From Cigarette Addict to Part Time Smoker?

Anyone out there who used to be a daily smoker but now is only a social smoker?  I'm interested in hearing about it.  I quit almost 5 months ago and still really want one the rare times that I am out having drinks or a great meal.  I don't know if I could handle it though, nor do I think it's a good idea.  But if you're out there, please let me know your secret.

Congrats on quitting!

My huband was a daily smoker years ago and is now a social smoker.  I quit smoking when I was pregnant and decided to become a "social smoker" afterwards.  It did NOT work for me.  I was smoking like I had previously within a couple of days.  I think I have more of an addictive personality than he has.

I'm not sure if social smoking is something that can be learned.  For me, I know that it just doesn't work.  When I quit smoking 7 months ago, I had to tell myself that it was the last cigarette of my life.  It's hard and I especially want one at certain times, but I just fight the feeling because I know where it will lead.

i'm going to say no way dont do it

i quit smoking over 2 yrs ago and the thing that kept me and still keeps me from having one is the thought of going through those first few months of withdrawal

so before you decide about  being a social smoker ( very few addicted people can ever do this) think about those first few weeks of quitting, could you and would you be willing to do that again if you found yourself a full time smoker again

I don't know if I believe the studies... but SUPPOSEDLY social smoking is JUSt as bad for you as regular smoking.

I used to be a daily smoker... but i don't think I was ever actually ADDICTED.. how many smokers say that?  Most, probably, huh?

Anyway... I still have one occasionally... like maybe a cigarette every two weeks... but when I'm around my friends with whom I used to smoke... I'm a chimmeny.. and i always feel yucky afterwards...

No one HAS to smoke... and I"m sure you go without it long enough you won't miss it at all...(but I admit... I like my occasional niccotine... espeically after a few too many glasses of wine!)

whatever you do, DO NOT try this! it's just your addictive nature trying to get you to go back to smoking full time (which you will!), and you're just setting yourself for disaster. please, trust someone who's tried doing the same thing more than once... even people who've tried doing just this after 20 years end up going back full-time. just leave it alone!!!

No..no..no..! This is your mother talking! Most restaurants and bars are smoke free! Why on earth would you want to ruin your dinner? I've been smoke free for 25 years! I thought I could have just one but it didn't work! DON'T LET YOURSELF BE FOOLED!

GOOD LUCK!

I know too many people who thought they could do the only when I drink or am out with friends, but they were smoking like they never had quit before too long.  

I have 2 yrs quit and sure there have been times when I really craved a smoke - espeically in social situations but I know for me if I have one cigarette I'll be back to a pack a day that day! 

OK...I'm smoke free again for 15 years! There is no such thing as a social smoker! You either smoke...or you don't! For every cig you smoke it takes that much longer for your lungs to repair themselves! I promise...I'll stop lecturing now!

nods

NOOOOOOOO its a bad idea. I say DO NOT socially smoke.

Don't do it! No ifs, ands, or butts, ever again.  Smoking is smoking! It controls you. Oh btw bad idea

jkr0319, are you hearing us out??? we'll keep lecturing if we have to!!!

That is THE number one reason why cigarrette quitters fail and go back to smoking - its called junkie thinking. Don't be a slave.

There's no such thing as one cigarrette. They come in packs of 20.

If you actually try to work this into your plan, you might as well do some more thinking ahead and plan for your next quit! 

You couldnt handle it, you are right.  I have quit many times in the past and it was this exact mentality that got me started back.  Do not, I repeat DO NOT give in. 

I had not smoked a cigarette in 11 months and decided to "just have one", well guess what that one led to just one every now and then, then that every now and then led to omg I'm smoking again.  This is a very bad idea.  Don't tear down all that you have built up.  You will become addicted again. 

I'm now quitting again and this time it is for life.  I was so disappointed in myself for starting back but I honestly thought I could do it and not go back to smoking all the time.  It just isnt possible.  Take it from those who know.  I hope you listen :).

Just wanted to add, those times when you are telling yourself just one wont hurt......that is you trying to justify using that as a crutch.  If you use it as a crutch you will start again.

It is like a drug addict or an alcoholic, it just doesnt hapen.  You cant do it just a few times.  Your will do it more and more and next thing you know you will be hooked again.

I know this is repetitive but I truely hope that you do not do this.  Be proud of yourself.  In my opinion the cravings for a truely addicted person never go away.  They do, however, over time get easier to deal with.  Whatever you have to do to keep from smoking do it.  Even if you have to pace the floor.

When I quit smoking I spent an awful amount of time just counting the minutes going by.  Sounds crazy I know.  I would think if I can go 5 minutes without lighting one up I'll be ok...then after the 5 minutes I would think ok I made it.  I dont want to tear down what I have built up.  Then I would double it.  I literally paced the floor just dying to light a cigarette.  But I didnt.  You have gotten through the hard part.  Dont turn back now.

my cravings are almost non-existent, and i was hard core addicted. so it is possible they will go away. i always ignored the cravings, focused on doing something else, and before i knew it, i didn't want one anymore!

Hi folks,

I have acheived my first goal of 20# wt loss and now am ready for goal #2:: quit smoking and lose another 10#.  Could all you ex-smokers tell me- if I stay on my current diet plan- which has led to about 1.5-2#/week wt loss , Am I still likely to gain weight when I quit? I really don't want to gain!!

Also, is it best to quit cold turkey or try to wean yourself off ?

I can only tell you that there is NO scientific study that actually says that weight gain and quitting smoking are linked. 

The thing is you get that craving and want to do SOMETHING with your mouth...

My suggestion; Don't!   *lol*   Keep couting your calories... do exactly what you've been doing... and don't smoke.

I would say to take my suggestions below with a grain of salt because, for whatever reason, I'm "niccotine" resistant... I've never "needed' a cigarette in my life... and I smoke about a pack a year... that being said:

I do know the patches work for a lot of people.. I don't really think WEANING does... A lot of people do go with the... "Okay.. I'm going to wait FIFTEEN minutes... and if I still want a cigarette THIS BAD in FIFTEEN minutes I'll go have one."  Usually, you won't.

and remember... the PHYSICAL addiction only lasts two days... after that.. it's mind over matter.. and you're smarter than the cigarette!

actually, smoking a pack a day does burn an average 200 calories/day. it keeps your metabolism in mega mode. it also surpresses your appetite, so you are bound to eat less. there are always exceptions to the rule, but this is pretty standard. and yes, when you quit, you feel like you need to put something (like food!) in your mouth.

in my opinion, i think it's more important to successfully quit smoking than to worry so much about some weight gain. quitting isn't the easiest thing in the world, and it's stressful... so i think it's best to not have to worry about anything but stopping smoking for a month or two.

also, when you quit smoking, your body starts craving sweets. i say, eat the sweets. do whatever it takes, at least for a little while. and eating chocolate has been used for a long time now to help people get off all sorts of drugs. releases endorphins, which help.

the thing that helped me the most this last time was always having hard candy on hand. got a couple of cavities, but that's dealable.

everyone's different in what works best for them in regards to cold turky or weaning. i cannot handle weaning, i'm an all or nothing kind of gal, like to get things over with. just think about how you deal best with situations, and you should be able to figure out which will work best for you. the patch is really helpful. i learned the hard way that the gum can be just as addictive as cigs, so watch out. and if you've never quit before, pick a quit date in anywhere from a week to a month that you would like to quit on, and tell everyone you know that you'll be quitting then (that way, you can't back out last minute!). it will also give you time to prepare yourself properly.

keep going to the gym often. and just ignore those annoying cravings, they do go away!

g'luck!

You guys rock!!!!  Thanks so much for your insights, stories  and encouragement.  I know I can't be a 'social smoker'...I don't even know why I would want to be.  I often think it would be nice to kick back once every month or two and have an all out cheat day....good food, good wine, and good old nicotine.  I don't know if I could limit it to just that day though, and the consequences of not being able to, are not worth it for me to try right now.  I'm definitely committed to being a non-smoker.  But this ultra healthy, no-vice life requires more accountability to myself than I sometimes wish to have.  Can't I bail on it every now and then????  See how the addiction is so sneaky and manipulative.  Anyway, thanks again for your inspiration.  I'm tagging this one!!!