Quitting Smoking and Dieting Support

I am trying to quit too! I have set my quit day for my birthday which is May 8th. I know it will be very difficult as I have been smoking for 24 years now but I definitely feel like I am ready to do it this time. I read about the e-cigs and they sound like they work really well, but I think I'm going to try it without first and see how it goes.
I've just started my weight loss journey too so I know I will need all the support I can get!

~Donna

I have been using MFP for 115 days (as of tomorrow). I have dropped 30 lbs so far. I also tried to give up smoking back in February, to no avail. I found that I was compensating food for cigarettes and didn't want to gain any weight. But I have to agree with you, its a dirty, stinky, smelly habit that I need to get rid of. Was thinking about trying again. Feel free to add me if you'd like, as I would like to keep up with your progress and maybe get some motivation from you. Good luck! :flowerforyou:

First of all let me say WOO HOO for you on your decision to quit smoking. My husband, daughter and I all quit together in April of 2010. We all used Chantix. I feel so much better since I quit but do have an urge every now and then. I have 2 friends that quit using the E Cigarettes. Continued success on your not smoking and and healthy life style.

I'm in....hard time going cold turkey, but i've been up since 4am and it's now noon and i've only had 3 smokes today. I'm telling myself I'm a non-smoker...don't need it, don't want it, can't breathe!!!

lets do this, we can, we can do anything we put our minds to!

To Craft338 - I know that you already know my story but perhaps this is a good time as any to repeat it for others who need a little inspiration to stop smoking so here it goes again...

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Topic: Quitting smoking and dieting Mon 04/11/11 05:40 PM

I used to hate it when ex smokers would lecture or warn me about smoking. Hell, nothings going to happen to me.

Ok - let me put it to you this way - diet and look great and smoke the cigs - or diet and look great and no cigs. I am currently lugging around a 15 lb oxygen tank with a plastic tube stuck up my nostrils, most likely for the rest of my life, and that my dear doesn't look good. Better just stop now and show those cigs that you are stronger than them. They will and believe me, perhaps not now, but they will eventually ruin yr life later.

I too like everyone else tried to quit smoking w/o success, tried pills, patches, hypnosis and nothing worked. I really needed my mouth stapled closed. Finally I tried Chantix and it worked (totally wierd dreams) but then my Dad got sick suddenly & I spent everyday & moment possible from July 5th until August 25th by his side until he died. Believe me, I was smoking the entire time my Dad was ill and smoking more than ever. After he passed away I would smoke the usual at work but at night I would go out on my deck and chain smoke and would talk to my Dad in the heavens. I wasn't feeling well as I was already diagonosed with Emphysema but that didn't matter. Each cigarette, to me, was my time alone with myself to be alone and think. Not that I was thinking about the actual act of smoking, just smoking and thinking. Well this went on and on thru the winter and I would sometimes feel dizzy when walking back into the house, but it didn't matter. Spring came and so did the pollen. On April 14th (my wedding anniversary) I went out after lunch at work and had gone outside for my usual cigarettes but started coughing and choking like a was kid smoking for the very first time. I went back to my desk and literally choked until 5pm and I know this was annoying some people but others were truly concerned. I thought it was just the pollen. Went home driving and choking (not an easy task to do) and suddenly seemed to stop choking for a while which made me think that it was definitely the pollen around my job and there different kinds of trees by my house and I was ok now. So I went out on the deck and lit one up and started to choke. Didn't feel well & called my husband to say I couldn't celebrate our anniversary like we had planned. I went to bed with about 6 pillows to support me bcuz I couldn't lay down from choking. I spent the night like that - texted myself out of work the next morning and my husband insisted that I go to the hospital. Being pig headed I argued and then 3 hrs later said I would go but needed to take a shower first - vanity b4 health. Well, I didn't know that my oxygen level was basically depleted and when I stepped into the nice hot shower I suffocated - or respirtory failure as the paperwork read. The most horrible feeling ever - I grabbed the shower curtain and walls. Lucky for me my husband and daughter were right there bcuz they knew how bad I was (my son stayed in another room) - I literally watched as they faded from my sight. Next thing I know I am in the ER with tubes down my throat, IV's in both arms like I am was pincushion. I spent 14 days in that hospital and 2 months later another 5 days. I have Emphysema and COPD. My lungs are at 49% total capacity. I cannot get better but if I continue all my meds, breathing treatments, inhalers, oxygen 24/7 I may maintain my current status or may not. But let me tell you...Spring - pollen kills me - Summer heat and humidity - not a good mixture for me - Fall - pollen once again - Winter - cold air takes the wind right out of my lungs that actually hurts.

So, please do yourself a huge favor now and get a prescription for a pill, patch or whatever. Just stop and don't be so stupid as I was - I wish I could have suffocated years ago and perhaps I wouldn't be in this situation today. It is not a good place to be. I still miss my Dad every single day - still go to pick up the phone to call him and realize that he's gone. The cigarettes weren't going to bring my Dad back to me. The cigarettes aren't going to take away any sadness I feel. The cigarettes aren't going to make any problems go away. Smokers will smoke bcuz we are happy, sad, nervous, excited - pls just stop bcuz they will hurt you.

That is great that you have made the decision as that is the first step!

Just remeber that you are a strong person who is taking control of YOUR HEALTH and you will be so happy that you did - believe me when I say that - it feels great to wake up in the morning and not feel like an army marched thru your mouth while you slept.
Everything smells and tastes better as well !

Take care of yourself as you are making one of the best choices that will have a huge affect on the rest of your life!

I also quit .. and still having a tough time with it ... miss my smoking friends but I cannot be aorund them without wanting one ...

You can all do it, I did and never believed I would!!!

My partner also smokes 20 a day and alot of my friends smoke- when they smoke around me it makes me even more proud to be a non-smoker & not smell of *kitten*. In fact I used to smell the ashtray when I really had a craving- that was usually enough to put me off.

All you need is willpower & motivation to get through the hard bit.. Start out looking at yourself as a non smoker. Good luck. xx

Just wanted to hop in on this thread. Great job craft338. I working on my 5th smoke free day now and already feeling better. Using the patch and carrot sticks and it seems to be working so far. Like you, in the car the hardest part. I have an hour commute to and from work each day and traffic stress makes me want to chain smoke.