Losing Weight After Quitting Smoking

_JPunky
_JPunky Posts: 508 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
So, after doing a little research this morning, I have finally figured out why I keep slowly gaining a few pounds even though I'm eating at a deficit and still busting *kitten* in the gym.

I quit smoking 6 months ago.

For the first 3 months I took Chantix and I didn't gain any weight. Once I stopped the Chantix my weight has been gradually going up.

I couldn't understand why, but it turns out that quitting smoking actually messes up your metabolism and the Chantix was just masking that.

Supposedly after about a year with no cigarettes your metabolism resets.

So, I guess I only have to figure out how to stop this for the next 6 months?

Any ideas would be GREATLY appreciated.

Replies

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • _JPunky
    _JPunky Posts: 508 Member
    Yelling at people in the forums sounds fun!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • Mia_RagazzaTosta
    Mia_RagazzaTosta Posts: 4,885 Member
    Yelling at people in the forums sounds fun!

    Girl, I've been trying to bring you over to the dark side for some time now
  • MizTerry
    MizTerry Posts: 3,763 Member
    Kudos on quitting! I quit January 16th of 2012.
    My doc told me to either focus on quitting or my weight the first year.
    I tried Chantix but it make me loopy, so I had to come off it within three weeks. I gained, but I didn't focus on it until a year later as my doc had suggested. When I smoked, losing weight wasn't quite so hard as it is now, but I'm not a young chick anymore either. Every day is an effort. If you can quit smoking, you can do anything.
    Cheers.
    :drinker:
  • Kanuenue
    Kanuenue Posts: 253 Member
    It's true that the cigarettes mess with you metabolism. Apparently, your body gets used to to having to process toxins and runs a higher metabolism rate during that time. I was told it can affect you up to 200 calories a day.

    I hate to say this because normally I tell people to eat more, but you may need to eat less than you were during Chantix. Remove one snack, don't go crazy. Or if eating less is not your thing (isn't for me!), start including a 30 minute strength training routine 3x a week. The after burn of the workout and the muscle training will help you counteract the effects a bit.

    Quitting smoking is hard, the e-cig worked for me because it allowed me to wean the nicotine while avoiding cigarettes themselves. Whatever you found worked for you, keep it up! Congratulations, it is an accomplishment and that was the hard part. Now you are just adjusting, you can do it. Good luck!
  • _JPunky
    _JPunky Posts: 508 Member
    It's true that the cigarettes mess with you metabolism. Apparently, your body gets used to to having to process toxins and runs a higher metabolism rate during that time. I was told it can affect you up to 200 calories a day.

    I hate to say this because normally I tell people to eat more, but you may need to eat less than you were during Chantix. Remove one snack, don't go crazy. Or if eating less is not your thing (isn't for me!), start including a 30 minute strength training routine 3x a week. The after burn of the workout and the muscle training will help you counteract the effects a bit.

    Quitting smoking is hard, the e-cig worked for me because it allowed me to wean the nicotine while avoiding cigarettes themselves. Whatever you found worked for you, keep it up! Congratulations, it is an accomplishment and that was the hard part. Now you are just adjusting, you can do it. Good luck!

    Does it count if I've already been lifting 3 days a week? Or would that mean that I would need to double my lifting? I'm already only eating between 1.400 - 1,600 calories per day with 3 days of lifting/cardio and 2 days of pure cardio...I'm afraid to drop my calories much lower...
  • _JPunky
    _JPunky Posts: 508 Member
    Anyone?
  • PinkyPan1
    PinkyPan1 Posts: 3,018 Member
    I quit smoking on Feb 2nd. Congrats to you for quitting smoking it is quite an achievement. It took me about 5 weeks for my metabolism to kick in. I am on a 1200 cal a day and I exercise every day. I always went back to smoking because of the weight gain and this time I went in with the mentality that I would quit and lose weight. I am limited on the type of exercising I can do so I power walk and lift small dumbbells. Be patient and keep moving. As long as you are at a deficit and exercising you will get there. Patience, patience and more patience. Good luck!
  • Jacob021
    Jacob021 Posts: 24 Member
    I quit smoking in February
    After that I had increased appetite ... and started to gain weight.

    I don't know if increase weight was a metabolic thing... but for sure I was eating a lot more...

    A month later (late March) I joined MFP , and I've been losing weight by light exercise (walking) and moderate calory restriction (~2000cals)

Categories