smoking... scared ill gain all the weight back..

Ive been smoking for about 4 years now, and i know its a horrible thing to do to your body, and ive been really really trying to put my mindframe into quitting. But i get that whole scared feeling of gaining weight, and i just feel like i cant add more weight onto myself... i know i have to quit to become healthy and ill be able to do more exercise.

Im not a horrible person for smoking, just a horrible habbit. that i want to quit... and the whole you'll most likely gain 5% of your body weight after quitting seems so hard to face...

I don't think most of those people are actively working out?

I mean, yeah, my understand is you do gain weight because you having cravings, but... long term, you can take any weight you put on back off again with some good eating habits and some exercise.
And certainly I'm sure I don't need to tell you the health benefits of quitting :)

You can do it :)
Just remember.. long term.. you're on a long-term journey for better health :)

so true, thank you.. its hard to think long term when your struggling with it day to day. but its a new way to look at it.. and yes my method of battling the cravings and the grumpyness that comes along with quitting with some good ol fashioned effort with my exercising and diet..

thanks :)

I quit over five years ago and I didn't gain weight because I made a conscious decision not to - I dieted and worked out.  But, my doctor told me that I would have to gain 50 pounds to equal the danger to my heart that smoking does....50 pounds!!  Quit anyways!  You know you have to sooner or later so why not now?  You will feel so much better and use support groups etc to get you through it.  Stay strong!!

My guesstimate is that there are a NUMBER of ex-smokers here who would be more than willing to help cheer you along (I'm not one of them, I just pay attention :) )

talk to united2gether!  she's been smoke free since january 1st!  and she's lost weight since then.. i don't think she even gained 1 pound from stopping smoking!  :")

I quit about ten years ago and didn't gain weight. I was exercising and eating properly. It was the hardest thing I have ever done and the best for my body. I would say that more important than anything else was attitude: I was fed up with the habit. I quit cold and have never smoked since; that being said, I had tried unsuccessfully three times before that. The difference the fourth and successful time was my mindset. The day i stopped I thought of myself as a non-smoker, not as an ex-smoker. I encourage you to do it. It is hard, but sooooo worth it.

I wouldn't keep smoking. Just eat healthy, drink lots of water and exercise and you'll be fine! :)

I smoked for 38 years and quit 2 years ago. Yes, I gained weight and am still working to loose it. It's worth it! You can do it!
Try quitnet.com it's a great support group site.

first of all, congratulations on wanting to quit. I smoked for about 4 years and actually had to quit when I got really sick and just never started again. It is SO hard, but you can't possibly have the healthy lifestyle that we're all here to start if you are smoking, which you obviously realize. I really wouldn't worry about gaining weight- like roxanned said, it's still better for you to gain a little weight- and you can always get rid of that!! good luck, and we are all here to help you :)

<< PLUS, cardio is SO much easier with clean lungs!!>>

also, i added you as a friend, hope that's ok.  feel free to do the same!

I quit smoking 5 years ago. And I gained a whack of wt ,but my lungs feel damn fine now and I smell better..lol . I can't believe how bad smokers smell.If you try loosing wt at the same time you might not gain-you will never know unless you try . To me having an extra 30 + lbs and a healthier household is a lot better.Are you going cold turkey or do you plan on using an aide ?

i saw a commercial for this its a new pill to help women surpress their app. while quiting smoking. i have never smoke so i haven't used it but seems cool...sorry i can't remember the name though

Hey! thank you all for your encourgement and just cementing it into my head that yes i must quit to complete my health makeover. 

 aliverse - as you asked, im planning to quit cold turkey, ive tried other methods like the patch and this crazy pill things.. but i found it was just something that reminded me that i was a smoker.

Mugsie - awesome advice about the mindset, just reading "The day i stopped I thought of myself as a non-smoker, not as an ex-smoker." sparked something inside my head..

Ill keep you all updated on how i do, i may get a bit "grumpy" for the lack of the actual word that i shall become... im sure you all know what i mean...

but my plan is too pick a date to stop. (which is going to be wednesday may 7th) i pick this date because its my first day off of the week, and im planning to go out with friends, and i know ill have the support from them to keep me from smoking. And ill be free to go on as many walks and cool downs as i need to take my mind off it.

I plan to succeed. but i know there is a great chance i wont. but i will keep working on it if i fail. I just hope you all will be here to help me out :)

... i mean June 7th.. im still apparently living in may!