Just thought I'd add a contribution to this brilliant thread. I'm really envious of all of you on here who are in the process of quitting, for one simple reason......... the fact that you are on this forum suggests that you are exercising whilst quitting.
I packed in 7 & 1/2 years ago after 28 years of heavy smoking (not just tobacco either). I did very little exercise and gained over 4 stone in weight. Though I'm a proper chubster, giving up smoking was the best (and hardest) thing I have ever done. I bought a bike two weeks ago and am now trying to lose the weight I gained. If I'd exercised more (or even at all) when quitting I would have gained far less weight and probably would have been able to sleep better. Anyone else having sleep problems?
I can't offer much in the way of cycling advice on this forum because I'm a fat knacker who's only started riding again very recently. I can however offer advice to people trying to quit smoking, as I've been there and I know how difficult it is. The two best pieces of advice I can give are as follows
1. If you do end up with a ciggie in your hand, don't look at it as failure, just look at it as 1 fag (tab in Gateshead) in however long. It sounds much better and helps focus on getting back on track. Don't try to convince yourself that the odd cigar is ok with a pint, its the start of the slippery slope.
2. It's exercise, I wish someone had drummed the exercise thing into me. Keep cycling and don't make the mistake I made.
I suffered horribly (I think my wife endured worse, putting up with me) for 8 months before things started to get easier but they do, trust me. You are all doing an unbelievably difficult thing but it is really worthwhile. I wish you all every success. I know this sounds like the waffling of an idiot but if you ignore everything else I have said, at least keep exercising, so you don't end up like me.
Good luck.
Mick
I packed in 7 & 1/2 years ago after 28 years of heavy smoking (not just tobacco either). I did very little exercise and gained over 4 stone in weight. Though I'm a proper chubster, giving up smoking was the best (and hardest) thing I have ever done. I bought a bike two weeks ago and am now trying to lose the weight I gained. If I'd exercised more (or even at all) when quitting I would have gained far less weight and probably would have been able to sleep better. Anyone else having sleep problems?
I can't offer much in the way of cycling advice on this forum because I'm a fat knacker who's only started riding again very recently. I can however offer advice to people trying to quit smoking, as I've been there and I know how difficult it is. The two best pieces of advice I can give are as follows
1. If you do end up with a ciggie in your hand, don't look at it as failure, just look at it as 1 fag (tab in Gateshead) in however long. It sounds much better and helps focus on getting back on track. Don't try to convince yourself that the odd cigar is ok with a pint, its the start of the slippery slope.
2. It's exercise, I wish someone had drummed the exercise thing into me. Keep cycling and don't make the mistake I made.
I suffered horribly (I think my wife endured worse, putting up with me) for 8 months before things started to get easier but they do, trust me. You are all doing an unbelievably difficult thing but it is really worthwhile. I wish you all every success. I know this sounds like the waffling of an idiot but if you ignore everything else I have said, at least keep exercising, so you don't end up like me.
Good luck.
Mick
coming up for 7 months, doesnt time fly
