Usually, people who decide to quit smoking are afraid to do it because they know they will gain considerable weight, between 5 and 10 pounds, maybe more. The good news is that this situation can be avoided.
There are reasons which actually trigger weight gain after you quit smoking.
Most people perceive the lack of nicotine after they quit smoking as a need that has to be fulfilled in a different manner. So, instead of smoking, they start eating. The body suddenly receives an increased amount of calories which lead to inevitable weight gain.
Those who have been inhaling nicotine for a very long time do not usually rush out to embrace a special program to quit smoking. Still, for quite a while the effect of the nicotine is still there. Ex-smokers will go on experiencing shortness of breath, weariness, coughing which are specific for someone who is still enjoying cigarettes. If you intend to quit smoking after such a long time, you will see that an exercise program will seem even more difficult than it should be for a non-smoker.
You will undergo lots of physical changes when you quit smoking. It is well-known that smoking has the power to increase heart rate, which is why a smoker does not gain weight. However, if this habit is prolonged, smoking will cause fat to deposit onto the arteries’ walls and, in the end, a smoker will gain weight as well.
If you quit smoking but you do nothing to prevent all that extra food from depositing all over your body, then you will surely gain weight.
However, this is a problem that can be fixed. The idea is to change your lifestyle as soon as you start to do something in order to quit smoking. It is really important to embrace a healthy diet and to have plenty of physical activity, according to your age.
It does not matter if you are trying to quit smoking or anything else, the main thing is to be determined and prove to yourself that you have some self-discipline. Whenever you feel the need to smoke a cigarette, eat some juicy, tasty fruits in exchange. Try to maintain a certain amount of calories daily if you want to stay fit and quit smoking simultaneously. Be firm and do not start swallowing tons of food rich in calories just to cancel out the cigarette you cannot smoke.
When you quit smoking, the first fortnight is the worst due to the fact that all the substances introduced into your body by cigarettes will be eliminated. This is when you should consider starting exercising rigorously and bring some changes to your diet. You will not gain too much weight during these two weeks.
Although water will make you feel fatter if you weigh yourself, make sure to drink as much as you can because it will do you good and, anyway, your body will eliminate it in no time. When you quit smoking water helps you get rid of those substances introduced into your body by smoking. As water has no calories, it is the perfect ally for you to keep cravings at bay.
Your major problem is for you to quit smoking and never restart it. It will be extremely difficult to stay on track, but just imagine yourself looking better, healthier and lively. If you quit smoking, your short breath will disappear, you will no longer cough and you will not gain weight either during this whole process. You will be able to do it all much better, much easier.
In conclusion, if you arm yourself will determination and self-control you will definitely manage to quit smoking without adding any extra pounds.
