I'm quitting smoking, it's been 3 days, but I can't stop eating!?

Question

What can I do to stop the munching? I feel so "empty" and "bored" without my ciggs. I've noticed that I have been snacking an awful LOT these past few days.

What can I fill my void with besides food? I don't wanna end up gaining a lot of weight from quitting smoking.

For those who have quit, did you gain weight? How much? Or, what did you do to prevent yourself from gaining weight?

Thanks!

*I'm eating carrots, cheese and celery as I type* =(

Answer 1

well as long as you eat healthy stuff.. and lots of fruit that's better than starting to smoke again.. you can do some physical exercise. go swimming and you won't gain weight.. or join a sports club...  do some aerobics.. or join a dance club.. whichever you prefer.. eat lots of salads and drink plenty of mineral water... that will fill you up... other than that do as Kojak did.. put a lollipop in your mouth.. then keep the stick. just keep the stick in your mouth.. it helps you from the need of having something to eat.. I don't mean to eat lollipops all the time. eat one.. keep the stick in your mouth.. and tell yourself all the pro's of not smoking.. no high risk of COPD, no increased risk of heart attack or emphysema or chronic bronchitis and you save over $ 3000 in a year if you smoked one whole packet... 20 cigarettes daily .. 7 days a week before you could plan what you can buy with that extra money you save if you hang on in there and stay strong and don't start to smoke again.. it only has benefits to not start again and only has negative sides if you smoke again...

Answer 2

i recommend chewing gum, it helps

the constant eating might mean that ur body wants to masticate(CHEWING) profusely

i had the same eating problem and i started chewing gum

Answer 3

I used Altoids. You "simulate" the same kind of sucking sensation as you make when you smoke, but they have very few calories. I also used Nicoderm for seven months, in the step down modes. Slapping on a patch not only stopped the addictive aspect but it really DID help with the oral fixation as well, because I didn't find the "need" for a cig, so it often curbed the "need" for something in my mouth too.

Sadly, even doing that, I gained 35 pounds when I quit. I think the lack of nicotine changes your metabolic rate. Still, I've been off them now for over two years.

Answer 4

as long as you eat healthy i guess its all good. try getting a tounge ring. you will always play with that.

Answer 5

I like all the suggestions. I  was going to say "chew gum" myself. I eat when I'm bored or stressed.  So, instead, I chew gum.

The only suggestion I didn't like was the tongue ring. I grind my teeth at night.  You may be the same, or you may clench your teeth once in a while during the day from stress.  Bite down on that tongue ring the wrong way, and you can hurt your teeth.

Oh, and I won't give you h**l for typing here.  You stopped smoking, which means we no longer have to smell your cigarette smoke.  (It's true!  You have nooo idea how many "my neighbor smokes, and I can smell it through the wall" to "why do people smoke right in front of the entrance to a building" questions there are.)  Sounds like good etiquette to me.  The only proper thing to do in return would be to continue to support you in kicking your habit.  That means we practice good manners in our part.  It alllll fits together.

Good luck kicking your habit!

Answer 6

Why dont you try Nicotine patches? The patches give your brain the dopamine it craves so you wont have any urges to replace that want.

Answer 7

I gained a lot of weight. Carrots and celery are great if you can be satisifed with them. Keep in mind that non-smokers are heavier on average than smokers -- you'll have to work a bit more to keep your weight down.

Answer 8

When my aunt quit smoking she would chew on a toothpick everytime she wanted a cigarette. She said it helped when she had the urge to have something in her mouth because she was so used to it. It worked for her but she's still doing it and it's been eight years. Guess it's not so bad.

Answer 9

Congradulations on the decision.

Now the tough part. Myself I quit smocking 3 years from now - during this time I had a couple of cigarettes on a party nights with an alcohol, but never in a regular sober times and everyday environment.

Substitues for smocking: try hooka, yes, the arabic apple or any other flavour tobacco would do.

GO to a hooka bar with a couple of friends, or buy a hooka for yourself to smoke at home. It is what saved my life!

Answer 10

Do some activities to take your mind off smoking and eating.  Do things that take you away from the home so that food isn't always around.

Answer 11

You have substituted eating for smoking. Now substitute something else for the eating and you'll be on the right track. Try a little exercise, read a book, do yardwork or gardening, learn something new, start a hobby, do something to keep your hands busy, etc. It's all just filling that void with something else. Good luck and  thank you for quitting smoking!!!  :)

Answer 12

This is actually a great question, but it you aren't careful you will be back to the cigarettes soon. I quit for 7 months and for some dumb reason I started right back. If this helps you any, I am mad jealous of you for being able to at least go this long. Just keep on going no matter how difficult it becomes and regarding the weight gain, you can always shed those few pounds later on. Again, congrats to you!