Why is it after i quit smoking i gained almost 50 pounds?!
Question: i find it very discouraging and want to know if it eventually get easier to put off the weight from diet and exercise, im currently on a work out program, but seem to be at a stand still.
Answers: i find it very discouraging and want to know if it eventually get easier to put off the weight from diet and exercise, im currently on a work out program, but seem to be at a stand still.
People may gain weight after stopping smoking for a number of reasons.
Nicotine has mild appetite suppressing effects on the body, especially when combined with coffee (which many smokers also consume.) And smoking also "deadens" the taste buds, so foods don't have as much flavor as when you stop. So some smokers find that they are hungrier or eat more after quitting.
Smoking can also increase your resting metabolic rate, so you may burn a few extra calories while smoking as a result.
The biggest reason ex-smokers gain weight, however, is that they often substitute food for cigarettes. Ex-smokers are particularly susceptible to craving sugary foods, which of course, are high in calories and simple carbs. The exact reasons for this are unclear, but one theory is that it may have to do with tabacco being cured with sugar and the body "craving" this along with the nicotine during withdrawl. However, these cravings are usually short-lived and limited to the initial 72 hour chemical withdrawl window. By the second full week away from cigarettes, this should have subsided.
Nictotine and the hundreds of other chemicals and toxins in cigarettes can knock your body completely out of whack. It sometimes takes a few months to adjust, and there is no reason that the weight gain has to be permanent.
Keep focusing on your workout routine, and try to clean your diet up as much as possible. Eat 5-6 small meals with plenty of vegetables and some lean protein. The trick is to keep you blood sugar levels even across the day, which will keep you from being hungry and overeating. It will also discourage your body from putting on additional weight. Smoking impacts insulin sensitivity and quitting can cause you to have issues there if you aren't making some modifications to your eating patterns. The exercise can also make you more insulin sensitive (this is a good thing), but it may just take a few months to get there.
Bottom line is don't let the extra pounds drive you back to smoking. As someone who once smoked, I know that losing the weight is much easier than quitting cigarettes. Be patient ... this will swing back in your favor.
Best of luck!
you substituted food for smokes, start walking and the weight will come off - start with 1 mile at 3 m/p/h - next day
1.5 miles - work up to 3 miles, increase speed to 3.3 and increase your incline. Make sure you break into a sweat.
walk every day no matter what, and you will start to drop weight very quickly.
Smoking gives you energy. Energy gives you the momentum to do things, it increases your activity. Notice that you're much slower than that you were when you were running around with a smoke in your hand?
Don't worry! You can do this. It will take time, just keep your eye on the prize. Good luck!
I've heard of people who smoke to help lose weight. Stopping probably leads to an increase. Did you lose weight when you started?