i had always been told that once you quit smoking that your metabolism drops and therefore no matter what you do with food and excercise, weight gain is inevitable.
My doctor told me this week that this is absolute codswallop and there is no science to support this theory. She said its very simple - people put on weight because taste returns and we tend to eat more - period.
This was backed up by our OH Doctor.
Some may disagree but im happy to go with this theory
Written by
nsd_user663_8607
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Numerous scientific journals available, in which the effects of nicotine on the brain, the resultant change in brain chemistry and the knock on effect on the biochemical reactions lead many to believe an increae in metabolic rate paired with nicotines appetite repressant effects can lead to a change in body physiology. Ie weight loss.
Take away these major factors add snacking and weight gaino is inevitable.
The whole taste bud thing in my opinion is nonsense, when I switched from analogue to HD tv , I didn't spend more time watching telly because it looked better.
Same with food , same portions , same times of day, i doubt I'd notice a change in taste which would probaly occur so subtly, over time that I wouldnt remember how food tasted whilst smoking to allow a benchmarking exercise.
Or maybe I'm totally wrong. Who knows, time for burger.
I definitely have a much sweeter tooth than I did before quitting. I never used to eat much in the way of cakes and now it takes massive will power to stay off the ****** things, given half the chance I'm shovelling Mr Kiplings cherry bakewells down my neck like they're going out of fashion.
So I've put on a stone and a bit since quitting, which I have not yet shifted. Not a massive surprise. :rolleyes:
I quit smoking on Xmas Day and spent the rest of that day wading through a full tin of quality street,even eating the coffee, orange and lime ones that I wouldn't have considered eating before, I am sure that they didn't taste any different just took my mind of the cigs, hand to mouth was the thing I missed most and the sweets and food were my compensation, I carried on eating my way through the local shops supply of crisps, biscuits you name it.
I continued to eat far more than I needed till last May and then went on a healthier eating regime, I went into the eat what you need not what you want mode and this has worked for me.
I do not think that I will ever have the same relationship with food that I had before I quit, I am now just slightly obsessed with food and I wasn't before, it wasn't even that I didn't eat much I just ate enough to make me satisfied, no more no less, also I had the cigs to occupy my mind, now when I am bored I create meals, low fat, low calorie ones of course.
I always thought that when I quit I would feel instantly better but I didnt, it took longer to get back to feeling human than I thought it would and I still think you don't feel the real benefits till you have been quit for quite a while.
Its maybe a good idea to try and not worry about eating for a while just watch the weight and make sure it doesn't creep on too quickly, easier said than done
I ate around 1200 calories a day before I quit and was up to 2500 up till last year, now back to 1200, yes I miss the cherry bake-wells as well :eek:
A shot of nicotine makes your heart beat faster. A faster beating hearts uses more calories than a normal one. Apparently for a heavy smoker, about 200 calories a day. So, on cold turkey, you would be 200 calories adrift even before your metabolism slowed, better tasting food tempted you or you comfort/ substitute ate. A bit of weight gain seems inevitable - unless of course you are one of those rare creatures whose weight never creeps up whatever. Most of us aren`t that lucky!
If you want to lose weight after quitting you should try some gallstones! Worked wonders for me, can't face food, feel sick and sweating and the pain.
Stops weight gain lol, all i want is 🍕
Ooh ouch! I got gallstones after having my first baby, the weight just fell off it was amazingly painful but I was very impressed with my post baby figure! If only I could recreate that now but without the pain.........mm
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.