Quit smoking and not gain weight?

[ali]

My sister really wants to quit smoking but is afraid she will gain weight. I told her if she continues to exercise and watches what she eats that she won't gain anything. She believes that she will still gain weight b/c she has been exercising for years 5-6 times per week both cardio and strength training, therefore her metabolism will still slow down. She also eats healthy all the time and is very aware of her calorie intake. I don't think that she can cut anything out of her diet without really starving herself. Even though quitting is ultimately good for her, she feels she has worked really hard at getting her body where she is comfortable and doesn't want to gain any weight. We have always had weight problems in our family, so staying slender has always been a battle for both of us. x( Has anybody who smoked and exercised before they quit smoking been able to maintain their same weight without have to starve themselves? I would really love to be able to give her some encouragement.

Ali

 

[MAZ]

I believe the only reason people gain weight when the stop smoking is because they start snacking and eating more in an attempt to replace the habit of smoking. If she does not snack and eat more she will not gain weight. Her metabolism should not change because she stopped smoking. I don't believe smoking does much to the metabolism. Besides, if she stops smoking she will have MORE energy to be even MORE active and more affective at her workouts. Been there and done that.

 

[lundquist93]

I think it affects everyone differently, but I've read many articles on this subject and most people will gain a little weight regardless of their habits once they quit smoking and that it does affect your metabolism though only temporarily. I have first hand experience on this because I quit smoking over 6 years ago. I exercised before and after I quit smoking and my eating habits did not change. In fact, I was exercising twice a day and still gained 15 pounds. It took almost 1 full year for my metabolism to even out and the weight started to come off. This is just my experience.

 

[defietz]

I quit smoking about a 1 1/2 yrs ago, and up until that time I had not gained a pound since high school (im 39 now)--I gained 15 lbs quickly, even though I was power walking 4-5 mi a day. I have since found Cathe, and its all evened out!! I think the reality is that she MIGHT gain a little weight at first, but that is sooo much easier to deal with then say LUNG CANCER. She sounds like she is doing it all right, so I cant imagine that she would put on a huge amount of weight--I hope you can convince her to give it a try.

Good luck
Jayne

 

[wutherhi]

Well, here's both sides of this story. I quit smoking (and I mean smoking--2-3 packs a day for 17 years) and lost 99 pounds in the two years following. I ate sunflower seeds (in the shell) to replace my smoking habit. They're high in fat and salt, but if you're careful with them, just a couple each time you REALLY want a smoke, they can be a healthy snack. They keep your mouth and hands busy so you won't be eating tons of other fattening things. Quitting smoking gave me the energy (and breath) to begin exercising, which helped infinitely in losing that weight. And the exercise reinforced my quitting. I didn't want to start again because I knew I'd lose my newfound love--cycling.

On the other hand my husband quit smoking a year or two after I did and didn't exercise. His appetite increased, and now he's gained almost as much as I lost.

Tell her I wish her luck. Quitting is the best health decision I ever made. It truly opened up a whole new world for me.

 

[betho]

Hi Ali,

Just my opinion here, but a few pounds gained (which you can lose later) is a very nice trade off for the health benefits when you quit smoking. I quit 4 years ago cold turkey. Food starts to taste better, and often you start looking for something to do with your hands, and your metabolism may slow down a little - I think that's why quitters gain. Again, you can always lose 10lbs, but it's pretty difficult to grow a new lung if you need one . JMHO

Beth

PS - Remember to remind her of the money she can save too - to buy great fitness stuff like Cathe DVD's or whatever she's into!

 

[kellib]

I agree with Betho!! I'm not a smoker or ever was but learned a lot from working at the american cancer society. I have learned that it is typical to gain a little weight with quitting smoking but seriously, 5-10 pounds versus coughing, wrinkling early/more severe, yellow teeth, smelly, cancer, etc? I totally hope your sister does it. She can call the American Cancer Society for help - they offer a Quitline which is sort of a phone counseling service - someone who will help her get through it. They provide helpful tips, information, and support.

I would suggest investing in a steady supply of carrot sticks to keep hands and mouth busy -real good with peanut butter or hummus. If that isn't appealing, celery will probably do the trick. The ACS also suggests straws, hard candy and gum, but be careful esp with the latter two as those can lead to problems with your teeth. Another idea is bottled water - keeps hands busy opening/closing the bottle and it's very good for you!!

Best of luck!!!

 

[Bobbi]

I read that a mere 20 minutes of exercise per day will balance out the metabolism decrease caused by quitting smoking. The thing to be careful about is eating instead of smoking. If she's orally fixiated, and most smokers are, she needs to deal with that in any other way than eating! Encourage her to workout regularly and go for it!
Chicks's Rule! http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif Bobbi

 

[Fannie]

I gained a little weight when I quit which I have since then lost. One thing that helped me was mint breath spray. Any smoker knows you really don't want a cigarette when your mouth feels nice and clean. Also the mint spray is much lower in calories than food. It worked real well for me!