PS: Right now I'm living on Lean Cuisines - my husband does about 50% of the meals, he's helpful in that way (or hungry LOL). Thanks in advance! Marie [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/3/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 18 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 541 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $135 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 19 [B]Mins:[/B] 21 [B]Seconds:[/B] 29

I'm average weight - 143 lbs and 5' 7" woman. My family genetics is average. My Mom (I'm 44 she's 70) was a great cook but the staples were beef, potato and a veggie (Irish ;) ). I do not eat fruit - maybe 6 pieces a year. I like fruit, I sometimes find it too tangy, I think? I'm going to try to eat more fruit. I buy alot of fruit for my husband and child. I'm not a great cook. I can cook the basics, but I'ld like to learn new recipes, healthier meals (fish - never eat it), etc. I'm short on time (this is boring but I work full time, odd hours and have a sister who needs my help almost daily, I help out with her doctor appointments, her 4 children and my very, um, demanding 4 year old, so not much time for lavish meals - lucky to get 3 dinners on the table for the 3 of us (and not juts my child) - just like everyone else right! Do any of you love to cook and what do you snack on no that you are a non-smoker. I'm really curious. Thanks for sharing. Marie Oh, and am I definitely going to put on 20 or 40 lbs.? I have another sister who quit, gained about 30 lbs (looked great on her I thought), she's 2 years quit and is losing the weight quickly. She tells me it takes 2 years for your metabolism to get back on track. Sorry for such a long series of questions! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/3/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 18 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 541 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $135 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 19 [B]Mins:[/B] 21 [B]Seconds:[/B] 6

Thank you all for your time and insightful replies. Organic, I am shocked at the prices, but buy it for my daughter. Windy, that sounds like a delicious meal - I mean, that's easyish, oops child up, sigh, long night ahead. Thanks again! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/3/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 19 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 571 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $142.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 21 [B]Mins:[/B] 44 [B]Seconds:[/B] 51

Freedom, You and I are on the same page again! I went to the store last night, and bought blueberries (which are delicious), bananas, apples, oranges, raisins. Also check out the wall in the grocery store that contains the "health" foods. Add some flaxseed to your foods. It's good for you. Make sure you get healthy proteins. Cut out the fats and fried foods. Try oatmeal for breakfast. The first meal of the day is what kicks in your metabolism, so you want to be sure and eat a good breakfast. Brown rice, and stir fry veggies, with chicken strips would be an idea of something healthy and easy for dinner. You can get the pre-cooked chicken strips and frozen stir fry veggies to make it quick and easy. Eat lots of raw veggies... carrots, brocolli, cauliflower, etc. Now you know what my diet is going to be this week! I decided to cut out that darn chocolate today, or limit myself to one small piece after each meal. I just finished off some chocolates I received for Christmas and I'm so glad they are gone. I couldn't stop once I started! I keep Dove chocolate in the house and can control myself with it. It's now my after meal "treat", instead of a smoke. Try green tea... it just makes you feel good and makes you calm. (comfort drink). Stop drinking sodas (this is a hard one for me). I like one pepsi a day, but not sure it does much for making me feel good, so I'm going to try and replace it with a nice flavored Aquafina. As I went through the store last night, I about choked at some of the prices of the health foods I bought, but smiled and said to myself: I deserve it! When I checked out, the total bill wasn't nearly as bad as I feared! I had forgotten how expensive the junk foods are. I believe I can trade in the junk foods for the seemingly expensive health foods and still come out ahead! I'm having fun thinking this diet thing through and finding healthy ways to eat. It has shifted my mind from thinking about smoking to planning "good for me" meals! Sorry so long... hope this helped a little! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 12/31/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 21 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 214 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $40.53 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 42 [B]Seconds:[/B]

I have gained about 30 lbs. during my quit. I have found that what works for me is watching my portions, getting up off the couch and cutting out sugar & bread is making a difference. Leslie Sansone has a great walking DVD that I really enjoy doing too. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/10/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 133 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,004 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $399 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 13 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 19 [B]Seconds:[/B] 6

Hi Freedom - I am a terrible cook so I am no help for you at all...In fact, my hubbie cooked up a whole bunch of vegetarian lasagnas for me before he left to work out of province. I do cut up a whole bunch of veggies on the weekend (peppers, onion, celery, etc. I either buy boneless chicken (and cook in advance) or get a pre-cooked chicken and I have it all cut up ready to go too. I can throw the veggies and chicken in frying pan with tiny bit of olive oil. They make quick and easy fahitas (whole wheat tortillas) and are tasty with lots of salsa and little "no fat" sour cream. Re: gaining weight - I think everybody is different. I ate comfort food and I ate ALOT of it during the first 3 months of my quit. I also started exercising more often. I gained 10 lbs between Sept and December. I have focussed on healthy food choices and exercise since then and 7 of the 10 came of in about a month. Make healthy choices, get some exercise and don't worry about afew extra pounds. Congrats on 18 days quit! Windy [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/11/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 132 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,656 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $660 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 12 [B]Hrs:[/B] 22 [B]Mins:[/B] 30 [B]Seconds:[/B] 28

MArie I am no expert but you deffo need more fruit ... Phil [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/8/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 166 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,488 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �871.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 33 [B]Hrs:[/B] 5 [B]Mins:[/B] 14 [B]Seconds:[/B] 34

Hi Freedom A simple get started on the healthier track, buy organic grains cereals and add berries, (strawberries, blueberies...) bananas as a topping. The old fashinon way that many after forgotten. Organic cereals are not much expensive then the non-organic, and needless to say a better choice of nutritutions. You can buy 3 pound bags of frozen berries at the market.