What Happens To The Body When You Quit Smoking?

It is both physical and mental. I quit six months ago so I know what he is going through. The first few days are rough. We forget that nicotine is a drug, so you do withdraw. The symptoms will reduce and eventually disappear. It took about 7 days for me. The next few weeks his lungs and throat will hurt because they are healing from years of damage

The mental side of quitting is the most difficult. There is a strange sense of emptiness. We smoke for many reasons whether they be social, or to relieve stress and anxiety or as a stimulant, etc... When one quits they look for things to fill this uneasy feeling, and the easiest thing to turn to is food.

I found that recognizing these feelings and seeing them for what they are allowed me to avoid stuffing myself and replace negative habits with positive ones. I just started running alot! Good luck to your friend.

I have never smoked so I can't share my experience like Justin. I did find an article on the American Cancer Society website that shows the health benefits of stopping smoking cigarettes start immediately. It has a timeline of what happens to your body. For example, "At 48 hours, nerve endings start to regrow and the ability to smell and taste is enhanced."

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/SPC/content/SPC_1_When_Smokers_Quit.asp?sitearea=PED

He may know all this, but I guess it's good to know that each day a smoker goes without a cigarette is helping the body. All the best to you and your friend.

Has he quit completely? Because I know that if he has been a heavy chain smoker all his life, then it can be detrimental to his health because the body is having something that it has craved for years taken away instantly. A friend of my stepfather's chain smoked all his life and he suddenly quit, a few weeks later he died. Maybe he is feeling side effects from having the nicotine taken away all at once rather than cutting down until it's completely gone.

Smoking increases the metabolism slightly so it's reasonable that quitting can cause some slight weight gain. However, usually quitting just ends up being an excuse to eat more food.

He'll balloon up and wish he never quit. And if he's not careful, he'll wind up obese. And food will taste really really good. Those taste buds and olfactories will kick in and food will be like being in heaven and rolling in chocolate syrup and stuffing your face with all the goodies you can imagine. Actually he'll be glad he quit. And he might wind up being one of those annoying cigarette nazis. Ex smokers are the worst.

I quit smoking 6 mos. ago and experienced weight gain along with other challenges. First, I recommend quitting smoking. Lessening smoking isn't worth gaining weight to eventually resume the same smoking patterns. They must quit smoking!

It took me 6 months for complete success. In that time I gained 20 lbs. and stopped exercising. I had to - it took all my energy to quit smoking. It's not easy but it is doable. Make quitting smoking the most important task until it is accomplished - it's that important to your health!

I am now trying to lose weight. The cool thing is that I care more about eating chemical free foods. I do this by making at least 1 large meal each day alive. All foods in that meal are fresh, clean and uncooked. No frozen, canned or packaged foods. This has lead into exercise and some weight loss but most importantly I feel optimistic of me being healthier in the near future because I've beat the un-healthiest challenge in my life.

Good Luck,
Ron

It is always the best if one can stop smoking for better health. However, most of the smokers who quit doing so would face the same problem. They gain much weight after they quit smoking. Is this effect applicable to everyone? Not really. It only happens to those heavy smokers who have smoked for more than 10 years. For those light smokers, they hardly gain weight when they quit.

In fact, gaining some weight is a normal outcome. Nothing to be worried as it is the effect of nicotine leaving the body. In average, smokers who stop smoking normally gain about 10 pounds. If they gain excessive weight, they are advised to consult the doctors to avoid from overweight problem.

Metabolism drops about 10% max in heavy smokers. People gain weight because they eat instead, and keep eating. I don't see how anyone can quit without exercising, I've quit cold turkey 3 times (all for more than a year) and I exercised all day every day (when I wasn't working) for about 2 weeks. Lost a ton of weight. If I didn't, I couldn't sleep, couldn't rest, was nuts. WAs nuts anyway.

Yes, people gain an average of 12 pounds when quitting smoking. But the health hazards of smoking far outweigh the health hazards of carrying a few extra pounds.
It's partly due to a slightly higher metabolism as Julie mentioned above, and partly due to substituting something for the oral urge, which is most likely food. People who end their meals with a cigarette find no "end" signal after they quit so they keep eating.
Deciding on a strategy like going for a quick walk or chewing a piece of gum can be helpful.
But the rule is: quit smoking first--worry about the weight after... the most helpful thing for your healthy is to stop smoking--all my encouragements to your friend to continue with this progress!

Hi! I am one of those people who have quit smoking. I did it by exercising as a method. Every day after I quit I was able to last on my treadmill just a little more. Run a little bit faster each week. I started running when I quit smoking. I was the unhealthiest type of smoker. I was 174 lbs at only 5'2" and smoking. The fat girl with a cig hanging out of her mouth. Anyway... I started running at about 4.5 miles per hour for only about a mile... and now, 5 months later I am smoke free and running at 6.5-7mph and only 149 lbs! I lost weight after quitting because I was able to become more active as a result! Exercise should start the day you quit. It will prevent the constipation that can come from quitting smoking, and the change in sleeping habits. People who exercise sleep better!

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