GETTING INTO SHAPE

buttingout2014

52 posts
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29 Nov 2017

29 Nov 2017

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GETTING INTO SHAPE

For many of us, it's hard to even contemplate where to start when it comes to shedding the pounds that we tend to gain after giving up the hold that Nicotine had on us...
I'm 6'2", and I've always maintained a fairly healthy 195-200lbs over the past 10yrs or so prior to my QUIT.
Unfortunately, my weight was one of those things that I lost sight of during my mission to thwart my dependence on that drug, and now I'm pushing 230lbs which isn't sitting pretty at all. :O

I know that we had a section on the old forum dedicated to helping each other to stay healthy during the transition to becoming 100% smoke-free, so I've decided to establish this post with the hopes that fellow members and staff may have suggestions to curb some of the damage that has been done while substituting food for Nicotine on occasion.

One of the things that has stuck with me was a list of workout tips posted by another member some years ago:

10 WORKOUT TIPS:

1. Bite off more than you can chew!
2. Get lost - it makes for better training
3. Wake up early! Average people don't!
4. Carry weight. It will make your other problems insignificant!
5. Everyone wants it to be easy - know that it won't be!
6. Push harder! You won't die, and if you do - who cares? You'll be dead!
7. If you're not hungry, you're eating too much.
If you're not cold, you're wearing too much.
If you're not sweating, you're thinking too much.
8. Nothing beats hard work and persistence!
9. want speed? Run faster! Want strength? Life heavier! Want Agility? Climb higher!
10. If you want to be better at something, crush yourself doing it. Never be satisfied!

Another helpful thing to consider is eating healthy and exercising regularly...There are several links that I posted on my online resources page that may help:
ONLINE RESOURCES

I hope other members will continue to add to this post, offering other helpful solutions to loose some of the excess weight gained while quitting!

Your QUIT buddy, Jim.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 1/27/2014
Smoke-Free Days: 1402
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 35,050
Amount Saved: $15,422.00
Life Gained:
Days: 218 Hrs: 8 Mins: 54 Seconds: 38

motherjoe

14 posts
Registered:
28 Nov 2017

29 Nov 2017 in reply to buttingout2014

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hi buttingout2014 .. how have you displayed your milage? .. Ma

motherjoe

14 posts
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28 Nov 2017

29 Nov 2017 in reply to buttingout2014

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hey buttingout, I am a walker ... now, unfortunately I have fallen off the wagon this past month .. life gets in the way sometimes .. but it would be really awesome to set something up that if members would like to join .. say, a , daily walk instead of smoke? have a new thread for members to input their kms walked .. the walking has kept my weight down, and my back and legs strong and my breathing so much better.. and of course keeps your mind occupied for new quitters ..Ma

paul, quit coach

22 posts
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29 Nov 2017

29 Nov 2017 in reply to motherjoe

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Great idea motherjoe. It's great to see you and Jim both here.

Thank you both.

For everyone out there, we look forward to reading all of your great ideas and success stories.

Paul

buttingout2014

52 posts
Registered:
29 Nov 2017

29 Nov 2017 in reply to motherjoe

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Hiya Motherjoe;

I'm glad to see that so many members from the previous forum have decided to stick it out through the initial "clinical" appearance and feel of the new forum!
As for the MILEAGE SUMMARY, it's just a matter of COPY & PASTE from the old site...
(Not a long-term solution, but makes me feel better to be reminded of my stats)

Your QUIT buddy, Jim.

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 1/27/2014
Smoke-Free Days: 1402
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 35,050
Amount Saved: $15,422.00
Life Gained:
Days: 218 Hrs: 8 Mins: 54 Seconds: 38

Decided

78 posts
Registered:
01 Dec 2017

09 Jan 2018 in reply to motherjoe

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i was looking at your post re getting back to walking in Nov this is mid january and i have resolved to walk 6000 steps a day starting tomorrow i hope you followed through anyway if anyone out there is interested in a little competition while quitting smoking i am going to daily post my steps for the day decided

treepeo

832 posts
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29 Nov 2017

09 Jan 2018

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Hi Decided,

It's great that you set yourself a target, because now you have a clearly defined goal to reach daily. I have no way of knowing how many steps per day I am capable of, unless I get some kind of gadget. I just joined a weight loss program, because they had a sale at the beginning of the year, and I was floundering on my own. I realized that I needed some direction in terms of what to eat and how much to eat. But in addition to that, I am doing my very best to walk more. I know it would be better for me to set a concrete goal, but I can only manage so much at a time. I'm going to give it my best shot and see how it goes. I figure if I can quit smoking, I can lose some weight. But just like quitting smoking, I realize that I am going to have to change my ways.

Decided

78 posts
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01 Dec 2017

10 Jan 2018 in reply to treepeo

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hi treepeo i use a free app on my cell phone to count steps because i always have it with me
today i did 3027 steps so i am half way to my goal of 6000 the group i found was TOPS
and it is 36 dollars a year and 10 dollars a month every time you are the biggest loser with the weekly weigh in you get 2 dollars off
i am really impressed that you have quit smoking for so long

treepeo

832 posts
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29 Nov 2017

10 Jan 2018

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Hi Decided,

Yeah, sometimes I can't believe I am really a non-smoker now. It still freaks me out, in a good way, of course. The people who know me best are completely shocked that I quit. They never thought it would happen. But I figure you're never too old to change, and this was one major change I needed to make.

I may check out the free app, but I don't really like the idea of walking around work with my phone in my pocket. Also at home, I always sit on my glider rocking chair, and when I had a pedometer years ago, it would count steps while I rocked! But through my weight loss program, I am marking down my daily activities, and my plan is to steadily increase the amount I do per day. I have some physical problems so I am somewhat limited, but I am going to forge ahead and do the best I can. Doing something is better than doing nothing. I am also eating a much healthier diet, and I hope I can keep it up.

I think it's great that you are already doing over 3,000 steps. That's impressive! I would suggest increasing the number slowly so as not to tax yourself too much. The experts say we should set realistic goals for ourselves so that we feel empowered, and not discouraged, by what we are doing. And I think they are right. Positive reinforcement works.

Decided

78 posts
Registered:
01 Dec 2017

11 Jan 2018 in reply to treepeo

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hi treepeo today is day 3 steps today 3452 i had physio today to help clear my lungs they gave me exercises to do that strengthen the muscles you use for breathing
also they gave me a spirometer [sp] to use to practice deep breathing
i find this journey is a lifetime change everyone has been so helpful i lost 1.4 lbs last week

treepeo

832 posts
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29 Nov 2017

11 Jan 2018

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Hi Decided,

I couldn't agree with you more. Quitting smoking is a lifetime change. I think when we quit, we start to care about ourselves in a way we hadn't for a long time. And so quitting smoking leads to other changes, like exercise to improve our lung function and our bodies, and changes to diet. Personally, I find the whole journey rather exciting!

Congrats on your increase in steps and on your weight loss. My weigh in day is Sunday, and I hope to see some progress. But I know that I am definitely moving in the right direction, and that makes me really happy.

Because I can't be on my feet for too long at a time, you know one of the things I am doing? Isometric exercises for my stomach. So while I am sitting, I suck in my stomach for a few seconds, and then slowly release it. My goal is to tighten up my muscles a bit, and I think it's going to make a difference. Every little bit counts!

Decided

78 posts
Registered:
01 Dec 2017

12 Jan 2018 in reply to treepeo

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hey treepeo
good wishes for your weigh in up or down your on the right road because you care enough to weigh in
still no cigarettes and i do not really crave them except after supper
5687 steps today
today was a yoga day and i was able to get on the floor and then do the movements and then get up so afterwards i was pretty pumped after that

Decided

78 posts
Registered:
01 Dec 2017

16 Jan 2018

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5805 steps today day 8 without smoking
i would love to have a step counter join up with me
about 3 miles today

treepeo

832 posts
Registered:
29 Nov 2017

16 Jan 2018

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WooHoo Decided - congratulations on 8 smoke free days! It's good to hear that you are only really craving after dinner. Each day it is going to get a little bit easier.

And your steps - wow! Over 5,800 steps already! That's fantastic! So is that a total of your steps during the whole day, or do you go on special walks? I'm just curious, because you are motivating me to try to do more than I am doing right now. When I am at work, I work through my lunches and just eat at my desk. I should try to go for a bit of a walk, even if it's only 10 minutes or so, but I am so busy that it's hard. And then after work I am tired. But I have been trying to make extra trips out each day after work no matter how tired I am, just to get in a bit more movement.

Let me know how you handle your day. Maybe I can get a few pointers from you.

Decided

78 posts
Registered:
01 Dec 2017

19 Jan 2018 in reply to treepeo

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steps at 4483 today i have a yoga class twice a week which costs 10 dollars a time
i do a set of physio exercises for my lungs every night after supper
i do chair squats 5 x before a meal and 5x after a meal
i brush my teeth twice a day standing on one leg and then the other and use the sink for balance if i need it
i have a stretch band that i use when the commercials come on the tv
i do wall pushups every morning when i wake up a lot of exercise but very doable

jennifer, quit coach

103 posts
Registered:
29 Nov 2017

20 Jan 2018

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Good Morning Decided,

Wow!

You are certainly getting some awesome exercise in over the week! Do you find that exercise helps with cravings or helps distract you from the cravings?

Decided

78 posts
Registered:
01 Dec 2017

27 Jan 2018 in reply to jennifer, quit coach

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no it doesn't help with the cravings
and today was a bad day and i had a couple of cigarettes putting me back to day 1
but the exercises help with my chest muscles which help me breathe better
i do them every day smoking or not
so i was up to 14 days before i blew it
tomorrow starts another day

marianne, quit coach

278 posts
Registered:
30 Nov 2017

28 Jan 2018

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Hi Decided,

Great to hear that exercise does help you with your muscles and that you keep up your routine regularly.

Hope your new start is going better. And that your thinking of what helps distract from your cravings.

Keep going strong!

Marianne

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