A while back I have read on one of the affiliate blogs several tips related to healthy working environment. Since the author of the article most likely was not a smoker there was nothing in the article nor the comments about smoking.
Maybe I was the only smoker affiliate out there, but I knew that if I follow all the tips which included from good light in your office to plentiful of water but if I kept a pack of cigarettes on my desk none of the tips would do me much good for me.
Some times things just “need to click”. Things began to click for me few days ago when I accompanied my wife to one of her doctors. In the waiting room looking for something to read I picked up a little booklet with information about smoking quiting aid called Commit. As usual I was skeptical what I am going to find inside. I have tried similar products in the past to help me fight the addiction without plausible results.
I think my major mistake was that I never analyzed and tried to understand what my addiction to smoking really was.
If you are a smoker and would like to quit, what I am going to write may help you out.
My Misconceptions About Nicotine Addiction.
I think I failed so many times in the past was due to misunderstanding and ignorance about addiction to nicotine. I often thought that if I can just stop smoking for three or four days, it would give me enough time to get the nicotine out of my system and therefore will automatically diminish the cravings for it. The truth is that some of the former smokers get cravings even years after they’ve had last cigarette. The addiction has to do more with what is in our brain- literally. Certain receptors of our brain become accustomed to be stimulated by the nicotine and over the time need more and more of it.
I also thought, mainly as a result of other people telling me so, that all you need is will power to quit smoking. This made me feel like a crap- since evidently I had no will power. The truth is that will power is not quiet enough- at least not me.
I guess big part that I did not want to quit in the past was that I did not have “enough” reasons to. I knew that there are good reasons to quit, but I never admitted they were valid reasons for me personally. Since two days ago they have become quiet clear and can be divided in two groups- health reasons and financial reasons.
Health Reasons For Quitting Smoking
I took them out of the little booklet, they are short and to the point:
- 20 minutes after quiting smoking your heart rate drops.
- 24 hours after last cigarette the level of carbon monoxide ind your blood return to normal
- 2-12 weeks after quitting your chances of heart attack decreases
- 1 year- your excess risk of a heart decease drops to half of that of a smoker
The list above can be twice as long but these were convincing enough for me.
Financial Reasons For Quitting Smoking
These are more interesting and of course may vary from country to county or from state to state if you live in the US. Anyway, here in New Jersey you can pay as high as $6 a pack and if you only smoke half a pack a day you spend $90 a month for cigarettes, and about $1,100 a year.
That is about 10 additional websites I can afford. Or I can always get the $2,000 in cash and burn it a fire place- this at least will not harm my health. I can’t believe that just by quitting smoking I could have paid my car off five years ago!
Why Did I Chose Commit?
Quiet simple really. I have tried patches and pills of all sorts in the past. So I needed something different this time around. I don’t really like gum so I had to settle on Commit a nicotine lozenge. They don’t really taste that great but they seem to be doing the job helping me to find the cravings. I know that some people out there will ask whether or not this is like cheating, it still delivers nicotine into my body. I honestly do not care, it if the only way out of this addiction by cheating my way out of it so be it. I do however think that any from of nicotine replacement for those trying to quit is better than cigarette itself. After all now your body is getting only nicotine, while every cigarette generously provides you with following:
You can get Commit from Amazon at about $52, but I would recommend you to check out your local pharmacy which can save you $20.
It has been 4 days since I’ve had my last cigarette and so far things are going great. I used so far about 4 lozenges a day. In a day or two I plan to cut it down to 3 a day and plan to be nicotine free 4 weeks from now. So wish me luck and I would also appreciate support as well!
Glad you have made the decision to quit. I quit a few years ago with help from my local health clinic and I feel really proud that I have kicked the habit. However, I still have cravings and when I'm low the temptation to 'just have one' is always there. Good luck.
Glad you have made the decision to quit. I quit a few years ago with help from my local health clinic and I feel really proud that I have kicked the habit. However, I still have cravings and when I’m low the temptation to ‘just have one’ is always there. Good luck.
Thanks for stopping by lakedaemon! I hope to be where you are a year from now. It is by far the hardest thing I have done.
GOOD LUCK VLAD!
I quit 8-3-06, I'm coming up on a year shortly.
“I often thought that if I can just stop smoking for three or four days, it would give me enough time to get the nicotine out of my system”
I found that even after my 100 + 150 day anniversary, I could handle the cravings but they would still come occasionally and strong.
I also started taking a brisk walk for thirty minutes every single day, 7 days a week. I've only missed 2 days in almost a year.
One day at a time. GOOD LUCK VLAD!
Thanks Mark,
For now my cravings are tamed by Commit. But I am very determined this time around…
Computer+Cigarettes is the worst combination out there.
I tried quiting for ten years before finally succeeding after reading a book called “How to Quit Smoking The Easy Way”. I know it sounds cheesy, but it helped me reprogram the way I think about smoking. God forbid you ever start again, but if you do you should check out that book.
Thanks for stopping by lakedaemon! I hope to be where you are a year from now. It is by far the hardest thing I have done.
GOOD LUCK VLAD!
I quit 8-3-06, I’m coming up on a year shortly.
“I often thought that if I can just stop smoking for three or four days, it would give me enough time to get the nicotine out of my system”
I found that even after my 100 + 150 day anniversary, I could handle the cravings but they would still come occasionally and strong.
I also started taking a brisk walk for thirty minutes every single day, 7 days a week. I’ve only missed 2 days in almost a year.
One day at a time. GOOD LUCK VLAD!
Thanks Mark,
For now my cravings are tamed by Commit. But I am very determined this time around…
Computer+Cigarettes is the worst combination out there.
Hi Vlad,
Great to hear you're giving up the cigarettes! I'm about 2 months shy of my 4 year “smoke free” anniversary! You have the desire to quit and thats what is important. As for cravings, always remember that the craving “WILL” go away whether you smoke or not. I found that when I felt a craving coming on, I could close my eyes, (not while driving!) and take a few really deep breaths. That helped a lot. But yes, even 4 yrs later I'll still have a craving every now and then but they're not nearly as difficult to fend off. Another piece of advice I'm sure you've heard, just one puff is all it take so start you smoking again after you quit! Avoid the temptation to try and be a “casual smoker”. Very few can do that! Here is another book you might try reading. “Stop Smoking Naturally”, by Martha Work Ashelman. This is an inexpensive book that provides some very good advice and suggestions. I could ramble on because I like helping people quit smoking. Hang in there and let me know if you feel I can help. You can do it!
Regards,
Chris
I tried quiting for ten years before finally succeeding after reading a book called “How to Quit Smoking The Easy Way”. I know it sounds cheesy, but it helped me reprogram the way I think about smoking. God forbid you ever start again, but if you do you should check out that book.
Hi Vlad,
Great to hear you’re giving up the cigarettes! I’m about 2 months shy of my 4 year “smoke free” anniversary! You have the desire to quit and thats what is important. As for cravings, always remember that the craving “WILL” go away whether you smoke or not. I found that when I felt a craving coming on, I could close my eyes, (not while driving!) and take a few really deep breaths. That helped a lot. But yes, even 4 yrs later I’ll still have a craving every now and then but they’re not nearly as difficult to fend off. Another piece of advice I’m sure you’ve heard, just one puff is all it take so start you smoking again after you quit! Avoid the temptation to try and be a “casual smoker”. Very few can do that! Here is another book you might try reading. “Stop Smoking Naturally”, by Martha Work Ashelman. This is an inexpensive book that provides some very good advice and suggestions. I could ramble on because I like helping people quit smoking. Hang in there and let me know if you feel I can help. You can do it!
Regards,
Chris
I'm glad you're quitting Vlad. I quit a number of years ago and it is amazing what a difference it makes.
After seeing the dire effects of smoking on my loved ones, I learned exactly why I needed to quit.
If you need moral support, most cities have “quit lines” you can call into – but of course, I'm sure your readers will be there to root you on. 🙂
Tanks every one,
I really appreciate the support! I know that this time around it will be different. Even though it has been two day my lungs are clearing up so are the taste buds…. Smoked for 20 years and do not really remember food to taste so good in the past!!!
I’m glad you’re quitting Vlad. I quit a number of years ago and it is amazing what a difference it makes.
After seeing the dire effects of smoking on my loved ones, I learned exactly why I needed to quit.
If you need moral support, most cities have “quit lines” you can call into – but of course, I’m sure your readers will be there to root you on. 🙂
Tanks every one,
I really appreciate the support! I know that this time around it will be different. Even though it has been two day my lungs are clearing up so are the taste buds…. Smoked for 20 years and do not really remember food to taste so good in the past!!!
Great post Vlad! Hopefully it will inspire some of your readers to take the same path as you and quit smoking!
Great post Vlad! Hopefully it will inspire some of your readers to take the same path as you and quit smoking!
Have you seen the e-cigarette? ( http://diggy.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/ecigarett… ) It seems like the best of all worlds. It gives you soemthign to hold and even has “smoke” for you to blow out. I've only seen the pics but i think it's slick.
eCigarette just triggered a craving lol… no thanks I will stick to Commit.