Need some exercise advice for a complete exercise dummy!

[monica78]

Hey everyone!
I am going to stop smoking on September 22 ( my husband has to quit for
2 weeks for eye surgery so we both said why not try?).
My worry is that I will gain alot of weight. I know that is the weight issues
can make my life alot more difficult with health issues. Like smoking doesn't
huh? :biglaugh: What exercises can I do that will help. I have all the problem
areas most women do. ( thighs, butt, arm, lower abs) I also don't know
anything about weight training. I just would like to get my old body back.
You know before IC, before marriage, before full time jobs, etc. :mad:
I don't know what types of training to do or how many days a week!
please help! :loco:

[Specs]

First off, congratulations on the decision to quit smoking. That, in itself, is a major step for you to take.

I quit almost 4 years ago. For me, walking helped. A lot. Keeps your mind off the cigarettes and helps you get a little more active than you probably are right now. Go for a walk around the block, around the neighbourhood, heck, take the family for a two-hour walk if that's what you need.

It sounds like you have a lot of grand ambitions.. but be careful. You'll only set yourself up to fail if you expect to get all of these things done immediately. Concentrate on getting over your addiction, then work on getting your body back. Remember, it took you years to put the weight on.. it could possibly take you years to take it off.

(As a side note, I gained about 5 pounds after I quit, making me about 40 pounds overweight. At my physical that year, my doctor was happy that I gained a small amount of weight. After all, she'd rather I be overweight than continue smoking. Keep that in mind. Four years later, I have lost about 20 pounds, even with IC and while on Elavil. It does take time.. but it can be done.)

Good luck!

[traceann]

When I quit smoking the first time (about 4 years ago), I used the Zyban and gained about 10lbs. I had just bought like 3 pairs of jeans as a reward to me, and then they wouldn't fit! ARGH! So, I started exercising at home. I did floor exercises, and used a weight bar (the kind you put weights on for a weight bench, the bar weighs about 10 lbs) and did exercises with that. I had bought a book called "Escape Your Shape" that helped tell you what to do for your body type. Love the book!!! It's all simple "old-fashioned" exercises and between that and a treadmill type thing, I lost the weight. Fairly quickly by watching my food portions (ate what I wanted just in moderation), and the exercise.

This time around (trying to quit soon here myself, with the help of the wellbutrin I was just put on -- same med as Zyban), I started going to Curves well before quitting. I started going on 8/15. I go 3 times a week and LOVE it, and I HATE to exercise. This week is my measurement/weigh week. I have gained weight which is good as the colitis had me severly underweight. I started in Aug at 116 and now am looking much healthier at 122. I hope some was weight gain is from building a bit of muscle, lol. ;) But I have found my bladder has no problem with the machines/routine. It's all at your own pace, it's great. I now look forward to going, and the weekend drives me crazy, it's like my body knows the schedule, every other day, so when Sunday rolls around I find I can't sit still and have to keep moving doing something!! It's weird!!!

Hope this helps a little! I love that book though, I originally got it from Avon, and it really helped me out.

[ICNDonna]

One thing to think about: When I quit smoking I gained a lot of weight. My doctor told me then that I would be better off with the extra weight than I would be smoking! After I quit smoking, I noticed almost immediately that my bladder felt better. That was about twenty years ago. I don't even have any desire to smoke.

Another thing to think about: I lost another good friend in June this year with cigarette caused lung cancer; his wife died of the same thing two years ago. I have two other friends who lost their husbands to cigarette cancer within the last five years. It makes me want to cry when I see someone light up.

Donna