LOL, Hurstk (last sentence). I've often wondered how people survive on so few calories, myself. I think the answer is, that's all they do - survive. There can't be any joy in eating that pittance.
OK, I'm a guy and my whole metabolic makeup is different, but here's my experience and what I've seen here. Most people gain some weight during the first six months in varying amounts no matter how hard they exercise and diet. Then it comes back off during the last six, if they continue to exercise and diet (more calories burned than ingested). I managed to hold my gain to just over 20 lbs and now that's almost gone. Net gain since I quit is 1 or 2 lbs.
The first thing I did was cut out cookies at lunch, soda pop anytime, and ate better at mealtimes. I also started eating breakfast with a small snack at midmorning and midafternoon. That levels your blood sugar to keep the body from thinking it needs to store energy.
Stopped eating until I was stuffed, watched my portions. I found that if I stopped when I was no longer actually hungry, then in a few minutes I would be full.
I also cut way back on my evening ice cream (for medicinal purposes, of course :)).
I don't drink, so alcohol wasn't a problem, but that is a big source of calories for some.
RyeKrisp, for me, are good. Wasa makes a nutritionally similar product, but the RyeKrisp are easier to handle.
And pretty much everything Breaking Free said. Congrats on the 5 lbs, BF. :) And so soon, too. I'm jealous.
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/23/2005
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 432
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 8,658
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1641.6
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 80 [B]Hrs:[/B] 16 [B]Mins:[/B] 56 [B]Seconds:[/B] 25