Becoming a Non Smoker

I've heard it's fairly typical to put on 5 - 7 lbs.

That's a nuisance amount of weight to shift, rather than an insuperable obstacle. I tend to put on a similar amount every winter and have to get rid of it by the summer (3 sessions daily of going up and down the stairs 20 times a session usually works!).

Having (biggish chunks of) low calorie food on hand to eat as and when I'm conscious of being hungry helps. I keep half-pineapples in the freezer; they only take 1- 2 minutes full-power to microwave into eating readiness and they're comparatively time-consuming to eat, discouraging further nibbles.

I don't buy snack items as such so I'm not faced with temptation.

If you're very self-disciplined, you could try making yourself drink 3 half-pints of water before you allow yourself any non-meal snacks. Harsh self-discipline doesn't work for me so I look for the easier options.

I've heard a few people mention gum, and it certainly worked for me, starting on nicorette, then moving to plain old wrigleys gum.

Downside is, years later, I am addicted to wrigleys and break out in a sweat if I don't have any. I know over chewing gum is supposed to cause ulcers, but this seems a better trade in my book rather than smoking, or moving to chocolate!

inspired is perhaps a little strong me thinks that MLF needs to take some credit becuase it was a welcome distraction for me. (and still is). Lets hope more people follow suit...

Technically speaking that is what us professionals call transfer of compulsion -

I'm pretty sure some smarty pants would have mentioned this somewhere in this tomb of a thread - oh that's right I did!


The greatest Star Trek Episode "Sins of the fathers" esp:3.17

But it was worth repeating just for the new readers.

That message was posted on here on the 29 February 2012 , I gave up on the 26 February 2012. That equates to 37 weeks at a current cost of approx

He is indeed a smarty pants

So how does Steve kick the gum habit? We where out a couple of weeks back & he lost his gum, came back from Manchester in a cold sweat 'coz he didnt have any!

Ok stomach ulcers arent cancer but from what i hear they arent exactly pleasant

Ok the cigs (for me) have been easy to quit, but can reducing the ammount of gum consumed be that hard?

I know from my day job that people can develop replacement addictions but serioulsey thought the secondary addiction would then be easier to address.

I suspect my relacement has been food and beer, working hard with the oldest son, building muscle but still getting heavier!!! I am worried that I am now addicted to weight training.

My wife argues that I should eat less and get on the running machine more. Leave the weights to Number 1 son she says!......(he is going to make me a grandad in March 2013, but thats another story).

I like chewing gum! I need to get myself back down the gym after falling off the wagon which is higher up my priority queue than a few sticks of gum