Smoking

[Smile]

I have just posted on the main board complaining about my weight gain since giving up smoking - I jokingly mentioned I was tempted to start up again!

But hey - I won't and I know I won't - however heavy I get. I gave up with hypnotherapy last July. It has been great, I smoked at college and then again when my marriage broke up (it is easy to find an excuse). I saw it as a crutch, a stess-buster, even a weight-controller.

My children didn't notice at first -- they were too young. Then slowly, drip, drip, like a leaking tap, came the comments... "Mummy your sweater smells, mummy your hair smells, mummy your breath smells, mummy why are you standing outside in the rain? why is the back door open?" then the "Why do you smoke?" questions. And the worst "Will we go and live with granny after you die because you smoke?" You can imagine how that hurt! They nagged, constantly. My friends treated me with indulgent disapproval "I've left the back door open because I know you'll want to slip put for a cigarette". I could go on.......

I started dating a man who didn't smoke. He was nice. I didn't smoke in front of him, but then I found myself yearning to end our dates early so I could be alone and have a cigarette. He thought I wasn't that interested. Maybe I cared more for cigarettes than for trying to build a new relationship.

Don't smoke, try to give up. Get all the help you think may need. (I recommend hypnotherapy) Keep to your guns. Treat it like a 12-step programme. Eat nuts. Accept the few pounds you may be unlucky enough to put on, knowing that you can use this WOE to lose them again (easier said than done, I know, but SO much better than smoking!)

One of the worst things is how unforgiving we, as a society, are if people get sick if they smoke or if they are fat. When you hear someone is very sick, question one is 'Does he/she smoke?" question two is "Are they overweight?" If the answer is yes to either, and especially both questions, the conclusion is pretty much "Then what do you expect? Of course they are sick. Don't be both, or either. We live in a harsh (and unfair) world. I want people at my funeral saying what a nice person I was and not "Well, what do you expect, I am surprised she lived as long as she did......."

I love all of you recent non-smokers and non-smokers to be.

[aim in Fla*working]

smile,
How much did you gain? Congrats on your loss.

[0407abbie]

I understand. I quit in Sept. and gained 15 lbs. that I'm fighting with. But, I feel better and I no longer cough every morning. It's a small price to pay and, even though it makes me upset, I will keep fighting it. I'm starting over on induction now. I didn't want to start over while I was still wrestling with the nicotine additction - one thing at a time. I really don't think I'm eating that badly but, nicotine does up your metabolism and it takes a while to get back to normal. Some studies even say over a year! Hang in there! Smoking is becoming less and less socially acceptable in more and more places. It just makes sense to stick with it!

[Smile]

I wrote this post over a month ago. I have been skiing in France (lots of sitting on the terrrace in the sun drinking strong coffee - perfect smoking opportunities, the French smoke like chimneys) and I am so pleased that I was not tempted to smoke.

I haven't lost any weight but I haven't gained any either. I notice I am still tempted to snack on nuts and very dark (85%) chocolate - a smoking substitute.

Yes I get disappointed and frustrated with myself for not fitting into last year's summer wardrobe but I am so glad I NO LONGER SMOKE. And I no longer want to........

Good luck to all you recent non-smokers........

[Tracey40]

Congratulations on quitting!

I am scheduled for hypnosis this Wednesday. I want to quit, then I don't... I know I need to but I had the same reasons you had for continuing or starting up again...

Keep it up! It does feel great doesn't it!!!!

[Ladyghosthunter]

I quit smoking over 3 years ago cold turkey and THEN I gained 45 pounds in a month (had pneumonia then too..)

Finally after many years, I just quit and never looked back. I'm happy that I have..

Love, Heather

[ixtapacheryl]

It is strange that you brought this up - I shouldn't say strange - but I just read that if you are overweight and smoke, they suggest that you lose the weight first before attempting the cigs.

I really should have read the entire article (written by a doctor), because I definitely want to stop smoking - but want to get the weight off first.

ixtapacheryl

P.S. If I can find the article or website I saw this on - I'll forward it to you.

[Phinnk]

I quit 4 years ago. My doc told me that een if you gain weight, the dangers of smoking were far greater than moderate weight gain. Congrats on quitting - no one knows how difficult that can be except those of us who have done it!!

[skeeter30]

I've been trying to quit smoking for the last 2 months. I was down to 2-3 cigs a day, and I'm taking wellbutrin. I have had to quit exercising for the time being as I have a neck injury that has caused me to be home from work for 6 weeks and the combination of sitting, not doing kickboxing and eating more even WITH the wellbutrin has caused me to gain about 10lbs. None of my clothes fit, so I broke down and bought some new to be comfortable. I'm back to smoking about 6-8 cigs a day (still down from a pack a day) but its SUCH a struggle. My dh is also trying to quit, he smokes less than I do. It's very difficult, as I have been maintaining my goal for 4 years, and to all of a sudden be larger is quite shocking for me. It's horrible and I SO want to start smoking a pack a day again. I'm fighting, but its really hard!

[iteachrebs]

Originally Posted by skeeter30

None of my clothes fit, so I broke down and bought some new to be comfortable. *snip* I have been maintaining my goal for 4 years, and to all of a sudden be larger is quite shocking for me. It's horrible and I SO want to start smoking a pack a day again. I'm fighting, but its really hard!

This is me, too! I maintained for a year and a half before I quit smoking. I was actually below goal weight. I'm now 104 days smoke-free but I gained 10 pounds after quitting. I had to buy bigger pants and some of my shirts are too tight, too. I can't enjoy the fact that I've quit smoking because I feel like such a failure for gaining weight. And then I read the stories of people who maintained or even lost weight when they quit and I feel even more miserable. It probably doesn't help that I'm almost 42 and starting perimenopause.

I cannot live my life feeling unattractive and obsessing about my weight again! I'm making everyone around me miserable by constantly moaning about my weight. And I'm one of the first to always say "well DO something about it!" I feel like I'm trying. I don't eat off plan (Atkins) ever. I haven't had a potato or sugar or the like in over two years now. Can your metabolism really change this much? I know it would rev up with regular exercise but I just am not motivated. It's a vicious cycle - I don't want to exercise because I'm depressed but exercise would help the depression. Ugh.

[HappyHeather]

Oh, I hope I can find inspiration in all of you. I have been trying to quit. January 1st of this year I bought and used the "patch" It worked great and I was smoke free for 3 months.....then I started a new, very stressful job and turned back to the cig's..now I am mad at myself for starting again. It's hard..very,very hard