Congrats Toni, One month is great! Eat that cheesecake and enjoy your reward! Sylvie, Bilingual Health Educator

Toni, that cheesecake was a great one month reward! Have it again at your two month! The bottom line is, you are saving your own life by quitting smoking, and that is so much more important than a few pounds on the scale! :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/5/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 346 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 8,650 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $3,650.30 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 45 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 16 [B]Seconds:[/B] 3

Jan I wouldn't have DREAMED of worrying enough about my weight over my first year quit to go to a weight loss group. Why? Because you WILL gain weight. Guaranteed. The thing you need to decide is how much you'll let that weight gain affect you. I lost 11 lbs before I quit and gained about 18 back over the year. I was mortified. I was about to tip the scales with a big old '2' in the first position of the three numbers. I'm still pretty close, but it's finally coming off. It does go, but didn't budge in a downward direction the first year no matter what I did. There was a time I got stressed out that my clothes were getting tight, but instead of getting too worked up about it, I bought bigger clothes. And still didn't smoke. What I DID do was gain a great understanding as to why many people must find it so difficult to stop smoking. As smokers so many of us have self image issues to begin with. Throw the emotional angst of a quit together with a kick to the self image from a rapid weight gain and what do you get? Someone ready to pack it in because they don't like what looks back at them from the mirror. I implore you to pack in the scale, and stop counting pounds until you're comfortable in your quit. Four hundred plus days on, I still don't like my weight but wouldn't you know it, I LOVE that reflection without yellow fingers, dry hair and grey skin. Wide angle lens or not! I've picked up the weight thing as my goal for this year, and lo and behold now that I can exercise without feeling like I'm about to explode, it's actually really enjoyable and something I look forward to rather than something I have to do. The big pharmacy chain here, Boots, has this program they make a big splash about each January. It's called 'change one thing', where they say it's often too hard to change too much about ourselves at once so we should go one at a time. I for one believe them. My 2 pence, hope it helps towards your pounds! ;) x T [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/1/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 409 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 9,407 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �2,249.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 34 [B]Hrs:[/B] 20 [B]Mins:[/B] 41 [B]Seconds:[/B] 41

Well I did great today - I ate all my peppers and my grapes and then lunch time came - LORDY I love cheesecake with strawberries. One of the salesmen bought a cheesecake and I am not one to say no. Besides its Valentines Day AND my one month anniversary! I did go for my 1/2 hr walk at lunch and put on an extra 2200 steps. Tomorrow I wont have cheesecake and will eat a more appropriately. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/14/2008 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 31 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 620 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $248.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 22 [B]Mins:[/B] 24 [B]Seconds:[/B] 58

Thanks for the replies. I feel a little better. Anyhow, I'd rather gain a few pounds than smoke! Why does food have to taste so good now, anyway???? Cheers, Jan [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/27/2008 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 18 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 450 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $153.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 57 [B]Seconds:[/B] 51

Besides, as stated - it's normal to gain after you quit. It's more thna just what you put in your mouth - your metabolism slows.. it's not your fault. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]7/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 577 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 43,275 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $10,818.75 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 51 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 22 [B]Seconds:[/B] 41

I went through the same thing, so I quit my weight loss group and rejoined after I felt strong enough to - it took me a year and a half. I'm loosing weight normally now. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]7/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 577 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 43,275 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $10,818.75 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 51 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 22 [B]Seconds:[/B] 37

Hi Jan, All you can do is try your best. It's not uncommon to gain a few extra pounds when quitting, it's just part of the process for some. You're doing a great thing for yourself by quitting, and don't forget that! Sylvie, Bilingual Health Educator

Tell your counsellor to check her research, the average quitter gains weight - IT IS NORMAL! You know it does level off later on. :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/5/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 346 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 8,650 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $3,650.30 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 45 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 27 [B]Seconds:[/B] 18

I so get the weight gain. I have gained alot of weight since quitting a month ago but I had to get the non smoking under control first and now I will tackle the weight thing. I am a "hearty" gal and I have always been ok with it but really, honestly I NEED to loose about 40 pounds and I will. Just like I conquered the non smoking I will conquer the poor eating choices. Today I have grapes, red peppers and yellow peppers at my desk. I will do what I need to do this year to get healthy because 2008 is all about me. ;) I have been a mom for what seems like forever, a wife, a girlfriend, a daughter, an employee.... this year its about Toni and getting healthy and feeling better about me. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/14/2008 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 31 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 620 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $248.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 21 [B]Mins:[/B] 53 [B]Seconds:[/B] 22