I need help..

[Pamela]

I am diabetic, and have been on chantix to quit smoking. I am gaining weight that I don't need to be gaining. I exercise and walk everyday but have to watch it so my blood sugar won't bottom out. My blood sugaers are doing fine it is just this weight gain. Any ideas???

[ml2620]

Congratulations on maintaining your proper blood sugar level. I know that is not easy.

I hate to say it, but it sounds like you need to drop the chantix and quit smoking on our own willpower. Is their an alternate medication your doctor could perscribe that would not have the weight gain side-effect?

[rowdy35]

my husband took Chantix. While it did reduce his cravings for cigarettes, it made him coo coo. He quit taking it after about a month.

[hollyhill]

I don't have any experience with Chantix but I do know how hard to keep blood sugars even....
my little girl has Type 1 diabetes and that alone is a huge struggle..
Maybe your endocrinoligist can recommend something better?

[CrazyHomemaker]

Here's my suggestion. My DH is diabetic and I've cut out a lot of pre-made and boxed foods. I feed him mostly something that I've cooked, which has little to no preservatives and food additives. I can't handle the additives for my own health reasons. I don't buy him anything diabetic except chocolate and soda (which is a literal killer). I find that keeping out the additives and things that can't be pronounced, a good 20 lbs of toxic fats can come off of a body. That's what happened to me. Then DH is slimmer, but with no weight loss. It's not easy cooking this way, but nothing good comes easy. Good luck to you. You are definitely on the right track to better health.

[Momto2Boyz]

Ok, just an FYI, stay on the chantix, that isn't what is affecting your weight. When you quit smoking, you are removing a chemical addiction from your body. The chemicals in cigerrettes actually effects your metabolic rate. When you are a smoker, your heart rate and blood pressure are higher, and effect your metabolism. When you quit (regardless of any meds you are on for quitting) your metabolism slows down and you gain weight. Even if you are eating the same foods and working out the same, you will gain some weight. It is just an unfortunate side effect to quitting (although a temporary one).

The best advice is to keep your blood sugar issues under control and do your best to eat right and exercise. Once your body regulates to being chemical free, your metabolism will stabalize and the weight will come back off. But the only thing that will help is time.

When I was a smoker, this was my biggest dillema. And finally my doctor explained all this to me, becuase I would quit successfully, but after 3 months I would have gained a ton of unexplained weight and I would start smoking again. He finally explained that if I quit and stayed quit, the weight would come back off on it's own, and he was right...it did. It just took time!

So hang in there, and stay smoke free. Do what you can about the weight, but try not to stress too much, it'll come off eventually!

[Judi Dial]

I'm NOT a diabetic, but my weight loss tip is water. When I'm trying to lose and can't otherwise, I drink a lot of water. It helps me think that I've got food in my tummy. When I could chew ice, that was ideal, but it hurts my teeth now.

Also, try drinking a glass right after you go to the john, then you were full, and you fill yourself right up again!

Don't starve yourself, but this helps me to be reasonable, that is, eat only 3 meals a day and no snacks, which are my diet killer.

Judi

[guest002]

I would talk with your doctor...

Personally I was on Effexor XR for migraines. It didn't help much with the migraines but it did pack on the weight. I'm finally off of it.

I can't vouch for this link but it came up when I googled around a bit:
http://whyquit.com/pr/082506.html

[frugalfranny]

I would talk to your doctor but go ARMED with info to discuss.

Google 'side effects of chantix' and see all the info that comes up. Not sure you need the added affects with the diabetes.....but good luck in whatever you pick.

Any reason you aren't on...or tried the patches? They worked for me and even helped the additional eating a little bit if I also was aware and watched it. I don't like what I have seen and heard about Chantix...a couple friends were on it and were a little crazy....so they went off.