Smoking

Yep, shame it's so bad for us! :(
 
I found when I first started LL that I almost doubled how many I smoked in a day, fortunately it has now returned to previous levels.

I mentioned to my LLC last week that once I've got the weight off I will concentrate on quitting the sticks, however, she said not to try it for at least a year as generally people put weight on when they give up and it's important to keep the weight off in that period.
 
I have never been smoking before but I don't think that smoking is good against hunger pains as you don't chew anything while smoking :) But maybe this it just the opinion of a non-smoker and people who smoke absolutely disagree with me. Probably they do as we may see from the posts above :)
 
I think it is the nicotine (or one of the other chemicals) that act as an appetite suppressant - hence why many models smoke.
 
Here's the research:

Australian researchers have discovered why cigarette smoking suppresses appetite, providing hope for better treatments to help people quit without piling on weight.

The Melbourne and Sydney scientists found a brain chemical known as neuropeptide Y (NPY), a key appetite regulator, is affected by smoking.

They studied three groups of mice over a month, comparing those exposed to moderate levels of cigarette smoke with two smoke-free groups.

Some of the smoke-free mice were fed the same amount of food as eaten by the smoke-exposed mice while others ate without restriction.

Hui Chen, a PhD student at the University of Melbourne, and colleagues found smoke exposure reduced NPY levels in the hypothalamus, a part of the brain involved in appetite.

"We know anecdotally from humans that appetite goes down in smokers. This research looks at changes in the chemistry in the brain behind that," explained lead researcher neuroscientist Margaret Morris.

"NPY normally stimulates feeding. It's a very potent stimulator of appetite. In the smoke-exposed mice, NPY has gone down. They don't feel like eating.

"In terms of appetite control, the human is quite similar to the mouse.

"All the chemical pathways are very similar so we think there is relevance to the human in terms of the appetite regulation."

The research, published in the American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine, sheds light on why smokers gain weight when they quit.

Once they give up, the scientists believe NPY levels probably surge, stimulating appetite.

Professor Morris, based at the University of NSW, said the battle of the bulge people faced once they quit smoking was a key reason some men and women went back to cigarettes.

Her Melbourne colleague, pharmacologist Gary Anderson, said the research may eventually lead to better drugs to help people stay off cigarettes for good, based on blocking levels of NPY.
But these may be some years away.

"The brain is a tricky organ to target drugs at," Prof Morris explained.
"You run the risk of adverse effects and you have to get the drug into the brain... which can be quite difficult."
 
I think it more to do with your mouth and hands being occupied.
 
she said not to try it for at least a year as generally people put weight on when they give up and it's important to keep the weight off in that period.

I gave up smoking about 9 months into maintenance. I think 1 year is a good guideline. You need to be really secure with your new way of eating and work through the seasons;)

I do think that ciggies are a appetite suppressant but before any non-smokers think they are disadvantaged, I also believe that the hunger presents itself more in smokers. Most of the time, it isn't so much 'hunger' but an emptiness that needs filling by something. You have an increased 'addictive desire'

Though models may well smoke to keep their weight down, many people who are overweight are also smokers forever feeding this addictive appetite.

I know I constantly gave up smoking and filled the 'appetite' with food, then went on a diet and had to start smoking again to fill that desire with fags:rolleyes: Repeat for 30+ years.

I felt I had to do that. It was what I expected of myself. I taught myself that the need had to be filled with either one of these things.
 
I gave up smoking for over two years before I started Lighterlife, and just recently took it up again - mostly as a result of non-diet related stresses. But I really think the reason I did was because my first reaction to the stress was to eat - which I wouldn't do, the second was drink - ditto, so smoking was the only thing left! It is frustrating, as what started off as the odd one or two in moments of high stress quickly transformed into a ten a day habit (which is starting to creep up again). So am determined to quit again before I come out of abstinence as I know it will seriously affect my feelings of hunger if I leave it til I am eating again. I don't think it surpresses hunger exactly, but it acts as an alternative distraction to food, or as a treat. When you stop, you mistake nicotine cravings, or try to distract yourself from cravings, with food - a bit of a vicious circle I think!

Leesy
xox
 
Hi - New to this forum but have been on lighterlife for 22 weeks now and lost over 9 stone - now in management - i was a smoker for 20 years and my councilor advised me to give up while on foundation ! .. i thought she was mad but it turned out to be the best way ! if you give up while you cant turn to food you have to face your demons and deal with it - i got the nicotine patches from my GP and am glad to say its now over 2 months without a fag !!! and i start week 7 of management tomorrow and can honestly say i havent had the urge to smoke yet - even after meals!

Photo Sharing by MyPhotoAlbum.com : MyPhotoAlbum
 
Back
Top