Quitting Smoking

laurenebargar
laurenebargar Posts: 3,081 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Just wondering if anyone else noticed when they quit smoking some extra water retention? I know I haven't gained fat, but the scale is up about 4 lbs since I quit smoking cold turkey last Sunday.

I use Libra so I realize fluctuations are normal, these just are not my normal fluctuations and im wondering if this could be the reason.

Replies

  • C_Duffin
    C_Duffin Posts: 5 Member
    Extra water retention upon quitting smoking is normal - and temporary. Your weight will normalise over time if you observe calorie intake against activity.
  • RuNaRoUnDaFiEld
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld Posts: 5,864 Member
    Smoking can cause dehydration so I presume stopping would allow the body to fully hydrate.

    Either way stopping is a good thing to do. Well done :)
  • laurenebargar
    laurenebargar Posts: 3,081 Member
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »
    Smoking can cause dehydration so I presume stopping would allow the body to fully hydrate.

    Either way stopping is a good thing to do. Well done :)

    Hmm thats interesting I never thought of it that way, I've increased my water intake a bit too, just for the whole hand to mouth thing.

  • sarahlifts
    sarahlifts Posts: 610 Member
    Good job on quitting! Your weight will regulate and normalize itself.

    I quit on a bulk, so....I gained weight while I could mentally deal with quitting smoking.
    It is the best decision I've ever made. I an so happy to be free from ciggys. Congratulations to you!!
  • laurenebargar
    laurenebargar Posts: 3,081 Member
    sarahlifts wrote: »
    Good job on quitting! Your weight will regulate and normalize itself.

    I quit on a bulk, so....I gained weight while I could mentally deal with quitting smoking.
    It is the best decision I've ever made. I an so happy to be free from ciggys. Congratulations to you!!

    Thats actually really smart lol, I actually have planned to start strength training this weekend, I know that will cause some water retention too as its a new exercise so I figured its a good time
  • sarahlifts
    sarahlifts Posts: 610 Member
    Monitor what you eat to deficit/maintenance and stay away from the scale for a while.

    If you know you are in a deficit or at maintenance you can ignore the weight fluctuations.

  • laurenebargar
    laurenebargar Posts: 3,081 Member
    sarahlifts wrote: »
    Monitor what you eat to deficit/maintenance and stay away from the scale for a while.

    If you know you are in a deficit or at maintenance you can ignore the weight fluctuations.

    You are right, I think Ill stay away from the scale for a bit I know im in a deficit, so it might be less stressful just to walk away for a bit
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    yep, and a lot more booze. all good tho
  • laurenebargar
    laurenebargar Posts: 3,081 Member
    KANGOOJUMPS wrote: »
    yep, and a lot more booze. all good tho

    Haha I think Ill be staying away from any booze as well, not quite sure I can handle that without smoking just yet!
  • sarahlorrainethompson
    sarahlorrainethompson Posts: 4 Member
    I quit smoking one week ago and haven’t since! My cravings were bad so I picked up running and I have been running everyday. My diet has been decently well, but after this week of running (uphill as well) and mild weight lifting (arms, squats, ab crunches) I noticed a weight gain of 1-2 kg (2.2-4.4 lbs)! I thought maybe I’m losing fat and gaining lean muscle (which is what I want) but I feel like it’s almost impossible in one week to gain 1-2 kg of muscle! Maybe it is water weight? I feel like I’m in the same boat as you...
  • murp4069
    murp4069 Posts: 494 Member
    Congrats! I had a small bump in the scale after I quit as well. Nothing to write home about. It was gone after not too long. Quitting was one of the best decisions I ever made, been almost a year and a half since I had a cigarette.
  • laurenebargar
    laurenebargar Posts: 3,081 Member
    Quitting has definitely been the best decision I have made, although I am not too happy to announce that I still have not hit a lower weight. I went on a diet break where I maintained and then started a new gym routine, Im still within 5 lb fluctuation but i'm hoping with tightening up my logging and keeping up with my new gym routine I will see the weight go down again.
  • armstrongc1962
    armstrongc1962 Posts: 2 Member
    Hi Lauren,
    I am new to the site and was reading your post. Here is pretty good article to answer your question. http://whyquit.com/pr/090109.html

    Finding an exercise program you like can help take your mind off of the cravings and help with weight.
    Have a great day
    Connie
  • brookielaw
    brookielaw Posts: 814 Member
    Yep. Hi-five to all of us quitters. I had no idea that my quitting bore any correlation to my weight gain (although the holiday eating was no help on that issue either) so that makes me feel a lot better. 11 days later and I think the initial water weight gain is gone. It's still so worth it. Good job!
  • laurenebargar
    laurenebargar Posts: 3,081 Member
    brookielaw wrote: »
    Yep. Hi-five to all of us quitters. I had no idea that my quitting bore any correlation to my weight gain (although the holiday eating was no help on that issue either) so that makes me feel a lot better. 11 days later and I think the initial water weight gain is gone. It's still so worth it. Good job!

    Great job quitting, i'm going on about 7 weeks with no lower weight The day I quit I was 166.8 and I have gotten as high as 173.6 But, quitting was still a great decision and I am completely committed to losing the rest of my weight.
  • Jancandoit7
    Jancandoit7 Posts: 356 Member
    I quit 35 days ago and have gained 3.5 pounds- I bumped up my walking routine from 3 to 4 miles and am walking faster. I have been eating maintenance calories and burning more, but I've still gained. I've read that your metabolism slows down when you quit- estimates said about a 200 cal. a day difference. Nicotine is a stimulant and an appetite suppressant, so I guess our bodies just need time to adjust.

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