Nicoderm and working out
 

did a search and these two topics were not discussed together... so tomorrow is the day, in fact, I'm literally going to have my last cigarette right after I post this, but I was wondering, for those that have used Nicoderm or a patch, did you still go to the gym or work out? it says clearly in the instructions

"Remove the NICODERM patch 2 hours before engaging in prolonged, strenuous exercise, as this may increase nicotine absorption through the skin and cause symptoms of nicotine overdose."

so shiet, what do I do? typically I don't work out until later on in the evening anyways, but ideally I'd like to keep the patch on for the recommended 24 hrs... any insight or past experience would be greatly appreciated

don't use the patch, just quit cold turkey

i'm sure taking it off for like 3 hours wouldn't hurt.. I'd rather follow those guidelines than risk any harm to yourself..

I would take it off for a few hours.

Good Morning,
When I was using nicoderm I would take it off before I went to the gym and then leave it off until I got up in the morning. It would be a test of my will power and then it was just an excuse to smoke :). I eventually quit cold turkey .....it has been almost 2 years that I quit ..man does time fly .

almost 5 months for me

Just go cold turkey Ed, it is all about your mind work.

Mind > artificial patch

Neil, did you find the nicoderm help you when you had it on? like before you went to the gym? 2 years eh? wow... time does fly ... notice better gym sessions after you quit?

better workouts indeed

you dont need to quit for more than a week to feel the difference

Hey ed ,
I regards to how I feel ..I just don't get sick as often and cardio is a bit better.... Nicoderm just gave me weird dreams and trouble sleeping ...I had to decide to quit.. after smoking for almost 22 years....wasn't as hard after the first three weeks . I am an addict for life though so I know I can't even have one....

ya the weird dreams is what I'm not looking forward to... I've heard some stories of some really sick ass nightmares... I guess after 22 years there must be a longer delay for your lungs to heal to "normal" or as close to it as possible... the monetary savings should be motivation enough ... but it's definitely for the health... I'm craving one soooooo bad right now though...

Luka you did cold turkey?

Hi Ed,
Speaking from experience ...when i got a craving I had to make a conscious decision. In my head I would think yes I want a smoke , but I am coosing not to have one instead. I would normally grab a glass of water nad find something new to do...helped take my mind off the smoke especially the change of task. As time went on I thought of it less and less. The smell now makes me feel sick though I am not a cigarette nazi. I will not let my mother near the new baby after she has had a smoke..trying to give her incentive to quit .

ya, well day 1 almost done and it's driving me nuts... not sure if the patch helped at all today.... although I left it on all day and didn't go work out today... (long day at work)... but ya, I do realize that most of the times I have a smoke it's habitual... all the times today when I usually have one it was REALLY difficult to just say no, or as you said, I had to occupy myself doing something else.. thanks for the tips and reinforcement... it's one craving at a time I gotta conquor...

Understandable in your line of work too as finding what to do in between customers can be tricky sometimes..

day 2, and it's been surprisingly a bit easier... although I didn't go into work till a bit later, and worked out first before even putting the patch on.. had some whacked out dreams last night though... felt a bit stronger at the gym too

Ed, gimme your best price on a new civic

:D

that's it.. F it.. gonna buy a pack of smokes now:hide:

i've exercised with the patch on, didnt notice a difference. But i refuse to sleep with it on cus of the quality of sleep, and who wakes up in the middle of the night for a smoke anyways lol

I found the best result cam from quitting cold turkey. The hardest part is definitely the thought of a smoke... ie when you wake up, before and after eating, driving etc.. Champix works great for dealing with stress and IT TAKES ALL THOUGHTS of having a smoke. Honestly you wont even feel like having one. The only fight is to say no to your routine.