Stopping Smoking

nikkiskip79

Hi i really want to stop smoking but the worry of wanting to eat more to help with cravings is putting me off..everyone says people gain weight when you stop smoking and i really dont want that to happen.. Is there anyone out there that is quitting the *kitten* at the same time as healthy eating that can give any advice..

Has it worked for you?

HELP!!!!!!!

anicho09

I would love some input on this too!! I am so scared to try to quit smoking and lose weight at the same time. Would love to hear thoughts!!

morgan_mfit

Hi!

I am a pretty light smoker, like 4 cigs a day. I still want to quit though and I have gone through the same worries.

What I am doing is changing my eating habits first, until eating healthy is my new habit, and then I'm going to quit smoking.

Doing too many things at once can be overwhelming and lead to giving up on everything. So I'm quitting my bad habits in small increments, one thing at a time.

Try that!

and- If you're counting calories and stay within your limit you will lose weight. ~science~

Smoking does speed up your metabolism a teensy bit but most people gain weight after quitting because they are looking for a substitute for their addiction and turn to food.

Avoid that and you should be good

oh ya- I'm looking for friends ppl. I've been on this site for forever but just recently am being serious again and have like ZERO active friends. Add me

Jim_1960

I used MFP to get control of food and exercise first for around 6 months.
I then planned to quitting of *kitten* from 1st August and having tried most NHS NRT methods (and failed), chose an ecig.
I am now almost 6 months in with this and have reduced to the Medium liquid with plan to move to low in about another month.

This has worked well for me and hope whatever method you choose you succeed.
I fell way much better, can breathe, no cough, and no stinkies either.
Probably use the gym a lot more too!!!

TFaustino67

I am using the ecig; it has been successful for me in the past - then I deployed and didnt have access. I returned a few days ago and immediately picked up a brand new ecig kit and havent need a cig in 3 days. My excercising has kept the curb of my appetite down!

I am looking for fellow smokers to try and quit and friend with! We can support each other if interested

Please add me!

ashadowreflected

I started on my journey to better health in 2011. In June I make a lot of dietary changes, In July/August I make exercise changes and also quit smoking. I counted the days and at any moment could tell you how many it had been since I had my last. After only a month I was smoking again and soon, back to a pack a day. I quit again in October of that same year and haven't picked it back up.

What helped me: Don't count the days. Don't say: it's been 13 days since I've had a smoke. If you do that, you are focusing on it and thinking about it. Try to put it out of your mind. Starting a new exercise regimen can help with that. Also, you will find it easier to work out if you aren't smoking.

Maybe it is weird but I would also take sticks of gum and roll them up (they roll up to about filter size) and when I was really stressed or sometimes in the car, I would suck on the end of it for a little bit and then start chewing it when I felt calmer or got tired of looking like a weirdo... lol.

Good luck!

Unknown

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Weighting4results

Hey there,
After multiple tries I have finally quit smoking after 25 years. The real motivator was while I was working for an ambulance company one morning I happened to notice my pulse was racing. Alerting my partner he hooked me to an EKG and rushed me to a hospital nearby. My pulse was nearly 200 bpm blood pressure was sky high but I felt fine. It turned out my lifestyle of binge drinking, smoking, and eating **** had finally caught me at 41 years old. Good news I'm young enough to make a realistic improvement in my health. No smoking, moderate drinking, and diet/exercise are key.
I used the 21mg nicotine patch for 4 weeks but I did feel the need to snack and eat more often. I recognized the trend and adjusted what I was shoving in my face. Boredom eating ebbed after a couple of weeks and things returned to normal without too much weight gain. Smoking will kill you, 10 pounds won't.
Snacking on high fiber foods should help satiate you. The mental BS goes away after 2 weeks or so.
Good luck and cheers!

DancingOnCloud9

I quite in December, I had a week off work, and I allowed myself to eat what I wanted in the first week. (I even indulged in multiple Eggnog latte's). Once that one week marker came, I went back to my good eating and I found that cardio was a huge help with the second week. My lungs felt larger and if I had a bad day, I hit the gym. I'm now in my fourth week and I'm sticking with my healthy eating exercising and I'm losing. (I'm toning too, so inches are showing more then lbs right now.) Good luck and remember, practice makes permanent! :happy:

nikkiskip79

Great advice and success stories... think i will wait until i get to my goal of 20lbs down and then quit .. i know i can do this

KANGOOJUMPS

if i can do it, so can u.
it all depends on how bad you want it
and how much willpower you have.

Tedebearduff

Hi i really want to stop smoking but the worry of wanting to eat more to help with cravings is putting me off..everyone says people gain weight when you stop smoking and i really dont want that to happen.. Is there anyone out there that is quitting the *kitten* at the same time as healthy eating that can give any advice..

Has it worked for you?

HELP!!!!!!!

Yeah I didn't gain a pound ... quit cold turkey was smoking for over 16 years and the last 4 years was a 2 pack a day man. ... I just put my determination into my weight loss into smoking... not much else to say .. its a constant battle against yourself be the stronger one and don't give in to a piece of paper with tobacco in it.

nikkiskip79

Thanks Tedebearduff - great advice.. sounds so easy when you put it like that.. i know it wont be easier but its something i really want

peasantsong

I quit smoking almost 2 years ago cold turkey. I had the same fears as you about weight gain and such, but the thing that really put it into perspective for me was thinking “I’d rather gain 10 lbs than die a painful, premature death of cancer.” See, the thing is losing weight is hard but not impossible. Coming back from the dead is impossible. I ended up not gaining any weight from quitting smoking though so it wasn’t a big deal at all, but even if I had gained weight I would still call it 100% worth it. It’s honestly the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. Good luck!

kickivale

I smoked for 15 years. Age 14-29. I continued smoking even after my mother-in-law died of brain cancer (which began as throat cancer)

I don't know what happened but about 10 months ago I quit any haven't had one since.
I used the E Cigarette for a few months to ween myself, it was so hard not to smoke once I had a couple drinks. It helped me IMMENSELY. I talked about the fact that I wanted one. Then I would just sit there and wait for the 2-3 minutes to pass where the urge was strong. Then it would just go away. And each day that went by I was so proud, I didn't want to turn back.

I did gain weight, yes. About 8 pounds. But I also wasn't exercising daily.
Getting on the treadmill and jogging keeps me away from lots of bad behaviors

As for advice, I have to say nowadays its all about toothpicks and gum. And sometimes sugar free Werther's candies (sorry I know, but they are so good) It curbs the smoking desire AND the snacking desire. Not that this is cutting edge news, but it is borderline miraculous in keeping me from indulging~

ElliottTN

I'm 21 days nicotine clean now. I've tried to quit several times with different replacement things like patches or gum. I've lasted longer this time saying screw all that and going cold turkey with nicotine completely. The first 3 days sucked *kitten*. Like really sucked. The rest of the week sucked less. Now it doesn't suck at all. I actually don't even think about it anymore.

BUT

In order to get to this point so far it took a whole lot of hard candy. Like jolly ranchers, lemon heads, just a crap ton of sugar to give me something to reach for. I did end up gaining some weight. I think around 10 pounds or so within those two weeks becasue I was eating everything.

BUT

**** it. Gaining 10 pounds is so much more healthier than smoking anyway. Now that I don't need the candy every 15 minutes the weight is easily coming back down to normal. It has been around one week or so since I stopped allowing myself to indulge (bc I no longer need it, just want it) and I am already down 6 of the the 10 pounds I put on. It is just my body coming back full circle.

Seriously, dont give 2 ****s about the weight gain when you quit. It will come off as fast as it goes on as soon as you are all better and hell, even 30-40 lbs heavier is healthier than a pack a day.

nikkiskip79

you guys are ace... sod it im doing NOW!!! why wait..

Cigs and lighter have just gone in the bin.!!!!!

reeny34

Great advice and success stories... think i will wait until i get to my goal of 20lbs down and then quit .. i know i can do this

kickivale

you guys are ace... sod it im doing NOW!!! why wait..

Cigs and lighter have just gone in the bin.!!!!!

You are going to feel fantastic about it!
You led yourself here and there's a reason you posted….today is the day girl!

cici1028

Hey all!

I quit 86 days ago after smoking a pack a day for 15+ years. I haven't gained a single pound. I actually lost two the first month because I was so strict with myself about my eating! I gained three pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas and they are already back off. I'm 35, so my metabolism isn't exactly 'peppy' either.

It IS super easy to pack on the pounds... but only if you get careless. You know how to manage your food and your diet because you're here on MFP. So do it. Do not use food as a substitute. Do NOT snack on celery or carrots or candy instead. Learn to anticipate an "empty" feeling (easy to confuse with hunger) when you go through withdrawal and find something other than food to help get through that uncomfortable 3 minute craving. Find something to keep your hands busy like a craft (I crochet) or an app that you really love (like Candy Crush!)

I read "the Easy Way to Quit" by Alan Carr and it changed the way I think about smoking, which was super helpful as well. But I am living proof that you can quit and NOT gain an ounce. I also have an app on my phone that counts the days and how much money I have saved. No excuses. Quit if you can!!

leilaphoenix

Stopping smoking is the best thing you can do for your health. It will set you on the right path for becoming more healthy with your food. I recommend Allen Carr also. Would you rather gain 5lbs and stop smoking forever, or lose 5lbs and smoke the rest of your life away?

Make it a priority.

cici1028

you guys are ace... sod it im doing NOW!!! why wait..

Cigs and lighter have just gone in the bin.!!!!!

YAY NIKKI! Go you!!

racheljonel

I used an ecig to quit. I honestly don't think I could have quit without it. Invest in a good ecig with a tank and a battery and some quality juice.....I couldn't quit with the kind that they sell at convenience stores. My last cigarette was on October 7 and after vaping for the past several months, I honestly don't know why I even started smoking those nasty things to start with!

LianaG1115

I'm a former smoker, I was at almost a pack a day. I was overweight at 230 lbs, out of shape, and heading in the wrong direction with my habits and lifestyle. I quit smoking first, YES I gained weight but I only gained it because I found solitude and contentment in my food, it's my addiction, I've been obese my whole life, and I was covering that addiction with the smoking. When I quit, I knew I was going to revert to my old ways and reach out to my best friend, my pal, food!! So YES if you don't recognize it and address it, you will gain the weight however, if you look at the whole picture and see what you're doing and WHY you're doing it, you're more able to commit to doing BOTH at the same time. Not to mention, your lungs with absolutely LOVE you when you start to workout (if you haven't already) and will help you in ridding yourself of all the toxins you've ingested all along. It will take time, years to try to "fix" the damage but I can tell you, I'd never look back ever at the cigarettes...it's all about the will and the want...will you quit and not gain and how bad do you want to quit and not overindulge, that will be your driving factor!!
Also want to add, the whole idealogy that food "tastes so much better" after you quit is nothing short of a mental head f**k and really just plays on the psyche to fill a void that you found in smoking...break the barriers!!!

~ 3 years strong and 50+lbs lighter....and still going!! )

MeagheNichole29

I am also new to all of this. I just recently started working out and healthy eating! I've been doing it for about a month now. On top of that, I am trying to quit smoking which seems to be a tad overwhelming to handle all at once. I smoke about a 1/2 pack a day and on weekends it tends to be more. Being a smoker for 10+ years and trying to quit is hard enough. Doing a complete lifestyle change all at once seems to be a little too much to handle all at once. Unfortunately I am the type that enjoys smoking. Every time I try to quit, I give right in and start smoking again. But, I feel as though there is no point in being healthy in all other aspects of my life if I am still doing something that is so unhealthy for me! I have noticed that if I constantly have something on hand to chew on (gum, candy, peanuts) then the cravings are not as bad. But, I also notice that it makes me want to eat more and I haven't figured out how to manage those new cravings yet. So, its either quit smoking and eat more (causing me to gain weight so the healthy eating and exercise is for nothing), or keep smoking and risking my health for the sake of actually losing weight. Sounds like an obvious decision....because smoking is so disgusting....but when you're addicted to them, it's not so easy!

corsiva

What helped me quit was switching to an e-cig. I got one in August, when I really began using myfitnesspal, and I've been smoke free for a few weeks now. I never noticed an increase in appetite or anything.

scottyg70

I quit smoking over five years ago and it was the best thing I did. I was a pack a day smoker and I tried to quit multiple times but I finally decided enough was enough. You might gain weight after quitting, but it's really all about habits. I was gaining weight the last few years I smoked mainly because of age and I was lazy. Find something to do with that nervous energy. Get up and take a walk (if you can) or something to take your mind off of the cravings. The physical cravings are done after 72 hours, it's all mental after that.

I did use Chantix which helped considerably but the big thing was I quit when I left the military and started a new job. New surroundings and no habits in place yet. I didn't have the "social" aspect in place at the new job which always seemed to derail me while I was in the military. It's little things like that which help your success. If you like veggies, start snacking on those! They're low cal and they are good for you. WATER, WATER, WATER!! The more the better! Sip on water when you get a craving. It keeps you hydrated and it curbs your hunger.

Good luck and in this case, it's okay to be a quitter!

Chezzie84

I quit cold turkey and I did not substitute cigarettes for food. I have been cigarette free for 18 months now. In the first few months it was awful, now its the best thing I ever done and I am glad I fid it without aids. My partner is hooked on the tabs now and still needs a nicotine fix every now and again. Just do it and speak to your doctor if you ate worried about weight gain.

ChaoticMiNd

I quit two and a half (ish) years ago in August. I used the Ecig for another year and quit that on Thanksgiving. I was VERY hard to quit. Be prepared, but you can do it. Sadly, I didn't make dietary changes for either time I quit so I put on a LOT of weight. I'm not trying to discourage anyone because I ate my way here myself. I'm just saying be very aware. My Dr said a gain as large as mine is not uncommon in the least for quitting smoking...

maawee

I am an ex smoker but I am the opposite of what you are looking for so I am going to share what I did so you can NOT do it. Stay away from candy you suck on. I turned into a lifesaver junkie three bag a week. I did the mints ones with a hole. Still a ton of calories. My doctor told me not to worry about the weight gain I could work on that later. OK that is what I did. I drank a lot of cranapple juices. Cranberries gets the nicotene out of your system. Well the juice is loaded with calories. If you just absolutely just drink water try the powerade zero no calories no carbs. I had toe cramps for several years this also got rid of the cramps. The powerade zero did work for that. Now for the part that should work that I would do I if I got a redo. I would drink the powerade zero with a straw I did use a straw for a drink when ever the craving for a cigarette hit me. The drink and straw give you that had to mouth sensation that you need from smoking. In all I still don't regret listening to my doctor. I would rather be able to breathe to exercise my FAT butt off than not be able to breath at all. I have been quit for over 3 years now. I did the Chantix 1/2 doses. It was the hardest thing I ever did in my life but it was well worth it. If you need some one just for support to cheer you on I would love to help you any way I can. I will never judge a smoker as I was on for over 35 years.

BeanQueen3000

My last go around with MFP, i was also trying different things to curb my smoking. At one point, just to track how many I was smoking and around what times of the day, I started logging them as 10cal/ smoke. It made me cut back a bit just to save myself from the arbitrary calorie loss and it was a bit off putting to see how much I was actually smoking, but then... it's been a year, i've only just re-joined MFP, and that first smoke after a workout at the gym is still my favorite part.

e-cigarettes have improved a bit and i've got one that i use periodically, but i could never really manage to replace the actual tasty, tasty death.