Weight Gain

[Mogar]

VG has carbs, if anything it will add an additional 1% to your carb intake. The reason I am aware of this is because as a diabetic, I have to measure my carb intake closely and learned through my own tryals that you can measure it by the tank. I vape 12-15 mils a day and have to adjust my insulin pump for this factor. If I have a day where I don't vape that much, I have to decrease the constant flow of insulin into my body by that amount.
Back to smoking...
By stopping smoking, your body will change due to the difference in chemicals in your body. I doubt that this alone will cause a .5 lbs per day weight gain. If you have not SIGNIFICANTLY increased your intake, I would go and have a doctor give you a check up and a tox screen quickly. A shift in your thyroid or pancreas will definitely cause this and can be caught by simple blood tests.

 

[Dudeus Nordicus]

I've been vaping about 4 months and in that time i've gained about 55 pounds. Has anyone else experienced this? Other causes could be I stopped drinking around the same time and I'm also a recovering addict but i've been clean over a year so I don't believe that to be the cause of my weight. I'm curious if vaping could cause this but even if it does I believe it's worth it compared to other problems I faced with traditional cigarettes

Hi Jason,

Did you also quit smoking cigarettes 4 months ago when you started up vaping?

Can you describe your e-liquid (esp. nic strength), gear and general consumption?

Nicotine in itself normally increases metabolism while suppressing appetite and gaining a few kilos/pounds after quitting (nicotine) is quite typical. Tobacco also contains a spectrum of minor alkaloids (see WTA) not present in typical e-liquid with added nicotine. Those minor alkaloids can have noticeable psychotropic effects with some people being more suspectible than others. Combined with earlier opioid withdrawal I wouldn't be suprised if your system was experiencing withdrawal symptoms or cravings more profound than generally experienced.

Gaining 20kg or 55lbs in a few months without a very good reason (like bulking up due to exercise and high protein diet) is highly unusual and I'd suggest that you decide to figure out what's been causing it - it could be some totally unrelated medical condition - while taking control of your diet and taking up regular even if light exercise. It'll be easier now than a year and 100lbs later.

I can only offer very basic tips to get you started: Drastically reduce sugar (in all forms) and processed food intake. Replace them with mixed vegs and wholegrain produce. Maybe 4-7 eggs per week for choline. Even quality multivitamins might be worth trying in case there's a deficiency involved.

Try to always have some drinking water at hand, alternate with green or suitable herbal teas (which may themselves help with weight and appetite/cravings control). Eat an apple (or sometimes another fruit high in vitamin C) with the tea. Eat a small handful of mixed nuts (almonds, walnuts etc) daily too. It can be hard initially, but cultivating self-control becomes more rewarding as you progress.

For your e-liquid needs look into NET (naturally extracted tobacco) and WTA (whole tobacco alkaloids). You can find discussions here on EFC about them.

You took the first and biggest step by asking advice. I wish you well on the coming educational adventure!

 

[RavenZ]

Smoking cigs suppresses hunger. I've gained some weight.

 

[Robert Cromwell]

With me I lost weight and the only thing that changed was I felt better and was vaping instead of smoking. No more activity, etc.

 

[Papillon61]

I tend to vape sweet juices which take care of any sweet craving I might have though generally I wouldn't say I have a sweet tooth. I find I am eating far less than I did before, often skipping meals because the taste of the juice gives me a feeling of satiety.

On the other hand I am moving far less.... I spend so much time just sitting here reading the forums and researching vaping and online shopping! But no, I don't think I have gained any weight.

 

[Hydroscopic]

If you are on any other medications to help contend with any addiction problems, weight gain is incredibly common. The only reason I brought this up is because usually if you have an addiction history doctors tend to hand out meds. Especially given the high rate of comorbidity between addictions and psych disorders. (Example: Depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc...) Some of those meds have vicious weight gains associated with them.

If that applies to you, you might want to go through the medications and read the side effects.

 

[four2109]

I hear you. I think it's something in analogs. I gained 20-25 lbs when I first switched to ecigs in '09. I don't know if it's metabolic, motivation, energy. All 3 seem to fall when I quit analogs.
I've gone dual use a couple of times and the same thing happened each time I quit the analogs. My eating habits haven't changed.

 

[thatrandy]

i loose weight when vaping, i find i eat less

 

[DaveP]

I've vaped for five years and I'm about the same weight as when I started. The first two years I went immediately from 2 PAD down to 6 cigs a day. Three years ago I stopped those last 6 cigs. A year ago I dropped my nic level from 24mg down to 6mg. I'm still maintaining the same weight. I'm working out 4 or 5 days a week, though. If it weren't for that I'd be in trouble.

 

[Jimi D.]

I've been clean and sober going on 8 years. I quit smoking after 1 year of recovery. I have gained about 30 lbs. I love to eat now. It's definitely my addictive personalty. I'd rather be heavier than going back to the old me any day. It's all good man. Enjoy your journey of recovery. It's truly wonderful.

 

[Ohm Gnome]

I drastically cut down on cigarettes from, 2 packs a day to a few cigarettes a day when I started vaping but only completely quit analogs a month ago. I use a M80 XPRO Plus and usually a Herakles tank. I've sub ohmed 3 and a half months with different tanks and every so often I use a RDA business mostly Herakles. I typically only vape max vg. The occasional 65 35 blend. And 90% of the time it's a custard as the Vape God intended. I'm ashamed to say this but I can't eat nuts or anything hard. The drug use destroyed my teeth. I've had temporary dentures made but have to go have the roots of bad teeth removed before I can use them. I've put that off because I don't want pain medicine and I'm terrified of this procedure without it. I think I answered all the questions. Thank you everyone

 

[Dudeus Nordicus]

On average most people gain a couple of kilos or few pounds after quitting smoking, but 20kg/55lbs in just four months warrants some investigating.

Before I quit analogs several years ago I researched and researched until I had a comprehensive plan including any remotely rational (anti-smoking) dietary trick in the book. Green tea? Check. Bananas? Check. That was in addition to going on meds to stop the cravings.

The pre-researched diet, the increased physical activity, the meds, they all contributed towards maintaining a proper balance of neurotransmitters and it worked a treat.

I might have gained a kilo or two (2-4lbs) at most, but even that I felt was more due to returning fitness and muscle than dead weight.

I gradually weaned off the meds too after six months while sticking with the changed diet and restored levels of regular light exercise, but over the following year the cravings returned. Wanting to cling on to the benefits I'd gained from not smoking I came across the new trend of vaping and even with the crappy ego clearo and some unknown 24mg juice I'd found it was a moment of hallelujah! I knew I'd never have to light up again.

Having had my senses of taste and smell return it would've been easy to indulge in the short-term pleasures of eating, but I also already felt the long-term benefits of the anti-smoking and generally healthy diet and it had become a rewarding habit of its own (sorry, old burger joint).

Just like people gain pleasure from 'doing the right thing' or helping others, making positive lifestyle changes and sticking with them can be very rewarding in itself.

 

[Dudeus Nordicus]

Jason, just read your latest post and dude, I have only admiration for your turning your ship around.

The dental issues might actually have some bearing here as there's a clear link between chewing and the feeling of being full and satisfied after a meal (again involving neurotransmitters). In my neck of woods that would almost certainly warrant free or highly subsidized dental treatment (which is a great incentive for getting it over and done with).

Nuts and seeds are some of the healthiest foods (for the brain as well) and they can be ground and eaten in soups and yoghurts etc so just make it part of your daily culinary creative process.

Your vaping and gear credentials seem impeccable. Perhaps check out that WTA and see if it works for you.

 

[Deryan3]

Jason, just read your latest post and dude, I have only admiration for your turning your ship around.

Jason I agree with Dudeus, I stand up and applaud you for the 180, Congratz, I have no answer's for the weight gain, but considering what you have left behind you, your body is finally living. ( I say this in the most respectful way)

 

[erratum]

I've put that off because I don't want pain medicine and I'm terrified of this procedure without it.

Yeah ... that's scary stuff. I'm hoping you have a program & a good group of guys you can lean on through that. I've seen people taken back out over pain meds & I've seen people get through it. The ones that have gone back out took the burden on themselves & the ones that made it through did everything they could to make sure they'd be okay, including having someone else handle the meds for them & stopping them & switching to advil as soon as they could ... along with daily meetings.

I had about 1 1/2 years when I was bitten by a poisonous snake. Spent a few days in the hospital with a morphine button. Addicts came to see me every day (mostly to laugh at me .. lol) and they got me through it.

I guess all I'm saying is that I couldn't do the hard stuff all by myself. And i had to learn that that's okay....cause it really is okay.

Besides ....... nuts are over rated. Lol

 

[Ryedan]

I was addicted to opioids for 20 years but I stopped that about 15 months ago. The alcohol I quit when I also started vaping . I'm less active no doubt for a few reasons. I think it is just my addictive personality.

Hi Jason and good for you on living healthier now

Quitting drinking should help a person loose weight as alcohol has a lot of calories. You stopped the opioids long before you switched to vaping so whatever effect that might have on weight change is probably not relevant now.

I switched to vaping three years ago and my weight didn't change for the first year. I've been less active the last couple of years and gained about 25 pounds. I realized I needed to do something about it before I got any bigger, did some research, changed the way I eat and started working out regularly again. I made the change at the beginning of this year and in three months I lost the 25 pounds.

IMO weight gain or loss really is all about calories in vs calories out. Calories in is what we eat so vaping really doesn't have any influence on this. Calories out is base metabolic rate plus what we burn off doing stuff. If you're not eating more calories and/or exercising less, IMO it would probably be a good idea to talk to your doc about it.

Best of luck with it

 

[sucram]

How tall are you and what is your current weight?

if you were really skinny before and now youre normal weight for your height i wouldnt worry at all.

 

[Mogar]

Again, it is not possible to gain .5 lbs per day without a very significant change in your eating habits or a change in your body chemistry. Sigs (starting or stopping) will not create this change.
Just as an explanation. In order to gain one pound you need to eat ~4200 calories on top of what you burn on a day. You burn around 900 c a day by breathing alone. An average person burns ~ 2000 c per day. What that means is you will need to over 4000 c per day.
For me, I had a shift like this when I was put on insulin. I gained over this amount of weight because with the introduction of insulin, my body started to burn the calories correctly and the food I ate literally went instantly to fat.
Can it be done, yes. Can it be done without a significant change to either eating or something inside your body changing, not in the slightest.
Coming from someone that has been there, I push to have you visit an endocrinologist and have him run a panel on you if possible in any way.

 

[Babalos]

Buddy, send some before and after photos.

I'm pretty sure the vaping isnt causing you to gain weight.

 

[Dioxyde]

To keep things in perspective here I have to applaud you on addressing the more immediate concerns of your opioid addiction, that is impressive. When I was younger my friends and I used to party like there was no tommorrow, it was fear and loathing in las vegas every day and I had my bouts with addictions - that being said I still can't imagine what a 20 year opioid habit is like in regards to withdrawls, so well done on staying on the ball thus far, I know all too well that many don't make it back from those depths; make yourself an exception you are worth it.

Concerning your weight gain, unless you were emaciated and not eating at all I would wager that you're overeating man. That's a big weight gain and I think you are right to be thinking about it at this point. I used to bounce around quite a bit myself. Getting a bathroom scale helps prevent unwanted weight gain from sneaking up on you, I always make sure I have one now.

Methinks a gym membership might help you maintain a healthy weight and possibly be a great outlet for that addict energy? Exercise is a phenomenal thing for coping with stress and will improve your health and everything else in your life.