Is it time to move on?

[geeker]

I have been a happy non-smoker since Sept 2009, thanks to vaping.
I love everything about it, except one thing...
What I don't love, is the WEIGHT GAIN.
Believe me, I have tried everything I can think of to drop some of the 50 pounds I have packed on since quitting smoking.
I spent three whole months tracking every bite of food that went into my mouth on a site called My Fitness Pal, and found that I consume 1500-1600 calories per day. I do not eat sweets, drink soda or alcohol.

I truly believe that PG and VG are causing me to gain weight. I have completely ruled out everything else.

Are there ANY alternatives?

I don't care about vapor...just need the nic and the throat hit.

I vape A LOT. Probably 3 ml per day. I have looked up the "nutritional content" of PG and VG, and they are 4-5 calories per gram when eaten. Not being a metabolic scientist, I am going to go out on a limb and say that for some people, the inhalation of PG and VG might disrupt some metabolic pathway and cause weight gain. I am really afraid that I am in a prediabetic state.

I have not been on ECF very regularly...I do not know if there is any news about this...or if any alternative to PG/VG have been used. I searched "weight gain" and found only a few people mentioning slight weight gain. Well, mine is not "slight".

I look like crap, and my knees are taking a beating.

Thinking of trying some lozenges, maybe a patch.

Please advise, if you can.

 

[smacuser]

I've been vaping for over two years and lost 30 lbs. last year with WW.com and 45 minutes of daily exercise.

Since I stopped over the winter, I gained over 20 of it back. Sucks.

 

[sourmash1973]

PV and/or VG did not and is not causing you to gain weight. Unless you are ingesting it, rather than inhaling it, you are getting no calories from vaping. You are tracking your calories wrong or are completely sedentary. But even if you were completely sedentary, you would still be losing weight eating only 1500-1600 calories a day (unless you have some medical condition that prevents you from doing so). Something isn't adding up. Either you aren't tracking EVERYTHING you eat or your portion sizes are not correct. Do you weigh the foods you eat? Do you count those weekend cheats? Do you track EVERYTHING that goes into your mouth? I'm guessing no.

 

[CreepyLady]

I am very sorry to hear of your woes I hope you find a resolution to this soon!

To be honest, a lot of people gain weight when the quit tobacco, regardless of nicotine or NRT (patch/lozenge) and a small few gain a lot. Usually this levels within 3ish? years of quitting smoking. If you switched from vaping to another form of nicotine, you will not see a change. It is metabolic and a reaction to NOT consuming tobacco, not a reaction of calories or caloric intake from vaping.

If you are able too - see your Dr and/or a nutritionist. This will help you in all of the best possible ways to find the resolutions you need Keep us posted and much luck going forward

There are research articles on the subject that may be helpful too
Heavy Smokers More Likely to Gain Weight When They Quit
Why Quitting Smoking Causes Weight Gain | Psych Central News
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=54340

 

[Rickajho]

Really not in any position to give out medical or nutritional advice here, especially with lack of details. 1,500 to 1,600 calories is a lot, depending on height, age and activity level - or lack of it. It would be far more benefit to you to see a nutritionist in context of a current medical workup than to posit if vaping is the source of a weight gain problem.

 

[geeker]

Yes, sourmash, I weighed my food for three months, and measured by volume the liquids.

I am far from sedentary...I run my behind off at work at least half of the day.

Just because some of you have not experienced this, does not mean that it is not real in my case.

 

[Amy87]

I stopped smoking 4 years ago, with no vaping or any other means, just cold turkey. I put on about 30 pounds. Last year (which was year 3 as a non smoker) I started vaping, and so far I have lost almost 20 pounds. I don't exercise at all, the only change I made was starting vaping. I really sympathize with you on the weight gain, I had never been overweight until I quit smoking, but I really can't see how vaping would cause weight gain. I know personally when I began vaping last year I pretty much stopped any snacking I was doing, and for me the nicotine greatly decreases my appetite, so along with no snacks I am also eating way less regular meals. The only other change in lifestyle besides vaping is that I have cut out pretty much all carbs. Try to avoid added sugars and any wheat or bread products, except for whole grains. When I did that the pounds started dropping like crazy. I wish you luck, unwanted weight is a horrible feeling.

 

[Sirius]

Ig PG/VG causes weight gain so be it. I doubt it does but I'm not quitting the only way I can stay cig free.

 

[Sirius]

I stopped smoking 4 years ago, with no vaping or any other means, just cold turkey. I put on about 30 pounds. Last year (which was year 3 as a non smoker) I started vaping, and so far I have lost almost 20 pounds. I don't exercise at all, the only change I made was starting vaping. I really sympathize with you on the weight gain, I had never been overweight until I quit smoking, but I really can't see how vaping would cause weight gain. I know personally when I began vaping last year I pretty much stopped any snacking I was doing, and for me the nicotine greatly decreases my appetite, so along with no snacks I am also eating way less regular meals. The only other change in lifestyle besides vaping is that I have cut out pretty much all carbs. Try to avoid added sugars and any wheat or bread products, except for whole grains. When I did that the pounds started dropping like crazy. I wish you luck, unwanted weight is a horrible feeling.

Amy, I would imagine because the taste buds wake back up and food tastes so much better. I also lost weight now that I'm vaping. I chalk it up to not being able to use salt now. I use to salt everything! lol

 

[Sirius]

Really not in any position to give out medical or nutritional advice here, especially with lack of details. 1,500 to 1,600 calories is a lot, depending on height, age and activity level - or lack of it. It would be far more benefit to you to see a nutritionist in context of a current medical workup than to posit if vaping is the source of a weight gain problem.

The age thing counts a lot. After 40 it is much harder to keep weight off imo.

 

[sourmash1973]

The age thing counts a lot. After 40 it is much harder to keep weight off imo.

I'm 40 and have lost almost 60 Lbs in the last year. Half of that year I have spent vaping.

 

[sourmash1973]

Yes, sourmash, I weighed my food for three months, and measured by volume the liquids.

I am far from sedentary...I run my behind off at work at least half of the day.

Just because some of you have not experienced this, does not mean that it is not real in my case.

What are your age, height, weight and gender?

 

[Calla lily]

Have you ruled out any medical reasons for weight gain? (thyroid or meds you are on) Are you male or female? What's your age? If you exercise a lot, 1500 calories may not be enough. Try using this site to get an idea of how many calories you should eat Calorie Calculator - Scooby's Home Workouts At my age (almost 40), weight, height, activity level, I can eat 1700 calories to lose a half pound a week. (now if only I could stick to it)

 

[geeker]

I am not telling you my age weight height gender. It's irrelevant...I have done my due diligence here. I did not come to ecf first to research this. I came here because everything else has been ruled out...the only thing left to consider is the vaping. If you want to answer my questions or be otherwise supportive, then great. If you want to bully me, then shove it.

 

[Twirl]

Have you ruled out any medical reasons for weight gain? (thyroid or meds you are on) Are you male or female? What's your age? If you exercise a lot, 1500 calories may not be enough. Try using this site to get an idea of how many calories you should eat Calorie Calculator - Scooby's Home Workouts At my age (almost 40), weight, height, activity level, I can eat 1700 calories to lose a half pound a week. (now if only I could stick to it)

Everything said here.

Also, WHAT are those 1500 calories made up of? You might be eating the wrong things. Look at The Wheat Belly books. Going grain and gluten free was what worked for me; I had no idea how sick those foods were making me.

There's also starvation mode (google it) if that's the case, as with illness, it's metabolic, not the calories in/ calories out.

 

[sourmash1973]

I am not telling you my age weight height gender. It's irrelevant...I have done my due diligence here. I did not come to ecf first to research this. I came here because everything else has been ruled out...the only thing left to consider is the vaping. If you want to answer my questions or be otherwise supportive, then great. If you want to bully me, then shove it.

Wasn't bullying you at all. I was going to offer some insight from experience. I've dealt with weight problems all my life, until recently.

But I read you loud and clear. Good luck with your issues.

 

[cope]

im a 45 my old male...since starting vaping i have lost 60lbs without doing anything special...i did stop drinking soda replacing it with water...?

 

[sourmash1973]

im a 45 my old male...since starting vaping i have lost 60lbs without doing anything special...i did stop drinking soda replacing it with water...?

I did the same. Now soda tastes like total crap after not drinking it for a year.

 

[TraceyS]

Maybe a thyroid issue? My 4 foot 11 inch tall daughter was gaining weight in 2009.....it was her thyroid. I do not know ....except all the times I quit smoking I gained a lot of weight...lost it when I would start smoking again. After vaping a year and a half I see I have lost 26 pounds since last fall. For me I am over 50 (barely!!! lol) but I started to cut back stuff cause I'd heard that as you get older you need less calories etc. I hope you can pinpoint what is going on. Best of luck and congrats on being smoke free so long!!!!

Tracey

 

[Amy87]

I am not telling you my age weight height gender. It's irrelevant...I have done my due diligence here. I did not come to ecf first to research this. I came here because everything else has been ruled out...the only thing left to consider is the vaping. If you want to answer my questions or be otherwise supportive, then great. If you want to bully me, then shove it.

I'm sorry if you feel bullied, I really didn't see that as the intent of any of the posts here. People were asking for more info because there are many variables to weight loss/gain, and I think some just wanted those answers to better understand what may or may not be contributing to it.
Again, I wish you good luck in whatever avenue you take to address the weight gain.