I'm still going strong, day 10 I think? I was a little intoxicated this weekend and had a drag off a friend's cig. Actually glad I did because it tasted disgusting. I haven't had a craving since. This quit is sticking to me like glue!

My running, however, is aggravating. I am having achilles pain, which is a bummer becuase I have a 10K on Thanksgiving. I'm doing all the "triage" (icing, advil, walking, cross train) I can stand. Injuries have sent me back to smoking before so I'm scared but steadfast.

Cajin yeah!!!! the first couple of weeks are the worst, getting over the physcial addiction you've already done now, now it's getting over the mental addiction! you can do it!

drayz my best advice is the podcast if you can't focus on the actual time. I had no concentration at all when I first quit so I know where your coming from! If you can't do the podcast then I would just do what your doing and after a week try and time yourself again, see where you are at (you might surprise yourself by not going by the time) and then pick up C25K from there. most important is to not give up and keep running.

------------------
-Jen
My Profile[/URL" target="_blank">

Thank you everyone for the tips. I am downloading the podcast now. I am going to try that on my run this afternoon. Running in general has been great and has really helped.

One time when I had tried to quit...was around other smokers. Would tell them I lusted for their smoke. It smelled soooo goooooooddddd. Please blow that my direction? Can I have some of your smoke, please?! They'd tell me to have a cigarette. I said I couldn't. I had quit. But loved their second hand smoke. It was just so good. Pretty soon, they avoided me like the plague.

I can't see me having a problem with the Holidays. I'll be working Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Since I don't have family here. Also not in a situation to visit this year. I volunteered to work my part time job on the Holidays. So others could spend time with their families.

Yesterday, just before work. Was having my little cigar. Suddenly it was a stranger to me. Felt like what the heck am I doing? Like I never smoked? Threw it down and went into work a few minutes early.
Smoked the last of a pack last night before bed. Thought I'd see in the morning. Well...I got up and bought a pack. Just didn't feel good. Idiot me... I think I need to pick a quit date. Have been working good on the attitude bit toward smoking.

------------------
Ron
When being chased by a bear...You don't have to outrun the bear. You just have to outrun the other guy.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by amberj:
I still smoke but I would like to quit. I am trying to get into running but have a hard time because I can't breath!
Two questions:
Did everybody here use assistance or quit cold turkey?

How long after you quit smoking did your running ability improve?

Thanks for the help,
Amber

<HR>

Amber,
I used that new drug "Chantix" and it worked wonders for me. I have some friends who tried it and it didn't work for them. I think if you want to quit it will work. I took it with "Wellbutrin 150 XL" also. After about 9 days I didn't want another cigarette. It is kind of expensive, but if you average it against the cost of smoking you come out ahead. My running improved after a month or so I was running 6m pretty easy. Now I'm running 10m daily with a 20m run every Sunday. I ran long distance competitively in Junior HS & HS though. I just got away from it after that. I started working and partying and one thing led to another. Stay strong you can do it.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by amberj:
I still smoke but I would like to quit. I am trying to get into running but have a hard time because I can't breath!
Two questions:
Did everybody here use assistance or quit cold turkey?

How long after you quit smoking did your running ability improve?

Thanks for the help,
Amber

<HR>

Amber, first it took me about 3 years to quit. i tried the commit lozange, the patch (a few times) and welbutrin. In September 04 after another unsucessful try at quitting i went from menthols to non metholds and then in July 06 my husband and I were put on Welbutrin by our doctor. We also went to smoking consuling twice a week. That worked for my DH but not for me, finally in January I was smoking 4-10 a day and I put the patch on and never looked back.

I started running 4 months after quitting and even then I was having major issues with breathing... it wasn't until I hit week 5 in C25K that I saw a big difference, which was about 2 months of running and 6 months after quitting. BUT I have massive allergies, asthma and I was diganosed with acute COPD. so take it with a grain of salt.


------------------
-Jen
My Profile[/URL" target="_blank">

Thank you all so much for your replys! I am worried that when I quit I will gain weight but that is probably just an excuse.

Amber

To be honest I gained weight, which is why I got back into running.... since I started running I haven't gained another pound (haven't lost any yet either but I am still eat junk so it's to be expected) I'm just saying 5 lbs is better than smoking a pack a day and dieing in 10 years. you can do it!

------------------
-Jen
My Profile[/URL" target="_blank">