How to Quit Smoking without Weight Gain
You want nothing more than to be able to quit smoking. But the prospect of gaining weight really does not appeal to you at all! How are you supposed to stay focused on your goal when the goal leads to such an undesirable side effect? Don’t worry; breaking one bad habit such as smoking, doesn’t necessarily mean replacing it with another bad habit like overeating. Arm yourself with some facts about your body to be better able to side step those typical and detrimental side effects.
According to smoking cessation therapists, part of the reason so many people suffer weight gain when they quit smoking is because cigarettes actually stimulate the metabolism. Apparently, if you smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, your body can burn up to 250 calories a day. But we all know this really is not a safe or viable way to maintain any one’s ideal weight! In truth, throughout their entire process of quitting, smokers will typically only gain 5-7 pounds. Eventually, once you’ve completely quit smoking your metabolism will normalize. And during the process of quitting practicing these few simple tricks will be sure to help you along the way:
- drink plenty of water – to lesson the cravings, curb weight gain, and flush out toxins
- feel free to eat at will – just choose healthy, nutritious foods and steer clear of junk foods having little or no nutritional value. Your body will need plenty of nutrients to help it adjust to the changes it will be going through while kicking the smoking habit.
- exercise regularly – make a routine of walking, running, or any physical activity that you enjoy. Not only will this up your metabolism, it will also keep you too busy to sit around and dwell on how much you want a cigarette.
- enlist the use of nicotine replacements – just be sure not to use more than is necessary
- join a support group – having others to share your process with does a lot to help you stay focused
Remember also to keep focused on the results of your goal. Once free of nicotine, your vital organs like the heart, lungs, and your arteries will begin to regenerate ridding themselves of the damage done to them by your previous smoking. You will lose those yellow stains from your fingers and fingernails and all your skin in general will become fairer, smoother and appear stress free. Your teeth will become brighter and stain-free, you will no longer have bad breath, and the health of your gums will improve. Healthy gums and teeth are proven to have a tremendous effect on the the overall health of your body in general. When you think about the advantages of living a smoke free life, you will feel great inside and out! Keep your focus on your goal and you will never regret your decision to quit smoking.
by Janelle Schweinfurth