Attn: Ex Smokers
- Thread starter dlsc
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sherryc
Cathlete
I too am an ex-smoker, 11 years now and it's great. Whenever you feel the urge, do some cardio, you'll realize that it would take 10x more effort to do it if you were smoking. It feels so good to workout without the ill effects of cigarette smoke keeping you from reaching your full potential. STAY STRONG, YOU CAN DO IT.
Sherry
Sherry
Please.....whatever you do - don't pick up a cigarette. You will then be right back in the habit. I quit about 10 years ago. I still get a yearning for one, but as time passes, it gets better. When my cravings were really bad, I did deep breathing, chewed sugar free gum, and exercised or did something I enjoy.
Good luck....stay strong!! You can do it if I did!
Good luck....stay strong!! You can do it if I did!
My urges come when I'm under stress and not every time I get stressed just once in a while. Cigaretts are soooo expensive I'm glad it's not a habit anymore, one carton of cig. are about as much as a Cathe dvd. OK I just though of an excuse to get another Cathe dvd Thanks for all your advise.
Linda
Thanks for all your advise.Linda
Probably one of the hardest (if not THE hardest) things in the world for me was to finally quit smoking...I've been quit now since March 2004 and feel SO much better...but I really enjoyed smoking and it was hard to give it up. I had cut down to a half-pack a day for about a year before I actually quit, and then once I did quit I used the Nicotrol inhaler (available through prescription only) for about 6 months or so, which helped me immensely...it gave me something to do with my hands as well as a little shot of nicotine...I had quit once before, cold turkey, years ago, for about 3 1/2 years. I thought I could handle smoking just a few now and then, and before I knew it, I was back at it again. I'm over it now for good...every once in a while I'll smell one that somebody has just lit up and it smells good for a second or two, but I know I'll never smoke again. I'd never want to go through quitting again! lol Good luck to you...if you can quit for good, do it...it's probably one of the best things you can do for yourself.
nancy324
Cathlete
Linda,
I'm going to give you a very serious answer here, so I hope that this is what you're looking for. I have no medical training of any kind, just lots of personal experience.
For some reason that I don't understand, it is still not known by the general public that nicotine is a very effective antidepressant. If you're having nicotine cravings, it may be due to a low-level depression that you're not aware of, or maybe you are aware. Either way, talk to your doctor about antidepressants BEFORE you go back to smoking. Your cravings may be telling you something important.
-Nancy
I'm going to give you a very serious answer here, so I hope that this is what you're looking for. I have no medical training of any kind, just lots of personal experience.
For some reason that I don't understand, it is still not known by the general public that nicotine is a very effective antidepressant. If you're having nicotine cravings, it may be due to a low-level depression that you're not aware of, or maybe you are aware. Either way, talk to your doctor about antidepressants BEFORE you go back to smoking. Your cravings may be telling you something important.
-Nancy
Hi Linda,
You'll get through it! I had urges on and off for the first year. Especially when I was out having a drink and socializing. It does get better though. Sugar free Trident bubble gum was my best friend! I found I had to find something to do until the urges passed. If I was stressed I would stretch a lot. It really seemed to work for me. Give it some time, it will get better
You'll get through it! I had urges on and off for the first year. Especially when I was out having a drink and socializing. It does get better though. Sugar free Trident bubble gum was my best friend! I found I had to find something to do until the urges passed. If I was stressed I would stretch a lot. It really seemed to work for me. Give it some time, it will get better
I quit on May 22 this year. i have had a few cheat drags, but other than that i am doing ok with it. like the others have said, remind yourself how much better you feel without smoking. It also helps me when urges come, to express out loud to whoever i am with that yes, it smells great and i would relly like to have one, but I AM NOT GOING TO SMOKE. it works pretty well. Good luck to you and congrats on quitting!
jes;-)
jes;-)
>For some reason that I don't understand, it is still not known
>by the general public that nicotine is a very effective
>antidepressant. If you're having nicotine cravings, it may be
>due to a low-level depression that you're not aware of, or
>maybe you are aware. Either way, talk to your doctor about
>antidepressants BEFORE you go back to smoking. Your cravings
>may be telling you something important.
I agree completely with what Nancy is saying. When I finally did quit smoking for good (over seven years now -- so long I've lost track), I was on anti-depressants. The other times I tried and failed, I wasn't. It really helped with that ridiculous poor-me-I-can't-have-any-fun-anymore period. I say that lightly, but in actuality, depression was a huge part of what made quitting so difficult. In fact, I believe nowadays there's an anti-depressant that doctors can prescribe just for people who are trying to quit smoking. Ask your doctor about it. It makes a HUGE difference.
As for helping with the cravings, it was sunflower seeds that did it for me. Something repetitive to do with my mouth and my hands. Kind of a nasty habit itself, and I had to lose my "addiction" to the seeds later on (too much salt), but it was much easier and they got me through the most difficult time.
Good luck. In my experience, the first four days were the worst. I've heard people (my husband for one) say they still have almost overwhelming cravings even years later, but I rarely crave one at all, ever, and the cravings are never anywhere near overwhelming. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I still like the smell of cigarettes, and I just love the smell of a fresh pack of menthols, but I almost never feel an urge to smoke one. And I wasn't a light smoker, either. I smoked three packs a day for nearly twenty years. There is hope.
Shari
>by the general public that nicotine is a very effective
>antidepressant. If you're having nicotine cravings, it may be
>due to a low-level depression that you're not aware of, or
>maybe you are aware. Either way, talk to your doctor about
>antidepressants BEFORE you go back to smoking. Your cravings
>may be telling you something important.
I agree completely with what Nancy is saying. When I finally did quit smoking for good (over seven years now -- so long I've lost track), I was on anti-depressants. The other times I tried and failed, I wasn't. It really helped with that ridiculous poor-me-I-can't-have-any-fun-anymore period. I say that lightly, but in actuality, depression was a huge part of what made quitting so difficult. In fact, I believe nowadays there's an anti-depressant that doctors can prescribe just for people who are trying to quit smoking. Ask your doctor about it. It makes a HUGE difference.
As for helping with the cravings, it was sunflower seeds that did it for me. Something repetitive to do with my mouth and my hands. Kind of a nasty habit itself, and I had to lose my "addiction" to the seeds later on (too much salt), but it was much easier and they got me through the most difficult time.
Good luck. In my experience, the first four days were the worst. I've heard people (my husband for one) say they still have almost overwhelming cravings even years later, but I rarely crave one at all, ever, and the cravings are never anywhere near overwhelming. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I still like the smell of cigarettes, and I just love the smell of a fresh pack of menthols, but I almost never feel an urge to smoke one. And I wasn't a light smoker, either. I smoked three packs a day for nearly twenty years. There is hope.
Shari
kathryn
Cathlete
I'm not an ex-smoker, but when I was in grad school, my roommate was studying social work, and she learned that citrus and smoking don't go together, so when you have a craving for a cigarette, eat a bit of citrus (an orange, for example) instead. Don't know if it works, but it's worth a try!