Kicking the Habit

[RentCavalier]

So, I'm quitting smoking.

It's bloody annoying. God damn Nicotine. You never know how addicted you are to something until you try to give it up. I've been surviving on one cigarette a day for two days and already I'm contemplating suicide.

[bovine]

have a DS?

[RentCavalier]

Psh. I don't need it. After last night, the cravings have gotten less severe. I just wish I knew what the timetable was--last night I had to basically go through an entire bag of chips to keep my mind of it, which is never good.

Anyone here quit before? What's the average timeline?

[Tessian]

I've never picked up a cigarette but have friends/family that have and since quit. Dunno how long it took them, but I know one thing you have to be careful of is trading one unhealthy addiction for another. After many years my one uncle finally quit smoking... then promptly ballooned 40lbs.

Out of curiosity what method are you using to get off? I know quite a few friends at work have had great success with that new pill.

[RentCavalier]

I'm more or less going cold turkey. My main plan is that I'll go two weeks (though that's likely gonna get bumped down to a week/week and a half) without buying a new pack of cigarettes. After that pack is through, I'll add a half-week to the original length, and continue to do that until, eventually, I don't have to smoke anymore.

Or, elsewise, I'll just try to borrow a cigarette from people, but all of my smoker friends don't live with me (hence, why I'm quitting.)

Sad thing is, I keep expecting to probably start smoking again once the next semester starts, 'cause I'll be living with my smoker friends. I'm not entirely sure WHY I'm quitting, except that...well, I guess smoking had lost it's fun, really, outside of doing it while drunk.

GOD though, Nicotine cravings are terrible. I don't even wanna know what Heroin addicts have to go through.

[Andrew, Killer Bee]

Good luck, man. It's a bitch; my Dad has been trying to quit for years.

[Kupek]

A guy in my research group quit right before he started grad school. It sounds like a horrible time - and it is - but he figured it was only going to get worse.

One night he tore his couch apart looking for a lost piece of Nicorette gum.

[Imakeholesinu]

My advice, do not go to bars or clubs. Hell, avoid alcohol at all costs while your doing this for at least a month.

[Blotus]

Talk to your doctor about Champix. I'm on it and I haven't had a cigarette in ten days. And by that, of course, I mean a sober cigarette. I've smoked three while drunk in those nine days.

And that's for me, who's been smoking for seven years and almost at a pack a day vs. you who seem to have just started within the last year.

Apparently it has something like a 70% success rate.

Just don't get drunk around other smokers.

[Flip]

I quit in college junior year (01) and it lasted up until a few years ago (06)... i went cold turkey, and it wasnt too horrible, but now since i started again its been a pain to kick. I tell myself almost every month that i will quit again, but i always go back. Listen to the other guys and try not to eat too much to compensate, my sister gained 30 pounds easy quitting this year and on the weeks i decide to quit i find myself eating way more then i normally do, too.

I figure, though, that im spending twice as much in extra food as i do when i smoke, so its actually saving me money... granted, at the expense of my health, but i can still do the things i like to do without getting winded. I do want to quit again, but at this point in my life i dont really care one way or the other.

[SineSwiper]

Talk to your doctor about Champix. I'm on it and I haven't had a cigarette in ten days. And by that, of course, I mean a sober cigarette. I've smoked three while drunk in those nine days.

Actually, don't. The FDA has started some investigations on Champix causing some SERIOUS depression issues. A friend of mine at work tried it out at work, and liked it for a while, but quit because he was getting hardcore depressed, suicidal thoughts and all.

[Shellie]

I dont know if this is even true or not or if this is a real ad, I doubt it. Found this pic looking for something else and I immediately thought of your post so here you go...

[Zeus]

It takes about 22 days (if I remember correctly) to get the nicotine out of your system. But that's only part of the problem.

The real problem is your lifestyle, your habits surrounding smoking. If you're still putting yourself in situations where you want a smoke, you're gonna crave it, regardless of whether or not you have a physical dependence still. Unless you're changing your lifestyle to remove smoking as a possibility as much as possible, you're gonna have a hard time staying off of them. It's a must that you change your lifestyle if you expect to quit for good.

Incidentally, it's the same thing with food. The sugar addiction that basically everyone has is far more severe than you think.

[RentCavalier]

35 dollars for Nicorette gum?!

Fuck that, I'm going back to cigarettes.

[Andrew, Killer Bee]

35 dollars for Nicorette gum?!

You give up the gum eventually!

[RentCavalier]

It's so pricey. Annoyed me inherently.

Well, I'll go back to quitting.

Riiiight after I finish this pack.

[SineSwiper]

35 dollars for Nicorette gum?!

You give up the gum eventually!

All gum is just nicotine, which is pretty stupid, since that's they damn thing you're trying to get away from. Why not get hooked on the gum or the patch, for that manner?

[RentCavalier]

35 dollars for Nicorette gum?!

You give up the gum eventually!

All gum is just nicotine, which is pretty stupid, since that's they damn thing you're trying to get away from. Why not get hooked on the gum or the patch, for that manner?

Cigarettes are short-term cheaper too.

According to the box and what people tell me, it's easier to wean yourself off the gum. Eventually, really, the only tactic I have learned (for future reference) is to just stop smoking all together. If you can distract yourself enough, you'll eventually forget about the cravings, and if you MUST have nicotine, the gum or a single cigarette over the course of the day does nicely.

It's all willpower. I just have come to the conclusion that I don't want to quit yet.

Of course, when you are in the midst of a Nicotine craving, you will do ANYTHING to convince yourself to start smoking again. Your mind literally rebels against you.

[RentCavalier]

Double posting for emphasis: FUCKING OW.

I went for a jog just now.

But my lungs said no.

I'm now back on track for quitting smoking.

[Kupek]

All gum is just nicotine, which is pretty stupid, since that's they damn thing you're trying to get away from. Why not get hooked on the gum or the patch, for that manner?

No, you're really trying to get away from the smoke which destroys your lungs and throat. The nicotine, while not great, pales in comparison. The gum lets the person separate the habit of smoking from the addiction to the nicotine.