What’s for dessert?

Having lost 30 lbs. last year, I didn’t want them back. From what I read online, a certain amount of weight gain is inevitable when you quit smoking. Apparently, smoking is worth about 200 calories of metabolism. So when you quit, even though your brain strongly suggests replacing the cigarettes with lots of chocolate and junk food, your body is actually demanding healthier foods in smaller quantities.My weight loss started unintentionally. When I realized my husband might actually dump me, I lost my appetite. Not wanting to eat in a stressful situation was a first for me. Like many people, I’m a nervous eater who seeks out food for comfort. I guess since the trauma of my marriage ending was the worst I’d been through, my stomach reacted accordingly. The idea of eating just didn’t appeal to me. When I did eat, it wasn’t much. This lack of appetite lasted three or four months. By then I had lost maybe 20 lbs. For my mental health, I had upped my workouts so between reducing my caloric intake and burning more calories, another 10 lbs. came off. I started buying new clothes that fit and decided to stay where I was weight-wise, give or take five lbs. My weight has been stable for the past nine or so months.

And then I quit smoking two and a half months ago. My appetite has returned with a vengeance. After a couple of weeks, I was jonesing for chocolate like I never have before. Several people at work keep chocolate candy on their desks. I had never paid much attention before but after quitting I figured out pretty quickly who kept what where. When a candy dish of chocolate runs dry, is it wrong to get angry at the person who doesn’t immediately refill it? Yeah, shame on me but that’s how my non-smoking, chocolate-craving brain works.

While the food cravings have calmed down the past couple of weeks, I still have a taste for sweets that is hard to resist. The first year at this job, I chose not to sample the cheesecakes, donuts, bagels, cupcakes and other treats people brought into work. Since I quit smoking, I’ve indulged. In fact, the last time there were donuts in the kitchen, I had not one but two Krispy Kremes. Since quitting, I’ve chastised more than one server who didn’t ask about dessert before bringing the check to the table. What is the world coming to when the waiter doesn’t ask whether you’re interested in dessert? I’ve sampled some good ones in recent weeks, including a truly decadent warm brownie sundae and a chocolate caramel cake that really hit the spot. And then, I noticed the scales going in the wrong direction. Oops. I had every intention of not gaining weight when I quit smoking.

From what I’ve read, I’m not supposed to worry about my weight initially — I’m supposed to focus on not smoking. Well, OK. I am not smoking and I think I can manage my weight as well. It’s just not going to be as easy as I expected. I have a five lbs. range I consider acceptable. First my weight edged to the top of the range, then over. Last time I checked, I was four lbs. over. And that is after a couple of weeks of really trying to lose. All I can figure is I’m missing the 200 bonus calories from smoking. Plus, the human body undergoes all kinds of changes when you quit smoking. It’s not all good and I’ve been appalled at some of the negative side effects of quitting. Gas and constipation are not pretty topics of discussion. But I’m going to lose those few lbs. If I don’t, there are a few behind them waiting to show up. And more where those came from.