Which is worse Smoking or Binge Eating Junk food.

have you tried to binge on smoked sausage?

I smoked for close to 25 years. Quit roughly 4 years ago. I was a 'militant smoker' I LOVED my smokes, I absolutely hated those x-smokers who were all sanctimonious about my habit. I'd use cigarettes as an appetite suppressant and a way to elevate my very low blood pressure. Eventually the chest pains forced me to quit. I'm happy I didn't turn into one of 'those' x-smokers. One of my friends recently confessed to me that he smoked 1 cigarette recently - after having been smoke free for close to 2 years. It happens. Giving up an addiction (be it food or smoke or drug or alcohol or whatever) is damn hard and if you slip from time to time it's OK, just don't give up!

As far as which is worse.. it's hard to say. When I quit smoking I was lucky that I had also just recently started working out so I didn't gain weight (though I had the few times I had tried quitting before that period) When I smoked I would always say that smoking kept me thin - and it did for a long time. But I think that is because I never knew really HOW to keep from eating without having to depend on some crutch. Now that I have quit and have also gotten a handle on my food I find that I have a lot less stress related binges. I still have stress but now I don't turn to food/cigs for comfort.

when you really think about it they are both equally bad . people tend to want to minimize one thing not looking as bad as the other. but the reality is there are no categories as to small, medium or large mistakes. a mistake is a mistake.

I agree with this

Honestly, I smoke... I've been smoking since I was 12.... I know, sucks, but...

I'd vote that binge eating is worse....

I have the same problem. i rationalized it this way at first because i started when i was like 15-16. i've always been an on and off with it due to stress. but i decided to quit for good and have only had 2 slip ups since then

Rock on, erickita. Respect to you. I've tried quitting many times over the years.

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.

no in my original post i said:

then i started thinking that this thought and rationalization of a cigarette over food isn't healthy...

i realize that both are bad things and i should be doing either one of them at all. but it happens we are all human. i was just curious to read opinions on it. thats all. im not trying to get any validation. im angry at myself for what i did to my body. and im also angry that my brain wanted to justify it by thinking "hey at least it wasnt mcdonalds" i recognize that there is a problem with my thinking and wanted to hear what other people had to say about it.

Good answer. Just remember, don't beat yourself up. A lot of times we turn to being "hard" on ourselves in the thinking we have to be to stay inline. This is NOT the answer. Feeling bad leads to making bad decisions for temporary relieve, which leads to more shame and guilt, and more bad choices.

Brush it off. Today is a new day, and not one single choice you have ever made defines you. Make the right choice next time, and validate your strength.

I highly recommend the book The Will Power Effect. It's amazing! Good luck.

Well, I don't know if it really matters "which is worse". They're both not health behaviors, because they're a manifestation of other issues. Really, the root of the problem is the need for a stress reliever, and finding relief in an unhealthy medium.

Are there things that help with stress for you? For me, I never miss a workout, because it actually helps with my stress. I make time to spend alone, where I can read, and get a break. Do you have certain things to do that would help with stress and relief for you, rather than cigarettes or fast food?

For me - Smoking 1 cigarette is worse - quitting smoking was the hardest thing I have ever done. When I quit it was cold turkey and never looked back.

FEAR keeps me from smoking just one - it would then become 2 or 5 or a pack.

I worked to hard to get the monkey off my back.

I smoked for 41 years...have been quit for 13...I ate alot at first and gained 50 pounds..but I would rather eat than smoke..it is easier to lose weight than to quit smoking...a binge here and there in the long run doesn't do as much harm as smoking does.

I'd say a cigarette and McDonald's are probably equally bad. I don't really see one or the other as worse per se. Either way, I think you should move on and not make 1 cog turn into "when I drink" or worse, all the time. Good luck! Dont' beat yourself up.