can one of you guys bum me a smoke? [Archive] - American Paso Finos.com Forums

dana

10-03-2006, 10:10 AM

well, i have completed day 3 and am into day 4 of quitting smoking. i wish i had thrown the cigarettes away years ago. but i guess better late than never. i went to the doctor two weeks ago for a couple of presciptions and decided to get serious about it.

now i suppose the next struggle will be the weight gain. so how many calories should a person take in each day? it's not going to be easy giving up some of my favorites.

if i can offer one word of advise, that would be to quit if you're a smoker. and YES, i do know how tough it is. i really didn't know if i could do it and would be embarrassed to tell you how many years i've been smoking. but i really am tired of giving R.J. Reynolds all that money to put another nail in my coffin.

dana

cowboy ed

10-03-2006, 11:47 AM

dana, my dad smoked for 45 years. he came home from his brother's funeral(who died of lung cancer) and threw his cigarettes in the garbage can. that was 25 years ago. you can do this if you want to bad enough.

Barbwire

10-03-2006, 11:51 AM

Dana, I don't know how to help you to quit smoking, but if you need some help with controlling your weight, go to the Pound Busters Forum or PM me. We will do what we can to help you. :D

Linda Y

10-03-2006, 12:38 PM

Good for you, Dana! I have never smoked...I absolutely HATE :evil: it. My parents were both heavy smokers, and we traveled a lot. I think being cooped up in a car with the windows rolled up cured me from ever starting. Anyway, it took congestive heart failure and removal of part of a lung to stop my father. He is paying the price now for all those years of smoking. I always hoped that I don't pay for the second hand smoke they 'shared'.
A little weight gain, or serious health problems in the not too far future. Ah, such a hard choice. You can keep the weight off.

JennLM

10-03-2006, 03:15 PM

Good for you! I watched my grandfather die slowly from Emphaceama (sp?) and while his brain was active his body gave out.

Your lungs and those around you will thank you. Your lungs will clear up and I bet you will be able to breathe better and have a healthy life ahead of you.

The Pound Busters is a great place to go with great people.

Pam M

10-03-2006, 04:04 PM

Great job Dana! My husband and I quit five years ago. We still keep marveling over all the money we save! We did put on a little weight but it really wasn't too bad. You can do it!

DebbieS

10-03-2006, 05:47 PM

Good for you!!

My Dad smoked most of his life (started at 15). He quit a few years ago when he had some major heart problems. Well, last week we found out he has cancer - not good. He doesn't want to do treatments, as he's seen too much suffering with others who have had it done.....

I'm glad you're quitting while you are healthy! Who cares about the weight gain? My hubby has been cigarette-free for almost 2 years. I think he's gained about 5 pounds (up to about 155) but I don't care. At least he'll be around for a long time :D

Fuego

10-03-2006, 07:22 PM

Dana's a tough cookie, regardless of how sweet and kind she is.

I have no doubt in my mind she'll succeed. Maybe not easily, but will succeed nonetheless.

As far as weight gain, if any of you actually knew Dana, you be laughing hysterically. If she lost 5 lbs, she'd disappear!! But if she gained 20lbs, maybe those wind gusts wouldn't carry her so far away......
I'm 6' 165lbs, Dana makes me look like a linebacker.

Won't be easy, but I know you'll do it. Would you like me to send Jake up to you for a few weeks? He'll keep you occupied and too busy to think about wanting a cigarette, hehe.

Polly Aulton

10-03-2006, 08:52 PM

I quit two years ago (yeah I know I should have quit sooner) so I know quite well what you are going through. Have I gained weight? Yes. Do I care? Not much. I can finally breathe. Food actually has a really good flavor which is probably why I gained 10 pounds. Believe me it's worth the 10 pounds to breathe better, have more stamina when walking the fields and to no longer be coughing all the time.
My suggestion is that when the urge gets to be really strong tell yourself how hard it has been to get this far and how much you would hate to start over and it helps you get through those urges. In truth the nicotine is gone from your body in three days. What is left is the craving for all that awful stuff that is wrapped into that tobacco tube.
Good luck and pm me if you need someone to bolster your spirits. It will be well worth it when the cravings are nowhere near as strong.
You go girl!

Polly

Beth Worden

10-03-2006, 11:03 PM

CONGRATULATIONS! It is a horrible addition. I have battled cigarrettes all my adult life. Quit for 4 years, started up again, quit for 7 years once, and quit a year ago. Started back up again. I loath everything about smoking. It goes against everything I believe in. And, I will quit again. It gets easier. The first 3 days are hard. After that it is just a head game. Good luck and hang in there. Deep breaths and lots of gum. Lots of water and lots of walks. Just work on not smoking and forget about the weight. You cannot deal with both at the same time - or maybe you can, but concentrate on the clean lungs.

andrea

10-04-2006, 02:28 AM

Good for you. BUt let me know how you are doing it? I have tried many times. Just can't ssem to do it. Life is very stressful and it is my best friend. I know it is my worst though. I am so happy for you. Don't worry about a little weight. Better a little chuncky then not being able to breathe

:yay :yay :yay for you.

Jane Hurl

10-04-2006, 05:32 AM

Dana, every addiction professional in the world will tell you to ONLY TACKLE ONE THING AT A TIME. If you're quitting smoking, forget about your weight ... for now. You can always lose weight later if it's a problem.

3 days to kill the nicotine addiction ...
3 weeks to kick mental dependency.

Then if you're like me ...
3 months 'til you're kind of okay with it ...
and finally ...
3 years 'til you don't think about it ever again.

Total trip: totally worth it!

I quit smoking 21 years ago ... and all I have to show for it is a WHOLE lot of money that DIDN'T go up in smoke! *grin* You go, girl!

NikiGA

10-04-2006, 08:56 AM

I quit cold turkey about 3 months ago. Quit the first time 8 years ago, didn't touch one for over a year, then my mom got sick and I started back. She died and I kept smoking. I quit again almost two years ago, lost my first Dobe several months later and started smoking again. Stay busy is my advice. Riding my horse and walking my dogs always saves me. ;-) But I know if I lose someone close during the next year or so, I may pick up the cigs again. I don't worry about it, though. **** happens and I will deal with it as it comes down the pipe......

dana

10-04-2006, 10:41 AM

What a great support you guys are! day 4 is done and into day 5. i did use the wellbutrine this time and i have a nicotrol inhaler but haven't used it yet.

part of why the weight gain bothers me is because that is what started me back up smoking the last time i quit.
it doesn't matter if you are 5 or 50 pounds overweight. if it bothers you, it's a problem. the last time i quit in my early 30's i packed on 20 pounds so fast it made my head spin. very few of my clothes fit any more, my legs ached and feet hurt with the extra weight. i held out for 9 months and by then was so disgusted with myself, i picked up the smokes again and was delighted to find that 20 pounds peeled right off in thirty days. so that is part of the reason i'm trying to nip the weight gain in the fanny and make the quitting permanent this time.

there are alot of motivating factors for quitting. too many to name right now. maybe the biggest is i finally realize i'm not going to hit the lotto, so that means i can't retire early and ride to my hearts content. so if i'm going to make it to retirement, i better quit now.

thanks for all the support and suggestions! you guys are great!

dana

Heidi

10-04-2006, 02:14 PM

it doesn't matter if you are 5 or 50 pounds overweight. if it bothers you, it's a problem.
... very few of my clothes fit any more, my legs ached and feet hurt with the extra weight.
You are right, if it bothers you...it BOTHERS you.
I am dealing with fluctuating weight...but mine is brought on by medication. I am being treated (non-cancerous) with chemo and steroids and the steroids make me hungry all the time and want to eat, Eat, EAT! My usual weight is around 125/130, right now I am at 140 (okay...) and last summer I was up to 160 before I knew it and my legs and feet ached from the extra weight, just like you.
To help combat the weight gain, as I really do not want to gain any more, when I feel hungry but I know it isn't a usual eating-time I drink a glass of water. Water is good for you and it fills me up so I can stop thinking about how 'hungry' I am.
For me, the weight does and doesn't bother me. I don't like my clothes not fitting and my body shape (no waist) being different...but for my health...I can put up with it. I can always lose the weight after treatment is done. Without treatment...well, I can't think of that, I need the treatment and that is that.
To your better health!
Heidi

jodiTowne

10-04-2006, 05:06 PM

Congratulations on smoking cessation!!!! You CAN do it.

As far as weight gain, just eat sensibly and don't feel guilty if you splurge. Portion control is important and easier than giving up the things you love. As far as calorie intake per day....roughly 100 x your ideal body weight. More is allowed if you exercise heavily. For instance if you weigh (or should weigh) 150 lbs aim for not more than 1500 calories per day.

Now for those of you still smoking there is a new medication called Chantix which works by decreasing your desire for the cigarette. Would you keep eating a bowl of ice cream that tastes like mud?? NO. This drug has virtually the same-type effect. Very few mild side effects, no drug-drug interactions and no contraindications for persons with other medical conditions. Insurances are starting coverage for it and out of pocket it costs no more than smoking 1 PPD.

There....thats my lesson for today! Good luck!

motorgypsy

10-08-2006, 09:44 PM

The weight gain from eating a bit more because food tastes better isn't the problem. The problem is when eating takes over and replaces the nicotine addiction. When you know you are prone to addictions you just have to watch yourself and channel that energy. Don't keep high calorie things you love in the house at all. Fill up on things like thin soups, green veggies, whole grains, watermelon is great for the munchies before you eat the meat and higher calories stuff. Snack on something like beef jerky rather than twinkies or chips. Don't get the fries with the burger and leave off the mayo. Just remeber - you don't have to eat it now - you can always eat later.

You will succeed with the not smoking because you're a winner and now that you know you may be substituting one addiction, cigarettes, for another, eating, you can head it off before it happens and take up knitting or something that keeps your hands busy. Clean tack, go for walks, dist, clean house, stay busy!!! We're all behind you pushing you to have a healthier life!!!!

GeorgeGuns

10-09-2006, 12:39 AM

You sure are inspiring me. I need to quit but dare not as long as I am still living here with mommie dearest, my temper won't go there!

Dana I know what you mean about an extra 5 pounds feels physically burdensome, and that is another thing I am psyching myself up for - the feeling like a blob even though I am in reality filling in blank spaces!

I had quit for a time in nursing school - the first 2 days found me literally reeling from all the oxygen finally getting to my brain!

I tried wellbutrin a few years back, was able to cut down, but the dose I probably would have needed to really quit made me manic. Also, DO NOT drink alcahol on this drug - the mix can cause siezures. And wean yourself off of it when its time so you don't go nuts.

Keep up the good work!