I'm a mess

[Droopy]

I'm not sure where it all started. Maybe when I was 11 and I had my first cigarette. When I was 15 I got drunk and high for the first time and ever since then it's been one thing or the other or a combination of things. Drugs, booze, cigarettes, gambling, food. Several years ago I quit everything only to put on 30 pounds in two months because I couldn't quit stuffing my mouth. I started smoking again to get my weight under control. I guess that's kind of ironic.

I quit doing drugs when I started driving a truck for a living. I didn't have too much trouble with that. I never got into the really heavy stuff. But quitting my current addictions is going to be a lot tougher. I've been going through about a case of beer and a carton of cigarettes a week on average. Sometimes it's more sometimes less. I'm also weighing in at 275 now days so you know I've been having my share of Twinkies and Big Macs for a while now. I recently sold some stock to get myself out of financial trouble. I figured I had a little play money then and went down to the casino and burned $2000 in a weekend. I always take $200 with me with the intent to not gamble more than that and then most of the time I end up at the ATM.

When rock stars and actors have a problem with addiction they end up dealing with quitting by taking up sky diving, snow skiing, or car racing. "What a rush, man!" What are poor people supposed to do? It seems like life would be so boring without my trips to the casino, cigarettes, beer, and Grande Fajita Burritos.

I bought a membership to the YMCA yesterday. I'm going to quit all my addictions cold turkey and hope that I get hooked on working out. What did you do to cope with cravings and the void that is left after you quit your addictive behavior?

[KitchenWitch]

1. Welcome to the group, Droopy!

To answer your question, it helps to have folks to talk to who are supportive of your new behavior.

Working out is a good idea...and if you must snack...buy some baby carrots and some apples...they take care of the "oral fixation" without adding empty calories.

Stay away from the casinos (you knew that :D ). I think it will be difficult to give it all up at once. If I were in your situation, I would consider doing either the patch or the gum for the smoking...and then weaning yourself off of them. May make quitting drinking easier, if you still have the nicotine on board for a short time.

[Droopy]

2. Thank you KitchenWitch

I'm think that quitting smoking is probably going to be the hardest thing to do. I may take your advice and get the gum or the patch, but I want to try to do it cold turkey first. If a fail at that I will consider an aid.

It seems as if my behavior could be nailed down to one particular thing in my mind that causes me to do all those things that are bad for me. Maybe not, but if it is I hope I can figuire out what it is.

[NMDemDist2]

3. I agree with KW, I wouldn't try doing everything at once.

maybe start with the easiest one first (gambling? drinking?)

go to the gym when you would normally gamble or drink

and take it one day at a time. I can stop anything for one day!

try not gambling for one day

try not drinking for one day

and try a group that will support you and will be able to share how they did it and understand the cravings and crazies you are going thru

good luck and keep us posted!

[Droopy]

5. Thanks for the pointers, AZDem

So far everything is going alright. I haven't had a cigarette in 2 days. I haven't had a drink in a week and I haven't gambled in a week and a half. I work out every day. I walk/run every day and I lift weights every other day. So far that has kept me clean. I started running before I quit smoking. I would have a cigarette right after I was done running. I've never had such a great desire to quit smoking until then.

Things are going ok so far, but I guess I haven't really been tested yet. The weekend is here and it will be my first big test. So far the cravings haven't been too bad.

[sandnsea]

4. My two

I would prioritize based on what's screwing up my life most, and deal with that first. I would guess, gambling and drinking. Quitting smoking is terribly hard, I think I'm finally there after 22 years clean and sober. I used lozenges. Now it's on to getting in shape, I really just need to exercise, the pounds add up pretty fast in midlife.

What do you replace all that with? Probably not going to like this answer, but.. A LIFE!! :) Healthy relationships, personal fulfillment, renewing old interests, gaining new ones. Counting your blessings every day.

That's what the 12 Steps and meetings helped me discover. ME!!

Good luck. :hug:

[Droopy]

6. Thanks for the kind words

You are right that gambling and drinking are screwing up my life the most. I'm going to kick everything at once though. I just don't want any of that stuff in my life anymore.

I've been going out to the gym instead doing my old habits and I've been really working myself hard. In the evenings when I'm at work I chew gum and eat sunflower seeds instead of smoking.

Everything is going good so far. I haven't had a smoke in 2 days. I haven't had a drink in a week and I haven't gambled for a week and a half- not even the lottery. But the weekend is here and this will be my first big test. I will report back into this thread with an update from time to time.

[Droopy]

7. Update

I haven't had a cigarette in 3 days. I haven't had a drink in 7 days. I haven't been gambling in 10 days.

I've gone to the gym and worked out every day since I wrote the original post and I've lost 5 pounds.

Things are going good. The quitting smoking is rough, though. I'm down to taking it one minute at a time with that stuff.

[NMDemDist2]

9. hubby has quit smoking a few times, he swears OJ is great for the

cravings, also try "air puffing" just like you were smoking but without the smoke!

[dsc]

8. I agree with Sandnsea

who would have thunk this during the Dean wars, but he is right on the money here. The most dangerous addiction is the one which has to go first. I quit booze five years ago but still am terrible about food. I have lost maybe 5 pounds in sobriety. I must say that while quitting alcohol you really do need sugar in some form. Shakes etc. In any case congradulations so far and just keep on keeping on.

[Droopy]

10. Thank you

I'm officially working on day 4 of not smoking and I managed to stay out of the casino and off the booze this weekend. I'm very happy that we have this group here because I think that the support helps. I also do not want to let you guys down and that is an additional motivating factor.

[KitchenWitch]

11. I am so glad to hear that you are doing as well as you are!

I am glad we can be here for you...:D

I have to echo what someone else said, that you may need to ingest a little more sugar during this time, not only for the alcohol, but cigarettes also put sugars into your body while you smoke. My favorite blood sugar helper was peanut butter sandwiches...the sugars in bread and peanut butter are a bit longer lasting than that of candy bars etc.

[sandnsea]

12. Excellent!

Hang in there, everybody is different and the right way for you is the right way.

[dsc]

14. I think that the social aspect of AA is almost as important as

the content. As you point out, not wanting to let others down is a huge motivational factor in its own right. When I do decide to tackle my weight, which I think will be soon, I intend to enter one of those weight loss groups that weigh themselves each week. In any case, keep up the good work. I know how hard it is.

[Tallison]

35. You're absolute right about this

It's taken me a while to learn to take what works from the program and leave the rest. Much of the content doesn't do a thing for me, but the comraderie and fellowship are invaluable.

[wildeyed]

16. Congrats!

Just do it one day at a time.

I quit drinking first. I was five years before I tackled the cigarettes. Food and weight are not an issue for me, but I do exercise somewhat compulsively. So far that has not been a problem :)

Good luck Droopy!

[sandnsea]

13. lol

It's odd, I'm finding I agree with more and more of your posts lately. :)

And after all this time, you don't know I'm a she???

[dsc]

15. thanks

and now that you mention it, I do recall you being a she, I simply forgot. Sorry.

[Droopy]

17. Update. One week and I haven't done any bad stuff.

Actually it won't be officially one week until 8:30 tonight, but I'm confident that I will make it that far. It's been 7 days since I had a smoke, 11 days since I had a drink, and 14 day since I gambled.

I was thinking earlier tonight that quitting smoking was easier than I remembered it. I mean it hasn't been easy, but not as tough as I thought it would be based on past experience. Then I realized something. My doctor prescribed me Wellbutrin about a year ago for depression. Wellbutrin is also used to help control cravings when people want to quit smoking. It really works.

[KitchenWitch]

18. Congratulations, Droopy!

I am glad things are going smoothly. Especially the smoking...that was the hardest one for me...

Keep up the good work!

:hug:

[Droopy]

19. Thank you

I did run into a bit of trouble a couple of days ago. I think what you all said about low blood sugar happened to me. I had just got into work and all of the sudden I started getting a little dizzy and weak. By the time I got to my first appointment I could barely climb up in my truck I was so weak. I went to the nearest vending machine and got a pop and a candy bar and ate that as I waited for my truck to be unloaded. About a hour after the onset of the weakness and ingestion of the sugary stuff I felt okay.

[faithnotgreed]

20. thats wonderful~ not the blood sugar part but everything else

congratulations on looking this stuff in the eye and doing the hard work of it

very best wishes droopy youre doing great

[Droopy]

21. Thank you

I'm glad I have you all to talk to about things. It really helps.

[wildeyed]

22. For a long time, I always carried healthy snacks with me.

I had huge problems with blood sugar. Eating a balanced diet, protein, complex carbs and moderate amounts of fat, at every meal, and eating maybe six small meals a day, really helped me.

Check out the Zone diet. I didn't follow it strictly, but the general components are easy and it is a healthy diet, great for managing blood sugar issues. There are "zone" bars that fulfill the requirements that you can carry around for when you are on the run. Smoothies with protein powder, frozen fruit, milk and a dab of peanut butter make a great snack at home. Also, I took a supplement called Glycemic Factors with amazing results.

My blood sugar issues are pretty much healed now. I still can't eat bread and sweets everyday and I have to watch my coffee intake. But other than that, I eat a fairly normal diet.

[sandnsea]

23. what he/she said

Very important, blood sugar issues aren't uncommon when quitting drinking or even smoking.

And, a big "woohoo" to you. You're doing awesome!!

[Droopy]

25. Thank you

I had a serious urge tonight to grab a pack of smokes and hit the casino. I had the night off work because they didn't need me tonight. But I just sat here at the computer talking with you all and reading and after a while the urge passed.

[sandnsea]

26. PM me any time

I'm on alot, I work online. You won't find anybody more batshit crazy than I am, I've heard it all or done it myself! Hang in there, the rewards aren't always apparent right away. In fact, you really see them in the rear view mirror.

[Joe Chi Minh]

29. Whenever I succeed in denying myself

something, however small and unimportant it may seem in the scheme of things, when I do it, I'm tickled pink, because it's like the old Chinese proverb and the one about acorns and oaks. It just gets easier and easier. I also remind myself it's easier not to do something, than to do something, and that's true, of course, even if you want to and it gives you a buzz!

With me, I was a bit overweight, and I knew I was eating too much. But my wife is a great cook and, no matter what I said, she always seemed to serve enough for three. Or did until recently. I didn't have the character to shovel off the surplus before the meal, and sure didn't want to once I'd got into it! She's recently been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, and we both eat less now. But I don't scoff as many currant buns during the day now, either. Of course, distraction can also help tremendously too, as you found out. The Life thing, of course.

As regards smoking, I found that far from cigarettes being a nerve- soother, I got more tense anticipating the next smoke!
Also, read John Grisham's book, "The Rainmaker" (I think it's called). Just what smoking does to your nostrils will make your hair stand on end. Good luck.

[Droopy]

24. Thanks for the tip

[NMDemDist2]

27. how is is going droopy? n/t

[Droopy]

28. 3 weeks and no bad stuff

Quit smoking 7/21/05
Quit drinking 7/17/05
Quit gambling 7/14/05

I also started working out and dieting and I have had good success with that so far. I feel like a new person. When I've been clean for a month I will post a more extensive report to this thread. Thanks for inquiring.

[Droopy]

30. One month and clean as a whistle

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=3886198&mesg_id=3886198

[drfresh]

31. Congratulations!

Keep up your willpower and focus it will be a year before you know it! :)
D

[Droopy]

32. Thank you

I think I've got a pretty good handle on things now. By the time a year goes by my bad habits will hopefully be a distant memory. I guess the urge never really dies, though, especially with those cigarettes. I've seen people who have quit smoking for years all of a sudden start again.

[NMDemDist2]

33. well done! keep it up, one day at a time droopy! before you know it

you'll have to change your username to "perky" instead LOL

:applause:

[Droopy]

34. Thanks

I am indeed feeling a bit perky. :)