I have many life changing things I want to do. I need to quit smoking, loose 50 lbs, and quit taking Effexor?

Question

I have several things I need to do and am not sure which order or the best way to do it. I need to do the following
Loose 50 lbs
Quit smoking
Quit taking Effexor.
I am not sure in which order I should do this. I KNOW quiting Effexor will be a long process. I have done this before and it took months. (Like 6)
For quiting smoking, I will be doing it cold turkey. I will not be using any of the quit smoking aids. (for financial reasons)
Does anyone have any advice for me as to the order I should work on this.
Thanks so much!!

Effexor dosage is 75 mg.
Thanks

Answer 1

go for losing weight first of all, maybe being a fitness fanatic will help you quit one of the other two, whatever you do, make sure you take medical advice first and do it safely
best of luck xxxx

Answer 2

I would not quit Effexor unless the doctor said your depression is better. By trying to establish better eating habits and weaning yourself from the addiction to nicotine, your setting your body up to scream at you anyway. Effexor will establish a more level playing field, and lastly, you can then wean yourself off of them.
Nicotine is the hardest; it is similar to cocaine, grabs you quickly and won't let go. When you try to quit, the brain has been told you will supply it with a drug, so it starts rebelling. If you don't use a patch, you must make a list of what to do when you want/use a cigarette, and do that instead. Call a friend, take a walk, anything to get the focus off of "I need a smoke." Remember, it truly is an addiction, so don't beat yourself up over having a hard time quitting. Just do it, and you can even use a 12 step program...substituting the word nicotine for alcohol, etc. Surround yourself with people and things to do. If you smoke while drinking coffee, find something else to do with your mouth and hands at that time. Change rooms, tables, etc. If you have a smoke after sex, what else can you do instead? Cuddle a few minutes longer? You can see what I'm saying. Don't just quit...plan how to quit. the patch would be best, but you CAN do it without the patch, it is just harder.
As to diet, think "a new way of eating." Don't do fads, and dont try to do it too fast. Have snacks, healthy ones, found on the web. Use these in place of cigarettes, also. You may gain a few pounds when you stop smoking, but don't give up. You will lose those pounds after awhile. They didn't come on overnight and they won't drop off overnight. Patience is the key to everything you want to do, but hey, what better time to start then today! At 50, you can be hooked on cigarettes, overweight ready for a heart attack, or healthy..just by doing it one day at a time. And if you slip, tomorrow is a new day. Be good to yourself and you will win!!! Success

Answer 3

Weight and smoking at the same time. A good way to help you with the smoking is to ask an oncologist to show you a MRI that shows how cancer spreads through the body. I saw tumors throughout my best friend's body. I thought "Idiot! That is what could happen to you because you smoke! I walked out of the hospital, threw away my cigarettes and have not smoked since! It did not hurt that when I went to my car I walked by the designated smoking area and I saw people smoking through holes in their throat! If that is not enough to make you quit, how about watching my friend who was only 40 die from lung cancer?

Just make sure you quit so you are not the inspiration for someone to quit. My friend just thought he had a smokers cough. For a while you will have to change your habits. Throw away all smoking accessories. Do not allow smoking in your home or car.

For the weight, try eating small amounts 6 times a day. (One time may be an orange) Make sure you find an exercise that you enjoy. Start with walking and swimming they are low impact and you can increase time and length of walks and swims.

Buy an outfit that you LOVE (Or a Bikini) (With the money you save from not buying cigarettes!) but buy it two sizes too small. Put a hook on the wall and hang it as close to the refrigerator as you can. This is a great incentive.

never shop when you are hungry! Some people like to have support of others so they join weight watchers or Nutra-System. They portion the meals for you. And you can chat with others who are going through the same thing you are.

Also promise yourself you will buy yourself something you really want (Like an I-Pod or diamond earrings after you quit and lose weight for an entire year. If you smoke 1 pack a day at $3.00 a pack, you would save $1,095.00 in just one year! If you smoke more than that you could take a cruise! So you can see you will easily save enough money to give yourself a reward.

I do not know about the drug you take.

Good Luck!

PS you will be shocked at how much better your food tastes, and how much better you smell (No Offense)!

Answer 4

I hope you aren't going for all three at once!!

I'd put the Effexor last.

First I'd go with smoking as it has such devastating effects on your health and skin. To get over the craze, take up some physical activity (other than eating or alcohol). Try walking, go to the mall, walk the dog, walk around the park, and when at home, knit, do something with your hands.....stay on the computer.

With increased physical activity you are already working on #2, the weight. Cut out all white things...bread, sugar, wheat, white rice and see how it goes. Might be a good way to ease into a weight reduction program.

Once you've kicked smoking and your weight starts coming off, I'm willing to bet the need for Effexor will diminish. Physical exercise releases endorphins which will make you feel better, blows out the cobwebs in your brain so you think better too.

Good luck!

Answer 5

I don't know what Effexor is... some sort of drug ? anyway I am trying to do the very same thing you want to do except for Effexor.. I tried to give up smoking and lose weight at the same time... BIG MISTAKE ! very very hard .. so I decided to give up the smoking first now I'm working on the weight. I find when you stop smoking you put on weight because you replace the smokes with food ... so keep that in mind .

Answer 6

I think you should quit...why should I be the only one that goes to bed early to avoid wanting a last cigar, coughing more than I did last week when I smoked. It has fun side effects..people you didn't like a little you grow to hate intensely and if given a choice between being a flower arranger at your local church or a hit man for the mafia...you choose the latter. Day 5 coming up and I am about to draw the curtains as young guys are walking by the house smoking. Its a disgusting habit and I am now kneeling beside the letter box hoping their smoke drifts in. Yes give it up that way, so I am told, you can get to live an extra 5 years....five long miserable bloody years.

Answer 7

Luckily I never had to deal with quitting smoking and effexor. I have heard that quitting smoking can add weight, so I would conquer the smoking first and maybe next the effexor and then the weight.

Anyways the real reason I answered was to wish you the best of luck, with your challenge. Say motivated and you can do it !!

Answer 8

I have never smoked and hate the smell especially now that I have leukemia, no body smokes in my truck or house.
I would quit smoking 1st, then start a change in what you eat, drink lots of water and walk like there is no tomorrow. Diet sodas are not really that low in calories, try to cut out all sugars and starches, don't eat after 6:00 in the evening, eat a good breakfast, cut out red meat. When you drink water with a meal it helps you food digest better. Good luck?

Answer 9

I would say that you should quit smoking first. Before you do it, get a good vitamin B complex and take it for two weeks. That will help your body to go through the withdrawl and destress you. If you find a B complex specific for stress then that's even better.
I'm also including a link for some helpful hints on ways to quit naturally.

Answer 10

I'd go with quitting smoking first. Once you're comfortable, get off the Efexor. I was taking quite a high dose and it only took me a couple of months to get off. The side effects sucked, but I was done pretty quick. Then start going to the gym, etc. Actually, you could do the weight loss and Efexor at the same time b/c it might boost your want to go to the gym. Good luck.