Conference rocks::weight_control

    Hi!
    
    My dream is to lose weight, start an exercise program
    AND quit smoking. I doubt that I'll be able to
    accomplish this all at the same time. It really IS
    a b*tch to quit smoking and lose weight at the same
    time. My plan is to lose some pounds, firm up with
    Nautilus THEN try to quit. I'd like to lose about
    5lbs lower than my goal, so when I quit smoking,I'll
    have 5 lbs to play with.
    
    Let me know what you decide to do.
    
    one who cares......
    
    pat
    

    Pat,
    
    I've been dieting and only smoking 2 or 3 cigarettes a day all week.
    The first couple of days were wild.  I had absouloutely(sp?) no
    energy.  I would work all day, go home, cook, yell at my husband,
    beat the dogs (just kidding), and go to bed.  So, I've started going
    out at lunch (just to walk around).  My energy level has greatly
    increased!!  I feel so much better!!
    
    What ever you decide, I wish you great luck!!!  It's not easy, but
    we can all do whatever we set our minds to!!
    
    Virginia
    The royal b*tch of the week 8-D!
    

    I'll share my story with you - maybe it will help, maybe not, but
    it can't hurt.
    
    I smoked for 5 years (started at 16) 1 pack a day - more if I was
    drinking and partying.  When I was 21 I had a full time job and
    a part time job at a gym (nautilus and free weights)  I quit smoking
    without even knowing what I was doing.  I was really hung over the
    day after Halloween and couldn't even think about having a cigarette
    without feeling sick.  The next day I said "well, what the hell,
    I made it through one day, why not go for another?"  so I did, and
    I made it no problem.  And I just kept going and going.  I walked
    around with almost a full pack of cigarettes in my purse for two
    and a half weeks without touching them.  I finally gave them away.
    
    Exercising helped a lot, and working in that environment helped
    a lot too.  I lost 10 pounds without even trying too.  I always
    had to have a cigarette after a meal, so after I quit, I was almost
    afraid to eat for fear that I'd break down and smoke.  So when I
    did eat (don't get me wrong, I never starved myself - I love to
    eat too much), I never stuffed myself.  It was kind of easy because I
    knew what the consequences would be.  My eating habits also changed
    for the better.  Working in the gym and always hearing from all
    the guys what they eat and what everyone should eat (lots of complex
    carbohydrates) helped me modify my diet.  I also allowed the guys
    to take me under their wing and show me how to work out with free
    weights.  It did wonders - I never had a better body.  
    
    They gym finally closed, so I eventually put on a little weight, but
    I never started smoking again, and I never will.
    
    To summarize all that mumbo jumbo - keep yourself busy.  And if
    you're the type to smoke after you eat - don't eat in place of smoking.
    Occupy yourself with anything other than smoking/drinking.  And
    exercise, exercise, exercise!!!!!!!   Combining a "diet" (I hate
    that word "modifying your diet" is better), exercise, and quiting
    smoking together worked best for me because it felt natural and they all
    seemed to fit together.  They all were for the same goal - to make
    a happier and healthier me.  And it worked!
    
    If anyone needs some advice or moral support, feel free to write.
    
    Amy
    

    Well, I screwed up big time over the weekend.
   
    Saturday went by smoothly until that night.  We went over to my
    in-laws and played cards.  I could have killed my mother-in-law.
    She offered us strawberry shortcake for a snack.  I ate some
    strawberries.  Then she was chain-smoking and I broke down and smoked
    a cig. after not having one all day.  I got the worst head rush
    off of it and got into an argument with my husband about it (he's
    quitting, too, but he hasn't smoked since last Wed).  
    
    Yesterday, I did not smoke all day.  But, I blew my diet.  We took
    my mother out for lunch for Mothers day.  The place we had originally
    planned on going was closed.  So, we ended up at a pizza place and
    ate their after church buffet.  Pizza, speghetti, corn on the cob,
    french fries, breaded chicken breast, and salad.  I was going to
    eat one piece of pizza and a big salad.  Needless to say, I didn't
    stick to eat.  Last night was even worse.  We went over to my sister's
    house, it was my nieces birthday.  I ate cake and ice cream over
    there.  But, I'm not going to get depressed about it.  I know I
    shouldn't have done it, but I'm not going to get depressed and eat
    because I'm depressed about eating.  I'll just have to be super
    careful this week. 

    NO SMOKING AND NO CHEATING!!!  (My new motto!!)

    Amy,
    
    You must have been writing .3 while I was writing .4.  That was
    great advice.  I also started smoking when I was 16.  I'm 22 now
    and was smoking sometimes 2 or 2 1/2 packs a day.  I know it's for
    the best.  I keep telling myself that over and over.  I think I'm
    over the worst of it now.  I went all day yesterday without even
    wanting one and so far today I haven't wanted one.  
    
    My worst problem is working exercise into my schedule.  I know that
    sounds silly, but it just seems like I never have the time.  I'm
    not a morning person, so I can't do it then.  When I get off of
    work, I get home about 5:30.  I like to sit down for a few minutes
    (about 15 minutes) and unwind.  Then, I go outside and feed my three
    dogs and play with them for about 30 to 45 minutes.  We've got a
    garden that we try to do something to every night, usually 20 to
    30 minutes spent in the garden.    Then, it's usually about 7:00.
    I don't like to eat any later than 7:30.  I don't think it's good
    to eat late.  By the time dinner's over and the dishes are done,
    it's 8:00 or later.  Then, if I have any other house work to do
    or clothes to wash, I do it then.  By 9:00, I'm ready to take my
    bath and watch an hour or so of tv before I go to bed.  If I don't
    settle down before I go to bed for at least an hour, I can't get
    to sleep.  I try to be asleep by 10:00 because I get up at 6:00
    and I can't function on under 8 hours of sleep.  So, when do I
    exercise?  I guess I could spend less time with my dogs or my garden,
    but those are things I really enjoy doing and I hate to cut down
    on them.  Any suggestions?

    re: .5
    
    I have a couple of suggestions. First of all, as you exercise more,
    you will need less sleep. I know this because I have discovered
    it for myself. I have always needed more sleep than anyone I know,
    just to function. But, as I get back into exercising regularly,
    I have more energy during the day and evening, and I wake up more
    easily in the morning. (most of the time) BTW, I'm not a morning
    person either...
    
    Also, what about, instead of playing with your dogs for 30-45 minutes,
    take them for a good brisk walk for that long. No change in your
    time schedule, but a good, brisk 30-45 minute walk is great exercise!
    Or, what about walking at lunchtime?
    
    Just a few suggestions.
    
    -Amy.
    

    Amy,
    
    Thanks for the suggestions.  Re: the less sleep as you exercise
    more; it doesn't work for me.  When I was going to the spa regularly,
    I still needed 8 to 9 hours of sleep a night.  I asked my Dr. about
    it and he said it wasn't that unusual for some people who are in
    perfect health and exercise all the time to need that much sleep.
    I'm telling you, I worry myself sometimes.  I sleep so deeply that
    someone could come into my bedroom and take everything out except
    my bed and I probably wouldn't wake up (good thing I don't live
    alone and my husbands not a heavy sleeper)!!  
    
    Taking the dogs for a walk is a good suggestion, but there are two
    things about that that prohibits it.  1st of all, my dogs are chows.
    They have never bothered any people, but if a cat or another dog
    was out, I couldn't control them if they wanted to go get it.  They'd
    drag me with them.  Secondly, if my husband would walk with me,
    it would be all right because they will listen to him, and he can
    restrain them better than I can.  But, he won't.  He does manual
    labor all day, so he doesn't want to do anything like that after
    working out side all day.  (I can't really blame him).  And, he
    absouloutely refuses to let me walk alone.  
    
    I'm just going to have to cut my time down with my dogs and start
    going back to aerobics, or doing exercises at home.  I need about
    another 2 or 3 hours after I get home from work to get everything
    done.  And, we don't even have any kids yet!!!  How does everybody
    else make it?  

    
    
    Hi,
    
    I have been reading this note. Since I also quit smoking 6 months
    ago for the 2nd time. I was at high school weight before I quit
    and I gained 18 lbs. Well, I was so depressed about I could have
    started smoking again. Instead I started exersizing every day.
    I do aerobics 3 times a week and walk 3 miles a day on the off
    days. I have cut out most of the suger and fats. I have lost
    11 lbs. I seem to be stuck here and have not lost any in 1
    month. I have my body fat test done and I had gained 5 lbs
    of muscle mass. So really I need to lose 5 more lbs of fat
    to be a goal again. 
    
    I just thought I would share my story, By the way I quit smoking
    though hypnosis. Have had a butt in 6 months and 11 days.
    
    
    Keep up the good work.
    
    Suzi

    Suzi,
    
    That's great that you quit!!  I honestly don't know what's the hardest!
    If you quit smoking, you're bound to gain weight, but neither of
    them are very good for you.  But, I'm happy to report that tomorrow
    will be 1 full week with no cigs.  I just hope I can keep dieting.
    I started exercising Monday night, (after I wrote .0 Monday afternoon
    and got the wonderful response that told me to exercise) and have
    exercised every night this week.
    
    Congratulations on both of your successes!  Keep your fingers crossed
    I'll keep going!

    FWIW:
    
    I was a 3 pack a day smoker for about 20 years. I quit smoking 4 years 
    ago and did not gain weight.  My family Dr. put me on "The Gum".  Each 
    stick contains about 4mg of nicotine - about the same as 2 somkes.
    I chewed this suff for almost a year, visited the Dr. every 2 weeks
    where I was weighed and had my blood pressure monitored.  The gum
    took care of the nicotine craving and allowed me to work on the
    behavior parts of cigarette addiction.  I took up walking and biking
    to keep my weight down and improve overall fitness.  This also
    reinforced my feelings of progress and accomoplishment.  Once the
    behavior modes were accomplished, I strarted withdrawal from nicotine.     
                                             
    Prior to this, I had tried hypnosis and many other "guarnteed" methods.
    None worked - I cut down but didn't quit.  Nothing will work unless
    You truly want to quit.  Quiting was the hardest thing I've ever
    done.  Like Koop says "Nicotine is about 2.5 times as adictive as
    herion and coke.
    
    Good luck to you.  Quiting smoking is the most important thing you
    can do for you health.
    
    Cheers, Marty

    I guess it's time for a progress report.....I haven't touched a
    cigarette in 2 weeks and 2 days.  Haven't really been wanting one,
    but I have had a hard time dieting.  I'm trying to do it one step
    at a time.  Quit smoking, diet, maybe next I'll work on my caffeine,
    etc., etc.  I feel so much better and can breath more freely.  I
    never realized what so many things really smelled like until I quit.
    Overall, I'm actually enjoying being a non-smoker.  I want to
    congratulate anyone out there that has quit, tell the ones that
    want to quit that they can do it, and appeal to the ones that have
    never smoked, to please don't try it.  It's a bad habit that's hard
    to break.  You don't realize your addicted until you try to quit!!
    
    Thanks for all the words of encouragement and support.  I don't
    feel like I'll go back to it now that I know how hard it is to quit.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Virginia