Quiting smoking+supplements?

[Smokin999]

Hey all,

I have a question but first some background.

I’m 40, 6’1” somewhat solid 216lbs. Prior military (well conditioned), only been out for 7 years. I had lower back surgery a year ago and I’m starting to get back into shape after 3 years of intense lower back pain. I got up to 250lbs before my surgery due to the lack of mobility.

My program consists of 20min of aerobic and 40min anaerobic, one to two muscle groups a day 5 days a week.

I’ve been smoking on and off for over 30 years and I’m GOING to quit this month, the date is set.

My concern is weight gain from not smoking! I’m around 2k calories a day and thinking of staring a supplement plan. FYI, I’m a supplement noobie.

With the shock that my body is fixing to go through from quitting, should I hold off on the supplements for a few weeks or just go for it?

Enlighten me!

[Cigs]


Thanks,
Dave

[BOOSTED]

Hello Dave and Welcome!!!

here's my 2 cents, i've been a smoker also for quite some time , about 6yrs, not nearly as long as you have been but still a tough habit to break. when i started going to the gym i was still smoking AND taking supplements, at that time my whole body was going through way too many changes. my advice to you from experience is to lay off the supplements for now. Get used to your regenerating lungs, after all of the cardio you'll be hacking up some old tar from your lungs, its pretty bad but it's your lungs cleaning themselves. get used to all the new wind that you'll have and get started on your diet and stick to it. with the new food regimen it should help you keep your mind off the nicotine, also if you're going to quit, are you going to the doctor or are you quitting cold turkey? i know they give anti-depressants to long time smokers that are trying to quit. the gym will be your friend during this time and i would definitely take full advantage of it , goodluck with quitting and congrats! be sure to post your progress!

[Smokin999]

Thanks Boost,

That’s what I was thinking. The last time I quit I went 6 months. I was still in the military and lightly worked out (pt) everyday. I quit cold turkey which is easy enough for me to do but, after about two weeks my body went on strike. I thought it would pass with time but it didn't.

I ended up failing a fitness test, something I had never done in 9 years of service. It just blew my mind how my body was not responding. That’s why I made this post.

I've never been a workout warrior. I was a maintenance supervisor in the service and worked from 630am till 8pm at night. Once I got out of the service I hurt my back about a year later.

Now that I have recovered from my back surgery I've been getting back into shape. I workout now 5 days a week. I've been on a low calorie diet for the last year, pasta, chicken, greens, whole grain breads, lean meats and fruits. Right now I'm between 2100 and 2500 calories a day. No supplements.

My workouts are OK but can be alot better and they will be. I'm not going to worry about any weight gain. That shouldn't be an issue and the weight that I do gain will be good muscle mass.

I'll hold off the supplements except for the multi-vitamin for the first two weeks then ease into them.


Dave

[Cigs]