Quitting habits, weight gain ???

[Cycling101]

I have seen a few people on here in various threads talk of thier wonderful strides in quitting smoking etc. Which brought me to think I am starting to think I am ready to quit my main bad habit of dipping. (chewing tobacco)
However I am absolutely terrified of quitting and replacing that loss with food after I have made so many positive strides in my weight and fitness goals. I realize there is never a good time to quit, I always find a reason to wait, the stress of this or that, maybe after this blows over etc. But I am really worried that one will replace the other, as I have seen many people gain a rather large amount of weight after quitting smoking. Would it be easier to quit, after I have reached my main weight goals, before attempting another lifestyle change? I would appreciate any feedback as I am really worried that all this work will go to hell in a handbasket if I quit cold turkey. If anything I think (I know it is horrible) but smoking and tobacco many times tames the hunger beast. Any thoughts gang?

 

[Bigguy]

The reason you gain weight when you quit tobacco is because your metabolism slows, not because you replace it with food. Sure you may chew more gum or something but that is not enough to gain a lot of weight. All I can say is that I have lost weight and reshaped my body in the 4 months that I have quit smoking. I chose to lump all the lifestyle changes into 1 week and see what the hell happened. I was able to handle it and I really do think it is the right way to go.
I feel now would be the perfect time for you to quit since you are making the effort to work out. If you wait until you hit goal you may get lax and not make the conscious effort 5 times a week.
I feel and metabolism changes would be offset by your cycling.
From experience I say quit now, you will never feel as good as you do after you have broken the habit.
My $.02
Hope this helps.

 

[Hope2]

Hello again...

I'm not sure if you knew this but I just quite smoking in Jan. I know they are too different animals, but they are both really hard habits to break. My friends husband dips, so I get the problem.

I agree, stop now, or there will allways be excuses. You are doing really well with your personal improvments, and I say go for the gold. You will be even more proud of yourself for sure! And the ladies will find your even more atractive!

Great health and more money in your pocket (not spent on dip), sounds like a win win situation to me...

Just remember, yes nicateen withdrawl is very real. You may feel anti social, and you may have some other veriouse "mental" things going on, because of the withdrawl, that quit frankly I was suprised by. But if you are comitted to this as much as you are to your outer fitness, you will have no problem sticking to it. The first 2 weeks are the hardest, I promise.

What worked for me: I gave my self pormishion to like smoking. But told myself that I had to quit anyway. That way I wasn't "depriving" myself, I was choosing to not have something I like.. Hmm Kinda like me and my ex pepsi addiction. lol... Anyway it worked, I wasn't "fighting" with myself. If that makes sence...

I think this is really great! Good for you!

 

[Bigguy]

Just remember, yes nicateen withdrawl is very real. You may feel anti social, and you may have some other veriouse "mental" things going on, because of the withdrawl, that quit frankly I was suprised by. But if you are comitted to this as much as you are to your outer fitness, you will have no problem sticking to it. The first 2 weeks are the hardest, I promise.

Oh yeah. I forgot about the nicotine withdrawl...
It is not as bad as I have heard- at least not for me- but it is bad. I was a pain in the ass for 2 weeks.
Hope2 is 100% correct that you need to be prepared and to prepare the ones you are with for this.

BTW- great job Hope2... I also quit in Jan.

 

[WLD26]

Why won't you try video games as exercising? If you play exercising video games you will be able to achieve 2 goals:
1) you can use video games as a replacement to use the time you use to smoke.
2) you will exercise which can help preventing weight gain or help you lose weight.
And no, it's not a joke. There is a huge variety of video games that involve exercising so you can both exercise and have fun.