new years resolution

I was just wondering.  It is probably pretty obvious that we all want to loose weight for the new year.  I am curious does anyone have any other goals.  Like this is my third day not smoking and I am dying I called my sister and asked her what was worse....smoking or being fat because I am not so sure if i can diet and quit smoking at the same time......lol anyway does anyone else have any resolutions they are finding really hard to stick to?

Paying less attention to CC comes to mind.... <joke>

My advice, Shanna, would be to make a priority of quitting smoking. (Been there, done that, got the T-shirt).

Try to substitute healthy snacks for the cigs. Baby carrots and celery sticks are good -- you can even "puff" on them or let them droop out of your mouth, Bogart-style. 

Your twin resolutions are indeed hard, and I congratulate you on taking them both on at once. Hang in there!

My own resolution is trying to be more patient with my mother-in-law. I'm having a hard time with it, but it's not the mountain you're trying to scale!

I resolved to enjoy my life because I nearly lost it 2 years ago in an accident. I'm finding hard to stick to this one but believe me its the most important one.

I wouldnt try both of these at the same time if it makes you unhappy. Lose a bit of weight in a way that makes you feel ACE - eat really good food and go for long walks and mountain bike rides in the sun for example. Have the odd smoke but cut down. I smoke cigars and I switched to more expensive ones so I wouldnt buy them as often. 

This is probably the worst advice you have ever received ! Dont worry be happy.

I have never replied to anything online until this.

I just wanted you to know that I found loosing weight while quiting smoking a great thing!  So don't give up because its worth it!    I went from 199 to 155 and haven't smoked.  When I wanted to smoke, I went for a walk.  If I felt I had to have something I chewed gum or ate healthy snacks like someone else mentioned, the carrots or celery sticks or whatever.  The cigarette cravings will only last for a few minutes if you can try to occupy yourself with something else. 

 Good luck to you! I know its not easy but after all that hard work it is so worth it to wake up and be able to move around and breath. 

Hello

Do both.

I did and it was easier because I used staying fit and watching my diet as a means to alter my bad smoking behavior. I did it with the help of a book called "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking" by Allen Carr. Buy the book you can smoke while you read it (if necessary)

I smoked for 33 years and the reason it's so difficult to quit is the mental addiction we have. The withdrawals from cigarettes are nothing more then mild hunger pangs and they go away after a few days. It's the mental addiction that keeps us thinking we can't go on with out a butt. That book helped me turn around my thinking and as soon as I did that it became easy to quit. Really I couldn't wait to stop. And I smoked over two packs a day.

So my suggestion is... get the book. Workout. Find some sort of exercise you like to do and use that to relieve your stress. Change your behaviors and the rest will follow.

You can do this. I never thought I could and at last I did and I lost 30lbs too.

I smoked for 60 years and quit for 6 months.  I put on so much weight that I started smoking again, but 9 a day as compared to 20.  I also wondered what to do as I want to lose weight and I want to quit smoking again.  Obesity or lung disease?  Personally I prefer to try to lose weight first.  So,  I am dieting.  But, I want to quit smoking in about 2 weeks.  Two awful addictions food and nicotine.  But, if we want to live at least a little longer, I believe that both addictions need to be addressed.  Keep up the good work.  You need to think of your health before you overeat or decide to smoke again.  Quitting smoking brings some very good health results to your lungs and to so many other aspects of your life.  I appreciate the advice given by "ninav".  It's good, intelligent advice and very helpful.  You won't be sorry that you are doing what's necessary for your life.

Great thread!  I too want to quit smoking in 2008.  I wanted to get rid of some extra pounds first, but maybe I will quit sooner than I thought I would.   We need a Stop smoking support group here!!!

You guys if you really want to stop smoking - I implore you to get that book. What do you have to lose? It's only the cost of a few packs of cigarettes.  It was like a miracle for me. I had struggled for so long wanting to quit but not believing I could do it. After I finally did quit I cried because if I had that book 20 years earlier I could have had much better health. But it's never too late. Go for it! Free yourself!

Hello, Congrats on quitting smoking. NO NEED TO GO BACK TO IT- after 3 days the nicotine is out of your system. So no excuses. You aren't physically craving or addicted to cigarettes after 3 days-- therefore don't pick up. There is no good reason. That helped me to stay quit--why bother picking back up again when I am not physically addicted. Just seems stupid.

I QUIT DRINKING FIRST. Then 9 months later I quit smoking. I didn't even want to really-- I believe it was just my time. Then I got fat for a while-- but I got healthy-- I started exercising and felt a lot better not smoking. After a while without smoking, drinking and exercising, the fact that I was fat and emotionally eating as well as overeating got to me, so I went back to Weight Watchers for the umpteenth time. And this time it stuck. BUT it was a process- a few years of getting myself ready to loose weight. First I had to put down some vices, get healthy, learn how to work out and feel better about myself to want to value myself enough to loose weight. Take your time. It will happen. Quitting smoking is actually the first step towards weight loss. I couldn't loose weight till I felt I was worth it and untill I felt good about myself. And any woman that smokes doesn't like herself enough to be ready to loose weight. When we smoke we are killing ourselves, conciously. Good for you for quitting-- the more you do for yourself that makes you feel good, the closer you come to that place to want to loose weight, not for anyone else or for a reason, but for yourself.

 

My first time replying to a message board here, and I'm posting because it is SO important. I know that when most people contemplate quitting smoking, they say "oh, well I don't want to quit because I'll get fat!"  That's a bunch of hooha.  Here are some things to consider:

a) I've always been overweight. I smoked since I was 16 and was still overweight, but smoked on top of it.

b) My 55 y-old dad smoked to the point that he needed a heart bypass twice - his first one when  he was 40. He quit for a while, but couldn't get over the mental habit. Fast forward to winter 2006 - Dad was inches away from death. He smoked a few cigarettes on the way to the hospital because he knew he'd be there for a while. It's all in the mind. The withdraw definitely goes away.

c) I quit after his surgery - New Year's Eve was my last cigarette. That was almost two years ago now. And I'm SO relieved I don't smoke anymore! I'm no longer a slave to cigarettes. The list of benefits goes on and on.  I was determined not to gain weight and I didn't. I just went for a walk or occupied myself some other way every time I wanted a cigarette. Sucking on hard candy helps, too. Once I figured out it was just in my head - a habit - I had a much easier time. It takes 21 days to make or break a habit. I knew I could do it. 

d) One day 6 months after my dad's surgery, my dad passed in his sleep - no warning. He just didn't wake up. They found two packs of Marlboros in his pocket.

e) My uncle just passed away on Thanksgiving day - he had small cell lung cancer. This cancer is caused ONLY by smoking.

 The weight you can take off any time with a little hard work and determination. Same goes with smoking. It's hard but SO worth it. And you can walk around being fat. You can't walk around dead from cigarettes.

 Quit now. You can do it.

I think as a former smoker I can definitely tell you....know your limitations.   Dont try to do both at once. Quiting smoking is hard enough and definitly the priority.   You will find that losing weight will come with time.  The longer you quit smoking, the more energy you will have in the long run that will contribute to excersicing and will power..but if you are craving sugar for instance, satisfy that craving over satisfying the craving for a ciggerette.  Life is to short to be miserable all at once.  Also your body is going thru alot of changes, most will be good, some wont be so good...like your lungs clearing out and it takes time.   I didnt really feel like I do now, which is great, for atleast 9 months and I put on 40lbs.  I almost caved and started again because of the weight gain, but now I am excersicing every day and my body is starting to feel great and guess what...the weight is coming off.   Hope this helps. 

About 4 years ago, I weighed 450 lbs and smoked two packs a day.  One day, while moving boxes into my new apartment, I started having chest pains.  I was only 28 at the time.  They passed, but it scared the hell out of me.  I saw my PA and asked him what to do, and he told me that priority one was quitting smoking.

 It took me about a year before I was ready to listen to his advice.  When I decided to quit, I focused exclusively on not smoking.  I knew I was going to have a hard time with managing stress, so I made it a point to walk and do yoga every day.  It was tough, but I was focused and I made it through the withdrawal.  After a month or so, I hardly even thought about smoking.  I was so encouraged that I started managing my diet and intensifying my workout routine.  I've dropped about 125 lbs since then.  Whenever I feel discouraged, I remember that I was able to quit smoking - it's a great confidence booster.

 Good luck!  Remember, the cravings will pass.  They're really intense for the first week or two - hang in there, and it will get easier.

You should be proud of yourself, even though you still feel the cravings, they will subside. If you cave in, don't beat yourself up about it, tomorrow is another day and another opportunity to succeed.

I quit smoking less than 6 months ago. I didn't want to a year ago.... everyone else wanted me to quit. I had quit several years ago for about 6 months, and then started back up again. No reason.... just wanted to, thinking I could just have 2 or 4 a day. Ha! I was a pack a day smoker, and mostly at home, after work. So, I knew that if I was going to quit, (because everyone else wanted me to) I would have to prepare for it. I had gained 20 lbs. last time I had quit in that short 6 months of non-smoking.

This time, I started to lose weight before I quit smoking. It helped, because I started a new habit.... exercising! And then, I decided to eat healthy, because the weight was coming off, and I was very encouraged, enough to attempt to quit smoking.

Quitting was easy compared to the "habit". Every once in a while I still find myself not knowing what to do with my hands, but hey!! That's a good problem to have!

I used quit net, they had a forum, and they e-mailed you with encouragement everyday. I was kinda cynical of the people who said "If I can do it, YOU can do it". SURE!! You're not in MY shoes today!! But, you know... they were in my shoes, just like you will be a few months down the road.

The one thing that helped me, and I have no idea why... is the phrase "I'm one cigarette away from a pack a day". And, if you couple that together with the fact that I smoked for over 34 years,.... I just don't want to have to go through the hassle of withdrawals again. Quitting smoking is hard and easy. I prefer to stay on the other side of the fence, and I really feel like I can do it.

Even if nobody encourages you in your family, or if they're less than supportive, turn to CC or another online blog to at least acknowledge your accomplishments. But your best source of encouragement is yourself! Dang, girl!! You did it!! And you're going to tackle the weight issue too!! Don't forget to reward yourself for succeeding!

All of the posters here have good information. Look at it all... find what will work best for you... because we're all different, but still striving for the same goals. Great Luck in your efforts!

I think that you can do both at the same time.  I have lost only about five pounds but thought I would gain a ton. It's not easy after smoking for 38 years and like was already pointed out it is the habit that drives you crazy. But you can do it.

PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO ANY ONE YOU KNOW WHO IS USING OR PLANNING TO USE CHANTIX TO QUIT SMOKING. CHANTIX HAS BEEN LINKED TO POSSIBLE SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND I THINK ATTEMPTS. I AM BEING TREATED FOR DEPRESSION AND IT DEFINITELY WORSENED WHILE ON THIS DRUG. NO WAY TO SAY FOR SURE IT WAS CAUSED BY CHANTIX, BUT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER IF THINKING OF USING IT.

I joined this site in April- I guess- and I was a heavy smoker back then. I loved smoking, in fact I still do. Today is my 21st non-smoking day and I still feel the 'power'. My diet is practically non-existent at the moment, I go to the gym,but I eat for England, well, almost. Im hoping that in a couple of weeks the craving for cigarettes will disappear and I can go back to my eating habits without a ciggie after my carrot juice :-)

I'm a smoker too and in the same boat.  I have this carton to go and then going to attempt.  I think it is a good idea to have a diet plan in place at the same time so you are very conscious of everything that goes in your mouth and you lessen the weight gain.  Add me as a buddy and we can motivate each other :)

Oh my gosh. I've been thinking about quitting smoking too. I am a heavy smoker. I smoke over 2 packs per day. I can tell that it seriously interferes with my ability to do any type of exercise, mostly cardio. I get out of breath fast and cough my head off. About 5 years ago I tried to quit. I went 2 days without smoking a single one. I ended up caving though. Smoking is a horrible addiction. I can moderate my foods for calorie counting much easier than quitting smoking. I seriously need to though. It effects my health. I generally get a bad case of bronchitis twice a year and it lasts up to two months each time. My poor kids keep wanting me to quit as well. My son says it's a drug and though I was a bit offended when he first said it, it's certainly true.

My house smells like cigarettes. My BREATH smells like cigarettes. It turns your teeth yellowish. That nasty yellow gunk will actually coat the walls in your house! I could imagine what it does to my lungs.

I wonder this though. If I was to quit smoking now, will the damage done to my lungs heal? I've heard of people who have smoked for years and quit smoking only to develop lung cancer which was related to their quitting smoking. Is that possible?

It will be 1 year the end of December since I quit smoking. I smoked about 10 cigs a day for 30 years. I ended up being sick last Dec and did not smoke. That was the end of it. I still have cravings but then I close my eyes and try to think about someone who has a tube in their throat to talk and breath. After a minute, the craving goes away. Mind over matter. I gained about 25 pounds since I quit but I am determined to lose it and I will. So what? I got fat for a little while and now starting to lose it. Just don't buy a lot of clothes if you gain weight because if you are determined, you will lose it. I also found walking a huge help if I craved a smoke. It is so bad for you and you will definitely feel better. I would quit the smoking first, eat healthy low fat/cal items and walk, walk, and walk. Get with a support person or group. Good luck.

I did it...  I have been smoke free for 11 months and have lost 50lbs so far.  All you have to do is take your need for smoking and put it into exercising.  Go get yourself a personal trainer with the money you are saving on not smoking.  As of today I have saved $3,250.38, and have not smoked 11,433 cigarettes.  I feel like a new person.  I smoked for over 20 years.  You just have to want it bad enough.