Quitting smoking

FiresongUK
FiresongUK Posts: 27
in Health and Weight Loss
It might be not the best idea to tackle too many problems at once, but I'm quitting smoking at the same time as trying to lose weight. I'm using an e-cig with nicotine so it's not like I'm going cold turkey, and so far that has been fine to satisfy my cravings so I haven't resorted to snacking to deal with it. It's been 1 week since my last cigarette today (yay!) but I've noticed last time I got weighed, I'd put on half a pound. I know that's not too much to worry about as it could just be fluctuations etc. but I'm worried about putting on a load of weight just because I'm not smoking real cigarettes. I'm definitely having less nicotine than I was when I was smoking cigs - a few puffs of vapour every now and then will be okay, vs a whole cigarette. I'm not going to go back to smoking real cigs as I'm doing just fine, but I was wondering if anyone knows if weight gain will even be an issue for me?

Replies

  • Pearsquared
    Pearsquared Posts: 1,656 Member
    If you control your calories, it shouldn't be. People tend to gain weight after quitting smoking because they used food to replace the oral fix that smoking gave them, and food also tends to taste better after they quit as well (so they eat more). A half pound is probably just normal fluctuation - staying hydrated can help to mediate those fluctuations.
  • Dragonflag07
    Dragonflag07 Posts: 64 Member
    Well quitting is the single best gift you can give to yourself. Well done! In itself that is enough. Even if you put on a couple of pounds in the short term it's no biggie. That said, you want lose weight so you just gotta work out what works for you. You might find that with the better sleep you will be experiencing and increased energy that morning workouts are an idea. They set you up well for the day and help you make better decisions. I personally find that when I train in the morning I know how hard I have worked for those 400 calories say and therefore am way less likely to undo the work on sweet treats with no nutritional value. The trick is not to substitute one habit with another (bad habit).
  • LexiMelo
    LexiMelo Posts: 203 Member
    Congrats on such an important step! I think quitting smoking is more important than losing weight!!

    For me, quitting cold turkey was the way to go. It was a horrible three days and then a manageable 2 weeks and then done. My mother, on the other hand, has been on the nicotine patch for more than 5 years. She recently switched to the smallest one LOL. Talk about dragging out the pain!

    I found a quitting smoking group (kind of like MFP) and just typed every time I wanted to smoke. That was like ten years ago so I don't remember the name of the group (they probably don't exist) but I'd encourage you to find support it makes it so much easier!! Good luck!
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    I LOVE my vaporizer/e-cig! Haven't gained any weight and quitting was virtually effortless. I don't even want to smoke anymore, this is so much more pleasant. I don't think you have anything to worry about, weight wise. Smoking gives you a slight metabolic boost due to the nicotine, and you're still getting that. You won't substitute eating for smoking, because you're vaping.
  • dxc92
    dxc92 Posts: 138 Member
    I stopped smoking for 2 months last year using my ecig :) was the best thing I ever used!! I think a drunk night out caused that to fail though.... But whilst I was using it, I was also gyming a lot, 4-5 times a week? And went down a dress size all over. So it can happen! As long as you do not substitute food for the cigarettes you are not having :) But with the ecig i didnt find that a problem!

    I am now currently stopping again but have lost the charger for my ecig so cant use it anymore. Last week I was just smoking 3 times a day using nicotine chewing gum to substitute for the extra 12 I would have usally been having!! Some days I would have one extra and at the weekend I was pretty bad.... Still work to do!!

    But today, I have only had 1 and it is 3pm here... So hoping I can go the whole day without, or even if I just have one more after dinner I will be happy... Hopefully cut down to 0 soon! Its just a looooong process and doesn't happen quickly - a bit like losing weight! There will always be cravings there sadly.

    Worst. Mistake. Of. My. Life.

    I wish you all the best on stopping this horrible habit :)
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member

    I am now currently stopping again but have lost the charger for my ecig so cant use it anymore. Last week I was just smoking 3 times a day using nicotine chewing gum to substitute for the extra 12 I would have usally been having!! Some days I would have one extra and at the weekend I was pretty bad.... Still work to do!!

    You can buy a new charger for less than what nicotine gum costs, if you find yourself struggling.

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