quit smoking and weight gain?

superblycrafted · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 6

Why do some people gain weight after giving up smoking?

Nicotine and Metabolism

Nicotine acts as both a stimulant and a sedative. Immediately after a puff of nicotine there is a rush of adrenaline which causes the liver to release glycogen (sugar) which raises the blood sugar levels slightly. Remove nicotine and your body slows down your metabolism. You are expending fewer calories. Consequently, if you eat the same number of calories as before, your body is using less and stores more as fat.

Nicotine and Appetite

Nicotine can reduce your appetite by directly affecting the activity of serotonin and dopamine, which are substances that control neural transmission in areas of your brain, that turn your appetite on and off. Nicotine elevates the activity of these substances in a way that is similar to what happens when you eat a sweet. For a period after smoking a cigarette you feel less hungry.

Comfort

Food can act as a comfort factor. You crave foods to replace the relaxing feeling and buzz that nicotine was providing.

Habit

Holding and lighting cigarettes is a well-developed habit. Remove the cigarette and what are you going to do with your hands? You can feel the need to occupy your hands – picking and snacking on food fills this gap.

source:www.weightlossresources.co.uk

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

I added 10 inches after I quit smoking in end of 1993.

I am determined to remove some of those back.

The Inquisitor · Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 772

I gained at least 50 pounds after quitting in 1989. I've been able to remove most of that over the past few years but I still need to lose a bit more.

Radiate_Truth · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 1056

Can I join the club...

Nicotine and caffeine also shrinks blood vessels which prevents nutrients or if you're taking medication from going throughout parts of your body...

Which if your taking something like antibiotcs after surgery, nicotine and caffeine prevents your wound from healing or it just takes lots longer for a wound to heal...

Been their and done that!

allenborder · Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Posts: 3

hi there....

* Nicotine curbs your appetite. It also perks you up when your energy is low because of hunger. When you quit smoking, you may feel hungry more often and eat more as a result.
* Nicotine dulls your taste buds. So when you quit smoking, food tastes better and you may want to eat more.
* Without cigarettes, you may turn to food as a replacement. You may need something to do with your hands and mouth at certain times of the day when you used to smoke.
* Nicotine makes your body burn calories faster. So when you quit, your body isn't burning calories as fast as it used to. This can lead to weight gain, but usually no more than 10 pounds.
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r4ds

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

My trousers were size 34 when I stopped smoking
many years after I stopped I jad to be happy with size 40