Quitting Smoking and Dieting Support

kel7298

I have been a non smoker for 1 Year, 3 Months, 2 Weeks, 1 Day (472 days). I have saved $2,361.89 by not smoking 9,447 cigarettes. I have saved 1 Month, 1 Day, 19 hours. My Quit Date: 3/1/2010

sharamia

I quit smoking on Columbus Day (Oct. ) two years ago. My mom was having her 4th cancer surgery: Lung, liver, colon, adrenal. I am 56, and I had been smoking since I was 11. I'll be honest, I still miss my cigs. When I see somebody smoking I want to join them. Well why don't I do that? I do not miss waking up coughing, or my hair, clothes, and car smelling like stale smoke, spending my hard earned money on cigs, standing out in the rain, snow, hot and cold to smoke, or having burn holes in anything. I made a choice not to overeat to compensate for my lack of cigarettes too.

I was also going through menopause. If the smoking cessation didn't do enough to slow my metabolism, the menopause finished the job. I could read Bon Apetite magazine and gain 5 lbs by the end. Needless-to-say, I packed on the pounds.

So here I am: A fat woman with a hair trigger. (Said in jest but it feels that way sometimes) I didn't quit smoking to be unhealthy in other ways, like oh, say, by getting fatter.

What didn't slow down was my appetite. My body doesn't require as much food now as it did, but my stomach still wants it. So, I have to increase my exercise and get my metabolism going again. Ugh. That's it, just Ugh. It's not fun yet, but I'm hoping it will be. I have a Wii game and give that a shot. I also have some DVDs of Pilates, Dancing, etc. It's ongoing.

To those who are quitting smoking, I say Bravo. It was one of the hardest things I've done. I tried many times and failed. To those who are raving maniacs as a result of this process, I am your sister. I promise you it gets easier. And the weight? It comes off. It's worth sticking with it. *applauds you*

krb731

After a bad storm caused several leaks in my house, I had a choice to make. A cigarette (mmmm) or a Hostess Cupcake (yummm). I was going to have some sort of relief dangit! I decided the cupcake was the lesser of the two evils. I washed it down with some water, then went for a walk. The next day I tried the 30 Day Shred and the next day I hit the gym. Today, I'm sore and happy. It was not hard to resist the cig and heck I deserved that cupcake! Surely, I've worked it off by now.

craft338

After a bad storm caused several leaks in my house, I had a choice to make. A cigarette (mmmm) or a Hostess Cupcake (yummm). I was going to have some sort of relief dangit! I decided the cupcake was the lesser of the two evils. I washed it down with some water, then went for a walk. The next day I tried the 30 Day Shred and the next day I hit the gym. Today, I'm sore and happy. It was not hard to resist the cig and heck I deserved that cupcake! Surely, I've worked it off by now.

that's AMAZING!! awesome will power there! who cares if u had the cupcake?? you walked it off! you can't "walk off" a cigarette!! very proud!!

it's been a month and a half of no smoking for me and i feel AWESOME!! i'm gonna start working out in July, so i'm excited to see how much better i feel then! i work at a school and burn a ton of calories while i'm working. over the summer i'm just gonna be nanny/babysitting for a few hours a day, a few times a week, so i'm gonna have to do some actual exercising instead of depending on my active job for my calorie burns.

i'm glad i chose to quit 6 weeks ago!!! my original quit day was july 5th, cuz i wanted to smoke while watching fireworks, now it just seems silly. i'm SOOOO glad i already quit and i'm feeling better for the summer

krb731

that's AMAZING!! awesome will power there! who cares if u had the cupcake?? you walked it off! you can't "walk off" a cigarette!! very proud!!

it's been a month and a half of no smoking for me and i feel AWESOME!! i'm gonna start working out in July, so i'm excited to see how much better i feel then! i work at a school and burn a ton of calories while i'm working. over the summer i'm just gonna be nanny/babysitting for a few hours a day, a few times a week, so i'm gonna have to do some actual exercising instead of depending on my active job for my calorie burns.

i'm glad i chose to quit 6 weeks ago!!! my original quit day was july 5th, cuz i wanted to smoke while watching fireworks, now it just seems silly. i'm SOOOO glad i already quit and i'm feeling better for the summer
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Craft, I look forward to hearing about your working out in July. I know you will feel a difference when it comes to cardio. Are you still doing the random runs to see how it feels? That was funny, but totally understandable.

I just read an article on cnn.com about the new warning pictures and labels that will be on cigarette packages in 2012. I'm glad I'm no longer a smoker, because I would be ticked of having to look at those pictures. I hope they encourage others to quit.

redGummiBear

Ugh i was just wondering about this topic today.....Im battaling trying to decide to give it up or not. Its so hard. It is a social thing and alone thing for me.

craft338

they have those labels on cigarette packs in canada. while i was out there visiting family, i bought a pack, and it was SO NASTY!! they showed messed up gums and teeth, the insides of lungs, and stuff like that. some were really graphic. it didn't stop anybody from smoking, cuz A LOT of them smoked, but maybe it will stop a a few in the new generation from starting. i think it's a good idea. anything to make smoking more "annoying" and unattractive.

thumper44

they have those labels on cigarette packs in canada. while i was out there visiting family, i bought a pack, and it was SO NASTY!! they showed messed up gums and teeth, the insides of lungs, and stuff like that. some were really graphic. it didn't stop anybody from smoking, cuz A LOT of them smoked, but maybe it will stop a a few in the new generation from starting. i think it's a good idea. anything to make smoking more "annoying" and unattractive.

I was going to reply about that.. Being up here in Canada. We've had those pictures for a couple of years now.. Smokers joke around and "hey did you see *that* one yet"?..... the limp d!ck, or the lungs, or the teeth.

Some smokers got themselves sleeves to slide over top. Some take them out and use their own cigarette container. As a smoker, it did not make me quit. But after months..... ok.. after days and days of seeing grossed out images, you do start to wonder. Ok my teeth don't look like that.... What about my lungs, what about my brain. So I think it DOES help some, just not as much as they would like.

Ugh i was just wondering about this topic today.....Im battaling trying to decide to give it up or not. Its so hard. It is a social thing and alone thing for me.

It's all how you think. It shouldn't be a battle on whether you want to live healthy, or continue going down a path that is not healthy.
If your really battling. Try www.whyquit.com lots of info.
Great ebook http://whyquit.com/NTAP_large_print_212_pages.pdf

As others who have quit can agree on. It's not a social thing (only if your friends are smokers)

How social is it when you are the only one that's smoking?
or
How social is it when you are in the hospital hooked up to a machine to breathe.

krb731

Ugh i was just wondering about this topic today.....Im battaling trying to decide to give it up or not. Its so hard. It is a social thing and alone thing for me.

I strongly encourage you to quit. Check out this thread and you will see several people have made it and are happier for it. Your reasons for not quitting will seem silly in the long run. You will be able to taste and smell things like never before. AND your ability to workout will greatly increase.

Lttlbird

WooHoo - it's been 75 days since I quit smoking! So, so happy about that. Not so happy about my weight gain, but one thing at a time.

We had a party at our house a couple weeks ago and would you believe not one single person was a smoker? It was so nice to be one of "them" and not have to go hide somewhere to smoke.

I also didn't notice until later yesterday that I'd gone up a couple flights of stairs and normally be out of breath. I didn't even notice that I wasn't . THAT is a great feeling too!

Keep up the hard work non-smokers! And for those of you still smoking, quit when you're ready.

MrsGriffin67

Time smoke-free...again - 86 hrs 8 min

That means that I have refused about 54 cigarettes! I'm using the e-cig, too. What kind did you use Craft? I have the Supreme Nicotine and they have different strengths (and flavors) of nicotine "juice". I kind of really like my e-cig. I've bought cheesy ones from the gas station but this one rocks!

taurus39

I want to quit smoking. Today I asked myself why do I smoke. I can't find a reason other than habit & addicted to nicotene. Well I've decided that I am stronger than that.So I've decided on July 1st I am going to really put this into action and really give this a try. I hate smoking I hate the way I am out of breath, I don't like smoking in front of people who don't smoke I feel disgustingly stupid with a cigarette hanging from my lips. I am finished. Bad thing is my fiance smokes. Major set back. Good thing is we don't smoke in our house. I am afraid I will eat me. I have to figure out what to do instead of smoking. I tried regular gum, crackers,ice. I am not going to buy the patches or other gum I am going cold turkey.OOPS I didn't mean I'll "eat me" I meant I will "eat more" LOL

craft338

I want to quit smoking. Today I asked myself why do I smoke. I can't find a reason other than habit & addicted to nicotene. Well I've decided that I am stronger than that.So I've decided on July 1st I am going to really put this into action and really give this a try. I hate smoking I hate the way I am out of breath, I don't like smoking in front of people who don't smoke I feel disgustingly stupid with a cigarette hanging from my lips. I am finished. Bad thing is my fiance smokes. Major set back. Good thing is we don't smoke in our house. I am afraid I will eat me. I have to figure out what to do instead of smoking. I tried regular gum, crackers,ice. I am not going to buy the patches or other gum I am going cold turkey.OOPS I didn't mean I'll "eat me" I meant I will "eat more" LOL

the best advice i can give you it to stay strong and know that the first week will be really really hard, but it will get so much easier after the first week. the second week is better, and by the 3rd week, you'll be like "wow, why was i so crazy?" you'll think it's the worst thing in the world, but it WILL get better, and you will feel amazing when that "hell week" is over. don't give in to the cigarette. don't "try", just quit!!

good luck and stay strong!!!

craft338

oh, and my weight loss only slowed down for a month....then i started losing again. but it was so worth it cuz now i can exercise without wanting to die!!

ilookthetype

(I would always hear, "aww, YOU smoke? You don't look like a smoker.." in a disappointed voice.. I HATED THAT)

I got this all the time. My suggestions, post on facebook that you're quitting, my friends got super into my quitting and would ask about it all the time. I also called my mom and told her. Which meant if I thought about smoking I knew she'd find out (even though I live states away she'd feel it in her bones and probably call just after I lit up and start asking if I was smoking - I can't lie to my momma.) Make your quitting very public. Tell people at work, or friends you smoke with. Maybe they'll quit with you. I don't carry my ID with me that way I can't buy cigarettes (I'm 22 and live in a place where random checks are popular). Also, I had to stop drinking for the first few weeks of not smoking (seriously, few things are better than a martini and a cigarette) but now I can have the occassional drink and not crave the cigarette.

Let me know how the e-cigs work for you! I thought about trying them but ended up quitting cold turkey instead.

MrsGriffin67

Well...its now been 7 days 10 hours and 12 minutes since I last smoked. Now all that crap is coming out of my lungs and chest. YUCK! But, I feel so much better. I've found that I can actually do the "Just Dance" for an hour. FABULOUS! Thanks for all the support, Craft. :flowerforyou:

whodatgrl

Bump

craft338

tomorrow was my original quit date. i thought that i would be outside all day at a BBQ and watching fireworks on the 4th of July, and it would be a good day to enjoy my last day of smoking.

Today, it's the LAST thing on my mind!! i honestly don't care that i'm not gonna be smoking, and i don't really feel the need to bring my e-cig. i'm just over it. i think, for me, it's more mental right now. sure, it still smells awesome and i still get cravings....but i even if they one day discovered a way to make cigarettes not bad for you, i still wouldn't go back to it because I DO NOT WANT TO BE ADDICTED TO ANYTHING ANYMORE, EVER!!!

i'm really happy that i've been smoke free today for 2 months instead of starting tomorrow. SOOO happy! :drinker:

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY EVERYBODY!!! (ha ha, lets all celebrate our independence from nicotine! i just thought of that cheesy line on the spot LOL how good am i??)

charm_quark

Hello,
It's my first message to the forum, and I don't have English as a mother tongue, so please excuse me for any mistakes.

I quitted smoking 4 months ago after smoking 13 years. Also I always had a problem with my weight, but after loosing almost 20 kg (44lb) I managed to keep it between 66-70kg (145.5 - 154.3pounds) for the last 8 years.
After quitting smoking I was 68 kg ang I gained 4 kg. I 'm on diet one and a half month, consuming 1200 calories per day and exercizing almost everyday at gym. I've just lost only 1.5 kg (3.3 pounds)... and I know that I should have lost more than that.
I'm 5 feet and 6 inches if I calculated right (167cm). Do you have any advice for me??? I'm dissapointed!
None of my last summer clothes fit to me anymore!!!

craft338

I quit smoking WHILE i was dieting. the first month was really hard with weight loss. i did lose a few pounds, but compared to my usual losses, it wasn't that great for me. now, i'm starting to get back to my regular losses, although i still have a problem going to the bathroom on a regular basis (sorry, but it's VERY true that quitting smoking messes with your "regularity").

during that first month, i tried really hard to keep my eating habits the same, and it was difficult because i kept craving sweets and really crunchy foods. i tried to have gum or cough drops when i had a really bad craving and the electric cigarette wasn't enough. but the cravings are gone now and i feel more active, even if i'm not exercising, i like to walk and move around a lot more because i can BREATH!

i quit 2 months ago and i've lost 14.4 pounds since then. i just try to be as aware as possible of what i'm doing. if i had a cigarette craving, eating food as a substitute WAS NOT and option!!

it seems like you're pretty close to your goal weight, so losing 3 or 4 pounds in that time doesn't sound too bad just keep up the good work and don't let cigarettes or food or ANYTHING be in control of you. GOOD LUCK!!

krb731

I crossed the 5 month threshold this weekend (the 3rd) and I had a few moments of reflection. The two major things were that I still want to smoke every now and then, but I don't NEED to smoke. I hope that makes sense. The other thing is it has been easier to stop smoking than getting a handle on my food habits. If I liked smoking, apparently I love eating lol. Anyway, I'm proud of everyone giving up the smoking habit and adding eating healthy and exercising. Keep up the good work.

JanW01

62 smoke free days for me! I feel great.

craft338

68 days smoke free, and i've lost 16.6 lbs since then :glasses:

quitting was harder for me than the diet, and doing both together, especially for that first month, was the hardest thing i've ever done. i was so stressed out and felt like i would cave any second, but i made it, and now i feel GREAT!

a couple of new cool things i've discovered about quitting - i've noticed my money actually STAYING in the bank account and wallet instead of wondering "where did it all go?". and someone complimented my car on how clean it was and i haven't gotten it washed since right after i quit.

i totally get the "wanting one but not needing it" thing, but those moments are just a TINY thought in the back of my head now that i can just be like "EFF YOU CIGARETTES!!" lol

i don't even need my e-cig anymore. i have about 20 extra cartridges laying around and they're worth like $50, plus the e-cig and chargers, so....it's like $150 worth of stuff sitting around....i think i might sell it on e-bay or something...

MrsGriffin67

Awesome job, Craft!

Time smoke free: 14 days, 23 hours, 28 minutes!

You're right, I feel great. I can't imagine purchasing another tobacco product. I'll keep using my e-cig and lozenges as needed. Can't wait until I'm as successful as you!

cband

Wow, great job girl!
I tried that when I first started excersizing but I couldn't stand it. The withdrawl made me tired, out of it, and grumpy. But I smoke a pack a day for about seven years (ugh).
I find though the more I'm excersizing these days the less I want to smoke. Maybe I'll get lucky and just stop from getting fit (LOL).

kylee_marie

Today is my first day of quitting. I just started MFP about a week ago. At first i hesitated, wondering if doing it all at once would be too much but the more i thought about it, I think that making all of the changes at once is better than dragging it out and having to readjust lifestyles multiple times. Anyways, my husband is quitting with me. I work with my dad and he is on day 14 of quitting (so proud!) and I just hope that I can do it while not replacing it with food! Trying to think of all of the positive aspects to not smoking, especially setting a good example for my son! I think I am going to take all of the money I would spend on cigs and put it in a jar on my desk at work and when I feel like I am officially done, take my son out for a special day! Do you guys have plans for your saved money??

krb731

Today is my first day of quitting. I just started MFP about a week ago. At first i hesitated, wondering if doing it all at once would be too much but the more i thought about it, I think that making all of the changes at once is better than dragging it out and having to readjust lifestyles multiple times. Anyways, my husband is quitting with me. I work with my dad and he is on day 14 of quitting (so proud!) and I just hope that I can do it while not replacing it with food! Trying to think of all of the positive aspects to not smoking, especially setting a good example for my son! I think I am going to take all of the money I would spend on cigs and put it in a jar on my desk at work and when I feel like I am officially done, take my son out for a special day! Do you guys have plans for your saved money??

Happy first day! I wish you, your husband and your father the best! Your Dad should be able to tell you what to expect since he as made it through two weeks. Plus, this thread has some interesting facts and experiences as well. The money I saved covers my gym membership and my renewed love of fruit.

MrsGriffin67

Today is my first day of quitting. I just started MFP about a week ago. At first i hesitated, wondering if doing it all at once would be too much but the more i thought about it, I think that making all of the changes at once is better than dragging it out and having to readjust lifestyles multiple times. Anyways, my husband is quitting with me. I work with my dad and he is on day 14 of quitting (so proud!) and I just hope that I can do it while not replacing it with food! Trying to think of all of the positive aspects to not smoking, especially setting a good example for my son! I think I am going to take all of the money I would spend on cigs and put it in a jar on my desk at work and when I feel like I am officially done, take my son out for a special day! Do you guys have plans for your saved money??

Some things that have worked for me (besides my e-cig & lozenges) are sugar free jello cups and grapes. The jello cups are little more satisfying. Either way they're about 5 calories each. So you can actually have more jello than grapes.

skyls

I didn't read through all the posts, but wanted to tell you, you CAN do it. I loved smoking, literally loved it, didn't think I would ever be able to quit. I smoked for 10 years, and not just smoked, but chain smoked.

The only thing that got me to quit was the growing baby in my belly. I quit the first time with my son, and immediatley after having him 6 weeks later started up again. Three years later, again had another baby in the belly, and this time I was committed to not start again.

It was hard not starting up after my daughter was born, but I made a beeline to the dr's for antidepressants,. It was either that or back to the cigs for me. I had PPD very bad with both kids.

Here I am 4 years later, smoke free and never looking back. My husband still smokes and I wish he would quit, but as an ex smoker I know I can't force him.

I quit cold turkey, as I had no choice being pregnant each time. I ate candy whenI felt the need to have things in my mouth. If you can make it 3 days, you can make it 3 years, just keep telling yourself that. After 3 days, it's all mental and needing the oral fixation.

Your weight might go up, or not, but just remember that is easier to fix than the smoking issue. Get the smoking issue under control and your golden.

I used this site to help me http://www.quitnet.com/qnhomepage.aspx , they usually have a number, and they will call you and help you through quitting. Some states offer programs where they can send you free nicotine patches, or the pills.

Goodluck and stay strong!

craft338

72 and a half days smoke free!!

just a quick check in!! hope everybody's doing good!!