If you need more guidance, talk to your doctor or dietitian. The most important components of preventing weight gain when you quit smoking are: Physical activity To prevent weight gain at this time, you need to become more physically active. Beginning to increase your physical activity before you quit smoking may remind you how much smoking slows you down, when you have trouble breathing or start to cough during exercise. If you can distract yourself for 5 minutes, the craving will usually pass. Try not to do things that tempt you to smoke, such as drinking or socializing in a bar, or tempt you to eat when you're not hungry, such as bringing a bag of chips in front of the television. Keep your hands busy with doodling, crossword puzzles, knitting, or twirling a straw, pen, or pencil. Even if you do gain weight when you quit smoking, the health risks of smoking are far greater…you would have to gain over 150 pounds to make your health risks as high as when you smoked. Eating a variety of foods each day is a good start, and eating regularly so you never get too hungry. Get support and encouragement; talk to a friend when you get the urge to smoke; talk about something other than smoking. Managing cravings Once you stop smoking, it is important to learn how to reduce your cravings for both cigarettes and food.
Snack on fruit or chewing gum to satisfy any sweet cravings.
Not everyone gains weight when they stop smoking, but the average weight gain is about 10 pounds. A craving only lasts about 5 minutes. A. Snack on fruit or chewing gum to satisfy any sweet cravings. Becoming physically active will not only help you control your weight, but will also give you more energy, improve your health, take your mind off smoking, and help relieve the stress and moodiness that may occur as a result of withdrawal from nicotine. T. Drink less caffeine; although you may think it will make you feel better, caffeine can worsen the jittery nervous feeling that may accompany nicotine withdrawal. These can help prevent a relapse, and nicotine gum has been shown to reduce weight gain Make a list of when and where you are most tempted to smoke, and list healthy activities you can substitute when you have the urge. This can cause extra stress that can lead to extra snacking, especially over the holidays when more food is around, or relapsing back into smoking to cope with the stress. Get enough sleep; when you are tired, you are more likely to crave cigarettes and food.
Article Source: Stop smoking now
