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Quitting smoking is one of the hardest things I've ever done. Just reading this thread has brought up some nostalgia. I think ecigs and nicotine gum/lozenges

by larntz 8y ago

Quitting smoking is one of the hardest things I've ever done. Just reading this thread has brought up some nostalgia. I think ecigs and nicotine gum/lozenges should be encouraged if someone wants to quit. Many people have found them useful bridging the gap between smoking and cessation. Going even a few hours without anything is enough to cause some people give up. Having help might give them confidence to eventually follow through. Trading addiction to cigarettes for addiction to vapes or gum is a step in the right direction, but I agree eventually you have to pay the piper.

zackmorris 8y ago
Same here. Nicotine is perhaps the very worst drug known to humankind in terms of addictiveness: * High lasts the shortest duration (a few seconds after the last inhale) * High has a high physical factor (relaxation) but a low psychotropic factor (mood-altering effect like alcohol or mj), which is the opposite of something like psychedelics (which can be useful in curing addiction) * High requires a physical adaptation (smoker's hack) to be felt most fully * That physical adaptation is challenging to undo and takes at least 1 month (in my case 2) before cravings are replaced by disinterest or dislike So the last 2 points were key for me. If anyone reading this is struggling, I highly recommend intermittent intense physical activity as a way to hack the physical adaptation process. For me, squats work best. Go to the gym and try to get 15-20 reps of a weight you can manage, for at least 2 power sets. Something like: 95x10, 135x20, 135x15. I find if I do those at night and come home, my body rejects the thought of smoking because I'm already high on life. It also rejects alcohol to some degree which is nice for weight loss. Once you've felt that lifter's high (not sure what to call it), you start feeling in control of your body's repair process. Then you notice it on the fun days too, like chest day. After 2-6 weeks, you'll likely find that cigarettes don't do much unless you smoke a couple in a row, but then they mostly make you sick, and you might find yourself going a day or two and forgetting to smoke. Hope this helps someone.
- BleakGreySkies 8y ago
  I suspect there's a lot of variability in how hard it is quit nicotine. I stopped smoking after a long pack a day habit with almost no difficulty. No serious physical withdrawal, no serious sustained cravings that persisted past a day or two. I've had issues with other substances, so it wasn't my amazing willpower that made it easy

by larntz 8y ago

zackmorris 8y ago

Same here. Nicotine is perhaps the very worst drug known to humankind in terms of addictiveness: * High lasts the shortest duration (a few seconds after the last inhale) * High has a high physical factor (relaxation) but a low psychotropic factor (mood-altering effect like alcohol or mj), which is the opposite of something like psychedelics (which can be useful in curing addiction) * High requires a physical adaptation (smoker's hack) to be felt most fully * That physical adaptation is challenging to undo and takes at least 1 month (in my case 2) before cravings are replaced by disinterest or dislike So the last 2 points were key for me. If anyone reading this is struggling, I highly recommend intermittent intense physical activity as a way to hack the physical adaptation process. For me, squats work best. Go to the gym and try to get 15-20 reps of a weight you can manage, for at least 2 power sets. Something like: 95x10, 135x20, 135x15. I find if I do those at night and come home, my body rejects the thought of smoking because I'm already high on life. It also rejects alcohol to some degree which is nice for weight loss. Once you've felt that lifter's high (not sure what to call it), you start feeling in control of your body's repair process. Then you notice it on the fun days too, like chest day. After 2-6 weeks, you'll likely find that cigarettes don't do much unless you smoke a couple in a row, but then they mostly make you sick, and you might find yourself going a day or two and forgetting to smoke. Hope this helps someone.

BleakGreySkies 8y ago
I suspect there's a lot of variability in how hard it is quit nicotine. I stopped smoking after a long pack a day habit with almost no difficulty. No serious physical withdrawal, no serious sustained cravings that persisted past a day or two. I've had issues with other substances, so it wasn't my amazing willpower that made it easy