I quit smoking 19 months ago using the patch! I highly recommend it, too. I have "tried" quitting a few times over the nearly 40 years that I smoked. At one time, I had smoked 2-3 packs a day. The last 15 years, I smoked a pack a day. After my Mother developed double breast cancer, my Dad was dealing with bladder cancer and now my Mother is dealing with the after-effects of colon cancer................well, my point is, I realized I was playing with fire....literally! Five years ago, I found the quitnet too and it IS a fantastic place for support. I go there still from time to time. I must admit, I did turn to food to replace cigarettes. Most of my life, I have not had weight issues. But, being post menopausal and in my 50's, the weight started coming even before I quit smoking. My doctor said he would rather see an extra 25 pounds on me tho, than, for me to smoke. He is right. I don't expect to be back at 120 pounds again; but, 140 would be cool !

I will check back and see how you're doing tomorrow! PM me if you want! I will gladly cheer you on your road to better health and energy!

YR

Thank you both! I'm sorry to hear that you, among so many others, have to see your family suffer because of the consequences of smoking. It's great to hear from people who have quit though--those who have quit successfully without gaining weight, and those who have quit successfully with weight gains alike. From all the responses that I've had, I have the feeling that if you are largely already in control of your eating and activity habits when you quit smoking, then it seems you'll have a better chance of not gaining weight. Since I've been maintaining my weight around 150-155 for over two years I'm really hoping that I'll be able to continue to do so.

Everyone's suggestions have really meant a lot and I've taken a lot of store in your advice. So many of you have recommended the patch that I actually went out and bought my first box at walmart today. It wasn't even that bad as far as price ($25 for two weeks).

Tomorrow is the big day and I have sugar free gum at the ready! I also bought a few bags of frozen raspberries as their low cal and a great treat if I go nutty. I'm going to try really hard to NOT replace the cigarettes with food though, even if it's good food, because I'm afraid eventually I'll start replacing the good food with bad food and gain weight We'll see how it goes! Tealeaf started a weekly weigh-in thread in success stories so that will help keep me honest.

Thanks again everyone

Good Luck Luci! You can do it!!! Your eating habits are already good, like you said, so I have full confidence that will have no problem! I am keeping my fingers crossed! So glad you got the patch. I know it will help tremendously!!! Just find something to keep your hands busy (besides food!).
YOU GO!!!!!!! I am cheering for you!

Good for you! I recently quit about 2 months and counting, and I had been smoking for literally half of my life about as much as you per day. I miss it I really do have times that I am consumed with thoughts of it. But the first week is the hardest. I could not sleep, I felt miserable and boy was I crancky! I went cold turkey because I read that if you completely deprive yourself of the niccotine you will have overcome the addiction in fewer days...14 to be exact! So I did it and those 14 days were a nightmare...i will not lie. But I stuck to my diet and exercised even more to distract myself from the urge. If you are determined to quit YOU CAN DO IT! but remember if you smoke another cig, you will have to start all over again! for trying!

I'm watching this thread closely because I'm a smoker. I have been thinking about quitting but I've quit before and I KNOW how hard it is. I'm like the earlier poster that said she still could smoke one and the one that said she thinks about them alot. When I did quit - that is ALL I could think about was ciggies.

I wish you the best of luck in your quitting journey and I will send you some really good "cigs are nasty" karma in hopes that you won't think about them that much.

Where i live they will give you the patches for free you have to call and they will send you a form to fill out and one for your doc to fill out ,i am waiting on my patches to come in .I have smoked for around 20 years.its time i QUIT!

Well, I've got a patch stuck to my left shoulder, a piece of spearmint "Extra" gum in my chompers", and I am officially 3 hrs quit!

Of course, out of ALL the days in the year, today is the day that my boyfriend and I had to drop off his truck for inspection. So, I'm giving him a ride back home (while he's smoking away in the passenger seat argh!) and he says "Hey let's stop and get breakfast". Great idea honey. Yes, let's stop and get breakfast so that I can face both of my biggest nightmares--eating healthy AND not smoking--at the same time while you puff away across the booth from me in between bites of your cream chip beef. But, I'm really proud of myself. I said "Okay" and we stopped and I didn't smoke or even consider it (I'm determined this time) AND despite all temptation I stuck to my diet and ordered a fruit cup, 2 pieces of dry wheat toast, and an egg beater omlette with green peppers and mushrooms. Perfect breakfast! I'm so proud of myself. I know if I stick it out I can stay in control of my weight during this. I just can't use food as a reward.

Thank you all for the ongoing support . I really respect those of you who have already had the strength to quit or have supported your loved ones in doing so

Lovtolaff--All I wanted to say that if you're thinking about quitting and worried about the weight gain, you might as well just go ahead and quit smoking now because the fear will never go away I've been maintaining 150-155 for two years after taking two years to lose weight (so "dieting" 4 years now) and it's still a huge fear for me. It always has been. I used to think that I'd lose down to a certain weight and then it won't be as scarey to quit. In a way, after being in control of my weight for so long, I think it's scarier. I'm afraid I'll gain weight and people who complimented my loss will be thinking, "Wow, she's really packing on the pounds now". Just food for thought: If you really want to quit, quit now, while you're motivated for it. The fact that you're dieting and already monitoring your food and activity levels may actually help you resist packing on pounds

Kimmie--Best of luck to you in quitting! After 20 years I'm sure it will be very hard but you can always take comfort in knowing that there's someone else suffering right along with you--me! Thanks for mentioning the free patch from the doc thing... I'll have to call my practioner and see if I qualify for anything similar Be strong!!!

Thanks everyone! I changed my signature today to officially reflect my new smoke free status!

Laters!

I am sooooooooooo proud of you!! Keep up the positive attitude, it will take you far........even when the Nicodemom rears his ugly head and trie to convince you that ONE won't hurt! Yes, it will!

Have you checked out the quitnet yet? And get plenty of water!

I'm rooting for you!

YR

Luciole, you go girl! I haven't been here for a few days and was so happy to hear that you have started a new chapter in your life - smoke free.

You're doing great! Keep us posted on how it's going and let us know if we can help in any way.

I agree with the others - quitnet.com is a great place to go, especially the weighty matters forum.

Diana

Yes, we are SOOOO proud of you! Please, please, please, keep us informed of how you are doing. You have a fan club cheering for you now and we want to know! YEAAAAA!!!!!

Just thought I'd check back and see how you're doing! I hope you'll check in soon!

YR

Hi everyone!

I'm sorry I was trying to lay low; I didn't want to monopolize bandwidth with a day by day blow of my quitting experience Sorry if I left some of you in the dark I did go to quitnet, especially a lot on the first day.

I'm doing good... In a few hours I'll be a full 3 days quit. Haven't smoked, haven't puffed, have not even touched a cigarette. I'm quite proud as my boyfriend's been home all weekend and still smokes. Obviously it's hard and I miss them often, but I have to admit that I definitely think the patch is helping with the withdrawal symptoms... so I thank those of you who pushed me towards it. And, since I wasn't an absolute monster, my boyfriend thanks you too

On the weight control issue, I'm doing okay I think. I has been very hard not to overeat but I just keep telling myself that if I can get through the next month or two on my normal eating patterns then I'll learn to live like that without cigarettes. I haven't really allowed myself any extra food when boredom/frustration struck, although I am consuming close to 100 calories in gum a day hehe. I've also tried some of the other "no munchies" tricks that I've seen posted on this board... For instance the other day we had company and everyone was smoking and I was going nuts for something and kept thinking about what I could grab to munch on. Finally though, I decided to paint my nails (a tip I saw on a recent thread). By the time that that was done my food craving had passed.

So, it's day by day for sure--watching the waistline and not caving in to smoking--but I think I'm off to a good start

Thank you all for the encouragement and inspiration It's definitely helped.

Yea!!!! You are doing so good! It is very hard, but it is soooo worth it. We are all pulling for you and thinking about you often. Thanks for the update!!!
Yeaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You made my day already!

I am so excited for you, Luciole! And I'm happy that quitnet is helping. Stay glued to that site for while. It will help you so much!

Keep us posted?

YR