You know how smoking increases metabolism...

[HauntedMyst]

i gained weight. But I attribute that more to my goal of wanting to get so big I would have to wash myself with a rag on a stick than I do to vaping. Some people are naysayers but bathtub + rag on a stick = fun.

 

[JCinFLA]

I’m fairly skeptical about most claims regarding metabolism. Unless you have been starved for a while, or have certain medical conditions, your metabolism will not vary much from the norm.

Unless/until you experience a problem with your own metabolism, you may continue to be skeptical about "most claims" regarding it. When mine went haywire 23 years ago, it was totally out of the blue. It was only after being referred to an endochronologist, that I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. I had changed nothing (my diet, the amount I ate, my activity and/or exercise amount, medications, etc.), yet my thyroid began making enough thyroxine for me and 4 other people! But the treatment I received and the medication I'd been taking for 23 years since then, had my metabolism well-regulated, and kept it there. During those years, all bloodwork tests (especially TSH tests) done every 4 months, showed that it was. I could always physically tell it was, even before getting the test results back each time. So, yes, a medical condition can definitely be the cause of metabolism problems.

However, regarding the part of your quote that I underlined - You may want to check with an endochronologist about the accuracy of that statement. There are definitely other things than starvation or a medical condition, that can cause one's metabolism to noticeably vary from their "norm". My endochronologist and my own labwork can verify 1 of them.

People don’t gain weight when they quit smoking because their metabolism changes. They gain weight because 1) cigarettes are a great appetite suppressant, and 2) food is what people turn to when they feel deprived of other things.

Geez...there's another opinion that seems to be stated as a fact, and that applies to all of us. I wish you'd post where you found supposed proof of that, as I'm sure my endo. would love to see it, too. I'd email a link to him if you'd provide one here. I take issue with it because I'm living proof that exactly that does happen with some of us, and my medical records will back that up.

 

[Opinionated]

When I was young and healthy I actually needed 4000 calories daily in order to keep from losing weight. But I was active as active can be, I mean like seriously active.

When I got hurt I had a stomach that was used to that much food in a day and a body that didn't burn it anymore and I began to gain some weight.

It took some days of feeling hunger to readjust my stomach (allow it to shrink) and bring my diet in line with my activity level.

That was the only time in life I gained - I never gained due to switching to vaping. Although some people eat more at first because once you quit smoking food actually tastes awesome... but some of that desire vaping will alleviate because you can vape awesome flavors, so it's a wash.. most people don't gain as a result.

 

[go_player]

So, yes, a medical condition can definitely be the cause of metabolism problems.

Thyroid conditions are among the conditions I was referring to when I said certain medical conditions... none of what I said applies to you if you have a thyroid condition. In that case your metabolism might indeed differ from the norm.

That said, most people have pretty normal metabolisms, and that is not a matter of opinion. Much that should not be is blamed on metabolism. Gaining weight when you quit smoking is an egregious example. There's a reason those stick-thin models in Paris mainly live on cigarettes and caffeine. Both are powerful appetite suppressants. When you give up a powerful appetite suppressant you should not be surprised if you gain a bit of weight, and you hardly need to invoke changes in metabolism to explain that.

 

[Opinionated]

Thyroid conditions are among the conditions I was referring to when I said certain medical conditions... none of what I said applies to you if you have a thyroid condition. In that case your metabolism might indeed differ from the norm.

That said, most people have pretty normal metabolisms, and that is not a matter of opinion. Much that should not be is blamed on metabolism. Gaining weight when you quit smoking is an egregious example. There's a reason those stick-thin models in Paris mainly live on cigarettes and caffeine. Both are powerful appetite suppressants. When you give up a powerful appetite suppressant you should not be surprised if you gain a bit of weight, and you hardly need to invoke changes in metabolism to explain that.

Nicotine is the appetite suppressant in cigarettes - which is found in vaping as well.

Someone who switches to vaping is not deprived of the appetite suppressant that is nicotine (unless they themselves choose to use extremely low amounts). They are not deprived of the hand to mouth habit.

They have the added fun in vaping of being able to taste sweets all day, every day if they like without eating a thing (awesome for the pleasure center of your brain and love for your figure too. Win win. )

As a general rule, there is not going to be many people gaining weight when they switch to vaping except in exceptional circumstances.. health problems included which are unrelated to vaping.

Stick thin models don't smoke these days..

 

[JCinFLA]

Thyroid conditions are among the conditions I was referring to when I said certain medical conditions... none of what I said applies to you if you have a thyroid condition. In that case your metabolism might indeed differ from the norm.

I explained about my hyperthyroidism, the Sythroid meds I take, AND my well-regulated metabolism for the last 23 years...for 2 reasons: (1) My medical condition then was an example in support of some of what you'd said about causes of changing metabolism. (2) However, my metabolism was "normal" for 23 years...before I quit smoking. There was NO medical condition nor other cause during the next 1.5 years, for my progressive weight gain and drastic lessening of my energy level. That's why I said the following in the next paragraph then:

"There are definitely other things than starvation or a medical condition, that can cause one's metabolism to noticeably vary from their "norm". My endochronologist and my own labwork can verify 1 of them."

That "1 of them" above...was my quitting smoking! My endo. told me that some of the thousands of "the other chemicals" in cigarettes, can/do have an effect on metabolism. Since I was no longer smoking...I wasn't getting them any more. He said initially, that hopefully, my body would just become accustomed to not having them, and my energy level would return to normal and my weight gain would stop. But it didn't, for 1.5 years. It was then that we tried the additional med. my body didn't like, and finally raising my nic level a total of just 1mg over the next 6 months. That did the trick!

That said, most people have pretty normal metabolisms, and that is not a matter of opinion.

You never made that statement, but if you had...I'd definitely have agreed with it. You said, "Unless you have been starved for a while, or have certain medical conditions, your metabolism will not vary much from the norm." That is just not true, per my own experience after quitting smoking.

Much that should not be, is blamed on metabolism. Gaining weight when you quit smoking is an egregious example.

I agree with the 1st statement above, to a degree. However, having an underactive or overactive thyroid are 2 frequently long-undiagnosed conditions, especially since TSH testing isn't a part of routine bloodwork most people have done. I will also agree that many who quit smoking, (and aren't getting nic in some other way)...probably do gain weight because they're getting no appetite suppressant any more = more snacking, or possibly eating more since their sense of taste is returning.

But...I will never agree with, "People don’t gain weight when they quit smoking because their metabolism changes," because I know for a fact, that's sometimes it is the reason.

When you give up a powerful appetite suppressant you should not be surprised if you gain a bit of weight, and you hardly need to invoke changes in metabolism to explain that.

But, when that "powerful appetite suppressant" is not given up, (because the ex-smoker is still getting nicotine another way)...the possible cause for the weight gain, shouldn't be assumed to be only 1 thing (food related)...for everyone without a current, diagnosed, medical condition.

I've provided info. that I'm aware of relating to the OP's post, based on my own personal experience and what I know to be true because of that, and on info. gained from my endo. But everyone has the right to think whatever they want to about anything, and to post their thoughts here, within reason of course, or the mods "will cometh". So I'll just stop now.

 

[stols001]

I had to adjust my thyroid dose up slightly when I switched to vaping, my understanding is that smoking is metabolized by the body using different pathways than just nicotine. So, I had a slight increase.

I did gain some weight initially, but I actively had to work at it. I was pretty skeletally thin due to how ill I was when I quit smoking.

Then, my weight kind of shifted to its natural weight. I've been super busy though and got out of the yoga habit, which I need to get back into (I am hoping, tomorrow). I am a mesomorph and thrive with a daily endorphin rush, but life stuff got in the way.

I'm highly aversive to "resuming yoga" after a break, it always hurts LOL. I need to do it, for my mind's sake though... I don't so much care about weight changes (mine's a wash, fat is lighter than muscle) and I am sort of glad I gained enough to be at a healthy weight but it is definitely time to get back to my routine.... More for my brain and health than everything else.

I don't focus that much on slight weight fluctuations. I do think nicotine contributes to that it's slight stimulant as well as having some appetite suppression.

I gained a TON of weight when I quit cold turkey, but I was pregnant, so I think that doesn't count. LOL.

If you are concerned, up your activity and pay attention to what you eat, but I've never found more than a slight difference in weight if using any nicotine replacement, including vaping (which I kind of even had to work at). I also wouldn't blame vaping at this point, given your activity level has to be lower than before, etc.

Anan

 

[Sloth Tonight]

I did not gain any weight, in fact, I lost a bit.

However, some months before I quit smoking (without actually intending to!) via vaping, I also changed my eating habits by substantially cutting down on carbs.

I lost a bit too, I think because desert flavors curbed my desire for ice cream.

 

[tgs3]

I began vaping in August of 2017. I lost 20lbs. But I had lost my appetite prior to that, so I can't, in all honestly, put my weight loss down to vaping. However, after many months of vaping, I did not put the weight back on.

 

[Novasonic]

Vaping will allow you to run and exercize more effectively than smoking, so you have the advcantage right there. Other than that, weight problems start and end in the kitchen.