I too hadheard the 200 cals per day for a pack a day smoker story but I've no idea if it's true. I piled on 20lbs in the 6 months after I stopped smoking nearly 4 years ago BUT i took to eating 3 chocolate bars a day that I didn't have previously which if you do the maths kind of explains it. However, I'm 3 lbs lighter now than I was when I stopped smoking and a **** of a lot fitter, richer and calmer. Smoking stressed me out no end even though I thought it helped. I too used it as a food replacement but, as I've said, I'm lighter now - go figure.

I won't lecture you either. You know you're playing Russian roulette with your life. I would just say that the younger you are when you quit the better your chances and I really wish I'd quit sooner. It's easier than you'd think.

Gary my heart goes out for you. I know she will be greatly missed. And thank you for the prayers I NEED THEM. I don't want to cause my family to hurt bcause of my mistakes.

I started a second job today as the design editor for our college yearbook..the last girl quit, having done nothing, and now I have two weeks to come up with brilliant layouts for 40+ pages! STRESS=BAD things. I want to quit But I can always find a million excuses not to.

Mary, there is ALWAYS going to be some sort of stress in our lives, unfortunately. That's just the way it is. We have got to look to non-destructive means to cope with it. We just must.

That's a fantastic job. You must be extremely talented to have landed it. I'm sure it will keep you busy - and preoccupied. Perhaps you can use that busy-ness to take your mind OFF of the cigarettes. Here's hoping.

I don't think there's any truth to smoking actually burning calories, perhaps they meant that a smoker eats an average of 200 calories less per day. Nicotine is a known appetite suppresant, which is partially where the weight gain comes when someone quits but I agree with the other posters that it's mostly due to keeping one's hands and mouth occupied with food instead of cigarettes that causes the gain.

I don't have the long time experience that some others here have, I only quit smoking 3 weeks ago....but so far I'm still losing weight. I smoked for 6 years, and the past couple of years it was a pack a day. I quit cold turkey and I feel a little guilty saying that so far it has been really easy, I haven't had any cravings and rarely even think about a cigarette, and in that case it's usually just a fleeting thought. I feel a little guilty saying it because I know how difficult it is for many people. Maybe it was easier for me because I didn't smoke for 10 or 20 years. So take heart, maybe it will be easier than you think!

Yeah, it's different for everyone. Hubby smoked for about 30 years, and I smoked for 18. He smoked less than 1 pack a day, but I smoked about 2.5 packs a day! He couldn't quit. Ultimately, he started back up. But I stuck with it. No, it wasn't easy for me, at all. He had to not smoke in the house for the longest time, because the smoke would get me craving a cigarette. I had to avoid them completely. Now, I can be around them. I haven't noticed a craving for awhile now. Don't know exactly how many years it was before that kinda went away. Though there've been times at night that I've dreamed I was smoking. That's a bit weird.

Not to keep harping on it MARY...but i found out from the programs i went to to try and quit that ~

I smoked when I was STRESSED OUT and NOT

When I was Hungry and NOT

When I woke up or was tired

Before I exercised and AFTER

When I was Happy or sad

When I was .........................................

I figured out I was ALWAYS smoking.

Right on, EZ, right on!

Jay

LOL. I'm the same way. I was chatting about the possibility of quitting with some friends last night, and they were saying that they always smoke when they drink, can't imagine not smoking while drinking, but that if they smoke alot one night, they'll sometimes not smoke for the whole next day. I sat there, amazed. I smoke when I wake up, when I pour a cup of coffee, after I eat, when I get in the car, when I leave a building, when I'm tired and stressed, when I'm happy and relaxed, when I'm hungry, when I'm full, when I'm bored, when I'm busy. I just ALWAYS smoke, no matter what. It's not something I think about. I just do it. All the time.

Bf is pushing for us to quit in January, over the school holidays. I definitely don't want to subject my students to my incoherent withdrawal rage, so the break sounds like as good a time as any. But god, it really is a terrifying prospect. Just thinking about it gets my pulse racing. This is why I need the Zyban/Wellbutrin.

Ugh.

Good luck with it Mary. Let me know if you find an excellent quit-smoking message board that does for smoking what 3FC does for weight loss.

For years I didn't think my truck would start without a cigarette.

For years, I didn't think I could digest a meal without a cigarette.

I didn't think I could go "potty" without one.

Just don't decide to quit when you go on vacation... I tried that once and it was almost the end of a relationship!

Jay

Wait. Are you saying that cars start and meals can be digested without cigarettes? I'm confused. That doesn't make any sense.

Next you'll be telling me that it's possible to absorb caffeine without a cigarette. Ridiculous!

Did you know that you can go out dancing and even have a couple of drinks....and not have even one cigarette!!! Amazing, huh?

I like to smoke...

...but I don't smoke cigarettes. I think cigarettes smell and taste nasty. Instead, I'm a big fan of little cigars. Black & Mild, to be specific. All the flavors are amazing, but the wines are the absolute best. I don't chain smoke - one pack of 5 will usually last around a week for me. For me, it's a recreational thing that I'll do if I'm A) hungry and don't feel like eating, B) needing some energy, C) needing some calming down, or D) bored. I usually smoke half of one initially, then save the other half for later.

I have no intention of quitting them at the moment. I don't think I smoke enough to cause harm to my body, and it helps curb cravings. Now, I know the non-smoking brigade is going to lecture me... *braces self*

As for smokers quitting cigarettes, yeah - they gain weight because they like to have something in their mouth. I suggest chewing lots of gum. Chewing gum also helps with overeating because everything tastes bad after you've just been chewing on some strong, freshly flavored mint gum!