Feeling like a failure!

shannygoat

I don't weigh myself (I'm a little too OCD to do that), so I let my doctor do it. But, since I stopped smoking cold turkey 6 days ago, I feel like I've eaten everything in sight. I know I'm going to gain back every pound I've lost in the past 6 months. I can't stop munching. Granted, I'm munching on healthier things - Sun chips, yogurt, fruit...still, my food journal looks like War & Peace.

I have to stop smoking to get the surgery next month. I can't stop eating now that I'm not smoking. It's a catch 22!:sad:

tessb84

Every time you want a snack, drink a glass of water. It will help curb your appetite and its good for you.

FemininGuns

saying "I can't" is exactly what's giving you the feeling of failure.

YOU CAN! Just do it. Whatever you're telling yourself in convincing yourself that it's okay not to keep the promise you've made to yourself to lose weight, STOP! Change your thoughts and tell yourself something encouraging to keep on track... Like what are all the benifits of losing weight along with quitting smoking???

There is something, I am sure, that you can come up with to help yourself eat sensibly. I quit smoking and REFUSED to fall into the mindset of "I quit I will gain"... So everytime I felt like smoking (sometimes eating a cigarette) I would drink water or go for a walk... I would do something to change my mind about GIVING UP. So do the same about eating well!!! It's a choice and completely in your hands... What will you choose?

Mindful_Trent

I can't stop eating now that I'm not smoking. It's a catch 22!:sad:

You have to change your mindset. YOU are in control of what you put in your body. Plan out your eating plans for each day ahead of time, if possible. Before you eat those chips or fruit or whatever, as yourself if you're really hungry and if you planned on eating what you're about to eat. If the answer is no, then don't eat it. It takes willpower. Many people eat for the wrong reasons - you just have to stop eating without thinking and remind yourself of your goals.

dlaplume2

smoking causes a rise in your blood sugar. when you eat to replace smoking it cause a rise and drop in your blood sugar the same way.

Try to chew sugar free gum and foods that will not spike your blood sugar. That is why you crave a cigarette after you eat.

good luck. I have been there I quit smoking 12 years ago.

kendradl

I beleive that if you were able to stop smoking cold turkey then you are able to manage what you are eating as well. When you want something Think about it first, do you need it, are you just eating because or are you really hungry? If you are hungry then of course you need to eat, if you are doing it just because, then you need to drink water instead or go for a walk as mentioned already. You can do this, I know you can. Good Luck and I really hope everything works out for you

spacecase76

I recommend trying gum. I quit smoking Jan 5th last year (cold-turkey), and although I *didn't* eat everything in sight, I still gained 20 pounds over the year! I chew gum like it is going out of style. Sugar-free Trident, not even a nicotine gum, but it helps with the munching, and if you get a flavor that is extra minty, really cold water gives a good sensation with it, that has helped me with some of my cravings as well.

Another thing that helped me quit was an 18-inch pencil. I kept one in my car, one on my desk at home, and one at my desk at work. Anytime my hands just felt the need to go to my mouth, I would start drumming on things with the pencil, or bounce it off the eraser. It kept my hands busy.

Of course, you could also go for a run every time you want to eat something, or just stock up on celery and carrots and lay off the carbs.

Quitting smoking is very hard to do, but is SOOOO worth it! I am so proud of you!

justann

You can do this!!! Exactly one year ago I quit a 33 year smoking habit. Yes, I wanted to eat more too.....and I did. However, besides snacking on veggies,and chewing sugarless gum I started exercising more. Everytime I felt the need for a smoke I would workout out to one of my dvds. Focusing on my calories in and out really helped distract me from my smoking urges.

meggonkgonk

Sit down and make a plan. For one, it will give you something to do. Two, you'll have peace of mind knowing what to look forward to next- giving you something to "hold out for". Here's the basic plan I go with:

Breakfast - something protein based, usually eggs with veggier or toast/banana with peanut butter + coffee
Snack- Veggie + hummus or light ranch dressing
Lunch- Fruit + Sandwich, Salad or soup
Snack- Greek Yogurt (SUPER filling and you can eat it slowly to keep your hands busy)
Dinner- 3-4 oz of meat, 1 cup grains, 1-2 servings of veggie of choice
Snack- small piece of chocolate or 1 oz of chips/pretzels

If you are having issues with snacking, I would suggest maybe working in maybe 2 more snacks during the day and lighten breakfast and dinner a little. Try to add in veggies snacks (I like peppers sliced up, or sometimes cauliflower) and have them ready to eat so they are as easy as other snacks.

Good luck!

AnnaPixie

Join Quitnet.com. You can get lots of support. It's like here, but for smokers. They saved my life on that site, literally! :bigsmile: That was 6 years ago.

As for overeating, it really is a case of making the right choices and not giving in to the nicotine monster. The cravings will become less and less. I chewed sugar free gum like it was going out of fashion. In fact, I became addicted to the stuff :laugh:

You can do this. Keep the faith :flowerforyou:

abeare

I’ve been there, and I hate to say it but yes you will gain some weight! But the benefits outweigh the gain, from improving your health & wallet, but the biggest change I found from quitting was after those crazy cravings go away. You feel in control of your own body, you’re no longer planning your day around when you can have a smoke. Stick with it one day at a time and soon enough those crazy munchies will go away and you’ll find it easier to stay on the treadmill longer, and you’ll find yourself loosing that slight gain from quitting!
I wish you all the best, it’s a hard journey but oh so worth it! I’ve been cigarette free since September 27th, 2009 and was a pack a day girl! You can do it too!

Jartexas

Failure only happens when you stop trying, sounds to me as if you ARE STILL TRYING, just keep doing what you know is right, you will make it.

shannygoat

Thanks everyone! Quitting smoking after a pack a day for 14 years was easier than I thought. My doctor won't do the gastric sleeve surgery if I'm still smoking. I want this surgery, this jumpstart on getting my life back, more than I want a cigarette. But, it's with being on a restrictive diet, and not smoking...I don't have any other coping skills. First they took away food, now nicotine. I have to face the real world and it sucks! I'm going to do it. Failure is not an option. It's just so much harder than I thought.

I did this to myself. I put on this weight to become invisible. Long story short, I was in an abusive relationship and I figured if I was unattractive, then no one would ever look at me that way again, and then they could never hurt me. That was almost 10 years ago that I did this. I don't feel like that now. I'm tired of being invisible. I've worked so hard getting myself together on the inside, mentally and emotionally, now I have to do it physcially. I'm willing to put in the work...if you guys are willing to listen to me whine occassionally.

You rock my socks!