Stop Smoking and Diet

Good move on getting healthier for your kids! I'm an ex-smoker and the one thing I found really helps with cravings, whether it be cigarettes or food, is distraction. So find a few things that would distract you, like a game on your phone, or a rubix cube (what I used), sudoku or crosswords, or even chewing gum. I used an smoking cessation app that calculated how many cigarettes I hadn't smoked, how much money I'd saved and how many days I get back on my life. That was a great help too. Good luck!

I was always told to just get started on one habit and then add another. However, I just joined a weight program that is pretty expensive and the $150.00 a month I'll save will go toward that cost. So I am starting today and giving up my smoking (I've only been on diet for 1 week). Good Luck!

When my son was born, I quit cold turkey that day. 8 months later I tried a cigarette when at a bar, almost threw up after one drag. Havnt touched another since then.
But stress from work and home pushed me to the limits a few times. Started missing the nicotine and the habit of the draw. So I started with vaping. Not as good as not doing anything, but 100x better than smoking, especially if you make your own juice and control what's in it

I gave up smoking ten years ago and started going to the gym (I actually signed up for a bootcamp). With motivation and support I was able to quit smoking and continue to lose weight. It took a while to get to where I am now but it can be done. Quitting smoking doesn't automatically mean weight gain. if you can substitute the "hand to mouth" motion with fruits, veggies or anything else low-cal but nutrient rich, you'll be fine. As always, calories in v. calories out is how you lose. Best of luck! it feels amazing to be a happy, healthy, non-smoker!

I quit smoking and started losing weight all on the same day.
I simply replaced smoking with walking. Every time I really wanted a smoke, either walked outside or on my treadmill.
It was difficult but it really does work to replace one habit with another!
Now-12 years later, I don't smoke and I've been a healthy BMI for years.
The first 3 days is very difficult but just take deep deep breaths when you want a cig.
Drink lots of water to flush the nicotine out.
Walk
Eat at a reasonable deficit-not a huge one!
Walk, cry, talk about it!
Suck on cinnamon sticks.
You can do-it's difficult but very doable!

First off, good for you on making the decision to be healthier for your kid(s)!

As far as which is more important, I think quitting the cigs should be your main focus. I quit over 10 years ago (wow, I hardly believe it's been that long!) and I've never looked back. Cold turkey worked for my husband and I, but everyone is different, so just do what works for you.

On the junk food issue, I don't think you ever have to give it up entirely. Just learn to eat those kind of things in moderation and exercise portion control. You will lose weight as long as you have a calorie deficit. Just put your stats in MFP and be honest/accurate about logging, even if it's not pretty. After you have logged for a while, go back and see where you can cut things that aren't as important to you. For me, it was opting for fish/chicken as opposed to beef and taking smaller portions of rice/pasta/bread. But I still have a least one treat everyday because it makes me happy!

I quit a 15 months ago after 30 years, well into my weight loss. Cold turkey (no patches, gum or whatever those vapormagigs are called), didn't gain a pound. You've got this.

A heavy smoker burns up to 200 calories per day as it does increase metabolism. Adding an activity that will burn those 200 calories should keep your weight gain in check ....IF you continue to maintain your calorie deficit.I made a decision to use the nicotine gum, stop smoking and continue losing weight. I just don't have the willpower to go cold turkey and lose weight all at the same time.
Good luck.

aidenhardy516 wrote: »

Hi All, the time has come for my life style and bad habits to change. Being a father I really need to improve my health. I am wanting to lose weight and give up smoking!!! I want to know if anyone else has tried doing both at the same time or I am just setting myself up to fail as I am setting my self to extreme addictions to give up, Junk food and the Cigarettes. Any tips or personal experiences would be great! Thanks

For the longest time i had a list of stuff that i needed to change about myself. Top of that list was being a smoker. I smoked for 18 years, averaging a pack a day or more, depending on stress and other activities. I also crept up to 100 pounds overweight over the years.

My roommate at the time was just finishing a book called "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking" by Allen Carr (we used the US edition, changed slightly for vernacular, i believe). While reading it, he told me that he thought it was promising. I was curious, and read reviews online. The two things that convinced me:

1. You buy the book once. $15. No program, nothing ever to buy later. No drugs, no gums, nothing but a one-time book purchase.
2. You keep smoking while you read it. You're not supposed to wait to read it once you've already quit. You don't need to "set a date" to quit. Just buy the book, and start reading it.

My roommate quit smoking on March 1, 2014. I borrowed his copy, and halfway through went out and bought my own, just to support the publisher. I took my time with it, i was in no rush, and i wanted to understand how a book could help me quit when i couldn't do it myself. On March 8, 2014, i had my last cigarette.

Most important bits about stopping smoking with this book:

• I never got frustrated, like i used to. My work load was normal, often a bit stressful. I didn't wait for the moment. I just quit smoking. The book helped me get my perspective right, and i was fine.
• There are NO replacement behaviors. No drugs, gums, hypnosis. Nothing to do but not light another cigarette.
• There WERE some cravings, periodically, but they were never stressful. In fact, i came to recognize them as habit, rather than addiction. It was old psychological triggers saying "now it's time to smoke" instead of an actual desire to smoke. I quickly learned to laugh those off, as the book recommends.

And here is the best thing - when i quit smoking, i could feel the change. I also recognized that i had previously thought quitting smoking would be one of the toughest things i ever did, and it wasn't actually that tough. This gave me the right mindset, and shortly after, i joined here.

I've started counting calories and holding myself accountable to keep those counts reasonable. I've developed healthier eating habits, and now i'm about halfway through my weightloss, feeling better, engaged with life. Hell, i've taken up yoga. I've got new clothes. I cook more, and do neat experiments with new, healthy foods. Life is pretty damned good!

YOU CAN DO IT.


p.s. I won't link the book here, but you can find it online easily, and i bought my copy at the local big bookstore. Also, i regret sounding like either a preacher or a salesperson - i am neither. Rather, i remember what it was like to plan my day around making sure i had cigarettes and the time and place to smoke them. I remember feeling weak and unable to stop. And being free from that inspires me to want to help others find it too.