Stopped Smoking...Gaining? YES.
I stopped smoking a 10 days ago...started Chantix about 3 weeks ago...it's working GREAT! No crazy side effects for me.
I've heard it is INEVITABLE to not gain weight when you stop smoking...even if you do eat right and exercise...it's just going to happen no matter what initially...
I've gained 5 lbs in 2 weeks...is this true? If you comment let me know if you've ever smoked or are still a smoker....that background will help! Thanks!
People tend to gain weight when they stop smoking because they generally tend to get there craving and urges through food. They start to snack more causing the inevitable weight gain. Keeping the cravings down through a high protein high fibre diet with plenty of water will prevent rapid or even any weight gain. I have never smoked but I live with Smokers, it you must have a discipline to both quit and not gain the weight.
and also it's proven that smoking keeps you 20lbs lighter. Maybe drink more fluids and don't be discouraged. Just keep working hard and you can fight it off!
I've been off cigarettes for almost 16 months. I used Chantix too and I highly recommend it. The only side effect I has was what I referred to as interesting dreams. Anyway, I put on 30 pounds pretty quickly and didn't ever realize it because I had long since stopped weighing myself since I already knew that I was overweight. I restarted my program on here on June and I've lost about 45 pounds to date. I don't know if this is true, but I have heard that when you stop smoking, your metabolism slows by 10% but regular exercises causes it to speed up by the same percentage. But you know that doesn't matter. If you follow the program here you will lose weight. Any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask! There's always someone around here to help! Good luck to you!
Original Post by caverlady:
I've been off cigarettes for almost 16 months. I used Chantix too and I highly recommend it. The only side effect I has was what I referred to as interesting dreams. Anyway, I put on 30 pounds pretty quickly and didn't ever realize it because I had long since stopped weighing myself since I already knew that I was overweight. I restarted my program on here on June and I've lost about 45 pounds to date. I don't know if this is true, but I have heard that when you stop smoking, your metabolism slows by 10% but regular exercises causes it to speed up by the same percentage. But you know that doesn't matter. If you follow the program here you will lose weight. Any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask! There's always someone around here to help! Good luck to you!
If by interesting dreams you mean, interesting <wink,wink> I had those dreams and so did my friend. Chantix is awesome!
I gained a few pounds when I quit but I had to sort of get my hands around my cravings. It's been four weeks for me and I stopped Chantix about half-way through week three. I just didn't need it anymore.
My advice would be to stay mindful, recognize a craving for what it is and be nice to yourself.
Hello. I feel your pain. Been quit for just over 2 months, cold turkey. I gained approx. 15 pounds since quitting. I read the same thing.. that no matter what, your going to gain. And to be hoenst, I kind of used that as an excuse to eat whatever I wanted. I also felt very depressed to not be able to smoke... or eat. So I ate.. a lot. I think everyone's body is different. A friend quit and didn't gain anything.
Either way.. stick it out! It's so worth it.
I'm back on the healthy living plan now for 1 week and have lost 5 pounds and I feel good!
My experience mirrors caverlady almost exactly except that I've just started to get serious about weight loss again. I think I gained about 30 pounds too. I used the Patch, which also causes vivid dreams (smokers don't normally ingest nicotine after bedtime...)
My doctor was very delighted about me quitting, though now, 15 months later, losing weight and getting in shape is a priority to control my diabetes.
I stopped smoking 7 weeks ago. I have lost 8 lbs since. Nope. Weight gain is NOT inevitable. I watch my diet and excercise. Thats all.
Edit: I forgot to mention that I also fell off the wagon. But I am back on!
I quit Jan 5 and started cc Feb 9. I didn't gain anything between my quit date and starting to eat healthy etc; And since Feb 9 I've lost 10.5 lbs.
Weight gain is NOT inevitable, it's a reflection of your oral fixation. If you are replacing cigarettes with food that you wouldn't have eaten if you were still smoking, you will gain weight. If you must replace cigarettes with food, replace them with healthy snacks like a few carrot sticks and weight gain will be minimal.
All weight gain is a result of what you put in as there is no miracle way to lose weight there is no miracle way to gain it either.
I have issues any time people use words like "always," "never," and "inevitable" in connection with the human body. Everyone is so different that those kinds of generalizations are almost impossible to make. For MOST people, the weight gain that is associated with smoking comes primarily from substituting eating for cigarettes. So, for some, with the right plan, no weight gain registers at all. However, smoking has been shown to speed up your metabolism, so for others, even with the right plan, weight can creep on temporarily once they decide to quit. Again, it all depends on your individual body.
Any doctor will tell you that they would rather you gain a few pounds and quit smoking than remain a smoker and lose weight. Keep eating healthy and exercising, and pretty soon your metabolism will work itself out and you will be able to lose.
Nope, some people lose weight when they quit smoking. There are 2 basic factors that come into play here ... #1 eating to replace the hand to mouth urge - bottom line, don't. Chew gum. Lots of it. Eat a cucumber. Put down the licorice. Put down the pizza. #2 metabolic changes - on average the metabolism slows by about 200 calories a day after quitting - go for a walk every night and you will cancel this effect out.
The average person only gains 6 - 8 lbs when they quit smoking. I quit over 5 yrs ago after smoking more than a pack a day for 15 yrs. I gained about 6 lbs in the first 6 months.
Good for you for quitting!!!
You know it really does bother me when people cite their vanity (fear of gaining weight) as a reason to keep smoking. This is not directed at you OP, just a bit of a rant. Good for you for setting your mind to quitting.
Ultimately if you continue smoking throughout your entire adult life you can pretty much expect to be highly obese as a result of smoking. Not only that but you will have a dark puffy complexion and will have aged beyond your years. I say if you want to gain weight over the long term then by all means keep smoking. Not only will you feel helpless and unable to challenge your will power, but you will have extreme difficulty getting into shape or even feeling able enough to get some type physical activity without getting winded.
I just think that the logic of it is absurd. The transformation that your body makes when it goes from breathing in toxic air, to pure oxygen is really incredible. When you quit smoking and pair it with exercise and a healthy diet you will positively glow, everywhere, your hair, skin and nails. Seeing the two sides of it is really incomparable.
When I decided to quit I just imagined the two women I could ultimately become, a vibrant beautiful energetic 35 year old, or a sickly overweight woman who is 35 but looks closer to 50.
Try to imagine that if you ever get a craving, it's an investement in your future.
You'll see! Stay strong!
I did gain, but I was strength training and it's been mostly muscle, hardly any fat but I do not attribute that to quitting smoking. I was increasing my calories as a way to gain muscle mass.
I quit smoking while losing weight (Jan 11/09) and continued to lose and reached my goal. In fact, I think it was because I was counting calories that I did not gain when I quit. I used to eat salted pumpkin seeds when I previously attempted to quit; I ate bags of them, all day long. Well not this time!
Original Post by katonick:
I quit smoking while losing weight (Jan 11/09) and continued to lose and reached my goal. In fact, I think it was because I was counting calories that I did not gain when I quit. I used to eat salted pumpkin seeds when I previously attempted to quit; I ate bags of them, all day long. Well not this time!
I did the same in October. My big crutch was sugar free gum, but I didn't even use it every day.
Original Post by jpoage:
Original Post by caverlady:
I've been off cigarettes for almost 16 months. I used Chantix too and I highly recommend it. The only side effect I has was what I referred to as interesting dreams. Anyway, I put on 30 pounds pretty quickly and didn't ever realize it because I had long since stopped weighing myself since I already knew that I was overweight. I restarted my program on here on June and I've lost about 45 pounds to date. I don't know if this is true, but I have heard that when you stop smoking, your metabolism slows by 10% but regular exercises causes it to speed up by the same percentage. But you know that doesn't matter. If you follow the program here you will lose weight. Any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask! There's always someone around here to help! Good luck to you!
If by interesting dreams you mean, interesting I had those dreams and so did my friend. Chantix is awesome!
I gained a few pounds when I quit but I had to sort of get my hands around my cravings. It's been four weeks for me and I stopped Chantix about half-way through week three. I just didn't need it anymore.
My advice would be to stay mindful, recognize a craving for what it is and be nice to yourself.
hhahahaha on a regular basis i have interesting dreams "wink wink" hahahah but that cracked me up..
Original Post by caverlady:
I don't know if this is true, but I have heard that when you stop smoking, your metabolism slows by 10% but regular exercises causes it to speed up by the same percentage.
i read just yesterday (in a chinese health journal, otherwise would have added in link) that smoking keeps your metabolism going roughly 10-15% faster, so of course it will slow when you stop the cigarettes. at first it's best to compensate for this drop either by eating that percentage (the guideline amount from said article was roughly 300 kcals) less, or increasing your excercise, or possibly a half & half approach.
best of luck!
Thanks for all the input...I love this site b/c I can get answers from many different view points...sort them out and see what works for me...I did need to share a positive exp: I was "off" the bandwagon for working out for the last few weeks...well, I got back on the treadmill last night and I couldn't believe how much of a difference it was in my breathing...before, I REALLY thought I was breathing harder b/c of HOW HARD I was working on the treadmill...(talk about DENIAL)...I think b/c I never got sick or experienced smoker's cough,etc... plus the fact that I started smoking 5 years ago...I didn't have "smokers' ailments"...now I KNOW I could have been pushing myself so much harder on the treadmill WITHOUT the smokes...I put in 66 minutes last night...normally my chest would have been "dancing" on its own...nope...I drank some water and felt I could go for another 66 minutes...I MISS my smokes...but I LOVE that they're gone...and yes...the dreams are nice...mine aren't so "erotic" but just "vivid"...probably b/c I take my evening dose of Chantix around 6pm...and don't go to bed til' 11pm...
One more question for the smokers who have successfully used Chantix: I know we are all different...but I haven't picked up a smoke in 2 weeks...I even "tried" to smoke the 1st day of my quit...and it tasted horrible...did absolutely NOTHING for me...I really don't like to be on medication of any kind any longer than I need to...do you think it's safe to stop my pills yet??? My doctor has never smoked, so I wanted advice from those who had been there...
Original Post by ready4lyfe:
One more question for the smokers who have successfully used Chantix: I know we are all different...but I haven't picked up a smoke in 2 weeks...I even "tried" to smoke the 1st day of my quit...and it tasted horrible...did absolutely NOTHING for me...I really don't like to be on medication of any kind any longer than I need to...do you think it's safe to stop my pills yet??? My doctor has never smoked, so I wanted advice from those who had been there...
I smoked on my quit day too - and it did nothing to alleviate my craving. I stopped taking Chantix so early because I just didn't need it. My husband smokes and I feel absolutely no craving when he smokes around me. In fact, I get a little miffed that I don't smoke but still smell like smoke. :)
I would hate for you (or anyone) to quit Chantix too early and relapse so I can't tell you to stop taking it. Only you know if you're strong enough to quit early.
Just checking to see how everyone is still doing.
I quit 3 days ago also using Chantix. I get a craving now and then but it is nothing compared to trying to quit before. I did not weigh myself before quitting-I just didn't want to know. I have lost a total of 33 pounds and have always told myself that I would quit when I was down to 160 because that was a good place and I would only have 25 pounds left to lose. Well 160 never came I was stuck at 166-168 for a few months and finally decided to change my quit weight. This last weekend was pretty bad-food wise. I ate everything in site. But I told myself I could have the weekend and really get back at it starting today.
I don't know about you other quitters out there but I feel sad. I miss smoking, it almost feels like I lost a close friend. Don't get me wrong-I don't want to start again I was just wonder if anyone else felt a sense of sadness. I know it will pass-it has only been 3 days.
Good Luck on your journey-hope things are still going well.
Original Post by wyogirl:
Just checking to see how everyone is still doing.
I quit 3 days ago also using Chantix. I get a craving now and then but it is nothing compared to trying to quit before. I did not weigh myself before quitting-I just didn't want to know. I have lost a total of 33 pounds and have always told myself that I would quit when I was down to 160 because that was a good place and I would only have 25 pounds left to lose. Well 160 never came I was stuck at 166-168 for a few months and finally decided to change my quit weight. This last weekend was pretty bad-food wise. I ate everything in site. But I told myself I could have the weekend and really get back at it starting today.
I don't know about you other quitters out there but I feel sad. I miss smoking, it almost feels like I lost a close friend. Don't get me wrong-I don't want to start again I was just wonder if anyone else felt a sense of sadness. I know it will pass-it has only been 3 days.
Good Luck on your journey-hope things are still going well.
I miss smoking, too. I know it's a disgusting habit but I really enjoyed smoking. I won't start again but I feel the same sort of sadness.
Good luck! Things got a lot easier for me after the first week. I hope they get easier for you, too.
