2 bad habbits

[Pantlegz]

First a little background on me. I'm 23 currently in college and have 2 kids. Lately, the last year or so, I've been a little less active than I was before(stopped going to the gym ). But I've put on quite a bit of weight, more than I'm comfterable with right now I'm 6' tall and weight ~250 lbs while I'm not morbidly obese I have a bit of weight to get down to my ideal ~200 lbs. I've been lurking around the forums and started a fitday account to keep track of what I eat - I think it will make it much easier to adjust my eating habbits as long as I don't get too busy. I also plan on getting into the gym soon.

But back on topic, I have 2 really bad habbits and was wondering which would impare my ability to lose weight more. Smoking and Soda. I know soda will be easier to kick but even that takes a little time. I've been trying to stop smokng for a while now, down to about 1/2 a pack a day at the moment. I have an appt to get chantex(sp) and hope to be down to 1/4 of a pack or less a day by that time(July 7). So which should I quit first? Which is more determental to my weight loss? I know typically when you quit smoking you eat more, which shouldn't be an issue, a month in the gym hardcore and I'll lose atleast 35lbs. But I don't want to replace 2 kind of bad addictions for one really bad addiction. Which is why I'm kind of thinking about quitting smoking for a few months and slowly cut back on soda as there are less health risks with the soda as long as I'm active. But what do you guys think? should I kick soda first and maybe go a few weeks without untill I start on quitting smoking? And I really don't think stopping both at the same time would be a good idea, unless I can stay occupied and unable(physically) to go outside, or anywhere, that I can smoke.

 

[conorvansmack]

It's not the best solution, but you could switch to diet soda. The taste alone keeps me from drinking too many in a day.

I know some people who quit using Chantex. One of them started again when he got stressed. I suppose it's the same as quitting anything, dealing with cravings after you've already quit is the hard part.

 

[brandonb]

Quit Soda first would be my suggestion.

2 Soda's per day is nearly 400 calories, which means thats 400 less calories going around your mid section on a daily basis.

Smoking is harmful to your lungs and heart, but it doesn't add fat like Soda does.

Smoking just makes it hard to exercise, which is going to be hard anyways if you aren't in shape and are drinking soda anyways. So cut out Soda, then get rid of smoking.

Then start exercising a few months down the road after your body heals a bit.

 

[NGC_604]

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[Deeko]

Yea, soda first, definitely. First off, it will be easier, because the physical addiction isn't as strong. Secondly, it has much more profound short term health effects than smoking. Of course you want to kick the smoking eventually too, but I'd say cutting out the soda will be both easier & more beneficial.

 

[Pantlegz]

Well I did pertty good today, only 2100 calories and they were failry well balanced. Only one soda too. I think without the soda I would have been about 33% fat/carbs/protein as well as right at 2000 calories. I would like to stay away from artifical sugar/sweatners if possible.

I would, if I were more out of shape, wait on the gym. But even at 250 I'm not too out of shape I guess I'm just 'built big' at 200lbs , as long as I don't drop any muscle, I should have a decent '4 pack' I never was able to get a decent 6 pack due to all the high weight squats. I was able to run a mile in about 8 min yesterday(considering I smoke and ran 7ish in high school when I was in good shape) and I can still bench a decent amount I would guess than 3x10 @ 150 would be a faily easy task for me at the moment. I know it seems like a big number but really I only have about 4-5 inches around the waist to lose, still have about an 11" neck and 18" arms with little to no fat on either they're not bodybuilder big but decent for a lazy guy. when I get on a little more of a routine and tighten my diet I'll start a daily journal.

One more question though, and maybe I should ahve started a new thread, but whats the best way to cut carbs and fat(without too much sodium/cholestrol) but still eat good tasting food. I thought my carb intake was quite abit less than it was today, even without the soda 37% of my calories were from carbs! I did make the mistake of eating a banana, I didnt know they had so many carbs. that would have cut it down to 32% and about 1800 calories so I guess if I still took 2100 calories in it would have been ok. That and any suggestions for good tasting liquid thats soda, or milk. I didn't measure the milk I drank but I guessed about 4 cups but I could have guessed wrong but it was about 1/4 a gallon and if 1 gal=16 cups my guess is about right.

 

[KurskKnyaz]

I'm also trying to quit smoking. I find that working out actually fights the craving. Dieting and quitting smoking is hard. You will try to fulfill those cigarette cravings with snacks.

 

[StageLeft]

For weight, soda. For life/health, obviously smoking. If I was fat I would not even think about losing it until I kicked that habit. It's the one that will kill you faster.

 

[wheresmybacon]

Soda first. Once you're consistantly hitting the gym hard you're going to naturally want to quit smoking. At least that's how I felt.

Also you're not going to lose 35 pounds in a month. 4 pounds a week at your weight might be doable; even that is a LOT. Set goals, but you've got to be patient. You didn't gain 50 pounds in 6 weeks. You aren't going to take it off in 6 either.

For good tasting drinks, I drink diet soda or diet sweetened tea.

 

[Pantlegz]

Originally posted by: hungfarover
Soda first. Once you're consistantly hitting the gym hard you're going to naturally want to quit smoking. At least that's how I felt.

Also you're not going to lose 35 pounds in a month. 4 pounds a week at your weight might be doable; even that is a LOT. Set goals, but you've got to be patient. You didn't gain 50 pounds in 6 weeks. You aren't going to take it off in 6 either.

For good tasting drinks, I drink diet soda or diet sweetened tea.

Yea, it seems that quitting soda first is the general consensus. I've already cut back quite a bit only had one can yesterday and none so far today. I'm guessing after a week of no soda it will be a lot easier to just not have it. As far as the smoking goes, yea the gym helps want to kick the habbit, a lot. My last time in the gym, right before my daughter was born about 2 years ago I was down to one every other day or so. Thats also where I got my weight loss estimate, I weighed about the same and lost 14lbs the first week and 35lbs the first month. it slowed a little bit after that but was still fairly quick, took just over a month to get down to 200lbs. But my diet was a tad extreme at the time, ~60% protien ~15% carbs and ~15% fat and I ate about 2750 calories a day. It ripped the fat off and muscle gain was amazing, it really sucks I quit when she was born.

 

[onlyCOpunk]

Also a word of advice, DO NOT smoke before you hit the gym and not just right before, i mean the whole day before you go, it will seriously affect your performance. If anything save it for afterwards.

 

[Pantlegz]

one other question, how accurate are fitday.com's activite calorie estimates? I was looking through and noticed that a 15 min shower would burn 75 calories, can that be right? If so, then I'm taking 2 showers a day! lol.

 

[onlyCOpunk]

Most calorie counters are based on your weight age and heartrate. I don't know how well a website would be able to measure these without you monitoring your own heartrate.