Giving up cigarettes and alcohol
Discussion
I posted a few months ago asking for some advice on losing body fat and gaining a bit of muscle. I'm still using the Stronglifts routine and I've definitely gained strength, though not a great amount of muscle mass, though my stomach is far flatter and defined.
Anyhow, a recent relocation has seen me go back to some old habits, namely drinking and smoking. I work at least 50 hours a week, work is stressful, and now I'm back to smoking 10+ cigarettes per day and 2-3 cans when I'm home in the evening.
I don't know that it's an addiction to either, although I do feel a crave for a beer when I get home and feel irked when I find I've run out. Both habits aren't exactly healthy and I want to kick the cigs for good and also try to knock alcohol on the head for 12 months.
Why? The cigs will get me in the end. I'm 28 and I've been an on/off smoker for 10 years. I fairly recent chest X Ray showed I was all clear and a lung capacity test at the Dr's was healthy too. But it's time to stop. As for the alcohol, I don't want it to become something I rely on as a coping mechanism and it's not helping my want for a flat stomach. I'll probably find it harder to limit myself to a few beers a week, which will inevitably turn into a few a day, than go cold turkey.
So, any advice on doing the above, especially if from personal experience? Part of me doesn't want to use nicotine patches, as to me they're just a bit symbolic of having no will power.
Anyhow, a recent relocation has seen me go back to some old habits, namely drinking and smoking. I work at least 50 hours a week, work is stressful, and now I'm back to smoking 10+ cigarettes per day and 2-3 cans when I'm home in the evening.
I don't know that it's an addiction to either, although I do feel a crave for a beer when I get home and feel irked when I find I've run out. Both habits aren't exactly healthy and I want to kick the cigs for good and also try to knock alcohol on the head for 12 months.
Why? The cigs will get me in the end. I'm 28 and I've been an on/off smoker for 10 years. I fairly recent chest X Ray showed I was all clear and a lung capacity test at the Dr's was healthy too. But it's time to stop. As for the alcohol, I don't want it to become something I rely on as a coping mechanism and it's not helping my want for a flat stomach. I'll probably find it harder to limit myself to a few beers a week, which will inevitably turn into a few a day, than go cold turkey.
So, any advice on doing the above, especially if from personal experience? Part of me doesn't want to use nicotine patches, as to me they're just a bit symbolic of having no will power.
I gave up smoking for 8 years once (currently a smoker though, so what do I know!) - just went cold turkey, although both my brother and I plus our current girlfriends (mine is now my wife) gave up together. Helped to share those craving moments with someone to get you through it. I now give up every now and then (8 months last year) using my preferred nicotine-replacement product (I've tried them all). I was on the fruity-gum and was using way more than supposed to (still better than smoking IMHO) and gradually came off them to nothing. Bizarrely last year my brain told me a ciggie would help settle an upset tummy, and back on them again! Now I can go a few days here and there, but need to get my act together and get off them completely (again). You can use a prescription drug (forget the name) which just tells your brain you don't want a ciggie (and it works), but personally I had a bad experience with it (side effects).
As for drinking I used to be a BIG drinker. Not shorts or bottles at home, just a big daily drinker (and became a big lad). Every January I would give up for the month in memory of a friend who died at college. I never craved a drink during this time as it had a 'purpose', but went back to drinking in February. I now hardly drink at all (maybe get trollied once every year or 2 for a stag-do or something). Don't miss it at all, although conscious that I still smoke which is WAY more dangerous.
Giving them both up at once may be difficult, get rid of one or the other to start with, then work on the other at another time.
Oh, and a useless tip: when I gave/give up smoking, it is NEVER from the start of a day. It's normally at a natural break in the day (say moving from my office (where I smoke) at 6pm to go home (where I don't) and then the next 6pm it's been 'a day'.
Good luck!
As for drinking I used to be a BIG drinker. Not shorts or bottles at home, just a big daily drinker (and became a big lad). Every January I would give up for the month in memory of a friend who died at college. I never craved a drink during this time as it had a 'purpose', but went back to drinking in February. I now hardly drink at all (maybe get trollied once every year or 2 for a stag-do or something). Don't miss it at all, although conscious that I still smoke which is WAY more dangerous.
Giving them both up at once may be difficult, get rid of one or the other to start with, then work on the other at another time.
Oh, and a useless tip: when I gave/give up smoking, it is NEVER from the start of a day. It's normally at a natural break in the day (say moving from my office (where I smoke) at 6pm to go home (where I don't) and then the next 6pm it's been 'a day'.
Good luck!
Cheers.
I ran out of cigarettes at midday today, but I'm coping. Maybe this is the natural break.
I've given them up before for sustained periods of time. But this year has seen me do 4 European road trips. I kid myself that I'll just smoke because I'm on holiday and somehow doing that is OK. But the habit continues after I'm home.
It's usually the first 3 days which are worst and things get easier after that. I've not tried the gum but I'll give that a go.
I ran out of cigarettes at midday today, but I'm coping. Maybe this is the natural break.
I've given them up before for sustained periods of time. But this year has seen me do 4 European road trips. I kid myself that I'll just smoke because I'm on holiday and somehow doing that is OK. But the habit continues after I'm home.
It's usually the first 3 days which are worst and things get easier after that. I've not tried the gum but I'll give that a go.
I stopped drinking about 3 months ago. Now I have got through Xmas and stayed dry I am quietly confident that I can keep this up for the long haul.
My consumption had started to edge up - nothing drastic, a couple of pints most days, a bit more on a day off. I tried to cut down but found this quite stressful so I read "no more hangovers" by Allen Carr (the smoking guru). That was it, I haven't had a drink since. More importantly (and remarkably) I have had no desire for a drink either. I don't feel like I'm missing out either, I still go to the pub, but just stick to water or tomato juice (this is not as grim as it sounds). Given my experience, Carr's stop smoking book may also be worth reading as well.
Another book I found useful was Jason Vales "kick the drink easily", same method as Carr's , just written in a " younger" style.
Good luck!
My consumption had started to edge up - nothing drastic, a couple of pints most days, a bit more on a day off. I tried to cut down but found this quite stressful so I read "no more hangovers" by Allen Carr (the smoking guru). That was it, I haven't had a drink since. More importantly (and remarkably) I have had no desire for a drink either. I don't feel like I'm missing out either, I still go to the pub, but just stick to water or tomato juice (this is not as grim as it sounds). Given my experience, Carr's stop smoking book may also be worth reading as well.
Another book I found useful was Jason Vales "kick the drink easily", same method as Carr's , just written in a " younger" style.
Good luck!
when i gave up smoking and drinking , i worked out average cost per week at the time and decided to spend a similar amount on a car as a reward .
so no fags and no booze equalled a TVR !
this was 1995, still a non smoker and never really drank a lot since !
work out what you are spending on your habit and see what you can buy as a reward !
so no fags and no booze equalled a TVR !
this was 1995, still a non smoker and never really drank a lot since !
work out what you are spending on your habit and see what you can buy as a reward !
Edited by joncon on Wednesday 26th December 09:58
I'd say around 120 quid pcm on fags and drink. Even a modest smoking habit costs 20 quid pw.
No cigarettes so far today and I don't feel too bad, maybe a little edgy, but I've done this before and the first 3-4 days are worst.
It reminds me of this:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?hl=en-GB&gl=US&...
No cigarettes so far today and I don't feel too bad, maybe a little edgy, but I've done this before and the first 3-4 days are worst.
It reminds me of this:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?hl=en-GB&gl=US&...
Try a NHS stop smoking clinic if you can. You meet a NHS nurse and she runs through options on how to quit smoking and what works best for you. I did patches and an inhaler if I had the urge. I was a 10-15 a day smoker for 10 years and now stopped smoking for over 2 years. I tried going cold turkey before but failed. Patches just help ween you off and limit the urge to start again
Why drink? I think it's because at the moment it's becoming too habitual. Home, food, 2-3 cans of lager. And when I find I've run out, I find myself off out to buy some.
I'm recognising there's almost a reliance on it and I don't like that.
I agree with you, a glass or two is harmless, much like the odd fag was when I started off, but it's what it leads to.
Besides, my training has been a bit half arsed. I'm never going to achieve what I want to by necking beer.
Still, no fags for 36 hours now. I went shopping at the sales today and if I can resist smoking after that then I'm doing OK.
I'm recognising there's almost a reliance on it and I don't like that.
I agree with you, a glass or two is harmless, much like the odd fag was when I started off, but it's what it leads to.
Besides, my training has been a bit half arsed. I'm never going to achieve what I want to by necking beer.
Still, no fags for 36 hours now. I went shopping at the sales today and if I can resist smoking after that then I'm doing OK.
Grandad Gaz said:
I can understand the need to quit smoking, but drink...why?
Surely an occasional glass of red wine actually does you a bit of good?
No it doesn't. A popular myth put about by 'medical professionals' and journos in the pockets of the drinks companies. The often touted tosh about anti-oxidants in red wine for example; sure, anti-oxidants are probably good for us, but way better in fresh fruit and vegetables rather than in the presence of a known anaesthetic depressant drug.Surely an occasional glass of red wine actually does you a bit of good?
MocMocaMoc said:
Ha. EVERYBODY know's Father Ted!
Best of luck with kicking the fags and booze. I've, albeit off the cuff, decided to give up the booze for the next year. See how things pan out...
Cheers. And you're right, it's a classic.Best of luck with kicking the fags and booze. I've, albeit off the cuff, decided to give up the booze for the next year. See how things pan out...
Good luck with it too.
Over 48 hours on and still no fags. I was in Boots earlier today and thought about some nicotine gum, but gave it a miss.
Thank you. 24H mark is a good one, keep it up.
I'm back at work as of 6 AM tomorrow which is where I did most of my smoking. It wasn't so much that I associated it with enjoyment, more that it allowed me to get outside and clear my head for a few minutes.
That said, I did associate driving holidays and smoking with enjoyment. Sat on the bonnet somewhere in the alps, a quick fag, then onwards. I'll miss that!
I'm back at work as of 6 AM tomorrow which is where I did most of my smoking. It wasn't so much that I associated it with enjoyment, more that it allowed me to get outside and clear my head for a few minutes.
That said, I did associate driving holidays and smoking with enjoyment. Sat on the bonnet somewhere in the alps, a quick fag, then onwards. I'll miss that!
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