Quitting Smoking & Weight Gain....

Smile · 07-21-2004, 03:08 PM

What are you quitters doing to help keep the post smoking weight down....

I first discovered Atkins when I put on 20lbs+ giving up smoking with hypnotherapy in 2000. With a few false starts I lost some of the weight and then after I started smoking again a year or so after stopping I lost all the weight - a mix of Atkins and nicotine!

I have now spent a good two years at a consistent weight, keeping up Atkins WOE.

I have now given up smoking again (and for ever) - with hypnotherapy - 2 weeks ago (really easy) but have already put on 4lbs!

Today I put myself back on induction (harder than stopping smoking......)

Does anyone have any good ideas....

Smile

leeser24 · 07-22-2004, 09:10 AM

Hi Smile - Love your name! Would love to hear more about hypnotherapy. I tried using a stop smoking hypotherapy CD, which I think helped but did not cure me. I listened to it for weeks before making up my mind to actually quit.

I quit 11 days ago and immediately gained 6 pounds, in like 3 days! I went back on induction for a couple of days and now am on early-level OWL. The weight is slowly but definitely coming off. I'm back down five of those pounds again. Sticking to plan, try to exercise a little bit more, and most importantly, keep telling ourselves that the weight will come off. it doesn't have to be inevitable.

I have heard many people talk about how weight gain is inevitable because of the reduced metabolism that results from having no nicotine in your system. But I have also heard at least one doctor say that the drop in metabolism is not enough to cause significant weight gain. It's the extra nibbling that makes people gain weight when they quit smoking.

I use most of my carbs and calories on nibbly snacks instead of on full meals to help get me through the painful stages of my quit without breaking the plan. So instead of eating a big breakfast, I eat little snacks all morning. My lunch is now an early afternoon snack (small salad, chicken fingers, or veggies/dip), a mid afternoon snack (chai tea with cream) and a late afternoon snack (cheese sticks, pepperoni, celery etc). So I can chew, chew, chew throughout the day and not go over on carbs or calories.

I hope to gradually wean myself back to a normal 3-meal-a-day plan as time goes by and I feel more secure in my quit. I don't know if this little plan will work, but it's the best solution Ive been able to come up with.

Congratulations on quitting! It's worth it even if it sets our weight loss back a bit. hang in there.

07-21-2004, 03:08 PM	#1
Smile Senior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: London, UK Posts: 264 Gallery: Smile Stats: 165/143 for 4 years - slowly back to 168! WOE: Atkins/LowCarb Start Date: Mar 2000 - Restart Mar 2008	Quitting Smoking & Weight Gain.... What are you quitters doing to help keep the post smoking weight down.... I first discovered Atkins when I put on 20lbs+ giving up smoking with hypnotherapy in 2000. With a few false starts I lost some of the weight and then after I started smoking again a year or so after stopping I lost all the weight - a mix of Atkins and nicotine! I have now spent a good two years at a consistent weight, keeping up Atkins WOE. I have now given up smoking again (and for ever) - with hypnotherapy - 2 weeks ago (really easy) but have already put on 4lbs! Today I put myself back on induction (harder than stopping smoking......) Does anyone have any good ideas.... Smile

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07-22-2004, 09:10 AM	#2
leeser24 Guest Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chester County, PA Posts: 164 Gallery: leeser24 Stats: 180/179/140 WOE: Atkins Start Date: Dec 28, 2005	Hi Smile - Love your name! Would love to hear more about hypnotherapy. I tried using a stop smoking hypotherapy CD, which I think helped but did not cure me. I listened to it for weeks before making up my mind to actually quit. I quit 11 days ago and immediately gained 6 pounds, in like 3 days! I went back on induction for a couple of days and now am on early-level OWL. The weight is slowly but definitely coming off. I'm back down five of those pounds again. Sticking to plan, try to exercise a little bit more, and most importantly, keep telling ourselves that the weight will come off. it doesn't have to be inevitable. I have heard many people talk about how weight gain is inevitable because of the reduced metabolism that results from having no nicotine in your system. But I have also heard at least one doctor say that the drop in metabolism is not enough to cause significant weight gain. It's the extra nibbling that makes people gain weight when they quit smoking. I use most of my carbs and calories on nibbly snacks instead of on full meals to help get me through the painful stages of my quit without breaking the plan. So instead of eating a big breakfast, I eat little snacks all morning. My lunch is now an early afternoon snack (small salad, chicken fingers, or veggies/dip), a mid afternoon snack (chai tea with cream) and a late afternoon snack (cheese sticks, pepperoni, celery etc). So I can chew, chew, chew throughout the day and not go over on carbs or calories. I hope to gradually wean myself back to a normal 3-meal-a-day plan as time goes by and I feel more secure in my quit. I don't know if this little plan will work, but it's the best solution Ive been able to come up with. Congratulations on quitting! It's worth it even if it sets our weight loss back a bit. hang in there.