Hey Guys, Tell me how you got your motivation. I have gained 15 pounds nothing fits and I am afraid if I even try to add diet to this I will lose my quit. I struggle with it everday. :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/21/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 95 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,900 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $617.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 13 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 53 [B]Seconds:[/B] 4

Boxerfan, With that attitude you'll be losing it in no time. I didn't join a diet group, had done that years ago so just had to get my self back on track. I think its a matter of focus, we had to focus on the quit first and now we can focus on the diet. And deep down we all know, there is no magic bullet or magic pill either, eating sensibly and doing the exercise are the best way! Way to go Boxerfan! I am with you. I gained 16 with my quit which really isn't bad when you think it terms of what else we have gained from quitting! Keep your chin up girl, next year at this time, we'll all be skinny! :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/5/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 111 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,775 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,171.05 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 13 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 13 [B]Seconds:[/B] 4

Congrats on losing 4 pounds, Lainey! After almost three months, I thinks it's time that I start facing my weight gain. I've gained about 15 pounds since I quit and I am now heavier than I have ever been. It's very depressing, and just this past week, I was in tears because I don't have one pair of pants that I can fit in to. I had already decided to take action, but that was the final straw. So, this past Tuesday, I joined a well known weight loss group. It consists of eating a well rounded, healthy diet, keeping a journal of what I eat, and increasing my activity. The group meets weekly and I'll be weighed at the weekly meeting. So far this week, I've been staying on track and we'll see what the scale says on Tuesday. I decided to face this challenge with a similar attitude as I did with my quit.....one day at a time. I've tried not to allow myself to get too hungry because if I am feeling strong hunger pangs, I tend to make poor decisions. Anyone else out there trying something new to face the weight challenge? Boxerfan [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/28/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 87 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,740 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $435.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 7 [B]Hrs:[/B] 20 [B]Mins:[/B] 19 [B]Seconds:[/B] 48

Lainey, Congratulations! That's great news! You are proof it can be done! Danielle, Bilingual Support Specialist

Well, it is working! I can finally do the happy dance. I have lost 4 lbs.(Hurray) Aloha, you wanted to know what I was doing. Well, I had to get my head in the right place first and plan ahead. (Just like quitting smoking, I needed to be motivated) I cut up veggies and fruit ahead of time, so the choices are in the frig. I walk every morning, sometimes I run for 30 seconds or more at a time (at intervals)and three times a week I lift weights, (5 & 10 lb dumbells.) I have missed doing the weights a few times, trying to find the time to squeeze it all in, (because I also work full time) Also, I spend about an hour each evening in the yard, nothing heavy, just watering the garden or pots and pulling the weeds, hoeing etc. I am not starving, just sensible, whole grain breads, no white, easy on the pastas for now, and get to have a sugar free fudgesicle for desert,(they are only 40 calories). Favorite snacks: Baby carrots or cut up cauliflour (with Kraft 3 cheese dressing or Rancher's Choice for dip). So, so far it is working, and I know I have to keep it up, but just to let you all know there is hope, it does come off (And I am at the age where it is hard to get off too, spare tire and all) Thanks for the motivation, lets all keep working at it. I have a way to go yet, plus the extra gained before my quit....so will be busy for some time! ;) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/5/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 109 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,725 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,149.95 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 13 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 38 [B]Seconds:[/B] 29

Lainey Thanks for reminding me that everything happens for a reason. Maybe this will spur me on to explore other things. Trying to wrap my mind about that. btw, the garden experiment is going well so far. -aloha [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/22/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 85 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,400 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $578.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 11 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 17 [B]Seconds:[/B] 18

Lolo You crazy wahine of course we can walk the beaches....but you know I will be watching those waves, imagining myself on them. I think what is happening is I am realizing my body is wearing out to some extent...there are plenty of things I can do, but some things I just might have to admit take too much of a toll. It doesnt help that one of my surf buddies is in his 70s..and he is doing fine....of course he rides a regular surfboard, not a bodyboard...hey! maybe that's the answer...learn to surf a regular board! Thanks for the suggestion...learn to love new things ;) -aloha [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/22/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 85 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,400 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $578.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 11 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 16 [B]Seconds:[/B] 46

Well, Bad news is bad news, so now you take it easy, take it slow, do the therapy, see what happens, see how the shoulder is and we'll all cross all our fingers & toes and hope it all goes well! I know sometimes it feels like eveything screws up at once, but maybe there's a silver lining here somewhere. Keep your chin up girl, it will come around, and then you 'll be better than ever, stronger than ever, and a non smoker on top of it all! And you can still work in your garden meantime and thats good exercise too! :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/5/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 102 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,550 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,076.10 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 12 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 21 [B]Seconds:[/B] 45

Alohakia, You are never alone on your new journey in life. Take it one day at a time. You never know what is behind that next door. You have come far and have helped soooo many (including me) so don't hang your head low....never hold it low...you may not always do what you want to at the time...but sometimes that is a good thing(u don't smoke). You can find new things to love. New adventures to have. Can we walk the beaches... my boat will be there soon! Faith, Hope, Love (((((alohakia))))) ? Lolo [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]4/24/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 52 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,040 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $234.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 7 [B]Mins:[/B] 18 [B]Seconds:[/B] 4

Warning! If you don't want to read whining, don't read this post. I am soooo bummmed. One of my passions is bodyboarding. I love being in the water and riding waves is just so fun! I also lost about 35 pounds a few years ago, partly due to the bodyboarding. Great combination...doing something I love and losing weight. A few years ago I broke a rib in some big waves. I was back on my board before it really healed, because I wasn't willing to wait. I was getting pretty crabby without my bodyboarding. I just compensated by pushing off the board with my arms. After about 6 months of this, my elbows couldn't take it anymore and I ended up tearing the tendons in both elbows, one worse than the other. I had surgery to repair one of them and wasn't allowed to bodyboard or even use that arm for 6-8 weeks. Then another couple of months of physical rehab. I was good about it, and did not go back to bodyboarding till I was told it was okay. Meanwhile I gained back a bunch of the weight. During this time a relationship was also ending. I went into a tailspin of sorts and really didn't care to do much, and thought I might as well smoke myself to death, since smoking was the one thing I could still do that I liked to do (now I know that is junkie thinking, but at the time I didn't). This went on for about a year. More weight. I rarely went bodyboarding because when I did I was so out of shape and so conscious of not hurting either elbow or my rib, that it just didn't seem fun anymore. I tried some circuit training and some weird thing would happen with my repaired elbow - it would fill with fluid. Dr. told me to wrap it tightly and let it rest...for a week or two at a time. More weight-heavier than I had originally been. I finally snapped out of my funk a few months ago. I decided I wanted to live a few more good years. I decided the first step was to quit smoking so I could breathe again. So, thanks to chantix and this site I've done it. Yeah!!!! Then I started getting more active. I cleaned my yard, pulled weeds, shoveled dirt and mulch, and planted a small garden. And began taking MSM and glucosamine for my joints. A few weeks ago I started bodyboarding again on a regular basis. I've gotten stronger, but have still been cautious about injuring myself. That translates into not going for any waves where I think I might wipe out and not even going in if I think the waves are too strong or breaking too fast. I had a great time the past few weeks. But, not anymore. Monday evening my shoulder muscles were a little sore. I thought it was just because the waves were a little bigger and I had had to work them a little harder. Tuesday my shoulder was worse, and I kept a heating pad on it all night. By yesterday morning it was really painful and taking aspirin throughout the day didn't even put a dent in the pain. I went to the doctor immediately after work and got the bad news. My rotator cuff is messed up. He wasn't sure if I had strained or torn the tendons, but the verdict is the same. Can't use the shoulder in any weight-bearing manner. The good thing is tho, that he understood how badly I want to get back in the water, so he has referred me for physical therapy already, rather than waiting to see what happens. And the other good thing is, although I am overweight, I have only gained 4 pounds since I quit smoking. I'm taking half a pain pill a couple of times a day, so if my posts seem kind of loopy, please forgive me. Going to water my garden. End of rant. -aloha [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/22/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 84 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,360 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $571.20 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 11 [B]Hrs:[/B] 19 [B]Mins:[/B] 16 [B]Seconds:[/B] 43