If you want to be "deathly afraid" devote 20 minutes to whyquit.com every day before you head to the gym. You really don't have to gain weight in your quit if you're working out, drinking water and eating healthy, but to be deathly afraid of a possible few pounds....smoking is the killer.

Oh and best wishes you really can do it and it does get easier!!!

There are much better diet plans out there than smoking to lose weight. Weight gain when you quit smoking is normal since your body's metabolism is going to slow down. The gain does not have to be large...I gained a whopping 6 lbs and lost it 4 months into my quit. No one except me even realized that I had TEMPORARILY gained just a few pounds. Eat healthy foods and drink a whole lot of ice water and get some daily exercise. Smoking is a horrible diet plan but there's one that's even worse and that's cancer. Now that will make you real skinny.

It is so great that you quit smoking! Congrats. As for the wieght gain, trust me, I understand. It kept me from quitting for a long time. I've now been quit for three months, I've probably put on about 10 lbs, but the only reason this has happened is because ice cream became my new coping mechanism. Ex-smoker deal with the loss of the hand to mouth habit of smoking, therefore food often becomes a substitute for us. It's just a matter of eating right and excersizing and I'm sure you will be fine. I've recently started excersizing and eating healthier, no more ice cream binges, and the weight is coming right off. The question is, as Lanky put it, would you rather have a temporary extra pound or two or cancer?
Good luck, you really have made a great decision for yourself!

Everyone is different so there is no perfect answer to how often. Just remember that muscle weighs more than fat. You may also gain weight in better areas if you work out. So don't only look at the scale. It is SO much healthier not to smoke. I have gained a few pounds but my blood pressure and pulse rate have dropped!! I seemed to have leveled off with the weight gain too.

Go to the gym everyday. It may help you not to smoke and you might develope a "new" habit that is good!!!

Sugarfree lifesavors, I have them in the car and in my favorite ashtray on the coffee table.

The UK government advice is 3 times a week for 30 minutes per session. It can be any exercise you wish as long as it starts to get you out of breath. You might wish to see your doctor before starting any exercise routine, especially if you haven't done any for some time. Well done on quitting and keep up the good work.

Why Do Some People Gain Weight When They Quit Smoking?

Nicotine suppresses the appetite and causes the liver to release glycogen, which raises the blood sugar level slightly. With nicotine out of your system, you may feel hungry more often. Smoking artificially elevates heart rate and increases metabolism. When you stop smoking, your body has to readjust to a lower metabolic rate. If you eat the same as you did when you were smoking, your body will end up using less and storing more (as fat) of the food. Smoking dulls the taste buds. Food begins to taste better to new nonsmokers; this can increase food intake. And then there's oral fixation -- some ex-smokers may want something to fill the void of cigarettes.
Following a well-balanced, healthy diet will help you maintain your weight while quitting smoking. Obviously, if you substitute a candy bar each time you crave a cigarette, you will gain weight. Eating a low-calorie diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and increasing your activity level, will probably prove effective in maintaining your weight.

If you think this won't be enough, you can figure out your current average daily caloric intake and use this as a guideline for weight maintenance after you quit. Plan meals and shop ahead at first. Stock your kitchen and office with healthy, low-calorie snack foods, such as carrot and celery sticks, air-popped popcorn, dry cereals, or crackers. Don't give yourself carte blanche with snack foods, however. View them as aids to getting beyond the craving to smoke. Other things that you can use to put in your mouth include toothpicks, plastic straws, gum, and hard candy.

Think about when you normally smoke and decide what you'll do instead. For instance, if you always have a cigarette with your coffee, plan to have something else on hand. If you find that the nonsmoking causes you to want to eat more at meals, drink a glass of water before and during the meal. Chew your food well, eat slowly, and concentrate on how much better food tastes now. After a meal is a great time for a cigarette, right? Well, then get up and moving right away wash the dishes, go for a walk, brush your teeth...

Nicotine addiction can be monumentally difficult to overcome. Whatever your reasons for wanting to quit, know that there are many source of assistance. Elsewhere in the United States, take a look at the government site Healthfinder to locate resources near you.

The American Cancer Society has lots of good information and helpful pamphlets for people who wish to quit smoking, and they will be happy to answer your questions and send you this information. Their number is (800)-ACS-2345 / -227-2345. The American Lung Association also has an excellent program and very good materials. They can be reached at (800) 586-4872 or (212) 315-8700. There's also the National Cancer Institute at (800)-4-CANCER / -422-6237.

Best of luck to you and congratulations on wanting to quit!

Never gained any, lost instead.
Which I didn't want to lose. I started getting my weight back about one month after I quit. Been over 4months, all is well

I gained about 5 pounds the first week and now I've lost 25. I have diabetes so it's important for me to eat healthy and I do. Once you start going to the gym and sweating, you will hate the smell of smoke. Good luck! We are all here for support.

Just make sure that you don't snack on tons of junk food. You will be ok! Here is a website that I visit on a daily basis so I know I am getting the right amount of nutrients. You can track your calorie intake and calories burned on a daily basis. Go to the pyramid tracker to input your meals and activity for that day! I love it, it made me realize that I really needed to eat more veggies!! Ha Ha!
www.mypyramid.gov

You give up drinking, you give
up smoking, now don't anyone
tell me to give up SEX or I am going to throw this computer at
them, anyone feel BRAVE????HA ROFL

Hi, I just lost 47lbs and was concerned about this too as I have more weight to lose. I quit 3 days ago and feel a little snackier, but on the whole not much different. I think if you drink a lot of water, eat healthy, and stay away from junk food and fast food you will be fine. I am not eating more than before I quit.
Bee
Good luck.