subject: It is Worth the Pain to Stop Smoking [print this page] For many ex-smokers the biggest side effect of giving up smoking is weight gain. Opinions differ as to whether this is due to a change in the body's metabolism or the fact that the person eats more to fill the time they used to spend smoking. My personal belief is that it is a combination of the two. In the early months of stopping smoking I did not have a significant weight gain and I did not think that I was particularly eating more either.
However as time went by, a the kilos crept on and two years later I was 10 kgs heavier. This, for me is a mild disappointment compared to how happy I am that I no longer have any desire (five years on) to smoke a cigarette. Owning a restaurant and bar in a country that still allows smoking in restaurant without there even being a partition between the smoking section and the non-smoking areas, means that cigarette smoke is a part of every day life until we sell!
However, I can honestly say that, although I would prefer not to spend all day being a passive smoker, I can sympathise with those who still smoke. But, it is extremely important that you do not stop trying to stop. Even if you try and do actually stop for a while, then start agin, you must not give up trying.
I rarely get on my soap box about it unless I am talking to young (18 - 35) year olds.
Not that I consider myself old (43) by any means, but I do feel a sense of regret that I succumbed to the habit, publicly puffing away and thereby encouraging the habit in others.
I suppose at least I can feel some sense of payback for that, now that I am encouraging others to stop.
