I was reading an article recently when I ran across someone that actually asked if there was a diet pill to lose weight AND quit smoking. I’m still in a state of shock from this question. Hey, I don’t claim to be perfect by any means, but c’mon guys. How lazy have we gotten here? If you have a problem with your weight that needs to be addressed then get off your keaster, get off the pity pot and get to work getting rid of the chub. If you were ignorant enough to light up a cigarette in the first place and then ignorant enough to light up another one, after coughing your fool head off and turning green, I can relate to what you’re going through, but I don’t have a lot of sympathy for you. I quit smoking on June 30th, 2006 after 31 years of sucking down Marlboro reds. There has been very few times that I have not wanted to rip off some smoker’s arm, beat him with it for being a dummy and then ask him for a light. Brilliant huh? At least I didn’t ask him for a magic pill! Sheesh!

Hey, weight loss is actually the third thing on my “to do” list after taking my personal inventory. Not long after my youngest son was born, nearly five years ago, I began to seriously take a look at myself in the mirror and I wasn’t very pleased with what I saw. At 39 I’d become quite the drinker, avid pack to pack and a half a day smoker and had gained eighty pounds since my days in the military. Needless to say, I was depressed, but I never, ever stooped to trying to find a magic pill to save my rear end. I decided it was time to make some changes.

Fast forward four years and ten months since the birth of my son and I’m now making strides on all fronts. I haven’t had any alcohol since September 6th, 2004 and am closing in on one year smoke free. I had actually dropped quite a bit of weight before giving up the smokes, but, unfortunately, I gained it back. I’m now back on track again having lost six pounds by simply cutting out processed foods. This is pretty much anything that comes in a wrapper, bag or box and getting some exercise six days a week, rain or shine. I’ll tell you what - some days it really hurts to exercise, but it always feels better after I’m finished working out. Do a heavy day and then a light day, this way you don’t overdo it.

You just have to really want to take control of your life again folks. I’m no Superman by any means, but I want to really get out and enjoy my life with my family. They’re all very proud of me for not dismembering anyone yet and taking up smoking again. My main point here is don’t go looking for magic pills, like a diet pill to lose weight and quit smoking. Instead, take a look around at the many faces that love you and then take a real good look inside yourself. It’s in those two places that you’ll find the strength to do what you must do. God bless and good luck.

Tags: quit smoking, nicotine, health, tips

Quitting smoking is a significant improvement to one?s health, but some people gain weight if they stop smoking, while others don’t. A reason for that might be the fact that the body burns calories faster while smoking and returns to its normal calorie burning rate after quitting.

That is not the only reason. People may feel hungrier than usual during that period and eat more high-fat snacks or drink more alcohol, but this feeling usually disappears after a while.

No doubt, quitting smoking brings only rewards: whiter teeth, a clearer voice, fresher breath, a healthier-looking skin, and more energy. The weight gain that might appear when you try quitting smoking may be avoided, and doesn’t hurt your health as smoking does.

Healthy eating and drinking habits can make a difference. Eat enough at meal times, choose healthy snacks between meals, like popcorn, fresh/canned fruits, or fat-free yogurt. Don’t be too hard on yourself and take an occasional ?treat? (for example, a small ice cream cone).

Instead of alcoholic beverages, you may want to choose sparkling water, herbal tea, or hot cocoa with low-fat milk. A moderate physical activity can make you feel good, maintain weight and breathe easier.

Even thirty minutes of daily moderate activity may count. Some of the following ideas can make you become more active: go for a walk more often, park the car further, get off the bus before it reaches your destination, use the stairs if they are well lit, or take some dance classes. To read the rest of this article, go to ProjectWeightLoss.com an online weight loss community featuring calorie counter, carbs counter, BMI calculator, diet planner, workout planner and nutritional information.

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Tags: smoking, quit, science, howto