Right, since April 30th I've lost 10lbs (WOOP! WOOP!) so I'm kinda back to my comfort zone (158-154lbs & btw I'm 5'4" & 23). I do want to lose a little bit more though.

Monday morning I smoked my last cigarette. I was getting P*ssed off with smoking as it just seemed to be getting in the way of my life. Everything revolved around sneaking off for a quick puff. I was a secret smoker mainly because I was ashamed of it. People knew I smoked but I would avoid doing it in front of them (Ha! This sounds like my old binge eating). Plus my skin was looking really rubbish as well. Anyways, spur of the moment I buy 2 packs of patches & stuck one on. I haven't wanted to smoke & in situations where I usually smoke I occupy my right hand.

I have not turned to food. Yet. I thought now would also be a good time to quit as I feel I've really sorted out my eating & bingeing is now rare. So maybe I can use the same train of thought I've got with my diet to giving up smoking. I've also upped my vit C, vit A, vit E & B vitamins too as the ciggies probably robbed my body of these for 6 years. Should help my skin too. Oh & I've been drinking more water to help curb the cravings.

So how did others handle their weight when giving up smoking? I'd love to know! Especially if you used nicotine patches too.

Also any help with other vitamin rich foods which will help with the 'aftermath' would be fantastic too.

Keep counting your calories and exercising.  As long as you don't start muching to keep your mouth and hands busy it shouldn't be too big of a problem. 

Also, I don't know about you, but I couldn't wear the patches at night.  I would have very vivid nightmares/dreams and would wake up exhausted.  I made sure to remove the patch about an hour before bed and those went away.

Oh I will! :-) Actually this site is a brilliant distraction.

The ones I got you wear for max of 16 hours so I don't wear one to bed. Cheers for the heads up though :-)

3 days of NOT SMOKING

I was looking up on info about symptoms of lung cancer... and my broke all the cigarettes in my last pack (new one).. broke them one by one...

At the same time i decided to plan my weekly workout schedule.. basically time to get fit and healthy and do it all at the same time.

My boyfriend stil smokes, but outside, and man you realise once u stopped smoking how much you STINK when u smoke.. i told him i rather kiss our cat that just had sardines then him that just smoked.. he will quit as well..

Told him that i did not want to live our unhealthy life anymore, sitting in front of TV, or at a bar.. made a deal with him, we do on hour workout and then we go c our friends for a quick drink at the bar (well i dont drink alcohol so im ok)....

Tonight we go for one hour at the driving range... during the day i chew gum, have a lollipop from time to time, eat carrots, drink a LOT od water  i guess that i can eat a bit of candy to pass the cravings as im doing everyday workout and diet..

3 days already, dont feel too much the cravings only in the evening before going to bed...

Does anyone have problem sleeping since they stopped smoking??? its been 2 nights and i am normally a deep sleeper i wake up in the middle... or have a hard time falling asleep...

Not using any patches or nicotine gum... just candy from time to time...

I read, still reading Allen Carr's book.. which is on my desk at work and read from time to time...

Pb: everone smokes here at the office, cigarette packs lying everywhere... but nope not falling for it.. dont want to be a drug addict anymore...

good job thus far to all who give cigarettes the ol' heave ho!

I quite in November, cold turkey; since than I have had eight cigarettes, no intentions of continuing more than that. My lungs work now, I don't get headaches any more and I can actually sleep for longer than two hours now. I started losing weight after I quit smoking; smoking has never had a negative or positive effect on my weight, it's all been down to eating and exercise.

good luck

Just stay super busy and you will eventually forget that you smoke. Replace it with health minded habits. The money you save can buy you all kind of healthy living toys and food. You will also have a lot more energy to do all the exercise you can imagine. Worked for my goofy self anyway.

Edit..BTW, how much do those nasty things cost now? They were up to $5.00 a pack when I quit.

I smoked my last cigarette on 12/05/07 and I put on 30 lbs but I have to qualify that with the following.  I was not watching what I ate and I was not exercising.  My doctor told me that quitting smoking reduces your metabolism by approximately 10% but that a regular exercise program increases it by the same amount.  So my advice to you is to keep eating right and continue with your exercise program whatever it is and you should be fine.  If you do happen to gain a pound or two you should be able to take them off quickly and I can guarantee that once you are free of tobacco you will be so glad you'll never look back!  Good Luck!

Original Post by karozel:. 

Also, I don't know about you, but I couldn't wear the patches at night.  I would have very vivid nightmares/dreams and would wake up exhausted.  I made sure to remove the patch about an hour before bed and those went away.

 That's interesting because I used the perscription medication Chantix to stop smoking because the patch didn't work.  I just took the patch off and smoked.  Anyway, the interesteing part is that I have very vivid dreams when I was on the Chantix.  Some of them could have been called nightmares but not most of them.  They were just very very vivid and what I called very strange anve very interesting.

good work sintia! i have quit and resolved today to read allan carrs book, which i have here but didn't use. i had read it two years ago and quit for three months. i think the key is keeping busy and re-reading that book! good job!!!

i have lost weight since i quit 2 weeks ago. i go to the gym 6 days a week and spend more time cleaning and even bought a new video game~ weight gain is not an issue when you address this as you are~

i have only had one craving that didn't go away in 3 minutes... but i resisted that one. it's mainly annoying huh? thats what i find.

so, now the good stuff! i totally agree with what you say on the stink, but i totally realized as i HATED the smell as a kid. lucky me (?) has no man in the house, so no other smokers. this will help me land a non smoker man i suppose~ my cardio endurance was improved within three days, and two weeks later it keeps improving. i really didn't think my 10 ciggy a day addiction had me that out of shape!

now the gross thing ~ ew ~ i washed my duvet... it is two years old... under the bright lights i could see a colour tint of the tell-tale smoky stain all around the top. ew. and i was not big on having a cigarette before bed or anything. guess it was just in my hair, skin, sweat, clothes... ew.

 

keep up the amazing work lady!

I feel bad... i am having a few issue to solve with my bf regarding drinking. Now its not the cost of cigarettes here (25 Cts a pack) or the beer (1$)... its the environment. Most people are smokers and drinkers..

Anyway, on my fourth day it was fine, i realised myself that i didnt get many cravings and didnt chew too much gum... was quite proud then i get a call from my bf's boss asking me if i knew where he was... later once i found him  had a huge figth with my boyfriend and i am sorry to say that i went for a pak, DISGUSTING, i smoked like 5 cigarettes...

I felt so disgusted with myself that i cleaned my face like 4 times to get the smell off, cleaned my hair, my arms and hands..

Before i went to bed i broke all my cigarettes and threw them in the trash. in my mind im on day number 5... i feel exactly the way i felt yesterdday.. not many cravings etc... not much chewing .. and was even around a lot of smokers and it didnt do anything.

So im happy, im still on the right path... pfff.. the problem with the boyfriend is as well getting sorted.. so im ok

Yay! One whole week of non-smoking goodness!

On the subject of dreams when on nicotine patches - I've had some right weird ones. I took a nap yesterday afternoon after walking 3 miles (so I needed one) with the patch on & woke up feeling just as tired from having such bizzare dreams.

Today my boyfriend & I booked a holiday to LA in October so now I have something to work towards in both weightloss & quiting the cigs as the money I'll save on smoking can go towards the holiday!

My skin has improved a bit as well but my voice keeps going.