| I used to smoke two to three packs each and every | | | | solitude of the monitor you are looking into right |
| day of a popular name brand cigarette that comes in | | | | now.---"If you are an over weight smoker and you die, |
| a red and white pack with black letters and the name | | | | it was a pretty stupid thing to do." There it was said. |
| begins with an "M". Enough said about that, now you | | | | Yes, to die from a completely preventable death is a |
| know I am an ex-smoker. | | | | pretty stupid thing to do. |
| Here you sit, at your computer and you want to lose | | | | Oh Yes, The Diet Question |
| weight and quit smoking. You feel as if you can not do | | | | It is very possible to gain weight when you quit |
| one with out the other. Both are unhealthy and yet you | | | | smoking but it in fact has little to do with the slowing of |
| are thinking you would rather smoke than gain weight. | | | | your metabolism. Sure, it is a tad bit harder to lose the |
| You believe that if you do not smoke you have to gain | | | | weight when you quit smoking but that really is just an |
| weight. Before we tackle that myth, let us look at | | | | excuse to justify your "inability" to actually quit. The |
| some things learned from those who have gone | | | | reason you gain weight will more than likely be caused |
| before. | | | | by the fact that you are eating more. You can not |
| Addicted to cigarettes | | | | escape the reality that fat is the result of taking in |
| You may think you are addicted to tobacco and it is | | | | more calories than you burn. Period! Nothing more and |
| sad to report to you that you are not that addicted. | | | | nothing less. If you quit smoking do not turn to food to |
| Sure I could quote all the facts about what is really in | | | | keep your hands busy. Do not use food as a crutch |
| the box with the "M", but let us try this simple test. For | | | | and for heavens sake, do not use food as an excuse |
| this test you even get to smoke. I will even let you | | | | to keep smoking. |
| smoke as much as you want. But I want you to | | | | 72 Hours |
| change your cigarettes to the roll your own kind. No, I | | | | Your body is only craving nicotine for 72 hours after |
| am not talking about smoking pot, I am speaking of | | | | you quit. So why do you still want a smoke two |
| using plain old roll your own tobacco. You will be able | | | | weeks later? This is a simple question to answer. It is |
| to roll smoke after smoke after smoke of pure | | | | either all in your mind or the chemicals added make |
| tobacco and you will still want to smoke a cigarette | | | | you crave something that is not tobacco. If it is in your |
| with the "M". This is because you are addicted to not | | | | mind, then it should be just a matter of discipline and if it |
| only the tobacco but also the CHEMICALS that are | | | | is a chemical added then why the heck would you |
| ADDED to the tobacco. Doubt this? Try it for yourself. | | | | allow yourself to inhale some chemical someone |
| Death by Stupidity | | | | created for you to get addicted to in the first place? |
| You have one life to live. Every year 400,000 people | | | | Before we go I now find it amusing that I used to have |
| DIE from smoking related illnesses. Every year 300,000 | | | | a nice car and always smoked with the windows |
| people die from being over weight. So if you are an | | | | opened and held the cigarette out the window. Why |
| over weight smoker then there is a pretty good | | | | was I more worried about my car than my lungs? |
| chance you will die from one or the other. All too often | | | | If you want to quit then quit. If you want to lose weight |
| we are "politically correct". We are afraid to tell others | | | | then make the choice. Just do not allow yourself to |
| (especially in the work place) what truly needs to be | | | | make one the excuse for doing the other. |
| told. So here goes, just between you and me and the | | | | |