quitting two addictions at the same time?

Hello everybody,

I have been a smoker for about two years now. Last year, I lived in a country where smoking was totally acceptable pretty much everywhere (Japan), and I used to smoke about a pack a day. But since I've been back in the states, I've cut down to 5 or so cigarettes a day.

I have been chewing nicotine gum for a couple days, and it seems to be going well. I still smoke a cigarette in the morning, but after that, it's just the gum.

The only problem is, I started on a diet pretty much the same day as starting to quit smoking, and it is a lot harder than I thought. I want to quit both, but if I had to choose which was more important to me, I would choose losing weight (my BMI is 34!)

I just wanted to know if anyone has advice or anything on how to cope with both, or maybe to continue the slight smoking until I get used to the diet or what? Also, all of my roommates smoke, which makes it even harder.

Thank you!

I stopped smoking by 1) realizing I just did it because I was bored 2) chewing gum 3) Slow down on my drinking to almost nothing. Maybe one of those will help you out.

i am too a smoker. i thought about trying to do both at the same time, but then decided i would stop smoking after i lose the weight and am able to maintain for a while. i'd say try to smoke as little as possible while you lose the weight. then tackle the quitting later. it's very difficult to give up two addicting things at the same time. so, that's my advice.

I work in tobacco use research at a university so I know a lot about this stuff! Few things to note...

~The average person gains 5 to 7 pounds when quitting smoking, however among those who quit smoking long-term (6+ months) they usually end up losing the weight they gained. This weight gain tends to occur within the frist 2 weeks.

~Physical activity, as you probably know, releases endorphines that mimic the 'high' you get from nicotine.

~Cravings, on average, last about 5 minutes.

So, when you combine these things together I'd recommend you do the following:

 1 - Try not to let the numbers on the scale during the first two weeks scare you - stick with your changes for at least a month and you'll be surprised at the changes.

2 - Whenever you get a craving (or whenever you would normally smoke a cigarette) take a physical actvity break. You could do things like walk around the block a few times, do 20 arm curls, run up and down a flight of stairs or do something around the house like putting laundry away, sweeping the floor, etc.

Contrary to the myth - research has shown that changing multiple lifestyle behaviors at one time works. So you are doing the right thing.

Good luck!

One more thing to add.. The 'slight smoking' will only make you go through withdrawal longer.  Think of it like ripping off a band-aid - one quick pull is best.  Same with quitting smoking, set a quit date and stick to it.  The physical addiction to nicotine only lasts three days - once you get past those three days it is purely psychological.

I just wanted to add my two cents here.  It is really difficult for anyone to tackle two things at once.  In my experience if I have to set too many unrealistic goals for myself I fail.

I think its best to tackle one thing at a time, and take baby steps day by day!

I agree with the above post.  I had been trying to quit since September (tried Chantix, Wellbutrin, etc.) and realized that now was not the time!  I have focused on becoming healthier by eating and exercising, and feel that if I can get that under control, then I will want to be healthy all across the board.  I am just happy that I am taking steps in a positive direction instead of still sitting on my butt and smoking, which I was doing before.

If you are going to go for both...about.com has a great smoking support forum...I have made lots of friends there and they are super supportive...one of the threads is titled "Fitness and weight support" or something like that...check it out!

Good Luck!

I have been a heavy chain smoker for the last 13 years. I have very rarely ever been able to smoke less than a pack a day and I could smoke up to 3 (quite often) to 5  (rarely) packs depending on what I was doing.... But usually if I was stressed or was thinking about quitting I went up to 3 packs in a day.  I was going to try Chantix in the end of November but when I did research on it, it actually scared me to put it in my body.  I was also positive that I couldn't quit cold turkey.  What I did was actually research the cold turkey method and found that it isn't as bad to handle if you know what to expect  and how to conteract it.  I was also scared of cold turkey cause I am a single mother to 3 kids 5 & under and I was sure I would end up hurting them.  On top of that I had to deal with depression alot.  I didn't even bother to set a date.  I usually had my cigs set to smoke my last one at night and I decided I wasn't going to buy anymore. So on that last one I sat there and enjoyed it. When I woke up the next morning I had tons of fresh fruit and veggies to munch on along with a bunch of cranberry juice.  The cranberry juice helped keep the withdrawl headaches  gone by keeping my blood sugar level more even.  I knew smoking was bad for you but it does sooooo much more than just cloud and tar up your lungs.  It messes with all kinds of nuero transmitters in your brain...   I have found that I have not had to deal with bouts of depression since I have quit.... Oh yeah... it was my New Years Resolution and I ended up stopping on Dec. 1 of 2007.  So I decided my other New Years Resolution was going to be to get healthier and more fit.  I am only slightly overweight, but I had figured it was better to do both things around the same time since I needed to learn to make my endorphins work instead of letting the nicotine do it.   And this is the beginning of a new lifestyle..... I don't want only part of a new lifestyle .... I wanted the whole thing.    I live with a smoker, and I have 3 young children that are extremely hyper, own my own little business, and am trying to fit in exercises  while working towards remodeling my future apartment to make it habitable for me and my kids.  Needless to say... every day is a battle, but I want something and figured that I am just as deserving as anybody else  to have it.   I know this is long but I wanted to throw my side since I understand how it feels to do both things you are wanting to do.   I would read up on stopping cold turkey, why put nicotine in your body when your trying to get it out, that's what any of the nicotine supplements do.... they actually prolong the withdrawls. It only takes 3 days to get the nicotine out of your system, and depending on how you treat yourself and understand what's happening to your body is how bad your withdrawls will be.  I actually only paced a few times and I had to talk to myself alot....lol... like... NO you don't want a cigarette...lol    .... Then work on the activity part.... You are going to have to find things to do in place of smoking.... so you can throw in the exercising and loosing weight..... My suggestion on that is to not head straight into a diet tho.... learn what your body needs and just watch what you eat and then slowly work into it.... Your not in a race... you are learning how to eat and treat yourself for the rest of your life.  so far I have already lost 10 pounds (altho it's prob mostly waterweight) I feel better and I found that without smoking, I can actually breathe when I run a mile and I feel good when I do it.  They say the mental aspect of nicotine addiction is as bad as herroin addiction. I still get vivid images of me and almost feeling like I'm smoking a cig and I just shake my head and move on... I've never had an urge last more than 3 minutes... I don't think I've ever had one last that long..lol    And one last thing.... I tried to exercise and get healthier before I quit and the cigs make it harder.... they do things in your brain that your body needs to relearn how to do on their own...  I didn't understand that and I always ended up binging and figuring that day was shot and sit down for a smoke.  I wish you the best of luck and here is the site that I read thru to understand what was happening to me : www.whyquit.com

My true reason that made me quit was that I had lost my sense of smell and taste for a couple of months prior and when people have to tell you that your child has a dirty diaper or that their playpen smells like soured milk because you can't smell it.... That wasn't cutting it... I felt nasty and dirty... Like I couldn't take care of my kids properly. It's been almost 2 months and I'm barely getting my sense of smell back - not that dirty diapers are a wonderful smell ...lol... I'm just so glad to feel like I have some control back over my life.  GOOD LUCK!!!!!   

Melanie-f that was a great post!  I smoke a half pack a day and really want to quit.  I am so afriad of it!  I have smoked for most of my life.  Your post is so encouraging, thanks for sharing!

Thanks :D  I hope it does help some ;) I did want to add one more thing that was important for me too.... However that it may help anyone else...... 

I didn't TRY to quit smoking...... I REFUSED TO TRY.......    I QUIT!!    From day one and day two and day 3..... I was NEVER TRYING  ..... I had quit and I was done with them and I refused to let them put their little voice in my head that said it was ok... the it wouldn't hurt.... and I always shunned the visual image that would present itself in my head....

 For me... it was the way that I thought about it.... I refuse to let it control me any longer.... It had already taken up enough of my time.  So instead of telling people that I was trying to quit.... I just told them that I HAD QUIT.  

I had a considerable amt of weight to lose so I decided to lose the weight first then quit smoking.  I smoked a pack a day for 33 years.  I lost 55 lbs maintained it for a few months and then quit smoking cold turkey.  I have been smoke free for 2 1/2 years now but did gain some of those lbs back but it was because I stopped watching what and how much I ate.

I am now trying to find the motivation to lose the weight again.

If ou can do both at the same time go for it but if its one or the other quit smoking first get a good 90 days under your belt and then go for the weight loss.

I think you should quit smoking first actually, in case you gain weight.  I used my fear of gaining more weight when I quit smoking 9 months ago to fuel my motication to exercise and learn how to eat better.  So far, I am down 24 lbs.  I know that its not A LOT of weight, but its a start

 

Good Luck

I quit smoking 5 months, 2 weeks ago using Commit Lozenges and didn't have any noticeable weight gain...but now I am addicted to Commit Lozenges!

Anyone know the calorie count of these Lozenges?

 

I recommend getting the smoking under control - and then do the weight thing. Dieting then, will help you forget about smoking, or at least your mind will have a new target.

I actually also found that when I quit smoking and then 2 weeks later also started losing weight it was a great combination, because I was concentrating really hard on losing the weight and doing everything right food wise, it really helped taking away from missing the cigarettes. I quit cold turkey and actually had no problems, this is now 3 years ago.

Well obviously I am here because I ended up gaining my weight again, but I still don't smoke........

I thought of giving up sex as well coffee for new years but I couldn't handle that and the weigh