My original plan to control my weight was to use hootia lollipops. Those hootia pops worked well athough I couldn’t keep it up and found that in social situations they looked downright silly.

This morning, I had my assessment with my NEW trainer, Michelle. Today, I am smiling and feeling hopeful that these 15 pounds will depart very soon from my being. I will offer up more about that later in this article.

Encouragement for my continued success with not smoking comes daily from those around that don’t smoke, continue to smoke and even strangers that may smoke or not. If anyone of those people would guarantee me that I would not get lung cancer or worse yet emphysema then I would start again ASAP. For me, cigarettes were like a best friend that only listened and a constant and consistent reward system for just about anything I would choose …Um…I woke up this morning! guess I’ll have a cigarette, Um…I just took a long brisk walk so I reward myself with a cigarette. Need I go any further? Those of you that smoke or have smoked (and loved it) in your past will certainly understand that aspect of smoking.

I will admit that I was beginning to become a victim of feeling like I was a complete social outcast and thus somewhat of a loser for smoking. Cigarettes were starting to run my life when it came to selecting restaurants, favorite friends, my travel destinations or even airports that I would choose for connections. I would not recommend that type of negative control in anyone’s life.

Is it obvious to any of you that I am in the process of justification and patting myself on the back for not smoking. I am indeed feeling once again that I made a great decision. Venting is such a great comfort when no one is talking back to me. Oh! And Yes! It is so liberating and empowering not to smoke.

So you are planning on quitting smoking? One thing you need to know is that you should not plan on anything other than that when you 1st quit smoking. Focus on just that task. You will feel like you are giving up enough and then some. No need to set yourself of for failure.

I am beginning to think that my weight gain had quite a bit to do with several factors in my life. My age as well as sitting in front of a computer most of the day (like now) and my stubborn attitude as far as not wanting to give up another thing. Hindsight would tell me that I should have entered into a little more flexible state around November.

Exercise has been part of my daily regimen in a rather casual fashion since January until now. I knew that I was gaining weight although had convinced myself that I could manage and take control of the process of taking the weight off as quickly as it came.
WRONG this time…for me anyway.

Enter Michelle, my beloved new trainer. I want to share this information with you because realism is where it’s at pertaining gaining weight associated with quitting smoking. The more you read the better success you will have with your end result. Today, I am a much happier person because I feel I have taken back control with some help from a trainer and not a shrink. I shared my story with Michelle and told her that all I want is to be able to wear the clothes in my closet that I wore the day I quit smoking. That would be full circle for me. She gave me all sorts of encouragement in addition to a few exercises to do at home as well as some healthy eating recommendations. I look forward to actually working out and training with her during lunch on Tuesday. The good news is that I won’t be missing that cigarette after my workout tomorrow. I will keep you posted as to my success with the weight loss.

Technorati Tags: smoking, quit smoking, weight gain, lose weight, trainer, women, cigarettes, carol clifton

Why do women gain weight when they quit smoking? The reason is fairly simple. You have a slightly increased metabolism associated with smoking. That increase in a heavy smoking can actually burn up to 200 calories a day. That means that you will actually need to take in less calories or step up your exercise program to just maintain your weight.

In many cases you will eat more when you quit smoking. This is a natural response to the hand to mouth cessation that you have developed from years of smoking. Don’t forget that cigarettes are actually a natural weight suppressant. When you quit smoking, your brain will kick in the hunger feeling when you deny your system the nicotine from cigarettes.

This is the point at which food replaces the cigarettes. STOP! The simple replacement should be a glass of water although this will not satisfy the comfort you are looking for from sitting down and having a cigarette. BEWARE! Women are much more likely than men to pick up the smoking habit again. Awareness of what to expect will arm and assist you in achieving your goal. Keep your goal at the forefront of your mind to successfully quit smoking and not gain weight. You can minimize your weight gain by executing a daily plan.

Keep plenty of low fat snacks in a cabinet in your kitchen
Exercise Daily (even if its just a few minutes)
Drink water and plenty of it
Herbal Teas can be very satisfying
Minimize Alcohol intake (it’s calories too and will impair your judgment regarding the goal)

Take baby steps and reward yourself for each step. Make sure that you choose non-food items and something you enjoy that you would not normally indulge yourself with.

As long as you are prepared and educated on what to expect from quitting smoking, you will be successful. Your decision to quit smoking is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. Now that you aware that the weight gain is not a necessary element from putting down you cigarettes you can move forward towards your goal.

Technorati Tags: smoking, weight gain, weight loss, quit smoking, cigarettes, exercise

I LOVED SMOKING! and felt cigarettes were a steady companion in addition to being a very loyal reward system. For me to quit smoking was going to be a KICKING & SCREAMING effort. It is neccessary that you know all of those components to understand that if you feel the same way that you too can quit smoking.

At this point, you are probably wondering the “WHY” behind my quitting if I love smoking as much as you. My cousin, Judy was diagnosed with Lung Cancer after she had quit smoking just months earlier. When I told my oldest son this news he said that he was going to quit smoking after he called the Doc for some sort of medicine to assist him with his “No Smoking” effort. I was overjoyed that he was going to put down his cigarettes. What came next shocked me. My response to him was that if he quit, I would commit to do the same. WHOA!!! What was I thinking??? I love smoking cigarettes.

Enter Chantix Miracle Medicine ! The Doctor prescribed Chantix for my son the very next day along with many words of encouragment. He started taking it immediatly as he told me that he intended to smoke on it for 1 week and then QUIT smoking. Yes! He actually made it sound that simple. He was sincerely committed to become a non smoker. Ricky went on to share that he intended to give my husband and myself his left over Chantix to take when he was finished because he was certain he had plenty for at least 3 – 4 people to quit smoking. You know in the spirit of “Pay It Forward”. Now the funny part here is that it never dawned on me to ask him WHY??? he would have left over medicine. Ricky quit smoking exactly 1 week later and that same day I started taking his left over Chantix. Yes! My husband started taking the Chantix also. I felt sort of desperate as if was preparing for a Funeral. At that point I felt as though I could not find a single person that understood my feelings. Too afraid to share them with the people around me that still smoked for fear I would undermine the effort to quit smoking.

My 1st day on Chantix left me concerned because I did not feel any different and was quite certain my portion of the medicine was a placebo. As the days went on, I never experienced any side effects although I have friends that had some pretty crazy dreams while taking Chantix. We had an unexpected business trip to Mexico come up during the week so I asked my son’s permission to quit smoking 1 day later than was planned. He was somewhat disappointed but understood. (I laugh that I cared at that point…Man! was this medicine turning me into someone that was submissive as I was giving up SMOKING)

I QUIT on Day 8 of the medicine. Sincerely my only pain associated with not smoking that 1st day was the habit of the triggers that caused me to smoke in the first place. My advice on that particular piece is to write them down on paper and prepare your reaction. I chose to suck on Hoodia Pops every time I wanted a cigarette which worked very well for me. Hoodia Pops look just like a tootsie roll pop (not too pretty to use in public) and are used as a appetite suppressant. You will need to tell yourself that you are a non smoker. For additional “Quit Smoking” support go on the Chantix website or comment on my site.

My son started telling me after 1 week of quitting to get off the medicine…Oh My Gosh…Do I ever wish that I would have read the directions for taking Chantix at that time. But NO! I listened to Ricky and was at that point determined to never pick up another cigarette because I never thought I would quit….Heck! I don’t want to have to do it again.

My husband, Rick did not end up quitting although he did try to hide that from us for about 4 days. All bets were on him quitting smoking and not me. Just drives me crazy when we women are underestimated…I quit smoking in late September! The date for me is not relevant just that I did it.

Let’s talk about the positive aspects of saying goodbye to my friend, Cigarettes
1. Don’t have to avoid Non Smoking restaurants
2. I will not avoid Non Smoking Airports any longer
3. I will go back to Non Smoking California now
4. I will admit that smoke on Clothes smells crappy
5. I don’t have to hang outside of buildings in the cold to smoke
6. Do not have to clean out or hide 55 ashtrays in my house
7. I can stay at all Marriott Hotels again
8. I will happily go to my friends “No Smoking” houses without hurt feelings
9. I don’t feel like a 2nd class citizen
10. I’ve saved enough money to take a trip

SO I WAS GOING TO END THIS AT 10 but I am not finished

Ok! So I have gained a few pounds but I am now committed to loosing those as soon as I finish this article.