Perfect or worst time to quit smoking? (during weight loss)

I started with MFP in February. I spent a few months getting the hang of the weight loss thing, developing those healthier eating habits, then decided to quit smoking June 1st. I used Nicoderm patches for about 6 weeks, but then started having a skin reaction, and from there I went cold turkey. I think that since I had already built the habit of logging and thinking about what I was eating every day, it was easier to me to not replace smoking with eating. I did stall on the weight loss for about 6 weeks after quitting, but I didn't gain any, and now I'm not only losing at a good clip again, but it's also way easier to work out harder and longer, because my lung capacity is better

Anytime to quit is the perfect time. Do it now--today!

It's not that easy. See quitting will be very stressful, if you add diet to it then one of your plans will buckle and you may even burn out on both. What I suggest is to pick a quitting day and starting that day eat at maintenance for a couple of weeks. Working out can actually make the withdrawal go faster, so focus on that every time you feel the urge. Yoga and relaxation helps too. You will only be totally miserable the first week, after that the number of times you get the urge goes down considerably, so if at the beginning smoking is all you can think about all day every minute of the day by week 2 you barely feel the urge to smoke a couple of times a day and it goes away within a few minutes.

It's very important to keep yourself extremely busy for the time to pass faster. Do whatever you want. Rent a whole bunch of movies and shows you like for example, bury yourself in easy but time consuming work, or do whatever you want to do but don't just sit there idling, and remember: "just one" is never "just one" even years after you've quit. Don't tempt yourself thinking you have it under control.

It has been a long time since I have had a cigarette (46 years) when I smoked over a pack a day. The best way is quit "cold turkey". If you are smoking two packs a day, I can only imagine what your lungs must look like. Do it now...today...don't even think about another one. Chewing gum, eat veggie snacks will help but go into this with a positive attitude...no negativity here. This is important for your health and wellbeing.

Quit 4 weeks ago on Tuesday, 3 months into my calorie counting, 3.5 months into my exercise program. Smoked for 30 years.
I'd say now is a good time!
P.S. did the patch for the first 4 days of that then said why replace it so cold turkey! Feel great!

I'm also wanting to quit, everyone around me is quitting!! I've been smoking for 20 years and I was happy to see your post this morning so I could get read the feedbacks as I too was thinking this morning, is now a good time to quit being this is also my first day with MFP and changing my life around for the better.

Anytime to quit is the perfect time. Do it now--today!

Agree 100%! In terms of damage to your health smoking is far worse than being overweight.......good luck!

I started MFP in february (or thats when I really started doing it seriously), and went on with that for a few months. In these months I started getting a pretty good work out routine as well. I had many of the same thoughts as you did on quitting smoking, and worried a lot if it just would make things worse again food-wise. I decided to quit cold turkey at the end of April. And for me it has been surprisingly easy! i just took one day at a time and was really determined. And I am still smoke-free=) Sure I miss it now and again, but the rewards I have gotten from it outweighs that by far. I say go for it. I don't think you have anything to loose!

I'm sure it's different for everyone, but for me, if I were to make too many changes at once I would get overwhelmed. You seem pretty well established in your new routine of healthy eating and exercise, though so this would probably be a good time.

My doctor said that how much you smoked determines what type of tobacco cessation tools you should use. For example, I only smoke 2-3 cigs per day. When I asked about Chantix, he was like "Yeah, no". From their viewpoint, 2 cigs a day is in "just go cold turkey" range. But to me, the last couple are the hardest to give up. Cutting back was no problem. Losing the last one is harder.

What helped me quit for long periods of time in the past was using situations to my advantage. Once I got a really bad cold and didn't smoke (never smoke when I don't feel good). Since I hadn't smoked for two weeks, just kept on not smoking once I felt better. Also, you'll need to replace the activity with something else, and if you're like me, may have to give up coffee until you're well quit. LOL. After a couple weeks, you'll find you get more out of your walks and have so much more energy and that great feeling helps motivate to stay quit. I've heard it takes 21 days to form or remove a habit. Good luck!

did you just stopped doing the things that made you want to smoke?

I'm seriously contemplating this actually. For a while I was also drinking a lot up until 2 months ago or so (which also caused tremendous weight gain). Last night I went on a dinner cruise for work which of course involved alcohol. The craving was so bad I could barely stand it and I was getting upset (mind you I was on a boat with no escape lol but seriously) One of my guy friends offered me a cigarette. He didn't know I'm trying to quit. My friend grabbed his arm and said "NO. She's trying to quit." Although I'm so thankful for her consideration, which I told her, I wanted to take one of his cigarettes SO BAD and I would have. I wasn't having that great of a time because all I kept thinking about was how I wanted a cigarette but my friends were there and wouldn't let me smoke. I wanted to walk across the street to the drug store afterwards and buy a pack before I left to go home, but my friend dropped me off at my car and she would be wondering why I didn't get in the car and leave, so I didn't buy that pack. I feel imprisoned if I smoke or if I don't smoke. I love going to a bar, having drinks with friends and chain smoking....but the bar near me allows smoking inside and lots of people smoke there. The temptation would be too strong, so I'm going to try to stay away from there.

The time I want to smoke is after work. I don't get a lunch break or to go outside after work, so I have no choice but to not smoke for 8 hours. When I would get in my car after work and light a cigarette, it was such a relief. Now I just have to tell myself "You CAN drive home (or to work) without smoking. You don't HAVE to smoke." I'm going to replace that with other activities such as "You CAN drink coffee without smoking cigarettes." Repeat.

I quit smoking about 8 years ago and did so without craving a lot of food. My big problem was nicotine addiction so I decided when I quit, I wasn't going to push myself to get off nicotine super fast as I had terrible withdrawal symptoms (one of which was craving fats and carbs) but that was the least of them. Over a period of 3 years, I started with the gum (which alleviated the oral cravings) then when I put enough time between me and cigarettes, I started on the patch and stayed on it for 2 years until I could wean myself down (each step was difficult for me)

Everyone is different but I hope the advice you get out of this is that if you should use the tools you have for as long as you need to get off cigarettes. There will come a day when you never want another one but you need to be patient and kind to yourself throughout this process and don't rush getting off nicotine too fast. Good luck to you, rooting for you!

Good luck with it. My neighbor hasn't smoked in something like 3 years. She did put on something like 20lbs, but she's happy with it. I would just give myself incentives, like trying out new activities and saving up for stuff that I really, really want.

just think of how much it would suck to start gaining the weight back AFTER you finally get to your fitness goal, if you wait to quit until after you've lost the weight.

and just remember every single time you have a drag, you're restarting all of your progress up to that point, making the suffering for nothing. but it's going to be SO WORTH IT!

SO TRUE!!!

rayonrainbows: Where do you live that they don't have gum or patches available??

Quitting smoking should be FIRST on any list of self improvement.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition