Thinning down the herd.

I'm living on a pretty strict/small budget right now and Chantix has to be affordable for me to try it. If it's not in my price range I'll be quitting cold turkey. We'll see how much it costs after my wife gets a prescription this coming Friday. I roll my own and spend less than $20.00/week on tobacco. Chantix is going to have to come in close to that price.

I quit for five months once and I was a heavy smoker then too. I started back up when I had a few beers while fishing and I've been smoking since.

If I quit before I can quit again. Going to do it, Chantix or not.

by hal 9000 Jan 3, 2008

Didn't ask to look when I first walked in to the MeatWorks. Here we have to see a Triage Nurse who sets the order that the customers see the Quack/s. Unless you come in , in a Meatwagon then the Ambo's see the Triage Nurse. I've only had 4 rides in a Meatwagon over a few more years than 21. :D

As for breaking things I've had a few broken bones over the years but over all not that many. Granted the ones that have occurred have been spectacular but I've only broken legs a few times arms about 3 times, Ribs don't count do they? OK I've broken a few of those over the years well more correctly I've broken several at a time and there have been a few different instances. :D

Several Broken Collar Bones, A couple of Scaffolds and 1 Fractured Skull and that's about it for breaks. But as I got older things have gone wrong more often. :0

Seems that the Built in Fixing System doesn't work anywhere near as well as it used to. :^0

Col

by meryllogue Jan 3, 2008

How can any man break that many bones in a lifetime, that many times, and not do something to change the reasons? Do the words "root cause" mean anything to you? (lol) Are you a stunt rider? Auto or bike racer? I've popped ribs as a dancer (separated the bone from cartilage). I broke a few in a wreck. But repeatedly breaking bones? You must have spent about half your life in physical therapy! (I really do hope you will share how a techno person breaks that many bones. I know it isn't that your keyboard attacked you!)

by pser Jan 3, 2008

Worked for me! Smoked for 20 some odd years, tried to 'quit' countless times. The Chantix is the ONLY thing that ever actually HELPED with nicotine withdrawal. No gums or patches or other assorted remedies ever helped. But the Chantix ... WOW!

Now, I must confess, I smoked more than a handful of Cuban Cigars while on vacation and I was a little concerned it might turn me back to the Dark side ... but I'm still good. No cigarettes, No cravings, No worries!

That being said ... I also added ten pounds while on vacation (which included zip lining, deep sea fishing, snorkeling, swimming, hiking, ATV off-roading, etc.) to my already overweight frame. Over a four year ('01-'05) period I had three surgeries which left me down. Put on an astronomical 60 lbs in that 'down' time that I still have not managed to take off (lack of effort).

With the help of Chantix I quit smoking. With the help of my wife, this thread, and the new gym equipment coming home today I hope to slim down a bit, if nothing else.

Hmmmm, who would have thought being a quitter could feel so damn good!?!?!

Much luck to ya OTR (and all)!! Feel free to query me about the Chantix (via TR or PM), if you so desire.

PSer

I think our treadmill is helping me to stay motivated. It keeps track of calories based on weight of the user. I've burned off over a pounds worth of calories on it in less than a month. To give you an idea, that takes about 40 minutes a day, seven days a week.

I'm not as interested in building up muscle as I once was. After reading up on it I think that it's more important for my health that I keep the fat off and lose even more fat. I might make time for free weights later but I just don't care to spend a lot of time trying to gain muscle mass. Been there, done that and I think, for me, the benefits of walking are more pertinent.

Motivation is key. Everyone's got to find their own. I'm sufficiently motivated to keep walking and am ready to hit the treadmill for my second go-round of the day after I post this. I'm smoking a cigarette first. :^0

You may have read my post to lmunday above. That explains where I'm at with Chantix. It all depends on the co-pay. I hope it's low so I can get it but I won't know for a little while yet. Either way I'm quitting come Hell or high-water. January 31st is going to be the last day that I smoke. You may be reading about me in the paper sometime during the following week. "Local man quits smoking, goes on rampage!" Could be interesting.

Much luck to you with your exercise equipment. If you're thinking about losing weight too you might want to take a look at Dr. Fuhrman's book, "Eat To Live". I think it's a valuable tool for weight-loss. I have a much better idea of nutritional needs from reading it. It ties in very well to the good advice given in this thread. I spend my grocery budget much wiser now. I eat a lot of fruits and veggies on a relatively meat-free diet. It's surprising to me how good I feel from doing that. I feel great.

by pser Jan 4, 2008

Oh no, not EVEN trying to build muscles! I have just become a tubby b!tch, not looking to be a 'muscle' guy (don't have the muscle mass in my upper chest and left arm anyway, due to my P.S.)! The equipment is an Elliptical a Treadmill and other assorted weight loss goodies my wife used at a Gym (Not Silver but ? ) to lose 25 lbs. She said she would help me and cancel her membership if we had at least "THIS" equipment. Of course, she had to have the best to give up her membership so I now have another reason to lose weight ? I've already paid dearly for it! ;)

She has already taken over my meals and I promised not to cheat, which I won't.

The Chantix ? if your insurance covers it, you have better coverage than I and I've got pretty damn good coverage! My Doc. Told me he has not seen an instance yet where Chantix was covered by Insurance but he had 5 patients that had succeeded in quitting, so far. I did shop around and found the cheapest. It's a three month program (two pills a day). You can buy it in one month intervals at a time (to help the budget). The most expensive was from Walgreen's at $145.00 USD per month (again, 3 month program), the cheapest was $95.00 USD at Sam's Wholesale Pharmacy. If you decide to try it, shop EVERY Pharmacy in town before you buy, the pricing WILL be different. The $300.00 it cost me was worth every penny, I do hope you can manage to swing the cost ? it is sooooo worth it!

Luck to all!!!

by sobaldrick Jan 5, 2008

.. quit buying. Bumming cigarettes becomes so tiresome after a while you'll just say f*ck-it it's too much trouble to smoke.

The other thing, and I know people that do this today, is do not smoke until after a certain time each day. Push this time back as you the days pass.

Example, today I will not have a fag before 9am. Next week 9:30, etc. I found that I was lasting until 6pm, when I would go to the pub and bum a fag on the way home from work.

Once down the pub I would make a rule .. no more than one cigarette per pint .. I was on 20 pints a day at one point ;-)

Les.

"You may have read my post to lmunday above. That explains where I'm at with Chantix. It all depends on the co-pay. I hope it's low so I can get it but I won't know for a little while yet. Either way I'm quitting come Hell or high-water. January 31st is going to be the last day that I smoke. You may be reading about me in the paper sometime during the following week. "Local man quits smoking, goes on rampage!" Could be interesting."

by beth blakely Jan 4, 2008

the cost of the Chantix could equal or be less than the cost of actually smoking. And, in the long run, you'll actually be saving money 'cause eventually you won't have to buy either.

That being said, I believe that if you really want to quit, you'll quit.

Still can't afford the Chantix. I roll my own cigarettes from loose tobacco and it costs me less than $60.00 month to smoke. If I was buying a carton a week it would be a no-brainer but now the extra would come out of a very limited budget. I'm NOT getting into my savings to do it. Not going to happen. I'm saving for a rainy day and quitting smoking doesn't qualify.

I understand that our insurance will pay for Zyban. I may get that instead, not sure. The thrifty way is just to quit cold turkey. That's probably what I'll do.

by hal 9000 Jan 4, 2008

Lets see unloading trucks is a starting point for injury and the odd cracked rib. Camping as a Scout when I was a kid caused a few breaks. Walking into unlit rooms to get to some piece of hardware in strange buildings has resulted in a few breaks. You fall over something that's not actually there or at least I was told it wasn't there. :(

The odd fall down stairs has been a major culprit though where you stager in with more stuff that you can comfortably carry and have an incident while getting to the work area. Or actually getting to the site as driving there can be dangerous. Once Upon a Time I used to drive 2,000 KMS per week or more. I would have been filling up the car several times a day while in the city and more if I had to drive in the country.

I actually never broke a single bone or even got anything worse than a bruise when I rode Racing Motorcycles. When I test drove the Race Cars I didn't get a single injury either but I did crash a few cars in a spectacular manner I've been told. :D

I did suffer one break on a Racing Yacht in a Sydney Hobart Race but that was an accident and much better than what could have happened. :0

By far the most dangerous thing that I've ever done was look after the kids that caused a lot of problems and a few breaks. Part of the reason my both my children don't want any children of their own they know what they where like. :^0

My son has turned 33 last year but I'm only 21 & I'm sticking to that story no matter what. :D

Then there is the Wife who is very dangerous to upset. B-)

Col

by pser Jan 4, 2008

I replied to the other post before I read this! I used to roll my own as well, "Look Out" was my tobacco of choice and MUCH cheaper than smoking pre-fab, it was.

Looking at what you spend on smokes, with a little more for three months, you should be able to pull of the Chantix. Then you won't have to spend any $$$ on smokes or pills! ;)

I know I am just another 'ghost in the machine' and you've no reason to trust what I say any more than any other source out here in Cyber Space ... buuuuut, I gotta tell ya, The Chantix Program was freakin' painless dude!! Then, once the three months is up and the nicotine is out of your system ... it's all downhill.

Luck to ya either way, though! Let us know how that goes as well.

I'll have to do it the old hard way because I'm not paying that much. I'm not dipping into my savings to do it. Not going to happen.

Isn't it crazy that insurance won't cover it? Everybody tells you that quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health and health insurance won't cover it. That's just nuts!

by ontheropes Jan 5, 2008

Good idea!

The cigarette I'm going to miss the most is the one I have with my first cup of coffee. That's going to change. I'm cutting coffee out of my diet too. I'll be done with that before the end of the month. I'm down to 2 cups of coffee per day and tomorrow I'll be down to one. Maybe Monday I won't even have a cup so my routine is changing. I've cut back slowly to avoid the no-caffeine headaches. I'll take Aspirin if I get one though it makes my ears ring even more than they already do.

I'm going to start cutting back on how many cigarettes I smoke per day too. After your post I just realized that if I keep them in another room I'll be a little inconvenienced to have to smoke one. I can also determine that I have to smoke in another room. The more of a PITA I make it to smoke the easier it may be to get out of the habit.

I understand that the first three days of not smoking are the worst. I may have some Zyban to help me past the worst of it, not sure how much it costs yet.

No more caffeine and nicotine to start my day! That's going to be weird.

by nicknielsen Jan 6, 2008

Smoke outside. My wife and oldest son both have asthma, so I haven't smoked inside the house since '78. The military kicked smokers outside in '87. I'm so used to smoking outside now that I've even walked outside a smoking-legal bar to have a cigarette!

by ontheropes Jan 7, 2008

What I'm doing right now seems to be working. Here it is, past 1100 and I've just finished my second cigarette of the day. I got dizzy from it too.

If I keep cutting back I won't have to quit a pack and a half habit. I'll only have to give up one or two cigarettes.

That's the plan anyways. I'll see how it works out.

We finally found out what the Zyban is going to cost, $10.00 for a months supply. My wife is going to get it. Me? Probably not. I'm thinking that I'll be able to quit by myself. If I can't quit then I'll make the appointment and get the Zyban.

by cmiller5400 Jan 7, 2008

Zyban is just Wellbutrin (Bupropion) an antidepressant. That is probably why your insurance covers it... Gotta love the insurance companies :)

by ontheropes Jan 24, 2008

I was going to wait until the 26th to post my "official" weight but I feel like posting it today.

I'm at 182. That's 52 pounds weight loss total and six pounds since my last weigh-in.

Now that we're past the holiday season the pounds come off a lot easier.

Since starting this thread I've had a pretty thorough change of diet. I've consistently eaten more whole grains, vegetables and fruit than I ever have. I don't even say that I'm "on a diet" because all I'm doing is eating naturally nutritious foods.

Having the treadmill has helped. Our treadmill records time, distance and calories for two users. I have walked 82 miles and burned 8,498 calories. I have 54 miles just this month. The calories burned amount to just a bit less than 2.5 pounds for those interested in the math. (3500 calories to a pound).

All of my size 34 jeans fit now. I've been using them as a gage and didn't try them on until this morning. Proof positive that I've really trimmed down. When I started losing I wore size 38 and they were tight. Now I can comfortably wear clothes that I couldn't even button as little as one month ago.

To anyone who may have been following this thread looking for inspiration I'd seriously like to recommend that you read Dr. Fuhrmans book, "Eat To Live". I guess I've said that before. I've learned a lot since starting this thread and I can't emphasize too much how important that book has been to my education about nutrition.

Tonight is our weekly "big night out". We're going to the only local restaurant that has a salad bar. We have gift cards to Applebee's and Lone Star but we choose to eat "rabbit food" at Big Boy. They don't have the selection of veggies that I'd like to see but, like I said, they're the only local restaurant with a salad bar. I like the fact that it's an all-you-can-eat salad bar too.

Since I started to have more whole grains, fruit and veggies as the staple foods of my diet I am rarely hungry. I can eat my fill and still have a low calorie count for the day. I lose weight without trying to lose weight. It's easy. I abolished my made up schedule for weighing such and such by an arbitrary date. I'll weigh whatever, whenever I get there not to say that I don't still have a goal because I do. I fully expect to continue losing weight until I get to around 165. That will be a total weight loss of almost 70 pounds. Wish I had more "before" pictures, I could be in one of those weight-loss commercials.

It hasn't all been easy. There have been times when I felt that I wanted to eat everything in the house. What I do during those times is eat more of the foods that are good for me. I really like those steamer bags of vegetables. I'll eat a whole 12oz. bag of those with a Campbells Chunky soup poured over top making it into a very nutritious and filling meal. I also have apples, oranges, bananas and grapefruit on hand to take care of the munchies when I get them.

I haven't been on a denial diet either. In the past month I've eaten my fill of steak and pizza at some good restaurants. We've even gone out to get the "meat lovers" breakfast skillet a couple of times at a local cafe on Sunday mornings. There are probably enough calories in that one meal to fuel me for a day. I make that my indulgence for the day. Good stuff.

I feel like I'm having my cake and eating it too.

I say that anyone who wants to lose weight thru both diet and exercise can do it. If I can anyone can. I love good food as much as anyone else. The main change has been in my ideas about what constitutes "good food". If I'm going to *spend* calories feeding myself I want to get the biggest bang for the buck. I might allow myself a small handful of crackers and cookies every now and then but I don't eat the whole package. I have that kind of self-control because I have a much better idea of the caloric value of the foods I eat and what's really in them.

I see that there are several books about food being advertised on the tube, "Eat This Not That" being one of them. That could be a valuable book for some people. Anything that helps people to become educated about nutrition can't hurt.

I'm just rambling and likely to detract from my main point; I've lost 52 pounds and have another 15 or so to go. I might be at my goal weight before my birthday in May. I'm still making progress.

My blood pressure is right around 120/80 and my resting heart-rate hangs right around 66. My wife has quit smoking after 30+ years of it and her resting heart-rate is even better than mine. I'm next to quit smoking. I'm betting myself (?) that I won't gain weight after quitting too.

by jaqui Jan 24, 2008

Do you know that one, 8 ounce glass of unsweetened yellow grapefruit juice a day helps with weight loss?
something in the yellow grapefruit either attacks fat cells or increases the metabolism to help burn calories, burn them without doing anything but breathing.

If spicy food fits your tastes, try Indian restaurants, most items are vegetarian on the menu, and quite a few have all you can eat buffets. That way you can eat your fill, and still have the same whole grain / vegetable focus in the meal. The meat items tend to be chicken.

I've a lot of friends who are both Vegan and Vegetarians, I've learned that by going to restaurants that aren't a "typical" North American menu, you can find a lot more variety in your meals, while keeping to the basic grains / vegetables / cereals for the bulk of the meal.

by ontheropes Jan 24, 2008

If there was a restaurant serving it closer to home I'm sure we'd try it. We've been to each of the areas Chinese restaurants and I can't see how they even stay in business. The food is horrible, almost rotten. I think they all get it from the same place. No thanks.

The only other types of restaurants close offer Mexican food and traditional "North American" food. There are pizza restaurants seemingly on every other corner but there's only one worth going to. I ate half of a medium pizza there last week. It was great.

It's been a huge change for me to switch my diet over to mostly fruits and vegetables. Dr. Fuhrman recommends that a person eat a pound of both everyday. Some days I make it and some days I don't. I rarely feel as if I'm missing out on anything.

Prior to my greater understanding of nutrition my diet was fairly typical of others in this area. Now I think that vegans and vegetarians have been onto something for a long time. Albert Einstein said, "Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." Makes sense.

I think of you every once in awhile when I think about what my "ideal" weight will be. I may end up being as slim. I doubt it but I'll have to wait and see. I do know that I'm no longer interested in having bulging muscles. If I can stay healthy and fairly fit I'm satisfied. I'm not driven like I used to be. I like being calm and at peace much better. I'll let you kill 'em all. :D

by santeewelding Jan 24, 2008

I've stayed out of this one, until now.

Please know that from here your every last jot about it has been a gift.

I thank you.

by ontheropes Jan 26, 2008

Glad you appreciate my post. You're welcome.

It took me awhile to post this reply. I seem to respond quickly to criticism and slowly to praise. That's just the way I'm built.

Tell you what...

Inkling felt so strongly about Dr. Fuhrman's book, "Eat To Live" that he sent it to me with only a single stipulation, that I pass it on to someone else who wants to learn about nutrition. Right now my daughter is reading it but I still retain control over it. I've already offered the book to one TR member who declined so I'm free to offer it to you. If you're interested in nutrition, would like to read the book and will pass it on when you're finished with it I'll send it to you. All you have to do is drop your address to me in a peermail message. As soon as my daughter is finished with it I'll drop it in snail-mail to you. I don't know when she'll be done with it but it shouldn't be too long.

The book is a valuable tool for a greater understanding of health and nutrition. I'm willing to part with it now because I think I've absorbed as much as I can get from it. If you want it just let me know.

by meryllogue Jan 25, 2008

Congrats, Ropes.

I know you know this, but remember that weight does not equate to fat... as you build muscle, your weight won't change as much because muscle weighs more. It's the other stats that mean a lot... can you pinch an inch, resting heart rate, etc.

I agree with Santee. You have been an inspiration.

by ontheropes Jan 26, 2008

I sure as hell didn't set out to be an inspiration to anybody. I'm just a fat guy who discovered that a bit of determination and knowledge can allow me to become healthier and slimmer. Haven't really had to work at it very hard so if folks are inspired by my laziness that's cool. All I need now is a job that'll be that easy. :)

You know you're right about the health markers. I've read somewhere lately that if you can pinch even 3/4 of an inch you may have too much body-fat. That's why I've revised my weight goal downward. I think I still have more fat to lose and remain healthy. Now that I know I can see where I'm at I feel I should shoot for the mean of a normal BMI calculation instead of just getting within the normal range. For my height the mean is 169 pounds. I'm thinking that I may have lost some muscle mass over the course of time so I'm going for 165. I'll see what the health markers show me the closer I get to that weight. I might even go lower. I won't know till I get there.

Right now I feel great physically but I'm just not quite satisfied with my personal BMI and won't be until I'm as lean as is healthy.

I've got a new attitude about myself and my bodyfat and I like it.

I feel like I do when I buy a new car. I think I'm the only one who has the exact same make and model until I notice that it seems like everybody and their uncle has one just like it.

That's how I see obesity. Once I realized that I was obese I started noticing fat people everywhere. They ARE everywhere. Before it struck me that I was obese I didn't really notice.

Weird.

Statistics from several places show that fully 2/3 of Americans are overweight and suffer from the associated health risks and complications. Sometimes we'll go to a restaurant and everyone in there is at least overweight if they aren't exactly obese. I almost feel out of place. It's kind of cool to make two trips to the salad bar and not feel guilty about it now. I used to feel guilty eating so much.

Dropping 52 pounds doesn't mean that I'm done. The trick is in having enough of a change in my lifestyle to keep it off. Any hard-head can starve themselves into a lower weight. Proves nothing. I'm hoping and trusting that I have enough knowledge to be able to, at least, stay this weight if not even lose more. Knowledge, for me, has made a huge difference. We'll see how well that's going to apply to smoking soon enough.

You've probably gathered all that by now. Just felt like saying it. Too much coffee this morning. I've broken my one cup rule. I've decided I like coffee too much. With sugar. :0

by sobaldrick Jan 25, 2008

All of my size 34 jeans fit now. I've been using them as a gage and didn't try them on until this morning. Proof positive that I've really trimmed down. When I started losing I wore size 38 and they were tight. Now I can comfortably wear clothes that I couldn't even button as little as one month ago.
----------------------------------

I wish I'd kept all my pants from 10 years ago now. Would have saved me a fortune in not having to buy new clothes.

Les.

by ontheropes Jan 26, 2008

I have very little in the way of business dress attire that fits or isn't worn out and I'm too broke to buy much. Bummer. :D

by santeewelding Jan 26, 2008

I appreciate not only your last post, but the first as well, and over time, all between -- yours and the many who contribute.

The whole thing has been like a gold-standard study occasioned in, of all places, a tech forum. I think this why I be fond of the place; why I keep coming back. The humanity and more is irrepressible, in spite of the dour few who would have it otherwise in other threads.

My wakeup -- actually, both of them -- struck in July of 2005 within a period of two weeks. They were life threatening.

The way I'm built, to use your expression, had me clearing my decks, too. No quarter was given me. None would be asked. Go. Do.

Go where? Do what?

Like you -- like how much of the population? -- it was nutrition. Like you, I quibble(d) with myself about terms. Diet? Food? Life?

Long story short, I've gone from electrophoresis charts to Warsaw chronicles to hominid jaw morphology to pedaling a mile and a half for my fruits and veggies. I'm a card-carrying vegan right down to grass-fed filet mignon and soil mechanics.

I could recommend a book or three myself. You are welcome nevertheless to send yours (details on the way to your inbox). I eat books.

I am, Richard Anderson.

by ontheropes Jan 27, 2008

As soon as my daughter is finished reading the book I'll send it off. I don't imagine that it'll be more than a week or so. B-)

by ontheropes Feb 5, 2008

The book is going in the mail today. Enjoy.

by absolutely Jan 27, 2008

Somebody who had just been asked to rate "life" on a scale of "crappy" to "excellent."

by meryllogue Jan 28, 2008

Each of you who uses it and passes it along should write (not sign) your name in it, date it, and the state you live in. Start with Inkling's name, for him, and see how long his gift keeps on living. (Perhaps an email address?) Just for grins and giggles! :-)

by absolutely Jan 28, 2008

for all chain letters.

by meryllogue Jan 28, 2008

...It's called the "red-head effect" in psychology, or something like that. Someone says to you, "Wow, lots of red-heads in this town" and suddenly you start noticing red-heads everywhere.

I had surgery on my throat recently (voice box)... Dec 11, in fact, and had to stop all talking for 2 weeks (OUCH!) and all physical exertion, even aerobic, for 4 weeks. OMG. Depressing at first. But I got through that and would then eat a wholesome breakfast (bran cereal with un-cooked steel-cut Irish oatmeal -- I HATE cooked oatmeal and won't eat it for risk of vomiting and that is not drama-queen talking) covered with a smoothie of DanActiv, frozen strawberries, and a banana. Then I would eat a second small meal during the day about 1 or 2. Then nothing until the next morning. I was going to bed STARVING, but stayed slim. I actually lost some weight. Every day I thought of these posts and thought, "Keep the caloric intake at the burn level. You are sitting on your butt 24/7 so drop it drop it drop it."

This weekend, for the FIRST time since Dec 11, I worked out and did my strength training. I was sure my body was going to punish me firmly, but nope. My shoulders feel better than they have in 2 weeks (the last 2 of "no strength training," although I have been doing physical therapy work on them since mid-January).

My point? None really, other than you are right. It has to be about remembering that we are a very sophisticated machine, really, and that like a machine, we have to control and regulate it to some degree. I'm happy to say I suffered no more than some weakened muscles.

Oh... not pinching more than 3/4 inch? NOT! I would never be able to hoist an inversion or even climb that thing, even. I would be collapsing in the middle. My arms would be like rubber. I would be in serious caloric debt. Even at an inch I am getting into debt mode. I can especially tell when I take a bath and lie back; if my tummy caves in and looks like a starving refugee, I know I am too thin. But even at that I have an inch around the belly button. :-)

by cuteelf Jan 31, 2008

Oh, just to pipe in ...

Good Job Buddy! You've lost so much weight I've gained it....b@stage....
(actually my thyroid's not behaving so I need some pills for that...)

As for Chantix, be warned. I've heard it causes some *ahem* INTERESTING dreams. Colorful, X rated, racey...you get the idea. I think it's because it makes you sleep better - you're in the Delta state where you dream happily.

So, If you have dreams about a firetruck with 8 legs chasing you around a block then walking up a building...to go see Nicole Kidman nude...you might be on Chantix.
Then again, you might be Col.

CuteElf

by ontheropes Feb 1, 2008

Couldn't afford the Chantix so I'm taking Zyban, one pill a day. This is my 4th day taking it.

I had my last cigarette at 9:30 last night. If I make it past the first 24 hours it shouldn't feel so bad.

by beth blakely Feb 1, 2008

You can do it!

Some extra motivation: Here's a timeline of the benefits you've already started receiving according to The American Cancer Society:

* After 20 minutes: Blood pressure drops to normal
* Pulse rate drops to normal
* Heart rate drops to normal
* Circulation has already improved
* Body temperature of hands and feet increase to normal

* After 8 hours: Cigarette breath disappears
* Carbon monoxide blood level drops to normal
* Oxygen blood level increases to normal
* Is already feeling better and it's only been 8 hours

* After 24 hours: Chances of heart attack begin to decrease

* After 48 hours: Nerve endings in nose and mouth begin to regrow
* Ability to smell and taste are enhanced
* Mucus begins to clear from the lungs

* After 2 weeks to 3 months: Circulation improves
* Walking becomes easier
* Lung function increases up to as much as 30%

* After 1 month to 9 months: Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath all decrease
* Lung cilia have regrown, increasing the ability to "clean" lungs and reducing the likelihood of infection
* Overall energy increases

* After 1 year: Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's

* After 5 years: Lung cancer death rate decreases by half

* After 10 years: Lung cancer death rate is now equivalent to that of a non-smoker
* Pre-cancerous cells are replaced by healthy cells
* Risk of other cancers (mouth, throat, bladder, etc) decreases

* After 15 years: You are at now no more at risk of heart disease than if you had never smoked!

by meryllogue Feb 4, 2008

Especially with your hands. Part of smoking is psychological: It's your friend (but would a friend really harm you that much?). It's something to do with both your mouth and your hands. I found that I had to do what you are doing in thinking of myself as a non-smoker, 'cause a non-smoker does not have smoke wafting from her mouth. I also had to be busy when I got a real craving. Something with my hands... play guitar or piano, whittle, bake, ... anything to keep my hands and brain busy. The mouth part I tried to satisfy by eating lots of carrots, celery, stuff like that so I had some kind of "hand to mouth" thing going, but also had something satisfying going on (crunch crunch crunch). And, of course, reminding myself that once upon a time I had no problems with not smoking (when I was a kid... I started steady at 13) and so it IS possible in my life and I wanted that feeling back, and that it is a matter of time before I get back to that. To be honest, even now, some 16 years later, I STILL have the occassional urge for a cigarette. I quickly distract myself.

Oh! Like a little kid! My friends have a 2-year-old, just as cute as can be. When she gets whiny, they just distract her. For example, I'm sorry, you can't have that candy just now. Why don't you go bring mommy your new Glitzy Doll? lol.... whatever they use. But it works, and really, we are kicking an addiction that is as base and illogical as her little girl's whining for something that she can't/shouldn't have.

Well, good luck. You have gone through a very tough time losing weight, and you were successful. It wasn't easy, but you did it. I have faith in your ability to pull this one off too. I'll be rooting for you from Oregon!

by ontheropes Feb 1, 2008

I'm hanging in there. I know that if I was to smoke just one I'd be right back at it. My eyes feel weird, I'm confused, a little dizzy and feel like I'm going to jump right out of my skin. Other than that I'm doing just fine. :p

by cmiller5400 Feb 1, 2008

My Grandmother was a smoker for 50+ Years and then she had a heart attack. She quit cold turkey right then and there. My Grandfather also smoked for 50+ years and quit cold turkey with her as well. They have not smoked for over 10 years now. It CAN be done. Good Luck!!

by ontheropes Feb 1, 2008

It helped me over a rough spot. I didn't smoke but I was sure thinking about it. I have to keep reminding myself that I'm a non-smoker.

My wife and daughter have quit smoking with no other help than a few days worth of Zyban. Both of them said that the medication made the cigarette taste horrible after two days. I haven't had that reaction. I can't say I'm feeling anything from taking the drug but the fact remains, I started taking Zyban and I've been able to quit smoking. I'm going to quit taking Zyban in four days.

If I can stop myself from eating everything in the house I'll be doing great. I ate breakfast early and I was eating my lunch meal at 10:00 this morning. Since then I've eaten a full third of my supply of fruits on hand. I'm going to forgo supper. I'm still under my calorie count for the day so I'm on track to losing maybe a couple of pounds in the next week or two.

by ontheropes Feb 7, 2008

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface where you have plenty of room at each side.

With a 5-lb potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.

Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.

After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb sacks.

Then try 50-lb potato sacks and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I'm at this level).

After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each of the sacks.

by locolobo Feb 7, 2008

by santeewelding Feb 7, 2008

Set about immediately to reading Chapter Four, The Dark Side of Animal Protein.

Potatoes? You mean, there are potatoes?

by ontheropes Feb 7, 2008

It only took two days to go from my hand in Michigan to your hand in California. It normally takes three days for my Mother to get a letter from me and she's only 60 miles away.

by morrisntex Sep 12, 2008

Noticed there hasn't been any activity here in a while & was wondering how you're doing with the diet?
I've been yo-yoing about 10 lbs the last 9 months. But I'm still at lower pants size I was when I last posted here. We have a couple of new dogs (walking companions) now, but it's been slow getting them acclimated to the household - they weren't puppies!
Started some more exercises targeting some problem areas - flabby abs. hope this works out.
We went to Carlsbad Caverns last weekend and went in through the main entrance which we were told was the equivalent to 84 flights of stairs. I had to stop 3 times on the way down because my legs were shaking so much. Then we walked the trail around to the "big room", all total about 4 hrs of walking. Then back on the surface we walked a couple of the shorter nature/history trails.
I was really surprised I was only sore for 2 days, I was afraid I was gonna pay for it for 3 - 4 days.

by ontheropes Sep 12, 2008

I've just recently been thinking that my weight is getting away from me again. I can still wear all of my 'thin' pants but they're tighter than they need to be. I haven't weighed myself in months and I'm kind of afraid to look. I'll weigh myself on Monday. Don't want to do it right now. Today has been a bad enough day. Seriously. :)

I appreciate the bump here. Maybe we can revive this zombie thread and put it to good use. I still haven't reached my aforementioned weight goal so I've let myself down. That's not a good feeling. I can change that. Stay tuned.

by morrisntex Feb 5, 2009

I maintained around 212lbs - 214lbs, the important thing is I didn't put on any extra!!!

still having a hard time getting any lower right now, I think it's because of my activity levels or lack there of!!!
Been getting up and walking around a bit more during the day. This is the time of year I'm glad I have an inside job, just wish it wasn't sitting on my behind 98% of the time though... arg...

How's it going at your end?

Thanks for the welcome.

I lurked for awhile before jumping in - it seems like a good crowd here.

The one race we've always done. is the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure (5K)

That walk does sound daunting...

by ontheropes Mar 9, 2009

My alerts weren't working right.
I haven't stepped on a scale for a long time until last week. I thought that my weight had ballooned way up there again but I'm actually at 190 pounds. Not so bad. I can lose ten pounds and more pretty easily and have decided that that's what I'm going to do. If memory serves, I'm right at the edge of being obese according to BMI charts. I want to get to the low range of normal.
We just got back from a cruise to the Bahamas. Free food, (excellent food) and free room service. Knowing my weight and seeing that it isn't way out of control again prompted me to watch what I ate while cruising. Most people seem to gain a few pounds on a cruise. I believe I lost maybe a couple of pounds, though I haven't weighed myself again.
I really felt a lot better when I was doing things like walking the treadmill and eating right. Old habits die hard though and it's easier just to sit here like a slug and not do anything positive about losing weight. I'm going to be trying to break that habit.
I have a short term goal of 185. I'm looking at taking it five pounds at a time this time. I'm going to make friends with our treadmill and scales again too. In fact, as soon as I post this I'm going to go have a smoke and then come in here and walk a mile while watching CNN. :D Not giving up smokes and trying to lose weight both at the same time. Not going to happen.

by ksoniat Mar 9, 2009

Hi I'm new around here - but just ran into this thread....

My suggestion is find a race or event that gives you a definite deadline. My kids were in a "running club" and I helped and went to the 5K races and ran too.

They also trained for a kids triathlon held at a local college and the first time their PE teacher who was coaching them said I could do one too I laughed. (they were swimming 4 laps, biking 2.5 miles and running .5 miles -- that doubled when they hit 12). I practiced with them cause I was there, but thought a "real" one was beyond my ability.

The second year I asked "what would I have to do?" My area has a "Sprint" triathlon in this case it is a pool swim (1/4 mile - bike 16 miles and runa 5K). I did it for completion - and did it the next year also.

It felt pretty good to finish, and it gets you in pretty good shape.

Sounds like you have pretty much met your goal - good for you!!!!

by seanferd Mar 9, 2009

Yeah, this thread comes back up occasionally, which is good. You do have some good ideas there. You might just be interested in member TiggerTwo's yearly Breast Cancer Awareness Walk - it is quite a long haul. (You may notice quite a few Pink Ribbon avatars in the forums :) )

Personally, I love to run up and down the sides of the local valley, as it provides more variety than the sidewalk. I'm luck that I live on the sides of a large valley park system - Cleveland Metroparks.

Enjoy the forums, and go ahead and prod this thread occasionally - it always seems to offer something interesting when brough back to life.

Cheers!

Thanks for the welcome - and explaining the prevalence of the pink ribbons. I'll check out TiggerTwo's walk.

That's a lot of miles and a LOT of training. When I was walking on the treadmill everyday I felt as if I accomplished something when I got 14 miles in a week! My hat is off to Tigger and anyone who attempts and succeeds in completing the 3-Day event. I know that I'm not going to train for it. No thank you.
As Seanferd has said, welcome to TR. I think that these forums can always benefit from new blood. I hope that you stick around. :D

by locolobo Mar 10, 2009

Saw the thread was bumped this morning. When this thread started I weighed in at around 200 lbs. Sometimes I had to squint my eyes or it might have been a smidgen over 200. :)

There is a lot of good advice in the replies here. You have to read them and take what works for you. What works for one may not work as well for another. Anyways, I've been between 160 & 165 the last four months.

Several suggestions here worked for me. Two things stick out.

First, I started a simple journal logging diet & exercise.

Second, I started riding my bicycle again. Just a little at first, then more. It's amazing how many calories you can burn on the bike.

I just wanted to thank everybody who contributed their opinions here. They did help.

My ultimate goal is down around the 165 range so knowing it can be done gives me hope.
I'm taking it one day at a time. I was very pleased to see that I hadn't put on much weight when I back slid and got off of my 'diet'. I can eat a LOT of food but it's not staying with me like it has in the past so obviously I'm eating smarter now. I just have to stick with it and not splurge and I'll be alright.
One of the times I've felt the best about myself was while I was working towards the goal of losing weight. Time to do that again.
Thanks for posting!

by locolobo Mar 10, 2009

The main goal in my mind is being healthy. Weight is just a number that helps you identify problems. Good luck with your program.

I think this is one topic that will never become "dated".

My workout regime is suffering greatly for having gone back to work. I used to work within a mile of a club and I'd go over lunch. I've not quite figured out a good system yet for my new schedule.

by locolobo Mar 10, 2009

is in scheduling. I commute to work & lunch now. Daily miles during the work days averages around 12 miles spread over 3 or 4 rides. So nothing hard, not really exercising, but it still works. I've been thinking about adding calisthenics or weights into the mix, but keep procrastinating.

by jiminpa Mar 10, 2009

As someone who has shed 50lbs himself I know how difficult it can be. My peak weight was 225 and I managed to work myself down to 175. I did it by upping my protein intake and trying very hard to stay away from processed carbohydrates. I kept it real, it took me almost a year. I knew I couldn't stop drinking beer all together (my weakness too :) ) so I kept it to no more than one a day, never after 6PM and I drank lite beer except for Sundays when I would allow myself a Sam Adams... mmmm...

Any who, the "diet" I followed was from a Men's Health book called "The Testosterone Advantage Plan". I learned alot about the thermogenic factor of digesting different types of food and things like glycemic index and that kind of stuff. It was tough at first because I loved my sweets but after a while I quit craving them all together and I actually got to a point where I couldn't eat them because I felt bad almost sick to my stomach afterwards.

All that was about 5 years ago and I have managed to keep most of it off (I'm about 185 right now). Stick with it, keep your goals realistic, and pace yourself you will get there. Best of luck my friend.

P.S. That was about the time I learned to drink my coffee black :)

is that I quit drinking beer or any alcohol. I just don't want to drink anymore so I don't. It's like cutting thousands of calories out of my diet per month. I think that I counter that with steak and egggs or a meat-lovers skillet for breakfast once a week.
I have to get back into eating my beans and steamed greens for meals again. Those were good meals and they helped me to lose weight. The more of those meals I eat in lieu of having fast food or something non-nutritional the better off I'll be.
Just got off of the treadmill too. Time for me to put that thing to use again and stick to it this time. :D

by jiminpa Mar 10, 2009

Which is probably why it took me a year. ;)

Like I said though you gotta keep it real. I knew my limitations and stayed within them.

I used to lift free weights a lot until breaking my wrist. After that wrist break I just became a sedentary lump for almost three years and put on weight. Back when I was into the diet thing before, when this thread started, I had plans to get back into exercising a lot more. I couldn't find the desire to do that and that's when I gave up on my diet plan. Bad move but that's what happened.
This time I'm not going to set myself up for failure. I've no intention of getting into the shape I was in back when I was lifting three/five times a week. It doesn't interest me like it used to. I don't care. If I can stick to walking the treadmill I'll be satisfied but I'm not going to call myself a failure if I can't do that either.
I think I have a better handle on what my limitations are. They're not so much physical as they are mental. I can quit splurging on food and eating huge meals and cut weight/calories that way. It's all about the calorie count. That's one thing I know for sure. There's no other way. If you take in less calories than you burn up you will lose weight. I'm reminding myself. It'll be interesting to see how long it takes. No artificial goals/dates for me. I am what I am and will be at my ideal weight when I get there, even if it takes a year or more.

Hope it was doing something fun - like skiing or horseback riding.

I was unloading the back of a semi-trailer when the bales of corrugated boxes fell, hitting my right hand, while I was backing up, launching me into the air, backwards, about 8 feet only to land on my right hand.
I ended up with a Scapho-Lunate dissociation, a break in two of the four bones at the base of the wrist. Sucked. Put me out of work for better than three years. Long enough for me to decide that I am now retired. :)
In case you're interested, they tried putting a screw in to hold everything together. Didn't work. They finally performed a Four-Corner Fusion which entailed taking/breaking out the scaphoid bone and putting a round metal plate in there held by eight screws. I lost quite a bit of range of motion and fine motor control, some of which I've regained, but at least it doesn't hurt anymore unless I try to do too much. My wrist bones are now fused and without the scaphoid bone there is no chance that I'll regain ROM.
Don't feel bad for me. In many ways, that'll remain unposted, I call it my lucky break. :D

Somehow I knew it wasn't broken doing anything fun - sounds like you are making the best of it.

Nice medical terminology too.

Back when it happened my doctor let me explain the x-rays to his interns. He said I knew as much about them as they did. I asked him if he had any job openings. :^0
It's amazing what you can learn from the Internet. B-)

It's over a year and a half since the original post. As you can imagine a lot has happened in that time.
First off, I did hit my original goal of 180. Then I started making bad choices again and slowly my weight ballooned back up to 195.
I got tired of it. I was disappointed with myself and decided that I was going to lose the weight again.
Today I weighed in at 170 on the nose. That's a total of around 65 pounds weight loss since I began way back when. I'm not stopping there either. I going down to 165 and plan to be there by August. Five pounds in five weeks is a reasonable goal.
I'm well within the normal/healthy range for BMI. I want to be right in the middle of that healthy range. I'm hardly fat now but I won't be satisfied until I lose that last five pounds.
I am going to maintain my weight. I expect it to fluctuate between 163 to 167, somewhere along there.
The key for me this time was weighing myself every single morning. That's MY best time and it has worked.
I feel great! I can't drink as much coffee as I used to because it makes me lightheaded and the caffeine buzz is a little much but I don't miss the sodas like I thought I would. Plain water, thanks. I AM getting the proper nutrition and I'm not denying myself the good stuff either.
I generally have the excellent prime rib special for lunch at a local restaurant weekly along with a day where I'll have the NY Strip and eggs breakfast. There's a killer burger every Thursday or Friday too not to mention scarfing down half of the best pizza in town. The difference between now and when I weighed 180 and gained the weight back is that I know how many calories I'm taking in, generally, and I do the math. What do I need vs. what did I eat?
You can eat anything you want if you have a plan for dealing with it later. I have a plan.
Summer is good. I'm getting more exercise simply from being outside gardening. I've lots of pix not posted to TRGC. :0
I push mow our one acre lawn. I did it when I was younger and although I may not be as fast now I can still do it. Great exercise and I have plenty of time on my hands.
Why post here now? Because I feeeel good nananana! :D Almost there! Five more pounds. I can do it and I can stick with it. If I can, anyone can. Just do it. No excuses. I was lying to myself. I know about excuses. No more being a fatty fatty boombalatty! :^0

by getting drunk and forgetting to eat

I remember when I was young and thin I drank a LOT of wine coolers and claimed that I was getting nourishment, my vitamin C, from the bits of grapes floating around in the bottle.

by seanferd Jun 25, 2009

Good for you, sir. And it is awesome that you feel good, too.

Last winter, I developed a bit of a belly for the first time in my life. It was a bit of a shock. It doesn't seem like normal hard work is going to help, so I've had to actually do a bit of abdominal exercise. It just seems weird to me, but I guess my metabolism is slowing down and having an effect, even though I don't eat much at all.

Anyway, keep up the good work, and keep feeling good!

Cheers!

Even though I'm only 53 I've got this whole retirement thing going on and not a lot that I have to do during the day. It's too easy to pack on the pounds. My wife is an excellent cook and I love good food. I'm a pretty fair cook myself and I just have to say no.
It's willpower, pure and simple. The real test of my willpower is going to be when I severely cut down, (not saying quit) on my smoking after I reach and maintain my goal weight. They're taxing the hell out of cigarettes and tobacco and once my stockpile is gone it's going to hurt my mind to buy more tobacco. I want to stretch my stockpile out for a few years. It's possible.

straight JD or Bicardi, with beer chasers. it amps me up really good and I feel great. Only problem, then I have bigger sleeping issues and I cant seem to turn off the afterburners for days. I just go around totally charged up for days -- and I usually mostly stop eating as well.
The only downside, I am not a good drunk, and I make lots of bad decisions.
but hey -- all in the name of fun and boredom reduction :D

I remember what it used to be like for me. I had a good time. B-) Just remember, never drive buzzed. Bad idea. Experience talking.

but no, I make bad, bad choices. So last weekend I decided to go alcohol free again. I love the feeling, but not what I become, think, or do

Don't miss it. I still have a couple of barley wine beers on the back porch. They're supposed to get better with age. One of them is near 10 years old now. I've been sorely tempted to crack it open once in awhile but for me, drinking was an escape, my choice of drug. Ain't preaching against the evils of alcohol, :^0 just saying that I like who I am, most of the time, and I can leave the drugs alone. I didn't need no steenkeen meetings either though I understand that AA meetings can be a good place to meet women. :0

and then had a couple of rashes in '95 and '99. I finally gave it up completely until about '04, but I kept it to 1 drink, and only on occasion.
Last year I got a damned good buzz at a work event -- first time I touched Jack Daniels in more than 15 years.
Over the last few weeks I went from 1 beer to a tall glass of JD or Bicardi, and up to 3 beers as a chaser, on an empty stomach. Over that week, I ate 2 meals and lost 10 pounds, but I am still trying to rectify a relationship issue (and I still dont know what I did wrong).