Welcome to Become An EX
June 2008
Unfortunately many people who stop smoking and then relapse to smoking feel incredibly defeated. They’re so surprised and disappointed that they returned to smoking. However, it is rare that a person stops smoking for good on the first try. Most people stop several times before they are able to put a plan in place that will help them remain smoke-free.
Preventing relapse doesn’t happen by accident, it takes a plan. Each past attempt to stop smoking can provide valuable lessons to develop a plan that will lead to a smoke
free life. Putting together a plan that will work for you is as individual as every single smoker (or should I say ex-smoker). What works for one person may just not fit for another person. Hammer out a plan that works for YOU – follow through, and if you need to try again, learn from your experience to enhance your plan. Stay with it. Persistence pays off in the long run. If you are feeling the urge to smoke go to www.BecomeAnEX.org and click on the panic button. There are some helpful tips on how to fight the urge.
Dr. Richard D. Hurt is an internationally recognized expert on tobacco dependence. A native of Murray, Kentucky, he joined Mayo Clinic in 1976 and is now a Professor of Medicine at its College of Medicine. In 1988, he founded the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center and since then its staff has treated over 33,000 patients for tobacco dependence. Send your questions directly to Dr. Hurt at AskTheExpert@becomeanex.org
Thank you Dr. Hurt. This is my very first time ever quitting. It will be six weeks on Sunday. I am SO afraid of going back. I do not want to fail. No matter how much I want to smoke, I want to stay smoke free. I repeat over and over again, I do not want to go through what I am going through all over again!
Nikkie Noodle 764 days ago
I wish there was a panic button for life.
Mysterious Stranger 764 days ago
i went to a rehearsal dinner tonight and still did not have a cig...that is all the support i need!
Mark 764 days ago
Ah, the panic button..forgot about that.
Raychel 763 days ago
Just had a relapse, but will try again until I quit complteley. Thank you for your support.
Rosario 738 days ago
A hospital stay can provide an opportunity to stop smoking for good You might be able to plan a quit attempt before you go into the hospital or obtain treatment for tobacco dependence while you are in the hospital. This is best done using a combination of medication and/or behavioral counseling.
Nicotine replacement, bupropion (Zyban), and varenicline (Chantix) can be used during most hospitalizations and continued when you leave. If you know you are going to the hospital talk with your healthcare provider ahead of
time and plan ahead to use the hospitalization as a time to “detox”. Visit www.becomeanex.org as part of your comprehensive plan. If your hospital stay comes unexpectedly, make sure you let your nurse and doctor know that you have been smoking and would like medication to help you manage withdrawal while you are hospitalized. When you leave the hospital make sure that you have medication, a follow-up appointment with a tobacco treatment specialist or your health-care provider, and a plan to help you keep on track.
Dr. Richard D. Hurt is an internationally recognized expert on tobacco dependence. A native of Murray, Kentucky, he joined Mayo Clinic in 1976 and is now a Professor of Medicine at its College of Medicine. In 1988, he founded the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center and since then its staff has treated over 33,000 patients for tobacco dependence. Send your questions directly to Dr. Hurt at AskTheExpert@becomeanex.org
I was admitted into a Hospital for 5 days over a matter, and as a result of that I was able to quit smoking for 4 months. I had quit cold turkey, and after the 2nd day when the Nurses realized that I was struggling pretty bad - is how I got introduced to the patch.
Suzzy12345 773 days ago
I do not know about the states....but; here in Canada, any medication that your Doctor prescribes for you...if your health care coverage does not cover the cost, you can claim it on income tax.
Suzzy12345 768 days ago
A number of articles have been published about the relative harm caused by smokeless tobacco (which includes chewing tobacco and snuff) compared with cigarettes, and new brands of smokeless tobacco are being marketed by the tobacco industry to promote smokeless tobacco
use.
While not causing the same degree of health problems as cigarettes, smokeless tobacco is not a safe alternative to smoking. The use of smokeless tobacco may cause a number of health problems including, but not limited to, erosion of the teeth, damage to the gums, and
cancer of the mouth, throat, pancreas, and kidney. A large study recently found that men who switched from cigarettes to smokeless tobacco were more likely to die from heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer compared to those who stopped tobacco altogether. Additionally, people who switched from cigarettes to chewing tobacco were more likely to go back to smoking.
People who are addicted to smokeless tobacco should stop and can do so by using many of the same behavioral tools and medications that help smokers stop. If you are planning to quit chewing the becomeanex program can help. Replace the words ‘cigarette’ or ‘smoking’ with
‘spit tobacco’ and ‘chewing.’ Use the tools on the website to help build your motivation to quit. Developing a plan to address your triggers, re-learning how to live your life without tobacco, and talking to your health-care provider about medications can help you stop. Being tobacco free is the healthy goal for anybody who uses tobacco whether they are chewing, dipping, or smoking.
Dr. Richard D. Hurt is an internationally recognized expert on tobacco dependence. A native of Murray, Kentucky, he joined Mayo Clinic in 1976 and is now a Professor of Medicine at its College of Medicine. In 1988, he founded the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center and since then its staff has treated over 33,000 patients for tobacco dependence. Send your questions directly to Dr. Hurt at AskTheExpert@becomeanex.org
thank you for all the info, but are you sure about the safe cig .com please let me know, theres alot of people haveing good results,why
LUCKY 162 days ago
Many people are concerned about gaining weight when stopping smoking, and most people do gain weight after stopping. The
amount varies for individuals, but the average is just about 10 lb. People gain weight for the most part because smoking suppresses the appetite, and when a person stops smoking the appetite increases.
Because stopping smoking is so vitally important to health, we recommend that people focus on that and not try to combine
efforts to stop smoking with extensive efforts to lose weight. People who start a restrictive diet or are overly concerned about weight have less success stopping smoking. That does not mean that you should not pay attention to what you eat and how much you exercise. Eating healthier foods in smaller portions is a good idea. Increasing your exercise not only will help to minimize your weight gain but exercise can help you deal with withdrawal and cravings. So, don’t be overly concerned with weight until you feel stable in being smoke-free. Just try to keep the weight gain to a minimum. Envision how good you will look and feel once you are smoke-free.
Bupropion (also called Zyban or Wellbutrin) is a medication that helps people stop smoking and helps to
lessen weight gain. Talk to your healthcare provider to see if this is a good option for you. You can also talk with a counselor who can help you stop smoking and can help you to address concerns about weight gain.
At www.becomeanex.org under the tab ‘Do the EX Plan’ and ‘Staying an EX’ you can find additional help to address weight gain.
Dr. Richard D. Hurt is an internationally recognized expert on tobacco dependence. A native of Murray, Kentucky, he joined Mayo Clinic in 1976 and is now a Professor of Medicine at its College of Medicine. In 1988, he founded the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center and since then its staff has treated over 33,000 patients for tobacco dependence. Send your questions directly to Dr. Hurt at AskTheExpert@becomeanex.org
Thanks for this. I have not gained any weight yet...but it's been less than 2 weeks! What I HAVE noticed, though, is that my sense of taste is much improved. Which could mean trouble for my waist! I am very happy about not smoking. I figure I will have time to worry about weight gain "later." I can always lose weight, I can't reverse most tobacco induced health issues.
Fiveblessings 789 days ago
I quit smoking once before for several years. I did gain weight... about 20 lbs and had a horrible time trying to lose it. I excercised more, ate less, but nothing seemed to work. When I fell off the wagon and started smoking again, I lost weight.... and have since become afraid of gaining it again. Thanks for posting this, as it is a major concern and I am going to make sure to talk to my doctor and come up with a plan before my actual quit date.
thistime4sure 789 days ago
I did not gain weight...I lost weight!! For me...I didnt want to medicate....not that Im knocking anyones choices but I just chose to change my lifestyle habits.
I first started working out....then the other thing I was nervous about was having any big meals or wine because thats when I really wanted a cigerette the most....so I avoided those two triggers and was a constant light snacker and I didnt drink for months. Yes, it can be tough but worth it. :)
Claudia 789 days ago
I go sometimes hours and hours without a cig. This morning I am sick to my stomach and have a headache...is this normal quit symptoms? If it is how long does it last? It will be rough to work outside in the blazing summer heat feeling this way.
Brenda 788 days ago
If youre quitting smoking to be healthy and so you dont get lung disease...what good will it be if you get heart disease and diabetes?
Sorry...there is no easy way out....dont eat junk!! Replace your bad habit (smoking) with a good habit (excersize...or just walking).
Do a 360....love your body again.
Claudia 788 days ago
I'd cut that in half so you wouldn't be in same place ... how bout a 180... < smile>
Dr. I got laughed at in a Sugar addiction thread because I attempted to offer the advice to cut as much sugar out of your diet as possible and not use as a replacement for the loss of cigarettes.
I also try to tell others to avoid any an all sodas because of the high acidity and the body is healthier at a more alkaline level.
Am I just outside medical recomendations or would the advice I saw in that thread where they seemed to glamorize sugar as an alternative because it would take more time to die of "tootsie pop" cancer they proper advice I should switch to udating my thinking.
I see people turning towards sugar products, gaining 20-50 lbs and then returning to smoking because of weight gain and then they have more weight and still are smoking.
Should I change and tell people have all the sugar you want because at least you quit smoking or do my claims of avoidance at all cost make more sense for long term quits?
thanks in advance !
ManOfSteele 787 days ago
I'm so relieved to report that I have not gained any weight in the 28 days I've been quit. I did a lot of the things talks about here. The biggest reason I always started again was because of the weight I gained everytime I quit. Being a recovering anorexic-bulimic, weight gain is a HUGE trigger for me. This time quitting, I paid particular attention to my habit of smoking after meals. It was as if smoking was my signal to stop eating. I have effectively replaced plain old chewing gum as my after dinner habit. Now, all the times I would typically reach for a cigarette, I find myself reaching for bubble gum, sugarless of course. I also did the exercise thing to deal with the depression/anxiety feelings. I also went to a health food store for advice about the best vitamens/ herbs to take while I quit smoking. All the antioxidants, B-complex and Co Q10. I feel really good physically and have even lost weight this quit!
I have been quit for 4 Weeks, 17 hours, 18 minutes and 42 seconds (28 days). I have saved $344.64 by not smoking 1,723 cigarettes. I have saved 5 Days, 23 hours and 35 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 5/7/2008 1:15 AM
Sherri 787 days ago
For many this is very good advice. Ten or twenty pounds is no big deal and once you get a handle on the nicotine addiction you can work the weight off.
However, there are those smokers who are food addicts you've given them very little hope on how to manage both.
Food is a necessity. Alchohol and nicotine don't sustain life. Before totally discounting food as an addiction there must be some helpful advice for those struggling with both - other than get some drugs. I, also, am not able to take wellbutrin. Herbal supplements are a great option, but it should be noted some can be toxic if taken in excess.
Thanks.
Jen-X 787 days ago
I too am concerned about gaining weight. I feel like I've gained weight the last several months of heavy smoking because of the lack of exercise I am doing. Does that sound possible? I had to start exercising because my body was feeling really out of wack! I love food as much as smoking so I am worried about over eating. I tried Chantix but this made me feel terrible. Do these others have this effect on people? The out of body experience? The fatigue and draining feeling? I didn't like this and don't want this again!
Amy 787 days ago
I agree with you, people should not focus on weight issues until they feel secure enough in their quit. If they gain more than 10 pounds, then they need to look at their diet and exercise routines. In addition to increased appetite, I think improved taste and smell is another reason why people gain weight- and also the temporary sugar cravings that most addicts experience in the first several weeks of a withdrawal! Improving your health is a long term project - quitting is a first step toward improved health...one thing at a time!
Cindy 786 days ago
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Thank you for that. I forgot about the panic button! I will use that if an urge overwhelms me in the future. Wish I had had one for all those other quit attempts in my past!
Fiveblessings 764 days ago