Why We Gain Weight When quitting Smoking
WEIGHT GAIN IN SMOKING CESSATION
in this section 6 reasons metabolism slows | withdrawal symptoms
I’m guessing if you’re reading this, you’ve quit smoking, gained weight and you’re wondering if your metabolism has completely died. That’s what happened to me.
Last time I quit I gained 15 pounds in 35 days, hence The Smoking 15. My withdrawal symptoms were so bad I decided to relapse. When I started smoking again, the weight gain came right off, I regained energy and mental clarity and my metabolism came back.
So why did my metabolism STOP when I quit smoking???
I’ve researched this for a year and have found data-backed research that helps to explain why weight gain seems to be a non-negotiable part of smoking cessation.
The weight gain smokers experience when they quit smoking is real (and no, it’s not because they don’t exercise enough or eat too much). Metabolism slows down in smoking cessation as it’s affected by blood cells, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, gut flora, the thyroid, and even the brain, all of which have been impacted from years of smoking.
What slows down metabolism in cessation could be just ONE of the possibilities listed below or a combination of any of them, along with other medical phenomena, our own pre-existing conditions and lifestyle choices.
Interestingly, there are some parallels between the withdrawal symptoms of smokers and side effects of low dopamine or having low adenosine triphosphate (ATP) such as sluggish metabolism and weight gain. Similar can be said for the drop in red blood cells in early smoking cessation and the withdrawal symptom of fatigue.
As you read about what changes metabolism in smoking cessation also keep in mind the withdrawal symptoms of quitting smoking by drawing on your own experience as well as the list referenced on this site.
I’ll be allowing comments on my blog where you can share, comment and pose questions.