Smoking packs of cigarettes to lose some weight is popular for a reason. Still, you want to know what you’re getting into because appetite suppression is far from the whole story here.
Really, it’s a better idea to go the diet and exercise route or try out vaping instead.
Here are 3 reasons why.
Your Metabolism
When you light up a cigarette, you get a big hit of nicotine, unlike say with a vape, where instead nicotine delivery is more gradual and controlled.
This big hit triggers a rush of adrenaline and noradrenaline, which really revs up your metabolic rate. But here’s the thing: it’s only temporary and can vary from person to person. Basically, when you inhale, nicotine gets into your bloodstream and flips the switch on your sympathetic nervous system. This leads to a surge in adrenaline, bumping up your heart rate, blood pressure, and metabolism so that you’re burning more calories for a while.
Still, while habitual cigarette smoking will spike up your metabolic rate, it doesn’t last long. Usually, things settle back down to normal and so in the long run counting on cigarettes isn’t a sustainable weight loss strategy.
Muscle Loss vs. Fat Loss
Long-term smokers often find themselves losing muscle mass, even if they’re not shedding stones.
It’s because toxins from smoking cigarettes wreak havoc on your muscle tissue, causing inflammation and messing with your body’s ability to build and repair muscles. In fact, it damages your blood vessels so that your muscles aren’t getting the nutrients they need to stay strong.
Really, long-term effects of cigarette use are widely documented and a lot of the research shows that the longer you smoke, the more likely you are to lose muscle mass. And it’s not just about looking less toned – weaker muscles mean everyday activities are harder and that the risk of hurting yourself is higher.
Psychological Factors
Say you lose a few stones after packs and packs of cigarettes. What then if you quit? Well, you’ll likely gain the weight back.
Smoking is often tied to our emotions – whether it’s stress, boredom, or just needing a pick-me-up. So, when you decide to quit, it’s not just your body that feels the effects – your mind does too. That’s why many many people find themselves reaching for snacks more often after kicking the habit. Basically, inhaling nicotine – especially when it’s not controlled for gradual release like with an e-cigarette – messes with your brain’s reward system; the levels of feel-good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. When you stop smoking, your brain has to readjust, which can leave you feeling moody and craving comfort foods.
Yes, you may lose a few kgs if you take up chain smoking, but it’s hardly worth it. Especially because there are safer alternatives that work just as well or better.
Originally posted on April 5, 2024 @ 4:51 pm