Greetings to All

[Nolaq]

Bumping my own Intro thread after two months for the purposes of ( a ) a general update, and ( b ) a few panic-induced questions.

General update:  I stuck with Chantix for the first two 4-week courses of medication.  I intended to renew my Rx as my doctor instructed for months 3  4, but on a whim, I decided to give it a go without the ongoing pharmaceutical help.  Never got another prescription...didn't take any more Xanax...and I've stayed quit for the last 30+ days since my last dose of Chantix.

In hindsight...I don't know whether Chantix was as effective as advertised, or whether it fostered a placebo effect...but I can tell you that I don't think I had it as bad during the first 30 days as some of my quit brothers in May '10.  Maybe I tricked myself into ignoring the side effects since I was on the meds?  Guess I'll never know...

Panic-induced questions:  I've got what the doctors call a little bit of a weight problem.  Not severely morbidly obese, but not trim by any measure either.  I want to say I was weighing in the 235-240 range at the start of my quit (I'm 6'0").  Exactly two weeks ago, I submitted a post in the "2010 Quit Cafe" stating that I was flirting with 250, but I planned to start exercising again in the hopes of staying under the one-eighth-of-a-ton plateau.

Literally 2-3 days after making that particular post, I weighed myself...and I had jumped up to 254.  This was after 2-3 pretty decent cardio / core workouts.

About a week after that...and another 4-5 workouts entailing ~3-3.5 hours on the elliptical plus abs exercises...I weighed 262.  I've been floating around 260-262 for the last 10 days or so.

Incredibly...I had to make an emergency clothes shopping run tonight in order to have bus/casual slacks that would fit me for next week.

So, what's the story?  Has this happened to anyone else?  I actually have made an effort to negate some of the quit weight gain...but the nic bitch has dropped the big one, in the form of an extra 10-15 lbs of man gut, despite my best efforts.  I hate her oh-so-much.   :angry:

Yeah my pants didn't fit either after I quit. But I think that is due to the fact that I finally grew a pair and quit! All joking aside, I did gain but it comes off.

when you get to 45.....you'll be fishin in the deep water with ole mule....

2 words...

Reese Cups

i loved dem lil dudes.....I turned 44 in Feb and as of this morning have dropped 35 lbs. on my way to the best shape of my life. you are smarter than i was....took me 2 years to get off my fat ass and get serious bout losing the weight.....

one thing i know.....i can lose weight....and i am really glad i chose to lose the can.

I started my quit with Chantix as well. Took it for a month and then stopped. I was having crazy nightmares and sleepwalking. I think it helped a little, but what helps more is this site, and my attitude that I won't put that shit in my lip any more.

[mule]

Bumping my own Intro thread after two months for the purposes of ( a ) a general update, and ( b ) a few panic-induced questions.

General update:  I stuck with Chantix for the first two 4-week courses of medication.  I intended to renew my Rx as my doctor instructed for months 3  4, but on a whim, I decided to give it a go without the ongoing pharmaceutical help.  Never got another prescription...didn't take any more Xanax...and I've stayed quit for the last 30+ days since my last dose of Chantix.

In hindsight...I don't know whether Chantix was as effective as advertised, or whether it fostered a placebo effect...but I can tell you that I don't think I had it as bad during the first 30 days as some of my quit brothers in May '10.  Maybe I tricked myself into ignoring the side effects since I was on the meds?  Guess I'll never know...

Panic-induced questions:  I've got what the doctors call a little bit of a weight problem.  Not severely morbidly obese, but not trim by any measure either.  I want to say I was weighing in the 235-240 range at the start of my quit (I'm 6'0").  Exactly two weeks ago, I submitted a post in the "2010 Quit Cafe" stating that I was flirting with 250, but I planned to start exercising again in the hopes of staying under the one-eighth-of-a-ton plateau.

Literally 2-3 days after making that particular post, I weighed myself...and I had jumped up to 254.  This was after 2-3 pretty decent cardio / core workouts.

About a week after that...and another 4-5 workouts entailing ~3-3.5 hours on the elliptical plus abs exercises...I weighed 262.  I've been floating around 260-262 for the last 10 days or so.

Incredibly...I had to make an emergency clothes shopping run tonight in order to have bus/casual slacks that would fit me for next week.

So, what's the story?  Has this happened to anyone else?  I actually have made an effort to negate some of the quit weight gain...but the nic bitch has dropped the big one, in the form of an extra 10-15 lbs of man gut, despite my best efforts.  I hate her oh-so-much.  :angry:

Yeah my pants didn't fit either after I quit. But I think that is due to the fact that I finally grew a pair and quit! All joking aside, I did gain but it comes off.

when you get to 45.....you'll be fishin in the deep water with ole mule....

2 words...

Reese Cups

i loved dem lil dudes.....I turned 44 in Feb and as of this morning have dropped 35 lbs. on my way to the best shape of my life. you are smarter than i was....took me 2 years to get off my fat ass and get serious bout losing the weight.....

one thing i know.....i can lose weight....and i am really glad i chose to lose the can.

[bman50317]

Bumping my own Intro thread after two months for the purposes of ( a ) a general update, and ( b ) a few panic-induced questions.

General update: I stuck with Chantix for the first two 4-week courses of medication. I intended to renew my Rx as my doctor instructed for months 3  4, but on a whim, I decided to give it a go without the ongoing pharmaceutical help. Never got another prescription...didn't take any more Xanax...and I've stayed quit for the last 30+ days since my last dose of Chantix.

In hindsight...I don't know whether Chantix was as effective as advertised, or whether it fostered a placebo effect...but I can tell you that I don't think I had it as bad during the first 30 days as some of my quit brothers in May '10. Maybe I tricked myself into ignoring the side effects since I was on the meds? Guess I'll never know...

Panic-induced questions: I've got what the doctors call a little bit of a weight problem. Not severely morbidly obese, but not trim by any measure either. I want to say I was weighing in the 235-240 range at the start of my quit (I'm 6'0"). Exactly two weeks ago, I submitted a post in the "2010 Quit Cafe" stating that I was flirting with 250, but I planned to start exercising again in the hopes of staying under the one-eighth-of-a-ton plateau.

Literally 2-3 days after making that particular post, I weighed myself...and I had jumped up to 254. This was after 2-3 pretty decent cardio / core workouts.

About a week after that...and another 4-5 workouts entailing ~3-3.5 hours on the elliptical plus abs exercises...I weighed 262. I've been floating around 260-262 for the last 10 days or so.

Incredibly...I had to make an emergency clothes shopping run tonight in order to have bus/casual slacks that would fit me for next week.

So, what's the story? Has this happened to anyone else? I actually have made an effort to negate some of the quit weight gain...but the nic bitch has dropped the big one, in the form of an extra 10-15 lbs of man gut, despite my best efforts. I hate her oh-so-much. :angry:

Yeah my pants didn't fit either after I quit. But I think that is due to the fact that I finally grew a pair and quit! All joking aside, I did gain but it comes off.

[mitch]

Bumping my own Intro thread after two months for the purposes of ( a ) a general update, and ( b ) a few panic-induced questions.

General update: I stuck with Chantix for the first two 4-week courses of medication. I intended to renew my Rx as my doctor instructed for months 3  4, but on a whim, I decided to give it a go without the ongoing pharmaceutical help. Never got another prescription...didn't take any more Xanax...and I've stayed quit for the last 30+ days since my last dose of Chantix.

In hindsight...I don't know whether Chantix was as effective as advertised, or whether it fostered a placebo effect...but I can tell you that I don't think I had it as bad during the first 30 days as some of my quit brothers in May '10. Maybe I tricked myself into ignoring the side effects since I was on the meds? Guess I'll never know...

Panic-induced questions: I've got what the doctors call a little bit of a weight problem. Not severely morbidly obese, but not trim by any measure either. I want to say I was weighing in the 235-240 range at the start of my quit (I'm 6'0"). Exactly two weeks ago, I submitted a post in the "2010 Quit Cafe" stating that I was flirting with 250, but I planned to start exercising again in the hopes of staying under the one-eighth-of-a-ton plateau.

Literally 2-3 days after making that particular post, I weighed myself...and I had jumped up to 254. This was after 2-3 pretty decent cardio / core workouts.

About a week after that...and another 4-5 workouts entailing ~3-3.5 hours on the elliptical plus abs exercises...I weighed 262. I've been floating around 260-262 for the last 10 days or so.

Incredibly...I had to make an emergency clothes shopping run tonight in order to have bus/casual slacks that would fit me for next week.

So, what's the story? Has this happened to anyone else? I actually have made an effort to negate some of the quit weight gain...but the nic bitch has dropped the big one, in the form of an extra 10-15 lbs of man gut, despite my best efforts. I hate her oh-so-much. :angry:

[klark]

Hello everyone -

I discovered this site a few months ago when I first considered quitting...but after seeing how many hardasses were in here, I decided I didn't have the fortitude for it then. B)

I did make a promise to my wife that I would quit before our 10th anniversary (on 5/28/10). Met with my doctor in mid-January, talked for an hour or so, mapped out a quit strategy that included Chantix  Xanax, chose a quit date, and off I went. Took my first dose of Chantix on 2/5, quit on 2/12 (augmented by a low dose of Xanax twice daily), and I'm on my 11th day today. So far, so good...a few tense moments...if I can keep this up, I think I'll be 103 days quit (plus or minus) when my anniversary rolls around.

Here are my questions to you all:

* Did anyone else pursue a similar medication strategy? If so, how long did you stick with the Chantix, and did you use the Xanax (or whatever anti-depressant) for as long as you used the Chantix? What was it like to go off the meds...were there killer mind games / cravings?

* What have been others' experiences with Chantix side effects? I heard  read absolute horror stories, but it hasn't bothered me that much yet (other than making me sleepy...but I'm not sure which pill is doing that).

* Is taking the medication route the "pussy" way to go, as far as this community's norms go...or can I still check in from time to time?

Thanks in advance for any  all thoughts,
Mitch

Mitch, I used Chantix for about a month and I would say it may have helped a little. The most consistent thing it did was make me sick everyday. Up to you if you need something to take the emotional edge off I would seggest Wellbutrin which helps from flying off the handle at everything.

[divarty]

Any way you quit nicotine is the right way (short of some silly ass stunt that you don't live through). Make sure you're doing it for yourself, have a plan if you get a craving (Im gonna eat seeds, Im gonna meditate, Im gonna punch some poor bastard between the eyes...)

This is the best decision you will have ever made in your life, bar none. Welcome aboard. As for checking in from time to time, why not check in every day and post up your word that you won't dip today? We can be another tool in the arsenal along with the meds to help you out.

[MikeA]

Mitch
I went cold turkey. I tried the gum and patches in the past with less than favorable results. With that said this may be your route as long as you understand the risks with those treatments. Please do some research on them. Just remember you don't get something for nothing you will have to give up that crutch also. There is plenty of support here the guys are not all hard asses they just want everyone to win this battle. It is a tough fight but a winable one. Quit one day at a time, one hour at a time, one minute at a time and one decision at a time.
Like Ready stated it will suck either way be strong and stay quit.

Mark

Most here have gone cold turkey and we will also tell you that if we can do it you can also (this coming from a 2 can a day dipper)

There is no one here that will call you a pussy if you have a plan and stick to it but the plan cannot involve nicotine which I believe Chantex does not.

Glad your here, do this for you and you only. If you quit for your wife, one day she will piss you off and you will have a revenge dip and be right back to square 1.

Just imagine right now being dip free (competely) for you anniversery. Not having to worry about what you are doing for the day and when you will be able to get a dip in. Imagine the best sex and not having to go watch TV right after to go get a dip in....think about all the things in your life that you have to plan dipping around, now imagine your life without having to plan for the dip.

[markr]

Mitch
I went cold turkey. I tried the gum and patches in the past with less than favorable results. With that said this may be your route as long as you understand the risks with those treatments. Please do some research on them. Just remember you don't get something for nothing you will have to give up that crutch also. There is plenty of support here the guys are not all hard asses they just want everyone to win this battle. It is a tough fight but a winable one. Quit one day at a time, one hour at a time, one minute at a time and one decision at a time.
Like Ready stated it will suck either way be strong and stay quit.

Mark

[bman50317]

* Is taking the medication route the "pussy" way to go, as far as this community's norms go...or can I still check in from time to time?

You must be kidding. Anyone that can stay nicotine free after being addicted just can't be called a pussy, ever. It takes big damn brass balls to quit this shit. There will be others along to comment on the Chantix.

Damn glad to have you aboard. Now, if you havn't already, get over to your group (May 2010 index.php?showtopic=2997 ) Introduce yourself and sign roll call giving your word of honor that you will not use nicotine in any way shape or form for today. Keep your word.

Welcome.

You can do this.

Using medication is not a pussy way to go! Sounds to me like you have a plan and Chantix is part of it....I support that. You need to use whatever tools that YOU personally need to quit this addiciton. Congrats on the quit! Keep up the good work!

[Ready]

* Is taking the medication route the "pussy" way to go, as far as this community's norms go...or can I still check in from time to time?

You must be kidding. Anyone that can stay nicotine free after being addicted just can't be called a pussy, ever. It takes big damn brass balls to quit this shit. There will be others along to comment on the Chantix.

Damn glad to have you aboard. Now, if you havn't already, get over to your group (May 2010 index.php?showtopic=2997 ) Introduce yourself and sign roll call giving your word of honor that you will not use nicotine in any way shape or form for today. Keep your word.

Welcome.

You can do this.

[mitch]

Hello everyone -

I discovered this site a few months ago when I first considered quitting...but after seeing how many hardasses were in here, I decided I didn't have the fortitude for it then. B)

I did make a promise to my wife that I would quit before our 10th anniversary (on 5/28/10). Met with my doctor in mid-January, talked for an hour or so, mapped out a quit strategy that included Chantix  Xanax, chose a quit date, and off I went. Took my first dose of Chantix on 2/5, quit on 2/12 (augmented by a low dose of Xanax twice daily), and I'm on my 11th day today. So far, so good...a few tense moments...if I can keep this up, I think I'll be 103 days quit (plus or minus) when my anniversary rolls around.

Here are my questions to you all:

* Did anyone else pursue a similar medication strategy? If so, how long did you stick with the Chantix, and did you use the Xanax (or whatever anti-depressant) for as long as you used the Chantix? What was it like to go off the meds...were there killer mind games / cravings?

* What have been others' experiences with Chantix side effects? I heard  read absolute horror stories, but it hasn't bothered me that much yet (other than making me sleepy...but I'm not sure which pill is doing that).

* Is taking the medication route the "pussy" way to go, as far as this community's norms go...or can I still check in from time to time?

Thanks in advance for any  all thoughts,
Mitch