I just quit smoking (am on day 6 of not smoking) and it has been really tough but I really wanted to quit so I think that helped. I have been staying on my food plan this week and exercising. When I have a craving to smoke I drink water, chew gum, read, anything to get my mind off of it. I have found exercise to be a lot easier and it helps boost my mood and get my mind off cravings. I def. think that it can be done (quitting smoking while dieting) it just takes a lot of will power and a strong desire to quit smoking.

Great Job Liz! Both on quitting and sticking to your plan, thats really impressive!

I'm still smoking, feeding into the whole paranoia of gaining if I stopped right now. Whether it's true or not, society has me believing this, and I don't want to take the chance. My plan is to get a bit closer to my goal, where if I do gain, I won't give up the weight loss fight, then try to stop.

Smoking gives a feel of moving to heaven .But don't forget. You are inching at a faster pace to death. We are all aware of ill-effects on smoking but amazingly many of us smoke just for pleasure. It is a common feeling that smoking can be quit without any difficult. Do you really think so?
I bet you .Controlling the desire on smoking is more difficult than any other temptation on earth.
Well somehow if you stop smoking,the focus of desire shifts from smoking to food habits. All of a sudden you start consuming more and eventually gain lots of weight. One needs to be careful in dealing with food habits after quitting smoking.

Good luck Buddies.;)

Thank you! I am still smoke free and I lost 2 lbs this week so I am pretty proud of myself!

Sigh....I still smoke. I've lost weight and can even run a whole 5K (and more) and I smoke a pack a day. Like others, my doctor told me to lose weight first and get a handle on eating correctly before I quit smoking. When I maintain my loss for one year, then I will try to kick the cigarettes.

Another smoker here. I actually quit for five whole years and then fell off the wagon (got over-confident and started smoking "socially" when out with friends). Anyway, I quit smoking right before I got pregnant with my first, and had a second kid not long after, so it's hard for me to know what was quitting smoking weight gain and what was two pregnancies weight gain. But, all in all, I'm 30 pounds heavier.

I'm so angry at myself that I added smoking to my list of bad habits once again. And, of course, now I"m worried about quitting and the weight gain that might come with it.

However, I know that for me, smoking and over-eating stem from the same exact issues. They are different manifestions of the same problem. I eat worse when I'm smoking and have zero energy (or lung capacity) to exercise. So I'm really hoping to do both.

Anyone up for a support group ... "Quit and Lose in 30 Days"??

In 2005 I lost between 65-70lbs smoked through the whole thing and told myself when I kept it off for 6 months I would quit. Got sidetracked with an injury and other issues and had to quit 2/3/06 and put back 45lbs as of today officially I am down the 45lb I gained and still not smoking next week will be my 3 year anniversary. If I had to do it all over again I would have quick around the time I was 20lbs short of my original goal. This way you are way on your weight loss journey and feeling good about yourself with good habits. Hope this helps

That is awesome cdawnfine, congrats on your weight loss and your 3 yr smoke free anniversary.

Lisa- I would def. be up for that challenge! I really want to stay on track!!!

cdawnfine- that is awesome! Congrats to you! :)