Quitting smoking vs. losing weight: which is harder?

Not sure where else this belongs, but whatever.
So, I’ve managed to bulk up to 175 lbs, but man, it was an absolute grind. Blood, sweat, and tears.
The issue? It’s slipping right through my fingers. Keeping the weight on is a constant battle.
Can someone tell me if smoking messes with how the body processes food? Like, does smoking actually cause weight loss?
Take my mom, for example—she smokes (cigarettes😁) and is easily 45 pounds underweight, while my dad stays around 220 lbs because he doesn't touch them. I see the same thing with my uncle, my cousins, and basically everyone I know.
Thanks.

Honestly, I feel like I’ve never even met a heavy smoker who isn't also overweight! 🤣

It’s pretty common knowledge. If smokers don't light up, they eat; they're constantly hungry. Then, once they smoke, their appetite just drops.
I find it honestly terrible seeing overweight people smoking, because once they quit, they’re just going to gain even more weight since they can't control themselves. I also hate seeing elderly people smoke—I mean, you should really quit by 40 if you actually want to live longer.

Drew Smith said:It’s basically common knowledge at this point. If smokers don't light up, they’re constantly hungry. But once they finally grab a cigarette? Suddenly, they have zero appetite. It’s a total cycle.
Honestly, it’s just tough watching people struggle with weight and smoking at the same time. It feels like a losing battle because once they finally kick the cigarettes, the extra pounds usually just catch up to them since the control isn't really there. And don't even get me started on seeing older folks lighting up—like, man, if you want to actually see your grandkids grow up, you've gotta quit before you hit 40. Just my two cents.

I'm just like... That’s just terrible. That’s a wrap. ☕

Sophia James92 said:I think this conclusion is just ☕
garbage.

The conclusion is solid. Does the truth bother you that much?🤷

Alex Patel96 said:The conclusion is solid. Does the truth bother you that much?🤷

I was actually chiming in on that bolded part earlier. Honestly, I totally get where they're coming from about smoking killing your appetite—I’ve been a smoker for years, so I know that struggle firsthand. But man, the idea that people who quit just can't control their hunger? That's total nonsense. You can absolutely manage it if you put in the work. Plus, let’s be real: most people quit because they want to stay healthy. If you're making a big move for your health, it only makes sense that you'd start watching what you eat too, right? And look, if you actually care about living a long life, you shouldn't wait until you're 40 to kick the habit. Ideally, you just shouldn't start in the first place. It doesn't have to be this massive, impossible battle later on. That’s just brutal. I don't know, seeing someone described like that... while I was reading it, I might have totally misread the vibe, but there was this tiny hint of something nasty in that sentence. Not even about smoking or anything—it just felt like a dig at their weight and how old they are.
My bad if I totally misread the situation—honestly, I don't mind being corrected! I'm all about the truth anyway.

Look, let's be real—you don't have to be a non-smoker just because you weigh 200 pounds, and you definitely don't need to be a smoker to stay skinny. It’s not that simple. And honestly, smoking doesn't actually make you lose weight; it just keeps you stuck at the same weight. You aren't getting thinner, you're just staying stagnant. Once you finally quit, though? Yeah, the weight gain is pretty much inevitable. Your metabolism kicks back into gear and your appetite goes through the roof because your body is basically trying to distract itself from the nicotine cravings. It's just how it works.😉

That’s all I got for you guys!🙂

I’ve been smoking for a few years now and my weight just won't budge. My mom smoked for about a decade and ended up packing on like 45 pounds during that stretch. She still smokes today and she's sitting at around 200 lbs—easily 40 or 50 pounds overweight. So much for that logic 🙂

Drew Smith said:It’s common knowledge. If smokers don't light up, they eat. When they're hungry, they smoke and lose their appetite.
It’s just gross seeing overweight people smoking. Once they quit, they’ll be even heavier because they have zero self-control. And seeing old people smoke? Disgusting. Quit before you hit 40 if you actually want to live.

See... that's not how it works for me. If I'm hungry and I light a cigarette, I get nauseous, my stomach hurts, I'm burping constantly, etc.