Health and Wealth and GrownUp Stuff

[Ganymede]

@mietze

Super cool. There's nothing more important than your health, and how you feel about yourself.

I'm even trying to quit smoking for the eleventy-billionth time, but I'm trying.

Would be happy to assist in any way I can!

[Alamias]

@Ganymede I know it sounds counter productive, but what really helped me quit smoking was vaping.

Once I switched over to using a vape I started with .4mg nicotine, then a few weeks later went to .2mg, and then a few weeks after that 0mg, and within a few months I wasn't even using the vape anymore and had zero cravings.

At least that is what worked for me. YMMV.

[Derp]

One thing that tends to happen a lot --

People start working out and quit smoking at the same time. It's a commendable approach to overall health, but really? You probably shouldn't do this.

Studies have shown that cessation of smoking can cause weight gain even in those that don't consume any extra calories and get regular exercise. Which, in turn, gives them the impression that the exercise and such isn't working. Which increases stress. Which leads to taking up smoking again.

So now they're even heavier and jaded because they gave it a go and it didn't work, despite their best efforts. Many exhaust themselves to the point of injury.

TL;DR -- Exercise, or quit smoking. One or the other. Don't do both until you're comfortable with the one you chose first. It can be super counterproductive.

[TNP]

@Ganymede Obviously, YMMV. But this is how I managed to quit.

I didn't give myself a timeline. I didn't follow the timeline on any packages.

First, I cut down my cigarettes. Doesn't matter how long it took. Cut out 1 a day. Next week, another one. Whatever you can manage so long as you're going down.

Once I got to... I don't know. 25% of what I was smoking? Maybe less. I put on the strongest patch. And I had a cigarette when I needed to. You'r NOT going to OD on nicotine. I had a cigarette when I needed one and kept trying to cut down to the number I smoked. Eventually, I hit 0 cigarettes. Then I moved to medium patch. And if I needed to, I had a cigarette but very few and probably half a cigarette was more likely. Repeat till I moved to the weakest patch. I stayed on the patches long passed the timeline they gave. I think it took me 6-8 months to go nicotine free.

tldr; do it at your own pace and give yourself slack.

[Sunny]

When I quit, vaping didn't work for it, cutting down didn't either. Cold turkey and willpower was what worked for me. I think it might be different for everyone.

[Ganymede]

@Alamias said in Health and Wealth and GrownUp Stuff:

I know it sounds counter productive, but what really helped me quit smoking was vaping.

This worked with me for a while. I had this little piddly machine, though, and it was a fucking nightmare to refill. Maybe I should go with something fancier and easier to load.

---

@TNP said in Health and Wealth and GrownUp Stuff:

I didn't give myself a timeline. I didn't follow the timeline on any packages.

I'm not either. I'm taking it one day at a time right now. I think what I'll do is what helped the last time: narrow down the scenarios. I used to not smoke at work or at home, and it made it easier to kick out the third stimulus: going out to drink.

But, to be frank, I really like sitting and having a smoke over a bourbon. I don't smoke a pack a day or anything like that, but I pair it (often) with drinking.

We'll see what happens. I'm on the Sunny (D) method at the moment, and I haven't murdered anyone.

Lozenge time.

[Alamias]

@Sunny

I know I shared my story, but it really will be different for everyone. Hopefully @Ganymede you find what method works for you. It doesn't matter how you do it, as long as you do it (because you wanted too. I am not one of those ex-smoker holier than thou you must quit types).

[Sunny]

Yes. The most important bit IS that you actually WANT to. I think that part applies to everyone. It is so hard you have to actually really want it (rather than knowing you should, my SO can't quit vaping still because he just doesn't want to, he likes it). I think everyone has a different thing that will work. Me, I am one of the most stubborn shits anyone will ever meet, so of course stubborn was eventually what worked for me. It was like the 6th try though that it finally worked.

Now I'm lucky that I am also prideful, because pride in not smoking and having quit has kept me from restarting a few times. ^.^

[Auspice]

When I was 20/21. I had a job that stressed me tf out. One that leaned into Ohio's labor laws that didn't require any breaks being given out unless you worked more than 8 hours.

So it became the only way to get a break was to smoke because management were smokers.

I began smoking. I began smoking more.

I was very, very fortunate that the smoking was tied to the stress. Within a week of leaving that job, I'd quit smoking (I just found I had no interest). However, I do still get a craving for it when I'm drinking. Especially if the people around me are smoking, too. And I will sometimes, when I've been very stressed out, find myself buying a pack and having one or two a day until the source of stress goes away.

So, yes, I may be super evil in that the initial quitting was easy... but the triggers still exist and can be pretty strong. I try now to not drink with smokers, for example.

[Ganymede]

@Alamias said in Health and Wealth and GrownUp Stuff:

It doesn't matter how you do it, as long as you do it (because you wanted too. I am not one of those ex-smoker holier than thou you must quit types).

That's kind of the thing, and I don't mean to bitch incessantly about it.

One of the things that has served me well in life is not denying myself that which I want. I want something or I don't. Despite being a robot here, I simply do what I want in real life. I don't know how else to put it.

I want to quit. But when I want to smoke, I want to smoke. I realize that these are mutual exclusive outcomes, but --

-- I suppose I have to learn to either love me or change me.

[Alamias]

@Auspice That's kind of how I started. Less stress involved (though there was still stress) in my decision, but more it was the only time I got to see the sun. I worked in a basement, so the only way to get some natural light and fresh (as fresh as it gets in Hollywood anyway) air was to become a smoker.

Yes, I get the irony of 'getting' fresh air by picking up smoking.

[Macha]

I've been sick for over two weeks now. Being sick has made my blood sugars completely unpredictable, and sent me home from work more than once. So now, I'm up against the wall with rent due and no money in my savings. Just shoot me now.

[Auspice]

I wish I got dark circles under my eyes.

By that I mean... I've got vitiligo in my face and hands. Around my eyes have lost a lot of color (it began with a section of eyelashes turning white) and it's spreading across my hands. I dunno why it's happening. It's pretty low on the list of things I'll bring up to the doctor.

But man if it doesn't make me feel hideous when I look in the mirror and have this stark contrast of skin. Glasses obscure some of it and p much ensure I'm never gonna get contacts.

[tek]

Can anyone recommend a protein shake that doesn't taste like ass and is preferably $1 or less per serving? Does such a thing exist?

[Derp]

@tek said in Health and Wealth and GrownUp Stuff:

Can anyone recommend a protein shake that doesn't taste like ass and is preferably $1 or less per serving? Does such a thing exist?

Yes!

Muscle Milk 100% Whey, in the vanilla.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0106ZJ4R8/ref=twister_B01C6QBDE2?_encoding=UTF8&th=1

5 lb bag. About 70 services for about 40 dollars. It doesn't taste like chalk at all, and is very smooth if you use just one of those little bullet blenders.

[gryphter]

Effective anxiety medication for the first time ever be like:

[Ganymede]

@Derp

I concur.

Watch out for your creatine levels, though. Too much of the stuff can cause your blood work to show that you're on steroids.

That was a very awkward visit from my uncle.

[surreality]

@Ganymede Gah, I need to pass that info along to the husband. He uses that one.

Our awkward conversation:

"Honey, does that product name sound, uhm... "
"I swear, it's just a protein shake."
"It sounds like it has-"
"Stop!" Sigh. "...I know, I know."

[Auspice]

I've been on the verge of a panic attack all day and I don't know why.
It's just this aimless, antsy, little rabbit of a bundle fluttering in my chest non-stop.

I don't know why. I have nothing specifically to be anxious about. But I feel like the instant I'm somewhere quiet alone I'm gonna shatter.

[Wretched]

@Auspice For me i need to stretch/walk/move, Like ants crawling on me cabin fever augh.