Side Dillema. addiction tradeoff.

[Crusadecat]

Ok I haven't smoked a cigarette since July 2003. I quit with Commit lozenges which worked like a charm for me. I lost all desire to smoke. When it came time to cut down on the lozenges i realized i'm hooked on these . Well here it is almost 2 years later and i'm still using them, Yikes. ! Not only is it expensive but i just switched my nicotine allegiance. I talked to a dr who obviously reccomended i quit, but he said to be honest if this means you go back to smoking, then stay on these for the rest of your life. I realize that it is better than inhaling all of the chemicals they put in cigarettes. but any thoughts on a plan for quitting these things.

[pooder]

First of all congratulations on your quit. I agree with your Dr., however, maybe you could replace one a day with something else. Sugar free candy, cut off straw etc. Then gradually replace each one with something else. If you could quit smoking, you can quit this too. It will just require thinking positive and staying focused.

Good luck to you,
Clara

[Bkindsm]

I totally understand, I replaced my smoking with a nicorette gum addiction. I slowly weened myself to regular gum and am totally off nicotine, but I still chew gum like crazy!

I would try to switch to something else like Clara suggested, find something similar, you can do it.

[Crusadecat]

maybe i'll try replacing the lozenges with nicotine gum
and then go to gum. Or replacing lozenges with lifesavers but then i'm thinking about points there. lol . :D

[sharann]

Crusadecat,
I too quit in 2003 with Commit 2 mg and am still using 4 to 7 per day. I just refuse to stop because I don't ever want to smoke again and it has worked. I believe that the MOST harmful part of the habit I have stopped taking in which was the tobacco smoke and chemicals. I am hooked on the nicotine I suppose but what is soooo bad about that? Some are hooked on coffee, diet sodas, alcohol etc. I guess if you can live with it, the don't stop. It is expensive but so is cancer and burned clothing and the smell....

[Crusadecat]

maybe you and i need to start a fanclub/recovery group. lol thats about how much i use a day too and for the same reasons. only thing that ever worked ...

[sharann]

maybe you and i need to start a fanclub/recovery group. lol thats about how much i use a day too and for the same reasons. only thing that ever worked ...Thats very funny!:headover:

[tintinm]

I am new to WW but joined mostly because I gained so much weight when I quit smoking about a year ago. However, I too am addicted to the nicotine gum. I want to start weaning myself off of it too. I have two questions -

1. Does anyone know how much nicotine gum you have to chew in a day to equal a point? I would assume there has to be some caloric value in the gum?
2. To those who have successfully gotten off the gum do you have any good advice? Is the withdrawl from the gum worse than cigarettes? I have just gotten to a point where I am so sick of constantly having gum in my mouth and I feel like its not good for my teeth and gums - but I'm also afraid of smoking again. Anything that really helps?

Thanks everyone!

Kristin