|
|
Post by Flo on Nov 5, 2007 16:34:15 GMT -5
 It's taken nearly a year for me to finally lose some pounds. I've been faithfully eating lots of vegetables and fruits and protein and laying low on the carbs and absolutely hardly any junk food. I've finally gotten to the point where I remember and can take smaller portions now. The first while after I quit, I was concentrating on the low blood surgar syndrome and as a consequence, gained some pounds. I've also been faithfully exercing. No high torque or anything, just 45 minutes each morning of yoga and warm ups and 45 minutes each night walking home from work. I stayed at the same weight for the longest time. The thing is I never weighed myself before. I could tell if I was gaining by the fit of my clothes so when I discovered I had gained weight because my ring wouldn't fit, well then I began to focus on quantity of food and weight loss. It seemed I'd never lose any weight and I was actually good with that. Better to be healthy and a bit plump and not smoke than be slim and smoke. Goodness knows I think I looked better after I quit smoking - the clarity of my complexion for one! Anyhow, by August I think it was, I weighed myself and was astonished at my weight (150). I've now lost 5 pounds and I intend to lose 15 more. I actually feel great right now and wonder if 15 more pounds is necessary - skeleton much? - but well, we'll see. In the meantime, I no longer have the sugar lows and cravings. It's all a lifestyle thing now. I no longer want to have a pizza or a burger (well, maybe once in awhile). I've gotten into a lifestyle thing. I'm no longer afraid I'll start smoking if I get too much of a sugar low. I no longer have to have something in my mouth all the time. I think I've finally gotten to perhaps Stage 3 of the quit. I've taught myself better eating and living habits which I had to learn in this past 17 months of my quit and it is great. Hang in there all you newbies, it's so worth it. 
|
|
|
|
Post by Dee on Nov 5, 2007 19:45:17 GMT -5
Congratulations on the weight loss Flo. I wish I could say the same, but anyway, I'm still glad I don't smoke.
|
|
|
|
Post by KAREN on Nov 5, 2007 20:35:44 GMT -5
Congrats on the weight loss Flo. I am finally losing my weight little by little too. I swore in another post on here when I quit that I would not gain but I did. Yuck. But 14 pounds down. A few ehem ehem to go LOL. I am proud of you though Flo. That is great you are losing it.
Karen
I have been quit for 2 Years, 1 Month, 3 Weeks, 5 Days, 22 hours, 38 minutes and 55 seconds (787 days). I have saved $6,303.54 by not smoking 31,517 cigarettes. My Quit Date: 9/8/2005 9:00 PM
|
|
|
|
Post by Flo on Nov 6, 2007 19:04:12 GMT -5
Gosh it's easy to gain but really difficult to lose those pounds. You have to hang in though and never give up. It took me from about Nov/Dec of last year to now - basically a year to lose the 5 pounds. Amazing. They say the first pounds are the hardest.
Also, gotta watch that carb creep - you lose a few pounds, you think you can have a bit of cake, it doesn't show, you have a bit more, and next thing you know....
But let's not forget that it's all about quitting smoking and that is the miracle. I am at last able to 'just sit' and not crave a cigarette or something to eat. In fact, I have to now remind myself to take a break during the day!
|
|
|
|
Post by Dot on Nov 7, 2007 8:21:35 GMT -5
Good for you, Flo! ;D When I quit before, I jumped almost 30lbs in three months...really bad for someone short and skinny. This time, I've got the scale where I trip over it, so keeping a closer watch. I've tried to just eat smaller portions....why eat a whole sandwich when 1/2 satisfies me...that sort of thing. But the important thing is being a nonsmoker. You are an inspiration!  |
|
|
|
Post by Flo on Nov 7, 2007 19:15:35 GMT -5
Thanks Dot! You know, you're right. The secret IS smaller portions. Simple. Because I never weighed myself before, I really had no way of knowing just how much I gained. My ring no longer fit (and still doesn't), my "skinny" jeans no longer fit and that is how I knew but I really had no idea of how much because it seems to be distributed all over my bod (LOL). But I had to rub my eyes when I saw the scale last Saturday. The ring still doesn't fit and that is my measure. Once that fits again, I'll be satisfied.
I'm actually satisfied now though because miracles upon miracles, I no longer smoke and that is the issue isn't it. I think that I was "given" this 5 pound loss as a gift because I am now able to just be, without worrying about having a cigarette, without a craving, without having to reach for something to keep it at bay. I've finally learned (and am still learning) how to live like a non-smoker. I really didn't have good eating habits when I smoked and I've had to learn them - inch by inch - pound by pound, day by day. I think that, for me anyways, quitting smoking was a gargantuan act of will that it just naturally worked with eating as well. I remember early on in my quit, I was out with a friend who smokes and we were waiting for another friend and we were quite hungry and we were walking by the deli and the bakery and really I near went mad but I gritted my teeth and did not give in.
Anyhow, it's been an enlightening journey these past 17 months and this site is also a gift which came with the quit. Don't smoke. That's all that matters in the end.
|
|
It's taken nearly a year for me to finally lose some pounds. I've been faithfully eating lots of vegetables and fruits and protein and laying low on the carbs and absolutely hardly any junk food. I've finally gotten to the point where I remember and can take smaller portions now. The first while after I quit, I was concentrating on the low blood surgar syndrome and as a consequence, gained some pounds. I've also been faithfully exercing. No high torque or anything, just 45 minutes each morning of yoga and warm ups and 45 minutes each night walking home from work.
