Weight loss and quitting smoking

Questions:

For those that have both lost weight and maintained and have also
permanently quit long term smoking (not necessarily at the same time) ...
which of the achievements was the most difficult?

Second question:

People that quit smoking often gain weight. Is there a physiological or
biological reason for the weight gain or is it due to substituting
additional food intake to replace the need for nicotine?

Thanks,

RCE

260/219/185

RCE wrote:
> Questions:
>
> For those that have both lost weight and maintained and have also
> permanently quit long term smoking (not necessarily at the same time) ...
> which of the achievements was the most difficult?
>
> Second question:
>
> People that quit smoking often gain weight. Is there a physiological or
> biological reason for the weight gain or is it due to substituting
> additional food intake to replace the need for nicotine?
>
> Thanks,
>
> RCE
>
> 260/219/185

When someone is smoking, their heart has to work so much harder, that
it is natural to lose weight without trying. My doctor told me one time
that when one quits smoking, it's like they've automatically lost 75
pounds, because your heart has to work as if you weighed 75 more
pounds.

So, anytime you quit smoking, you immediately lose weight.

Weight should NOT be a reason to keep smoking for anyone. Smoking is by
far the worst of the two. So, once the smoking addiction is licked,
then one can lose weight.

RCE wrote:
> Questions:
>
> For those that have both lost weight and maintained and have also
> permanently quit long term smoking (not necessarily at the same time) ...
> which of the achievements was the most difficult?
>
> Second question:
>
> People that quit smoking often gain weight. Is there a physiological or
> biological reason for the weight gain or is it due to substituting
> additional food intake to replace the need for nicotine?
>
> Thanks,
>
> RCE
>
I quit smoking in '96 and I think it was much harder than losing the weight
afterward. It's much easier to recover from a day of relapse with the
eating than the smoking.

I think both of the reasons you stated are true regarding weight gain after
quitting. Nicotine is a stimulant and without it the metabolism probably
slows a little causing a weight gain with the same amount of calories. As
you stated, many people substitute food for the nicotine. I know I found
myself eating candy to replace the nicotine.

Beverly






> 260/219/185

take alpha lipoic acid, mixed tocopherol,mixed tocotrienol, ester C,
selenium and mixed natural flavonoids
you need potent antioxidants to repair the damage from smoking

RCE wrote:
> Questions:
>
> For those that have both lost weight and maintained and have also
> permanently quit long term smoking (not necessarily at the same time) ...
> which of the achievements was the most difficult?
>
> Second question:
>
> People that quit smoking often gain weight. Is there a physiological or
> biological reason for the weight gain or is it due to substituting
> additional food intake to replace the need for nicotine?
>
> Thanks,
>
> RCE
>
> 260/219/185

I did both at the same time.. so one trauma instead of two..

There are biological reasons for weight gain (or so I was told by a teacher
in nursing)... and psychological ones too I would say..

will~

"RCE" <rce@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:ZbOdne4ZxNmsYwfYnZ2dnUVZ_u2mnZ2d@giganews.com ...
> Questions:
>
> For those that have both lost weight and maintained and have also
> permanently quit long term smoking (not necessarily at the same time) ...
> which of the achievements was the most difficult?
>
> Second question:
>
> People that quit smoking often gain weight. Is there a physiological or
> biological reason for the weight gain or is it due to substituting
> additional food intake to replace the need for nicotine?
>
> Thanks,
>
> RCE
>
> 260/219/185
>

"RCE" <rce@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:ZbOdne4ZxNmsYwfYnZ2dnUVZ_u2mnZ2d@giganews.com ...
> Questions:
>
> For those that have both lost weight and maintained and have also
> permanently quit long term smoking (not necessarily at the same time) ...
> which of the achievements was the most difficult?
>
> Second question:
>
> People that quit smoking often gain weight. Is there a physiological or
> biological reason for the weight gain or is it due to substituting
> additional food intake to replace the need for nicotine?
>
> Thanks,
>
> RCE
>
> 260/219/185
>

Thanks for all your inputs. I think I am very typical ... had not been
taking care of myself for years and had not seen a doctor on a regular basis
for the same period. Fortunately, even though I am getting long in the
tooth, am overweight and smoke, I have generally enjoyed good health. I
knew the time was coming though, when I visited the doctor in Oct. He's
pretty cool. He told me I had to loose the weight and quit smoking, but it
would be hard to do both at the same time. Of the two, he said quitting
smoking should be the priority. Problem was, I had tried before and failed.
I decided to concentrate on the weight issue first, hoping that the
discipline, lifestyle change (daily dedicated exercise) and general better
feeling will provide the confidence and incentive to attack the smoking in a
few months. I know that having dropped 41 lbs since October sure feels good.
I feel about 10 years younger. 34 more pounds to go, then I throw the butts
away.

RCE

260/219/185

RCE wrote:
> >
>
> Thanks for all your inputs. I think I am very typical ... had not been
> taking care of myself for years and had not seen a doctor on a regular basis
> for the same period. Fortunately, even though I am getting long in the
> tooth, am overweight and smoke, I have generally enjoyed good health. I
> knew the time was coming though, when I visited the doctor in Oct. He's
> pretty cool. He told me I had to loose the weight and quit smoking, but it
> would be hard to do both at the same time. Of the two, he said quitting
> smoking should be the priority. Problem was, I had tried before and failed.
> I decided to concentrate on the weight issue first, hoping that the
> discipline, lifestyle change (daily dedicated exercise) and general better
> feeling will provide the confidence and incentive to attack the smoking in a
> few months. I know that having dropped 41 lbs since October sure feels good.
> I feel about 10 years younger. 34 more pounds to go, then I throw the butts
> away.
>
> RCE
>
> 260/219/185

You know what they say...all those other times were just practice.

One of the wonderous things about the human body is its ability to heal
and regenerate. It doesn't take that long at all for your body to get
into decent shape after you quit the cancer sticks. Keep active, and
lots of produce with Vitamin C, your body hasn't been able to process
much of that (due to the ciggies) for years.

In article <ZbOdne4ZxNmsYwfYnZ2dnUVZ_u2mnZ2d@giganews.com>,
"RCE" <rce@nowhere.com> wrote:

> Questions:
>
> For those that have both lost weight and maintained and have also
> permanently quit long term smoking (not necessarily at the same time) ...
> which of the achievements was the most difficult?
>
> Second question:
>
> People that quit smoking often gain weight. Is there a physiological or
> biological reason for the weight gain or is it due to substituting
> additional food intake to replace the need for nicotine?
>
> Thanks,
>
> RCE
>
> 260/219/185

I quit smoking in 1996, and changed the way I eat in 1997.

I have not really had any major backsliding in either instance, but I
think weight loss and weight maintenance is a life-long task. All I miss
about smoking is the "thing to do with my hands." But, as I pretty much
eat anything I want as long as it's within my calorie count, I don't
miss much there either--'cept unfettered gluttony and the accompanying
sloth.

Amy
168/120/115