Smoking is fantastic

Thats what I thought six months ago. 30 years of 30 a day. And I stopped Sept 3rd 2012. Completely. The weight I had lost on MFP (42 lbs) went straight back on and then 15 lbs more. Is smoking fantastic? By that measure yes. But, and its a big but, my lungs have cleared, i do an hour on the cross trainer now, drive myself hard, come off it drenched in sweat, but not even breathing heavy. Im never out of breath, I feel wonderful. Heavy but ten times the energy I had. I am now losing the weight, and by the time i reach the target i was before i will be running marathons. Never, ever think that smoking is a good way to stay slim. Even 4 stone heavier, I am fitter than ever. Please, quit the weed if you smoke. The benefits are beyond comprehension, promise...
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Replies

  • I know exactly where you are coming from. I lost 56lb last year and then decided to stop smoking, like you I have put all my lost weight back on (apart from 4lb) I feel amazing tho, now I know I can loose the weight but this time won't have to use food as a substitute for the nicotine craving! Finger crossed 2013 will lead to an even healthier me. Keep up the good work.
  • kcallas88
    kcallas88 Posts: 192
    YAY! Congrats!

    Now...i'll go share this with my 81 yr old grandmother who refuses to quit...lol
  • Good for you. I'm trying to quit. I will go 2 days and break down...I notice I eat A LOT more when I'm not smoking..: (
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Damn...I thought this thread was going to be about ribs and brisket.

    Seriously though, congrats...I quite Sept 25, 2012 after 20 years 2 PAD. I'm using a personal vaporizer (e-cig) as a crutch, but it's a hell of a lot better than smoking ever was. I can now breath and exercise and do the things I always enjoyed before my lungs became so filled with tar I couldn't do them anymore.

    Congrats.
  • Healthydiner65
    Healthydiner65 Posts: 1,448 Member
    As a smoker for 45 years I can tell you it took a stay in the ICU with blood clots in my heart and legs to get me to quit. I quit Jan 26, 2012 and I can do so much more than I ever could. I gained 5 pounds but took it off by following MFP reccomendations.One year without smelling, coughing, gasping for breath or looking like a smurf(blue).
  • dan_IRL
    dan_IRL Posts: 204 Member
    Way to Go!!! I quit after 15+ years of pack a day smoking. I have been clean for 2.5 years. Never felt better!!!

    I used Chantix to quit for the last and final time.
  • Itzli
    Itzli Posts: 78 Member
    Is it best to quit and start a diet at the same time then? Kind of like a complete cold turkey thing? No more smokes or Big Macs all at the same time? Just wondering....
  • Jday71
    Jday71 Posts: 39
    I have been smoke free for over 6 years!!! but on some pounds, but I feel healthy and love exercising.
  • Bigwig236
    Bigwig236 Posts: 74 Member
    Great job Jenni. Stick to it!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Is it best to quit and start a diet at the same time then? Kind of like a complete cold turkey thing? No more smokes or Big Macs all at the same time? Just wondering....

    Exactly what I did...probably not for everybody, but I'm kind of an all in type of guy...jump in with both feet you know?
  • CalJur
    CalJur Posts: 627 Member
    Awesome
  • kimosabe1
    kimosabe1 Posts: 2,467 Member
    Congrats on quiting! When I quit, gum and blow pops became my best friend and if u track what u eat, u shouldn't gain to bad.
  • Tisha247
    Tisha247 Posts: 849 Member
    Yes I quit smoking 2 years ago after 15 plus years, I feel fantastic. I haven't managed to lose all the weight gain though but that's not a reason to not quit. I have damaged my lungs and just don't have the lung capacity that I should have. I think they should banned cigarettes altogether.
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    i quit cold turkey, but i sure would like one RIGHT NOW.
  • KeriW626
    KeriW626 Posts: 430
    Good for you. I'm trying to quit. I will go 2 days and break down...I notice I eat A LOT more when I'm not smoking..: (

    keep quiting until you succeed. I think I must have quit 20 or so times before I succeeded. Good luck.
  • Faye_Anderson
    Faye_Anderson Posts: 1,495 Member
    YAY! Congrats!

    Now...i'll go share this with my 81 yr old grandmother who refuses to quit...lol

    She's 81, let her enjoy it, if I got to my 80's as a smoker no-one and nothing would make me stop :wink:
  • NiagaraCheryl
    NiagaraCheryl Posts: 56 Member
    Congrats on quitting!
    I quit 21 years ago when I was pregnant with my first. I had always been a skinny-mini, but throw in having 2 kids, quitting smoking and having a sedentary lifestyle, the pounds just came on like crazy. Thankfully, it wasn't hard for me to quit smoking since I had the crazy pregnancy hormones going on at that time. Now with MFP, I'm finally starting to lose those pounds.
  • Bigwig236
    Bigwig236 Posts: 74 Member
    Thanks Kimosabe. I hope you are an american cos im not sure what we brits would make of blow pops lol...
  • saintspoon
    saintspoon Posts: 242 Member
    Stop smoking the weed?? :smokin:

    Well I'm happy you were able to kick the habbit & didn't lose your great attitude! Well done!
  • fruitloop2
    fruitloop2 Posts: 437 Member
    On Feb. 11 it will be 4 years since I quit. I smoked for about 15 years or so. I put on a lot of weight when I quit but I have about 15lbs left to go until I reach my goal weight and then I can reasess from there. Quitting smoking is one of the best things I have ever done for myself...right up there with loosing the weight and getting into shape!
  • Bigwig236
    Bigwig236 Posts: 74 Member
    Thanks Keri. x
  • JOYOUS62
    JOYOUS62 Posts: 104 Member
    I stopped before and piled the weight on, the weight I am currently trying to shift now. I am also on day 4 of no smoking again and can feel a difference already. My hubby smokes and has just come in from having one and the livingroom stinks :sick:
  • Bigwig236
    Bigwig236 Posts: 74 Member
    Brilliant friutloop.. I want to emulate you. thx
  • MizTerry
    MizTerry Posts: 3,763 Member
    Thats what I thought six months ago. 30 years of 30 a day. And I stopped Sept 3rd 2012. Completely. The weight I had lost on MFP (42 lbs) went straight back on and then 15 lbs more. Is smoking fantastic? By that measure yes. But, and its a big but, my lungs have cleared, i do an hour on the cross trainer now, drive myself hard, come off it drenched in sweat, but not even breathing heavy. Im never out of breath, I feel wonderful. Heavy but ten times the energy I had. I am now losing the weight, and by the time i reach the target i was before i will be running marathons. Never, ever think that smoking is a good way to stay slim. Even 4 stone heavier, I am fitter than ever. Please, quit the weed if you smoke. The benefits are beyond comprehension, promise...

    I quit January 16th 2012. I'm right there with you, I gained the weight, but I am breathing better. I get a cold and don't feel even a quarter as bad as I used to when I smoked. I smoked 33 years, a pack a day for at least 20 of those years.
    Two thumbs way up!
  • Gerald_King
    Gerald_King Posts: 2,031 Member
    That great well done I quit 9 years ago I used to smoke 70 a day ,I gained 10 stone after quitting so I know how you feel
  • Bigwig236
    Bigwig236 Posts: 74 Member
    Keep the faith. I love being around smokers. It reminds me how disgusting the smell of stale smoke is. yeuch...
  • No_Finish_Line
    No_Finish_Line Posts: 3,661 Member
    Thats what I thought six months ago. 30 years of 30 a day. Please, quit the weed if you smoke.

    30 a day... of what? i guess maybe cigarettes are called weed in the UK?

    lol. I certainly don't condone it, but i smoke multiple times daily, and i still really enjoyed doing insanity 4 times, aslyum 3 times, and enjoying p90x.

    did notice i could sustain a higher heart rate when i quite for a month.

    ... a lot of wise men have said a lot of wise things about having vices... they all escape me right now tho lol
  • MizTerry
    MizTerry Posts: 3,763 Member
    Is it best to quit and start a diet at the same time then? Kind of like a complete cold turkey thing? No more smokes or Big Macs all at the same time? Just wondering....

    NO!!!
    My doc told me to focus on either quitting or my weight, not both. If you try to do both, you're just setting yourself up for failure. Last time I quit I tried focusing on my weight gain too. Notice I failed that attempt.
    This one, I didn't.
  • Bigwig236
    Bigwig236 Posts: 74 Member
    Blimey Gerald. What a role model!! Respect.
  • Arkie_Ali
    Arkie_Ali Posts: 106 Member
    My husband and I quit two weeks ago, but still crave it like crazy. We've started chewing gum and walking to help with the agitated feelings (when the cravings hit). But, I'll just be glad when I can run without wheezing and coughing! If it makes me live longer, I don't care if I gain a few pounds in the short term.