smoking and quitting

micki · 01-16-2008, 09:33 AM

I am ashamed to admit that I continue to smoke not only because it has become a habit and an addiction, but I smoke to keep the weight off. I want to quit, but I don't want to put on weight. Any advice from any quitters? My BF quit on New Year's day, but he is eating everything in sight. I am trying to lose weight now, and then quit, so if I gain weight back, it won't be so bad.

micki · 01-29-2008, 04:39 AM

So I am down 9 lbs, so it is time to quit. I have been taking Chantix for 6 days, so tomorrow is my quit date. I haven't been exercising, but I will get on the treadmill for at least 20 minutes each day. If I stick with my low carb diet, and add some exercise, I should be ok. Anyone else quitting tomorrow?

micki · 01-30-2008, 08:08 AM

To my old friend.
We have been together for such a long time. Although we have parted ways in the past, you have always managed to come back to me, and I couldn't help myself, I couldn't stay away. You are not a good friend, although you have been a great companion. You are always there for me, but you are trying to kill me. When I am with you, I can't breath. You have cost me so much already. I may never get over the damage that you have done to me, but I am going to try. When you are gone I feel so free, but for some reason I miss you. I can't imagine my life without you, but I need to move on now. So I am saying good bye and good riddance to you. I am going to be so much better without you. So don't call me, I won't call you.

micki · 02-04-2008, 11:43 AM

if you are trying to quit, check out these two. They are hilarious!

YouTube - Meg&Brent Quit Smoking #1

Mimosa23 · 02-06-2008, 08:36 AM

Hi Micki,

I´ve just become a non-smoker again as well. I have been smoking on and off for years and every time I quit, it´s with half the effort. Well, this time I´ve quit for good, so I´m with you on the non-smoking bandwagon!

Well done for being smoke free up to now! I´m on day three, and today is the first day I´ve actually told my colleagues, as I didn´t want to make a big deal out of it... Well, I decided that I do want to make a big deal out of it, and I´m glad for doing so now, as I didn´t realise how much support I now have!

Anyway, well done so far!!!

xxx.

micki · 02-07-2008, 04:40 AM

Hi Mimosa, I was starting to wonder if there were any other new quitters out there in LC land. Welcome to my hell. I am on my last day of "hell week" tomorrow at 3 pm will be one week since I put out my last cigarette. It really hasn't been that bad this time. The Chantix really does seem to work. It is expensive, but less than cigarettes. $140 for 30 days. I was a 2/pk a day smoker, so I was spending like $8-9 a day to kill myself.
I did put some weight on in the first few days, but I think it's coming back off. I was back up to 146 without any cheats, but this morning was at 144. I was able to walk my dogs for a couple hours yesterday because the weather was so nice. I have 7 dogs, and I took them all on a half mile walk, and they got to swim a little. We all slept really well last night.
Well, I'm just so done with smoking. I am too old to take my health for granted, and I'm not going to try to kill myself slowly anymore. I hope it's not too late. I smoked for 25 years. I've been trying to quit since 1998.
It's hard. I don't want to have to do this again.

Tilla · 02-22-2008, 07:56 PM

Today is week 1 complete for me and my husband. We did it cold turkey and it has gone well. We were both 2 packs-a-day-ers. It has been a little harder for him than for me but he has smoked a lot longer than I have. I'm so glad his doctor finally got through to him. He is diabetic and has been having terrible problems with his legs. His doctor told him he had to stop smoking immediately or he would lose his legs. Pretty powerful incentive to quit!

micki · 02-23-2008, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tilla

Today is week 1 complete for me and my husband. We did it cold turkey and it has gone well. We were both 2 packs-a-day-ers. It has been a little harder for him than for me but he has smoked a lot longer than I have. I'm so glad his doctor finally got through to him. He is diabetic and has been having terrible problems with his legs. His doctor told him he had to stop smoking immediately or he would lose his legs. Pretty powerful incentive to quit!

WOW!! I'll say! Are you ok? My BF quit one month before me. He kinda uses it as a license to be a total "DIC-HED" at times. It gets better.
Guys are so weird when they're scared. They won't say "I'm afraid", they will hold it all in and then act all crabby. Take it out on the one who they know love them no matter what. He must be so afraid.
Are you using any drugs? to help you quit I mean. Chantix really takes the edge off.

micki · 02-23-2008, 06:54 AM

So I saw a new PCP this week. I like him. He is 5 years out of medical school. Excellent. I am scheduling a lung function test to see how much damage my smoking has done over the years. I hope this will be incentive to keep me from going back to cigarettes, no matter what the results.

3 weeks in and my 4 lb weight gain is gone. Thank you Dr Atkins

Barbara B · 02-23-2008, 01:51 PM

Hi- I am on day 4 of my quit with Chantix. It certainly makes it easier than cold turkey. I joined Quitnet and am posting there in the 60 Plus Club, the Chantix Club, and the Quitstop forum. Great support over there. Good luck with everyone's quit.

Doug K · 02-23-2008, 11:17 PM

Congratulations!

I see you have a dog in your icon. Your pet? I quit smoking for good about 13 years ago. My main motivation wasn't my own health - it was my cat's.

micki · 02-24-2008, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug K

Congratulations!

I see you have a dog in your icon. Your pet? I quit smoking for good about 13 years ago. My main motivation wasn't my own health - it was my cat's.

Yes, I have 7 dogs, and 12 cats, plus two cats who "think they live here". lol

micki · 02-24-2008, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barbara B

Hi- I am on day 4 of my quit with Chantix. It certainly makes it easier than cold turkey. I joined Quitnet and am posting there in the 60 Plus Club, the Chantix Club, and the Quitstop forum. Great support over there. Good luck with everyone's quit.

You can do it! It's not so bad with the help of the drugs

Barbara B · 02-25-2008, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by micki

You can do it! It's not so bad with the help of the drugs

On day 6 now. Going good.

micki · 02-25-2008, 11:58 AM

I went out and refilled my Chantix prescription today. I ran out a couple days ago, and I'm ok with not smoking, but my food is a little out of control. Saturday night, I ordered a vegetarian "Meatball" appetizer. It was supposed to be veggies and cheese and tomato sauce. It tasted like a big bread ball. Gross, but I ate it anyways.
I think the Chantix helps me with sayin no to carbs and cigarettes.

micki · 02-26-2008, 06:53 PM

Hey! What a great month to quit. Only 29 days and I can call one month smoke-free! Everyone should quit in February! If only it wan't a leap year. 4 more days, yeah me!

micki · 03-02-2008, 01:25 PM

30 days clean. This is getting easier every day. I don't ever want to go through that again.

KrisA · 03-02-2008, 08:28 PM

Yea, Micki!

You're doing so great! Smoking is one of the hardest addictions to kick. I should know, I've quit a couple of times and am currently smoking again. One of the reasons I'm doing Atkins is to get some weight off so one of the fears keeping me from trying to quit again won't be there. I quit smoking for six weeks years ago and went from 115 to 156. At 5'2" it was very noticeable! I've been struggling with that weight gain ever since and still think of myself as slim until I see pictures. Yikes! Still can't believe that's me. So I applaud your success and hope I can follow you very soon!

micki · 03-12-2008, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KrisA

Yea, Micki!

You're doing so great! Smoking is one of the hardest addictions to kick. I should know, I've quit a couple of times and am currently smoking again. One of the reasons I'm doing Atkins is to get some weight off so one of the fears keeping me from trying to quit again won't be there. I quit smoking for six weeks years ago and went from 115 to 156. At 5'2" it was very noticeable! I've been struggling with that weight gain ever since and still think of myself as slim until I see pictures. Yikes! Still can't believe that's me. So I applaud your success and hope I can follow you very soon!

Oh me too! Fear of gaining weight kept me smoking and ruined a couple really good quits. This time I lost 9 lbs on Atkins first, then quit. I gained a couple lbs back, but the are coming off. Slowly. Good thing you can't see what our lungs look like from the outside, huh? That wouldn't be pretty.
I also added walking 1/2 mile at least twice a day. When the weather gets better, I will do more walking. I have heard that 20 minutes of walking every day makes up for the metabolism change from quitting smoking.
I would suggest you try Chantix. I think it not only helped me quit smoking, but it also made it easier to stick to my low carb diet. Quitting is hard, and anything that makes it even a little bit easier, I will take it.
I am on day 41. I am having a bad day. My cravings, I guess that is what it is have come back. I have been a miserable person for the last two days. My BF can't stand me right now.
No matter what, I won't smoke again. I might scream, but I won't smoke.
I had a PFT, pulminary function test, last week, and was told that my lungs are fine. No asthma, normal function. Well, next year I will have it re-done and see if I can improve on normal. lol

KrisA · 03-13-2008, 10:27 AM

You're doing go great! Keep it up!

This is going to sound weird coming from someone who hasn't found the strength to quit smoking again yet but here goes. When I quit the last time, I'd found a wonderful motivational tape done by a former smoker. He said that when he got a craving, he'd celebrate it because it was a symbol to him that he was nicotine free. That one little "gem" got me through many, many bad cravings at that time. I had quit cold turkey and that's really hard. Its not funny, but what got me smoking again was one party. My friend said "You always enjoyed smoking so much at parties and everyone else is smoking, here, just have one, it won't hurt you" and that was that! Rotten addiction.

You know, I was down to about four cigarettes a day just before I came to CT. Long, sad story, but with all the terrible things going on down here when I arrived, I slipped right back to my old levels. I bet I smoked a whole pack in the car on the ride down.

Things are better now and with the weather getting so much better, I'll start walking more, increase my weight loss and do it this time!

Keep up the good work. Smile and celebrate those cravings - you're only having them because you're winning!

k

micki · 03-13-2008, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KrisA

You're doing go great! Keep it up!

This is going to sound weird coming from someone who hasn't found the strength to quit smoking again yet but here goes. When I quit the last time, I'd found a wonderful motivational tape done by a former smoker. He said that when he got a craving, he'd celebrate it because it was a symbol to him that he was nicotine free. That one little "gem" got me through many, many bad cravings at that time. I had quit cold turkey and that's really hard. Its not funny, but what got me smoking again was one party. My friend said "You always enjoyed smoking so much at parties and everyone else is smoking, here, just have one, it won't hurt you" and that was that! Rotten addiction.

You know, I was down to about four cigarettes a day just before I came to CT. Long, sad story, but with all the terrible things going on down here when I arrived, I slipped right back to my old levels. I bet I smoked a whole pack in the car on the ride down.

Things are better now and with the weather getting so much better, I'll start walking more, increase my weight loss and do it this time!

Keep up the good work. Smile and celebrate those cravings - you're only having them because you're winning!

k

You gotta watch out for those smoker "friends". They want you to smoke, your fat friends want you to be fat, your drinking friends want you to drink, and so on. That's why I love dogs so much

When you are ready, I would suggest you try Chantix. Good luck.

KrisA · 03-13-2008, 03:40 PM

You're so right! When I figure out my camera and this site, I'll post a picture of my fur baby. She loves me for me, as long as I feed her on time!

k

micki · 03-15-2008, 02:50 PM

It's day 43 and I am miserable again. Cranky, annoyed, bit chy, depressed, miserable unhappy non-smoking me. I have had a couple bad days this week. I need to go grocery shopping and cheer myself up with some wonderful fresh low-carb food.
I made homemade yogurt yesterday, and it didn't turn out right. Made me want to cry. It was so good the first time. I don't think I let it heat up enough.
My dog, who I thought was house-broken has started peeing in the house again. The little puppy still isn't house broken. I don't know what to do. I have had the little dog since April and the pup since September. I am consistant with them. I take them outside every hour. I walk them sometimes 4x a day. They go potty outside, I see them doing it, but still I find pee and poop on the floor. Thank goodness we don't have any carpet.
This is really starting to get on my nerves. I wish I could pay someone to come to my house and train them for me. This makes me want to cry too.
I miss the act of smoking. I don't want to smoke, or smell like smoke, or have smoke in my lungs, but quitting has left a huge gap in my life and I haven't been able to fill it. Any quitters out there who have been able to fill the gap?
Hoping for a better day tomorrow.

Dee1111 · 03-18-2008, 02:26 PM

To be honest...the best motivation I had to quit was exercise.

When I used to run I would have to stop prematurely b/c of my breathing. I was paranoid about not getting enough exercise and in turn not losing weight. So I cut down on the cigs to run longer. Eventually I just stopped all together.

Btw smoking never kept me thin anyway, so I guess I never had that as part of the addiction.

MICKI- as for a 'gap filler' i've mostly filled that by carrying around a bottle of water. cliche i know...but water and sugar-free go a long way in a crunch!

micki · 03-18-2008, 04:17 PM

Day 46 today, and I am feeling a little bit better. I guess it's not as easy to quit as I thought. I am no longer crabby, but I still have that "reaching for a cigarette" feeling. I know it will pass again.

Thanks Dee, maybe I should start running. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt.

Tilla · 03-19-2008, 03:33 PM

Here's another incentive. My husband and I were buying 2 cartons every 5 days. At almost $50 per carton, we are saving almost $600 a month. Last week I went out and bought myself a new-to-me Jeep. I look at it as "free" because the payment is less than we were spending on cigarettes. I love being able to eat at any restaurant--not just the ones with a smoking section. I like being able to smell and taste. It's great!! Hang in there. It is worth it! The downside is we both have gained a few pounds, but I know the health risk of a few pounds is a lot less than the effects of the smokes.

micki · 03-19-2008, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tilla

Here's another incentive. My husband and I were buying 2 cartons every 5 days. At almost $50 per carton, we are saving almost $600 a month. Last week I went out and bought myself a new-to-me Jeep. I look at it as "free" because the payment is less than we were spending on cigarettes. I love being able to eat at any restaurant--not just the ones with a smoking section. I like being able to smell and taste. It's great!! Hang in there. It is worth it! The downside is we both have gained a few pounds, but I know the health risk of a few pounds is a lot less than the effects of the smokes.

Free Jeep! That's so great! Sometimes I wish I still couldn't smell, lol. I just hope I get over this cranky feeling eventually. I will never smoke again. Unless I am told that I have lung cancer and there's nothing they can do for me. If that happens, I'm going to smoke (alot) and then probably take my own life. See how cranky I am?

01-30-2008, 08:08 AM	#3
micki MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Mt Pleasant, PA USA Posts: 2,329 Gallery: micki Stats: 150/135/Pretty happy with where I am WOE: walking every day Start Date: Summer 2000	My good bye letter to cigarettes To my old friend. We have been together for such a long time. Although we have parted ways in the past, you have always managed to come back to me, and I couldn't help myself, I couldn't stay away. You are not a good friend, although you have been a great companion. You are always there for me, but you are trying to kill me. When I am with you, I can't breath. You have cost me so much already. I may never get over the damage that you have done to me, but I am going to try. When you are gone I feel so free, but for some reason I miss you. I can't imagine my life without you, but I need to move on now. So I am saying good bye and good riddance to you. I am going to be so much better without you. So don't call me, I won't call you. __________________ 9 months smoke free! 978 miles walked from April to October Goal: 1,500 miles by next April, even if some is on the dreadmill November Goal: 100 miles or more by foot 6.5 miles by foot in November

03-15-2008, 02:50 PM	#23
micki MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Mt Pleasant, PA USA Posts: 2,329 Gallery: micki Stats: 150/135/Pretty happy with where I am WOE: walking every day Start Date: Summer 2000	Am I ever going to be happy again? It's day 43 and I am miserable again. Cranky, annoyed, bit chy, depressed, miserable unhappy non-smoking me. I have had a couple bad days this week. I need to go grocery shopping and cheer myself up with some wonderful fresh low-carb food. I made homemade yogurt yesterday, and it didn't turn out right. Made me want to cry. It was so good the first time. I don't think I let it heat up enough. My dog, who I thought was house-broken has started peeing in the house again. The little puppy still isn't house broken. I don't know what to do. I have had the little dog since April and the pup since September. I am consistant with them. I take them outside every hour. I walk them sometimes 4x a day. They go potty outside, I see them doing it, but still I find pee and poop on the floor. Thank goodness we don't have any carpet. This is really starting to get on my nerves. I wish I could pay someone to come to my house and train them for me. This makes me want to cry too. I miss the act of smoking. I don't want to smoke, or smell like smoke, or have smoke in my lungs, but quitting has left a huge gap in my life and I haven't been able to fill it. Any quitters out there who have been able to fill the gap? Hoping for a better day tomorrow.

03-19-2008, 03:33 PM	#26
Tilla Senior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 653 Gallery: Tilla Stats: 235/176/145 WOE: Atkins Start Date: 01/02/03	Here's another incentive. My husband and I were buying 2 cartons every 5 days. At almost $50 per carton, we are saving almost $600 a month. Last week I went out and bought myself a new-to-me Jeep. I look at it as "free" because the payment is less than we were spending on cigarettes. I love being able to eat at any restaurant--not just the ones with a smoking section. I like being able to smell and taste. It's great!! Hang in there. It is worth it! The downside is we both have gained a few pounds, but I know the health risk of a few pounds is a lot less than the effects of the smokes. __________________ Linda

01-16-2008, 09:33 AM	#1
micki MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Mt Pleasant, PA USA Posts: 2,329 Gallery: micki Stats: 150/135/Pretty happy with where I am WOE: walking every day Start Date: Summer 2000	smoking and quitting I am ashamed to admit that I continue to smoke not only because it has become a habit and an addiction, but I smoke to keep the weight off. I want to quit, but I don't want to put on weight. Any advice from any quitters? My BF quit on New Year's day, but he is eating everything in sight. I am trying to lose weight now, and then quit, so if I gain weight back, it won't be so bad.

01-29-2008, 04:39 AM	#2
micki MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Mt Pleasant, PA USA Posts: 2,329 Gallery: micki Stats: 150/135/Pretty happy with where I am WOE: walking every day Start Date: Summer 2000	So I am down 9 lbs, so it is time to quit. I have been taking Chantix for 6 days, so tomorrow is my quit date. I haven't been exercising, but I will get on the treadmill for at least 20 minutes each day. If I stick with my low carb diet, and add some exercise, I should be ok. Anyone else quitting tomorrow?

02-06-2008, 08:36 AM	#5
Mimosa23 Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: State of perpetual confusion! Posts: 3,739 Gallery: Mimosa23 Stats: GOAL!!! Maintaining with a smile! WOE: Maintenance Mediterranean diet	Hi Micki, I´ve just become a non-smoker again as well. I have been smoking on and off for years and every time I quit, it´s with half the effort. Well, this time I´ve quit for good, so I´m with you on the non-smoking bandwagon! Well done for being smoke free up to now! I´m on day three, and today is the first day I´ve actually told my colleagues, as I didn´t want to make a big deal out of it... Well, I decided that I do want to make a big deal out of it, and I´m glad for doing so now, as I didn´t realise how much support I now have! Anyway, well done so far!!! xxx.

02-07-2008, 04:40 AM	#6
micki MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Mt Pleasant, PA USA Posts: 2,329 Gallery: micki Stats: 150/135/Pretty happy with where I am WOE: walking every day Start Date: Summer 2000	Hi Mimosa, I was starting to wonder if there were any other new quitters out there in LC land. Welcome to my hell. I am on my last day of "hell week" tomorrow at 3 pm will be one week since I put out my last cigarette. It really hasn't been that bad this time. The Chantix really does seem to work. It is expensive, but less than cigarettes. $140 for 30 days. I was a 2/pk a day smoker, so I was spending like $8-9 a day to kill myself. I did put some weight on in the first few days, but I think it's coming back off. I was back up to 146 without any cheats, but this morning was at 144. I was able to walk my dogs for a couple hours yesterday because the weather was so nice. I have 7 dogs, and I took them all on a half mile walk, and they got to swim a little. We all slept really well last night. Well, I'm just so done with smoking. I am too old to take my health for granted, and I'm not going to try to kill myself slowly anymore. I hope it's not too late. I smoked for 25 years. I've been trying to quit since 1998. It's hard. I don't want to have to do this again.

02-22-2008, 07:56 PM	#7
Tilla Senior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 653 Gallery: Tilla Stats: 235/176/145 WOE: Atkins Start Date: 01/02/03	Today is week 1 complete for me and my husband. We did it cold turkey and it has gone well. We were both 2 packs-a-day-ers. It has been a little harder for him than for me but he has smoked a lot longer than I have. I'm so glad his doctor finally got through to him. He is diabetic and has been having terrible problems with his legs. His doctor told him he had to stop smoking immediately or he would lose his legs. Pretty powerful incentive to quit!

02-23-2008, 06:54 AM	#9
micki MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Mt Pleasant, PA USA Posts: 2,329 Gallery: micki Stats: 150/135/Pretty happy with where I am WOE: walking every day Start Date: Summer 2000	So I saw a new PCP this week. I like him. He is 5 years out of medical school. Excellent. I am scheduling a lung function test to see how much damage my smoking has done over the years. I hope this will be incentive to keep me from going back to cigarettes, no matter what the results. 3 weeks in and my 4 lb weight gain is gone. Thank you Dr Atkins

02-23-2008, 01:51 PM	#10
Barbara B Senior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Egypt, NJ Posts: 853 Gallery: Barbara B WOE: Dr. Richard Bernstein	Hi- I am on day 4 of my quit with Chantix. It certainly makes it easier than cold turkey. I joined Quitnet and am posting there in the 60 Plus Club, the Chantix Club, and the Quitstop forum. Great support over there. Good luck with everyone's quit.

02-23-2008, 11:17 PM	#11
Doug K Junior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 43 Blog Entries: 44 Gallery: Doug K Stats: 210/207/135(5'4") WOE: still figuring that out Start Date: March 2007	Congratulations! I see you have a dog in your icon. Your pet? I quit smoking for good about 13 years ago. My main motivation wasn't my own health - it was my cat's.

02-25-2008, 11:58 AM	#15
micki MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Mt Pleasant, PA USA Posts: 2,329 Gallery: micki Stats: 150/135/Pretty happy with where I am WOE: walking every day Start Date: Summer 2000	I went out and refilled my Chantix prescription today. I ran out a couple days ago, and I'm ok with not smoking, but my food is a little out of control. Saturday night, I ordered a vegetarian "Meatball" appetizer. It was supposed to be veggies and cheese and tomato sauce. It tasted like a big bread ball. Gross, but I ate it anyways. I think the Chantix helps me with sayin no to carbs and cigarettes.

02-26-2008, 06:53 PM	#16
micki MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Mt Pleasant, PA USA Posts: 2,329 Gallery: micki Stats: 150/135/Pretty happy with where I am WOE: walking every day Start Date: Summer 2000	Hey! What a great month to quit. Only 29 days and I can call one month smoke-free! Everyone should quit in February! If only it wan't a leap year. 4 more days, yeah me!

03-02-2008, 01:25 PM	#17
micki MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Mt Pleasant, PA USA Posts: 2,329 Gallery: micki Stats: 150/135/Pretty happy with where I am WOE: walking every day Start Date: Summer 2000	30 days clean. This is getting easier every day. I don't ever want to go through that again.

03-02-2008, 08:28 PM	#18
KrisA MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: CT Posts: 1,171 Gallery: KrisA Stats: 160/143.2/130 WOE: Atkins Start Date: 2/21/08	Yea, Micki! You're doing so great! Smoking is one of the hardest addictions to kick. I should know, I've quit a couple of times and am currently smoking again. One of the reasons I'm doing Atkins is to get some weight off so one of the fears keeping me from trying to quit again won't be there. I quit smoking for six weeks years ago and went from 115 to 156. At 5'2" it was very noticeable! I've been struggling with that weight gain ever since and still think of myself as slim until I see pictures. Yikes! Still can't believe that's me. So I applaud your success and hope I can follow you very soon!

03-13-2008, 10:27 AM	#20
KrisA MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: CT Posts: 1,171 Gallery: KrisA Stats: 160/143.2/130 WOE: Atkins Start Date: 2/21/08	You're doing go great! Keep it up! This is going to sound weird coming from someone who hasn't found the strength to quit smoking again yet but here goes. When I quit the last time, I'd found a wonderful motivational tape done by a former smoker. He said that when he got a craving, he'd celebrate it because it was a symbol to him that he was nicotine free. That one little "gem" got me through many, many bad cravings at that time. I had quit cold turkey and that's really hard. Its not funny, but what got me smoking again was one party. My friend said "You always enjoyed smoking so much at parties and everyone else is smoking, here, just have one, it won't hurt you" and that was that! Rotten addiction. You know, I was down to about four cigarettes a day just before I came to CT. Long, sad story, but with all the terrible things going on down here when I arrived, I slipped right back to my old levels. I bet I smoked a whole pack in the car on the ride down. Things are better now and with the weather getting so much better, I'll start walking more, increase my weight loss and do it this time! Keep up the good work. Smile and celebrate those cravings - you're only having them because you're winning! k

03-13-2008, 03:40 PM	#22
KrisA MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: CT Posts: 1,171 Gallery: KrisA Stats: 160/143.2/130 WOE: Atkins Start Date: 2/21/08	You're so right! When I figure out my camera and this site, I'll post a picture of my fur baby. She loves me for me, as long as I feed her on time! k

03-18-2008, 02:26 PM	#24
Dee1111 Junior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 9 Gallery: Dee1111	To be honest...the best motivation I had to quit was exercise. When I used to run I would have to stop prematurely b/c of my breathing. I was paranoid about not getting enough exercise and in turn not losing weight. So I cut down on the cigs to run longer. Eventually I just stopped all together. Btw smoking never kept me thin anyway, so I guess I never had that as part of the addiction. MICKI- as for a 'gap filler' i've mostly filled that by carrying around a bottle of water. cliche i know...but water and sugar-free go a long way in a crunch!

03-18-2008, 04:17 PM	#25
micki MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Mt Pleasant, PA USA Posts: 2,329 Gallery: micki Stats: 150/135/Pretty happy with where I am WOE: walking every day Start Date: Summer 2000	Day 46 today, and I am feeling a little bit better. I guess it's not as easy to quit as I thought. I am no longer crabby, but I still have that "reaching for a cigarette" feeling. I know it will pass again. Thanks Dee, maybe I should start running. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt.