2nd day not smoking
I can't help since I don't/didn't smoke, but congratulations on making healthy choices! Good luck!!!
Keep up the great work! Doing both at once is really tough.
Your body wants to feed its oral fixation so sugar-free gum, water bottle always with you for small sips, ziploc of small cut-up carrots, celery, etc.
Slowly break and replace the habit of having your hand bring something up to your mouth. This is going to take lots of time, but so worth it for your health.
Best of luck to you :)
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I know first hand that doing both simultaneously is hard. Remember not to get too down on yourself if you find yourself "cheating" on your diet- it's most important to kick the nicotine and focus on healthy lungs!! You'll feel so much better in just a few more days. The cravings should go away after a few weeks, and then the diet will become easier.
Don't know how helpful this is, but my dad quit smoking in January cold turkey. He had previously had a few failed attempts and then resigned himself to being a lifer (he started at 11 and is now 55). We're not sure what spurred him to finally kick the habit, but he's doing amazing.
I liked what he said to me last weekend:
"Do I crave a cigarette, you bet I do! Regularly, in fact, but the urge only usually lasts for a few minutes. Really, a few minutes isn't so bad, I'm an adult, I can control myself for a few minutes."
So basically he's taking it a few minutes at a time, that way he doesn't feel that pressure lingering over him all the time to not smoke. He simply doesn't think about it until a craving hits. It's a lot easier to have small spurts of willpower!
well i find that when quitting it is best to watch what you eat as well....you aren't doing your body any favours at all by gaining a ton of weight which also has cancer risk and a whole herd of other problems. One thing i found that helps me when i am really really craving is to do some exercise.....gives you that endorphine rush when you can't have a smoke, and also helps prevent weight gain.....if you were a really heavy smoker or smoked for a long time running etc may not be an option but you can always do some walking or even some leg lifts. anything to keep you busy and help that craving pass. good luck. you will be healthier and richer for this!
Original Post by piratekitty:
Don't know how helpful this is, but my dad quit smoking in January cold turkey. He had previously had a few failed attempts and then resigned himself to being a lifer (he started at 11 and is now 55). We're not sure what spurred him to finally kick the habit, but he's doing amazing.
I liked what he said to me last weekend:
"Do I crave a cigarette, you bet I do! Regularly, in fact, but the urge only usually lasts for a few minutes. Really, a few minutes isn't so bad, I'm an adult, I can control myself for a few minutes."
So basically he's taking it a few minutes at a time, that way he doesn't feel that pressure lingering over him all the time to not smoke. He simply doesn't think about it until a craving hits. It's a lot easier to have small spurts of willpower!
This is excellent advice from her Dad. I gave up about 12 years ago. I had many 'tries' at it and did manage to cut down drastically over those time periods. Finally hubs and I did it together. What I found was that rather than going for something to put in my mouth (gum, etc.) I kept my hands busy. For me quilting was the solution. I also crafted in paper which meant that I was busy. I had places in my house that were 'no go areas' where we were not allowed to smoke or eat so spent a LOT of time there as well. Ours was the study and bedrooms... no ciggies or food allowed! The cravings get less and less as time passes. Keep your mind and body busy. Maybe go for a walk if you feel the need to snack or smoke.
Can I suggest you don't call it a 'diet'? That seems to equate to deprivation. Instead think of it as substituting one good habit for a bad one. Pack the fridge with healthy fruit and veggies you can munch if it gets too much and drink a small glass of water ... it may help with the cravings. I was over weight when I gave up smoking and I did gain 5 lbs over 4 months (it was the winter and I was living in northern England at the time). Hubs gained 21lbs over the same period... he was constantly stuffing choccies etc in his mouth. We both lost the weight eventually. Main thing is to get rid of the smoking habit. Make minor changes, eat a bit healthier for the time being and maybe add a bit of exercise if you don't already do it. Once you've conquored that demon you can up the healthier food/exercise routine.
I just started recently on the journey to lose weight and quit smoking. I think both are really more of a mental challenge than a physical one. I am using the patch and it seems to really help. I can definitely tell when I don't have a patch on. I am pretty much smoke free but have fallen a few times but didn't go overboard. I don't beat myself up over it though and I get back on my focused goal. Just remember it will be tough at times and that is okay. As for weight, I joined a Bootcamp Fitness clinic and busted my butt for 4 weeks 4x a week and didn't lose weight. To me, that is more frustrating than the cig smoking. I am hoping after stopping the smoking, my metabolism is screwed up and in the process of rebooting! lol I hope so. I start my second session of bootcamp on Monday and I am really going to focus more on the food I put in my mouth. Hopefully success with both endeavors is just right around the corner. Good Luck to you and try not to beat yourself up if you trip up and light up or eat something not so healthy. Its okay. You are human. Just re-focus and move forward.....
Here is some help! Encouragement, you can do it. You can do it! Hooray for you!
keep on going :)
you will not gain any weight from not smoking. You can gain if you eat snacks instead of smoking...
It worth to read the book of Alan Carr - easy way to stop smoking. I was a 20-30 a day smoker for 9-10 years. I am 27 now, I decided to quit - as this method was working for my flatmate, I gave it a try. I don't smoke for a month, I feel myself much better in the gym and I did not gain weight but lost 5kgs in a month - since I do not smoke.
Just believe in yourself, you can make it :) and find someone who believes in you. For me that helped a lot. I do all for myself, but the support is always make you keep going :)
and congrats for what you have achieved already :) making the decision is the hardest part :)
Quitting the nicotine habit is not for the faint-hearted. The psychological and the physical pains of withdrawal can weaken your resolve. But by taking on these two formidable attempts at once (dieting, quitting) you are setting yourself up either for failure, or for short-lived success. These are major lifestyle changes, and should be dealt with accordingly. For years i wanted to quit the habit, but the thought of weight gain deterred me. Today I am 26 months smoke free. The way i did it was to adopt healthy eating habits before setting a date to commit to quit. I asked my doctor for help. i used the pills and the patches. The way i see it i was up against a formidable foe. Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you fail,start over. Use whatever is at your disposal. I wish you well. Don,t give up. Leave the ranks of those who die 10-15 years prematurely because of cigarette smoking. God Bless.
I quit smoking 2 yrs ago with the help of chantix and great support from Quitnet. It's normal to gain up to 8 lbs at the first few months but with healthy eating and exercises it does come off again.
The first week is the worse and then it is all mental work as someone else mentioned. You just do it one day at a time. The benefits of not smoking are enormous. You will feel so much better about yourself and build confidence to do all kinds of things in your life that you never thought you could do. Never take the first puff. Nicotine smoking is an addiction that can be broken. Get some support. Just don't smoke. Here is the link to the support forums.
Good luck!
Franny
hang in there , take one day at a time. i quit 21 years ago, cold turkey. make good food choices and drink lots of water to flush all the nasty nicotine out of your system.
clean out you kitchen of all the fating foods and restock with healthy fruits, veggies and lean protiens. you'll succeed.
Congrats! I'm on day 41 on not smoking, and it will be one of the hardest things you ever do. But just like dieting, the key is self-control. You have to be above the urge. Find something else to occupy your mind, your mouth, your hands. I use sugar-free gum and mints. Just remember all the reasons you wanted to quit and go with it! Also, don't be upset if you do relapse-most don't get it on the first try. Just keep trying.
And yes, you will cheat on your diet. When you come to with the candy wrappers littered around you and the french fry crumbs in your lap, just shrug and start over. It will get easier as you go.
You don't have to be in Utah to use it, but Utah Quit Net. It helps so much with advice, forums, expert support, all of it. I wouldn't have made it without this group of people!
Well done chucky, i too quit smoking, it has been one month now. I do watch everything that i eat as you tend to want to pick when you are not lighting up that smoke. Keep it up you can do it.
