Living Car Free - A good stop smoking aid

well im currently on day three of quitting smoking, and yesterday i was going nuts bored all day at work, i got to the point where i was ready to go to the store and buy a pack. So after i got off work, instead i decided to go on a ride to get my mind off smoking. Well at first the ride didn't do much to help in getting me thinking of something other than smoking and gradually i was gaining speed, after a few minutes iwas full on sprinting (still had my two bags on bike from work) so i decided to do a 10 mile loop back to my house. I ended up doing the 10miles almost on the dot in 25 min, i was breathing so hard it hurt and my eyes felt like they were going to pop out of my head, but i was for sure not thinking about smoking and didn't think about it for the rest of the night.

So i think to gauge how much my lungs and oxygen transfer get down the road, im going to do the same 10 mile loop and try to keep it under 30mins and see how much it kicks my but i figure if i do once a month for a bit then kick it up to every other week and so on before i know it i should be able to do it with out winding my self to the point of near collapse:lol:

I acutually think i read somewhere last week that hard exercising is a good stop smoking aid, and after trying it i would say i agree:)

race your bike...crits with some nice steep little hills on the course are the best, coughing up a lung on every acceleration does wonders for your motivation. ;)

I think once i get my MTB finished im going to bomb up the foot hills every weekend thats a good way to cough up your stomach

I think once i get my MTB finished im going to bomb up the foot hills every weekend thats a good way to cough up your stomach

As an added bonus, for the first few weeks you can save some of what you cough up for a snack later.

Yessssss!!!! snacks

The patch and cycling worked for me. Cycling provided the motivation, the patch kept the addiction at bay.

Nineteen months after quitting, I rode up Mt Evans, the highest paved road in North America. Still rode it like a lifelong lowlander, flatlander and 35-year ex-smoker, but I rode it--and on my everyday commuting bike too.

http://www.brucew.com/images/bikeforums/brucew-rbc-top-mt-evans-med.jpg

Nice!!! you can all you want about being a lowlander 14k ft is way up there, highest ive ever cycled is 12k and it felt like i was under water. Yeah im doing the patch and so far my random rides are doing pretty good with the mental addiction, i wish though i would have quit when it was better weather out:)

To a nonsmoker it may not seem like a big deal but it really is so do not be tempted to have a puff. After one year of not one smoke I rewarded myself with a brand new custom made Marinoni Bicycle, that was in 1992. Still have the bike and not one smoke. One day at a time, you can do this.
Good luck.
Bill.

Take the money that you would normally spend on smokes and put it in a jar. After a week or two, depending on how much you used to smoke, you should have a nice little chuck of change in there. When of the really big urges hits you and you can't get your mind off of it, take the money out of the jar and spend it on something you would usually not indulge yourself in. It doesn't matter much what it is, as long as its not food which is just exchanging one addiction for another. However, you could go to REI and buy the latest gadget that was tempting you, go see a new movie in the theater, or buy a really expensive micro brew! Anything that will help take your mind off of the smokes and you never have to feel guilty about the money you spent.

Right now im not saving any money as ive replaced smoking with eating and will apparently be eating 5 or 6 meals a day for a while:) I could probably use it though ive been wanting to get up to 150 for a few months now, and i know i know usually people are trying to go the other way with weight

But it will add up to a very nice chunk of change about 6 bucks a day

But it will add up to a very nice chunk of change about 6 bucks a day

Sure makes keeping the house clean easier too...once you clean up all the smoke film on everything, repaint, get new drapes, carpet, furniture, remodel the kitchen, buy new windows, install a new furnace, maybe throw in a vacation and some new appliances....eek:

I could probably use it though ive been wanting to get up to 150 for a few months now

Go play in the road (forum).

Congratulations! I quit eight years ago. It was one of the hardest things I ever did--including getting off alcohol and drugs many years ago. I had to quit 17 times before it took, using the nicotrol inhaler and welbutrin. The biek helped a lot too--both motivation and lessening weight gain (but not eliminating it).

You know, I had better pulmonary function just a week or two after quitting. I bet if you try that same ride in a few days, you might do it in 23 minutes--and feel a lot stronger at the finish.

Sure makes keeping the house clean easier too...once you clean up all the smoke film on everything, repaint, get new drapes, carpet, furniture, remodel the kitchen, buy new windows, install a new furnace, maybe throw in a vacation and some new appliances....eek:Never was a fan of smoking in the homestead luckily:)

Nice!!! you can all you want about being a lowlander 14k ft is way up there, highest ive ever cycled is 12k and it felt like i was under water.

Yeah, but keep in mind my home altitude is 425. A really big hill is 150 feet. Every place in Idaho is higher than that.

I worded that wrong sorry i meant i don't think i could do 14k, When i first moved to idaho from delware it took some getting used to. Went from about 10ft below sea level to a bit over 3000 ft i had elevation sickness for a few days:) I think this weekend if the weather is decent i might try an ride myself puking

The patch and cycling worked for me. Cycling provided the motivation, the patch kept the addiction at bay.

Nineteen months after quitting, I rode up Mt Evans, the highest paved road in North America. Still rode it like a lifelong lowlander, flatlander and 35-year ex-smoker, but I rode it--and on my everyday commuting bike too.

http://www.brucew.com/images/bikeforums/brucew-rbc-top-mt-evans-med.jpg

It's like your best friends with that sign. That's awesome.

I acutually think i read somewhere last week that hard exercising is a good stop smoking aid, and after trying it i would say i agree:)

I've met a number of former smokers who quit due to bicycling. There's got to be something to it. I've never smoked, so I have no personal knowledge.

The patch and cycling worked for me. Cycling provided the motivation, the patch kept the addiction at bay.

Nineteen months after quitting, I rode up Mt Evans, the highest paved road in North America. Still rode it like a lifelong lowlander, flatlander and 35-year ex-smoker, but I rode it--and on my everyday commuting bike too.

http://www.brucew.com/images/bikeforums/brucew-rbc-top-mt-evans-med.jpg

Just Googled that road. Now I want to ride there! I'll put it on my bucket list.

Just Googled that road. Now I want to ride there! I'll put it on my bucket list.

You've gotta do it. That ride made me a complete convert to road cycling Colorado's mountains. Michael Seeburg's book, Road Cycling Colorado rates it as one of just three "Very Difficult" rides out of the nearly 150 rides in the state. I just broke it down and rode milepost-to-milepost, stopping at each to take photos and let my heart rate settle. This also helped short-circuit the psychological aspects of the relentless climb.

I'm returning to Colorado a year from now in the spring. Google Rim Rock Drive (http://www.google.com/search?q=rim+rock+drive&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a). Although considerably less altitude and climbing, the scenery is magnificent as it winds through Colorado National Monument (http://www.google.com/search?q=rim+rock+drive&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#sclient=psy&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=qxa&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&q=colorado+national+monument&aq=0&aqi=g4g-o1&aql=&oq=Colorado+Nationa&pbx=1&fp=fd0f73886609171d).

I'm timing the trip to coincide with the Skinny Tire Festival (http://www.skinnytireevents.com/content/section/4/31/) just across the border in Moab Utah. We'll do the festival, Rim Rock Drive (hopefully before they open to cars for the season), the Grand Mesa and every other ride from Road Biking Colorado that I can fit in during almost three weeks.

Well its already been nearly a month, three days shy, i must admit its pretty much easy at this point, BUT i only have four patches left and i don't think im going to be able to do any of the other steps, so im gonna go cold turkey wish me luck:) These patches are leaving horrid acne on both my arms surrounding where Ive been placing them and thats even with washing the good and switching arms everyday. It might be a combo of acne and a rash im not sure i just know it itches and hurts enough for me to just be done with them. Ive gotten over the fixation and smell part and have managed to get my eating back to a acceptable amount:) got a bit crazy there at the end of week one, i was eating three or four meals and pretty good sized ones before i would even be done with work. With i could use the bulk, but i was overdoing it and it was making me feel like crap. But anywho just thought id let you guys know im still going stong and have been noticing small amounts of improvement enough to keep my thoughts on that and not wanting to smoke:)

race your bike...crits with some nice steep little hills on the course are the best, coughing up a lung on every acceleration does wonders for your motivation. ;)

LOL:)


I think once i get my MTB finished im going to bomb up the foot hills every weekend thats a good way to cough up your stomach

Good luck, man. Smoking is really nasty and destructive.


As an added bonus, for the first few weeks you can save some of what you cough up for a snack later.

You can freeze it too.


Well its already been nearly a month, three days shy, i must admit its pretty much easy at this point, BUT i only have four patches left and i don't think im going to be able to do any of the other steps, so im gonna go cold turkey wish me luck:) These patches are leaving horrid acne on both my arms surrounding where Ive been placing them and thats even with washing the good and switching arms everyday. It might be a combo of acne and a rash im not sure i just know it itches and hurts enough for me to just be done with them. Ive gotten over the fixation and smell part and have managed to get my eating back to a acceptable amount:) got a bit crazy there at the end of week one, i was eating three or four meals and pretty good sized ones before i would even be done with work. With i could use the bulk, but i was overdoing it and it was making me feel like crap. But anywho just thought id let you guys know im still going stong and have been noticing small amounts of improvement enough to keep my thoughts on that and not wanting to smoke:)

Good luck again. I now one person who saw lungs of a smoker on some kind of exhibition. I mean the real thing preserved in a glass jar. He stopped smoking overnight :D

Try this (http://www.google.com/images?q=lungs+of+a+smoker), it might give you some motivation :D

Try to think less about it and get some snacks, like dried fruit. In extreme situation see a doctor, they can prescribe you some meds that will lower the craving and withdrawals, like Wellbutrin. It's a mild antidepressant with weak side effects but it's proven to be helpful with quitting smoking. I know people have good luck with that plus some self-therapy. Then you slowly taper off the medication and you're good.

Im not generally a meds type of person, i know they help, I just try and stay away from pills. Yeah those pictures are sickening it makes it hard to believe i made the choice to do that to my lungs. I have a doctors appt in a couple of weeks and I haven't told her i quit smoking so im going to see if she notices that will be a super ego boost. The quitting thing has actually gotten me off my ass I about to order a pair of running shoes which i have never owned in my life and last week i went and checked out three different gyms i haven't chosen one yet.

Below are is the time table for stop smoking and I hope it helps you I know it helped me.
It came from www.whyquit.com



Our body's ability to mend is beauty to behold ...

Within ...

# 20 minutes
Your blood pressure, pulse rate, and the temperature of your hands and feet will all return to normal.
# 8 hours
Remaining nicotine in your bloodstream will have fallen to 6.25% of normal peak daily levels, a 93.25% reduction.
# 12 hours
Your blood oxygen level will have increased to normal and carbon monoxide levels will have dropped to normal.
# 24 hours
Anxieties peak in intensity and within two weeks should return to near pre-cessation levels.
# 48 hours
Damaged nerve endings have started to regrow and your sense of smell and taste are beginning to return to normal. Cessation anger and irritability peaks.
# 72 hours
Your entire body will test 100% nicotine-free and over 90% of all nicotine metabolites (the chemicals it breaks down into) will now have passed from your body via your urine. Symptoms of chemical withdrawal have peaked in intensity, including restlessness. The number of cue induced crave episodes experienced during any quitting day will peak for the "average" ex-user. Lung bronchial tubes leading to air sacs (alveoli) are beginning to relax in recovering smokers. Breathing is becoming easier and the lungs functional abilities are starting to increase.
# 5 - 8 days
The "average" ex-smoker will encounter an "average" of three cue induced crave episodes per day. Although we may not be "average" and although serious cessation time distortion can make minutes feel like hours, it is unlikely that any single episode will last longer than 3 minutes. Keep a clock handy and time them.
# 10 days
10 days - The "average ex-user is down to encountering less than two crave episodes per day, each less than 3 minutes.
# 10 days to 2 weeks
Recovery has likely progressed to the point where your addiction is no longer doing the talking. Blood circulation in our gums and teeth are now similar to that of a non-user.
# 2 to 4 weeks
Cessation related anger, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, impatience, insomnia, restlessness and depression have ended. If still experiencing any of these symptoms get seen and evaluated by your physician.
# 21 days
Brain acetylcholine receptor counts up-regulated in response to nicotine's presence have now down-regulated and receptor binding has returned to levels seen in the brains of non-smokers.
# 2 weeks to 3 months
Your heart attack risk has started to drop. Your lung function is beginning to improve.
# 3 weeks to 3 months
Your circulation has substantially improved. Walking has become easier. Your chronic cough, if any, has likely disappeared.
# 1 to 9 months
Any smoking related sinus congestion, fatigue or shortness of breath have decreased. Cilia have regrown in your lungs thereby increasing their ability to handle mucus, keep your lungs clean, and reduce infections. Your body's overall energy has increased.
# 1 year
Your excess risk of coronary heart disease has dropped to less than half that of a smoker.
# 5 to 15 years
Your risk of stroke has declined to that of a non-smoker.
# 10 years
Your risk of death from lung cancer has declined by almost half if you were an average smoker (one pack per day). Your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus has now decreased.
# 13 years
Your risk of smoking induced tooth loss has declined to that of a never-smoker (2006 study).
# 15 years
Your risk of coronary heart disease is now that of a person who has never smoked.
# 20 years
Female excess risk of death from all smoking related causes, including lung disease and cancer, has now reduced to that of a never-smoker (2008 study)

Im not generally a meds type of person, i know they help, I just try and stay away from pills. Yeah those pictures are sickening it makes it hard to believe i made the choice to do that to my lungs. I have a doctors appt in a couple of weeks and I haven't told her i quit smoking so im going to see if she notices that will be a super ego boost. The quitting thing has actually gotten me off my ass I about to order a pair of running shoes which i have never owned in my life and last week i went and checked out three different gyms i haven't chosen one yet.

I agree about the meds: it would be so much better if you can do it yourself. I just mentioned that there is such option. But nothing beats self motivation. Keep it up, you can do it! Don't disappoint us :D

Be careful with running. If you haven't for a long time it's easy to mess up your knees, even if you are not overweight. There is considerable impact on your joints which they're not used to. Start slowly, avoid running on hard pavement.

Adam

I know its not the same but I walk several miles a day at work probably 5 or 6 a day and it seems to make my bother some knee feel better so im hoping jogging will do the same. Im gonna start jogging at the gym on a treadmill then transition onto the streets after i get comfy with it

I know its not the same but I walk several miles a day at work probably 5 or 6 a day and it seems to make my bother some knee feel better so im hoping jogging will do the same. Im gonna start jogging at the gym on a treadmill then transition onto the streets after i get comfy with it

I work for a research facility that's a part of a large medical center and I chat a lot with students, postdocs, doctors, both PhD and MD, lots of them ride bikes to work so we often strike a conversation. They often say how many people mess up their knees because they have all the wrong ideas about running. Running is good for light people with no knee problems. Our culture pushes running as the miracle exercise and created this image of a healthy, happy jogger. You see joggers everywhere from laundry detergent commercials to drug commercials. You see the stars, politicians and celebrities running with huge grins. Running is great, no doubt, but it's a high impact sport and it makes it very easy to screw up your knees. And misguided running is one of the top reasons for knee injury in the USA.

There is MUCH less impact on the joints when walking than when running, it's completely different movement, the forces that apply to joints, tendons and ligaments are greater during running and distributed differently. If you have troublesome knees(s) and/or haven't run for long time then beVERY careful with running. The problem with running is the part when both your legs are up in the air and then you quickly drop your entire weight on one leg and a split second after absorbing the impact, the same leg has to spring up and propel your entire body up and forward. This doesn't happen when walking, you always have one foot on the ground carrying half or so of your weight and the movement is slower so the weight doesn't drop so fast forcing your joints to absorb greater impact in a shorter period of time.

Depending on what's wrong with your knees, running may be worst type of exercise for you. Warm up your legs before running with VERY gentle stretch and massage, walk first five minutes. Start very gently and slowly on soft pavement and "listen" to your knees. Stop at any warning signs and take it slower, rest frequently, switch to regular walking. Use tight, supportive knee warmers (not the cycling type) to keep your knees toasty and compressed. Your legs need time to build up strength and get used to the new rigors. Any pain after running, apply RICE: rest, ice, compression, elevation.

Use proper running shoes with wide soles and good grip to prevent ankle or knee twisting accidents.

I was just a month shy of a year tobacco free and I got drunk at the tattoo parlor. Took a square from a buddy of mine, took a puff, and said now I remember why I quit this crap.

Made me kind of angry to have to start from day one all over again, but I can say that it gets easier my friend. I thought the urge would never go away, and truly it doesn't really. You just learn to forget about it.

Good luck, I'm rooting for you man.

I'm returning to Colorado a year from now in the spring. Google Rim Rock Drive (http://www.google.com/search?q=rim+rock+drive&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a). Although considerably less altitude and climbing, the scenery is magnificent as it winds through Colorado National Monument (http://www.google.com/search?q=rim+rock+drive&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#sclient=psy&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=qxa&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&q=colorado+national+monument&aq=0&aqi=g4g-o1&aql=&oq=Colorado+Nationa&pbx=1&fp=fd0f73886609171d).

I'm timing the trip to coincide with the Skinny Tire Festival (http://www.skinnytireevents.com/content/section/4/31/) just across the border in Moab Utah. We'll do the festival, Rim Rock Drive (hopefully before they open to cars for the season), the Grand Mesa and every other ride from Road Biking Colorado that I can fit in during almost three weeks.

If you are planning on spending some time cycling in the Grand Valley, here is a collection of cycling maps for the area created by a local cyclist (my SO):

http://www.tomorrowhillfarm.com/JohnHodgebicycleMaps.html

In spring may be a bit early for riding the Grand Mesa, it gets *a lot* of snow. Little Park Road is a good 12 mile climb, one of my favorites.

My knee problem which is still undiagnosed has to do with the knee cap its self and shouldn't* fingers crossed be a problem with jogging i used to up to about five or six years ago jog and im still young so we shall see how it goes

12-29-01...the last day I dragged off a cigarette. A day or two after moving into the new house, came down with the 5th sinus infection of the year.

Disgusted and dizzy (always got vertigo with the SI's), I profanely declared that was enough, and threw the rest of the pack away.

I hurriedly and disgustedly walk away from secondhand smoke; the thought of hitting a cigarette again make me want to retch. Oddly, though, over the last 6 months or so, I've had to curb the urge to hit a cigar.

During the first months, yes, there were weak days; but I knew by then I was dealing with an addiction (psychological in my case, had never really gotten beyond a pack a day, and the last 4 months before quitting, I'd tapered off to a half-pack or less), so I adopted the AA credo -- "one day at a time". After a while, you really don't have to tell yourself, "Not today, I'm not gonna smoke today."

But, I think I can safely say that I merely replaced one addiction with another; I think about bikes and pedaling as much as Charlie Harper thinks about sex. BUT -- this is a drug with no ill side-effects!

Fizzaly, I smoked more than two packs a day for 30 years, starting at age 16. I smoked and was hooked for all the reasons that are given in addictions research. I literally quit 17 times before I stayed quit. Everybody is different but here are the things that helped me the most:


Nicotrol inhalers--little cartridges that contain nicotine and are inhaled like a cigaret. (NOT the e-cigarettes that are so controversial right now.) Warning--I got hooked on the Nicotrol, and still use one occasionally--I'm smoke-free but only about 99 % nicotine-free.
Welbutrin (Zyban) as mentioned above. This gave me some of the energy back that I had been getting from cigarettes, and helped me through the first month or so.
Best of all was a website called Cognitive Quitting (http://www.cognitivequitting.com/program.html). This gave me the psychological help I needed to quit. Check it out!


Best of luck and remember, Don't quit quitting!

Today is probably the hardest day ive encountered so far in this, I'm currently struggling to get through day two of being entirely nicotine free. I feel a looooonnngg bike ride after work is due, I'm thinking this darn weather needs to stay nice so i can finish the MTB and do some XC riding. I may do my 20 mile loop through boise today after work Ive got the shakes so damn bad im not even bothering to see what im typing. I did mile jog this morning while i was bored as hell at work and it felt good, so i think a proper sprint on the old Kuwie is just what the doctor ordered:)

Today is probably the hardest day ive encountered so far in this, I'm currently struggling to get through day two of being entirely nicotine free. I feel a looooonnngg bike ride after work is due, I'm thinking this darn weather needs to stay nice so i can finish the MTB and do some XC riding. I may do my 20 mile loop through boise today after work Ive got the shakes so damn bad im not even bothering to see what im typing. I did mile jog this morning while i was bored as hell at work and it felt good, so i think a proper sprint on the old Kuwie is just what the doctor ordered:)

Hang in there, buddy--after the first couple weeks, every day gets a little better. One day at a time. Hell, one minute at a time. Keep busy and keep active.

I was just a month shy of a year tobacco free and I got drunk at the tattoo parlor. Took a square from a buddy of mine, took a puff, and said now I remember why I quit this crap.

Made me kind of angry to have to start from day one all over again, but I can say that it gets easier my friend. I thought the urge would never go away, and truly it doesn't really. You just learn to forget about it.

Good luck, I'm rooting for you man.

Drunk and tattoo parlor should never be in the same sentence. I quit over 20 years ago and still LOVE the smell of someone else smoking. If I'm walking down the street and someone is smoking I sometimes find myself following them.

Today is probably the hardest day ive encountered so far in this, I'm currently struggling to get through day two of being entirely nicotine free. I feel a looooonnngg bike ride after work is due, I'm thinking this darn weather needs to stay nice so i can finish the MTB and do some XC riding. I may do my 20 mile loop through boise today after work Ive got the shakes so damn bad im not even bothering to see what im typing. I did mile jog this morning while i was bored as hell at work and it felt good, so i think a proper sprint on the old Kuwie is just what the doctor ordered:)

Hang on there! Don't give up - counting on you!

Keep it up! I havent had a smoke in almost nine months. I know that if I smoke even one, its all over. Sometimes that is the only thing that keeps me from sneaking a cig.

Ah I'm envious of you guys. I know I'm new to this bike forum but I've chosen to bike mainly to become healthier and save money on gas money. Er I get irritated when I find myself smoking after a bike ride. I don't know it's just so relaxing and feels like a sense of accomplishment. However I'm trying to find better alternatives such as running. I will also use that tip in saving money in a jar otherwise used in smokes. But good luck on being smoke free! I shall join you soon xD

Sooner the better:) Here it is already thursday four days down with no nicotine and I feel much better, my mood has become more stable, and i no longer feel like strangling inanimate objects:) It's also now over a month of no smoking, I feel confident now saying i kicked smoking's ass

How come the French can put smoking in the proper context of moderate vice?

Sooner the better:) Here it is already thursday four days down with no nicotine and I feel much better, my mood has become more stable, and i no longer feel like strangling inanimate objects:) It's also now over a month of no smoking, I feel confident now saying i kicked smoking's ass

Don't get too confident! Stay on guard for backsliding and relapses. Whatever you're doing to quit, keep on doing it. I once quit for 18 months, had one cigarette while on a fishing trip, and was back to 2 packs a day within a few days.

How come the French can put smoking in the proper context of moderate vice?

I think they're going through the same stuff we did--bannibng public smoking, running ad campaigns, etc. Smoking may be a moderate vice, but it's also a severe health risk.