Any ex-smokers?
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I stopped smoking about 6 years ago after reading the book The Easy Way to Stop Smoking by Allan Carr. A friend gave it to me after it worked for another friend of hers. I'm so very much not a self help book sort of person so I tossed it on the bookshelf where it sat for about 6 months. When I finally did pick it up, it pretty much worked like a charm. After getting through the first couple of days after reading the book, which you read at your own pace and smoke the whole time you are reading it, my cravings were almost all gone. A coworker had also used the same book, unbeknownst to me at the time, and had the same success. It basically brainwashes you into not wanting to smoke. Best thing I ever read and I'm a huge reader. :
No joke, this book is seriously magic. I used it to quit smoking, as has my mother-in-law (she quit about 10 years ago), my husband's aunt (she smoked for something like 20 years and quit about two years ago), several of their friends (who all smoked for years and will tell you this book is magical), and my husband and myself (quit nearly 7 months ago). I agree, I hate "self help" books, but this absolutely does work.
More to the point of your question, it is MUCH easier to work out now. I never had a smoker's cough, unless I was getting out of breath, and then it would kick up hard-core, so exercising was awful. This went away almost instantly when I quit. I did have a lot of trouble with snacking, but if you make sure to keep healthy stuff around, it should be easier. Give yourself some healthy options (carrots, sugar snap peas, etc.) and then even if you do snack, it shouldn't make you gain.
But most importantly: It is MUCH worse for your health to smoke than it is to gain a few pounds. Please don't let this be an excuse to put off quitting. As hard as it is, as difficult as the first few days will be, you will look back and be so, so glad you quit.0 -
I quit smoking exactly 22.53 day's ago. I'm using the patch and have had zero weight gain!! Actually I lost 1/2 a pound. :happy: I'm keeping up with my food diary and exercising and doing really well!! Also, if you have an android phone there is an app called Quit Now! and it keeps up with your day's and hour's quit, how my cig's you HAVEN"T smoked, $$ saved, etc. It's really cool and motivating.
I just decided I was done, after having smoked 1 to 2 packs a day for 22 1/2 years. Slapped on the patch and the rest is history. I didn't think I would be able to quit if my fiance didn't quit with me but he is still smoking and it doesn't bother me. Now, he is being thoughtful and not smoking around me, but the other day, it was freezing outside and he was standing outside of the car have a smoke and I told him to just get in the car because it was too cold. I also thought, "Man I used to DO that!" hehe...he got in with his cig and I still wasn't bothered by it. I guess I'm either lucky or extremely stubborn!! :laugh:
My workouts are definitely improving too. It doesn't happen overnight, as your lungs don't recover overnight, but it does get easier everytime I workout.
Good luck to you!!0 -
I started having the exact same issue when exercising. I mentioned it to one dr and she said I had allergies. Jump to a year later, I changed drs and she sent me for tests. Turns out, I was in the very early stages of emphysema, SCARED ME TO DEATH! So I quit. I stopped by using the electronic cigarette.
I gained 8 lbs BEFORE I discovered bell pollen to curb my appetite. It also increased my energy and helped with allergy symptoms, it is natural super food, please google it to find out how great it is. The bee pollen did work, I lost the weight and did not have that insane appetite.
The only way I could increase my lung function was to exercise, it has been 1 year and 7 days since I stopped smoking and yesterday I ran 3 miles and walked 3.5 miles! Let me tell ya, I would get winded watching cops chase the criminal watching CSI before I stopped smoking.
Stopping now does not reverse the lung damage but exercise can increase lung function.
Good luck, and highly recommend the ecig, it is a much easier way to quit smoking. Lord knows that I needed an easy way because the hard way did not work for me.0 -
I'm 24 days smoke free...using the nicotine patches. I have gained some weight, but only 5 pounds. The way I see it is a few pounds if a lot less unhealthy than smoking half a pack a day. I never had a smoker's cough or seriously struggled at the gym because I smoked, but that being said without cigarettes my stamina has increased 10 fold.0
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You would have to gain 100 lbs to risk your health the way cigarettes do. Go for it! Everything in life is better without cigarettes.0
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I have been a non-smoker for almost 2 years. I feel so much better, and can exercise so much harder. I didn't know how much it affected my breathing until I had been off smoking for awhile, when I realized I could breath so much better, I smelled better(I am Vain) and food did taste better, especially healthy foods(fruit&veggies) so thats a plus! I didn't gain any weight, however I became pregnant 2 months after I quit. But, my son is 8 monthes old and I weigh less then I did pre-pregnancy, so if anything I have lost weight. Quit and never look back.....Oh I need to tell you how I did it. I know a lot of ppl love to smoke on vacation...but for me stress was a triggor, when I was calm and chill I didn't feel the urge as much. So I went to the beach for 3 days and didn't take any with me, and didn't buy any when I arrived. I forced my self to relax and let the chemicals leave my body..if I tried to do that at home and work...forget about it..I need to be in a place of total zen. It doesn't take that long to get the nicoten out, but the cravings ofcource still hit, and when they did I just worked through it..you have to have will power. mind over matter and all that. I just pushed through it, because I wanted a family and didn't want to be a smoking mom....find what makes you want to quit and think of that. ps I smoked for over 7 years 10-15/per day off and on.0
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I had an interesting experience when I quit the next-to-the last time. I had been smoke-free about a week and started doing some exercises. I was walking on the treadmill one day and took a deep breath in and out.......it smelled like smoke! Totally grossed me out. I can only imagine what my lungs looked and smelled like.
I quit for the final time in May 2011. I gave myself through the Christmas holidays to not worry about my weight. I gained probably 25-30 lb (was overweight to begin with). I joined MPF on January 2.0 -
I smoked about 3-4 packs a day for 10 years and then 1-2 a day for another 5. I was in excellent shape while smoking, could even run 2 miles in about 12 minutes. I just got to a point where I wasn't enjoying it as much as I used to and decided to quit. Could just be a genetic freak in that way. My Dad has smoked about 3 packs a day (at one point up to 5 a day) for the last 39 years and can still run a mile in under 6 minutes at almost 52 years old (and yes I relaize the math means he's been smoking since he was 13).
My wife and I both went on Chantix and in 2 weeks we were smoke free and have been for about 4 years. We didn't even need to finish the month of the doses, it worked that well for us. While there are some people that have strange side effects from the drug, I was happy with the results and I personally had 0 side effects and no weight gain at all.0 -
I am just as Vain!!!! Just quit last wed. Its been tough, i crave smoking and sweets bad!~
I have been working out extra and havent gained any but havent lost either0 -
I'd love to try champix but if you have a history of depression you can't. I've had PND twice, so that rules me out.
Great to hear so many of you have been successful.0 -
i quit in 2008. the improvement in lung function was faster than i expected. used the Allen Carr book to quit, and did not gain weight. i lost an extra 10 or so pounds in advance of quitting just in case, though.0
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I stopped smoking 29 days ago , so i've now replaced the smoking with running and im beginning to feel great , i have loads more energy. I have continued to count my calories and have lost 7lb in the last 3 weeks0
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Stopped smoking, started running and reached 10 miles within a month... lost 30lbs in 2... killed my addiction with the running0
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I started smoking when i was 12, I'm 26 now and just quit smoking on Jan. 3. this yr. I used Nicoderm patches and just made the commitment to myself that i was going to quit no matter what. I knew that without cigarettes i would crave carbs and sweets, so i let myself have whatever i wanted for 4 weeks as a kind of reward system for not smoking. I gained 8 lbs. When 4 weeks was up, i started eating a healthy, low sodium, low sugar diet and doing some form of exercise everyday and now I'm down 10 lbs. My boyfriend is still a smoker and i think he stinks now when he comes in from a smoke break. Once you break the habit, you will feel a million times better!0
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day 121, and feel great, yes I gained weight but now i'm running 4.5 miles 3 times a week and 6.2 miles on sat.. I generally finish WITH breath left ... before hand I couldn't come close to that and was basically dead out of air ... so worth it... I've dropped 40 lbs..
just control what you eat and keep moving and it'll fall off again and you'll feel great.0 -
Tomorrow will be 2wks since I had my last cigarette. The urge to smoke is still overwhelming at times but I chew sugar free gum and exercise more instead of snacking..... I havent gained any weight. One day at a time, it can be done! Good luck.0
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I know weight gain is not as important as being a non smoker, but you are underestimating how vain I am (that's a joke).
I need to try convince my fiance to quit too....no way I'll be able to if he's still smoking. I think he's ready too though.
Will check out those links posted above, thanks.
I quit 3 years ago. I used gum. It worked well because the gum would take the edge off the craving. Your fitness may not improve, but you will be a lot healthier and you will enjoy running a lot more. I am a runner now, and that helps me not want to start smoking again. I wish I had quit smoking a long time ago. It is hard at first, but just buckle down to it and you will be successful. You won't gain weight if you continue to monitor your calorie intake and exercise. I ate a lot of celery and baby carrots when I was quitting! Low calorie, and good for you, and helps soothe the hand-to-mouth habit.
Good luck to you! :flowerforyou:0 -
I am just as Vain!!!! Just quit last wed. Its been tough, i crave smoking and sweets bad!~
I have been working out extra and havent gained any but havent lost either
As for the vanity, think of all the wrinkles you WON'T have when you're 50+. Nothing like smoking to ruin your skin. I would rather be 5-10 pounds over weight with nice skin and fewer wrinkles...
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I've tried Allen Carr's books, patches, inhalors...will power, everything!
I think the only thing left for me to try is an electric cigarette. Not sure where to buy one but I will google.
Thanks everyone. I think I'm ready to finally give up.
be careful if you try the electric cigs. the fluid is pretty toxic and can and will leak into your mouth. I quite cold turkey 11-11-11 gained some weight but now I'm working on that. I dreamed I was smoking last night. That's the first time for that in a long time. When I noticed what I was holding I had a really physical reaction to it. Picture a huge bug in you hand and that's how I reacted to the ciggy. Funny how our brains work.0 -
I've tried Allen Carr's books, patches, inhalors...will power, everything!
I think the only thing left for me to try is an electric cigarette. Not sure where to buy one but I will google.
Thanks everyone. I think I'm ready to finally give up.
be careful if you try the electric cigs. the fluid is pretty toxic and can and will leak into your mouth. I quite cold turkey 11-11-11 gained some weight but now I'm working on that. I dreamed I was smoking last night. That's the first time for that in a long time. When I noticed what I was holding I had a really physical reaction to it. Picture a huge bug in you hand and that's how I reacted to the ciggy. Funny how our brains work.
The fluid is not toxic, it is just nicotine and glycerine water. I actually put some on my tongue when my ecig was in my car and my husband had it. My doctor loves them and recommends them to all his patients that are coming down with COPD as a way to ween of traditional cigarettes.
Cold turkey does not work for every one, it did not work for me, and I tried for years and years and years to stop. The most important thing to understand is that the ecig is ONLY nicotine and that the cigarette companies put many other additives in cigarettes to make them more addictive. It will take a few days of getting used to not having those other chemicals when you use the ecig. After about 3 days, I was over it.0 -
Ex-Smoker here! I've struggled with nicotine addiction since I was 14 years old. I haven't had a cigarette in over 3 years but I became addicted to nicotine replacement products off and on since I quit smoking. I've been addicted to nicotine gum, lozenges and even patches. It sounds crazy but it's true. I've recently put it all down and been nicotine free for a few months now. Luckily with no weight gain (yay!)
There is hope for anyone out there struggling with this. I was taking COPD medications 3 years ago when I was smoking because I could barely breath (and I was in my early 20's). Today I don't need any medications except my rescue inhaler for my asthma, I can do intense cardio without feeling like my lungs are going to melt and I feel great. It takes time but the lungs do heal, the sooner you stop smoking the sooner the healing process will begin.
Good luck!0 -
Just worked out I'd be saving €40 a week, and my fiance would be saving about €70.
So that's €440 every 4 weeks. And we think we can't afford to get married yet? We can't afford to SMOKE!!
I'm going to find out where I can get e-cigs here in Ireland and my quit date is going to be 12th March.
Thanks for all of your stories and motivation, really appreciate it xx0 -
I'm 33 and smoked (about a pack a day) for 17 years.I quit smoking cold turkey on Jan 1st of this year. So, I'm a recovering smoker. I have NOT gained weight. (Lost actually). You just have to be mindful of it. And, my breathing is SOOOOO much better. I can exercise longer now. I realized it wasn't my legs holding me back on the treadmill. It was my lungs!0
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Its only been two weeks since I quit, but the difference is amazing..... I have alot more endurance when I walk/run. I no longer gasp for breath. AND I havnt gained a pound.:bigsmile:0
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That's fantastic! I promise, you'll never regret it!Just worked out I'd be saving €40 a week, and my fiance would be saving about €70.
So that's €440 every 4 weeks. And we think we can't afford to get married yet? We can't afford to SMOKE!!
I'm going to find out where I can get e-cigs here in Ireland and my quit date is going to be 12th March.
Thanks for all of your stories and motivation, really appreciate it xx0 -
Just worked out I'd be saving €40 a week, and my fiance would be saving about €70.
So that's €440 every 4 weeks. And we think we can't afford to get married yet? We can't afford to SMOKE!!
I'm going to find out where I can get e-cigs here in Ireland and my quit date is going to be 12th March.
Thanks for all of your stories and motivation, really appreciate it xx
Scary when you do the math isn't it? Assuming no increase in prices that's €5,720 (approx $7,900) per year.0 -
I smoked for 18 year, quit back in Sept 2011, I can RUN now which I used to do ( more like a jog) but got winded super easy! Now I can push through it so much easier! I am so glad I quit! Not to mention, how much better my chest feels in the morning, and being able to have time to workout instead of always thinking of getting to my next cigg break
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I quit smoking in 2009 after 34 years of 2-4 packs a day. I joined a gym and MFP. I lost 15 pounds that year and increased my endurance/stamina and all around health a thousandfold.
In 2010, I stalled out because the gym equipment and MFP told me I burned a lot more than I really do during cardio, coupled with inaccurate estimations of my food intake. But I was off all my asthma medications and inhaler!!
In 2011, I started running (yeah, me!) and lost 29 pounds. I was able to do a 5k by September. In October, I stopped logging and working out and put 9 pounds back on.
This year, I've lost the 9 pounds and am doing zumba and kickboxing and heavy weight lifting. I feel great and can actually see some definition in my abs and glutes and arms/shoulders. That is really saying something since I'm 51 years old!!0
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