Gaining weight after quitting smoking

jxspxr

ok so I am quitting smoking now, last smoke was 18 days ago. I'll make it this time. Only thing that worries me though is the weight gain. Last time I quit I gained 12 kg or so, and I already gained 2-3 kg now. I am not aware of eating this much.

I'd like to continue losing weight now that I've quit instead of gaining. Any advice?

Thanks in advance!

angiewf

Stopping smoking is the best thing you can do for your health! My mother died aged 58 of pneumonia and emphysema because she would NOT stop despite being ill.
Nicotine does suppress appetite, also your sense of taste gets better after stopping. Part of the problem is being used to having something in the mouth, so people tend to replace cigarettes with sweets (candies). Maybe you could try chewing sugar-free gum?

Seesawboomerang

Drink water instead of reaching for snacks. Or take up a hobby (perhaps exercise) that keeps your hands busy.

My weight gain was directly related to quitting smoking but it took a really long time to build up. It was the overeating that led to gaining weight, not the absence of tar and nicotine.

nmgnl

When I gave up smoking I made a conscious effort not to eat more, in fact I ate healthier, and less, than ever before.
I still piled the weight on and no diet worked, I went to the doctors and was diagnosed with the Celiac gene which smoking had masked.
Trying to keep gluten free is hard. You have to read every single label and be disciplined (which I'm not).

Before you beat yourself about weight gain make sure there's no underlying reason. I got so fed up with having no progress at all on any diet I nearly took up smoking again.

Now I'm trying the Lite n Easy program using wheat free where I can given the choices and walking extra. We'll see what happens.

jxspxr

Thanks. Drinking more water is a good idea.

About exercise: next week is the first week of a new year of university - a lot of new students means all the sports associations are all very open to new members. Everything is for free! So, it's the perfect time to try some new sports. Gonna do that a lot. Will check out swimming, athletics, climbing and some other sports. Of course I'll select only 1-3 sports to keep on doing, but it'll be fun to meet some new people in this way and try some other sports.

And I'll burn some more calories in the process.

I'll also start planning meals (nutrition/calories) and noting down exactly what I eat. I have time to get used to that. I did not do this last time I was losing weight, but my appetite was just a lot less then what it is now. Anyways, what I've learned from the last time losing that I lost weight is that it's about creating a calorie deficit and if you have this, you'll lose weight (ok it's not such an impressive insight ). I think if I just plan out my meals to contain a certain amount of calories and build up my exercise intensity very slowly, but surely, I will lose weight again like last time.

...and then the weight gain from the last 8 years and the smoking from the last 4 years will be behind me!

Seesawboomerang

Best of luck. Although quitting isn't easy, it's so worth it.

I heard that all the damage done by smoking can be reversed if you quit by age 30. Not really sure about the accuracy of this, but it motivated me to stop by 30 and that was 12 years ago.

It's so much easier to exercise without the smokers cough, and everything tastes so much better now too.

mamahoff22

I quite smoking last year March and gained 2.1/2 stone. This was mainly because I was comfort eating without realising I was doing it. Once I recognised what I was doing I have now lost 1 stone by writing down what I was eating each day and trying not to consume 1400 calories per day. I also done a 30 min daily walk. I lost the weight in 8 weeks. I now want to lost the 1.5 stone so that I can get back to where I used to be. I feel h

klarsson65

Congrats on your quit! Freedom from nicotine is a beautiful thing!! I too quit 3 months ago and my boyfriend about 3 weeks ago. We have found substituting exercise is the best thing ever when quitting smoking, or at any time of course. It helps with the weight gain, which comes with added caloric intake, cravings, and slight metabolism slow down. Exercise revs up the metabolism. Lots of water helps too. Helps flush out the remaining nicotine as well as makes you feel full. Keep lots of raw veggies pre-prepared in fridge to grab. Sugar free candies to suck on also help. My boyfriend finds that sunflower seeds in shell also help, or chewing gum. Things definitely taste better after quitting and then there is that weird boredom feeling that goes along with it and oddly makes you want to eat more. Staying really busy for the first while seems to help as well and keeps your mind off food. I have only gained a couple of pounds, but that is because I was eating ice cream like a fiend the first few months. Really craved sugar, but I found going for a walk really helped curb that. It all levels off after a few months and you will find you are not wanting to eat all the time and sugar cravings will pass. Keep up the good work!

gsager

Congratulations! Don't give up, it will be the best thing you've ever done for yourself. I gained 10lbs when I quit smoking and kept it on for years but now I way less than I did when I quit. Just keep working out and eating right and don't worry about it. It will all even out later.

carole248

I gave up 2 months ago. This is also when I started to watch my calories and excercise more. I have not gained only lost weight. I think if you watch what you eat you will be fine. I excercised everytime i wanted a smoke.

SwissDave

Smoking raises your metabolic rate, about 200 calories a day in my case after giving up last year and experimenting with daily allowance.
That and the comfort eating will pile the pounds on unless you do something about it, 2 kg in 18 days is a significant gain, you need to get on top of it quickly. :-)

pkw58

Congrats on quitting smoking! My stepson found working out really helped when he quit smoking when he went to Med School. He now feels antsy if he can't work out. He lifts and runs and bikes.

ChrisM8971

The main problem I found in giving up smoking was replacing on addiction with others, both my eating and drinking increased but I have to say that part of this was the fact I was enjoying them both so much more because I could actually taste things.

My doctor gave me some sound advice when I mention my weight gain, but also the best excuse I could have for doing nothing about it. What he said was "Being overweight isn't good for you but then you would need to be over 400 lbs to have the same risks as you had from smoking" and I was smoking 30 - 40 per day

So I continued to let my weight gain continue while convincing myself that I was still healthier than I was. What finally changed this is that I realised that I had become embarrassed to be seen without my top off or even unbuttoned in public while on holiday.

Has my appetite decreased? no and I am probably eating more now than I used to but I eat healthy.

Weight gain seems to be a side affect of giving up smoking and should be taken in context of the health benefits, but I have found that it doesn't have to be permanent and I WILL be in a position to get a sun tan summer 2014 :happy:

MrsMX

I gave up 2 years ago and know what your feeling ..
your past the hard stage as it takes 2 weeks for the nicotine and toxins to leave your system,
which means you have made it as long as temptation doesn't enter ..


Keep yourself busy and find an exercise to do before you go for food .. try and redirect yourself so to speak!


Your Doing Great )x

pinkraynedropjacki

You know why people gain weight after stopping smoking? Cause they replace the smokes in their mouth with food.

grrrlface

It depends what you want.

I was determined to absolutely not gain weight. I gained 2lbs of water weight and nothing more because I ate as normal and I exercised everyday. Those happy endorphines are what replaced the lack of nicotine and I felt great because I was eating very healthily.

It's not a magic thing, weight gain happens because you're eating more than youre burning. Nicotine is not a magic calorie burner. Yes, it supresses appetite but you have to be strong and keep it under control. Plan your meals, if you want to snack go workout!

I've been there a couple of times and never gained weight. It's mind over matter, don't let the myths get you. It truely is psychological.

Eta; I quit for good now after reading Allen Carr's Easy Way To Stop Smoking. He reassured you that weight gain is a myth and psychological, as that's the first thing people will tell you when they stop smoking.

Also, really well done on stopping! It's the best thing you'll ever do! x

rduhlir

People gain weight after they quit smoking because nicotine is a natural hunger supressant. People give up the smokes, give into the hunger feelings and then find a new adiction....food.

I didn't gain any weight when I quit in December of last year. If you keep at your deficit, you won't gain weight. You just have to keep at it and weigh everything. And I mean everything. Weigh the ketchup, the salad dressing, even weigh the bacon bits you use...everything.

Then, find a different addiction. Me? I swapped out smoking with running.

meeeshellllle

I quit while I was already losing weight with mfp, so I didn't gain any weight I haven't smoked in 3 months and I'm steadily losing weight and almost at my goal. You will be fine!!! Just stay within your calories for the day :]

iecreamheadaches

I havent had a cigarette in 5 weeks and i havent gained not a single pound. I actually broke through my plateau and lost another 3-4 pounds.

I've drank A LOT of coffee however, think that was my go to instead of candies or gum or what ever.

Just keep exercising and watching your calories and it shouldnt be a problem (:

mshellc1

Congratulations!! I quit smoking 4 months ago. I gained 15 lbs but have started losing weight. I think it's important to grab healthy snacks and increase exercises. I would go for a walks after a meal, even if just a block. Quitting smoking is best thing you can do for your health.

jxspxr

Thanks for all your posts, very encouraging!

I will just let go of the idea that I am in danger of gaining more weight - I will choose to change my lifestyle from this very moment, so that I will lose weight again:

- I will do exercise every day. Intensive exercise every 2 days (like running), relaxed exercise the other days (walking, swimming).
- I will stop drinking alcohol for the next month. Saves quite some calories. Instead I'll drink water (regular and I'll buy water with bubbles - I love the taste of that).
- Vegetables - I'll eat a lot of them. I actually have a vegetable garden and I can eat much more from there, it's full of all kinds of vegetables. Just made some potatoes, parsnip and zucchini; tasted great!
- I will avoid chips and fast food.

I believe that by doing this I will start to lose weight again. And I've got the motivation to do this. Will buy a new pair of running shoes and do my first run today.

HeinekenMan

I weighed about 270 when I quit smoking. And I quickly tacked on 70 pounds. Although I didn't crave cigarettes, I had a lot of stress in my life. And cigarettes had been my way to relieve the stress. Once I didn't have that, I turned to food. I can recall times when I would chow on something spectacular and then lie on the sofa. I could sense a tingly sensation and a sense of calm and contentment. It turns out that I get the same feelings from strenuous exercise. I would advise anyone trying to quit smoking to get serious about exercise. Set some goals and work toward them. You can go for bodybuilding, long-distance running, cycling or swimming, triathlon competition, etc. Doing this will eliminate the stress and anxiety that can come from quitting nicotine. Now, you may have very little real stress in your life. If that's the case, you may have better luck at maintaining a healthy weight.

Eabec

My first month of not smoking - didnt gain a pound. Three months later I was 10 up. I still struggle with those 10 damn pounds. I eat well, work out (although the last three weeks have been a "vacation"). But, with all that, I can friggin breathe. I can taste my food. I don't stink.

And the best part - my blood pressure is better.

While I may have gained weight, I really do overall feel better. I can work out so I am more toned and my clothes fit well. Actually even though I am "heavier" my clothes fit better.

keep it up - it only gets better.

ChitownFoodie

You replaced one addiction with another. I gained nothing when I quit but that was because I was concious of my other habits.

xilka

I came to MFP to lose the 27 pounds I gained after quitting.

Quitting is of course the one best thing you can do for yourself no matter what the consequences,
and you have to keep that in mind.

About a year before I quit, I had to stop training (dance) because of my knees,
so I was depressed and sedentary.

My husband got me to read Allen Carr's book, and I quit.

Your metabolism DOES slow down. I didn't know that soon enough.

Knowing this, you can work with it. Get informed about how your metabolism works and learn to work it.

My biggest mistake was taking up cocktails after I quit smoking. Bad idea. But that's over, and I've lost the weight.
And I'm no longer a smoker. And life is great.

CONGRATULATIONS to you, for getting your life back!
Even if you gain a little, everything else about life is going to be so much more AWESOME :flowerforyou:

Fruitcake1972

Well done for stopping the bad habbit of smoking, you are well on the way to being a happier person; no longer having to stress about;
money to buy cigarettes, Tabacco, Papers, Lighters etc.
Open/ nearby shops (drink driving) to buy all the above.
travelling for long times/ finding smoking areas
poisening other people as well as yourself, causing massive polution to wildlife .
bad breath, smelly clothing, hair, yellow fingers/ teeth, frozen fingers (in wintertime),
burn holes in clothing, settee, car seat.
The list is endless................

To release the need of having something in your mouth/ hands I found the following items useful;
Chuppa lollypops they are virtually fat free and low calorie but last a long time.
A rubik cube (or similar puzzles)
A "stress" Ball
a skipping rope (I went skipping for 5 minutes during my normal smoking breaks)

Good luck IT really is al worth it. and if you do gain some weight once the non smoking is no longer an issue you can concentrate on loosing the excess weight.

Jim_1960

I am 25 days in and playing havoc with metabolism.

I have been watching intake and increased water to help.......still feel sluggish most days but refuse to go back to the weed.

I saved some cash and decided to get gym membership and have induction and Programme by trainer tomorrow. I seriously hope this will help make sure the pounds don't pile on!!!

Fruitcake1972

Good for you Jim, 25 days is great, you are there really, before signing up to the gym, have an induction at your local triathlete club its often much cheaper, more sociable and easier to maintain therefor.
Good luck:happy:

jxspxr

Very nice Jim! Good choice to spend the money you save by smoking on things that can help you get more healthy.

I did the same today; I spent 80 euro's on running shoes + 2 pair of running socks. Like I promised, I tried them today. Ran 5 kilometres through the forest, it was really worth it. From now on I'll make sure that I run at least three times per week, 5-10 kilometres. I can run 20-30 kilometres (because I've done that before), but I'll just take it easy.

Anyways, the interesting thing is that after quitting smoking I won't have to feel ashamed of spending this money on sporting gear (provided that I make good use of it); I used to spend so much more money on something that was destroying my health - absurd if you think about it!

So, I love this new excuse to buy sports gear! Sports equipment / outdoor shops will be very happy that I quit smoking

arts07

That's a great thing you stopped smoking, congrats not much people can say that, try eating some nuts like pecans or cashews, or Greek yogurt, you are eating every so often but you're eating healthy things stuff that will benefit you, try that when ever you get hungry, could and should curb you're appetite.

Cathyhend

I quit smoking Aug 8, 2012 and packed on 40 lbs. Def not from what I eat I consume 1200 cal a day and eat very healthy have since I lost 60 lbs 3 + years ago. My doctor just says keep doing cardio and keep up with what i am eating... I do al least 8 hrs of cardio a week for the last 2 months and watching and tracking everything that goes in my mouth. I am going to keep trying but havent lost an ounce.. wtf please tell me if there is anything I can do.. And good job with the quitting smoking its the hardest thing anyone can do..