Weight gain phobia

[Andstillirise]

Hi , I’m sure this sounds silly to most people . I stopped smoking 4 days ago . I’ve smoked for 25 years and it’s aleays been fear of weight gain that’s stood in the way . 

Ive been a vegetarian for years , briskly walk 8 miles a day and am fit . I don’t want to gain any weight!!!

im doing okay so far not smoking . Constipated and slight headache but not too bad . 

Im having straight up panic attacks though about gaining weight though . It makes me want to smoke again . 

Pleaae help ! I know it’s irrational and quitting is healthier than gaining a few pounds . 

Has anyone not gained weight after quitting. ??

[elvan]

Congratulations and you are very welcome for my comment...if I can save even one person from this fate, I will feel like I have accomplished something worthwhile!

Ellen

[Beck37]

I again totally understand what you are going thru. I have been obsessed with my weight my entire life. There is not a moment of the day that I am not thinking of it.  It is also the reason I didn’t quit smoking for 37 years. But then I thought well obviously people gain weight cause they are eating more, so I just won’t eat more. For the last 10 years I have been a size 4.... I have gained at least 10-15 pounds and feel miserable. I just HATE it and just plain don’t know what to do. No I’m not going to smoke again but I’m at my wits end. I have nothing to cut out as I only eat once a day as it is and most of the time that is a salad.

So yes, once again I COMPLETELY understand where you are coming from.

Beck

[Andstillirise]

Beck , 

People don’t get it . Maybe I have an eating disorder even though I don’t puke or starve myself . I’m preoccupied by my weight and terrified I’ll gain . It’s so bad , I lost 6 lbs before quitting stopping to help Incase I gain any ....I am 5’5 and weigh 112 . 

Ive been burning an extra 300 calories a day more than my normal since quitting . I’ve also been drinking more water . 

I cant eat any less as I have IBS and if I don’t eat enough I’ll have a flare and have horrible stomach cramps and diarrhea.

i eat very healthy . No meat , no sugar , no processed foods . 

Im more nervous now that you said you’ve gained weight even though you haven’t eaten more . 

Maybe i I should eat a tiny bit less . Ugh 

like you , I’m not going to smoke again, but the weight thing is distressing 

[JACKIE1-25-15]

I am so sorry that you have an eating disorder and the thought of gaining weight causes you anxiety. From the numbers on the charts you are underweight so gaining a little weight may not be so bad.  MO. I wish I could get rid of some pounds but I am trying not to allow it to cause me any EXtra stress. 

[Beck37]

I learned from a very young age that being “fat” was bad. My mom had me on my first diet at 10. At your height you are definitely thin. You certainly cannot afford to eat less than you already are just as I can’t. I didn’t want to scare you but it is my truth... maybe like everything else in this quit process my body will start doing what it needs to do and things will get back to normal again. My fingers are crossed. I know there is nothing I can say to make you feel better but I’m sure you already know that you are underweight and even if you did gain a few pounds you would be alright physically speaking.

 Beck

[Andstillirise]

For me it was my father , who thankfully I’m now estranged from . 

He used to tell me growing up from the time I was about 10 that whenever a woman or girl got heavy or big she was letting the world know she was sexually assaulted. Crazy , huh ? He brainwashed me into believing anyone who was overweight and a woman had been sexually abused so and he said everyone knew it but didn’t talk about it so I believed him and thought if I gained weight people would be secretly thinking that about me too . 

I KNOW now that was just a highly manipulative and sick tactic to mess with my head but still ...weight gain causes me a lot of stress and anxiety. 

Irs literally the only reason I smoked . Pretty messed up but I’m not ever smoking again even if I gain weight , I’ll figure another way to lose the weight . 

Im sorry your mom was dysfunctional about body image too . Ugh . It messes with us for sure . 

We will both be okay , even if we are a little “ fluffier “ 

[Beck37]

Wow how messed up was that.... 

We WILL both be okay. You are already leading an incredibly healthy lifestyle but SMOKING, how crazy is that. Just the fact that we don’t have to feel shame any more or sneak off to light up.... it was embarrassing. And the effort of de-stinking so we wouldn’t be offensive. So yes we might gain a few pounds but we will figure it out and it won’t kill us cause in the long run we are going to be so much healthier. 

Beck

[Barbscloud]

Andstillirise I hope you saw this post.  You're one of the reasons I wrote it.  I can totally associate with you and Beck.  Weight was made an issue from an early age.

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/people/Barbscloud/blog/2019/04/18/weight-gain-again-and-other-stu... 

[Beck37]

I totally appreciate your blog Barb.... unfortunately it is something that we will deal with for the rest of our lives. I’ve always been envious of full figured women who embrace their curves. Was so jealous that I couldn’t be okay with what I saw in the mirror. 

[JACKIE1-25-15]

Sometimes we don't always see ourselves clearly in the mirror. At least I believe that I don't always see myself clearly  I think I look fat, others disagree.  Just saying.