Whoopi is kicking butts -- you can too

by Jacki Donaldson (Subscribe to Jacki Donaldson's posts)
Nov 1st 2007 9:00AM

Categories: Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment

I caught a minute of ABC's The View on Tuesday and learned that co-host Whoopi Goldberg is trying to quit smoking. Good for her.

"I want to be done by December 15," Whoopi told her audience. A wise plan, considering smoking damages nearly every organ in the human body, is linked to 10 different cancers, and accounts for 30 percent of all cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society. Yet one in four Americans still light up.

Smoking is by far the leading risk factor for lung cancer. And it is far more dangerous for women than men. Now wrap your head around this fact: The nicotine found in cigarettes is as addictive as heroin. If that's not reason enough to stop smoking, I don't know what is.

So are you ready to tackle your own smoking habit before it tackles you? If so, think about these tips and tricks offered by The View's special guest, Dr. Steven Lamm, medical editor for Best Life magazine.

First, set a quit date, says Dr. Lamm. Then tell everyone you know about your plan to stop smoking. The people in your life will hold you accountable. Next: choose a quit method. There's cold turkey -- although only five percent of people succeed this way -- and laser therapy, and hypnosis, and accupunture. But none of these avenues have very much science behind them. Dr. Lamm recommends a pharmacological approach, like the patch, gum, lozenges, and inhaler sprays. Each of these, which can be used in combination, contains traces of nicotine and works to wean individuals off their addictions.

There's also Wellbutrin, an anti-depressant that works well by calming and relaxing the body. This medication, given in 150 mg dosages, must be started five to six days prior to the quit date. Good news: weight gain, typical with some anti-depressants, is not a significant side effect.

Chantix is another option. It's a prescription medication that blocks nicotine receptors. It takes time to work, though, and tends to be expensive. It's also fairly new on the market which worries Whoopi. She thinks it needs more research.

There are also healthy lifestyle changes smokers can take in their quest to become non-smokers. These won't stop you from smoking but they'll contribute to your overall health. A nutritious diet, exercise, and a daily dose of vitamin C -- these levels drop when you smoke -- are all great methods for getting back on track. Try to solicit support from friends, family, and your doctor too.

Don't be discouraged if your efforts don't deliver right off the bat. Some people try five or six times before they quit for good. But it's worth the effort, even if it is hard.

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Comments (172)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 9)

stefano 11-02-2007 @ 9:23AM

Smoking is absolutely the worse thing that ones can do to his body, I think that setting a quit date is the best way to quit.

http://www.webyaa.com/category/health

Skorchee 11-01-2007 @ 2:53PM

When everyone quits drinking and driving and, killing I'll stop smoking.

floristjan 11-01-2007 @ 2:51PM

My husband smoked non filter cigarettes for 45 years. He started Chantix 4 weeks ago, and has been smoke free for 3 weeks! Yes, Chantix is expensive... for us the RX equalled the price of 5 cartons of cigs, so once you get past the initial financial output, Chantix is well worth the money. I would highly recommend it to anyone. You are welcome to contact us.

Kate 11-01-2007 @ 2:51PM

I did not go cold turkey...I dropped places that I smoked...1st, in my new car. At home, I rarely smoked except in the bathroom and kitchen...next came the bathroom, and finally the kitchen. It wasn't long til I did not light up at all. I WANTED TO QUIT, AND DID!

Fritaly 11-01-2007 @ 2:50PM

Or perhaps you could AVOID TOXINS that CAUSE Parkinson's instead of buying CANCEROUS CHEMICAL filled sticks that aren't just nicotine.

BTW Nicotinic acid is present in plants other than tobacco. But of course cig cos and big pharma don't want us to know. They might LOSE MONEY!

Peggie 11-01-2007 @ 2:53PM

I quit smoking one year ago this month after 39 years of smoking. It was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life but I did it. I attempted to quit several times without success. I used the patch to help me quit but I had to do it my way, not the directions on the patche's way. My quiting was God's way of saving my life. After I quit I started gaining weight. I decided to start walking to help me loose weight but every time I would walk for more than 75 to 100 feet I would start having chest pain that would go away with rest. This past August I finally gave in and told my family doctor about it. She immediately did a cardiolite stess test which showed that I had 2 major blockages. I was scheduled for cardiac catherization in just a few days. The cardiologist was unable to correct the problem with stints so I ended up having bypass surgery the next morning. I am a 54 year old female not a 70 year old. I really feel that if I hadn't quit smoking when I did I wouldn't have lived much longer. Until I started feeling better after the surgery I didn't realize how sick I really was. I was so addicted to cigarettes that my family never thought that I could quit and stay quit. Today I seldom think about cigarettes and when I do it's just a fleeting thought. So Whoopi, I know you can do it and I am very proud of you for doing it.

Jacki 11-01-2007 @ 3:11PM

Yeah for those of you -- and your husbands -- who have kicked the habit! I hope you'll inspire others!

Jacki

jch 11-01-2007 @ 2:54PM

My doctor asked me if I wanted to quit smoking. I said yes. He said I will start you on Chantix and you will continue to smoke for 8 days; then you will stop. That's exactly what happened. I smoked for 43 years! I have not smoked or even slipped for 5 and a half months. Vivid, wierd dreams would be the only side effect I noticed. The money not spent buying cigarettes more than paid for the monthly Chantix prescription. It works!!

geoff groedner 11-01-2007 @ 3:13PM

Now, if we could just get Whoopi to stop talking.

Don Romine 11-01-2007 @ 3:13PM

I smoked for 51 years and at age 66 I made up my mind to quit and using the Wellbutrin Plan I found that quitting was no problem at all. I have not smoked now for 9 years. Occasionaly the thought of smoking does cross my mind, but I would not light up for a million bucks. I think the real key is having you mind completely conditioned

dorothy allen 11-01-2007 @ 3:22PM

smoking is a very destructive habit. I almost killed myself doing it. Don"t WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE PNEUMONIA BEFORE YOU QUIT, That is what happened to me, so I hope you will be smarter than I was,

joann 11-01-2007 @ 3:12PM

I'd rather wake up by a cigarette smoker then a drinker! It is more then 1 in 4 people that smoke Someone is lying At my store and at casino's you see the truth We sell more cigarettes then anything

Victoria 11-01-2007 @ 4:19PM

The sad part is even after people quit smoking they could still end up dying from cancer. The best thing to do is to never start. I've never been a smoker, drinker or drug user. I thank God for that.

joann 11-01-2007 @ 3:11PM

Will Whoopie Cushion give up the Blunts she smokes also? I know she be bluntin' it!

Herb 11-01-2007 @ 3:11PM

Those trying to quit might try a book called "Easy Way to Stop Smoking" by Allan Carr. I quit after 35 years using his method. I know it sounds odd, but you read the book and quit. It's a program more popular in Europe. I had already flunked cold turkey, smoke Enders, Patches, hynotism, and drug aids, and this worked!

cachristie6218 11-01-2007 @ 3:11PM

I have been smoke free for 55 days! I quit cold turkey.

vheath 11-01-2007 @ 3:19PM

Chantix is a miracle drug. My husband and I were on them for one month. No more cigerettes and feel fantastic.

laura 11-01-2007 @ 3:22PM

I am 37 and smoked for 22 years and I used chantix to quit. I only used it for 2 weeks and felt all the side effects, the dreams the upset stomache nerves. But I decided they were better than the nighmares i had of dying of emphesema like my mother. I am now 224 days free of nicotine and feel great! It was worth each and every side effect and i kept telling myself that. The best is that I hope I broke the cycle with my children. One is to young to remember and it is quickly fading from the others mind. It is all about how much you want to do it. No excuses

KAREN 11-01-2007 @ 3:33PM

MY HUBBY AND I QUIT COLD TURKEY..ME..24YRS AND HUBBY 16 YRS AGO.. IF I HADNT QUIT SMOKING I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT.. IT WAS HARD BUT WE BOTH DID IT..AND IM GLAD.. I DONT LIKE BEING CONTROLED BY ANYTHING SO WHY WOULD I WANT TO CONTINUE TO BY CIGS. THE COST OF A PACK NOW A DAYS IS ALOT AND ID RATHER HAVE THE MONEY FOR SOMETHING ELSE..

Pam 11-01-2007 @ 3:33PM

I have "chosen not to smoke" now for 15 years, after having smoked for 14 years, and I didn't even set a "stop date" or give it up on the advice of my doctor (although he had been after me for years to quit). The first few weeks, I simply awoke each morning and told myself that I was not going to pick up the cigs that morning, or in the afternoon, or evening. I found I really didn't miss them all that much, perhaps because I still don't say that I "quit" smoking -- I choose not to. I did tell myself at the beginning that if I REALLY REALLY wanted a smoke, I would allow myself to, and that has happened 3 times over the past 15 years. One or two cigarettes have been more than enough! I feel so much better and lost the weight I initially gained in a short period of time. Please, please give up the smokes -- I've lost too many friends and relatives to lung and throat cancer related to their smoking. It's not worth it. I have a dear friend who refuses to give it up and her health is suffering because of it, not to mention the fact that although we are the same age, she looks to be a good 10 years older than me!! Good luck to all attempting to quit by whatever method. Stick with it -- you will be glad you did!!!