This Blows!!!!
mreeves261
Posts: 728 Member
So sort of off topic but sort of on. I quit smoking on Monday this week. Been doing the patches and using (very infrequently, maybe twice a day) one of those little electronic cigs. For the last 3 days I have gone over on my cals, not by more than 100 but my macros are all out of wack. I honestly could eat 4500 calories right now and not be full I don't think. Someone PLEASE tell me this will level out soon!!!! I feel like I'm going crazy!!!
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Replies
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No Ex-Smokers out there?0
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There are plenty, it just might take a while for them to show up.
I managed to quit for four months. Around that time, it did level out. You're doing the right thing - hang in there!0 -
I'm on and then off and then on and then off. I think the next time I quit though (which will be soon) I'm going to devise a back-up plan for those sudden cravings that occur long after I've quit. That's what gets me.
As far as eating more. Yeah, I usually have a tendency to eat more when I quit, but that can easily be countered by careful meal planning and sticking to the plan.0 -
Ex smoker here. One of the hardest things I've ever had to do. To an extent, I'm still quitting!
Your appitite will change. And if you need to go over on calories to keep from smoking, do it.
Personally, I've replaced my cigarettes with exercise.0 -
Giving up an addiction (of any kind) creates a void - which we tend to fill with something else (another addiction?) - metabolism changes unfortunately occur- just went through a bout of that myself due to a medication change (gained 15 lbs - yuk) one trick is to find a different "addiction" preferably non-food... ie. chew gum or a toothpick, run up and down stairs, visit a neighbor, go to the library, have a glass of water. Works for me but I still have the initial "yuk" to get rid of.0
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It gets easier. It peaks the worst on day three, sucks at a week, and still sucks at two weeks smoke free.... eventually, you'll think of smoking less and less. I've been smoke free two years and don't think of cigarettes hardly ever anymore, and I certainly don't think about actually picking them up again.
I was a pack a day for 10 years.
The hunger thing? Yeah, that sucks. I used lollipops to curb the physical habit of something in my hand to mouth.
All I can suggest is replacing the urge to eat with cardio intensive work, and that way--- you'll probably work through the urge, and at the end-- you can eat something if you really want.
Wish I had better info for you, but that was my experience.0 -
Ex-smoker/current here.. It's the HARDEST yet most rewarding thing you will do. I quit for almost a year and after about 6 weeks I didn't even think about it anymore. Yes I gained but I was happier not smoking. Stress hit hard the past couple of years and I shamefully went back. I decided this time to replace the urge w/ exercise.. I was never a "big" smoker to begin with. Less then 10 a day. When I decided to seriously lose weight last week / I also decide to stop smoking for good. I am using the same mentallity w/ smoking as I am eating. Less each week. It's the urge that is bothering you - replace it w/ anything active instead of food. When you want to eat something to replace urge or out of boredom - walk around for 5 minutes and drink water.. It gets easier - I've been here before so this time I know what to expect.. Hope it works out for you w/ both0
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It gets easier. It peaks the worst on day three, sucks at a week, and still sucks at two weeks smoke free.... eventually, you'll think of smoking less and less. I've been smoke free two years and don't think of cigarettes hardly ever anymore, and I certainly don't think about actually picking them up again.
I was a pack a day for 10 years.
The hunger thing? Yeah, that sucks. I used lollipops to curb the physical habit of something in my hand to mouth.
All I can suggest is replacing the urge to eat with cardio intensive work, and that way--- you'll probably work through the urge, and at the end-- you can eat something if you really want.
Wish I had better info for you, but that was my experience.
Pretty much as said above except that I have been smoke-free for about 7 years now. You will level out, but give it a coulple of weeks, its towards the rest of your life?! I can actually breathe and run at the same time now, even overweight!
And as said a couple of times, if in the end you need to go over your calories, go ahead, maybe try to be really picky with your choices thats all, in the end, personally I'd rather gain a couple of pounds (and I did) but then lost them afterwards, but it was well worth it.
oh ya, my biggest cravings were right after I had eaten and for me (only mother and son around) I would play with a dental floss tooth pick type thing to keep my hands busy (two good things for the price of one)..... of course you may not want to do that if out in public)
Good Luck!0 -
Ex smoker here.
I admit that after quiting i gained 25 pounds (ive since then lost it) but that wont happen with you. My appetite increased and i did not fight it. You just have to fight it.
I have a friend who quit smoking four years ago and lost 50 pounds at the same time. It's not easy but its VERY POSSIBLE! you can do this!!!0 -
Ex smoker here. One of the hardest things I've ever had to do. To an extent, I'm still quitting!
Your appitite will change. And if you need to go over on calories to keep from smoking, do it.
Personally, I've replaced my cigarettes with exercise.0 -
Personally, I've replaced my cigarettes with exercise.
This is exactly what I did. If I had a craving... I did a set of squats, or went for a walk, or ran up and down the stairs a few times. I also keep lots of very low cal snacks: broccoli, carrots, etc. Things I can eat a lot of, but without racking up a meals worth of calories.
Go places where you CAN'T smoke. Museum, mall, etc. Stay focused! You can do it 0 -
It takes one day at a time. It will get better, try chewing sugar free gum, or sugar free candy. Good Luck...0
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Ok Here is the thing. Don't Quit smoking and try to lose weight at the same time!
Just set mpf to maintenance for a week. It will keep you from binging I hope. I gained about 10 pounds when I quit smoking. It was really really hard, so congrats to do on doing that!
Next week, just set yourself back to .5 or 1lbs per week and all will be well with the world.
I was never able to truly "give up" the addiction. I just had to transfer the addictiveness into something else. I started C25k. It was a much better addiction to have.0 -
ummmm, your pic is super hot!!
Good for you for attempting to quit smoking. I need to do the same.
Even if you're over by a couple hundred calories, don't worry about it too much...depending on what you have your MFP settings at, you're likely still eating at a deficit (even with being over by one-two hundred), so if that's the case, you will still lose weight 0 -
Ex smoker here 6.5 years. Hang in there it does get better. Drink TONS of water ( I drank 8-16 ounces every hour) and take walks (if you can) whenever the urge strikes. If you have to have something for that hand to mouth action try baby carrots.0
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Ex-smoker here also. It is very difficult but like others have said the rewards far outweight the discomfort that, although it may not seem like it, is temporary. Surprisingly enough, trying to not think about smoking will only make it worse. You know how you obscess about something you "can't" have until you finally give in which then leads to guilt which then leads to more cravings...the viscious cycle of any addiction. You have to train your mind that it is, in fact your choice. You can smoke or not smoke, it's completely up to you. The choice you are really making is not do I smoke or not, but rather do you want to live life as a smoker or an ex-smoker. Every time you have an urge, stop and take time to consciously think about what will happen if you smoke a cigarette. Yes you will feel better (for about 5 minutes) if you smoke but you will be doing serious damage to your future. Think about something you really want (seeing your grandkids graduate college or get married) and remind yourself that those things are more important and smoking will make it much harder to get there. Basically you are retraining your brain to think about smoking in a different way. I think it takes something like 24 days to create a habit so if you can make it 24 days, and you can, you have created a new healthy habit!
This really helped me when I was quitting. That and a whole lot of Red Hots!!
I won't say good luck because you don't need luck. You can do this! You are already taking the steps to get you exactly where you want to be!0 -
ummmm, your pic is super hot!!
They are P!nk, my idol, woman crush, ideal body type, etc.0 -
Never smoked myself, but GOOD FOR YOU!!!! My mom was a nurse and she said quittting smoking is one of the HARDEST things anyone can do. Be kind to yourself and don't beat yourself up if there are a few bumps along the way - you're doing something excellent for your health and future!0
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Thanks guys!!! I was feeling really down and on the verge of losing control over the situation. I will just keep chanting "I won't be a slave, I won't be a slave...." over and over. Congrats to all those who are successfully staying away from smoking. I waiting until the end of the month before I start calling my self a non-smoker. I think I will always be a smoker at heart, I just can't do it anymore.0
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Not a smoker but good for you choosing to quit! Hang in there it will be worth it!0
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Ok Here is the thing. Don't Quit smoking and try to lose weight at the same time!
Just set mpf to maintenance for a week. It will keep you from binging I hope. I gained about 10 pounds when I quit smoking. It was really really hard, so congrats to do on doing that!
Next week, just set yourself back to .5 or 1lbs per week and all will be well with the world.
I was never able to truly "give up" the addiction. I just had to transfer the addictiveness into something else. I started C25k. It was a much better addiction to have.
^^ This. Too many goals at the same time will frustrate you, particularly if those goals tend to work against each other like losing weight and quitting smoking. Just smoke that electronic cigarette as much as you need. It's simply a nicotine delivery vehicle and it's not the nicotine that is so bad, it's all the other garbage in real cigarettes.0 -
I quit Monday too. I seem to be having some problems using the gum...makes my teeth hurt and my gums/cheeks raw and I'm allergic to the adhesive in the patch so I'm basically going cold turkey. I slipped Tuesday and had 2. But I'm strong since then. I'm having a bad day today....so I'm trying to get someone to go get me some hard candy so I don't eat all day.0
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So sort of off topic but sort of on. I quit smoking on Monday this week. Been doing the patches and using (very infrequently, maybe twice a day) one of those little electronic cigs. For the last 3 days I have gone over on my cals, not by more than 100 but my macros are all out of wack. I honestly could eat 4500 calories right now and not be full I don't think. Someone PLEASE tell me this will level out soon!!!! I feel like I'm going crazy!!!
You're right. It sucks. I quit about 20 years ago. I still find some situations where i feel like I need a smoke every now and again. Hang with it, and you'll make it. There is a stop smoking group here. They may be able to offer you some support.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/755-quitting-smoking0 -
Ex-smoker here 23 years x 1.5 packs per day. Smoke free 8 months 16 days 18 hours. Great job for making the decision. Some things you should be aware of: Nicotine is a stimulant. When you quit you metabolism will slow down. Your heart doesn't have to pump as hard, your lungs don't have to work as hard to bring in oxygen, Your blood vessels will work properly....and your appetite will increase. With that said, remember a craving for a cigarette is a mental craving. After 5 days of non-smoking without nicotine replacement therapy, nicotine is out of your system.
Heed the advice of fellow MFP members and ex-smokers: Exercise, water, cinnamon sticks, toothpicks, exercise, treadmill, exercise, lollipops, exercise. mints, water infusions with fruits and veggies. Once you quit you will see a weight increase. Be prepared for that. (See metabolism stuff above)
You CAN do it. In the words of Yoda, "Do or Do not. There is no try."
Good luck my friend!0 -
It will, but it will take time. I quit January 16, 2012 using Chantix (seriously, I had to get off that stuff early because it made me loopy). My doc told me to either focus on quitting or dieting, not both.
I took up martial arts so I wouldn't gain TOO much.
There are times I still want one. It never goes away, but it does die down and only occurs every now and then. Hang in there.
Oh, and for the record (this is why I edited), I smoked for 32 years.0 -
Read the book: The Easy Way to QUit Smoking by Allan Carr. It not only helps you quit and stay quit (over a year for me and my spouce now and we were both 15+ years of smokling) but it also helps with the substituaion of food problem.
Book is about 15$ from any bookstore or amazon and is well worth it. Takes about 2 days to read.0 -
You've got this.
I made the decision to give up smoking (again - hopefully this time for good) and adopt a healthier lifestyle at around the same time. I know that the lack of stimulant is affecting my digestion (there's a reason why doctors in the 50s used to PRESCRIBE cigarettes for digestive disturbances) and loss rate, but it's also affecting my lung capacity and life expectancy.
People say don't do both at the same time...I don't agree. I'm smoke-free for several weeks now, and losing. Not quickly, but losing. And I'm not starving...spread your food out, and choose a lot of low-cal, high-bulk options. Drink a lot of water. Remind yourself that after 72 hours, the PHYSICAL addiction to nicotine is gone ... and at that point, it's emotional addiction (which is worse), but seriously...are you going to let a little stick of paper, fiber and tobacco steal your power from you?
Take your power back, Mama...it's all good.0 -
Also, as someone else said...cinnamon sticks. I couldn't have done it without the cinnamon sticks. I had a jar in the car, a jar at home, and a jar at the office.0
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I quit 5 weeks ago today.....scheduled my body lift surgery & my dr. told me he woudln't do it unless i was smoke free for a minimum of 8 weeks, um....I have no choice but to listen. Yes, I could tackle anyone i see for a hit of a menthol at any point....then i put my hands on that 20lbs of fat that needs cut off....and sigh, and walk away.
yes...at times I would like to go straight to mcdonalds for a super size fry.....eat every snack in my house.....eat all the buckeyes left in my freezer....blow my top at anyone who looks at me crooked....BUT....it's just another upgrade our bodies & our minds will adapt too....if we want them too.....
focus on good vibes...your positive energy......yes...it is hard to quit....quitting heroin is easier....change your habits, change your triggers.....i haven't seen 1 girlfriend since i quit...I don't trust myself not to smoke around her....she always offers them to me & i feel like i'm 14 hiding behing the school again...come on...have a smoke w/me....ugh. after a fight, after sex, after a hard day.....all reprogramming alternatives....
if you have come this far, you have got to already believe in yourself for so much....you can always add 1 thing more:) take it easy on yourself.....pause.....you'll be just fine:)0
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