I quit smoking in 2005 and promptly gained TWO HUNDRED + pounds in a little over a year. I am very high strung and anxious and I just ate instead of sucked on a cig in times of stress, when angry, anxious etc I simply could NOT lose it. I got so fed up I decided I would smoke just a little to se what would happen. Well from feb 2015 to dec 2017 i went from 390s to 225! so i lost approx 170 lbs in 2 1/2 years. i didn't even *try* all that hard. the smoking just naturally replaced BINGEING which is my problem. i still had "structured" "planned" mini extra calorie meals...usually a SMALL 10" pizza and a dessert. One baked good: a brownie, cookie, croissant etc i even weighed the pizza and then took online calorie values from a few sources ..I had to get them from franchise places since mom & pop establishments do not post calories. i figured a pizza is basically 3 ingredients: dough, sauce, cheese. of course the ratios may change but more or less the same calories per oz i averaged slices from sbarro, domino's and a few frozen pizzas. i took their serving size calories and divided by weight for calories per oz i then took the average. then to be safe, i even rounded it UP...so 63 calories / oz became 70 calories / oz and my 18 1/2 oz pizza was rounded up to 20 oz! this was all to try to see what i culd eat and still lose. i was trying to eat a little and be mindful of it..too many people blow a week or weeks w binges on their "free day" so came up w a 20 oz pizza at 70 cals / oz = 1,400 and add in a dessert usually about 400-500. I was eating 2,000 on my "free day" that one meal. Not crazy by any means ! but w that friday treat I could do low cal with very few flubs the rest o the week leading to friday. As I got to 225ish..(my normal maintanbale weight was 165-170), i decided i should quit smoking and focus on exercise. from 390 to 225 i hadn't exercised at all. none. it was all about overcoming my food addiction/binge behavior and i even learned to work in a treat once a week in responsible way ! a SMALL pizza, NO extra cheese or fatty meats (pepperoni etc) dessert was small and packaged so I could see nutrition or from starbucks. ONE baked good. I quit smoking a few months after Christmas 2017....so spring 2018. I proceeded to gain it all back ! Fast forward to Fall 2019. I get serious. I seek an appetite suppressant. I am denied due to my blood pressure and heart rate. I try no carbs as I had a friend who did ok w cutting out carbs. I did "ok" for about 2-3 weeks. I would lose 10-20 and then slowly gain it back over and over. Finally in JAN of 2020 i decided to look into bariatric surgery,.,.... I go to mandatory info seminar & sign up immediately. i am sicking of being fat. I go to get my GI x-rays, do the breath test for stomach bacteria, take my anti biotics, start to move, make some modifications, count my sodas, smaller portions, chewing, i plan to get no straw, no caffeine and no drinking w meals etc I am 3 months into this and anticipate surgery in AUGUST. BUT..I cannot lose any weight ! I do great for a few weeks and gain it right back AND i binge ! my A1C was 7.5 in feb and i was ding much better than now. They will NOT operate if I am over 8 A1C and insurance wants me to weigh less and less as I approach surgery. I have actually now gained and am heavier than when I first checked in w Dr, I'm not sure of my A1C but wouldn't be surprised if it is over 8 which would disqualify me. SO....I am considering SMOKING at least up until surgery..2 or 2 1/2 months just to get a hold of this urge to eat. Now I do not want responses abot mediation, yoga, deep breathing and "other ways to manage stress" other than eating or smoing. This is a life long struggle..I have done it all and Im not asking for tips. What I *AM* asking is did anyone smoke prior to surgery? how long before surgery did you quit? how long after surgery did you start again? I quit to avoid heart attack, heart disease, difficuluty breathing, stroke and cost ! well, now 200 lbs heavier..i'm at risk for heart disease, stroke, i have sleep apnea, and type 2 diabetes and i spend more on mcdonald's than i did on cigarettes to be honest i wish i never quit...i have lost 10 years from early 40s to early 50s..what should be quality yrs of my life..lost to being obese!@ I had a tummy tuck in 1997 after i gained and lost 100 lbs...also after i quit smoking! they had me quit just 2-3 weeks prior to surgery,. that was for healing and breathing for anesthesia. I just see NO SMOKING on list and the pulmonolgist asked abouyt my smoking history. I don;'t want to be kicked out of the program and I dont want surgery delayed. But i am having a hatime w the eating..all the appointments, blood work, phone calls, 100 mi travel to dr, video calls, emails, verifying appts and requesting med records from past provider this is a full time job just preparing for surge and i do NOT deal w phones, mssgs and the likes well at all. the whole thin is totally stressing me out and annoying me and I dislike a few of my providers for their arrogance and condescending way they speak to me. like i don't know being 200 lbs overweight is bad, expensive and that fish is better for me than a pan of brownies..oh really? thanks for he insight..i was wondering why i was 375 LBS ! on and on..and "stop when you are full" which is the most maddening. I am not nearly 400 lbs because i dont "stop when full" it's because i do not even HAVE that sensation. i have been to weigh loss clinics and met people bigger than i am and been overweight their whole lives and NOT ONE of them is morbidly obese because they ate when they werent hungry ! we use food as a drug, coping mechanism, or downright gluttony..for me it is stress reliever i dont drink booze or have anything else that cuts my nerves like eating junk fod in quantity OR toking on a cig! I think mgoing to smoke if only for a few months and get my good momentum going any experiences smoking?? again, nit looking for advice on not smoking or how bad it is...believe me i know ! m just trying to lose some weight so i can get surgery and try to STOP this bad momentum i have been unable to break for over a decade with the exception of the 2 1/2 yrs i smoked ! so is it dangerous? why? what about surgery they have you quit? anyone smoke prior to surgery or shortly after i would like to do it for a few months before and maybe after..tho everyone says i wont want to even eat after so thats good ! thoughts?