Hello!

I am really wanting to quit smoking now at this point in my lift. I think I am going to take the set and buy the nicorette patchs at costco today.. but have a question.. has anyone quit smoking while on LAWL? Do you gain weight while you are quiting.. does it just keep you at the same weight.. or do you continue to lose?
I am hoping for the last on.. as I am eating right ya know and I read on the quit smoking site that diet plays a part to why people gain weight when they quit smoking.

Thanks!
Candice

I think now is the perfect time to quit. You are eating healthy and making great choices everyday. I know others here have quit and can/will probably offer lots of great advice. I have no doubt people gain when they quit because they make poor eating a substitution for cigarettes. Congratulations on making such an important decision--good luck. If you felt an improvement after starting to eat right think how great you'll feel now.

That's wonderful, Candice! Best of luck to you, it may be tough but it will be so worth it. As far as gaining weight, I think that most people gain because they replace the cigarettes with food. If you stay on the plan, I bet you will be fine. Keep us posted on how you're doing!

I had quit smoking before I started the program. It was the best decision i've made in my whole life. Well, that, marrying my husband, and starting the LAWL program. At first I was gaining a little weight because I was replacing food for cigarettes. It was actually easy for me to quit because I really wanted to do it. After starting the LAWL program I started losing weight. It's great! I'm still losing and it's been a year and a month since I've had those nasty ciggy's. A great book that helped me quit smoking is a book called, The Easy Way to Quit Smoking by Allan Carr. I'm attaching the link here: http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Way-Stop-...e=UTF8&s=books Remember....in order for the book to work, you have to WANT to quit. Good luck!

Thank you gals!

And thank you evette! I ordered the book They did not have it at Chapters or amazon.ca so I had to order it from the amazon.com site.. shipping is a killer! 24$! LOL But it will be worth it

I quit smoking 16 years ago. It actually took years later for the cravings to stop once and for all. I had normal cravings at first, and as time wore on, the cravings were related to time and place rather than just wanting a cigarette. I would crave them at bars or social situations where others were smoking. I can finally say that I no longer have cravings to smoke. It's a long road and I wish you luck.

Meanwhile, I may have gained weight when I quit, but I quit because I was pregnant, so weight wasn't really my concern.

Most people gain weight because of the oral fixation problem. They start substituting food for the cigarette. Many people switch to lollipops so they have something in their mouths. Neither is a very good choice when also trying to lose weight. Try another approach--if you want a cigarette, brush your teeth or take a walk around the block (or down the hall and back if you're working)--do anything except eat or smoke.

Best of luck to you. And it's true, you really have to want to do it in order for it to work. My DH also stopped a year after I did. He read an article about planning on quitting--set a date to quit and stick to it. He did, and he didn't gain weight because he substituted chewing on toothpicks for the cigarette craving. Too bad chewing on toothpicks isn't ladylike behavior!!!

Brushing the teeth sounds like a good thing to do, Thank you Allison!

Goodie! I quit 4 yrs. ago, when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter....DH quit shortly after! I LOST 40lbs. during my pregnancy...more to do with the baby the cigs I bet! Any how, My choice was a good book instead of food and sometimes a hot bath with a glass of chardonnay. My cravings didn't start until about 10 mon. after I quit and I think that is bec. my DH was born and my mind said...you're not prego now, you can smoke! I stayed strong and now could care less....they are vulgar and rank and I can't stand them any more! Such a hypocrite!

Good Luck, Proud of you.

I used to teach Stamp Out Smoking classes at the hospital I worked at. It was common for people to gain up to 15 lbs. the first yr. with quitting smoking. But, we also let them know that a 1 pack a day cigarette habit was just as unhealthy to your heart and body as being 100 lbs. overweight.

I am 9 months quit now. I highly suggest www.quitnet.com for support and suggestions. Many people are able to quit without gaining weight. Some people aren't, but it's a temporary thing and quitting smoking is the NUMBER ONE thing you can do to improve your health. I think my success at that is really helping me lose weight now. Good Luck!

I'm really glad you ordered the book. I hope that it works for you. I was shocked to see that shipping costs so much for you. That's a lot of money.

I'm proud of you for taking the first step towards a smoke-free lifestyle. It's better to be a couple pounds overweight than to be a skinny corpse.

Candiflip - I actually guit 8/9/89 and still have cravings, but will NEVER, EVER take another puff . I was a 3-pack a day smoker and smoked for almost 20 years (from age 13-31). I quit cold turkey (took a class offered by Kaiser in the evenings after work; only a 5 night course). At first, I actually lost a few pounds because I didn't want to eat things that made me want to smoke. Plus, the program required that you abstain from alcohol and unnecessary drugs for 30 days (folks use alcohol and drugs as an excuse to just have "one" cig). I was a fairly regular drinker back then.
Like folks have said - you really have to want it; but you can do it and I wish you luck!

Thank you all for your support! I really do appreciate it!

I decided though because of how all you mentioned weight gain(and everyone on the yahoo group I am in) that I will hold off till I am in maintenance. That way during my weight loss I don't get depressed that I am not losing or gain weight. I have lost 30 pounds so far and only have 60 more to go so not to much longer
When maintenance comes I will be ready with book in hand!!!
Thanks again!!!

Well.....
I did it!
I quit(DH too) on January 17th !! It has been 3 full days and I can say that so far I am doing great!
I do get little cravings, but mostly I have trouble with the habit part. I chew sf gum most of the day to keep my mouth busy and have been playing lots of POGO :P
I am doing the nicoderm patch and dh is using nothing. He is doing great too!!
Back in Ocober '06 when when I posted this I was worried about weight gain. Well I am happy to report since I quit 3 days ago I have lost a pound!
I am now on the GOLD plan
I am now 188.8 pounds (am weight)
Thank you again all of you for your support!!!