to be considering taking up smoking to lose weight?

[mymatekate]

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????

You'll look lovely in your coffin when you die of lung cancer, heart disease, etc...

Of course you are being unreasonable, you complete loon!

You need to change your eating habits for life, not just look for a quick fix for the short term. What happens when you quit smoking again? You'll just gain the weight. Take up a hoby or interest that you can turn to instead of food, and get some exercise.

mollyroger well done for giving up and congratulations so far!! Keep it up, it's hard but you'll get there!

I worked somewhere once where the secretary was on speed to lose weight. She was absolutely totally insane. I lived in FEAR of her crazy mood swings and found it v. hard to get her to do the work I needed.

Not sure how my story is relevant, but, anyway. There you go. Don't take speed.

I second everyone else, do not take up smoking - utterly ridiculous.

I joined Weight Watchers in January to lose my baby weight after being quite anti it when I was thin. Anyway, I've lost nearly 2 stone and it's been far less painful than I'd anticipated. Just a suggestion...

how about a pipe instead

I think when you have been slim, sexy confident and independent once, and then you turn into a fat, ugly mother with no time for yourself, it can do silly things to your mind, and you start looking at outrageous ways to get your old self back! I KNOW it is a silly thing to have thought, but hey, at least I came on here before I actually went and bought the cigarettes!
Well done mollyroger - keep it up!
Have just been on the Weight Watchers website and they have a meeting on Friday, so I can use my 'fag money' for that instead!

Most smokers I know are overweight as well, so it doesn't work for them (and the skinny smokers have terrible skin) so YABU!

Don't be silly. If you can afford to buy a packet of fags every day and waste time smoking them out in the garden or wherever, you can afford and have time to go for a brisk walk or run or swim every/most days.

I do sympathise, you know

I am desperate to budge that stubborn last stone after having a baby and be able to wear clothes that aren't solely bought because they hide my preggo belly...but seriously - eat less, exercise more. It's the only sensible way forward. Especially the exercise bit. Go mad with it for 4 months and you will lose weight, deffo.

Why don't you try taking alli? Probably costs about the same.

I'm the same as pinkstarfish
It's got to be easier to slim than to give up smoking.

I've not tried it (have been tempted mind), but for a quick fix for weightloss, what about something like slimfast....seems like quick fix, and not alot to think about for it. I think most people put the weight back on though.....but you might anyway when you quit the ciggies.

Shiver me timbers! Don't ye be talkin up the dreaded weed matey, you'll end up in davy's locker with all ye other pipe smokin scallywags

Well done on giving up smoking!

Don't start again you might not be able to kick it next time...

Everyone puts on weight when they give up smoking - just one of those things. Think of it as the smoking made you thinner than you would naturally have been and now you are back to healthy normal!

No diet tips I'm afraid - don't do diets. Also don't rely on losing weight miraculously before the wedding - everyone said that would happen to me but why would it? i put on about half a stone and the dress had to be let out...

Instead choose a dress and accessories which look fab on you and suit your figure now. Then if you lose weight it can always be altered - and if not you will look fantastic. Don't pick something which you think will only look good if you are 5 stone lighter or anything silly like that.

Two final points - I think that I look great in my wedding pics as I look so happy! They say brides glow - and i thought it was rubbish - but they do! Everyone will be so busy looking at your smile to notice if you have shaved half an inch off your arse.

Secondly everyone coming to the wedding knows you and what you look like - when you are done up you will look lovely and everyone will think so - they would get a horrible fright if someone looking utterly different to the woman they know and love turned up!

Relax

Sorry parts of that post sound rather patronising, but it was from the heart!

I'm ashamed to type this, and sure I will get shot down in deserved flames, but...I used to smoke and found it really easy to quit- far far easier than I find it not to eat! I've stopped and started a few times over the years (eg, I'll smoke just at night on holiday for 2 weeks, then stop completely for 9 months) I've been exercising and dieting pretty much all the time since I had the dc's, but DO find when I'm smoking, even just 3 a day (only at night, never in front of/ around the kids) the weight falls off me, despite me eating even more (eg on holiday) I lost half a stone at Christmas, and people kept telling me I looked great, despite me eating and drinking like a pig. So I know what you mean- the lure of something THAT easy is pretty strong. (Which is not to say you should do it!! Just that I know where you are coming from!)

If you smoked when you were younger and had a different lifestyle (no kids/kids foods around, etc) you were prob slimmer because of your lifestyle, not the smoking. It is a myth that smoking makes you thinner. Find something useful to do with that 5 minutes that usually has you reaching for the biscuit tin - use it to clean the worksurface or empty the bin, drink a glass of water (v good for you and fills you up! ) OR go up and down the stairs a few times to burn a few cals.... don't use that 5 minutes to take up a habit that is bad for your kids and for you.

No offence, but it sounds like you need a mindshift. There is no healthy quick fix to lose weight. You need to change your lifestyle. It will also help set a better example for your kids. What do you want for them: a healthy attitude and body and good relationship with food, or lazy smokers with a future of heart disease and an ill/dead mum?? Sorry to be harsh, but the question you are asking is quite ridiculous and you need to think about your kids. If nothing else, I'm sure your hubby would rather you have love handles on your wedding day than breath like a dustbin.

Nicotine is an appetite suppresant though isn't it? It's a stimulant etc.

Plus people smoke instead of eating, so a double whammy.

But you sound like you are eating out of habit, not appetite, so an appetite suppressant will make no difference to you. The double whammy you get might be lung + heart disease... I think you're beyond help if you really think this is a good idea. DO SOME EXERCISE! That will kickstart your metabolism so you can eat what you want and stay fit, healthy and slim all without SMOKING away the MONEY you could be spending on your KIDS! Kids who will end up like you if you don't set them a good example. I despair of people who think there is a quick fix to losing weight. You have 4 months - you can either spend a whole load of money on smoking and probably not get any slimmer but a whole lot more crap in your lungs, or you can get off your back side and get fit. gggrrrrrrrrrrrrr . FYI, I am an ex-smoker, 25-a-day for 6 yrs. I kicked it for my health, future, pocket and peace of mind. I was also once overweight. I kicked that for all the same reasons, too. I am not talking from a high horse - I am talking from experience and the wish to help. One thing I can tell you for sure, you won't get where you want to be by looking for a quick fix - you need to mentally commit to your goal and take a proper route to achieve it. Or else, sit on here and wait for someone to tell you it is a good idea - which I suspect is what you really want, not sound advice. good luck to you.

Fags increase your metabolism slightly - this can be offset by drinking 3+ cups of green tea a day & doing some exercise. I've just been on the Master cleanse to kick start some weight loss for my wedding - it's a bit of a silly thing to do, but not as silly as smoking (see countless posts above!) After the first three days you don't feel hungry & because you're not eating, the tempataion to snack isn't there. The 'lemonade' stuff you drink is lovely. You lose about 1lb a day. Also bare in mind your dress fitting - if you're going to be losing weight before the wedding the dress will look awful if it doesn't fit, no matter how skinny you are! Congrats on the nuptials

Bobble why are you shouting at me?

Because you are winding me up, lol! Don't mean to be harsh, just want to help

But I don't need to give up smoking and can't really do any exercise as I'm about to have a baby... Not sure why I need the shouting and the face etc. I only said I thought nicotine suppressed the appetite.

Have you got me mixed up with the OP?

ooops quite possibly. Sorry! I take it all back. Hot headed and racing away with posts without checking the name (shame on me - slapping wrists as typing...)