Yeah, I always make sure I break a sweat on the bike - takes me about 10 mins to get to that stage, but I think it does me good!

Still ploughing along without a cig - had chicken curry again tonight - much yumminess!

Sometimes I use fitday - but more to find out how many calories/carbs are in a particular thing, rather than to track my daily amounts. I seem to be able to manage that OK in my head - at least, it's worked until now!

I'm being 'kind' to myself this week, 'cos of the not smoking. If I feel like nibbling something low carb, then I do - not worrying about amounts this week. I'll start being strict again next Monday.

I'm feeling good again this evening - had a few dodgy moments earlier today when I was craving nicotine - but they passed, and I'm still an ex-smoker....phew!

On to tomorrow - Day 3!

Jo

I have chosen not to smoke for 1 Day 19 Hours 16 Minutes 46 Seconds. Cigarettes not smoked: 54. Money saved: €13.52.

Going well, end of day 2, phew, no cigs, went for a 2 hr cross country run, managed to avoid any cravings.

Had a few strawberries the first fruit in 22 days
strangely enough I have not lost any body fat, and my weight is exactly the same, even though I followed induction riguroulay , however I did no exercise for 20 days untill yesterday as I felt so weak.
I am sure I have lost muscle mass as I can feel and see that my mussels have shrunk and thats all, well lets see what happens as I have started exercising again.
Main thing is I have not smoked today..
R

Great to see you're still sticking with it! I'm impressed by the 2hr run - can't remember the last time I ran for more than 2 minutes!

Just got back from a cycle ride into the village and back again (for more cream!) - which was around 5 miles in total. Did another 7 miles on the exercise bike this morning (it was raining again!), so I'm feeling virtuous. I couldn't believe how easy the ride into the village was, though - I really used to struggle with it (hills) - but today wasn't hard at all! Either I've got a bit fit, or the not smoking has made a HUGE difference already!

Oh, did I mention that I weighed myself this morning and I'm down 4 lbs?

Hardly any cravings today - life is good!

Jo

I have chosen not to smoke for 2 Days 15 Hours 53 Minutes 15 Seconds. Cigarettes not smoked: 79. Money saved: €19.96.

Jo thats brilliant 4 pounds huh ?
Also the exercise is going really well.
Still its 11.15 time for bed, tomorrow is a working day DANGER...zone.
I tended to smoke in my office when on the computer, suppose I'll have to just do something else instead, I will put an aromatherapy device in my office instead, stocked up with chewing gum..
Keep your fingers crossed.
R

It seems ya'll are on a roll. I haven't smoked and this is my third day on this diet but i am trying to get motivated to exercise?
Can't seem to though. I felt really great when i was walking and i do have all day to do what i want until my classes start. I just cant get in the groove ,any ideas? I 've lost my will to exercise. That cant be good.
It sounds like yall have beautiful places to exercise.(in the hils to the village) Must be nice. I live in the country but nothing breath taking. Anyhow sitting at the computer isnt going to get me walking. lol

Pandora

To everyone posting in this thread you are doing an awesome job of being a non-smoker! As of today it has been 9 weeks for me! I feel great, in fact I even jogged the other day instead of walking. My main concern was weight gain since I worked so hard to get into maintainence. So far the scale says I am up only 5 pounds and since I have added resistance training the last 6 weeks it is more than likely muscle than fat. Keep up the hard work everyone, we can do this!!!!

Pandora,
My attitude toward exercizing went fro 100% to ZERO overnight when I started the A diet, I was not eating enough calories --so I'm told.
I started again 2 days ago ...today I ache all over but I do have to push myself, after the first 8-9 mins its not so rough after that--.
I live right next door to a gym and 2 swimming pools, plus alot of mountains and trails, so I suppose you could say I am spoilt for choice,
My weight loss progress has not really been that evident yet.22days

No cigs today--its now 1.45pm on a work day--remarkable, going strong.

The funny thing is, until recently, I used to think that exercise was for other people, and not for me. At 205 lbs, I felt totally daft being seen on a bicycle. I'm not sure what changed.

I know I started cycling when I was about 2 weeks into a stall. I just wanted to see the scales moving again, and it worked! Then, I couldn't seem to stop - because I remembered how difficult it was the first day (when I did a whole 2 miles!), and I didn't want to have to go through that again, so I didn't dare miss a day after I'd started.

That was why we got the exercise bike. The weather took a turn for the worse here (and has stayed consistently yucky since!) and after one wet cycling episode, I wanted to find a way to maintain the little fitness I'd achieved, without getting soaked or blown over...

Now I dare to have a day off from time to time - and at last I'm noticing an improvement in my fitness level - which is so encouraging! It also makes cycling outside a lot more enjoyable - I don't tremble at the prospect of every little hill any more...

I think the key is finding something that you enjoy - cycling was it for me because we have pretty countryside around here, and it was nice to get out and see it. If I'd started with the exercise bike, I think I would have given up long ago!

I think I'm beginning to scare my friends - I've gone from a couch potato who loved to eat, drink and smoke to someone who exercises, is getting smaller, doesn't smoke, and drinks only in moderation in the space of 3 months!

Even I wonder what's happened to me.... but if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone - just believe in yourself and you ability to change yourself (after all, you're the only one who can!).

Oh, and I recommend Allen Carr's books (he's got ones on weight loss, alcohol and smoking) to help change attitudes. I started reading the smoking one as a total sceptic, and ended up finding it not to difficult to stop....

Hope some of that ramble above helps someone!

Jo

I have chosen not to smoke for 3 Days 8 Hours 11 Minutes 32 Seconds. Cigarettes not smoked: 100. Money saved: €25.06.

Jo, Another day bites the dust--had a real urge at
around 7pm but resisted the temptation, Im fine now..had some sunflower seeds then cheese and then dinner. Im starting a journal...
keep going Jo
Richard

Hi again Richard!

I'm still doing fine - had a nasty moment earlier when I found almost a whole pack of ciggies and 5 lighters under the bed - but I burned them all in the fireplace! Phew!

I still can't believe this is working! Time for another bowl of strawberries, I think - yum!

Jo

I have chosen not to smoke for 3 Days 15 Hours 21 Minutes 6 Seconds. Cigarettes not smoked: 109. Money saved: £27.30.

whoo hoo, jo! I'm SO impressed with that burning the cigs--that's like finding a chocolate bar and shoving it down the garbage disposal. you go!

It was a bit like having an out of body experience - I was 'watching' myself do it, and marvelling! Let me tell you - cigarettes do NOT burn easily, either...LOL!

Anyway, here I am on Day 5, still smoke free - definitely fewer cravings now, and other people's smoke is smelling horrible. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I can see this leading to me not wanting to go to the pub any more - 'cos it's smelly. This could cause problems socially and relationship-wise, as it's the social hub....

Next battle to fight is probably the one where I try not to become one of those rabid ex-smokers. I can hear myself now: 'if I can do it, anyone can...' (which is true, but I reckon you also need to have read the Allen Carr book!)

I'm not saying that my quit is a done deal, but I really have no desire whatsoever to smoke at this stage - it feels as though I could just forget all about smoking now and get on with my life. I'm probably wrong, and there's a massive craving hiding around the corner...LOL!

How're you doing, Richard? Cravings fading? I've had a few 'smoking' dreams, where I smoke when asleep... guess the subconscious is alive and well and still a smoker.... luckily the conscious knows better now!

I am so pleased with the way this week has gone so far. If anyone is reading this and thinking about quitting (like I read loads of threads before I started stopping!) - then believe me, it can be done, and it doesn't have to be awful!

Can you tell I'm feeling really positive today?

Jo

I have chosen not to smoke for 4 Days 7 Hours 35 Minutes 28 Seconds. Cigarettes not smoked: 129. Money saved: £32.37.

Hello Jo
Richard checking in, I had a very busy day today.
quick bfst of macadamia nuts and cheese..

My excom meeting was 2 hrs, then a lunch with another GM non-smoker(no problemo).

I had an all protein --fatty, Thai sliced grilled beef and pork and Thai chicken curry with coconut milk with a couple of lettuce leaves 3 perrier waters. He ate all the rice and had fruit yuck.

Then checked my email before going into a 5 hr meeting from 2.30-7.30 pm with the property owner a chain smoker---My God how I loathed the stench---and in my own way pitied him and secretly bet he wished he could do what I had done just stopped, he smoked a cigarette every 20 minutes --no kidding, he's Chinese!

Any way I had made sure the room I booked for the meeting was very big so that the air was sucked out.

Then I had a 35 min run in the gym a work out,the solarium for 20 mins and just devoured :

3 chicken pieces, 1 cup of lettuce, 3 slices of tomato 1 tbsp mayo and a small handful of sunflower seeds mixed with organic bran --yuck like horse food...will need to work out the nutritional combo of that lot...

My desire is to just stick with this new way of Dr Atkins living I cannot attribute it to anything else Jo, I quit alcohol Aug 2000, and did the whole 12 step programme , and thta was nothing compared to quitting the fags...
I craved last night at 7pm and so I went to the gym instead....My running seemed easier --honest and the weights a sinch to push,my skin is looser too...odd huh?
Jo thanks so much for your help..
I have chosen not to smoke for..
4 Days - 10 hrs and 41 minutes
Not smoked 90+ cigs
Saved 157HK dollars or 20 US Dollars or 15 British pounds and 70 P

This is my 4th day 11 hrs and 29 mins. I had to get out of the office as I was really dying for a smoke today...was in a foul mood with a couple of my senior people, I think its the withdrawl, I feel better now that Ive eaten something. I told my mum who called from the UK she's so happy I quit...I never gave it this much effort before..
How you doing Jo?
Richard

I'm doing fine! I'm on Day 7 (well, it's 3 am on Sunday - not sure why I'm awake, but I am!), so I'm almost a whole week smoke-free! I'm still staggered by it all - never thought I'd be able to quit!

Did 8 miles on the exercise bike yesterday - it's still raining here - and it seems to have been raining for weeks now.... I really want to get out on the 'real' bike, but I don't fancy getting soaked...

I'm thinking about smoking less often now - still eating sunflower seeds, but not as desperately as I was!

It does seem to get easier with time, though. I think it's a matter of not having new triggers popping up all the time - I've been through most of what I normally do without a ciggie, now - but if I do something I haven't done since I quit, then I get triggered to think about it again. Like yesterday, I had a glass of red wine, and immediately thought about smoking.

Did that make any sense? I'm half asleep here - in fact, I think I'm going back to bed now...

Hope you're feeling good, too, Richard - I'm really impressed with both of us! LOL!

Jo