Smoking! I can't stop!

Sorry if this is a repeat but I need help!

Quiting smoking has become harder for me than dieting! I've found theres no way to do both, certainly not at the same time. If I can't eat, I smoke; if i can't smoke, I eat. Will it ever end?! I started smoking when I was 18 quit when I was 19 started back again when I was 23. I'm now 28 and I'm up to a pack (or more) a day! I don't want it anymore! But I do want it, like right now I want one but I didn't buy any because I knew I'd want one, and I let my bf take the car so I can't go get any, so now I wanna chew on my desk and growl. I just get so hateful when I try to stop smoking.
Lol. Now I wanna walk to the store. might make a good excersize program. walk to the store everyday to get my cigs. but no! I don't want any, but I do! ahhh crap. I'm gonna go chew on a pencil for a while.

Well....stopping the smoking habit is probably more important than loosing weight (at least right now).  I'm not sure what your current weight is, but most likely smoking has greater health ramifications in the future......so it should be: 1. stop smoking and 2. Loose weight.  It has to be very hard to do those at the same time.

Have you talked to your doctor? There is a pill out right now (sorry...don't remember the name) that I have heard alot of people have had success with.  Or....what about a support group?

Can you keep gum on hand? Or raw veggies to munch on all day?  I know some people that use that listerine breath spray....they say it curbs the craving b/c it tastes like you just brushed your teeth.

Either way....GOOD LUCK!  I wish I had more help for ya ;(

I read in another thread that as soon as you put negetive thoughts in your head you are defeating yourself..Don't let yourself think words like won't can't don't ect. Think I will do this. I can do this.  Don't even think I won't smoke a cig. Think I will walk the other way. I will eat that healthy food. I will get healthy. I have never been a smoker but I have seen alot of people struggle with trying to quit. I know it has to be rough or there wouldn't be so many out there trying to do the same thing you are. You have to be stronger then the addiction just like I have to be stronger then my boredom wich makes me eat way to much.
I probably haven't helped a whole lot but hang in there and in a few weeks it will get easier. In fact set your self a small goal of going without and when you reach that one set a new one.

Good luck and remember you are doing what is best for you.

You CAN do both.

With dieting you're taking control over what you're putting in your mouth, and with trying to quit smoking you're also taking control over what you're putting in your mouth. One is going to your stomache, the other to your lungs.

I "dieted" for half a year, and lost 40 pounds and got into a healthy weight range, proving it can be done. I quit smoking in July(completely out of necessity rather than anything else), and although I miss smoking, a lot, I did that too, proving that can be done.

Patches and pills and other tricks won't work for me, any more than any of the diet tricks floating around. Sheer stubborness, making up my mind to DO it, and sticking it out is the route I had to go, and did go, with both.

Good luck!!

here's a thread from a little while back that had lots of good advice...

http://www.calorie-count.com/forums/post/4861 9.html

sorry, i can't make a direct link on this thing.

the name of the thread is "quitting smoking question...", in case you need to search it.

you can't do both at once, why would you even want to try? quit smoking 1st, then after 2 or 3 months, focus on your weight. and with quitting smoking, it sounds like you need to get more prepared for it... once you are, you will be ready. let me know if i can help!

lol @ "so now I wanna chew on my desk and growl"  I hear you tho, only for me it's these damn cigars. I blame Tony Soprano because he's my idle and he's always hauling on a fat cigar.

I quit smoking, and that's how I ended up on C.C.; because of all the weight gain after quitting smoking. I tried to replace cigarettes with glazed doughnuts, and it didn't work.

I recommend quitting smoking first, then losing weight afterward.

Some people do well with the medication, Chantix. I did not hear about it until after I'd stopped smoking.

All I can tell you is what I did... and that was a thirty-year addiction. I used the patch; it helped with the nicotine craving and so all I was left with was the psychological addiction.

Then I also used a thing called a Lifesucker; it's an adult "pacifier" and helps by giving you something to chew or suck on and keeps the hands busy. You can even "inhale" on the narrow end, LOL, and you can also flavor it. I recommend using cinnamon or clove, because it gives that nice "bite" you get at the back of your throat, similar to when you inhale cigarette smoke.

Also, I was in the habit of smoking after meals, so after a meal I would make myself do housework or walk around the block... something physical to keep me busy.

When the cravings got REALLY bad, I went and did aerobics or rebounding or some form of exercise to get out my frustration.

I still want a cigarette now and then, when things get really stressful. But it's only been 8 months for me.

You might be a good candidate for nicotine gum or the lozenges. I quit last year using the patch, then I took up the gum. I confess I'm still chewing the gum. But, the way I look at it, it's far worse to be smoking. I don't care if I chew the gum the rest of my life, at this point. I smoked for a long time, I'm just glad I'm not smoking anymore.

The gum is good because it gives you something to do with your mouth. It also gives you a bit of nicotine, without all the other poisons. Try the 2mg instead of the 4mg. There's also research showing that small amounts of nic gum (just two pieces a day) plus a cup of coffee can offset the weight gain of quitting.

As for walking, yes!!! Walking is the *best* thing to do when you quit! It gives you an endorphin boost. I tended to crave cigs in the morning, until I took my walk, then the craves magically disappeared until the next morning. So definetly get out there and walk...

And if you find yourself walking to the store with the cigs calling your name, buy the nicotine gum instead.

in regards to nic. gum, i also used to chew lots of that. and when i say lots, i mean lots. my 1st decent quit attempt was around 4 years ago. used the gum, and lasted with no smokes for about 5 months. i then realized i was addicted to the gum, and at the same time went back to cigs. so i then had 2 addictions! i continued to smoke, and chewed the gum any time i couldn't light up. i quit 2 more times like this, and kept going back to cigs.

for me, chewing the gum long term meant not actually giving up my butt addiction. if there's nicotine in it, then you're not really giving it up. there's still a very strong link in your brain to your old habits. to be fully free of cigarettes, you must be off the gum. maybe it will work for some people to always chew the gum forever, but for me, that was just asking for trouble.

so this last time quitting, i allowed myself 2 weeks of the gum, then went to the patch for a month. and it will be a year next week of no butts, no gum!!!

yes, the gum is a great tool, just be very careful with it... our addictive natures are always trying to find ways for us to go back to smoking, and i let mine win with the gum for a long time...

This is my first time trying to quit smoking. The first time I gave up cigs it was no problem I just put it down and never wanted one again. Then I started dating a guy who smoked, my mom smokes, my sisters smoke, my dad smoked, the people I lived with smoked, everyone at work smoked. I was also going through a separation I left my babies father after being with him since I was 17. First time I was ever on my own working, doing for myself and what not. Let's just say much stress and easy access. The situation is still the same everyone still smokes except my dad who quit about 2 years ago I think. Things are still stress full we just bought a house and I've had 4 relatives die in the last 6 months, 2 of whom I was very close to. One was from lung cancer he smoked 3-4 packs a day. But I want to be healthy, I don't want my new house smelling like nasty smoke. I know it's a bit silly but I just need a few "hang in there"s every now and then to keep going. And hearing other peoples struggles, past or present, with it helps also.

I started chewing that orbit gum instead of the nic gum it seems to work for the small cravings but not the big ones. My teeth hurt from chewing so much lol. After I eat is the worst, I found chewing ice helps but my dentist told me to stop because it was not good for my teeth. I've already gained almost 15lbs trying to quit, thats one of the reasons why I started the weight loss. But the computer makes me want a cig too. Everytime I sit down and start typing or when I'm waiting for something to load I want to light up. *she typed as she furiously chewing her gum*

And I just wanna say thanks for all the advise, tips, and stories so far they are helping a great deal. You guys are so great. As for the walking when I get a big craving (or working out/cleaning) I'm going to try that it sounds like it might work. *crosses finger chanting I can do this* if my teeth don't fall out from this gum chewing I'll be great! lol

if being on the computer makes you want to smoke, then good lord, get off it!

Sorry, I didn't read all the replies so I don't know if anyone has mentioned it, but I am taking Chantix. My doctor talked me into it and says it is great stuff. Last time I quit, I went cold turkey and did fine, until six months later I picked up the habit again. The first week you're on Chantix you can still smoke. It gives it time to kick in. I will let you know how it works for me.

I'm sorry that you have to go through the whole quitting smoking thing.  It is THE WORST EVER!!

I have heard of a few positive, fully effective experiences from that laser procedure.  One guy I know of smoked so much, he had a white beard that was actually yellow from all the smoking.  He smoked for about 30 years, I believe.  He walked out of that office after the procedure and has never wanted a cigarette again.  And I believe its under $300.  At a pack a day, thats only a small portion of what you'll pay for cigs in a year.

I still think you need to have a strong desire to want to quit for anything to work for you, be it laser, patch, pills, gum, whatever.  But you have listed lots of good reasons, so you can totally do it.

I stopped smoking first.  I went on welbutrin and used the patch.  I had regular gum in case of emercencies, but I mostly chewed on toothpicks.  Not very feminine, but it worked.  I gained about 25 lbs, which is typical.  After about 8 months I decided it was time to diet.  I don't know how anyone could do both at the same time.  Quitting smoking is torture, and it took all my energy.

Good luck!

Hi,

Just saw your first post as I haven't been checking in for over a week.

I quit smoking three years ago this month using the lozenges.  I am still using them some, but am trying to cut back gradually.  They do help me not want to eat as much and that's a plus, as I gained over 40 pounds when I quit smoking.

One thing that helped me (in addition to all the other really good advice that you have already received from these other great folks) is I adopted a mind set that I wasn't giving up something, I was choosing to be a non-smoker.  May sound weird, but it did help me not feel like I was depriving myself.

I agree about quitting first, then tackling the weight.  I also agree that the smoking is more harmful than extra pounds and my son, a physician, told me the same thing.

Good luck to you.  You CAN do it, just be stubborn and stick to it.  Also, don't be shy about using any and all tips available.  Some may not work, but hey, what have you got to lose except poor health?

I am down to 1/2 of what I normally smoke. yay! I am proud of myself and FYI the walking/working out when I want one has done great! Its helping with both the quitting and the weight loss. I lost 3 lb.s in a little over a week so whoo hoo

I totally know your frustration. I used to smoke 2 packs a day and I quit cold turkey. It can be done. It's A LOT like dieting. At least for me.
Heres the thing, the cravings that you feel for cigarettes are just your body's reaction to chemicals in it. If you quit, they will go away. Its just the way most body's work. Of course, the first month is the hardest. You just have to stick with it. Like Nike's slogan just do it...... switch that around.....JUST DON'T DO IT!!!!!  For me, after that month, I would get occasionally spirts of cravings. But they usually only lasted for about 15 minutes. If you ride it out, it will go away. Just do something when those cravings come to get your mind off of it.

I don't think patches or gum or anything work. They didnt work for me or anyone else I know. Its a waste of money.

It also helped me to track my progress. Go to quitnet.com. You can enter in your quit date, how much you smoke a day, and how much it costs a pack, and it will keep track of how much money you saved, time saved from your life, and how many cigarettes you haven't smoked. It really helped keep me motivated. To date (my quit date was Oct. 2004) I have saved over $9,000 and 8 months of lifetime and haven't smoked 37,398 cigarettes.

Now, if your going to quit, I would either do it before you lose weight or at the same time. It would be a shame if you lost a lot of weight and then gained it all back. But you could also use exercise as a way of helping you quit. When you get an urge, exercise. I think I heard once that the chemical released during exercise curbs your cravings.

Hope this helped you!! Sorry for the long post.

Being a realist, just like when you started you didn't smoke a pack a day, so work the process backwards. If you smoke a pack, limit yourself down to 18 for a couple of weeks, than go down to 16 and continue until your done to less than 5 a day. Also when you want to smoke, make sure you make yourself wait 5 to 10 minutes before you give in to the urge. Hope this helps :)

I react badly to pills and medications. So I don't think I could take any pills or patches. It's just going to have to be will power and alot of silly ranting. lol 

 

Chel- thats what I started doing I went from a pack and a1/2 (about 30 cigs) to 8 a day. and I'm the proudest of myself for yesturday I had a pack, it sat right in front of me(unopened) in plains sight and I made it 5 hours..may seem petty to some people but for me it was a real achivment. (sad as it is.) Also I've tried not to worry about losing weight just now I'm still going to count my cals and excersise if nothing else but to keep me from ballooning up from quitting.

Just as was already mentioned...Chantix is the bomb for me! Tried patches, gum, zyban.  I have been good with Chantix for 2 weeks and 1 day.  I am snacking way more, but I kicked coffee without trying,,,,just don't want it.

2weeks with no smokes or caffeine at all.

Now I need to kick the beer. 

Read about Chantix though...it's way better than I expected

Chantrix is incredible...I quit by using it, my brother quit by using it, and so did a girl I went to school with.  And chewing gum helps with the oral fixation associated with smoking.  Another idea is carrots. :)  Its a struggle, but definitely worth it!