[Flubbers]

I am 26 years old, and have struggled with my weight forever. I have been trying to lose some wieght, but nothing has been working. I decided to quit smoking this week, which is making it even more difficult to do. I am very positive I will quit, but there is a voice in my head that keeps saying I will gain more and never lose it. How can I shut that negative part up, and stay focused on two goals at once? I want to get to that special place on the scale where I was happy once before. Sorry for the rambling, I am just so lost at the moment. Thanks for any suggestions.

[RidiculouslyAddicted]

Congratulations on deciding to quit smoking!

Personally, I COULDN'T focus on doing two things at once. I just quit smoking first. I was paranoid about gaining weight, too, but over the course of a year, I only gained about 5 pounds, which isn't too bad. Besides, quitting smoking is the SINGLE BEST thing you can do for yourself, and even if you gain 10 pounds, it's not as unhealthy for you as continuing to smoke. Plus, you can get rid of 10 pounds in a couple of months, anyway. Honestly, focusing on two major things like losing weight and quitting smoking is going to be difficult, but it can be done (just not by me, LOL).

Since I was so paranoid about gaining weight, I made up a list of things that I could do when I was having a cigarette craving -- INSTEAD of eating. Some of these may sound weird to you, and you'll have to come up with your own list, but mine included:
-Drink VERY cold water through a straw (mimicked that inhaling sensation, and was probably the most helpful to me)
-play with an isoflex ball
-chew gum (first two weeks it was Nicorette, then regular gum)
-breathe deeply
-think about hugging my boyfriend
-laugh
-stretch
-yawn (got that nice deep breath)

There were others, but I can't remember them -- it's been 13.5 months since I quit, and I don't even crave it at all anymore. I haven't had so much as a puff since the day I quit.

Good luck!!

[Doughnut]

I'm not sure that this is what you want to hear but maybe it will help. I stopped smoking 3 years ago and I went from 140 to 163 in 4 months. I was thoroughly miserable. I couldn't cope with the weight gain so I very briefly started smoking again. I stayed at 163 but now I was smoking again
Anyway, yes you might gain weight but as you're already thinking about that (I didn't) you'll almost certainly keep that to a minimum. I stopped again a couple of weeks later when I worked out that being 163 wasn't going to kill me. Smoking may well do. I was back to the 145 range 6 months later and my latest weight gain has nothing to do with smoking and alot to do with pizza

[FullSteamAhead]

hello and welcome. I want to say bravo for quitting smoking and I also would like to share a story with you! A looong time ago I quit smoking (I was overweight too) and maybe within a month or so of quitting I started changing my eating habits (eating healthy, etc.) and I also started exercising in the form of walking. I went on to lose 40 pounds (maybe 43 or so), reaching my ideal weight! I stayed smoke free for almost 10 years and also continued with my healthy lifestyle during this time, maintaining my weight. Needless to say, about 5 yrs, ago I went back to my old ways (yup, smoking again) and not eating healthy etc. THe reasons are many and also very complex buttttttt I am back on track again, eating healthy and exercising and let me tell you right now, those darn cigarettes are getting tossed out the window real soon!!!!! I'm not worried about any weight gain from it as exercising will keep my metabolism up and my healthy eating will counteract it.

Hm, they say that habits are never broken, they are replaced!! You need a constructive back up replacement (and I beleive that goes for anything). FOr me, it was the exercise. Please dont start up again for fear of gaining weight, the worst thing I did was going back! I had to get rid of a lot of my triggers when i quit (cold turkey), no caffeine for a few months, no alcohol for 8 months or so! god, lol. Good luck and stay strong