Smoke check: I’m getting better!

As mentioned in many previous articles, I struggle with nicotine addiction. In other, simpler words, I’m a smoker. Highly addicted.

Some people might say I’m moderate (my average is 10 cigarettes per day), but I’ll be damned if I don’t feel the aftermaths on my body, and they don’t feel good. For me, it is too much and I’ve always known I shall quit at some point.

But. The problem is that I LOVE smoking. I love the taste, the relax feeling, the 5 minute break it gives: that cigarette is a moment with myself that no other thing can give. Moreover, I have an extremely tight schedule, I’m on a tough training program and diet, I barely have time for myself… can I at least have something I like?

If not quitting, I’m motivated to reduce the number of cigarettes every day. I simply can’t stand anymore the feeling of a ‘weight’ on my chest, the shortage of breath, the lack of energy, and being scared by a ramp of stairs. Perhaps my body is finally starting to reject the idea of smoking.

So, since I am the least disciplined person I know, I need a structured reduction plan: I can’t rely on my motivation alone, I need numbers, statistics, a daily structure to follow, so a couple of days ago I decided that whatever I do, I am only allowed to smoke a cigarette every three hours.

Three hours might sound short, but I assure you they are not. I downloaded the app Smoking Counter & Stats, which I LOVE because it is indeed what the name says, an app providing a counter and statistics, without the sugarcoated motivational phrases to quit (which I don’t need right now). All other apps I tried, I cancelled after a day since the design and settings were focused on people wanting to quit, and every time I added one cigarette, I felt like a failure (the app is judging me!). Therefore, for the sake of setting realistic expectations, I’m not quitting for now, but simply reducing.

Guess what: it’s working wonders! In the last 2 days I followed the structure strictly, and managed to reduce the cigarettes by 50%. If last week somebody told me I’d be easily smoking only 5 cigarettes per day, I would simply laugh and move on.

Thanks to the statistics in the app, I realised that on average I feel the urge to smoke every 1:30 hour. By doubling the time between cigarettes, I am training my brain to not feel this urge that much anymore, resist better to triggers, and my lungs feel already considerably lighter. Moreover, I could feel the difference in my last HIIT workout: I had considerably less breath shortage, and did not need much recovery time between one circuit and another.

It’s only been three days, but I do love to celebrate success, doesn’t matter how small. The real test will be the first night out with friends: alcohol calls for smoke, will I be able to resist?

And you, do you have any technique to fight nicotine addiction?