Struggling..
08-23-18, 11:14 AM
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Struggling..
Before I got into road bikes, I went through years of drugs and drinking. Unfortunately got me into coma more than once. With a long rehab, I got back on my feet and staying sober. Tomorrow will be my 10th months soberity. On the sad side, I still smoke cigs. When I got into bike, I thought it would help me quit and stay quit. Well it didn't. So when I commute 10 miles or whatever the ride is for....I often beat myself that I couldn't quit. Any suggestion to quit cigs and stay quit? If youre gonna say patches, I have tried that. Its a mental torture. Its not much helping. Hope you can come up with something. Thanks.
08-23-18, 11:32 AM
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Persist. Keep quitting until it sticks, however many times it takes. Also,
for turning your life around!
for turning your life around!
08-23-18, 11:34 AM
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I did the Chantex and it worked. The side effect is VERY VIVID DREAMS!!!
08-23-18, 11:47 AM
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08-23-18, 11:47 AM
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08-23-18, 12:09 PM
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I just want to congratulate you on the ten months.
08-23-18, 12:20 PM
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Unless you have a serious need to quit, it in my opinion, isn't the worst habit. Some of us should probably be more concerned with overconsuming coffee or the types of foods being had if anything.
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08-23-18, 12:20 PM
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Nicotine Anonymous
Check your local hospitals, county health care clinics and the American Heart Association and American Lung Association for smoking cessation classes.
Check your local hospitals, county health care clinics and the American Heart Association and American Lung Association for smoking cessation classes.
08-23-18, 12:26 PM
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Yes, well done to take your life back.
I don't know about any specific stop-smoking program. I never smoked cigarettes much, but when I quit, i just got sick of it and quit. I think @Korina has a good idea, though ... keep quitting.
A little trick i was told but never tried .... hold you cigarette between the tips of your thumb and third finger (ring finger.) it is enough of a pain that you notice smoking more, and get less habitual satisfaction.
The nicotine addiction, you might just have to taper off until you quit cold turkey. But for me what made the difference was when i was just annoyed to be carrying a lit cigarette around.
Keep riding, too, of course. You will appreciate your lungs more. Also, it will help clean out the nicotine.
Keep quitting. You can do it. You quit the tough stuff already.
I don't know about any specific stop-smoking program. I never smoked cigarettes much, but when I quit, i just got sick of it and quit. I think @Korina has a good idea, though ... keep quitting.
A little trick i was told but never tried .... hold you cigarette between the tips of your thumb and third finger (ring finger.) it is enough of a pain that you notice smoking more, and get less habitual satisfaction.
The nicotine addiction, you might just have to taper off until you quit cold turkey. But for me what made the difference was when i was just annoyed to be carrying a lit cigarette around.
Keep riding, too, of course. You will appreciate your lungs more. Also, it will help clean out the nicotine.
Keep quitting. You can do it. You quit the tough stuff already.
08-23-18, 12:38 PM
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Trust me the dreams will make up how much you paid...trust me on this!
08-23-18, 12:40 PM
#13
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I smoked for about 45 years. I tried everything to quit once I decided to, patches, gum, lozenges, Chantix, and Zyban but nothing worked for me. I quit over and over but I always went back. Three years ago I found "why quit" dot.com by Joel Spitzer. He had never smoked so I thought what does this guy know? I read his book and quit the next day. I haven't smoked since March 21st 2015. I have COPD now so I can't ride with any strong riders any more. I wasn't into bikes when I was able to drop about anybody anywhere but I rode. Now I'm a bike freak and I can only make fairly short rides at a moderate to slow pace. My advice: QUIT NOW!
Edit: It is an addiction that can be broken. Two or three days of slight physical and mental distress and then it is all downhill.
Edit: It is an addiction that can be broken. Two or three days of slight physical and mental distress and then it is all downhill.
Last edited by deephate; 08-23-18 at 12:45 PM.
08-23-18, 12:43 PM
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If smoking fulfills a social need, then find other ways to fulfill that social need, for example heading off to get a coffee or smoothie with friends.
You might join a non-smoking group of cycling friends (also hopefully cognizant of your previous drinking issues).
I've heard of people smoking half cigarettes, with the second half leaving a bad taste in their mouth.
When you finally make the commitment to quit, go all in. If you smoked in the house or car, invest the money to get them professionally cleaned, or carpets replaced. Get rid of some paraphernalia.
Make it so you won't wish to take that step backwards.
You might join a non-smoking group of cycling friends (also hopefully cognizant of your previous drinking issues).
I've heard of people smoking half cigarettes, with the second half leaving a bad taste in their mouth.
When you finally make the commitment to quit, go all in. If you smoked in the house or car, invest the money to get them professionally cleaned, or carpets replaced. Get rid of some paraphernalia.
Make it so you won't wish to take that step backwards.
08-23-18, 12:54 PM
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08-23-18, 01:01 PM
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Your info doesn't say what state you're in, but there are states that have smoking cessation programs funded with money from lawsuits against the tobacco companies. Unfortunately, many states have just dumped the money into their general funds and use it for things other than helping smokers.
Good luck.
Good luck.
08-23-18, 01:03 PM
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Gradually cut down by avoiding locations/situations you associate with smoking (if you don't smoke in your home or car, that's a huge head start - if you do, start there). You'll have to exercise some willpower to NOT give in to temptation, but you've already demonstrated you've got that. You'll slowly disassociate smoking from being part of your regular life.
I used to be a pack-a-day, in-all-situations smoker. Today, I smoke only once a year, when on vacation. I will smoke 2 or 3 packs during a 1 to 2 week vacation. In other words, I am NOT a non-smoker, but have cut my smoking down from 365 packs/year to 3 packs/year.
I used to be a pack-a-day, in-all-situations smoker. Today, I smoke only once a year, when on vacation. I will smoke 2 or 3 packs during a 1 to 2 week vacation. In other words, I am NOT a non-smoker, but have cut my smoking down from 365 packs/year to 3 packs/year.
08-23-18, 01:08 PM
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Congratulations on the 10 months. Keep coming back.
You can use the Steps on nicotine too.
You can use the Steps on nicotine too.
08-23-18, 01:08 PM
#20
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Here is another option ... I ride occasionally with a guy who vapes. If we go for long rides, he likes to stop for a vape ... I think he rides so hard he burns it all up in a hurry.
This guy is a senior bu he does sprint triathlons and he is a strong rider ... he just happens to have quit cigarettes for vaping.
I am not a fan, particularly,.... because my addiction is to coffee, not nicotine. But vaping is so amazingly less harmful than cigarettes .... if you don't Want to quit, and all the methods here fail because of that ... then it is an option ... beats inhaling blazing-hot carcinogenic particulates.
This guy is a senior bu he does sprint triathlons and he is a strong rider ... he just happens to have quit cigarettes for vaping.
I am not a fan, particularly,.... because my addiction is to coffee, not nicotine. But vaping is so amazingly less harmful than cigarettes .... if you don't Want to quit, and all the methods here fail because of that ... then it is an option ... beats inhaling blazing-hot carcinogenic particulates.
08-23-18, 01:11 PM
#21
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Make biking your habit of choice. Really. Do it as many times a week as you can. Just pedal. Got the urge to smoke? Go pedal.
08-23-18, 01:12 PM
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If smoking is what it takes to get through the day without drinking or drugging, then ... yes, it is not the worst habit - better than driving drunk or high, or losing your job due to being drunk/high at work, or missing your child's HS graduation because you're too drunk/high, or ......
(Words from one who's partner is a recovering addict.)
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(Words from one who's partner is a recovering addict.)
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08-23-18, 01:13 PM
#23
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I quit 30 years ago cold turkey, no aids. Fell back into it several times, kicked myself and tried again. It sucks badly for a few days and weeks. I slept a lot and felt like I had little reason to live. But you get over that and then are proud of yourself. I think tapering off or ingesting nicotine prolongs breaking the addiction. Rip off the patch and embrace the pain!
08-23-18, 01:18 PM
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Congrats on sobriety!!!
Echoing others on smoking cigs, don't beat yourself up. I smoked some but never really liked it, so I lucked out.
Yes to vaping. Biggest harm in cigarettes is all that other "filler" besides nicotine, like the burning plant matter. Also, the tobacco plant has a nasty tendency to absorb heavy metals, and this is amplified when cured.
Turn smoking from a habit into a treat, and don't push yourself too hard.
Echoing others on smoking cigs, don't beat yourself up. I smoked some but never really liked it, so I lucked out.
Yes to vaping. Biggest harm in cigarettes is all that other "filler" besides nicotine, like the burning plant matter. Also, the tobacco plant has a nasty tendency to absorb heavy metals, and this is amplified when cured.
Turn smoking from a habit into a treat, and don't push yourself too hard.
08-23-18, 01:22 PM
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If smoking is what it takes to get through the day without drinking or drugging, then ... yes, it is not the worst habit - better than driving drunk or high, or losing your job due to being drunk/high at work, or missing your child's HS graduation because you're too drunk/high, or ......
(Words from one who's partner is a recovering addict.)
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(Words from one who's partner is a recovering addict.)
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