Weight gain after giving up smoking

[Mintyy]

Looking for inspiration and top tips please from those of you who have given up smoking, temporarily gained weight, but are now back to your normal weight .

I gave up 10 months ago and have gained about 8lb to 10lb. That's not the end of the world, I know, but I was already at least a stone and a half too heavy before I started . Anyway, my size 14s are too tight now and I am the heaviest I have ever been excluding pregnancy and I am fed up with it.

Trouble is I still have an oral fixation. I can't seem to concentrate unless I am eating or drinking something! Usually for me this is sweets or fruity drinks, so obviously, not rocket science to see how I've gained the lbs.

What can I do to break these habits? Any ideas? How did you manage it?

[CJCregg]

Hi Mintyy, I gave up two months ago and did the same. For the first four weeks I would feel ok generally, but suddenly (about twice a day) feel a hideous and all-powerful need to gorge chocolate.

After the four week stage, it faded a bit and I was able to get onto WeightWatchers and have now lost the extra half a stone. I also have an oral fixation - I eat a lot of carrot sticks, chew gum and drink diet coke ... not the best regime in the world, but at least the veggies are good. Having loads of chopped vegetables and some low fat humous works quite well, too. And I try to alternate the diet coke with water.

WeightWatchers also do loads of non-fattening but surprisingly satisfying biscuits and cakes, so you can feed the chocolate monster but not let it get fat!

I am SO thrilled with myself now, as I have finally kicked the fags and the nicorette, which I was also addicted to. Having lost the weight, I can't ever allow myself to take it up again and have to go through the whole process from the beginning ... I needed a big incentive to get back to WeightWatchers, though - ie beach holiday in four weeks, need to wear swimming costume without feeling like a whale.

Good luck. It's hard but worth it, as of course you know. And well done for sticking to it for ten months - it can be really tempting to jack it all in, especially if you're feeling miserable because of the weight.

[Mintyy]

Oh thanks CJ. You see you have been very wise and nipped the weight thing in the bud early instead of just allowing it to creep up ...

I did fear it might involve raw veggies and low fat hummous !. I WANT and NEED aniseed or liqourice flavour sweets, goddamit, and I definitely always fancy something sweet after dinner now, which I never did before when a Silk Cut king size marked the time to stop eating for me.

Pooey pants .

Anyone else?

[CJCregg]

Sorry not to be more help! It was sheer, grim will-power in the end - not against the fags, against the sugar ... And, as I said, the prospect of swimwear made a big difference.

Maybe try and alternate carrots with liquorice allsorts?!

Wine gum sours are supposed to be quite good ...

GOOD LUCK. YOU CAN DO IT.

[southeastastra]

i'm using a slendertone mintyy, not sure if it's working but it's taking my mind off food.

[Mintyy]

Oh that's going beyond the call of duty SEA! Isn't it a bit like TENS? (I have a slendertone gut busting belt thing somewhere in the back of a cupboard). Doesn't it make you feel like you're about to give birth? Yikes!

[Goober]

I gave up 23 months ago. (Aug 7th 07.)
I started drinking. Every day. Gained 3 and 1/2 stone. I have spent the last 6 months shifting it. Now it has gone. I am still an ex-smoker and a non-drinker too now.

BUT I did eat a Magnum today!!

[southeastastra]

yes contractions round your waist it's like being pinched really hard on and off ew

still bet you feel better apart from the food thing? it weird i really notice smokers at the moment. they're everywhere

[Mintyy]

Oh yes, no regrets. Won't always be this size. Feel sorry for smokers now, not envious [evangelical, moi?].