Tips for smoking cessation

[Droopy]

My one year anniversary as a non-smoker is 4/6/09. As a part of my celebration I'll tell you a few things that really helped me out as well as brag on myself :). I've seen people on here be really hard on smokers and I don't want this thread to be about that. When people talked down to me and called me stupid when I was a smoker it just made me want to light up another one and blow smoke in their faces. So, let's keep it positive.

Tip #1- Unless you have heart disease or diabetes or some other health problem that restricts your diet, do not be afraid to put on some weight when you quit smoking. I've heard that the average person puts on 10-20 pounds when they quit. There are two reasons for that. One is that smoking increases your heart rate and hence your metabolism. When I quit smoking my resting heart rate went from 80 beats per minute to 70. Another development was that my blood pressure improved. It was borderline high at 147 over 85 when I was a smoker. It dropped to 120 over 80 when I quit. Another reason that you'll put on weight is that you'll probably have a hard time resisting junk food and over-eating. Smoking is pleasurable and your brain will drive you crazy unless you satiate it with some other pleasurable activity. Mainly donuts, chicken wings, sweet tea, chocolate milk, cheese coneys, and candy bars for me. :) I actually put on 45 pounds in 8 months when I quit smoking. That is unusual, but it can happen. But it was definitely worth it. I'll tell you about that after this next paragraph.

Tip #2- Stop consuming alcohol completely for at least 2 months after you quit smoking. Alcohol was the number one trap that I fell into with most of my failed attempts to quit smoking. After a few months I was able to have a couple of drinks and abstain from smoking. I do not drink at all now, though. That's because...

I went on a weight loss program in early January. It prohibits a lot of things including alcohol consumption. But it's been 3 months now and I have lost 47 pounds. Yep, right where I was when I quit smoking a year ago. I had blood work done before I went on the program and my triglycerides were a little high, but not too bad. They should come back down as I lose weight. Everything else was within the healthy rage including a fasting blood sugar score of 73.

Tip #3- If you fall off the wagon all is not lost. Just hop back on. Don't let a minor mistake turn you into a smoker again.

[achtung_circus]

1. Thanks for #3

it's the hardest thing I've ever tried to do.

[Droopy]

2. I learned that one right here at DU

So many times when I tried to quit I let that slip-up become a habit again. It felt like all was lost, that I was a loser, and that I was destined to be a life-long smoker. Someone here told me one time to just throw the pack of smokes away and hop back on the wagon. That simple, posititve way of looking at the problem just never occurred to me.

[Mutley]

3. I quit again recently.

And I'm actually avoiding gaining weight by chewing gum. Lots and lots and lots of gum. I've switched to sugar free so I don't rot my teeth out. :D

[mykpart]

4. Tip No. 1 is so important and so true.

In fact, I AM a diabetic and a heart patient, and while my doctor was not happy with me gaining weight, she did say that even for me it is healthier to be an overweight non-smoker than a skinny smoker! I quit on August 2, 2001. Have a club soda with a twist of orange on me!:toast: