Went to the doc yesterday. Can’t say that the news was particularly surprising as I went in because of a headache I’ve had for the past week. Anyhow, I’m on the verge of High Blood Pressure, and am having tension headaches. Probably the result of too much caffiene, smoking and stress.
In two weeks I go back to join the smoking cesation program. That’s right in two weeks, I quit smoking. Also, I’m going to have to lose some weight, down to 190 from my current 245. I also have to reduce my coffee consuption. Currently I drink 6-8 cups, I’ve been asked to halve this and then halve it again in the next two weeks.
Sigh
Steps I’m currently taking
I’ve plotted out a two mile course for a brisk to leisurely walk. I was told to start small and work up to a full exercise program. I like walking so it’s an easy way to start.
I had only three cups of coffee this morning. So far I feel pretty good.
I’d like to cut my cigarette consuption by half before the program starts. Currently between 10-15, I’d like to be down to no nore than 8 by my next appointment.
So advice, moral support, commiseration?
It helps to have a reason to quit, coupled with a strong desire. you’re halfway there already!
When I quit back in '82, my motivation was impending marriage. I quit in 8 weeks, using the Waterpik system, whereby you have cigarette holder/filters, with internal baffles and graduated air holes. By the time you’re through the course, you’re mostly sucking air. you’ll notice your cigarette consumption increasing at first, which is normal on this system. A rather ingenious incentive to quit while using it is the fact that about twice a day you have to disassemble the filter and clean the baffles. this gives you the wonderful experience of seeing and smelling the gunk you’ve been sucking into your lungs.
I also advice take all this a step at a time. don’t worry about the weight or the exercise (beyond an evening walk) until you’ve quit smoking. Same goes with the coffee. Knock off one goal at a time, because if you try to do it all at once you’re more apt to give up in frustration.
good luck. i cant speak for everybody, but the only reason i quit smokes is because i hated them, and hated smoking, and spent the six months before i quit stubbing them out halfway smoked and muttering imprecations between my teeth.
But I also have your answer. I quit a year ago come September 9, and I have practically forgotten that I ever smoked. And this is after 26 years of 2 packs a day. It was easy because of this book:
It completely changed my world and turned my life around. Completely. It is deceptively simple, but it works, works, works. And I did it without any crutches of any kind, cold turkey, all at once. I also quit drinking coffee at the same time.
And don’t overwhelm yourself. Just deal with the smoking first. The one thing I would reccomend is that you quit when you have a couple of days off in front of you, and I recommend you quit the caffeine at the same time, coffee is a trigger. The reason you should have some time off is because you might, as I did, find you are incredibly fatigued because your body has become completely acclimated to having stimulants all the time to keep going. You take them away and you’re going to crash. Or you might. But when you get to the other side you’ll feel great.
good luck.
stoid
PS: I am not alone re: that book. read the reviews, and see the rating, which is a solid 5 stars. And check out the couple of hundred reviews for the book on Amazon.co.uk, which is where this guy started. Virtually everyone is thanking him for saving their lives AND their sanity.
I’ve quit a couple of times, most recently with the nicotine patch, it was quite successful. I recently heard that patch users can increase their odds of permanent quitting by never EVER cheating by having a cig, not even ONCE, from the time they start wearing the patch. Alas, I caved in after 18 months due to the constant presence of smoke from my chainsmoking roommate. I’m quitting again as soon as I move.
In the meantime, I can suggest a few reduction techniques that worked for me.
Try to eliminate “habit smoking.” Like if you always have a cig with your morning coffee, or smoke while driving, try to avoid it.
Try to delay your first cig of the morning as long as possible.
When you DO smoke, stop all other activities and just smoke, do nothing else.
Try taking a few deep breaths when you feel the urge for a cig. I read a report that smokers typically never inhale more deeply than when they’re smoking, and it claimed you could get some of the physical stimulation you get from cigs merely by taking a few deep breaths minus the smoke.
Speaking of deep breaths, try this exercise which is designed to remove CO2 and CO from deep in your lungs. Stand or sit in a relaxed upright position. Exhale as deeply as you can until no more air comes out, and then hold your breath OUT. Close off your lungs and wait a few seconds until you can’t stand it anymore. Then exhale again, push with your ribcage and more air will come out. Hold your breath out again. Exhale again. Repeat the cycle until you can’t stand it. WARNING: if you have high blood pressure, poor lungs, a heart condition, or generally poor health, you probably shouldn’t do this exercise.
OK, that about does it for now, all this talk about smoking and I’m dying to go have a cig.
It only took about 3-4 days to overcome the physical stuff, but the psychological addiction was much harder. I went out to my local hardware store and bought dowels the thickness of cigs, then cut them down to the right length. Having those to play with made it a good bit easier. Sometimes, even now, if I’m around people smoking the same brand I used to, I’ll need to have something in my hands to distract myself. But I haven’t smoked in… oh, about 8 years now.
Caffeine was a lot worse to give up, IMHO. I have a muscular disorder that reacts very badly to anything with caffeine, so I had to cut out all caffeine. Your doc is right in having you cut back slowly… I had to go cold-turkey and the headaches were horrible. If you cut back gradually, you won’t notice the side effects as much. But you will notice if you exceed your limit later on… I can’t even have 1/2 a can of cola without suffering for 2 days.
Well This morning I only had four cups. The effects are noticeable, as I feel slightly light headed and irritable. Luckily I have an office to myself and can avoid people most of the day.
Sadly, I didn’t take my walk yesterday. My best friend volunteered to walk with me today. Naomi, is also being very supportive.
Yesterday, I only had 10 cigarettes, and will try to make that 8 today. I’m doing this by having one after meals, and then after that only when the craving gets bad. Stoid I’m going to pick up that book you recommended today.
I’ve tried to quit smoking before, with the best results being three months cigarette free. I did it gradually decreasing my smokes, kind of like now. the difference is that my medical plan has a sesation program that includes stop smoking aid and counseling with a support group. But maybe I won’t need it.
I know everbody is saying take it slow. That’s just not in me, I always try to tackle things head on. I’ll try to keep updating you on my progress.
My last quit has lasted 10 years. It’s a hard road; don’t be too hard on yourself if you backslide.
Funny part: I spent a good long time flushing half-packs of smokes every night. Then I changed over to just putting them in the trash, but I could always fish them out in the morning.
I don’t think anyone who has been in your shoes can adequately describe the experience. I know it’s not heroin, but it is a tough addiction to beat. Sisyphus (SP?) rolled a huge stone up a hill every day. That’s probably as close as I can come to describing it.
Believe it or not, prayer was what helped me quit. End of sermon.
Good luck. Think of the good you’re doing for your health, and that your loved ones will have you around that much longer.
In March this year, I gave up coffee. I stopped smoking cigarettes about 5 weeks ago.
The coffee was easy for me - I was drinking about 5 or 6 cups a day, and (on the advice of a naturopath) I just stopped. Because I liked the hot wetness of it, I started drinking herbal teas instead. I’m still looking for one that I really like: peppermint is the best I have found.
Cigarettes were a little harder. I read the same book that Stoid recommended - I could not recommend it more strongly.
One suggestion - don’t cut down. You mentioned in your last post that you had 10 one day, and are trying to make it down to 8. Cutting down increases the value of cigarettes to you. Each of them becomes more precious. It’s harder to stop something that’s precious to you. Carr’s book looks at this in some detail.
It wasn’t quite a walk in the park, but it was nothing like I feared it would be either. Right now you’re probably scared - after you read the book you’ll be looking forward to it! That’s hard to believe, I know, so don’t believe it if you don’t want to.
I didn’t get the book yet, but I plan to follow Stoids advice and start Saturday. I did however make my hike. As it turns out is’s just shy of 3 miles, and I was pretty pleased with my self when I completed it. I smoked more yesterday than the day before. I’ll post agin Monday to let you know how it went.
Hi stuffinb, You are not alone. I too at this very moment am trying to quit smoking and loose a few pounds at the same time. I gave up caffien about a year ago.(getting old sucks) But now I drink twice as much decaf! I’m trying to quit the cigs using the Nicotrol Inhaler. Although I’m not using it the way they say. You’re suppose to quit first and use it to satisfy cravings, but I try to use it most of the time and only smoke the real thing when I’m desperate.
Good luck to you… and me!
scraps
I have absolutely nothing original to add here, Stuffinb. I just like to take every opportunity to encourage people to stop smoking. I smoked for nearly 20 years and was up to 3 packs a day when a friend of mine died of throat cancer. It scared the Hell out of me and I quit cold turkey. That was 14 years ago. I think that was the best thing I ever did for myself, and some day you will too.
The only real advice I can give you is to second Marcus, Don’t cut down, quit. At least, cutting back never worked for me.
The coffee is easier to give up. The doctors took my coffee away from me a few years ago. I just had a headache for a couple of days and that was it. But I think I miss it more than the smokes.
I wish I could tell you how easy it is to lose weight, but I can’t. Just don’t get discouraged. The exercise is good for you on so many levels, even if you don’t lose any pounds, or lose slower than you want to.