How to Avoid the Side Effects of Quitting
Smoking -
Weight Gain
A large number of
people tend to gain weight after they quit smoking. This is simply
because smokers burn around 200 calories everyday owing to their habit,
and smoking is also known to suppress appetite. Therefore, in the
absence of smoking, your body would have an extra 200 calories per day
to deal with, while also having an increased appetite (which would only
add more calories).
Quitting smoking is
known to increase appetite, and there are also a number of people who
turn to eating as a form of replacing their nicotine fix. Besides,
smokers are also known to avoid mid-meal snacks by replacing them with
cigarettes, and in the absence of cigarettes, these come into play.
Smoking also affects the body’s metabolism, and when you quit smoking
your metabolism reduces.
Avoiding weight gain
when you quit smoking is not very difficult. For starters, you should
increase your activity levels, and you should try to make exercising a
part of your daily routine. Also try to refrain from snacking simply
because you have nothing else to do; instead, try keeping yourself busy.
Follow a nutritional diet, and if needed, get a professional to chart
out a diet plan for you. Also keep a track of your weight, even if this
means weighing yourself every week, and if you see a considerable rise,
don’t wait until later to address it.
Planning ahead is a
good way to make sure that you can tackle this problem effectively.
Simple measures such as stocking up on healthy snacks will help, and do
try and avoid anything that is fried. Carrying fruits with you while you
are out is a good idea, as you can always reach for one easily, without
having to worry about what to eat. Staying away from carbonated drinks
is definitely suggested, and you could switch to drinking fruit juices.
Also, don’t forget to drink plenty of water, as, amongst other things,
this would also help control hunger pangs.
Remember, if gaining
weight is a concern when you quit smoking, a healthy well balanced diet
coupled with exercise will ensure that there is no significant change in
your weight. |
