Quitting Smoking

I've decided to quit smoking. I was told, by a doctor, not to worry about losing weight while I'm in the process of quitting. I'm afraid that I'll gain it all back though. I've lost 12 pounds which doesn't sound like much, but it was hard to get off! I don't want to have to start all over again. However, I've been smoking for 18 years...very heavily too. I have a feeling I'll need to permit myself to indulge with food a little while until I can get past the smoking withdraws.

 Any advice or helpful comments would be highly appreciated.

Which ever way anyone decides to quit is a personal choice.  Personally, I wouldn't have wanted to use the patch or the gum or any kind of smoking cessation only because I would feel pressured that I CANNOT smoke because it will ultimately hurt me.  The pill does not REQUIRE you to stop smoking immediately.  You can keep smoking (they don't say that outright, but saying, if you still smoke, just keep trying).   In either case, I liked the pill so much for that reason, the less pressure.  I didn't feel pressured so I took my time and now am confident that I will NEVER smoke again.  I love my new life!!!

Again, good luck and good for you. 

From one ex-smoker to another, CONGRATULATIONS!  Deciding to quit is the first big step.  For me it was a very gradual (and, at times, PAINFUL) process, but weaning yourself off of cigarettes really is one of the best things you can possibly do for yourself. 

The rest of my comment is really just an echo of all the previous posts.  I know it's insanely hard, but try not to worry about potential weight gain.  As long as you're conscious of the decisions you're making, it's not going to be that bad.  I actually lost weight when I quit smoking because I started exercising more.  Smoking was, for a long time, my primary means of stress relief, so quitting meant that I had to find some other way to deal with stress (walking to school, running in the evenings, yoga etc).

Besides exercise, my other saviors were tea, coffee, smoothies, gum, or anything that I could use to fill the place of cigarettes.  Taking a "coffee break" or going on a "smoothie run" rather than sneaking outside for a cigarette break really helped.  I eventually realized that what I liked most about cigarettes wasn't so much the smoking itself but the break/stress release that went with it.  It's all about the psychology!

Good luck!