i want to quit smoking

I wish I knew the answer to that one...I got stupid about 5 years ago...(desperate, actually)..and started smoking in order to lose weight...I need to quit, but I'm scared silly that I'll gain weight...Good luck to you and hopefully someone can post some success tips.....:smokin: :laugh: vee

HI, I was able to quit after 33 years of 1 pack a day. it has been 13 months now and I have no desire to start again. I give all credit to the medication "Chantix" I have never been able to stop before and this really helped, you can actually smoke while taking the medication. Yes I gained some weight, which is why im on this site but I allowed myself to for 8 months, then once I was no longer needing a smoke, I started the diet portion. All I can say is to stop smoking makes you feel so much better and stronger "mentally" that once you do that you can do anything and that includes loosing the weight. You know you have to do it, its either now or later. If your ready that helps alot, Give yourself some room and it will all fall together. Good Luck!

In the last year I have quit smoking and lost 30 pounds.

It all started when I had a blood clot in my leg and was hospitalized for 6 days and was put on a blood thinner. I decided it was time to shape up or I was not going to be around. The doctor told me I needed to quit smoking and lose a few pounds.

It is now a year later and I cannot believe how much better I feel. I just got done working out where I burned 1000 calories by riding the elliptical(900 calories) for 1 hour and taking a 15 minute swim(100 calories).

I work out everyday (don't tell me you don't have time - you will be twice as productive once you make it part of your routine. I log every carlorie I eat and make sure at the end of the day I have burned more than I have consumed.

Don't try to lose to fast. A pound a week will get the job done and you will feel great. Just get started and build some momentum - I can't tell you how good it feels.

Hats of to you for thinking about it- don't quit- quitting. I have been a heavy smoker for 30 years at last a pack a day and tried everything to quit. The chantix did it for me- yes I still crave it and have put on about 8 lbs. since 1-17-08 but it is worth it.
Like some of you I never tracked calories before- I'm at my absolute heaviest right now and am truly hoping this site can help.
Good luck to you - you can do it !!
"D"

I too quit smoking thanks to a lot of determination and Chantix. I smoked a pack a day for about 18 years. Today is day 41 without smoking and I feel great. I have put on a couple pounds, but thats been happening for a few months now and has added up to about 20 pounds. I have been exercising 7 days a week, mostly elliptical and weights, for 3 wks. now and have lost 5 lbs. and I have never felt better in my life. Don't give up...keep trying and if you dont mind taking a pill 2 times a day for a couple of months I highly reccomend the Chantix. You will need a scrip from your doctor.

Good Luck!
Lisa

I quit cold turkey a couple of years ago. I have to say that I think eating better and exercising is a lot harder than not smoking, but I only smoked for about 5 years. I did not gain any weight when I quit, but I've been heavy my entire life.

I did not do this (but I wish I had!) but maybe you can put the money you would use for cigs in a jar, and then at the end of the month (or week, whatever) do something nice for yourself, like buy a movie or a new piece of clothing. You could also save the cash for a vacation. If my parents quit smoking today, saved the money, and didn't smoke for a year, they would have $7280 (4 cartons a week x $35 [est] x 52 weeks)

Also, I know someone who had to stop using Chantix because of some side effects (gastrointestinal related) so be sure to talk to your doctor about what to expect.

Good luck, whichever route you choose to go!

I too am I Chantix success story. After 8 years of smoking a pack a day I quit in November using Chantix. For me, gaining wait wasn't an issue when I quit smoking because I never replaced food with cigarettes - I just enjoyed them both! I have to say that quitting smoking was such a huge accomplishment for me that it has given me the mentality that I can do anything. It really does make you mentally stronger as someone else mentioned. In addition it makes you physically stronger. Work outs are so much easier than before. I am not afraid of going to a cardio class at the gym because I'm embarrassed I will be too out of breath because of my smoker lungs. Trust me, even if you do gain a little weight it will be worth it!

I quit last June for the same reason. I want to see my kids grow up. It felt guilty everytime I had a smoke and decided that it was selfish of me to smoke and quite possibly cause my own death and leave them years earlier that I might have to. Plus, I didn't want them to see me smoking and influence them to smoke also.

I don't really have any tips on how to curb the cravings and all of that.

Some advice that I can give is to go to your doctor and get him to tell you how much damage you have done to yourself. That's some initiative right there. Or hopefully, for your sake you could quite and get the horrible symptoms that come after that will make you never want to smoke again in your life. I quit in June and coughed everyday and night straight until about November. I didn't sleep. I constantly annoyed the people I worked with. And was coughing until I threw up a lot of the time. I eventually went to the doctor and had to be put on an inhaler, get chest x-rays and blood taken, and I'm only 25, so that was very scary for me!

Think mind over matter. That's what I did. Good luck! You can do it.