As people quit smoking, one of the most common complaints you hear, especially from women, is that they’re afraid of gaining weight. I personally don’t think this is a very legitimate claim. Sure, nicotine is an appetite-suppressant to a certain degree, and there is a school of thought claiming that it effects the metabolism, but when you actually quit and your body begins to heal itself, you’re energy level is going to double. This is true regardless of whether or not you’re using a stop smoking medication.
This will enable you to take part in all sorts of physical activity you weren’t previsouly able to enjoy. Even a brisk walk around your neighborhood every morning should keep any extra pounds at bay. Carve 10 minutes out of your day every day to indulge in an active pursuit - just get in the habit. You’ll not only be creating the new, healthier you, but any exess your’e afraid of putting on will kept at bay.
There’s a lot of hype out there surrounding stop smoking medication. However, here’s a letter I got from a reader, and it advocated trying a few other more holistic methods first.
First, practice deep breathing every time you feel that urge to smoke a cigarette. Make sure to inhale a lung-full of air that you can muster in one breath. Then, let the air escape through your lips slowly. This simple act is a basic form of yoga and can be useful when you are placed in stressful situations that may urge you to light up a cigarette.
Second, it is always advisable to take in a lot of fluid. There’s nothing water can’t heal, goes one famous saying, and it stands true because drinking large amounts of water will aid your body to wash out the nicotine and other toxins that corrupt your body.
Third, write down all the positive things of being a non-smoker. Jotting down these advantages will open your eyes and enlighten your frame of thinking which was primarily clouded with the addiction to smoking. Be sure to read aloud all the good things that you’ve written down. In this way, you get to condition yourself to avoid thinking of going back to your addiction.
Fourth, indulge in simple pleasures. You can try pampering yourself by enjoying a day at a spa to release all the bad vibes and stressful tensions that may serve as impetus to your smoking spree.
Fifth, find the will to destroy all your cigarette stash. Be sure to hide or completely destroy all of your cigarette supplies or anything related to smoking (e.g. ashtrays). The principle behind this rule is quite simple: out of sight, out of mind. Having your favorite lighter lying around your room or around your house won’t make it easier for you. This is quite similar to the process of being over someone. Forgetting becomes more difficult when familiar stuffs that can lead you back to that someone is scattered all over your living room.
Good Luck!
Here’s a bit to keep in mind when you’re trying to quit - it might even help you do it without stop smoking medications:
The first step in quitting is recognizing the need to, so if you’re here, you are already on your way!
Smoking has been associated with:
1. Lung cancer
2. Stomach cancer
3. Esophageal cancer
4. Oral Cancer
5. Throat Cancer
… to name a few
It has also been associated with Heart Disease (including mortal heart attack), Lung Diseases of all types, Nerve problems, premature aging, gum disease, tooth loss, and tooth staining. Not to mention, it smells and puts those around you in danger from the detrimental effects of secondhand smoke.
If you use cigarettes to relax, what’s the harm in trying to find an alternate mode of relaxation? I’d suggest:
Physical exercise
Chocolate
or even… Naps or quiet time
Reading for fun
Video games
Music (listening or playing)
Yoga/Meditation
Unfortunately, unless your health insurance is going to cover it, there’s not a whole log of free stop smoking medication out there. There’s some over the counter aids, like the gum, and now quit a few prescription medications available to help one when they decide to kick the habit, but other than cold turkey, you’re probably going to end up spending a few bucks!
I think it goes without saying that smoking is bad for you and your baby, so there is no need to lecture anyone about the risks involved with smoking during pregnancy. The hard part is quitting! You CAN do it; it can happen cold turkey or with the use of pregnancy-safe stop smoking aids. Just think about a baby being trapped in a smoky bar - that should help!
This guy is about to make a great decision and is nervous about the withdrawal:
When I quit drinking (praise the Lord) I had been given campral. This helped alot. But it does not work with smoking, according to the research I have done.
I am not looking forward to the withdrawal. I am not wanting to become a screaming manic to my family. I do not want to go through the withdrawal only to fail and start smoking again. (Happened too many times with the drinking over the course of 20+ years). Can not afford on line support groups that I have seen.
Can not afford the doctor. I am unable to make it to AA meetings so a stop smoking meeting will not work for me. I am hoping to find something along the line of pill form. Does any one have suggestions? Oh candies and gums are out also, due to teeth issues.
I emailed him back and told him that an affordable option might be the stop smoking medication Chantix. His insurance will probably cover it, and if not, it’s still pretty affordable considering how much cigarettes cost!
Do you think you need the help of a stop smoking medication to kick the habit? Read the below and think about why you actually smoke.
Cigarettes are not just loaded with nicotine. They’re also full of 50+ other chemicals, some of which might be addictive (and harmful to your body.) The main problem with quitting, though, is just breaking the habit.
We train ourselves to think of our body as ‘needing something,’, a sensation we try to alleviate by smoking a cigarette.
When we try to stop smoking, we still get these ‘my body needs something’ sensations, and we still feel that we want a cigarette. We have to train our body to be more selective. When we feel we need something, we have to work out what it is that we actually need.
A glass of water is an excellent substitute if nothing else comes to mind, as it helps with the clearance of the toxic substances in our body. Another good substitute is a bag of salted peanuts, used in combination with the water.
Another thing to do is to find an activity which occupies the mind or body. Go swimming - nobody wants to smoke while they are swimming. Slowly, as our body adjusts and translates the ‘want something’ feelings into something other than cigarettes, then the feelings begin to go away. We know its not a cigarette that the body really needs, because as soon as we’ve had one we still have the feeling, and want another!
A neighbor has been prescribed Lexapro and Ativan for a depression/anxiety issue. So far she’s thinking that it’s working (and I think she seems much happier, to be honest.) She smokes about a pack a day and has decided that it’s time to quit. Has anyone else had experience quitting while on these medications? I’ve heard that Ativan may help reduce nicotine cravings because of the way it works in the brain. Her doctor said the only stop smoking medication he knows of is Chantix.
Smokers wanting to quit have more resources than ever at their disposal, from a patch to a nicotine gum to hypnotherapy. There’s pills, and then more natural approaches like accupuncture. Unfortunately, we all know there is no miracle quit smoking aid. Somtimes cold turkey is still the best approach. It all depends on your own body chemistry and your level of addiction. Check with your doctor, who will guide you down the right path to being smoke free!
I read this story by an ex-smoker who quit without using a stop smoking medication:
I began smoking at the age of 15 and finally quit for good at the age of 57 (a year ago), when I was at a pack a day. Even though all the experts say you have to go cold turkey, I think that just increases the craving. This is how I did it. Every time I wanted a cigarette, I only smoked half of it. So, I immediately cut my intake in half. After a few weeks of doing that (gives your body time to adjust to less nicotine), I would only take about 4 puffs, put it out and save it for the next craving. After a few weeks of that, I went to 2 puffs, then one puff (where one cigarette could last me a day or two). My body gradually got used to doing without the nicotine and I got to a point where I said, “when this pack is done, I’m not buying anymore”. That was a year ago. Recently, I stayed with my son, who smokes, and took a drag off his cigarette. I didn’t like the taste and it hurt my throat. If I can do it, you can do it, because I loved smoking!!!