[Marie]

And one more thing - weight gain. How much weight did you gain and how long was it before things stabilized?

I'm already planning on surrounding myself with foods that I can pig out on without gaining, so I hope that helps.

I just last 60 pounds in preparation for this surgery and my doctor told me that I could gain up to 15 back without it being a problem.

Thank you all in advance.

[humblegunner]

I cannot have this operation until I quit smoking

Says who? Why?

Medical folks will try all kinds of BS to get you to quit smoking.

I had pleurisy and pneumonia, they said it was from smoking.

I called BS, asked them if they imagined I had smoked an infected cigarette.

No answer, just propaganda.

[TexasCajun]

My brother quit with Chatix and did not go postal.

Not smoked for 3 years now. ..put on about 20 lbs.

Good Luck.

[DallasDeb]

I’ve never smoked, but I have had to overcome some “addictions.” The number one thing that helped me is praying to God that he take my craving away. Keep praying for it and believe in it. Eventually, it will happen.

[joe fonebone]

I tried everything. Hypnosis worked well ( until 3 years later I thought I could have just one ).... The nicotine patches work good too ( do not try to wein yourself off too fast, or you will fail, like I did ) with the hypnosis i gained no weight at all....on the patches I gained about 15 pounds, and lost it all before I failed.... with the chantix, i had hallucinations, and gained about 25 pounds...if you have not been hypnotized before, give it a try...

[JoeDetweiler]

“....constant low-level anxiety. Grumpy. Pissy. Snapping....”

Sounds like me all the time and I haven’t quit. Welcome to old age :)

Seriously, Good Luck to ya.

[Doogle]

...as far as exercise Walk walk walk.......do a mile in the morning, and one in the afternoon DAILY! find a friend TO WALK WITH..(encourage each other)
DIET...chicken,tuna,greens,salads,some beef (lean of course)
...whole grains...soups worked for me...

[Jim from C-Town]

Expect to gain back the 15 pounds, at least.

I stopped by using Wellbutrin, a milder antidepressant than Chantix. My wife and I scheduled a vacation while over her birthday almost five years ago. I started the drug and smoked until the day we left two weeks later. It was ruff for a few days, but the trip and being in a nonsmoking hotel helped.

Once home it went relatively smooth and I stopped taking the drugs after a few months.

I also have decided that I am only suspending smoking. When I turn Eighty I fully intend to start smoking again. So, I have that to look forward to.

[ozark hilljilly]

I’ve been clean for about 2 years. I’d gladly light up one or two or a pack if I could. But I can’t. And I won’t. The desire never goes away. It fades with time and you find ways to compensate but it’s always there. Once you accept that you can move on and focus on staying clean.

It sounds lame, but finding things to do with your hands and mind really helps! Mine was crochet. Some gals take up knitting. Anything to keep you busy. You don’t have to be good at it-Just do something! : )

You will gain weight. At first,I packed in about 30 pounds!! YIKES!!! But keep active. Even a walk around the block is a start. It’ll more difficult to lose the weight if you’re older as I’m finding out, but I’m not getting discouraged and neither should you.

Good Luck, sis. It’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do! But the best thing for ya.

[jospehm20]

Swedish Snus helped me but I am still doing that.

[Melissa 24]

I stopped cold turkey (spur of the moment) on August 5, 2005 and swore I would never be a slave to cigarettes again.
I did gain 25 pounds but have lost it since then.
I'm a stubborn gal, once I set my mind to something, that's it for me.
I wish you the best - good health and happiness. You can do it!
:)

[Chickensoup]

Stopped over 25 years ago after being a two pack a day smoker for 15 years.

I went away to a friend’s camp, listened to stop smoking tapes, had recently been hypnotized, and took 25 valium five mg tabs with me, that I took when the cravings were overwhelming.

one plus year I avoided all restaurants,bars, coffee and friends that smoked. I dropped my club. I gained ten lbs and lost it the next year.

best thing I ever did.

[VictoryGal]

Hi Marie. Congrats on your decision to get healthier, and your weight loss so far. God bless!

I quit a little over 20 years ago. I still remember the withdrawal spikes. What your body wants is some kind of solace or reward that cigarettes used to fill.

What will work is replacing it with something, NOT food (that’s how you gain weight).

Ideas:
- A brisk walk, or other exercise session, get those endorphins going
- A relaxing shower or bath, or session in a hot tub
- Manicure, pedicure or massage
- Singing (in the car, this is great!)
- Meditation or prayer session with relaxing music
- A treat “read” that you’ve set aside just for times like this

Good luck!!!! HUG!

[VictoryGal]

Hi Marie. Congrats on your decision to get healthier, and your weight loss so far. God bless!

I quit a little over 20 years ago. I still remember the withdrawal spikes. What your body wants is some kind of solace or reward that cigarettes used to fill.

What will work is replacing it with something, NOT food (that’s how you gain weight).

Ideas:
- A brisk walk, or other exercise session, get those endorphins going
- A relaxing shower or bath, or session in a hot tub
- Manicure, pedicure or massage
- Singing (in the car, this is great!)
- Meditation or prayer session with relaxing music
- A treat “read” that you’ve set aside just for times like this

Good luck!!!! HUG!

[oncebitten]

Forget the Chantix - just go cold turkey. My wife and I both quit over a year ago. Think of the money you will save and plan a nice vacation a year out for motivation. We figure we saved over $6000 and just returned from two weeks in Italy and France.

I gained a bout 10 pounds and my wife gained 8.

[wolfman23601]

I have quit several times for as long as a year and I always go back. Now I am a pack a day smoker and I run 30 miles a week... just did a half marathon in 2 hours (the irony). My body tells me when it is time to step back. I would like to quit entirely, but it is very difficult when everyone around me (family, work, etc.) smoke. I’ve never tried a pill, but from what I understand, it is super expensive and you have to slowly ween off it... like an antipsychotic. It scares me as I don’t personally believe in them.

[red-dawg]

First of all, good luck to you and we will be praying for you.

I quit 7 years ago and I gained about 30 lbs. My sense of taste returned and food tasted SOOOOOO GOOD, so I pigged out.
As far as cravings went, I used, at separate times, the nicotine patch and nicotine gum. I think what helped was that I made up my mind that I would NEVER smoke again. EVER.
YOU HAVE TO TELL YOURSELF THAT THIS IS PERMANENT.

My brother used chantix a few years ago and is still smoke free. What works for some people won't work for others.
My only other crutch was a pickup load of sugarless gum to keep my mouth busy.

[Lorianne]

I have never smoked by I know at 2 people who were able to quit relatively easily using Wellbutrin (bupropion).

This is an anti-depressant but is used to help smoking cessaton. It is not like other anti-depression medication, it is NOT a serontonin re-uptake inhibitor like most anti-depressants.

You could ask your doctor about it

Good luck

[wolfman23601]

You NEED to exercise and you will not gain weight. And I mean real exercise, not slow walks around the neighborhood. If I could only get my own wife to come to this conclusion.

[esquirette]

I quit 20 some years ago cold turkey with God’s prodding in my heart that I could be dying already from it. He carried me through the first really hard week because I promised Him I would not smoke, and a vow to God is not broken without serious consequence.

After that, I would say it took about a month, and I counted the days as if they were points. At some point, perhaps a year or so, I forgot about it.

For the instant interval, remember you only have to quit one day at at time. Ask God for perseverance. Take vitamin C and drink lots of water for cleansing. Count each day as a victory.

Know that you will suffer, but this suffering is temporary, and of your choosing, rather than an illness not of your choosing.

[mewzilla]

We have family and friends who've quit, some cold turkey, some with meds. Some still have cravings, some don't. Surround yourself with folks who don't smoke, especially at first. Cigarette ordors on clothes, in homes, in cars can make cravings worse. Have you got someone to buddy up with, someone you call call, hang with if cravings get bad? If not, see if you can find one. As for food, sugar free hard candy has worked for ours, also crunchy raw fruit and veggies to nosh on. Not sure why the crunchy part worked for them, it just did. Also, if you have a hobby that occupies your hands, indulge in it. If you don't, try to find one. As for professional advice, you might ask your doc is there are any smokers anonymous groups local to you. And a link that might help....

Guide to Quitting Smoking

Good luck, Marie! We'll keep you in our prayers :)