Cycling Away From Smoking

[Semar]

My doctor said riding might help give up smoking. A friend said I wouldn't improve much while smoking. It took 3 months for my lungs to improve.

Third anniversary since giving up.

[bardygrub]

My doctor said riding might help give up smoking. A friend said I wouldn't improve much while smoking. It took 3 months for my lungs to improve.

Third anniversary since giving up.

Some may not like this but.. i gave up pot at easter and jumped back on the bike(after a 12 year break) to help with the giving up of the green So its been about 6 months with out the green but i am still smoking the cigs I have to say that the last 2 months i have platoed out and not improving much I put it down to still smoking the cigs.
Really want to get rid of them for good and am aiming for a new year rezi. Oh shiet thats tonight! The crazy thing is once i come back from a ride,stretch,shower and recovery drink i go outside and have a cigi and really enjoy it

Well done with the giving up, did you use patches or anything like that?

Cheers from down the road in Wang.

[foo on patrol]

Good on you Semar, you have to be much healthier and you wouldn't taste like a dirty ashtray to kiss. Not that I go around kissing blokes or dirty astrays.

You need to try harder Bardygrub after your ride, to break that routine. Don't give up hope though because you have already shown that you're capable of doing it, with de weed mun

Foo

[Semar]

Everyone I know who used patches went back to smoking. I think the ONLY trick is to give up and keep giving up.

My attitude was/is I was freeing myself from smoking, not losing something.

After each smoke take a really deep breath. How do your lungs feel? Mine feel good all the time.

[Lizzy]

Congrats semar and the rest of the quitters - those still working on it, stand and fight!

A close relative of mine had a 2 pack a day habit for years and years, all their attempts to quit succeeded only in causing those around them to walk on eggshells. Just when I thought they'd never do it, they quietly went to a psych/hypno and got re-programmed - they're now 7+ years free of what must be the worst addiction available to humanity.

If anyone out there is skeptical about hypnotherapy/psychology but out of other ideas, I'd recommend finding it in yourself to give it an honest shot - you'll have to take my word for it, but if it can fix this person, there is definitely hope for you.

[Sparx]

I used patches to quit, I thought they were great - they were a little physical reminder of what you were trying to do.

Keep at it, it's OK to have a few setbacks and relapses, keep trying and you'll get there.

Best tip ever - when you feel like a cig, just try put it off for half an hour - the craving often disappears. And try keep busy to distract yourself.

[sloth]

I used to be a heavy smoker but quit ten years ago. I quit by reading a book - Allen Carr's Easyway To Stop Smoking.

The caveat is you need to want to stop. It took me a couple of goes of the book for it to work and the second time I was just over the whole smoking trap I was in. I'd recommend trying it. It works on addressing the psychology of why you think you need to smoke. Patches and nicotine replacement therapy just tries to wean you off the nicotine but doesn't address the underlying BS reasons of why you think smoking is enjoyable. Bottom line is if you manage to stop but still think you are missing out on something enjoyable its just a matter of time before you give in and light up again.

Over Ten years ago I had my last smoke and I can honestly say the thought doesn't even cross my mind these days. I happily socialise with mates who are still on the gaspers and I've never felt the temptation.

Best of luck with whatever you try. Giving them up will be one of the best things you do - and I know how hard it appears at the start to even consider living without them, but having been free of them for so long now my only regret is I didn't kick the habit sooner.

- All the best.

[dynamictiger]

I used the prescription drug route to quit smoking whats it called again... not zyban...champix

I didn't plan it. I didn't even think I wanted to quit. It kind of happened by accident.

I went to see the doctor about something else and at the end of the appointment I said, oh yeah I noticed on TV they're advertising these drugs to help you quit smoking.

His response was when do you want to quit?

I said, oh I don't know?

Doctor - You have to set a date.

About 10 minutes later after phone calls to canberra to get the government to subsidize the drug I walked out with a script for this stuff.

I took the script to the chemists and kind of went...oh well probably won't work, may as well take the tablets anyway. Well f... me. Almost immediately I started to reduce my smoking and within 2 weeks I had stopped completely. That was two years ago.

As I say there was no conscious decision I was aware of as such. And yes I did have to go and see the doctor every week as I am on anti depressants and needed monitoring for conflicts with the drugs etc, and yes I did the online component as well. But is was in my opnion miraculous. So if you haven't tried it and you really do want to give up perhaps this is a route you can try...it worked for me without any issues.

Now before you go running off and trying my awfully casual approach to this. I will comment the drug hasn't worked for my Mrs, and neither has anything else.

[bardygrub]

Thanks for all the tips

Think i may take the, call the quit line, then you go see the doctor and so fourth way and see how it goes Have just been searching on the net on how it all works.

The new years rezi has just been shot down in flames

[RonK]

If anyone out there is skeptical about hypnotherapy/psychology but out of other ideas, I'd recommend finding it in yourself to give it an honest shot - you'll have to take my word for it, but if it can fix this person, there is definitely hope for you.

More than twenty years ago now, my former boss, a two packet per day smoker, gave up after hypnosis by his GP. So I went for the same treatment and gave up too. It probably helped that I was aware how much smoking was affecting my cycling performance, but I never felt any urge or desire to smoke after the hypnosis treatment, when previous attempts at giving up using Nicorette gum had been unsuccessful.

[Adstar]

I quit by reading a book - Allen Carr's Easyway To Stop Smoking.

+1

6 years 5 months and 19 days ago I woke up and struggled to breathe in the shower. That day I got a copy of the book, read it and haven't smoked since. I had crept up to 2 packs a day (I was overseas and buying them for $4 a carton).

Had previously tried patches, lozenges, zyban and hypnosis. For some reason the book is the only thing that stuck - I can't remember the last craving I had but will never forget the day I stopped!

[cloudwarrior]

Another vote for the book. It helped me kick a pack a day habit.
But if you're doing all this already it will help. The book came at the end of me mentally preparing for at least 18months



Sent from my GT-I9305T using Tapatalk 2

[Mulger bill]

I gotta get me that book!

[nuttzo32]

Good on you Semar, you have to be much healthier and you wouldn't taste like a dirty ashtray to kiss. Not that I go around kissing blokes or dirty astrays.

You need to try harder Bardygrub after your ride, to break that routine. Don't give up hope though because you have already shown that you're capable of doing it, with de weed mun

Foo

I also gave up a long term pot habit (13 years) about 6 months ago and i concur with the advice about keep trying to quit, if you stop once or twice and start again then keep trying. Although i was never a ciggie smoker and i'm sure they are harder to give up than pot, i found that when i identified the triggers for my pot smoking (lack of hobbies/interests at home and also lack of money) i was able to rectify the problem and now i am clean and feeling good.

Also setting myself a couple of goals this year to keep myself busy (getting down to 85kg from 100kg and getting fit enough to ride in the suncorp cancer ride 2x100km rides in 2 days).

When you are young you take your health for granted but as i am getting older now(i'm 33) and put on quite a bit of weight i now realise that your health is your most important thing, keep thinking that everytime you start up the habit again and hopefully you can shake it before permanent damage is done and your quality of life is diminished in your older years.

Also watching my mum who was a heavy lifetime smoker die in 2009 at age 63 from cancer that would have not happened if she didn't smoke and looked after herself is something i will never forget and i use it as a reminder to cherish life and be healthy so i can enjoy life as long as possible.

Good luck to everyone who is trying and don't give up, it's never too late to quit.

[greyhoundtom]

Two years ago I did try the Champix but unfortunately with me they caused severe thoughts of suicide and depression.

Because I'm prone to suffer depression unless I make a conscious effort to maintain a relaxed outlook, and am unable to tolerate any of the current antidepressants due to them triggering severe nausea, the Champix were no help.

I also read the book (twice) and it made little or no impression on me in regard to quitting smoking, however I must say that due to a very tight financial situation, I'm now down to 8 or 10 smokes a day and off the grog completely.

So yeah some dark clouds do have a silver lining.

[DavidS]

I need to have another go at giving up. Cycling hasn't stopped the smoking as now I'm in the situation where I can ride 7K a year as a smoker. Just need to psyche myself to do it, might try that book.

Pot is much easier to give up.

DS

[JohnJoyner]

I have just quit, well, another try anyway... But only a few days into it, so I am not getting ahead of myself. I really want to see how much better my cycling is as a result.
I have made 2 proper attempts before.

First one lasted 6 months, but I started again after relationship ended. That was done cold turkey.

Second lasted 5 months, started again after marriage ended (different woman), but I sense a common theme here. That was done on Champix & was pretty easy.

I am now on the third serious attempt. Trying cold turkey again... Doing it for my daughter, myself & my fitness.

The common factor in all my attempts has been I really want to, not, I really should...
Fingers crossed this one works out. And I am single for this attempt, so a relationship breakdown can't be blamed for this failure...

[greyhoundtom]

Started smoking when I was 11 year old by pinching the butts out of the ashtray as both my parents smoked, and pinching a few papers from both my parents cigarette supplies to roll my own..........I gave up smoking cold turkey when I turned 40, and lasted 6 years.

Then all the wheels fell off my little red wagon........spent the day in the local pub, and by the time they kicked me out I had smoked most of a packet.

Promised myself I would give them up when I bought my current road bike nearly 4 years ago......still have not yet kept that promise.........but I am getting closer.

It's just so damn easy to start smoking again when things go wrong........when you are really hooked any excuse will do.

[foo on patrol]

Come on Greyhound, show some true grit!

Foo

[skull]

wow I am surprised that there are quite a few cycling smokers on the forum.

[dynamictiger]

It's just so damn easy to start smoking again when things go wrong........when you are really hooked any excuse will do.

This is the crux of the issue and you are right...any excuse. In quiting you need to develop new coping strategies to prevent this behaviour. It is not restricted to smokers either binge drinkers also have this issue.

[bardygrub]

Why dont we have a little support group on here All of us that are trying to quit make a date that we all agree on and do it

[fionahills]

Time to fess up - I too am a smoker

have quit once for about 6 months many years ago and since then numerous pathetic attempts - had the thought that cycling would help - so far its not the lungs that give out its the legs (and back more to the point) - am hoping that one day I will feel the ill effects while riding and that will be the final push I need.

I actually got busted having a gasper on the gran fondo - stopped at lights waiting for my daughter -there was much mirth by older cyclists - much dersion by the younger ones.....

my biggest problem is that I LIKE CIGARETTE SMOKING....and have the typical head in the sand that the bad stuff won't happen to me.... I rarely drink so cannot blame it as a contributing factor..terrified of being fat....hate being a social leper - love visiting countries where it is still ok to smoke and actually sometimes plan holidays so I am not too restricted - its pathetic, completely irrational and still I smoke.....

I just wish that they would ban the bloody things as I am pretty pathetic and would not break to law (i don't think) to get them.

Have only myslef to blame as NO-ONE else in my family smokes and was not exposed to it as a kid......

Ashamed of lack of control but still love to light up and read a book, talk on the phone, lay in the sun, after exercise, before exercise, when I get up, before I go to bed and really any other time I can sneak one in...

very sad - but am secretly glad that I am not the only one - thanks for having the guts to fess up - have new strategies to think about..Fiona

[dynamictiger]

I just wish that they would ban the bloody things as I am pretty pathetic and would not break to law (i don't think) to get them.

Having been a smoker (at the time) in the only country in the world to outlaw cigarettes at the time. I assure you legal or not smokers smoke.

[GeoffInBrisbane]

I used to be what I'd call a full time smoker from the age of about 16 (the then-legal age to buy in the UK) until sometime in my mid 20s - gave up several times, started again often for no particular reason. Haven't had a sober cigarette for some years now (am 30 now) but one thing I really struggle with is drinking around smokers. When I was in the UK in July I drank and smoke (and ate!) a lot. Never wanted one sober, but there were so many people to catch up and have a drink with...

I used to smoke every time I was out for a drink, but now it's down to 2 or 3 times a year (apart from that UK holiday), so I'm maybe getting better, but I fell off the wagon on NYE, had several ciggies. Coming just after completing the Festive 500 and generally feeling fitter than I have in a long time (ever?), I was extremely dirty with myself in the days following. I'm trying to imprint that feeling on my brain in the hope that next time I'll remember feeling crappy all week and not do it. Anybody else struggle with this?