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gaining weight and quitting

Question asked by ranjitthewolf on Aug 10, 2017
Latest reply on Aug 16, 2017 by KSchleich

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Ive been struggling to loose weight now ever since i quit smoking. The primary reason being every day i used to walk from my desk to the smoking zone which is almost 500 meters away 3-4 times a day which was an integral part of my daily step count. Without smoking im sitting on my desk the whole day except the time i go to see clients. My daily steps came down from 3k - 5k to 750 meters a day. I do run at the gym 3-4 times a week but its not enough to keep me from loosing weight. Now i know people will say increase your activity by taking brisk walks and runs but the challenge is how can one just go out for a walk or run during office hours? People will think after i quit smoking i lost my marbles.

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jbliesmer Aug 10, 2017 10:23 AM
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Why not walk the distance you walked to go smoke just in the opposite direction?

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- ranjitthewolf @ jbliesmer on Aug 10, 2017 10:45 AM
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  The challenge is no one here is walking around without a reason. Believe it or not my company didn't have any problems with employees smoking. So even if someone is not at the desk during work hours and is at the smoking zone, it was ok. But if someone is loitering around or going to the shop during the work hours, they have to go to the HR for an hour of lecture.
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  - elvan @ ranjitthewolf on Aug 10, 2017 10:58 AM
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    Can you just get up and go get a cup of water...is there a water cooler? You might preemptively approach HR and tell them that walking is part of your quit smoking routine, they should be happy to hear that since it reduces the time you are likely to be sick. I had someone tell me when I started here that it is a lot easier to lose the few pounds you might gain than it is to drag an oxygen tank around with you wherever you go.
    
    If you can't walk at work, go for a walk in the morning BEFORE work or in the evening AFTER work. Weight gain is not a reason to return to smoking!
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Youngatheart.7.4.12 Aug 10, 2017 10:43 AM
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Maybe you can take shorter, faster walks someplace else more often? You won't need to be gone as long each time if you walk briskly......swing your arms as you walk to help get your heart rate up. It takes about 15 minutes to smoke a cigarette, so now maybe 8 eight minute walks instead?
I have read you have to consume 200 less calories a day after you quit smoking just to say even. Smoking did increase your metabolism and you've lost that.
Don't worry so much in these early days about your weight. You will have saved enough money to join a gym and will have more energy, as well, when you are further along in your quit. I think you will find then that you also will want to eat healthier...a lot of people end up doing that when they quit.
You are doing GREAT - don't sweat the small stuff - quitting smoking is a BIG deal - and you are doing it!
Nancy
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rollercoaster831 Aug 10, 2017 12:50 PM
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I understand completely! Instead of walking to have a smoke, I now make sure to walk at least 250 steps per hour. I force myself to get up from my desk and walk. I have been a member of Weight Watchers and follow that program so it is possible to quit smoking AND lose weight. I also allowed myself the first month not to worry about the weight because quitting was more important!
You are doing great! Give yourself a break for a bit and then get the exercise and eating back on track!
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BonnieBee.quit.2.8.15 Aug 10, 2017 4:56 PM
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Why not just make up the steps after work ? Since you have a sedentary job your mind may be tired after work but your body is probably ready to go ! Thirty minutes a day at a brisk pace will probably help you a lot.
I did not worry to much about losing weight in the first few months I just tried not to gain to much by exercising and eating right I gained about 8-10 pounds because the bodies metabolism changes but then I lost it gradually .Now 2 1/2 years later I weigh about 5 pounds less then my before quitting weight .
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vanlil Aug 10, 2017 9:42 PM
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Above all do deep breathing..............A LOT! Just think of all the "inhaling" you did when smoking. Believe it or not the Oxygen will get into the fat cells.
Lillian (vanlil) 418 dof
PS: I am also a Pilate's instructor and even then I put on 5#'s. Think of it as pure "muscle." BUT my face now has rosy cheeks because the blood flow is PURE.
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Thomas3.20.2010 Aug 10, 2017 11:20 PM
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I purposely park far away from my office so I have to walk a ways to the building and I walk the perimeter of the building checking in with people as I go along. So I am busy in a way and getting some steps in.
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- ranjitthewolf @ Thomas3.20.2010 on Aug 11, 2017 5:36 AM
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  This is Africa my friend. here if you park the car far and go to work it will look like this when you come back.
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  - elvan @ ranjitthewolf on Aug 11, 2017 11:53 AM
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    YIKES! I thought cars only looked like that in inner cities. I didn't realize you are in Africa...basically, you need to make up the exercise you have lost but you also need to understand that a little weight gain is normal when you quit and you absolutely should put all of your energy into your quit now and not into worrying about your weight. I lost more than one quit because I was concerned about my weight...my lungs do NOT thank me for that.
    
    Ellen
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gardenancy8 Aug 11, 2017 5:54 AM
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I didn't worry at first about my weight, I put on at least 12lbs! I've always been in great shape and love to exercise. But quitting smoking sure messed with that. But it's all good, because I can now start to work on losing the extra weight I gained. Things are so much easier with my quit, and I haven't been shoving extra food in my mouth lately to get through triggers. lol I'm sure if you let the bosses know, that you have quit smoking, and you would like to get outside and get some steps in, they might just see that as a positive.
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JACKIE1-25-15 Aug 11, 2017 11:59 AM
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Let me say this first. People will not think you have lost your marbles. They would think that you are a great example. Exercising is great, however you have to also make changes in your food intake as well. If you have just started this journey focusing on losing weight and quitting smoking can be hard. I would suggest to do the best you can to control your weight by eating healthier snacks. Eventually it will have a balance out if you also practice new eating habits after you are settled in your quit.
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Daniela-3-11-2016 Aug 12, 2017 12:49 PM
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I totally understand you, being over 500 days since I quit, and having given myself permission during the early days to replace smoking with whatever I felt like (chocolate candies, pretzels, salty nuts), I am now working hard on my body, watching what I feed on. Not so much for the aspect as for my health. Being so permissive during the first months of quitting, impacted my health despite the daily 4-5 miles walking.
Please be gentle with yourself, cut back on the intake to minimize the impact, and try to get the walking in whenever you can. It is hot in AZ right now, but yesterday in 110 F degrees, I walked outside for just 10 min. The same thing is happening to all of us working in offices; when we quit smoking we lost the walk to the smoking place, plus the 10% metabolic rate . Break your lunch time in 2-3 short walks.
Let us know how it goes, and congrats on quitting, best decision ever!
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maryfreecig Aug 12, 2017 4:56 PM
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Hard not to focus on weight, but the fact is your quit was the best thing you could do for your health. Did you know that the cig companies use to promote cigarettes as a diet aid. Lordy. I've got a few pounds still on from my quit, though not too many. If I picked up smoking today, I'm sure I could drop those five pounds in a month. Alas, this is a terrible deal, and so I look at the pounds as a one day at a time effort, with the real focus being on nutrition and patience--got a wicked sweet tooth.
You exercize, you've quit smoking, you're productive in your life...AWESOME!
Breaking for walks? Sounds good!
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ShawnP Aug 14, 2017 10:23 PM
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What are you eating? sugar is in just about everything we eat these days. I live a ketogenic lifestyle. Its possible to lose without even exercising. Its a matter of controlling your insulin.
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indingrl.01.06.2011 Aug 15, 2017 12:16 PM
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Thanks for asking....just stand up in front of your desk and walk in place for 2-3 minutes...whatever time you took to SUCK ON DEATH STICKS...if anyone asks tell the TRUTH....your stepping in place getting circulation moving to be a healthy person and to get stronger lungs to breath in YOUR NEW WAY OF LIFE...every time you went to SUCK ON DEATH STICKS....stand and walk in place at desk.....you never know who is watching and they will WANT WHAT YOU ARE RECEIVING...PEACE JOY LOVE FOR YOURSELF FIRST and passing it on to who ever ASKS you....for ME... please take what helps and let go of the rest...thank you....in Jesus name amen and amen keep on keeping on...one day at a time...gentle hug.....and GO FOR IT..... YOU ARE WORTH IT....gentle hug.
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elvan Aug 15, 2017 1:30 PM
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How are you doing? I don't see any "fresh" comments from you.
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- ranjitthewolf @ elvan on Aug 16, 2017 4:41 AM
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  I was not having enough time recently thats why. Anyway i notched up my effort. These days i only eat once a day and go to the gym 3-4 times a week. I lost around 3/4 th of a kilo in the last week. Walking around is still not an option but at least im on the right track now.
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  - elvan @ ranjitthewolf on Aug 16, 2017 11:29 AM
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    Wow, don't push yourself too much with the weight right now...take care of yourself, be KIND to yourself, I get it that walking around is not an option right now but don't push so hard that you don't have energy because you are not getting the fuel you need. I am really, really happy for you and in awe of your regimen of eating only once a day and going to the gym 3 - 4 times a week. WOW. Stay close, check in when you can, we CARE.
    Ellen
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KSchleich Aug 16, 2017 11:50 AM
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I've been making phone calls on my lunch break to substitute for my smoking. I still have the urge, but it helps with the daily steps. I've also noticed I've been eating more. Trying gum.
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