Which is worse Smoking or Binge Eating Junk food.

JossFit

I would say smoking is worse, but it also sort of depends on the size of the binge IMO...

If you cram down 20,000 calories over the course of the day your body is going to freak out. If you are eating an extra 1,000 calories I call that a carb-up! :drinker:

Extra food within reason can do you a LOT of good, especially if you've been dieting for a long time, are training incredibly hard, etc.

I can't think of anything redeeming about even ONE cigarette, but if you are comparing that one smoke to a binge during which you consume tens of thousands of calories it might be less harmful.

janehlansing

I don't know really... I quit smoking 2.5 years ago....I miss it everyday... however.. I work in a place where I work with the public day to day, and nothing stinks quite as bad to me as someone who smokes right before they come in and I can smell the residue coming out of their lungs.. YUK. I just have to remember that smell...b/c I smelled like that.

However... seeing how I am as big as a side of a house.. That's pretty gross too... but I don't impose my fatness on them unless I am on an airplane, like smoking does. I can't breathe fat.

So I guess. Smoking.

Jane

JossFit

I've never tried smoking junk food. I guess there's always a first.

Challenge accepted. I'm off to find a way to light up a Snickers.

BrettPGH

I've never tried smoking junk food. I guess there's always a first.

Swing by my place and we'll fire up some Doritos.

aaronlawrenc

I've never tried smoking junk food. I guess there's always a first.

Challenge accepted. I'm off to find a way to light up a Snickers.

wait, you can do that??

oldandhealthier

i smoked 3 packs a day for 40 years and quit 10 years ago. To me smoking is far worse because i never want to go back, you can work off a binge but there is no way to work off smoking. (regardless of what the smokers on this site might say)

JossFit

I've never tried smoking junk food. I guess there's always a first.

Challenge accepted. I'm off to find a way to light up a Snickers.

wait, you can do that??

Where there is a will...

jonnythan

Smoking, absolutely.

IronPlayground

I've never tried smoking junk food. I guess there's always a first.

Challenge accepted. I'm off to find a way to light up a Snickers.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Brittany3914

In terms of overall lifestyle changes, I think smoking is probably worse. Though binge eating can be addicting, everyone slips once in a while and eats too many slices of pizza or too many chips and guac. That's life - it happens. Binging can be unhealthy, but it can be countered with exercise and knowing your triggers.

Smoking has more negative effects, IMO. Smelly clothes, yellow teeth, blackened lungs, harder to breathe, plus the negative stigma it carries.

Both are unhealthy, but I think overeating would be a better "choice." But seriously, what do I know. I've never had an issue with either one.

eliseofthejungle

I'd actually say it depends at least a little on how often you'd want to do each and your genetic predisposition to the related diseases. Both of my grandfathers died of smoke-related lung cancer, but no one in my family has suffered/died from obesity-related illnesses. So for me I'd say smoking would be worse.

morningmud

As someone who had pneumonia twice and pleurisy (both of which are pure hell), I'd say smoking is far worse. Also, my bf has copd.

spade117

Like with all things, moderation is key.

addiepray80

I am right in the boat with you. I have been struggling with the same thing. I have quit smoking multiple times but get roped back in VERY easily. I'm what you'd call a "social smoker" at this point. For me, I believe smoking is worse; none the less, I tend to gravitate to that more easily. I know having a cigarette will make me want to have more. If I "binge" on junk food; I know I'm smart enough that I'm not going to turn that into an everyday habit. If I do have a lapse in judgement on my eating, I usually have had a good enough day, or rest of the week, that it doesn't have much of an effect in the long run.

I have to say, I feel I've gotten better at dealing with stress without needing a cigarette or needing to grab junk food (I've been doing yoga the last few months and usually some stretching and/or breathing can get me past the super stressful moment). My mistakes come when I'm having too much fun!

Best of luck to you. Just wanted to let you know you are definitely not alone in this dilema!

1goodgranny

Both!

With that said, now you have to work on ways to manage your stress so you can't use it as an excuse.

How about next time you're stressed and want to eat or smoke, take a short, fast, run or throw a few punches and kicks (at the air, of course!). Act as if you're fighting off an attacker. That will get rid of some stress!!!

conniemaxwell5

I'd say they're equally bad because it's the reason you chose to do it that's the problem, not the method you chose to escape from it. I had a revelation about 2 months ago that I overeat (and have craved cigarettes or booze too) when I am overwhelmed. What I had to figure out is 1) Do I have control over anything I'm overwhelmed by? (If the answer is no, stop spending energy and worry on it; if the answer is yes, confront it and do something about it). and 2) Find a healthy alternative to escape from reality when there is a need to do so (because #1 isn't always easily or quickly resolved).

I ended up buying a keyboard and I'm going to learn to play piano. I love music and it soothes me so I think it will accomplish what I want when I feel stressed or overwhelmed. Find something you enjoy that doesn't do harm to your body and try that to help in those times when you just can't deal with it.

amyhoss

I think smoking is worse.

Bmoviemama

I'm a Hospice nurse.....smoking definitely. Majority of my patients with lung cancer, throat cancer etc from smoking. I do not have many dying from obesity or diabetes.

IronPlayground

I've never tried smoking junk food. I guess there's always a first.

Swing by my place and we'll fire up some Doritos.

Nice!

Bmoviemama

Like with all things, moderation is key.

ugggg this is what I'm told about sex.....NEVER!!!!! Have to have it as much as possible

ndj1979

how much did you pay for the cig?

angelique_redhead

To me Smoking since I'm highly allergic and will have an asthma attack if someone has it on their clothes, skin, breath and is near me. Your binge you keep for yourself. Also my mother died from cancer directly related to her smoking habit.

aaronlawrenc

I've never tried smoking junk food. I guess there's always a first.

Challenge accepted. I'm off to find a way to light up a Snickers.

googled it...this is all i could find

GainsAndGuitars

if it is a single cigarette vs a single binge, then neither of them are bad for you. it isn't until you binge all the time or smoking enough to do significant damage before they are bad for you.

Agreed.

ldrosophila

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say and this is going to be completely offensive:

This is your addict brain talking. You are justifying one addiction for another. This is an excuse.

You need to take a look at what is going on why you are emotionally or physically vulnerable and learn to start giving the love that your body is really craving.

Hope you read this in the spirit it was meant.

Corrie_Lynn

I think the smoking is worse, especially long term. Binge eating is obviously bad, but you can work it off. I also think one trip to McDonald's won't really put you back into an unhealthy lifestyle as easily as a cigarette will make you want to start smoking again. Good job not buying a pack though. Either way, don't beat yourself up too much, just move on and get back on track

DeeJayTJ

i say smoking is worse, one cigarette - meh sure whatever.

but if i were to binge eat.. id eat steak and chicken and fish then go beast mode in the gym

so if your going to binge, do it on something good

holothuroidea

I don't think bingeing or smoking are the problems, I think the stress is the problem.

if it is a single cigarette vs a single binge, then neither of them are bad for you. it isn't until you binge all the time or smoking enough to do significant damage before they are bad for you.

I would agree with this except the one cigarette obviously caused the OP some undue distress or she wouldn't be posting this!

Like with all things, moderation is key.

Except smoking is nearly impossible to do in moderation, due to the addictive nature of nicotine.

I know of only one person who was able to smoke moderately, my Grandmother. She only smoked while playing bridge with her friends, and when she stopped playing bridge with those friends, she had no problem not smoking ever again. I'd say she's definitely an exception to the rule.

yo_andi

Quit smoking. Right now. Not another one. Ever.

You hear me?

Then, once you're completely finished with cigarettes for good and forever, you focus on dealing with binge eating. Mkay?






(and before the smokers get all sanctimonious on me... I quit smoking cold turkey after a pack a day habit for many years. I'm still working on my eating)

jivitasa

So your trying to determine what bad "habit" you should turn to? it seems you want validation? It's your life, you can justify whatever bad decision you want to, however you want to.

As a habit both options suck *kitten*. Either once in awhile won't kill you, but you are a former smoker, so that is dangerous territory. I say neither as a habit, but a binge on pizza, wings and beer every now and then having a good time with friends, I say is a must.