So, I stopped smoking BUT

[Tinks]

I am so proud that I've stopped smoking. I never want to light up another cigarette again in my life

BUT

I've put on SO MUCH WEIGHT! I knew I would but not this much. My clothes don't fit me anymore

I refuse to buy the next size up so it's got to come off.

Does everyone who gives up smoking gain this much weight?

[Aimz]

OMG YES...

I quit smoking in May and am now at the point where the smell makes me feel ill. I'm so proud of myself!!

But the weight..

I think I've put on about 4-6kgs and I'm in the same boat - my clothes are starting to get tighter and I'm spending more and more time in my trackies! I have a gym membership, so I really have no excuse. I do go, but I feel like I'm getting nowhere. Perhaps I need to push myself a bit harder!

Congrats to you though - quitting is a HUGE achievement!

[Tinks]

Congrats to you too Aimz!

[Aimz]

What do you think causes the weight gain? I don't feel like I'm subsituting cigarettes with food, but maybe I am? Or maybe when I smoked I snacked less because I smoked on my morning/afternoon tea breaks?

[Tinks]

I am eating way more now than when I smoked. I tend to snack more in the evenings. I wonder if that's because that's when I smoked the most.

I dont feel like I'm substituting cigarettes with food. I just crave something so I eat.

Do you still get cravings Aimz? I haven't smoked for over a month now and I still crave.

[Jennifer13]

Well done girls! Nicotine can supress your appetite, so you've probably just been eating a little more since that effect is out of your system. Exercise will def help.

[*LittleMissSummer*]

YAY for quitting smoking but BOOOOOOOOOOOO!! to weight gain. My mum gained a fair bit since giving up smoking but i think she turned to food. Walking is great for weightloss so even if you start by 30 mins a day and increase to 45 mins then if you can manage it 60 mins.

[Nai]

Can you try to substitute something healthy when you do need to eat? Like vegetable sticks, fruit or chewing gum so that you cut down the calories?

And yay for quitting - go you!

[Aimz]

Do you still get cravings Aimz? I haven't smoked for over a month now and I still crave.

I do occassionally. Especially as the weather is getting a bit nicer. DP and I were out having a drink the other night and I thought, geez a cigarette would make this perfect! I think it's more the habit than the actual cigarette I crave - especially in social situations. Since quitting in May, I have had maybe 3 full cigarettes (usually after a few too many wines), and each time I enjoyed it less and less. So even thought I may feel like I want it, I know once I have one I'll be like "YUK", so I don't!

[HotI]

Can you do something at night to keep your hands occupied? Knitting or parabola or juggling or a rubix cube?

[UntoldAngel]

Only because I was pregnant... although it took til about 26weeks before I did put any on

[Jaycee]

I gave up Jan 2010 and I put on around 5 kg, unfortunately for me I haven't been able to shift it, but i have had a pregnancy in between as well. I would much rather have a few extra kg than still be smoking though!

[Blixie]

I think it's because when we quit we can taste our food properly again and we do tend to eat more
Congrats for quitting though

[meow]

Perhaps your body is craving food to assist with the healing that can now start after you've stopped doing all that damage.

I'd get into a Nourishing Traditions type diet. Plenty of animal fats and minimal carbs. Very healing and also a good to lose weight.

Yay for you!!

[littlelara]

My doctor said it's because smoking inhibits the pituitary gland and suppresses the appetite. It should even out eventually.

[Glamourcide]

Nicotine is an appetite suppressant. Give it up, and your appetite comes back, as well as you replacing the hand-to-mouth action of smoking with the habit of snacking, so it's like a double whammy as far as weight gain goes. Keep a food diary if you can, try to avoid chewing gum (the artificial sweeteners in it trigger more sugar cravings, it's just replacing one dirty habit with another, lol!), try to replace your old 5-min ciggie breaks with exercise breaks. I have a treadmill in my lounge room and found it really helpful to just jump on there for 5-10 mins at a time when I was craving a cigarette... of course I'm back on the evil things now so my weight's dropped again, but hang in there You're strong enough to kick an addiction worse than heroin, you're certainly strong enough to kick that extra weight! Good luck

[Sopdet]

Change the ritual associated with smoking, I'm now doing yoga before breakfast which was my time for a cigarette. I also do yoga in the afternoons which is also my cigarette time. Will keep it going when I get home.

Congrats to you both!

[Floweryfields]

What do you think causes the weight gain? I don't feel like I'm subsituting cigarettes with food, but maybe I am? Or maybe when I smoked I snacked less because I smoked on my morning/afternoon tea breaks?

i thought nicotine increases you metabolism or something like that...