Stop smoking, do not use nicotine substitutes!

Why would you use more poison to help you get rid of your addiction, a smoking addiction is more psychological than physical, replacing the nicotine from cigarettes with nicotine from substitutes wont change the mental state that causes the cravings.
So why should you feed your body more nicotine????? Smoking is more a mental addiction so do not waste your money on nicotine substitutes, try reading Allen Carr´s book it helped me and others stop smoking the easy way, don´t be afraid just do it!!

Don´t be fooled by what these products promise you:
Your chances of giving up smoking are doubled when using nicotine replacement therapy in comparison to using a placebo.
and
Do not cease treatment prematurely as this will decrease your chances of success.

Don´t believe it, it is just big business, it is expensive and you don´t need it!

Do not waste your money buying these products:

Patch (transdermal nicotine patches):
Purpose : The patch is an adhesive plaster containing nicotine. Applied simply and discreetly once a day, the patch diffuses controlled quantities of nicotine through the skin. Ideal for smokers with a regular habit.

Chewing-Gum:
Purpose : Nicotine chewing gums release controlled quantities of nicotine in the mouth. That are absorbed directly through the mucous membrane. The nicotine that is swallowed is not absorbed as the liver destroys it. Maximum nicotine levels in the blood (7-8 NG/ML) are reached some 30 minutes after chewing begins, this is a lot slower and a lot lower than the nicotine levels attained through smoking (20-25 NG/ML in about 5 minutes.).

Micro-tablets:
Purpose: Placed under the tongue, micro- tablets melt slowly, releasing controlled quantities of nicotine in the mouth. These tablets are discreet and can be used at any time.

Lozenges:
Purpose : Lozenges are a more discrete alternative to chewing gum.

Inhaler:
Purpose: Inhalers help combat both nicotine addiction and the behaviour associated with smoking. They reduce the craving for cigarettes and mimic the process of inhaling cigarette smoke.

10 days without smoking cigarettes, 10 days of freedom, without using nicotine substitutes.

10 days without smoking cigarettes or using nicotine substitutes, you should avoid products that contain nicotine, such as gum, patch, nasal spray or the inhalator which is similar to a plastic cigarette. This was a important decision for me not to use any of these nicotine substitutes, the withdrawal period is not painful nor frightful, it is all in your mind, so why would you take nicotine replacements if you want to stop smoking, it is poison, would you willingly take poison???
So for me it was an easy decision refusing nicotine substitutes.

Remember what Allen Carr says;

You do not need nicotine. It is not food; it is poison. When the pangs come remind yourself that it is smokers who suffer withdrawal pangs, not non-smokers. See them as another evil of the drug. See them as the death of a monster.

My running shoes: Nike Air Zoom Structure Triax+ 12

When I made the decision to start running and stop smoking I had to buy a pair of running shoes, so I went to São Paulo to Decathlon and bought myself a pair of Nike Air Zoom Structure Triax+ 12. I never liked the look of running shoes but if you want to run you really need a pair to protect yourself from injuries.
I bought this pair for 299R$ with discount, normally they cost 349R$. I saw the same pair of shoes in other shops and there the price was 399R$, very expensive.
Decathlon has good prices if you want to buy sporting products.
Another benifit of these shoes is that you can put the Nike + sensor in it, which I ordered today online.

No smoking and running today, just cycling!

Today it´s a day to relax and recuperate from running, I don´t run every day but every other day, which is recommended by the start to run lessons. Every day I ride my bike to go to work and afterwards I make a trip in the city to relax. When I still was a cigarette smoker addicted to nicotine I was always cycling with a cigarette in my mouth, but not anymore. When cycling through the city I see a lot of smokers in the streets and I am starting to pity them, to commit suicide over the years because of an addiction, I am happy that it is not so difficult as I thought it would be, I stopped smoking before but then it was always very hard and I was feeling very nervous, now thanks to the book of Allen Carr I am not nervous and it is easy to control the urge to smoke, which I still have sometimes during the day, but then I think how good it is to be a non-smoker and the urge disappears. In the past I was always afraid to stop smoking and always putting it of until another day, smoking more because of the fear of stopping.
Don´t be a afraid, JUST DO IT stop smoking and start running

Start to Run lesson 8 and afterwards a steam bath!

It´s a relaxing evening without cigarettes, just finished lesson 8 of the Start to Run Programme and took a steam bath afterwards...aahhhh..total relaxation without the need for nicotine. Lesson 8 was a intensive lesson with a lot of 2 minutes running and now just 1 minute walking, during the previous lessons the walking time was always equal to the running time so it was easier to recuperate and control my breathing.
I am also starting to smell better, during my running lesson it was noticeable where and who the nicotine addicts were. Before as a smoker I did not smell the difference but now....never again, will there be nicotine in my body. During the day I still have at times a small urge to smoke but this is the nicotine wanting its shot...I am not an addict so no more nicotine.
So now it´s time for a cool beer and watch some TV.

Another day without nicotine and a beautiful day to run

It is again a beautiful and warm day here in Brazil, just back from a small bike trip and now almost midday and time to eat, and eat with an improved sense of taste.
In the evening I will run my 8th lesson of start to run and I am looking forward to it, my goal is to run 5K in 2 months. I started the 'Start to Run' lessons about 2 weeks ago when I was still a smoker. Start to Run is a Flemish podcast that prepares you to run 5K in 27 lessons / 10 weeks. The instructions are done by Evy Gruyaert (Belgium). The lessons are walking and running with great music and you are motivated by Evy Gruyaert to continue running.

Shedule;
19/04 started reading Allen Carr´s Easy way to stop smoking
20/04 Start to Run with Evy Gruyaert lesson 1
22/04 Start to Run with Evy Gruyaert lesson 2
24/04 Start to Run with Evy Gruyaert lesson 3
26/04 Start to Run with Evy Gruyaert lesson 4 and the day I stopped smoking.
28/04 Start to Run with Evy Gruyaert lesson 5
30/04 Start to Run with Evy Gruyaert lesson 6
02/05 Start to Run with Evy Gruyaert lesson 7
04/05 Start to Run with Evy Gruyaert lesson 8 and 8 days without smoking!

Will let you know how my running went today.

Mr. Allen Carr, the man who helped me to become a non-smoker