quitter's nibbles
So, I quit smoking. Yeah, yeah, yay me. I've been chewing gum like mad, but I need to come up with some actual food that I can incessantly snack on, but not get too fat. Obviously, celery and carrot sticks are good choices, but anything more interesting come to mind? Other advice? Been drinking lots of water and fruit juices and avoiding alcohol and coffee (which is actually giving me a fierce headache) On the upside tho, I haven't punched anybody yet.
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22 Comments:
YAY @gastronomeg! Congrats and best of luck. I quit in 2002 for the last time and it's great to be smoke free. I never gave up coffee tho and I had quit alcohol years before. I found drinking water helps both by flushing out your system and because cigs taste awful with water. Although it wasn't low in calories my best friend when I was quitting - cold turkey BTW - was licorice whips. Not the red ones but the black licorice flavored ones. I always had one in my mouth sort of gnawing on it all day. It was the licorice flavor that worked for me. And maybe the gnawing. And so you gain a few pounds (or 15) you can get that off later and you'll have happy nice clean lungs.
tapioca at 3:13PM on 11/05/09
congrats @gastronomeg! there was a video on youtube of an old guy who suggested sunflower seeds as the way to go . . . maybe also nuts (i would pick almonds or pistachios), or dried fruit? other raw veggies would be good too - jicama, bell peppers, grape tomatoes, sugar snap peas, etc. (no, not terribly seasonal suggestions, but still healthier tastier things for the oral fix). or maybe some edamame? and of course some chocolate every now and then (or whatever your favorite treat is . . . to keep you on the no-punching train). good luck! serious eaters are pulling for you :)
billyburgwife at 3:19PM on 11/05/09
Congrats gastromeg! I agree with the above suggestions. Another thought is frozen grapes--they'll keep your mouth busy and it's like having bite sized iced pops without the mess, more nutritious and flavorful.
dhorst at 3:54PM on 11/05/09
I have never had to go through quitting smoking, but I am kind of a yo yo dieter...
I would recommend avoiding soft, sugary items, as you will go through a lot of volume in a short amount of time--not good for your waistline. Instead opt for items that will take awhile for you to chew and swallow--beef jerky, slim jims, hard candy, zwieback, or melba toast.
Also, second @dhorst's suggestion of frozen grapes--so delicious. I prefer green frozen grapes myself.
PrettyNicola at 4:01PM on 11/05/09
Contrats @gastronomeg! you should be so proud *sheds a tear of pride for quitters* I hope to do the same.....someday. I only made it for 4 days in january.
My mom is currently on the same road...she's at 5 weeks now. She's put on some weight but says shes never felt healthier (except when she was preggers)
Here's some good "nibble" suggestions gastro: I hope they help
- soynuts (high in protein and Dietary fibre) and come in great flavours
- I would thrid @dhorsts frozen grapes suggestion and add frozen blueberries to that. Really inexpensive too
- I'm a really big fan of munchin on cherry tomatoes
- cucumber is really satisfying
- multigrain cheerios dry are good snacks so are shreddies
- like @billyburgwife said edemame is a good one...keeps you occupied too.
Apparently hard-candies/suckers/lollipops are pretty good for quitting and only add carbs/sugars....if you're not too afraid of those.
I wouldn't go with sunflower seeds personally: they're good for occupying but contian a pretty high fat content. I guess they're probably cool in moderation though.
*pats gastro on back* keep it up; you can do it!
hungrychristel at 5:20PM on 11/05/09
This may sound weird but it really worked for me. Cut up one green apple, then cut in 1/2 avocado. Squeeze lemon juice all over... thats it. Now I eat it whenever, but when I quit ( more than 2 years ago), it really squashed my cravings. Good Luck (although who needs luck when you have charisma... and support)!
honeybea at 6:53PM on 11/05/09
Why not just cut back on the caffeine and alcohol, during these early days of not smoking. You can wein (sp?) yourself off of the caffeine and alcohol later when you've been smoke-free for a longer time. You'll be less likely to fall off the wagon.
As for snacks that are healthier:
popcorn
edamame
granola
dried fruit
pretzels, no salt
frozen grapes
twizzlers/red vines
low-fat cheesy puffs
Cheerios
Goldfish (surprisingly not a lot of fat and there's a multigrain variety)
almonds (plain roasted)
wasabi peas
AnnieNT at 7:02PM on 11/05/09
instead of eating, I got busy and learned to knit! Just impossible to smoke and knit at the same time.
Treat yourself well, take long baths, polish your fingernails ect.
As far as eating goes, eat slowly, drink water, when you do have something that is high fat or calories savor it!!
sen sen was my go to smoke buster.
Good luck.
GranFan at 7:42PM on 11/05/09
My first thought was also popcorn. Obviously read your labels and watch what you put on it (almost endless possibilities), but you can eat buckets of it with almost no calories.
MaresyDotes at 8:06PM on 11/05/09
Congrats on taking the big step! No eating advice for you, but when you're feeling "GRRRRRRRR", remember that you've got a whole community of Serious Eaters pulling for you.
finewinendine at 8:52PM on 11/05/09
When I quit a year and half ago. it was altoids and pretzel sticks. Can't stand altoids any more.
Jlaph at 9:40PM on 11/05/09
Try keeping a protein bar in your pocket and take nibbles at a time. The more palatable ones (clif, luna, promax) offer a sweetness too. Plus, the protein and fiber combo should help you from overeating later. Avoid something like larabars which, while totally natural (date) sugar, will briefly spike your blood sugar and make you hungry shortly after.
justin h at 12:38AM on 11/06/09
Sen sen? OMG! Are those still around? I haven't had those since the 60s. They tasted like edible soap.
The nagging headaches might take a couple of weeks to go away, as will the nagging cough. The blood vessels in your head are going through nicotine withdrawal, and your lungs are cleaning themselves out. Both are good things. Take extra-strength aspirin for the headaches, but don't take anything to suppress the cough--you need to expel all that tar and gunk.
And don't get all perfect on us. Unless alcohol and caffeine are your triggers to smoke, I wouldn't avoid them all at the same time.
Do you know Dr. Oz? He keeps a trim figure by snacking constantly on nuts, though they're probably not salted.
You know you can call us anytime you get the urge, right?
betteirene at 1:08AM on 11/06/09
"You know you can call us anytime you get the urge, right?" Like @betteirene, I say, we're here for ya.
dhorst at 2:12AM on 11/06/09
Congrats! I will be 2 years smoke free in one month exactly! I think keeping hands busy is important. For me--I quit about two months after I started a fairly intense exercise regime. I think they're related. I spent more time figuring out and preparing healthy foods, and looked at it as an adventure, and a bit like a martyr--like, how much of this can I take, how much of this can I put on myself and come out victorious. It's a bit of an insane mindset, but it worked for me.
Also, remember, the groups of 'three' aer the hardest. If you can get to through those, the first three hours, three days, three weeks, three months--you'll get there!
I was told (and believing it helped) that the physical craving for a cigarette, the actual, feel it in your gut 'need' lastsfor four minutes. When it comes on...take note of it. Feel it and note it and tell yourself that you can do anything for four minutes. After that, it's your brain telling you you miss it, not your body--for the next hour anyway :)
Be strong!
BananaMonkey at 9:56AM on 11/06/09
@bananamonkey: I agree. I have to start quitting again, but the most success I ever had was when I noted the cravings and asked myself "can you wait 15 minutes?" Well, of course. Then at the end of 15, I asked myself again. I was able to cut down to several cigarettes a day in 4-5 days, and then quit for 6 months.
Gearing up now to beat it for good...
Cary at 11:12AM on 11/06/09
@Cary--good luck! It's hard hard hard work. I found being 'present' in the cravings--to really feel them and note them and think about them to be much more empowering than trying to ignore them, because inevitably, you can't ignore them, and so you feel overwhelmed and victimized by them instead of meeting them head on.
When you smoke, you give yourself a break, you give yourself time to do little else but smoke (especially if you go outside to do it). When you quit...allow yourself that time to do OTHER THINGS. If it is at first just riding out the craving, then fine, but later, if you need a break from your work--time that you would have normally used to smoke, TAKE THE BREAK. Don't expect your brain to be superhuman and able to work/focus constantly. Smoking is so much more about lifestyle and timing than just the physical.
Sorry if this is off topic eds...but it's for teh good fight!
BananaMonkey at 11:21AM on 11/06/09
Chew gum, eat red hot cinnamon candies, etc. Anything with a real "punch".
Drink lots of water, herb tea, etc.
When a craving hits, do seriously deep breathing to relax your lungs. If possible, get up and walk fast or jog for a minute or two. Sing really loud in your car. Anything to keep your lungs working and full of deep breathing.
The main thing is to think about something else. Think of the trip you will take with the money you've saved or how you will reward yourself.
Here's the thing about quitting smoking that makes it so hard. It's all you think about. Smoking. Quitting smoking. Smoking. Quitting smoking. You need to reprogram the loop.
Example: Imagine a beautiful, two thousand pound Bengal tiger pacing back in forth. Now *snap*, get the image of the tiger out of your mind.
Pretty hard to do, huh? You must replace it with something else.
Sending wishes for success. You can do it! Fight the good fight. Don't let the little sticks win.
p.s. Seriously think about setting the dollars aside that you would spend on cigarettes each week. Looking at the cookie jar full of dollars is another huge incentive to keep fighting. Use that money to reward yourself after one year.
Good luck. *sends strength*
CJ McD at 2:23PM on 11/06/09
I'm a big raw veggie fan so you may not be so keen on these suggestions but you could give it a shot...
-Kohlrabi, turnips, and radishes, with a little salt sprinkled on top,
-Broccoli and cabbage hearts,
My guilty pleasure is "Cup-a-soup". One packet of soup is only 45 calories and the hot soup provides you with a full sensation for a while.
Morgan G. at 4:35PM on 11/06/09
dang. thanks guys-you make me feel mighty lucky to be apart of this community.
i just printed this off and will keep it with me as a reference at the grocery store and for use as a tiny, portable support system!
@tapioca: congrats yourself--especially since you did it cold turkey! i'm doing nicorette route myself-had prior luck with it-just need to maintain this time.
@billyburgwife: thanks-i love nuts...perhaps they'll help me from going nuts!
@dhorst: would've never thought of frozen grapes-great idea! :)
@prettynicola: i was thinking the same thing about sugary stuff-bring on the jerky!
@hungrychristel: pat your mom on the back for me & don't forget-you can do it too! love the frozen blueberries idea-my freezer will be packed between those and the red & green grapes. love cherry tomatoes & cucumbers too-time to munch!
@honeybea: that sounds heavenly, but i'm sadly allergic to avocado :(
@annient: i am just cutting back on coffee and alcohol b/c they're such big triggers for me right now-not giving them up totally--one thing at a time!
@granfan: knitting actually helped me out the last time i quit-thanks for hte reminder-time to pick up those needles again-i switch between that & crocheting!
@maresydotes: mmm...popcorn-i like the way you think! plus, that's a good excuse to go to the movies-not to mention a way to keep my mind busy!
@finewinedine: thanks-your support is overwhelming :) i promise not to hit you.
@jlaph: i've been doing cinnamon-y gum, didn't think of altoids tho!(btw, congrats!)
@justinh: good call-i always see those things and never know which kind to get!
@betteirene: dr oz is oprah's doc, right? he is a skinny thing-nuts it is!
@bananamonkey: big congrats! i hope i'll be able to say the same thing someday! i've been working out to just to shake off some of the anxiety and i'll definitely keep those 3's in mind-thanks!
@cary: you can do it! :) just look at all the love on here!
@cjmcd: i've already begun my savings piggy bank (altho perhaps i should call it my 'ciggy' bank! -sorry, nic-withdrawal makes me make bad puns.) is it wierd that i want to smoke a bengal tiger now? (more bad jokes-sorry)
thanks again everyone-i won't let you down-or myself :)
gastronomeg at 4:59PM on 11/06/09
ciggy bank?
Love it. :oD
We're rootin' for ya!
CJ McD at 8:44PM on 11/07/09
hahahahahahaha! ciggybank that made my day.
hungrychristel at 3:48PM on 11/09/09