Tobacco and Alcohol

A

Ando3242

New member
I have noticed how, for me, alcohol is a major stumbling block to losing weight. I drink a few beers maybe once or twice a week. Though it doesn't seem like much, cutting this out would probably make a worthy amount of difference in my weight loss. Not only does the beer itself have a high amount of calories, it stimulates hunger, and worse yet makes me not care about eating a whole bag of potato chips. A lethal combo for those trying to lose weight. So I am going to try to cut this out and see how much of a difference it makes.

As for smoking, I figure if I'm making such strides to be healthy, I should give up smoking as well. Although I notice smokers who quit start to gain a little weight I hope that with some self control I won't have this problem. In fact, perhaps quitting smoking could actually help me lose weight by improving my cardiovascular fitness. I noticed before I started smoking regularly I could jog a great portion of the neighborhood. I still got winded and had to walk a ways every now and then, but now I get winded a lot faster even if I'm just walking briskly. Before, when I would jog a good ways I'd get to experience the natural high, something I haven't felt in awhile. It seems I had perhaps a healthy addiction to the natural high that I would have to jog daily or feel sluggish the whole day. Although my goal isn't to become an olympic athlete, or run a marathon, I'd love to see some progress in my cardio fitness.
 
Hey man I like to party and now that I'm on this diet I have stopped drinking beer completely and stick to vodka and diet sprite theres no way I will go out with out drinking so I make the lowest cal choices possible and Ive still been losing more pounds each week. As for smoking goes I smoke too and dont plan to quit until mid summer after ive lost some more weight cause I hear it makes you hungry!
 
Your Solution

Hi Guys,

The the best way to do it (I speak from experience) is........
Get into your healthy eating habits and then stop smoking, easy !:sifone:

I know what you are thinking but, it's true. I've tried a thousand times to stop smoking until a friend of mine told me about a book that, when you read it, you just stop.

Ive been smoking for 27 years, 30 a day.

I read it......I stopped......Unbelievable and, two weeks in I'm still sticking to my eating plan easily and hardly every think about ciggies, when I do think about them I just feel great that I dont have to slowly suffocate myself any-more, plus, I'm on the move more. Smoking just makes you feel lethargic and lazy.

The book is called 'Easyway, to stop smoking' by Allen Carr. I downloaded the audio-book onto my iPhone so I could listen while walking the dog and driving to and from work etc.

By the way......... I dont know Allen Carr nor am I connected to him in any way.

This guy deserves a medal. Buy the book, you will definitely stop. It costs the same price as a pack of fags here in the UK so, what have you got to lose ?
 
I rarely drink, but have been smoked since the age of 16 (26 now). I am planning to quit very soon. Personality wise, I don't even feel like a smoker anymore. I am ashamed of it. I don't smoke indoors so quitting shouldn't be too hard once I finally do it.

I wish I hadn't made stupid decisions as a teenager. Grrrrrrrrrr.........
 
I've never drunk alchohol. I'm allergic to the stuff. It tastes like poison to me plus it makes me ill. :puke:

I have smoked all my life and I always assumed that would prevent me from being able to do cardio work.

But it hasn't. I do an hours intense cardio work every day. And my blood oxygen levels are at 98%.

That confused me so I have asked a lot of people about this (including military trainers and medics) and here's what I have been told:

- smoking does not affect everyone's cardio in the same way
- doing daily cardio work clears the lungs
- everyone needs and outlet and this is mine

That said I wish I didn't smoke and I did quit for 2 years. Problem was I didn't like being a non smoker so I started again. I don't get why and I probably should think about that some but I don't care enough to. I have a lack of motivation rather than a lack of willpower. Over the years I have cut back significantly but I still enjoy a cup of coffee and cigarette!

But don't assume that you have to give up everything fun to be fit and healthy. The anti-smoking crowd will give you heck about it, quote stats and get all bent out of shape but like all things this is a personal choice.

I now expect to be yelled at by the anti-smoking league! :rant:
 
Spinner1964 said:
I still enjoy a cup of coffee and cigarette!
Click to expand...

Hmmmm,

I'm not getting all 'reformed smoker' on you here but, like all smokers I used to do a damn fine job of convincing myself that I enjoyed a smoke too as it is like a little reward you give yourself.

In reality, when I was stood there puffing away I couldnt think of anything that I was enjoying about it (quite the opposite)

God knows how many times I thought to myself...... ' Ive got to pack this game up its horrible' just as I was putting one out in the ashtray but, half an hour or three quarts of an hour later I would be ready for my little reward again because "I enjoy a ciggy and a cup of tea." More like I was a drug addict and it was time for my fix of nicotine.
 
On the subject of beer. If you really want to have a drink, don't discount light beer for those occasions.

For example the average beer is anywhere from 150-250 calories just for a single bottle. You can see how fast that adds up especially when you throw in snacks like peanuts or chips.

Conversely light beer is something like 60 calories a bottle. Far better to have a quick beer and get 60 calories than 250.

The best course of action is just cut out alcohol entirely or make it a once in a blue moon thing. That's what it is for me. I will drink on occasion such as holidays, and when I do it's almost always straight hard liquor over ice. Scotch or Vodka by preference. Definitely not on even a weekly or monthly basis for that matter. I used to enjoy wine with meals but I cut that out too.
 
love handles said:
I'm not getting all 'reformed smoker' on you here but, like all smokers I used to do a damn fine job of convincing myself that I enjoyed a smoke too as it is like a little reward you give yourself.
Click to expand...

+1

I can't say I didn't enjoy smoking but at the same time I don't miss it. I'm one of nature's cheapskates so I don't intend to restart anytime soon.
 
ocd said:
On the subject of beer. If you really want to have a drink, don't discount light beer for those occasions.
Click to expand...

Sounds like good advice but, I dont know any light beers here in the UK. I remember we had Miller light at one stage but, I haven't seen it around for years.

Anyone know any ?

I will have a good search of the beer shelves next time I'm in the supermarket.
 
24 lbs in 10 weeks on the wagon

I quit drinking on Boxing Day. I was 238.5lbs. I weigh 214.5lbs today. I quit going for drinks in the afternoon and went to the gym instead. I was not a heavy boozer. A couple of pints or glasses of wine. That plus a bar snack is pretty much 700-900 calories a day. Stop that and get some exercise and you're on your way. I will drink in the future but I need a 12 week break to kick start my losses.
 
well a little update I bought a "blu" e cigarette and wow! I breath so much more clearer & its only been 4 days I strongly recommend trying this if you are wanting to quit with out withdraw.:sifone:
 
I agree that its tough!

I am not a smoker, but I do like to drink. The bad thing is, the more weight I lose, the better I feel about myself, and the more I want to go out for drinks with my friends! So when I weighed more, I hardly drank at all, but now that I am losing weight I have been going out once a week. I generally plan for it, but skipping dinner so that I can have drinks doesn't seem like the healthiest choice :smilielol5:

Its something I am still working on!
 
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