Despite all the times you’ve heard that smoking is a nicotine habit, over the last 10 years and working to help thousands of people quit, I’ve found something very different to be true.
The interesting thing is that when I question smokers, the vast majority quickly agree that it is something else.
Basically smoking is a series of associated habits, such as when driving or talking on the phone, when you are stressed, happy, relaxed, etc.
But one association is a bit more complex than the others. is coffee
Unlike the other caffeine triggers, it brings its own set of complexities to the party. We drink coffee to wake up in the morning, to relax with friends over morning tea, and we like to end a meal with coffee and dessert.
Studies with bees have shown that caffeine triggers the desire to eat, and just tasting caffeine makes them want to eat.
So how does this work with smoking? You’re combining two substances, which activate the dopamine reward system in your brain, and each triggers the other.
When you have a cigarette you want a coffee, and when you have a coffee you want a cigarette.
Not all smokers will have to give up coffee to quit. Clients often express more than passing concern when preparing to quit.
If this is your case, it is important to leave the coffee first. You will need to cut back for a week or more. Even one cup per day can lead to headaches when you stop.
Reduce the amount of coffee in each cup first, then the number of cups per day.
You can then go decaf if you like. Just make sure it’s decaf water and not the chemical versions.
Once you’re okay without coffee, your quit session has a great chance of succeeding.
I advise clients who are concerned not to drop both at once, as the added stress will reduce your chances of success.
After not smoking for a few weeks, you can safely drink coffee again, but I advise you to do so only initially when smoking or borrowing a cigarette is not possible.
You will quickly get used to enjoying your coffee once again without the need to smoke. Just one important thing to note is that you can easily link coffee to another addiction, that of sugar and sugar-rich foods. So if you don’t want to gain weight, just enjoy your coffee black.