Help your body recover after quitting smoking
88So you've finally quit smoking. Congratulations! Now you want to try and reverse some of the damage that has been done to your body. While not all the damage can be reversed there are ways you can certainly get your body back on track to wellness. The following tips will help with a lung cleanse to get rid of the excess gunk that has been piling up in your lungs, a kindey and liver cleanse to get rid of toxins cigarettes have introduced to yoru body and stress relief! This is the most important because if you can't find a new way to manage your stress you will start lighting up again in no time.
1. Time and Fresh Air. This is the most obvious. Give your body time to recover from cigarettes. You will experience better lung function within 3 months and near-recovery of full lung function within a year. This of course is dependent on how long you smoked, how many per day and if you have any serious illness as a result of smoking. This tip helps to cleanse your lungs, kidneys and liver.
2. Mullein Tea. Many herbailist believe that this alternative remedy is a powerful lung cleanser. Mullein is an expectorant, or in other words it is an agent that brings up excess mucus from your lungs. Naturally it is also used as a cough medicine. This tip helps to cleanse your lungs.
3. Licorice. A lot of people smoke in response to the stresses in life. Those stresses may not go away after you quit smoking so you might be tempted to light up again. Reach for some licorice instead. It is thought that licorice helps to improve stress. Like Mullein it is also an expectorant. This tip helps to cleanse your lungs and reduce stress.
4. Exercise! Keep up that exercise regime you started when you were quitting. Exercise reduces stress and keeps you preoccupied so you won't be tempted to light up. This tip helps to cleanse your lungs, kidneys, liver and reduce stress.
5. Green Tea IsLove. Green tea has powerful antioxidants to kill off the free radicals that smoking has introduced to your body. This helps to reduce the chances of developing cancer. But watch out! Greentea has lots of caffine so don't drink this before going to bed.
Most of all be kind to yourself. Don't beat yourself up if you slip and have a cigarette. Every day is a chance to turn it all around. Goodluck!
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I just love it when people make those kinds of comments (why make that comment) :) But for me....these articles are GREAT words of wisdom and health benifits. I smoked for 33 years (started at 12 years old) MALE. Got pneumonia in my left lung about 2 months ago.....So I found time to QUIT. So should I be more proud of NON-smokers (for never smoking) of for "MYSELF" and others that have gone through all this troma and suffering to quit and get healthy again :) That answer is an easy one. Hehe
I just love it when people make those kinds of comments (why make that comment) :) But for me....these articles are GREAT words of wisdom and health benifits. I smoked for 33 years (started at 12 years old) MALE. Got pneumonia in my left lung about 2 months ago.....So I found time to QUIT. So should I be more proud of NON-smokers (for never smoking) of for "MYSELF" and others that have gone through all this troma and suffering to quit and get healthy again :) That answer is an easy one. Hehe
Even after 2 months it's not all fun a games. I still have about 5 urges a day. These are not hard to remove. I just remember how BAD the smoking was for me. I have noticed that I don't "hack" around all day now. That's nice :) WOW. Posted first comment twice. Sensitive page settings....................or my FAT fingers!! LOL
i am currently trying to quit, i started because of stress, i have been smoking for about a year, anyway i find myself not having any for 3-4 days then wanting another pack, i get marlboro ultra lights because they are at least making it easier to stay away from them, i doubt i will find myself never smoking again but i think i will be able to at least cut back because i smoke ultra lights, so "Marlboro Ultra Lights SUX" you suck because ultra lights still gimme a relaxing plesure and are easier to do without, lol
I agree with you,
why are you telling me you have never smoked, what you need us to tell you, " Oh you are so wise" Shut your mouth.
you guys are over reacting maybe this guy just came here to get info to help a buddy quit
Just one name - Alan Carr - Thank you wherever you are. RIP
Thank you for the handy tips Vanessa R.
Correct spelling is Allen Carr, sorry.
Yes! Allen Carr! Everyone go read his book!
When i quit in Feb 09 i allowed my body to gain weight and do what it needed to do for withdraw. Within 3 weeks and 20lbs heavier, i found living on a raw diet has cleaned my body and soul. I no longer crave nicotine! feel the best i ever have, and working out. I smoked 23 years.
I recently quit smoking cigarettes. To be more specific, I quit on February 22nd, 2009; two months ago. I had smoked for 7 years before quitting. Quitting smoking is by far one of the best decisions of my life.While being a smoker, I noticed that my lung capacity was horrible (it did not that I am asthamatic). I could not walk up more than two flights of stairs before becoming out of breath. Now that I have quit, I notice that my lungs feel pretty darn fantastic! I now run up the stairs and more than two flights! I also notice that my snoring has ceased since I've not been smoking; at least that is what the ole lady tells me. Now that I am a former smoker, I still crave cigarettes all the time. Sometimes while I'm sleeping I dream about smoking cigarettes; hence the name. I truly miss the action of smoking although I much more enjoy the benefits of being a non-smoker once again. I have found that cardiovascular excerscise helps the body to recover after a period of smoking. It builds lung capacity, keeps the mind occupied, and gives you a reason to not want to smoke; all of which builds confidence and boosts the level of self-esteem. Also, tea Oolong tea from China is great with breaking up the gunk left in your lungs from cigarette smoke.
I found the forum and thought I would leave my two cents. Take care until we meet again...
The man who dreams about smoking cigarettes
oops.. let me fix correct those typos! the corrections are
5th line - (it did not help that I am asthamatic).
18 - 19th line - Also, Oolong tea from China...
I hope that's all of the needed corrections. BYE!
I'm very happy for and proud of all of you who are trying to or have quit. I'm on my 5th day without a single drag of a cigarette and I feel great. I quit cold turkey before and it lasted 5 years.... I started again 2 years ago and I'm not making that mistake ever again.
For anyone trying to quit I have these few words of advice. It worked for me and I can honnestly say that i'm not really suffering through withdrawl... here's how...
Some people will go to a hypnotist go get rid of the craving for cigarettes... I say why pay for someone else to mess with your mind. You have the power to re-program yourself.
Before quitting I... Set a definite moment for quitting... for me, It was when I finally smoked the LAST cigarette in the pack. While I was finishing that pack I made a list of all the reasons why I didnt want to smoke. Including, not wanting cancer and emphysema all the way down to white teeth and less wrinkles. I posted it as the background to my PC, on my phone, printed it up... and the more I looked at it it sank in... I wanted to be a non smoker.
Now that the last smoke is gone, when the idea comes to mind that I might want one. I remember that it's not me talking it that little nicotine monster ... And I tell Myself.. Hey.. I'm a non-smoker... non smokers dont want or need or even like cigarettes.... So why would I even take a drag... It also helps to remember that it only gets easier with time.
And never give up trying. You have to be 100% ready to quit in order to be successful and you have to do it for yourself... No one else!
It has helped me. Maybe one of you will find somthing I have said usefull too. I wish you all the best of luck in your quest to rid yourself of the # 1 killer. Be strong.. and healthy!
good hub ,really well written too,the info is really accurate...
really good tips on here, so proud of you all, i gave up as the doctor gave me a massive wake up call 3 days before my 24th birthday, i had been smoking since i was 10. i think what got me here ( a year on and not a single craving) was letting my stress and emotions come out. instead of lighting up i threw tantys, bawled my eyes out and even though it seems immature i got through and have actualy learnt to control my stress better for it.after a month being smoke free i tried patches to help , using them and a ton of gum i also didnt stop my social life i hung with my smoker mates and in all my old haunts , and let myself go through the transition. ill admit the patches made the triggers easier. in my third month i kicked the patches and have gone cold turkey ever since.my favourite moment was smelling second hand smoke on my partner and not getting that craving but truly smelling it for what it is and feeling sick!
I quit on May 20, 2009. I've smoked for 25 years. I'm usiing nicotine inhalers to help with the withdrawl symptoms.
Is there some one who make changes in your life while you quite smoking for good??? I think yes I know some people have the power to quite smoking but once they try to quite they gets a lot of problems comes in to their life. And they do start again... am I correct ;) WHEN IT COULD BE THE END???
I have been smoking for fifteen years before i came to usa from africa,i did not want to quit coz i wanted to smoke usa cigarettes,i quit in june of this year,i feel good about myself coz i realised that they are have the same content of toxins whether from home or abroad.I can now hold my kids without them having to bear with a nasty smell
I have been smoking cigerates and weed for nearly 5 years. im 18 now and have had a heavy weed addiction for about 4 years, every day, all day even bonging but i have realised that its not worth it, weed is messing with my head and i know i must have done some damage to my lungs. I havnt smocked anything for 2 days and hope to give it up. i cant keep on smoking tobaco and especially weed because im close to fucking my life up, and smoking isnt going to help. I hope i do quit smoking for my health and wealth but i may need some guidents along the way good luck
I am currently in the process of quitting the most disgusting habit I have. It is quite helpful to read of others' experiences to reinforce my willpower not to smoke the evil sticks of death.
Thanks for the tips. Im on day five and still satan to be around. I've noticed taking a five minute jog or so fights off the urges for a good length of time...also drinking alot of water! Reading my Bible helps too. The urges don't go away but there's definately a mental block there.
Chocolate, candy, and gum works good for me. I smoked for 10 years (29 now) and have been smoke free for 8 days. Exercise is good, but hard to do at work/school. Bags of dumdums, jolly ranchers, little sweets help alot. Taking overly deep breaths and holding it can help too, kinda simulates the initial headrush of smoking. Whatever the case, DON'T BUY OR SMOKE ANY MORE. I know you want to (beLIEVE me!) but give yourself enough time and the cravings WILL stop. Good luck!
24 hours free of cigarrettes and ill admit it SUCKS!!! I have no will power but i'm trying.
i,ve just qite, after 43 years of smoking the secret is to want to give it up, otherwise if you are still in a place of desire for smoking then you will ultimately bring it back into your exsperiance. i final,y didnt want it anymore!!! good luck guys
Hi! Just wanted to say there is alot of good advice here for those trying to quit, HANG IN THERE!
This is my umpteenth time I've tried to quit,have never gone longer than 3 mnths at a time but now on 3 1/2 months!(I've smoked 31 years.) Yeah! ME! But not easy. Finally at the point my body is trying to detox itself, have been sick for 4 weeks. Don't want to despair anyone from quitting but be on the lookout for this. I've read everything on this subject,(Mr. Carr included.) but not much talk on this subject. Been to the doctor twice fianally got antibiotics which I really didn't want but don't want a secondary infection, having pain in eustachuin tubes in my ear, it is inflamed, throat sore, and sinus draining ALL the time. What is happening is the cilia are starting to grow back and are WORKING doing the job they are supposed to..WOW, the human body IS amazing. I know this is long winded but be on the lookout for your body to cleanse itself and treat your self, spoil yourself, this is one of the hardest thing anyone that smokes has ever done and KUDO to those that have never started, keep supporting those that have. I am drinking lots and lots of herbal teas and trying to stay away from junk(not easy either at Xmas time)a little exercise but with being sick haven't felt like it so decided to just chill...yes, just chill....let the stressors go, my weight will be there to deal with, my house will be here for me to clean, my job will be there for me to go to..etc.
Emotions are another thing to, get ready to deal with whatever you've been hiding behind smoking, it is a crutch,I've never cried this much in my life, but it is cleansing to the body as well.
Good luck!! God Bless!
I finally realized what i was doing to my body and with alot of mind set and support i made it through YAY!!!! :)
i started smoking when i was 14, and i'm 32 now. i've been going to the gym for a couple years now n have just quit smoking so i would do better there (plus im tired of being out of breath, n all the other pitfalls $$$ etc. It might actually stick this time tho, i quit once before for bout 6 months, n i've found that dark chocolate is by far the best remedy for the cravings, followed by exercise. Caffine makes the cravings worse, i've found that the worst is after about the third day, through the 2nd week. A big part of what i'm afraid of is the smoking gets rid of excess energy, i have severe a.d.h.d. and the nicotine helps alot, going to the gym just isn't nearly as effective, i can go twice a day and still have way too much energy, when i don't smoke i drive everyone nuts, i quit once for about 6 months and it was horrible, my behavior was appaling, and offensive if not downright dangerous, i embarrassed my friends and family on multiple occasions, and no matter how hard i tried i couldn't control myself, i feel like i'm like i'm chasing a bunch of five year olds around and i can't keep up, it's the biggest reason i started smoking again, the lack of nicotine seems to exacerbate my a.d.h.d. I can't seem to control my impulses and my intensity is through the roof, and i hate the pills for the a.d.h.d. i've only been a non smoker for about 3 days now and it's already starting, i'm experiencing severe depression and fits of rage, and just a general feelin of self loathing and apathy, it almost seems as if the smoking was preventing me from realizing how much i suck at life, and now i can't seem to stop thinking about all the failures i've encountered along the way, in about two weeks i'll be so obnoxious w/ boundless energy that no one will want to be around me, (it happened before, i ruined several friendships and lost some family) so i'm locking myself in my room to avoid stress, people and any situation that might make me prone to lighting up, right now i have a blind hatred for my roomate/best friend for no reason at all. I hate being like this, i hate that it's going to get worse, i hate that i feel alone. this sucks
I'm 50 years old. I'm on Day 5 of being smoke free also. I got a strange feeling ( a pain) that scared the daylights out of me - that was my motivation! Cravings are worst in the morning - not so bad at night. My sleeping is back to normal after only 4 days. Also, eating alot of carrot sticks and celery sticks. Wow - this may be the hardest thing I've ever had to kick!
Good information thank you for posting, good information can be hard to come by kudos to you.
well i'm goin' on day 10 n the psychosis is ending, but i still have way too much energy, n having serious trouble focusin'
I am on day 17 of smoke free. I have found the hardest aspect of the habit to drop is the routine cigarettes that I smoked. On thinking about it more I found that I smoked at the same times or undertaking the same thing each day i.e driving to work -2 each day like clockwork etc.
This may not apply to you but it may be helpful to analyse your habit to try and break routine.
Trsmd says:
2 years ago
I never smoke.. anyhow good page to learn...