Monday, April 21, 2008

Quit Smoking = Weight Gain

Alright, so today I try yet again to quit smoking.  No biggie - not worth mentioning - except…

The question always looms as to whether or not I will gain weight.  I have quit before, although only for a few days at a time, and have felt like I was eating more, but for the most part you don’t gain weight because of what you eat after you quit smoking, you are gaining weight because your metabolism is actually slowing down… yeah, like I need THAT to happen. 

Did you know that smoking cuts 200 calories per day in a heavy smoker?  Well apparently I wasn’t smoking enough to really reap the benefits of that one.  Did you also know that Nicotine is an appetite suppressant?  No way - really?  Um, then why didn’t it suppress the 3 chocolate chip cookies I had last night?  Also, smoking boosts your metabolism.  Up, not seeing much of a difference in that one either. 

But again, those are the reasons you gain weight… you are essentially gaining 200 calories per day and you actually feel hungrier when you quit smoking.  Well, I’m screwed then.  I’ve got my carrot sticks all stocked up, plenty of nicorette gum, websites galore giving me the benefits of quitting, and lots of water - I’m ready to go!  Now, if only I didn’t feel like killing someone we’d be good.  But at least I know the reasons why I won’t gain weight - because I’m not falling for it when my appetite tells me it wants food.  Nope, not doing it.