I'm just wondering if any of you quit smoking during this process. Obviously I know smoking is bad for you, but it's something I've been really reluctant to let go. Now that I'm banded, I'm hoping that once I get some restriction, I won't rely on cigarettes as much between meals....right now I'm still on liquids and am starving. Anyway, I've read some of your stories, how you went from fat and sedentary to fit and athletic. I have never been an athlete. I really don't much enjoy exercising. But maybe if I could simply BREATHE better from not smoking, it would be easier for me to enjoy exercise. Some of y'all have really inspired me and I'd like to know if and how anyone quit smoking. I think, along with the weight loss, quitting smoking would be such a great thing for my health and how I feel about myself...and maybe even gear me up to really exercise!

sara

I used the nicotine Patches for a couple of weeks prior to and after my banding surgery and found that they really helped. I have always had a problem distinguishing between craving a cigarette and feeling hungry, so I found that the patches helped me stick to the pre-op diet and the banding helped me not smoke afterwards.

I did go back to smoking after the 2 weeks post-op period was up but I had cut my intake by half (i.e. down to about 8 cigs a day) and it never went back up again. Then, 12 months ago (which was 12 months post-op), I met my non-smoking boyfriend and that was the motivation I needed to give up fully. I haven't smoked in 12 months now and have been surprised at how easy it has been. I did the full 10 week course of patches to give up and haven't looked back. I'm sure the band actually helped, because I wasn't mistaking hunger pangs for cigarette cravings or vice versa, as I used to on previous quitting attempts.

I was banded in September 09, and I quit the day of my surgery. Wasn't something I was ready for but when I woke up from intubation I knew my lungs had had it. I was hacking and coughing and thought 'this is insane'. I had just gone through major surgery to change my lifestyle from obese to a healthy weight and I was gonna smoke???? Posh!!!! I am stubborn when it comes to decisions so once I decided I was done, that was it for me. I never looked back and I did it cold turkey. For me that was best. For you, a nicotine replacement program might do better, however I'm not a proponent of Chantix, as I have personal experience with family and friends having SERIOUS side effects while on that medication. Its why I never tried it.

Personally...quitting smoking was much more difficult that this surgery or dieting. Its difficult and you will want to replace the smoking with snacking so make sure you stock up on sugar free mints, and anything else you need that's healthy to replace the cravings with. My personal favorite? Baskin Robbins hard candy, Cookies and cream flavor, sugar free, 1g fat per candy so use sparingly but NUMMY!!!!