Smoking and Weight Loss

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Replies

  • 123im4u2c
    123im4u2c Posts: 63
    Hi premaan, I hope I got that right! LOL!
    First my name is Lynda, Pleased to meet you! I just read your topic, and I was a bit concerned
    that you literally ripped yourself apart ( you are not horrible You have just been living a life style that's
    not conducive to who you want to be, and where you want to go! You have the right idea about trying to reach out for a healthy lifestyle, and you can do it!

    I recently quit smoking, almost 9 months ago and gained 10 lbs I came on here to lose 10lbs, if I lose more
    great, and If I don't no big deal! I saw my Dr. today 10lbs was exactly right. He said that's really not a lot as some people gain much more than what I have! It may not seem like much to him, but it's horrifying to me! I have Body image disorder, and out side of being pregnant, I have never weighed more than 115 in my adult life! So you see what I'm trying to say to you is everyone has their struggles with one thing or another! I have a little granddaughter who just turned one, and I will never call her princess or talk about sizes with her! In this world today it's just too much pressure. My Dr. told me today I look terrific compared to what he saw the 1st time he met me! He said I was scrawny, and emaciated. Nice huh? I weighed 103lb when I got sick with thyroid disease.
    Maybe we're just critical of ourselves, I know I am and I'm trying to loosen up! I'm 60 years old for God's sake, so why should I be such a perfectionist? There was a couple of good thing like he said , I lowered my risk of Emphysema, my lungs sound great, My heart is strong Bp 120/80 another good thing! He said to just keep doing what I am, and that he would not change a thing! That was so sweet of him, and it's great to have support, and someone to keep me in check! So I'm just going to pass that on to you! I know you'll do fine, and everyone here is happy for everyone else when the y reach a goal whether it's a small one or a big one, because everything counts! Hope to talk to you again soon! ♥
    Lyn
  • fattymcfatterson7
    fattymcfatterson7 Posts: 1 Member
    I was also a smoker & overwieght- I'm 6'1" and was up to about 250- smoking a pack a day. I lost a good bit of the weight, but gained about half of it back. Then when I turned 30, I decided to get serious. I lost what I gained back, plus some- and quit smoking cold turkey but that was only 17 days ago. I still would like to lose another 10-20 pounds but am focusing on staying active and smoke free right now- I'll get back to the wieght loss in about a month or so
  • angelac1296
    angelac1296 Posts: 48 Member
    I smoked for about 16 years, and have about 60 lbs to lose. I quit smoking in April, in fact, today makes 5 months! I used the patch. It bothered my skin so I put it in a different spot every day. And took it off at bedtime so I didn't have wacko dreams.

    Once I was good and quit I got really serious about the weight loss! I've been exercising about 5 days a week for a couple months, and I feel like a whole new person!

    I'm glad I picked one, I couldn't have done both at the same time, they are hard! Good luck!!
  • 123im4u2c
    123im4u2c Posts: 63
    Whoo Hoo, Keep up the good work, once you get past the things that you did as habit, you'll see a difference!
    I don't preach because Like AA it's an ongoing process. I don't even consider myself a non smoker, I almost went back
    when I saw the weight gain too, but I thought of how far I have come and with a thyroid problem at that! I'm pretty damn selfish,
    so I won't allow myself to go back! I won't say I don't want one, of course I do after 40 yrs of them! But I just got my checkup today
    and was told everything is great, no sign of a future Lung or heart problem! I just keep telling myself in my moments of weakness
    that I want to see my 1, and 3 year old grandchildren grow up, and of course I'll do everything I can to make that happen. It's just too
    bad I couldn't have done it sooner! But as they say better late than never. It took my boyfriend having a stroke last thanksgiving for me to quit Cold Turkey, no pun intended! I changed my whole routine the day it happened or he would never have survived so I've been told. I recognized the signs and got him to the hospital. We had a 3 hour window. It turned out he had 10 blood clots in the middle of his brain. They said I saved his life because I did everything right! Bob use to complain about me always researching on my Lap top, saying I was wasting my time! Now he says nothing and was very proud when the Dr and Nurses asked him what field of medicine I was in! I run 3 cancer groups on facebook so I'm always researching! I Thank God everyday for guiding me!
  • Fibbian
    Fibbian Posts: 3
    I'm sure too that kicking one bad habit completely will give you the confidence to kick the other one, whichever you choose to do first. :)
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    I think if you are going to pick one to do first, smoking would be the better choice.


    That would be my choice too. I smoked a pack a day for years (started smoking when I was about 13 y.o.) and quit cold turkey a little over 20 years ago.

    In terms of health risk smoking is worse than being overweight (unless you're morbidly obese).

    The one downside t quitting smoking is that you re-discover how good food tastes (amazing what happens when your mouth doesn't taste like an ashtray) and it's easy to pack on a few more pounds.

    The good news is that many of the risk factors associated with being overweight may be mitigated through regular exercise whereas the damage caused by smoking can only be addresses through smoking cessation. (and think of the money you'll save!!!!! )
  • sandytoshiko
    sandytoshiko Posts: 67 Member
    I started the same way, but nothing is a better smoking suppressant than working out! No one wants a smokey treat after a 3 mile run! I found myself and ex-smoker without realizing I was quitting! You can do this!
  • EricMurano
    EricMurano Posts: 825 Member
    I used to smoke years ago and at that time I was trying to lose weight and I was exercising (although not as intensely as now).

    You can and will quit smoking but just cut yourself some slack with it. It took me many tries to quit and I even took it back up after years of not smoking in 2008. I think I'm done with it now.

    To my surprise I yearn for it less and less as time goes on. There are times when I think that a cigarette while in the hammock would be heaven but when I think about going to the shops to buy them and then opening the pack and lighting it I get put off by the 'buy in' that I'd have to go through just to have that 4 minute fantasy.

    With losing weight, treat it as a separate issue. I believe a quitter will gain weight only if they let food be the replacement vice.

    Also, please get a check up or a fitness test now so you can be sure that you'll be ok for the exercise you choose to do. Start slow and build up more intensity over the months. It'll help with sticking with it as well as making sure that your heart will handle it.
  • 123im4u2c
    123im4u2c Posts: 63
    Awesome Angela, It does make a huge difference, and in many ways I sometimes look at the weight gain
    as my badge of courage!! LOL That is until I find something in the closet that I want to wear and it doesn't fit
    the way I expected it to! That part is depressing, but then I'll put something else on, it looks good, and I'm ok!
    We just need to keep our eyes on the prize! We'll be undoing damage and getting healthier! Just stay with it!
    I didn't take anything, because I know people who have and they had a lot of problems. Not only that. I have a lot
    of medication that I have to take for my thyroid! So you and I are in the same boat!!! LMAO! We can, and will do this! ♥
  • learnerdriver
    learnerdriver Posts: 298 Member
    I gave up in December- I'm 5"5' and I was 183 pounds + I didn't want any more.

    It was my second attempt (first one I stopped smoking for 5 years) so I knew for me, it's better to go cold turkey quickly.

    I found it hard as I needed to address why I smoked and why I ate- emotional triggers, boredom etc, so I think your idea to tackle it bit by bit is great.
  • 123im4u2c
    123im4u2c Posts: 63
    Hey Eric ,
    Congrats to you too!. It's amazes me to meet so many people on here that are in the process
    of giving up their smokes! Read what I have said to a couple of people! It was an issue for me because I
    really loved smoking, enjoyed it, and looked forward to every break I had to relax, and having a drink would send
    me into a tizzy I was so happy! Some jimmy Buffet, a Margarita, and a pack of smokes and I thought Yeah, this is
    the life! Then I turned 60 years old, and all of a sudden the word mortality set in! I was a grand mom to one little boy,
    my son and DIL had a little girl and I wondered if I kept this relationship up with smoking would I see them grow up!
    My boyfriend had a stroke and reality took over. The day I was lucky enough to bring him home, I had my last cigarette on the way to picking him up. I knew he would have to give them up, so to support him I told him we would do the buddy system!
    Nine months later we are still going strong! He had his stroke a couple days before Thanksgiving. We both went cold turkey LOL!
    I think we should start our own group on here for those that are going through the process, it takes a lot of hard work and support
    but like I say ...I have come this far, and I am too selfish to give it back! I have gone so far as to avoid some of my friends who smoke like chimneys because I don't want to put a strain on myself and test my will power! I think I'll give some of them a call now,
    because I believe in myself, and I know I'm strong enough to handle it! I swear it's like being in AA. The other day I was driving,
    and just happened to look into my rearview mirror,.Low and behold there was a guy in his truck behind me jamming to his music,
    with a smoke between his fingers, I swear I could smell it LOL I looked at him quite a few times and he caught me, I think he thought I was trying to flirt with him, and he smiled and took a couple more drags. The truth would have upset him had he known, that I wasn't flirting with him, I was just flirting with his cigarette! LMAO!
  • macresca
    macresca Posts: 3 Member
    NO MATTER WHAT you WILL gain weight.

    I have to beg to differ with this. I quit smoking and actually lost weight while doing it. I highly suggest going to your doctor, because they can help you figure out a strategy. My doctor saw how many times I had tried to quit and failed and decided on what ultimately helped me to quit for good (for me it was Chantix, which is not for everyone.) But everyone is different and most people do gain *some* weight, but it doesn't have to be a ton of weight if any at all. You just have to figure out how to deal with the cravings and urges in a positive way, instead of going to food (which believe me I have done in earlier quit attempts.)
  • cindy326
    cindy326 Posts: 70 Member
    My husband and I both gave up smoking 1 year ago yesterday. We had a very big reality check. at the age of 40 my husband had a stroke..from smoking alone NO but it played a part. Overweight, high blood pressure, not exercising, smoking, genetics. We both gained weight at first, then I refused to gain another pound. Was it difficult? YES. Can it be done? YES! We thought stroke, cancer, COPD...etc cant happen to us.. (not me syndrome) but it did. If you want it bad enough you will do it. Or you will get a wake up call and be forced to do it...if you get that second chance. Good luck to you.
  • Enny2405
    Enny2405 Posts: 97 Member
    I try not to smoke everyday. I am not ready to quit completely as at the end of a long week of work I want to sit down with my bourbon and cigarettes and relax. I am trying very hard to stick to 1500 calories a day and exercise for 30 mins 3 to 4 times a week. The fitter I get the less I will smoke until Friday afternoon comes round - then I know I'm going through a pack along with my third of a bottle of Black Cherry Jim Beam (which I now mix with caffeine free diet coke so it's less calories). I find putting on weight depresses me the most so I am trying to concentrate on that first. When I am feeling less stressed - I don't feel the need to smoke as much and can go for more days without a smoke. Tried doing a total health kick before and crashed and burned. Try to cut back on smokes and food gradually so its not a massive shock to the system and best of luck!
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    I started in the same situation and did attempt to stop smoking and change my diet at the same time. This was NOT the best thing for me. My diet was crap and included about 1200 calories of just soda per day. I found that omitting both soda and nicotine was too much at once. I decided to start with the diet, add exercise, and once my body is adjusted some I will again tackle the smoking. My goal is to give myself another month, then quit smoking :)

    I had a very similar experience. I still smoke. Losing the weight was my first priority. Baby steps will get you there. Tackling it all at once is setting yourself up for failure, IMHO.

    I'm not a smoker so I can't give advice based in that kind of experience. But, in general, with anything, I do know it's best to change one thing at a time. Even making changes to your diet need to happen step by step, as it can be overwhelming otherwise.
  • JustSammi
    JustSammi Posts: 79
    I was in the same boat and when I decided to become healthier and lose weight, I decided I wanted to quit smoking too but thought that I couldn't do both as it would be too hard. Realistically, it's more dangerous for your health to smoke so it makes sense to tackle that first then the weight second if you can't do both.

    I came to a compromise and bought an eCig so whilst I'm not really tackling my nicotine addiction, at least it's not impacting my health. The great thing about this is that I'm becoming healthier from not inhaling all the crap that smoking tobacco produces but not suffering nicotine withdrawal meaning I can just concentrate on my weight loss and fitness goals for now.

    I'm not far off my goal now, I only have around 20 lbs to lose then I'm going to start slowly cutting down the nicotine strength in my eLiquids until I'm eventually 100% nicotine free. I guess I've got the best of both worlds here. :laugh: Good luck!
  • Jim_1960
    Jim_1960 Posts: 399
    I have been "vaping" with my ecig now for 35 days now and haven't touched a cigarette.

    I was always of the opinion of doing one at a time but then got to the point I decided to do both.
    Best thing I did as the cash I previously used to buy the "monsters", bought me a gym membership.

    It is true what other posters are saying here, working out definitely helps with the quit process.

    You choose whatever way you wish to do this whether weight loss/*kitten*, or *kitten*/weight loss.
    Either way it a huge step in your lifestyle change.

    Good luck.
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