Bensempress - That's what I like about the patches. While yes, I'm irritated that I have to change the habit of smoking, most of the time it helps to at least make the cravings bearable. And I think that exercising more will help, because my lungs will rebel and say "ok, you can't smoke and work us out like this, you have to pick one" lol

Hopeful -

I love Colorado Springs. I used to live in Lakewood, just outside of Denver.

But I think that's what I'm dealing with the most, is the fear of breaking the cycle. If I take away the smoking, then I'm afraid the eating will increase (and it did, some). Then I'm afraid that I'll gain (which I have, some). I start the Sonoma Diet on Sunday, and I'm going to do that, add exercise, not smoke, and take it from there. It helps to know that others also have the same fears/concerns. I've felt pretty isolated at work since the people I would go out on smoke break with pretty much avoid me around break time, and if *god forbid* I have to go outside, they are the first ones to make sure I don't smoke, which is irritating, but whatever.

I also quit smoking and lost weight at the same time. The only way I was able to do it was exercise. I took up bike riding and the huffing and puffing and basically feeling like I wanted to pass out from the lack of oxygen made me realize the damage I did to my lungs. That is what made me never pick up a cigarette again. It also did wonders for the anxiety I felt over not smoking. I smoked for 20 years and have now been smoke free for 2 years. Also when I started 2 years ago I weighed 220. I now weigh 155. It can be done. Anything is possible if you want it. Good luck with your goals!

Oh…also the sugar free gum is a must!

I quit smoking and GAINED 30 pounds. How? Well, while everyone was telling me to drink water and chew gum and walk the cravings away--I would hide in my closet with a milkshake trying to 'fill' the craving.

DO take the walks, brush your teeth, color, sew, whatever! Don't switch from one addiction to the other. I am just now getting the weight thing in control--I wish I would have done them at the same time. Good Luck!

You can do it!

Bobo - Thanks for the advice. I'm popping gum like crazy. lol

parkedout- I know how you feel about the milkshake. I'm ok at work, for the most part, but when I get home is when I would hit the pop-tarts, or the pretzels. I feel like a cow grazing more or less.

I've been following the thread with interest. I'm not a smoker, never have been (except in uni when I was smoking something other than cigarettes!). For the advice, I'd say to not be afraid of the side effects and don't "need". Instead, just change your mindset (a lot less difficult than it seems).

When you create need, you create anxiety. They (whoever "they" is) say that we create 97-99% of the anxiety that we experience-- it's all in our heads. You shouldn't NEED to do anything, but you "should feel strongly about" quitting smoking and losing weight. By saying that, it automatically lessens the anxiety you create for yourself.

When we say we "need to lose X pounds by Y date", we create an atmosphere of anxiety; if we don't achieve the goal, we feel like a failure, even if we're 2 pounds from that goal. We say to ourselves "Self, you didn't do lose X pounds, you only lost Y pounds! You didn't make your goal. You didn't do this, or that or the other." Instead of saying something like that, set little goals: "I feel strongly about losing weight. I feel strongly about stopping smoking. This is what I will do to achieve that goal."

Goals are measurements of our progress, so we want to be able to make SMART goals.
S- specific
M- measurable
A- attainable
R- realistic
T- tangible (others will say timely, but I find that having time-based goals in weight loss creates anxiety). Tangible goals are ones that you experience with all your senses. Breathing easier while exercising is a tangible goal, both from weight loss and from smoking; you can experience things you haven't done in a long time. You feel better, smell things better, taste things better, maybe start hearing things in a different way or hear new things (Wow, she's looking great! I wish I could do that!) and maybe you see things differently or see new things (like the way your body is changing).

I also find that visualising what I want will allow it to come to me more easily. Every morning, I've started thanking myself for the healthy size 10 body I have. Now, I'm still a size 16, but by focussing my attention on counting my calories and exercising, I can literally "see" myself as a size 10 and the weight has started to come off again. So by thinking of yourself as smoke-free, you can be smoke-free. By thinking of yourself as thin, you can be thin. But you should feel strongly about experiencing your visualisation through all 5 senses.

This is all very high-level thinking, much higher than we usually do. What we do now is good, but knock the thinking up a notch and see what happens. Visualisation is a very powerful tool that we have and should be using to get what we want- more money, a better job, weight loss, smoke-free... whatever!

I know that you can do kick both the eating and the smoking habit.

I quit smoking 18 days ago. I gained 7 pounds in the first 5 days and realized I need to start exercising and eating right or it was going to get out of control and fast.. which leads me here.

It CAN be done, its all mind over matter. I made up my mind to quit and so I did. Now my smoking obsession has pretty much been replaced with a healthy eating/weight loss obsession but hey its a whole lot better for me. And my lungs thank me every time I work out, which adds to my determination to keep on quitting!

Good luck!!

Im new at 3FC and must say I love seeing the support for each other . I have been smoke free for 3 months and can already tell a difference in how I feel. but I also gained 10 lbs on top of the 15 I was trying to lose so now I really have to get focused on losing the weight . I had put off trying to quit smoking because of the fear of gaining weight but I know it is possible to be smoke free and at a healthy weight .

Good Luck

I stopped smoking before having to to lose weight (health reasons) I went cold turkey when I quit + each day I kept a mental countdown, I kept telling myself you've quit for x-number of days "why give up now?" - also I drank water each time I had a craving - The months just rolled by + now 7 months later I can say I only attempted 1 or 2 puffs and the taste was REVOLTING! - my hubby said the other day he's glad that he cant smell smoke in the house or on me anymore. It sounds arrogant but I told myself I wouldnt spend the money I was spending on cigarettes for anything else and it worked. Keep trying!!

Hi, I quit 6 years ago and I was a heavy smoker...It was very simple for me. I did it the Allen Carr way. A friend of my husband quit after being a smoker for 40 years..he told me about this book and it worked! I did NOT gain a single pound either! Best of Luck!

I quit 2 months ago and here's how.

I thought of all the health risks with smoking. The smoke, tar, lung problems, smell, locations you can smoke on and on.

I chose to get my nicotine someplace else.

I started wearing patches with a simple few thoughts:
1. It is cheaper than buying cigarettes and I still get my nicotine.
2. I can wear it all day and not smell or have to go someplace exclusive to smoke and I still get my nicotine.
3. I don't have to stop getting nicotine I just have to change how I get it.

I figured if I did the patch for the rest of my life it was cheaper and healthier than smoking, dipping or chewing. Eventually I just quit wearing the patch and had some withdraw but by then I was only dealing with the physical addiction at that point. As a back up plan for stressful moments I had some nicotine gum but never used it.

I never thought of it as quitting. If I never get off the patch at least it is cheaper and healthier.