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I'm "assisting" a coworker (woman, 35 years-old) in her quitting smoking. We've started walking on the local bike path to get her to the point of a decent sweat and to raise her heart rate a little. We are to start jogging a month from now - until then, she'll reduce the amount of her smoking by a quarter each week and then go cold turkey.
My question: does aerobic exercise help in the physical reduction of the withdrawl symptems? If not, what other measures have you used to quell the "urge" to smoke after quitting? She would like to try quitting without chemical support (patch, gum, etc. - she is not on any drugs nor does she use alcohol.)
I quit smoking a little over 2 1/2 years ago. I quit cold turkey. I'll try to give you a few issues I had.
I had tried the gradual cutting back to quit but it didn't work very well for me so I smoked a lot before I quit, enough that the last thoughts i had of smoking wasn't feeling like I had been holding out for a smoke but that I really didn't want that taste any more because really if you smoke enough it feels disgusting even to a long term smoker. It helped my mind to see it as yuck instead of deprivation.
After that the other biggest issues I had were depression and hormone issues. My monthly times for a while were really wacky and PMS was intensified. This might not happen but if it did, she should know it can be overcome and to keep the quit!
I went on a couple cleaning sprees when I felt agitated. Running or biking or exercise are excellent for these times in the quit and yes exercise helps the body with the feel good chemicals.
When I felt like a cigarette I'd take a slow deep breath of clean air each time.
Oh and beware the quit gas because it is real!! I don't know how many quitters it happens to but I know a lot.
All we can do is make the decision and stick to it. For me things started improving at around 3 weeks and had hills and valleys until I just didn't care to smoke any more really.
Working up to quitting is scarier than the quit IMHO. I put it off far too long out of fear.
QuitNet might give you some ideas. I quit in April with the help of nicotine patches. Chemicals? Yes, but not as many as I was getting via cigarettes. Six weeks and it (patch use) was over. They do help.
Drinking lots of water is supposed to help. And yes, exercise.
Some can quit without patches, gum, etc., but your chances of succeeding are greater with a little help. I think it's worth it.
Some states or places of employment might pay for the patches, etc. The State of Wyoming does -- now. They didn't when I was quitting.
All we can do is make the decision and stick to it.
And realize that your friend may try to quit a few times before she's actually successful. Yes, physical exercise helps a LOT. So does avoiding anything associated with smoking, e.g. coffee, talking on the phone, etc, for while. Have her put the $ she saves by not buying cigarettes in a jar. Tell her to take deep breaths through a straw. She can do it. (And you're a good friend for helping her.)
QuitNet might give you some ideas. I quit in April with the help of nicotine patches. Chemicals? Yes, but not as many as I was getting via cigarettes. Six weeks and it (patch use) was over. They do help.
Drinking lots of water is supposed to help. And yes, exercise.
Some can quit without patches, gum, etc., but your chances of succeeding are greater with a little help. I think it's worth it.
Some states or places of employment might pay for the patches, etc. The State of Wyoming does -- now. They didn't when I was quitting.
I agree on this...quitnet.com....I quit almost a year ago now and they still send me updates and it just makes a person feel good. They also have some great ideas on quitting. You aren't alone there! I also used the patch for about a month and it did help. Like you Wyo, I felt the patch for a month was worth those chemicals to finally get rid of the cigarettes. The lesser of two evils I guess. Probably one of the biggest helps was a thread I had here on C-D in the Foods section. The thread was actually about dinner ideas but many of the regular posters were very caring. So many of the posters there were so supportive. If I started to feel down or weak they were right there to support me. I would have felt horrible to let them down so yes, they were a big part of my being able to stay away from cigarettes. I still crave them but when I do I try to get busy--taking a walk or doing something around the house. The feeling passes much fater now but they still happen. I am looking forward to the day I no longer even think about a cigarette.
I answered a similar thread some time ago but I'll repeat what helped me quit cold turkey 11 plus years ago. Actually, I just realized it will be 12 years on Tuesday.
1. I took a McDonald's straw and cut it to the length of a cigarette. It had the right weight and feel of a real cigarette and when I was really craving one I would use it like a cigarette and inhale air. It seemed to help even if it looked funny.
2. Instead of trying not to think about smoking (which is about impossible when you are quitting) whenever the thought would come up I would use it as a chance to reinforce my will power by saying to myself "I am proud of myself for quitting smoking. I like being a non-smoker."
3. Before she quits have her make a list of reasons why she wants to. Once you quit it is hard to remember the reasons why and she can refer to the list when that happens.
Good luck!
Last edited by Sandhillian; 10-04-2009 at 01:00 PM..
Reason: typo
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