Smoking Cessation

Here's the story...

We're both runners. A couple of weeks ago we ran a 5K and he hit the wall at about the 2 - 2.5 mile mark. He just ran out of breath and couldn't go any more. I could see the hurt and pain in him because he loves to run, but he also loves to smoke. I have/will NEVER judge ANYONE for anything so I said, "Hey let's see if giving up, or at least cutting down gives you some oxygen back. If it does then great! If it doesn't it was worth a shot."

He's tried everything in the past. Cold turkey, Nicorette gum, Wellbutrin, and Chantix. Nothing worked. I went to Wal Mart and picked up a box of the generic (Equate brand) step 1 21 mg. nicotine patches and took them over to him. I told him to try them since he hasn't done that yet. I told him we had 2 weeks until the next 5K and since these are one patch a day for 14 days he will be ready for the step 2 patches by the time we run the next race. He tried them and he told me they worked. He smoked about a pack to a pack and a half a day before he went on the patch.

We ran our next 5K this past Saturday and he finished. He said he still craves a cigarette once or so a day, but he just leaves the patch on and goes for a walk or a run and the craving goes away.

If you've tried everything else and it didn't work maybe you should give them a try. Keep us posted and good luck!