What's harder? Quitting smoking or quitting overeating?

Jess__I__Can

I quit smoking over 2 years ago, and while I still have cravings (and have maybe had 2-3 cigarettes socially in the last two years), it was fairly simple. I did use Zyban but only for one week. Once I was quit, I was quit.

I've tried to stop overeating on and off for... 6 years? And I can't stop. Not only do I think I am an emotional eater (and a bored eater). I know my caloric goals, I plan my meals, and I still crave CRAP even when I am not hungry.

I am a smart person (as most of us are) and I KNOW that overeating is not good for me. I KNOW that putting artificial crap in my body is not as healthy as whole foods. I KNOW that I need to eat less to lose weight. I KNOW I need to lose weight to be more active with my kids. I know these things and I should have the willpower to stop overeating, but I can't always.

What do you think? What's harder? Quitting smoking or quitting overeating? Are you struggling too? Friend me and let's overcome this together.

Luvbeers

When you plan your meals are you cooking them yourself? or buying them semi or pre-prepared? or using additives like spice mixes or "helpers" etc.? If you are not making food from scratch chances are there is a lot of salt and sugar (not too different from nicotine) which just makes you crave more food.

Also it might be where you live... if you look at the Tulsa area there are two whole foods and a organic co-op for almost a million people. https://www.google.at/maps/search/whole+foods/@36.1009119,-95.8370627,12z/data=!3m1!4b1

Now look at the amount of fast food eateries... https://www.google.at/maps/search/fast+food/@36.1009119,-95.8370627,12z/data=!3m1!4b1 Even if you've been good and haven't eaten (much) junk food... just driving around the metro area you are bombarded with the idea and imagery of burgers, burritos, chicken, steak, bbq, etc. (not to mention the aisle after aisle of options at a supermarket like walmart or wherever).. so it is no wonder your struggle is never ending.

I had a harder time quitting smoking here in Europe, because everyone seems to smoke, there are cigarette machines and ads everywhere sort of like junk food options in the US. For the overeating it was much easier for me because, even though they have fast food here, it is nothing like in the states and to make the food I like, you have to cook it from scratch which allows you to remove the unnecessary fat, salt and sugar from your favorite dishes.

Jess__I__Can

When you plan your meals are you cooking them yourself? or buying them semi or pre-prepared? or using additives like spice mixes or "helpers" etc.? If you are not making food from scratch chances are there is a lot of salt and sugar (not too different from nicotine) which just makes you crave more food.

Also it might be where you live... if you look at the Tulsa area there are two whole foods and a organic co-op for almost a million people. https://www.google.at/maps/search/whole+foods/@36.1009119,-95.8370627,12z/data=!3m1!4b1

Now look at the amount of fast food eateries... https://www.google.at/maps/search/fast+food/@36.1009119,-95.8370627,12z/data=!3m1!4b1 Even if you've been good and haven't eaten (much) junk food... just driving around the metro area you are bombarded with the idea and imagery of burgers, burritos, chicken, steak, bbq, etc. (not to mention the aisle after aisle of options at a supermarket like walmart or wherever).. so it is no wonder your struggle is never ending.

I had a harder time quitting smoking here in Europe, because everyone seems to smoke, there are cigarette machines and ads everywhere sort of like junk food options in the US. For the overeating it was much easier for me because, even though they have fast food here, it is nothing like in the states and to make the food I like, you have to cook it from scratch which allows you to remove the unnecessary fat, salt and sugar from your favorite dishes.

Only very recently I am cooking myself, trying to avoid all prepared foods (minus cheeses) and eating whole. We also have Sprouts here which is similar to Whole Foods, and I do go there bi-weekly. Most of my trips to the grocery store are in the meat and produce aisles. I do add my own spices, and I use oil-based salad dressings as a marinade.

I didn't realize there were still cigarette machines out there (*sigh* ignorant American). It was very interesting to hear your perspective!

potluck965

I have a much harder time limiting my eating than I ever did quitting smoking. I quit smoking cold turkey…………mmmmm, cold turkey

starznholes

Quitting smoking has been harder for me...

oedipa_maas

The tough thing about quitting over eating is you are still forced to eat. So you're re-engaging every day. I find that pretty hard.

But I will say that I never cried like a baby so hard as when I gave up smoking. And I gave up alcohol and drugs because I was an addict. But the withdrawal from cigarettes...more brutal than I thought it would be.

mummma

i started both on the same day... ive slipped up on both in the last 111 days BUT giving up smoking for me has been easier. 99% of the time im not around cigarettes. 99% of the time i am around food.

jim180155

Everybody is different. For me, quitting smoking was infinitely harder. Except for the dying thing, I could quit eating all together, or I could do as I'm doing now and just control and restrict what I'm eating. Giving up or cutting down on eating is a cakewalk compared to smoking.

Note: 14 months ago I did quit smoking, but I did it by switching to vaping. The e-cigarettes keep "the voices" at bay.

Meerataila

Overeating, by far. As was already said, I have to eat every day (well most days, I do IF so not every day). But it's getting better. I'm learning to avoid foods that make me more hungry instead of less hungry.

No more alcohol for me, though. It's my gateway drug to food. I swear, I'd chew up the trees outside if there was nothing else on hand when the alcohol munchies kick in.

SezxyStef

The tough thing about quitting over eating is you are still forced to eat. So you're re-engaging every day. I find that pretty hard.

But I will say that I never cried like a baby so hard as when I gave up smoking. And I gave up alcohol and drugs because I was an addict. But the withdrawal from cigarettes...more brutal than I thought it would be.

Yup this...the first time I quit..I cried like a baby too...it was hard...mind you I have cried after some of my exercise too...:bigsmile:

Giving up smoking is hard...it's a physical addiction along with mental, emotional etc...all those things that overeating is...except it is often harder to give up an emotional crutch vs physical crutch.

krawhitham

I think food is more difficult than any other addiction. You have to eat it every day. You have to learn and utilize new and different tricks not to fall into old habits every single day. My good friend is a member of OA (Overeaters Anonymous) and she absolutely swears by the program. There's a lot of support, sponsors, trips they go on together etc... It may be worth you looking into if you're having trouble!

My friend has been extremely successful. She has lost and kept off a lot of weight for years now.

MississippiMama87

OMG Smoking. Smoking is my crutch when I want to eat. Vicious, vicious cycle.

Eidson50

I always thought I would have said quitting smoking but wow was I wrong. I quit smoking on January 25th of this year after smoking quite heavily for 20 some years. It was actually pretty easy and haven't really had any cravings since then. The food on the other hand. Holy Cow! I have been trying to lose for about 5 months and have lost 13 pounds. I struggle with over eating daily. I have good days and bad days.

BoatsnHose

smoking

ravenmiss

Switched to vaping last november and never looked back after 19 years of smoking, easy peasy.

Overeating, no, not as easy for me.

Agree with Stef on the physical being easier than the emotional, in my case anyway.

BoatsnHose

I think food is more difficult than any other addiction. You have to eat it every day. You have to learn and utilize new and different tricks not to fall into old habits every single day. My good friend is a member of OA (Overeaters Anonymous) and she absolutely swears by the program. There's a lot of support, sponsors, trips they go on together etc... It may be worth you looking into if you're having trouble!

My friend has been extremely successful. She has lost and kept off a lot of weight for years now.

I disagree. I was addicted to heroin and oxycontin and kicking that was the most difficult thing I have ever had to do. If you don't have the drug, you can't get out of bed, vomit constantly, and lose control of bodily functions.

devotedhufflepuff

For me personally, quitting smoking was easier. I quit in 2005 with the help of nicotine gum.

Unfortunately, there is no gum to stop me from emotional eating or craving processed junk food. There is no pill to make me like fruits and vegetables.

I haven't had a cigarette, even socially, in years but I had a cookie this morning and frozen pizza last night.

But, that's just me.

DR2501

Quitting smoking so much easier for me

LassoOfTruth

I quit smoking for the new year. I haven't had a cigarette yet. I have been "dieting" for 4 years.............

Luvbeers

I didn't realize there were still cigarette machines out there (*sigh* ignorant American). It was very interesting to hear your perspective!

Well they are cracking down on it and have banned smoking in many countries, but here in Austria it is still pretty much legal except for trains.

Grumpsandwich

Quitting smoking was definitely easier for me and my husband was still a smoker for 2 years after I quit and my adult son smokes. BUT they kept them out of sight.

Food on the other hand.

Not so lucky

lisaanne1369

my husband is doing an 11 day clense and I am ready for a divorce! when he quit smoking at least he had the chantex!

blobby10

I've never smoked but would imagine that, even though both are really hard, dieting is harder simply because you HAVE to eat to live!

melsinct

I've done both and quitting smoking is WAY harder, no doubt.

redmagpie91

It's not really comparable because when you quit smoking, you quit smoking. You don't have a drag three times a day and tell yourself you've quit. You can't quit food. You have to still eat you just have learn to eat differently and in moderation and that is absolutely the hardest part .

I smoked once a day, only on the weekdays for several years. I never smoked on the weekends and when I left that job where there were smokers, I completely quit and never had cravings.

cwolfman13

I did both at the same time and giving up the smokes was by far harder. Curbing my consumption was only difficult when I started out and had too aggressive of an energy deficit...once I realized that a 1,000 calorie per day deficit was simply not something that was going to work for me and adjusted that back to 500 calories per day, it was pretty easy...cutting out 500 calories per day is as easy as cutting out a snack or having a single serving at dinner rather than going back for 2nds or skipping desert on certain days, etc...I thought it was really easy.

martinel2099

With all of the misinformation about dieting I think stopping over-eating is the hardest thing for people until they learn about calorie counting. The media and shows like Dr. Oz would have you believe that the only way to lose weight is with some pill or magic supplement, and shows like The Biggest Loser advertise the only real way to lose weight is to kick your *kitten* hard at the time and starve yourself. At least with smoking there's a nicotine patch FDA Approved and lots of media encouraging people to quit smoking and how to do it.

Now if you can get past all of the junk that the media has taught you then you can lose weight and I think it's easier than you think with calorie counting and proper MACROS. Forget everything the media has taught you and count your calories and eat at a calorie deficit.

Kalikel

Quitting smoking was much harder for me. I still remember those first couple days like they were yesterday.

Changing my diet was (and remains) a struggle, but it's nothing compared to when I stopped smoking. I went cold turkey. I don't know if it makes a difference because I haven't quit all the different ways and can't compare them.

Both things got easier with time. When I smell smoke, I am a little disgusted now. When I see people having cheeseburgers, I'm so glad I stopped eating them. I feel better now that I don't put any of it in my body. I'm glad to be done with it.

I no longer want a cigarette or a cheeseburger. Both were tough to eliminate at first, but the cigarettes were tougher.

jasonmh630

OMG Smoking. Smoking is my crutch when I want to eat. Vicious, vicious cycle.

I can identify with this like you wouldn't believe.

Veil5577

I know how you feel, I am fighting both of these battles right now.

I quit smoking using Nicorette gum, but the gum is too expensive for me now, and since I'm fighting the overeating I'm smoking again. I can't fight both battles so right now I'm concentrating on the lifestyle change of changing my eating habits and reaching my goal with weight loss and no more binge eating. And once I have achieved that I will start fighting the other battle.

I tried to quit smoking while doing this and found myself starting to lean towards binging again.

JDKD82199

Another Okie girl here (Claremore)! For me, smoking was easier to quit but I quit several years ago when I found out I was pregnant so that made it easier. Since then I only smoked when I would drink (which was maybe once every three months) and it has been three years since I have drank. In stressful situation I still do crave a cigarette but nothing bad enough that would make me actually want to go smoke one. Food on the other hand, like many others have stated, is more challenging for me because we have to eat. I also have a job where I am on my feet most of the time and I use the excuse that I dont have time for a sit down meal and just grab whatever junk is laying around or in the vending machines. I have started taking my own healthier snacks to work recently and trying to prep my meals. I find working nights is better since I can't go to the cafeteria to gorge myself on unhealthy crap (they have healthy alternatives but the bad stuff smells too good to pass up).