Anyone losing weight AND giving up smoking?

akf2000

It's the double-whammy , I'm thinking all those cravings for sweets will kick-in. Perhaps it's best to try one of the things at a time.

So is anyone in this particular nightmare zone?

jlhill7

I have been trying. No success on the smoking part. I keep trying. Wished I had encouraging words for you. It is going to be hard no matter what. Good luck!!!!

lappyd425

I haven't yet....but need to...Figure I'll lose the last few pounds and then try while I maintain.....( which makes me nervous )

iuew

i dropped an extra 20 pounds before quitting smoking in June of 2008.

used Allen Carr's easy way method to quit, though, so i did not gain the weight back.

KaraP18

I was there 7 months ago. Quiting smoking made me feel like a raging you know what for like a month. When I started working out it seemed to help with the irritability. I would say I started eating more at first. I just had to keep myself busy cleaning, working out anthing to keep your mind off of food or smoking. I promise it will get better though. I have stopped for 7 months now and I feel so much better. Its tough though. Stay strong!

mixedfeelings

I stopped smoking last November, mainly because I was in hospital. Since then I've had a couple of cigarettes, I might smoke one a month but I also revamped my diet with a view to losing weight beginning January and I am losing weight. I don't find I want to eat more. I keep a bottle of water with me at all times, I find that helps.

Amanda0325

gave up smoking a year ago this past January.. its been rough but doable.. you'll be able to perform much better without cigarettes.. i can run 3.5 miles now.. i couldn't even dream of running a half a mile when i was smoking... its much better to be cigarette free.

jewel6018

I have been thinking about quitting but that is as far as I get. I think quitting will be the toughest thing I will ever have to do in my life and I am not up for it yet. Anyone that has quit I would love to know how you did it. It does seem so hypicritical to be eating heallthy, exercising and then light up. It is tough but I am not ready yet.

dida0721

I quit smoking first. It sure does make exercising easier. I used the nicoteen gum. It help me alot. I still want a cig most days though and I've been smoke free for 14 months and gum free for 11 months.

KaraP18

Oh I should have said I used the patches for like a month. They really helped. I dont know if I would have made it cold turkey.

kriggs1976

I tried to do both for years and ALWAYS bombed at both!

Eventually realized it was impossible for ME to conquer both beasts at one time, and I smoked 2 packs a day for 15 years

Took the year of 2011 to conquer smoking, last cigarette was Jan 10, 2011.

I am taking 2012 to conquer the weight, I have lost 30 pounds so far.

Good luck my friend, I would suggest taking smoking first, because you will not have the lung capacity for a successful workout while smoking. Conquer smoking, and then tackle serious weight loss. You will be shocked the more cardio you do after quitting, you will literally sweat nicotine off of your body. When I started working out after quitting I could actually smell the nicotine after I was done, my trainer said it poisons every piece of you, including your skin. So your skin has to flush the poisons as well.

brenteesha

Have you talked to your doctor about smoking cessation drugs? Hopefully the appetite won't be as bad if your cravings aren't as bad... check into it.

mickipedia

Well I've been losing weight successfully for a few months now.. I've lost 31lbs and today is my quitting day.. 21/02/2012 <-- the date is a palindrome therefore significant and I will remember it.

Hopefully I'll be able to do it!

ludogx87

mmmm ive tried but still have a wee sneaky smoke now n then.........

eatherhey

I gave up smoking 8 months ago, but just gave up nicotine last week. It's not as hard as I thought it would be! I think it would be harder battling both the physical and the chemical addiction at the same time.

mfreeby

I quit January this year - using Allen Carr's Easy Way book (so did my husband!), and then I read his Lose Weight Now book and the pounds are droppin' like flies. I luff him.

musky4

LOL - actually I am - I started MFP in June? didnt get serious till August -
told myself that if i lost 25 pounds then i'd quit smoking -
well - i lost the 25 set a date to quit (2nd anniversary of my dad's death /lung cancer)
- umm - STRESS at home and well - i didnt succeed. - so -
over the new years weekend - i said that will be it!!
i had planned to exercise (like mad) whenever i wanted a smoke -
(i should have had another back up plan) -
long story short - i hurt my foot (on crutches) but STILL remained quit -
(i did ...have cig on way to ER and that night - but said NO MORE)
so not Jan 1 (as i would have been doomed for sure) - but Jan 2 2012
i have NOT had a smoke - i do use Chantix but NOT the full dose -
i don't need to - i FEEL healthier - and seriously - it STINKS -
my goodness i smell it on ppl and its just ... gross!!! i do crave it every now again -
but i am resolved that i am now a nonsmoker! (quitnet .com? .org? unsure -
are great for helpful insights!!)
GOOD LUCK - YOU CAN DO IT - MAKE IT YOUR PERSONAL GOAL -
find a healthy replacement (flossing) / walking/ deep breaths - heck all of it if you need to !!
i should say that because of my foot i did gain back 13 # - but now w/corizone shots -
i can walk and it doesnt hurt - i am back on track!!

irvinedbs

Oh yes indeedy. I'm one of the crazy folks who loves to give themselves challenges such as the hell of not smoking and cutting down too. I found it quite difficult, but not impossible. Haven't smoked since October (takes a bow) but had managed cravings through eating. Was rather challenging to put down my comfort food.

If you want a challenge - this is it. It can be done, but you need to take protective steps. If you use the old favourites such as drinking more water, chewing gum and nibbling on veggies it will help. A treat is good to reward yourself after milestones such as 1 day off, 1 week off etc. Whatever your poison is (wine, cheese, crisps, chocolate) allow yourself a little as a reward. Nothing is impossible.

You can do it!!

:bigsmile: x D

Soapstone

Yes, I am. I cut down to 5 a day a couple years ago (though the number can fluctuate a little). A few serious attempts in 2011 and failed. I wanted to quit, deal with a little weight gain if that happened, and then work on my diet and exercise. My 2012 strategy is the opposite. I'm hoping that a full lifestyle change, clean diet and regular exercise, will be the final catayst I need to ditch the cigs. I was working out first thing in the morning, which helped me eliminate the morning smoke, as it really affects my morning workout negatively if I've just smoked, but last week I went back to work, so I don't work out til the afternoon. Right now all I do is the elliptical, but eventually....I want to RUN!
I really want to ditch them for good! I think if I can get in tip top shape, eventually it just won't make sense to be smoker anymore.
Or, I will get to a point in my fitness program where I can't go any further unless I give them up. I want it to be easy at that point. I'm visualizing it, talking myself into it. Kind of like jumping off the high dive when you are a little kid. That's all I've got! LOL Wish I had better advice at this point.
Good luck!

blynn2708

I quit smoking 4 yrs ago, and lost 10lbs! I think it was the vitamin C that saved me! When I had a craving I would take one and have a glass of water. The vitamin C (only 10 a day) and water flushes out all the bad stuff! You can do it! Good luck!

Whodatgirl77

I can't say enough about Allen Carr's book The Easy Way to Stop Smoking. If anyone is looking to quit, I would urge you to read it. It was truly a game changer for me. Good luck!

jankleberry

I want to not smoke. But I dont want to quit, I keep telling myself that after this pack I'll just not buy anymore, but I always do. I hate the fact that I enjoy it so much.

ginger_fury187

It's the double-whammy , I'm thinking all those cravings for sweets will kick-in. Perhaps it's best to try one of the things at a time.

So is anyone in this particular nightmare zone?

I have to say - doing both at the same is probably the worse thing anyone could do.

Im 24 and had been smoking since 16 - nights out i could smoke probably 40. I tried giving up smoking and dieting at the same time and for me personally; it was hell.

When you give up smoking, your body and your mind will look for something to fill that gap - 9 times out of 10 its food. So if your dieting this is going to cause a problem. And you cant deny the crave cos then you will get grumpy and snap at people and eventually end up smoking again....and worse off, when your hungry and youve had your daily allowance, for me that was when I would normally turn for a cigerette to fill that hunger feeling.

I tried quitting food and smoking last year - it didnt work. But July I decided to lead with the not smoking. We are now in March, i havent smoked a single cigerette, only put on half a stone, and now im strong enough to not feel the need to smoke which makes my dieting alot easier.

You got to have some major strong will power to do both; i wish you luck in your journey x

akf2000

hah wow! I didn't notice today's date and I have a thing about palindromic dates/ numbers, I once pointed out a palindromic shopping receipt excitedly to my very unimpressed wife:laugh: :laugh:

I can totally see where you're coming from. This is too much of an opportunity to miss. I'm joining you buddy, this is now also my quitting day.

Thanks to everyone who replied! You guys rock!

I'm getting this Alan Carr book too, hope it's on Kindle

MattBoySlim

Allan Carr's book is great, I tried nicotine patches and hypnotherapy, in the end just reading a book did the trick.

When I quit, I probably binge eat for 3/4 days, but after that was fine, we more I felt I should be eating than actually wanting to eat.

Also I read somewhere you need to gain some 70lbs to get the same negative health affect as smoking, I doubt you would gain more than a pound or 2.

600racer

My stop smoking method and can probably be done for free since most cell phones have alarms or timers. I was exactly a pack a day smoker. Cold Turkey didn't work. One day may wife came home wih a little clock/timer a drug rep handed out at her work. I figured I smoked a cig about every hour on avg. So I set the timer for 1 hr. when It went off, I got a cig. The next day 1:05 between cigs, next day 1:10 between increasing it 5 minutes each day until I got down to the 4 main ones, b'fast, lunch, supper, bedtime. A week of that did it. I smoked the last one out of the pack and that was it. Nicotine is a strong drug. You have to taper off. It sounds too simple to work but it did for me.
Good luch and if anyone tries it, let me know what you think.

Hellbent_Heidi

I have lost 35 lbs since last July to get within 5 lbs of my original goal, and I just quit smoking 3 weeks ago. I'm using the nicotine patch and am now on the lowest step (7mg), which I hope to be completely done with in another week or so....

So far, no additional losses (although I've been on a plateau since December anyway), but no gain either. I started the C25K running plan the day I quit, and I can feel a HUGE improvement in lung function which is allowing me to kick up all of my fitness activities. Its harder because I AM tempted to eat more crap, but just keep reminding myself that I got rid of all my big clothes, and can't afford to grow out of my new awesome smaller wardrobe!!

herbalistkathy

I am at the same crossroads as you right now.. started the workout and weight loss first.. because I fear gaining more weight, which would leave me with no clothing that fits!! I am in my largest clothes now and I need to lose first..

jenyeates

I gave up smoking a week ago and am worried about gaining weight as I seem to be hungry all the time. I had hypnotherapy which is supposed to work without craving food or nicotine I'm craving both. I would however recommend hynotherapy. It makes things a whole lot easier.:sad:

ebaywidow

Quit smoking in October by using an e-cig for about a month. Not smoking at all now...Thank Lord. I did gain 18 pounds quickly though not because I was stuffing myself but nicotine does boost metabolism. Back down to smoking weight & have lost 5 pounds. It was a lot easier to lose weight when I was on the Marlboro & Diet Coke Diet!!! Good luck with both endeavors...feel so much better not smoking & have more independence without them. Exercising is easier as well

Colbyandsage

I think dieting and quitting smoking isn't the best idea. I quit smoking about 4 yrs ago. When I quit, I starting working out regularly, it helped me curb the craving. I did gain about 10 lbs but it came off pretty quickly. One thing at a time!

I worked up to quitting as well. At the time, I had a job where I drove alot, I increased my time between cigs. I would put the cigs in my trunk before I left so I would have to stop to get one

My tips... drink lots of water. Find something to do with your hands/mouth, meaning on cough drops/gum/ anything!

Good luck. you can do it. It is much more a mental thing once the initial crazings are gone.