I started coming to this forum last February, and had lost about 30 lbs by June. In June I decided to quit smoking since I had started doing a lot of running, and wanted to increase my performance. I am no longer a smoker, but I seem to be having a terrible time losing any fat now, and even gained most of the weight I lost back!!! I don't lose it as quickly as I did when I smoked, and since I don't smoke, the urge to eat is more intense. I'm not even really sure why I'm posting this. It feels like more of a rant, but I am so sick of being fat, I can't stand it anymore. I've even considered smoking again (I won't), just so I can lose the weight. Anyway, enough belly aching. Anyone else been down this road? How did you overcome this problem? Is it possible? Will I ever get below 10% body fat without smoking?

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April Goal 20 lbs

Smoking is an oral fixation... Food replaces the cigarettes.. While I find chewing gum to be absolutely disgusting... find something to keep your hands and your mouth busy so as to fill the need for cigarettes...

Quitting smoking is a good thing, your clothes, your teeth and your lungs will thank you

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& Congrats on being a NON-smoker. I quit smoking (cold turkey) in November of 2006 and lost almost 30% of my original weight. I went for a brisk walk or jog every time I wanted a smoke. Needless to say, I spent most of my day outside walking and jogging. I did notice after 6 months of non smoking the weight really started to drop. I don't know if it's because my body had repaired itself from the abuse of inhaled toxins or my mind had "kicked" the habit and made my choices in life healthier.

Being a non smoker is a wonderful thing. Quit smoking is a major step to a healthy lifestyle. Replace your nicotine habit with endorphins. Excercise. Stay with physical activity even if the results are slow in coming. Hang in there.

Yeah....I've been down this road...I quit smoking in June and put on 11 pounds. I've taken that 11 pounds off now and I'm trying to take off the rest of the excess weight I've put on over the years...but constant hunger and burning off about 1000 calories per day through exercise ain't doing it very fast. (maybe a pound a week...if I'm doing good)

10% body fat??? ROTFLMAO

I don't think I've ever even been in in that neighborhood...but then I'm female. Isn't that super low, even for a man though?

BTW...nicotine is a stimulant so it is harder to lose weight w/o smoking, even if your calorie intake remains steady.

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I had also wondered if this sort of thing might happen just for the fact my body is so much healthier. No luck so far, but thank you very much for the encouragement.

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April Goal 20 lbs

UHHHHG!!!!!!

Yes, it's very low, but it's what I want. I know it will not happen tomorrow, but I hope that I'll get there eventually.

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April Goal 20 lbs

I might start smoking to see if it will help me lose weight.

Thats where I gained most of my weight , from quitting smoking. I knew I was gaining and really didn't care as long as I stopped smoking I figured I'd lose it later. For me it wasn't that it was a oral fixation it was more like whats the only time you don't want to smoke ? while your eating so I ate and ate and ate and it got me through now I run and run and run and in the end it all worked out. I am now a non smoker for over a year and in better shape then I was when I started to quit. Hang in there & keep your head up as long as you do it will all work out the way you need it too.

If you are having problems controlling your urges to the point where you are overweight (not judging), smoking is the LAST thing you need to start. My friend rob (300 lbs of fat... never exercised, never wanted to) once summarized it well. If he had to pick between giving up food and giving up cigarettes, he'd smoke till he was just jerkey left... but until that day he'd continue to eat as he pleased and smoke as he pleased.

The urge to smoke does not replace the urge to eat.

to the OP:

Try mini carrots, or celery sticks split down the middle. That's how I was able to not compulsively eat to replace smoking when I quit. It's not the end all, but just that feeling of having something long and thin in your hand (enter mal's mind here)...

Throw some Nicorette in the mix. The nicotine is what increases the metabolism, not the smoking. Once you have being a nonsmoker down pat, up the cardio, and pay attention to how great it feels to breathe.

hey -how'd i miss this lovely commment

thanks, buddy

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Firstly I congratulate you for the accomplishment.

Here is my 2c, I am well aware of the benefits hypnosis can bring to your life, so my suggestion is to find a qualified hypnotherapist.

Hypnotherapists have the power to teach you how to change your habits, deeply rooted beliefs and manage your emotions.

Do your share of research and don't buy into "self-hypnosis mp3s" mumbo jumbo.

I'm not saying it can't work, but hypnotherapy has not been empirically validated as a method of behavior change.

I experienced weight gain when I quit smoking, before quitting I bounced around 260-270, after quitting I got up to 337 I know not all that is from quitting most of it was from inactivity.

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In a 100 years who's going to remember anyway.

I quit about two years ago, but I really don't attribute my weight gain to not smoking. It's not getting enough excercise and eating just before bedtime for me.

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Lovin' God and Lovin' People!