Am I crazy? MFP & stopping smoking?

I agree with whoever recommended the Alan Carr - Easyway to stop smoking book - it is a fantastic help. I also agree with those who say not to put too much pressure on yourself- quitting smoking is one of the hardest things you will ever do and if you put yourself on a strict "diet" at the same time you run the risk of feeling deprived and falling off both wagons! I suggest quit the cigs, track your food at a maintenance level and take up a form of exercise - this will hopefully be enough to counter any weight gain and get you smoke free, whilst also proving a welcome distraction. Tackle the weight loss once you feel comfortable as a non smoker - probably in about 2-3 months time, Good Luck!

Doing both is an EXCELLENT idea! I quit smoking in 2006 and lost 25 lbs at the same time. I used a technique called positive affirmations.

I was told my therapist to come up with 10 sentences of why I wanted to quit smoking and lose weight. These sentences had to be positive statemets and can only contain positives. She explained the brain doesn't hear not and no's. So if you say I'm not going to smoke today. Your brain only hears " I'm going to smoke today ". If you say " I can't have that fried chicken" your brain hears " I can have fried chicken" So instead you would use " I will be cigarette free today" or " I can have any candy I like today because I'm smoke free". Here is the tricky part. You say these sentences as many times as you can every day and night. I did it in the mornings while getting ready. I also would walk the parking lot at work during my breaks instead of hanging out with my smoking friends. During those walks I would say the sentences outloud. My therapist told me say them to myself if I absolutely had to but, saying them outloud was better because part of your brain is an audible learner. She also told me to write them down sometimes too. Like doodeling. The fixation of doing something with your hands is very strong. Having something planned to do during those times is a good idea. Lifting small weights, brushing your dog or cat, drawing, writing what ever it takes. It may sound weird but it works.

I tried the patch and hypnosis and it didn't work for me but this did. I smoked a pack or more a day for twenty years. I shared it with my Dad this spring when he was diagnosed with COPD. He used it and guess what! I seen him at Christmas and he told me he took the advice and he hasn't had a cigarette since he last seen me in the spring. He smoked for 40 years!

I gave up a few things all at once which were bad for me many years ago. I found it easier to just let them ll go at once and substitute them with things which are much better for me. Good Luck!

Call me crazy but I am doing both at same time. Not cold turkey but cutting down each week and I have smoked a long time. I set up a "food" called smokes. Each time I have one I put it in my diary. This helps me get my head around when/how many I am having. Today I though what a painthe *kitten* having to put all these in...... so I "skipped a smoke".

Small amount of progress but progress all the same. Might need a friend or two for this !

I used the Allan Carr book as well...it REALLY works. Cold turkey is a great way to go.

NOT CRAZY. Strength of character gave you the ability to consider it. If you can envision it, you can do it.

The trick with smoking is breaking the physical addiction. At just 10 per day it might not be too bad but only you can judge that. Doing both at the same time may be easier in some ways, more difficult in others. Don't let that stop you from trying. Smoking is likely the more immediate risk to your health though.

Try replacing the smoking with a healthy intake of something to help break the physical addiction. Celery or water for example - not tap water either, filtered, spring, distilled - something like that.

Good luck and best wishes

Empirical evidence suggests (studies suggest) that when trying to quit something (so for you: smoking and poor eating/exercise habits, lets say) you are more likely to be successful at both if done at the same time, than if they are done seperately.

So, this means you are perfectly insane for doing this.

You are not crazy at all. But you may be taking on a lot - mentally, quitting smoking is a challenge, but if you really want to do it, you can. I used to smoke more than you do and I quit 3 years ago. Don't miss it at all. But I gained some weight and that's why I am here.
So, my advice to you would be to tackle the smoking first, but while doing so, log onto my facebook, enter your food and exercise, but set some really realistic goals about weight loss. Like no more than 1/2 lb per week (only at first). Logging your food intake will just make you much more aware if you are substituting food for ciggerettes.
I wish I would have had MFP when I quit - maybe if I had, I would not be 26 lbs overweight right now.
Add me as a friend - and I will send you encouraging words about giving up smoking, too.

Everyone is different but if you can do both then DO IT! I just started tracking my food, not really trying to lose yet but quitting smoking a pack a day is definitely a goal. however, right now I don't have enough confidence in myself to try both at the same time. My logic is that if I start eating healthier and working out a little then it will be easier to keep up when I do quit. I'm well aware that quitting might cause me to gain more weight but I think if I'm already getting used to new healthier habits then it will be easier to continue when I quit. I'm afraid if I quit first, I'm going to pack on more weight which will make me feel worse and harder to get up the energy to do anything. I could be wrong but I've got it in my head to start my weight loss journey now with adding giving up the smokes another goal in the very near future. Good luck to you!

Edited to add that I really like what a previous poster said about dropping one cigarette a day until you're down to nothing. That sounds do-able and something I'm going to consider!