Day 22 update:
Feelin pretty good. The 1st week was cold turkey, with only gum (no nic). I didn't use fake chew, mints, seeds, etc. It was rough - but getting better ever since. I wish I would have used fake chew (smokey mtn) in the very beginning just until the nic withdrawals wore off. For me, the oral fixation was/is strong. Now that I've found smokey mtn - I seem to be dippin almost as much as I was before. Granted, it's not nic (and breath smells better, etc) - but it's still "chew habit" you know? Next step is to try to slow that down as well, maybe keep it to 2 dips per day. Anyone else dip the fake stuff a lot? Any better alternatives for this oral fixation??
There are definitely differing opinions on the fake chew. Some guys say it's too much like the real thing or just want a clean break from having something in their pie hole.
I am in the "whatever it takes" camp. I tried half of the fake chew brands under the sun in the first few weeks. Some sucked, some were great. I used it quite often at first, sometimes as oftof or more than i used to dip, but eventually, you just kind of no longer need it/forget about it and stop doing it. I say if it helps you beat cravings down keep it around. I've probably got 5 cans of hooch spitfire laying around but only use it once a week or so. In my opinion fake is a very powerful tool in kicking a fresh quit crave right in the sack.
I also chewed on beef jerky at the vey beginning, but jerky gets pricey, so it's hard to sustain that for a long time. I still chew seeds regularly. I'm trying to fill wrigley field with seeds this season, but they keep sweeping them up for some reason. Gum, atomic fireballs, lifesavers, tea tree tooth picks are also other common options.
Whatever it takes to keep that shit out if your mouth. Proud to quit with you.
