Quitting Smoking and Gaining weight

i did 20 jumping jacks every time i wanted to smoke. It makes you breath and it takes your mind off it. it burns calories. Most people gain when they quit smoking because they replace one oral fixation with another (food) so if you are aware of what you are putting in your mouth you should be good.

I don't think I gained any weight when I kicked my pack a day habit. Many people find themselves fighting the urge to bring their hand to their mouth or having something in their mouth when they gain. Its easy to say just don't do that and you'll be fine, but it is the truth.

Here are some ideas; 1) you need to figure out what your issue with smoking is, when you need one. For me it wasn't the having it in my mouth but the fact that it became routine for me to have one every second I was outside and the very second I got in my car. If you can figure out your triggers you'll have more success. 2) if it is an oral fixation or an hand to mouth fixation find some suitable replacement. Gum, if you need something in your mouth or hard diet candy. If you need the motion think vegetables and have them cut up for immediate needs.

I found a counseling number and they talked to me about stuff, but the best thing was that they called me once a week to check on me. It was better than talking to family and they were 100% non judgmental. But what works for one person may not work for another.

Trust me, it is not easy to quite...Most people who quite try quitting about 7 times before succeeding. I tried probably at least 5 times, if not more, before it worked for me and I tried everything till I figured it out. It is seriously hard to do, but you can do it! Find the support out there when you need it, try a bunch of different things till you find something that works, and mostly DON'T GIVE UP just because you relapse.

Good luck! I know you can do it!

Good for you, laurenpence! Quitting smoking has been weighing heavily on my mind recently. I know I need to quit and right now I'm trying to decide if I should wait two more weeks until I'm done with classes for the summer or just suck it up and deal with quitting during finals...

Are you using any particular support website or any nicotine replacement? Good luck to you!

How's it going today lauren? I have one cig left and I think I'm going to give it a go after that. I just keep feeling so guilty about smoking while making all these other healthy changes. Also, the other day when my husband and I went for a bike ride, I was huffing and puffing up a hill while it wasn't having much effect on him and he teasingly asked me, "Whoa, are you okay?" In the past, since I weighed 40 lbs heavier than him, I have snapped at him and said, "I breathe heavy 'cause I'm fat, shut up about it already!" But I realized I could no longer use that excuse 'cause we're about the same weight lol. So I know my smoking has an effect on my workouts.

Hope you're doing well and getting close to being over the hump! Hopefully around this time tomorrow I'll be able to say I have 24 hours in, too!

It was really hard for me to quit, its been 6 years and I still crave, especially when I am cutting back on food! Because I smoked outside I always felt I was still missing out on those breaks, so what I did was buy a bag of sunflower seeds and when I would crave I'd go outside and sit and have a handfull of them! Something to do with your hands and your mouth and still got that break!

I just wanted to let you know I completely understand wanting to smoke while your husband's deployed.
My husband's deployed as well (4th combat tour, Marine Corps) and I have had the urge to take up smoking - and I don't smoke! The stress is truly incredible.
Working out is my stress-buster. I try to work out every day even if it's in a small amount. My rest days still contain a walk or a small jog or WiiFit. It's the only way I stay sane.
You can do it!
-Support from another milspouse

I quit last May (2009) after 30+ years of smoking. I didn't use any chemical aids. I did use the $$ I was saving and joined a gym and started using MFP. I lost 15 pounds and have never relapsed.

I wrote this to a friend recently, who is having issues with compulsive overeating.

My biggest enemy in recovering from my addictions was my own brain. Oh I could argue my willpower into submission like none other! Such reasonable arguements too!

No one will know. (I will)
It's just this once. (It won't be)
It's not hurting anyone. (It's hurting ME)
I can't go without. (Yes I can)
I'll do better tomorrow. (Do better NOW)
I need this. (No, I don't)
It's just ___<Insert justification here>___ . (Shut up self, I am stronger than this desire)
Everybody does it. (No, they don't.)


It helps if you can identify your self-talk and overwrite them with talk designed to control the addiction.

Good luck and hang in there! It will be worth it...

Great job lauren, so happy for you!

I quit about 9 months ago. I gained weight but then started working out .im back down to what I was in high school and in feal great knowledge is power with quiting. I used quit smoking message boards alot of support and knowledge base there. I recently had a friend say to me how do you feal now that you can't smoke. my reply was I can smoke I chose not to, how do you feal knowing that you have to smoke.

Good for you on making a great choice! I made the mistake of smoking for 12 years and haven't had a puff in over 2 years now.

The important part from here on out is to just not smoke.... I wouldn't consider you 'quit' till you've gone 1 yr without a single one.

That means avoiding your triggers that give you urges - you will have time later to get a grip on your triggers, but in the meantime you should just focus on not lighting up. Even if you get the most uncontrollable urge and you have to rush to target and buy some nicotine gum, that would be a small victory in my book.

If you do gain a little weight, thats ok, so long as you don't waste that effort by lighting up again - you will have time to readjust later.