need a pep talk i suppose

[tiffytiff]

been off analogs for 23 days now, and no matter what i am not going back. i don't think i could if i wanted to really, i hate them, everything abbout them i hate. and i love vaping. but here is the thing, i am gaining weight. i dont know how much, i'm afraid to get on the scales, but believe me i am definatley gaining.
in october of 2007 they thought i had leukemia, but when the oncologist couldnt produce concrete evidence that i did in fact have anything other than high white blood cells (had that for 2 years) he says to me, "Quit smoking and lose weight" i though really? and do you have a magic f'ing wand to go with that diagnosis buddy?

but i did i lost 150lbs, and once i was comfortably below goal weight i decided to tackle the quitting smoking, and there it was poof a magic wand so to speak, my neighbor let me try her PV and it was smooth sailing ever since. or so i thought.

i am out of control eating, and i dont know if i'm using the quitting smoking as an excuse to eat, or if its because it is normal to turn towards food when you quit. but i really need help cuz i KNOW i cant go back, and i just feel so out of control right now. here are 2 pictures, one from july 2007 and one from this morning. you will see why this is such a big deal and why i have to regain control NOW. any help or words of encouragement would be greatly appriciated, i just feel like i am in self destruct mode.

thanks for listening...tiff

the first picture was this morning
the second was in 2007

 

[JennFL5366]

tiff, i too am stuggling with the snacking. im just making sure to keep the good for me snacks around me..dried fruit..reg fruit..veggies, im starting my diet sep 16..but when i first stopped analogs completely last week i kept a stash of like 10 snickers, some pork rinds..well a bunch of crap i didn't need to eat..i have a thyroid problem and pcos and am told to lose the weight or no kids..doctors can be so nice huh?

since u are off the analogs start walking in the evening or morning..remember to eat 5 or 6 small meals a day and stay away from salts and sugars!!

you can do this..you did it before you can do it again!!

 

[Moonflame]

I've found that if I want something sweet I can stave off the craving by putting something sweet in the e-cig. I even managed, mostly, to avoid chocolate during my period by vaping like crazy on chocolate flavors. I haven't found anything yet to satisfy the craving for salty foods, but pretzels are a good choice for me because they are generally low in fat and high in the salt I crave. Nicotine is an appetite suppressor, so maybe when you get the urge to snack you could try a couple drops of higher level of nicotine liquid. Keep your chin up, it does get easier.

 

[SudokuGal]

Tiff, I wish I had the answer...I've given up the battle.

I think Moonflame's sugggestion for a sweet juice is probably good...I don't think I've been craving real sweets as much (the 'yelling' of those darn frozen snicker bars only occassionally reaches my ears now).

Hope you find something that works for you!

 

[Mary Kay]

The white count is indicative of an infection, stress or illness. What did Dr. pain in the .... check you for? I just went through this with mom who had all the problems listed above!
As for weight..I lost some weight with vaping because it replaced my snacks and kept me sane. Quitting cigs always made me crazy with hunger..I know it was hand to mouth and just having something in my mouth!
Have the Doctor check you for Thyroid and Diabetes type II, both may cause hunger and thrist..they could both cause lack of hunger and decresed thrist..but that's not what we are worried about right now.
be careful with salt. where salt goes water follows and so does high blood pressure. Swollen ankles aren't pretty but they are the first indicaters of retaining water..too much salt!
Get yourself snacks that the high in fiber..garbonzo beans..make salad, soup or dip with them, I like them right out of the can!
Celery.. lots of fiber nothing else.
Popcorn..lite or no salt, try some sweet and low and cinnimon on them.
or melt some heart smart margerine and dribble it on.
raw veggies with a dip..made from low fat sour cream or cream cheese..maybe some chopped chives in it? I grow garlic and regular chives to make Mike's cream cheese and chive dip.
Cottage cheese with fruit in it..try to find the no sugar added canned fruit or use fresh peaches or pears diced.
You need dairy, just try not to get fully loaded dairy..get the 2% or lower (I am not sure why they call 1 % dairy..it's white water!)
Your body need all sorts of foods..just eat less and eat many times a day. keep busy and keep from down type people.
Remember this HALT!
Don't let your self get:
Too Hungry
too Angry
Too Lonely
Too Tired
That is something I picked up along the way, It's good for alcoholics, depression, hunger, Diabetes and any other illness dependant on your mood swings.
You will eat if you get get too hungry that's why Jen advised you to eat lots of tiny meals.
If you get mad..what happens after you throw something and yell, you go for a drink or food!
When you are lonesome, you get blue, when you get blue you crave comfort foods...why is no comfort food good for you?
You get tired, you sit and have a nice cool drink..ok 12 cool drinks some alcoholic some with ice cream in them..doesn't this drink need a cookie ..just to boost my energy? yeah, for about 10 minutes then you crash and need yet another sugar boost!

Think about how you felt when you lost weight..think how good it felt to shop in the regular sizes again..I remember it well, I was at 195 on a 5'3 frame, can we say weeble on toothpicks? I am down 46 pounds and dropping. I need to be down to 137 to be at my goal BMI weight. it's not skinny, but it's healthy!

I meant to add..You are my hero! I struggled to lose the weight..I don't know how you did it and lived to tell the tale!

 

[maryjo]

tiff - I put on about 15 pounds during my "no smoking" period. My problem was that I used not smoking as an excuse to eat the things I know I don't need. I am past the 3 month period (I heard that it takes 90 days to break a habit) so I am forcing myself to behave better.

I refuse to start smoking again too, so if I carry around 15 or 20 lbs that I don't need I'll learn to live with it. I think we can do this though. We just have to be strong. I intend to start excercising more.......soon.

Anyway, just know that I sympathize with you.

 

[Boynton]

Don't consider it a failure by any means. You attack one problem at a time. That's all we can do!!

 

[tiffytiff]

thanks ladies i knew i could count on you all for words of encouragement

 

[Erised]

Getting the tempting foods out of the house can also do wonders. I know that throwing out food seems like a sin, but throwing it out, or giving it to someone else, is better than eating ones way through it. One of my friends from years ago used to swear that if the food was in the house she could hear it calling to her (she also swore that the potato chips and the ice cream tended to be the most vocal culprits). LOL

Once the evil food is gone, stock the house with healthy foods, snacks -- and then refuse to let yourself eat out. Basically you take away your choice to do anything other than eat healthier.

I have to do this last part myself ... junk food could sit around here until it molds and it wouldn't faze me, but I usually don't eat until around 11 at night, I'm tired from work, and so I tend to gravitate towards quick, easy, and unhealthy eating -- like slapping together a quick sandwich instead of taking the time to chop up salad ingredients.

Erised

 

[Mary Kay]

I have an idea for you..post a blog and just let it be your day to day diary. Post the ups and downs and try to keep yourself up! You can do it privately on Wrecked and Bonkers (we have a private area..let me know and I will let you in) or do it off site. You can even do a blog on site..go to your profile. We are here to help if needed.

 

[SueandCootie]

Do the best you can, and pat yourself yourself for past victories!

I'm another with a thyroid problem, and I also show odd blood cell counts. Nic is a metabolic upper, and can affect thyroid function...which does of course affect appetite and weight.

You obviously know how weight loss works very well, and I found that the vaping flavors were a wonderful distraction from food. Do you think your getting enough nic? Did you exercise when you lost before? Your metabolism will need to adjust to this change for a bit, but it's different for each person's health..seems some here gain, some loose. Exercise is easier for some once their breathing improves, this could help. Just do your best...you obviously have great willpower!

 

[Crankyfuzz]

I feel your pain I gained 54 pounds back in Feb/March in 7 weeks because of medications I take. They have since switched my meds and told me to lose weight well doh!!! I have been going to the gym 5x a week since April 1st and I have gained 5 pounds and I swear a half a shoe size (I already had clown feet size 12 womens). I just started vaping (Friday) and have not noticed an increased appitite hopefully I don't I dont think the scale could take it. Losing the weight and keeping it off is rough I do not over eat etc but I have given up everything fun except smoking well I guess I cant even say that anymore lol. One of the things I do when I think about eating something I shouldnt is dust I know it sounds dumb but it takes your mind off of it and (if your anything like me I hate dusting I always make it last on my list) gives you something constructive to do.

Hope you find a happy medium and good luck.

 

[tiffytiff]

I have an idea for you..post a blog and just let it be your day to day diary. Post the ups and downs and try to keep yourself up! You can do it privately on Wrecked and Bonkers (we have a private area..let me know and I will let you in) or do it off site. You can even do a blog on site..go to your profile. We are here to help if needed.

great idea mary kay. i will get with you 2morrow and maybe you can help me with that.


thanks everyone for your help. i think i will be okay. still a little out of control, but with each day it seems to get a little better.

 

[heather]

Don't be too worried about the added weight. It is normal to put on a few pounds when quitting smoking. Think about what you have accomplished! I can't wait to be able to say i've done it too.

Well, I have some great recipes that don't taste like "diet" food, if you want I can send some to you. My husband does the biggest loser diet. It really works. You can eat anything you want, but you can only have a certain amount of calories per day. Oh, he eats toast w/ peanut butter and a banana for breakfast, subway every day for lunch, healthy snacks in between, and whatever I cook for dinner. I have gone to great lengths adding up total calories and dividing that by number of portions to get the calorie count for our dinner meals (which are around 400-550 calories), which isn't bad really. I have a great Indian recipe called chicken masala, a taco soup recipe, stuffed bell peppers with chilli on top recipe, well, the list goes on. I have standard meals now, that I already know the cal counts for, so alot of the work is done in that area. Eating out is the worst! But many restaurants now have healthy meals with cal counts listed.

 

[Crankyfuzz]

Another thing to keep in mind if you are not eating at least a 1000 calories a day your body goes into starvation mode and keeps every single thing you put in your mouth as weight.