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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be considering taking up smoking to lose weight?

58 replies

mymatekate · 06/05/2009 11:49

I am getting married in 4 months, and ideally would like to lose at least 2 and a half stone. I have terrible willpower with food, especially since "settling down" and having a child. I used to smoke, about 5 a day and always managed to keep my weight down. Not really because it suppressed my appetite, more the fact that it was something to do. I now find that if I have five minutes I will raid the cupboards for something comforting to eat. I also "reward" myself with food to justify it - if I've had a bad day I'll give myself a treat.
I have tried and tried and tried to do the healthy eating thing, but being at home with a young child most of the time, I find myself drawn to the kitchen.
I do think smoking is disgusting, stinks, not good around a child, and has countless dangers to health, but I feel like I need a quick fix to get started with the weight loss. I know I will be able to stop instantly when I want to as I have stopped and started lots over the years.
My BMI is 29.something, which is borderline obese. Basically, I'm wondering which is more dangerous, smoking for a short time to get the weight off quickly, or being obese????

OP posts:
FabulousBakerGirl · 06/05/2009 11:49

You know it is a crazy thing to do.

Thunderduck · 06/05/2009 11:50

It's completely insane. Don't do it.

RumourOfAHurricane · 06/05/2009 11:51

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RealityIsMyOnlyDelusion · 06/05/2009 11:53

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SallyJayGorce · 06/05/2009 11:54

My Dad lost LOADS of weight when he was dying of lung cancer.

nannyogg · 06/05/2009 11:54

Oh that'll work - you'll be dead skinny - pity you'll smell horrid, have yellow teeth and, oo think of the lovely phlegmy cough you'll get..

Get a crap plastic cigarette instead. That'll give you something to do with your hands.

Or take up knitting.

Mummyfor3 · 06/05/2009 11:55

You know it is crazy, don't you?!!

BTW, cancer can make you RALLY thin, so on 2nd thoughts, maybe you should ...

Got your backlash, didn't you?

Ok, here is something more constructive.

trixymalixy · 06/05/2009 11:56

You'll probably find in the run up to the wedding that there is so much to do that will keep you busy and you'll be a bit stressed about it all that you will lose weight anyway.

Don't take up smoking again, it's a ridiculous thing to do to lose a couple of pounds.

MummyDoIt · 06/05/2009 11:57

Your eating habits have made you obese. Unless you change those habits, you will put the weight back on as soon as you stop smoking, always assuming you can stop. The only way to lose the weight and keep it off is to change your eating habits.

TBCoalman · 06/05/2009 11:58

I tried this when I went back to work after having ds1 and none of my clothes fit. Didn't work, just ended up a fat smoker with no money to buy new clothes cos I'd spent it all on fags.

Original poster
mymatekate · 06/05/2009 12:09

Thank you all - yes I know it is totally crazy!!! Especially as I tell off my sister all the time for doing it when she has a child!! Think I am just feeling a bit despondent and in need of a quick fix - needed some sane mners to snap me out of it. Definitely won't be taking it up now

OP posts:
Killamarsh · 06/05/2009 12:10

Dont do it - I can recommend joining slimming world, I too love my food and I have lost a stone in about 10 weeks, although to be fair if you really focused more would be possible, about 2lb they say a week is healthy and this will get you near your target!.

OrmIrian · 06/05/2009 12:10

Don't be a twat!

Sorry. Was that a tad harsh? But at least it made the point

OrmIrian · 06/05/2009 12:11

And how do you know it will be for a short while? That's (one of) the problems with smoking. It's addictive and it might be that this is the time you find it very hard to stop.

katiestar · 06/05/2009 12:15

I really hope you are not serious !A BMI of 29is overweigt but not obese.I'm sure I've read recently that weight is only a significant problem when you get to about BMI of 40.
Please don't start smoking again.It is way more dangerous for both you and your family.Just try and tone up what you've got if you really can't lose any weight.
Nothing looks worse than a bride with a cigarette

EffieGadsby · 06/05/2009 12:16

I don't think smoking necessarily keeps your weight down...

Idranktheeasterspirits · 06/05/2009 12:18

Drink a glass of water everytime you go to raid the cupboards and then wait 20 mins to see if you are still hungry before you actually eat anything.
Stop buying biscuits/crisps or whatever it is that you are raiding the cupboards for.

wotulookinat · 06/05/2009 12:20

YABU. How silly.

Original poster
mymatekate · 06/05/2009 12:28

Effie - that is exactly the sort of person I do not want to be! Point taken
At least I would never give my 6 month old McDonalds- they don't stand a chance those poor little mites.

OP posts:
pinkstarfish · 06/05/2009 12:34

Out of curiosity how can you give up smoking so easily but struggle so much not to eat? Having been over weight and a smoker myself, to a now slim-ish, non-smoker, I'd pick the diet any day over giving up smoking!

Don't smoke, it's not a good idea

Disenchanted3 · 06/05/2009 12:36

Yes do it ... you'll be lovely and thin when you die of lung cancer.

TrillianAstra · 06/05/2009 12:41

YABVU, and you know it.

Smoking doesn't make you thinner. Stopping smoking does often make you fatter. So you won't lose weight, and when you try to stop you'll gain even more weight.

Plus you will smell

Sassybeast · 06/05/2009 12:42

Apply the same will power that you have used to give up smoking to giving up eating rubbish

mollyroger · 06/05/2009 12:43

I'm on day 35 of stopping smoking. I started when i was 15. I have tried and failed to stop countless times. Trust me, there is NO smoking for a short time. It is hideously addictive.

Try amphetamenes instead, they my be illegal but they are cheaper than fags and are less addictive...

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 06/05/2009 12:44

don't be stupid, do this