I Quit

It is AWESOME that you have decided to quit smoking. Keep it up, nicotine is one of those drugs that you have to just quit "cold turkey" which means you need to stay AWAY! One of the negative effects of quitting any vice (particularly smoking) is weight gain. BUT the gain WILL stop so don't be discouraged! Just keep on going, what you're going through is normal and it will get better in a short while. Don't give up on your fitness/weight loss goals, just consider this a small obstacle that you will overcome and once you do, weight loss will be much easier due to the better functioning of your entire body! Hang in there and don't forget you have all our support!

you need MFP more now than before! Don't quit! You've probably accidently replaced the oralhabit of smoking with the oral habit of eating, replacing one habit with an equally as negative one. Really stop and think before you eat anything and ask yourself "am I hungry or am I haveing a craving" or even "is this out of habit". When you "usually" would smoke trying purposely doing something in it's place. When I stopped I really missed my smoke after dinner. I replaced it with brushing my teeth! I didn't gain weight from it, it took my mind of my smoke, my mouth felt fresh and I continued on!

Hmmm...I haven't smoked since Jan 3 and I've been off the patch for a few weeks now and I haven't gained an ounce. I'm not trying to gloat...but I wonder if you're eating more and not realizing it.

I realize every "body" is different but I don't subscribe to the "you MUST gain weight when you quit" theory.

Very carefully watch/track you food, sodium, water. Keep active..you can do it. Even if you DO gain a little it's not as harmful as smoking. Keep at it and good luck!!

Don't quit hun, I gave up smoking 7 weeks ago tomorrow, and started MFP at the same time. It's HARD!! But I am you, just a few weeks ahead

So stick to it, I promise you will be so proud of yourself. Battle through it, you really can do this

x

i quit smoking a week ago cold turkey dont believe in all the quitting aids as then have to quit them and all i want to do now is eat eat eat!! i havent gained i dont know will find out on sunday eek!

Quitting smoking is a huge thing. That is incredibly amazing! Stick with it... By quitting smoking you'll find a huge difference in your physical fitness going forward!

1. What I would do is just keep yourself very busy. Every time you want a cigarette jog on the spot or do some squats... A friend of mine did push-ups every time he craved a cigarette. Exercise will minimize your cravings for both cigs and food....

2. If you have a time of the day where you normally crave them then ensure that during these times you have an activity planned....go for a coffee break, call a friend, take the dog for a walk, join a fitness class, take up a new sport, etc.

3. Keep your hands busy too! Take up knitting/crocheting, colour, paint your nails, etc. By taking up a new hobby you can quit your old habit.

4. Always pre-pack healthy snacks. I do this during hte week... Every Sunday I cut up all my veggies and individually pack servings that I can bring with me to work. I tend to be a big snacker...and I know ppl that quit smoking tend to go straight for the food too.....so when you get the urge to smoke or eat....snack on veggies!! Celery, carrots, peppers, etc.

5. Gum! Candy! Mints! Suckers! Keep these around. You can buy sugar free ones...

And remember....drink lots of water! Every time that craving hits chug some water.

personal experience:

I quit smoking over the course of about a year.
I gained about 10 kg.
This sounds discouraging, but oh my gosh if only you knew how much better I felt.
It's about being healthier as a whole for me, not just "being slim".

best of luck:flowerforyou:

I quit smoking and I gained a whole lot of weight. Before you'd light a cigarette when you were bored, stressed, etc. and now you eat. That's just how it goes. Instead of snacking on the unhealthy stuff get some fruit handy or even vegetables. Make a salad, have it ready in your fridge just for those times. Know what your weakness is and stay away from it! Good luck and do watch the calories...but your main concern might just be the fat and the saturated fat in your food!Keep an eye out

Apples are filling, bananas are as well...which is what you might want to lean towards when you're feeling a snack urge come on.

You will need to work out harder until your metabolism settles back to normal. I quit smoking nearly 2 years ago... right off the bat I gained a few pounds so I worked out harder. I either jogged or went to the gym every day and kept the weight gain at bay. Unfortunately, about 8 months after I quit smoking, I herniated a disc in my back and all exercise ceased. Within just a couple months I gained 50lbs, which I'm now struggling to lose. So work out extra hard, get your metabolism boosted, and keep going. And congratz for quitting! It really does get easier after time.

I just read this today, actually... it's a very lighthearted article with lots of dry humor about quitting smoking, but I think there are definitely some things in here you will identify with and will help you see that you are not alone. I hope you enjoy it and I hope it helps!

http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-life-lessons-you-only-learn-through-quitting-smoking/

I just read this today, actually... it's a very lighthearted article with lots of dry humor about quitting smoking, but I think there are definitely some things in here you will identify with and will help you see that you are not alone. I hope you enjoy it and I hope it helps!

http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-life-lessons-you-only-learn-through-quitting-smoking/

How irresponsible of you! You know you should have put a disclaimer after posting a cracked.com link...
"Warning: Going to this site will lead to endless reading articles and zero productivity at work today".

:drinker:

For me I had to start moving. The more I move the less I want a cigarette because that inhibits my ability to move. Go for walks. Walk until you are tired, then turn around and walk home. Do something that takes your mind off of it. Do your best to make sensible food choices, but you are doing great by quitting smoking. Slay one dragon at a time, and you will get where you need to go.

Quitting smoking is way more important than losing weight. Try to concentrate more on that than losing weight. Munch on healthy substitutes like celery, carrots, suckers, etc.

I know someone who every time they wanted a cigarette they would do pushups. She did get very toned arms LOL.

I used the patch and it was not too bad. I still had times i craved one but it went away quite quickly. I did a ton of walking too that really helped. Especially during the times i was use to having one like my lunch break. I brought walking shoes to work and walked during that hour (i quit a yr ago and i still walk on my lunch break now).

You can do it. One day at a time. In a short while you will feel awesome i promise!

It's almost been 2 years since my last cigarette! I think the trick to not gaining weight is to get yourself moving! Everytime you think about a cigarette, get out and walk or walk in place, do sit ups, do push ups, drink water. Once you start, you'll wanna keep going because you'll have so much more energy!

I have a sister-in-law who quit smoking a over a year ago and she hasn't started back. When she quit she decided that she wasn't going to worry about the weight gain for the first couple of months because if she did both things at once she would get frustrated and quit. She gained weight at the beginning because she was just focusing on kicking the nicotine habbit. Once she was stable in that she started losing the weight she had gained and now she is smoke free and at her goal weight. Quitting smoking is much more important to your health than losing weight so I would just focus on that for now and then worry about the weight once you are stable. Good luck to you!!