Good luck to you and it

Good luck to you and it sounds like your doing it right. Quiting Smoking is very very hard I believe it is like fitness as well different things work for different people. I used to smoke years ago when i was younger but when I started Martial arts again I realized how bad it was. Plus living in Michigan smoking outside in the middle of winter sucked. I quit two ways.
1 the nicotine gum gum when ever i got a craving, however they have a couple new things, you might check with your doctor, one looks kind of like a fancy like plastic cigarette holder you know like you see fancy people in old black and white movie use, however these have a replaceable nicotine cartridge in there, so it is kind of like having a smoke. However which ever one you choose try to break the physical addiction first. Like When it came time for a smoke I would get a piece of gum and go outside for a walk around the building or something. Just to change that habit of standing there smoking.
2 Every time i quite before i couldn't get smoking out of my mind basically because everyone kept asking me how i was doing. It seemed every half hour or so someone would ask me how quiting smoking was going and if I was having any cravings. to which i would snap bitterly and say no i wasn't thinking about it until you brought it up. The time I finally quit was when I didn't tell a single person I was going to quit. I just did it secretly. No one bugged me and when i got up to walk out and chew some gum, people just thought I was going for a smoke break. Which in a way I was so it didn't bother me is someone said something like have a nice smoke or something as i was on my way outside.

The other thing though I didn't have a drop of Alcohol, Alcohol really made me crave a smoke. So I avoided it for a month. Anyway I salute you, and wish you luck, if you fall of the smoking band wagon don't give up try it again, it is really rough breaking that reaction to go for a smoke. After you break that then start giving up the replacement, I switched from nicotine gum to regular gum, like every other piece then slow the nicotine gum went away and then I was pretty much as good as i could be. So While you have a couple rough weeks ahead getting started they do get easier, plus going to the gym, that should help you remember why your quitting smoking.

But a few weeks of rough times is worth it..
On the bright side It is really amazing 6 - 7 months from now when spring flowers start to bloom how your sense of smell becomes very acute you will smell spring in the air like you never smelled it before and summer BBQ's I still to this day love the new sense of smell and taste I have after quitting. I love how good I sleep and breathe, I used to Ski when I was a teen and really enjoyed it, but smoking I couldn't. I now ski for miles at a time.

Anyway it sounds liek you are on the right track just use your head find what works for you.

All the best!

Hi, I also plan to get back into using the gym at the beginning of Nov after a break of 3 months or so, I am also sharing your worry of hoping I don't lose momentum, but I'm sure us both will be fine and will really enjoy getting back into fitness.

All the best with your training and also with quitting smoking!

Have fun and enjoy it!

Thank you so much for

Thank you so much for motivational comments Xyon. I am doing it secretly btw, I have tried before and found the same thing. That every mention of how I was doing without smokes made me want one even more. This time I am doing it for me and no one else, so no one needs to know. Except you guys :) The alcohol is going to be hard, I have a lot of birthday's coming up. Any suggestions on fun party drinks that are non-alcoholic? One of the party guests is pregnant so she'd be happy with that too.

Thank you as well ssteffens. It's good to know I'm not alone and I wish you luck, actually I don't think you need it, I wish you a damn good time at the gym!

Well, as far as drinking, I

Well, as far as drinking, I can't say for sure. When i quit, I seriously quit drinking totally for a month, it was just too temping, also I am a fan of of the big thick dark stout beers. I would consider something like a "La Fin Du Monde" a light beer.

I told my one closest friend that I always went out with that I was quiting, he totally respected that and I also told him that I was keeping it secret. He totally respected this and so didn't mention it at all, he was a true friend and after a month we went out for a beer. We did go out but like went out to dinner and then to a movie. Other that I sometimes went out with I told them I was getting in shape and was working out then or in the morning so I wasn't drinking so they didn't really care.

Now for a good alternative, i do not know if you have ever done Smoothies before, but they were something I came to love. The Simplest and cheapest smoothie I found which is also a great drink replacement is as follows:

Go to Grocery look in the frozen section for like a triple Berry blend, Blueberries, Strawberries, then the 3rd berry is either raspberry, mulberry, or blackberry.

In a blender put
1 cup of the frozen Mixed berries
1 cup of Orange Juice, Extra Pulp
1/2 to 3/4 of a cup of Plain non fat Yogurt
1 Scoop of of Plain unflavored Protein Powder (Optional but preferred once you are working out then mandatory) Soy protein powder might be more beneficial to female, whey is going to be good no matter what.
Blend and add ice until it thickens up.

This is a fantastic fruity icy drink you can wander around a party with and sip on, good for the pregnant lady as well. Full of Antioxidants and vitamins and No Alchohol.

This is one of my favorite recipe's for smoothies, sometimes I go out and buy all fresh berries and a whole orange and put in there but that can get expensive. Cheapest to go the frozen route. the Frozen Berry route really will cost you about as much as the smokes would have cost you for the night.

Smoothies though once you get to experimenting with them you will find some people out here on the internet must be insane or extremely creative. I have found Smoothie recipes that taste like you are drinking a sticky cinnamon bun, yet it is totally healthy for you. You just need to look around. If you like the thought then try poking around here http://www.smoothieweb.com/ I have yet to go through all of them and they always seem to get new ones. If you really find you like Smoothies then I recommend a Device called a "Magic Bullet" a smoothie fan can not live without one.

A few other things, I found Pretzels, the Long stick like pretzels, they helped a lot. Might not be best for you if you are trying to limit salt intake but they helped. especially on any long road trips. The Wierdest thing I found that helped was Cherries, unfortunately it isn't the season for them but when i quit was when they just came in to season i would often stop at road side stands and get fresh cherries and drive down the road spitting the pits out the window. Or sit at home and spit them into a bowl I went through several pounds of cherries when i quit.

However though you seem to be extremely smart, and probing the waters to find things to help. Unfortunately i can can't tell you everything I know but hopefully I can encourage you and get you thinking, because really no one can tell you what is best for you, only you. So you say your "Fat", doesn't matter if you you are or not you think you are but beside quiting smoking you might need to change some eating habits. However concentrate on the smoking and going to the gym before you work on your diet, the below are just some ideas to make you go hmmmmm.

How about a cookie recipe thats good for you.
If you like Oatmeal cookies then these things are awesome also oatmeal will help lower blood pressure. They are loaded with Protein and Fiber and slow digesting carbs, These are great like one or two after workout or like one with lunch or something.

Protein Oat Cookies

4 Cups Oatmeal
8 Egg Whites
1 cup Baking Splenda
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp cinnamon
4 Scoops whey (whatever flavor you prefer, remember though its a cookie)
1 tbsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Coat large pan with PAM. Mix all of above ingredients in large bowl, this may take awhile and it may not look like the eggs will coat the mixture, but it will, just keep stirring. Use 1/4c measure cup to scoop out mixture or you can use your hands, but it does get messy. Scoop and set in pan about 1-2in apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes, a slight under cook (which doesn't mean eat partially cooked eggs, it means they may not look quite done, but actually are) will keep the cookies moist, whereas a slight overcook will make them poof up almost like a muffin/cookie. Usually makes 28-30cookies.

Now Breakfast doesn't have to be bland either.

Protein Cakes

1/2 cup Buckwheat Pancake Mix
2 Scoops Whey (flavor of choice)
4-6 egg whites
1 tbsp cinnamon
2 tsp vanilla
2-4 packets of splenda
Sugar free or Light Syrup, if preferred

Coat pan with pam. Mix ingredients from above, except Syrup. Pour mixture into pan, making pancakes about 3-4in wide. Usually makes 4-5 pancakes

Like I said after you start working out, focus on the quiting smoking, and work on going to the gym, I mention the recipes, because once you start getting a handle on those then time to start looking at diet. I just want to plant the seed, really it is exciting for me as well to see someone like you ready to take on the challenge but willing to do it with common sense ;-) So many people want things and just want them now. Like I said keep working at it, you will get there. Most people think eating good means tasteless stuff. Which is not true they just do not know how. So dig around, look, ask questions.

Oh yeah and anywhere you

Oh yeah and anywhere you find something that you used to use sugar, give Splenda a try.

Some people fear splenda but don't it is so far much better for you than sugar.
A good article on Splenda Health for you if you have any doubts.
http://www.t-nation.com/readArticle.do?id=1188638

I have used it as a sugar replacement for years, My sister as well who is a personal trainer.

You Rock Xyon!

I'm not a big stout fan, I'm an umbrella cocktail drinker LOL I will definitely try the smoothies this weekend, I've got a blender. I'm drinking a coffee with two sugars right now, but the next one will be with Splenda. I usually find sweetners to taste aspartame-y but you don't know if you like it until you try it right?

I am going to spend the rest of the day wishing cherries were in season and reminiscing on road trips past...

Thank you so much for your help. I know how time consuming it is to type out a response that long and for someone you don't know that is a great effort :)

No problem, I am happy to

No problem, I am happy to see you get started off on the right foot. I think you will be pleased with Splenda, I never liked Aspartame stuff either they just taste funny kind of like a plastic or something. Splenda however I have come to really like.

Good luck on the 1st hope you come back and tell us how it went. I am hoping you get a good personal trainer that kicks your ass pretty good but not too hard so you burn out. ;-)