds are back in business. so be mindful of it so that you don't derail your weight loss and then give up quitting.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Ah, yeah. That is a good idea. Last year we went to about 3 bars for her 21st, just the two of us...and I drank about one or two drinks. But, then again. I was smoking then. lol. So, it will be hard. I was planning on being the DD this birthday anyway, so I'll probably just drink water or diet coke or something. Maybe I might even talk about just throwing her a party at the house...inviting some ppl..and what not.

yeah, the teeth brushing thing has really helped with after dinner cravings, and after I eat something. Especially something with garlic or onion. I don't know why but I LOVEDDD to smoke after eating those two things.

Anywho. :)

I'm on my 7th day, and I usually crack on this day. So, I am going to keep myself busy. Also, my friend Bernie stayed the night, and he's gonna stay with me all day today. We're gonna play DDR, or watch movies or something. haha. When we hang out I'm just about always laughing. So, I'm sure I won't think about "yanno what" all that much! :)

I know what you mean about that noose. I can breathe better, and that post nasal drip crap isn't draining down my throat. I am not coughing as much. It's amazing. I don't know about the not smelling like smoke though. I take care of my Mom during the day, and she smokes like a freight train. I always end up going home smelling like smoke either way. lol.

I have stepped up my work out a 'bit' but not a lot. Bernie, Dixie, and I went on a 1 h 30 m walk/hike yesterday, and then I played DDR and burnt 300 calories later on. Halfway through my ankle started to hurt. I think I twisted it a bit or pulled a muscle while hiking. Probably when I almost slipped. lmao. I have some bengay on it, and an ace bandage. I'm gonna "try" to play DDR today, and get some cardio in...but..if my ankle is hurting I'm not going to push it.

Yesterday was a HORRIBLE day. I feel like I have gained 3 lbs from binging, and my stomach is still as bloated as can be. The cravings were awful yesterday. No wonder I gave in two times before. :(

I got through it though without smoking...so..I guess all is well.....heh...

On day 9, and still doing great. :)

Oh...

I feel like I have lost weight, but I'm actually gaining. :(
I mean, I feel like I have lost inches, and it looks like I have, but the scale is saying other wise. Gaining muscle? I dunno...

Day 10! :)

Day 11. :)

You go girl! Two weeks will be here in a flash, then 3 weeks, a month... a year. You are doing a GREAT job!

Tomorrow is two weeks. :)
And thanks for the support!!

Still going strong!!!! :)
This is the longest I have gone without smoking since I was 16 years old!!

Muzik -- Are you still going strong!?? HOPE SO! You can do this!!!

Yes, I am! I mean, honestly...On Melody's birthday I had ONE puff when we were drinking and it was NASTY. Other than that I am doing great. I have a small craving here and there, but that's it. :)

I stopped posting days, etc...because people weren't writing. And I didn't want to spam the board. lol. :P

Oh, and I am gaining weight...it seems. Ppl are saying I'm losing weight, but I feel like I'm gaining. The scale is saying that I am gaining, but then again I feel kind of that thin feeling...and then I feel like I'm gaining. lmao. I dunno. You know what I mean? =/

I'm scared to hop on the scale. lol. I don't really want to update my info on here either. It's sad. :(

Excellent job on Melody's b-day.

The other thing... yeah, I do know what you mean! It is ok to go up a few lbs. when quitting (far as I know, and from my own experience, that's normal), but just keep it in check. I haven't been doing too great with food/exercise the last couple weeks, so I have been avoiding the scale. I forced myself to get on this week and just see where I am. It actually helped me to see that it wasn't too bad, but I had gained about 2-3 lbs. You might have to bite the bullet and just weigh and go from there.

Keep up the good work... I bet you are feeling better!!