Worried about Gaining Weight??

Some people put off giving up smoking because they are worried about putting on weight. But with careful planning this can be avoided.

Will I put on Weight when I quit?

Not all people will gain weight after stopping smoking, about 1:4 even lose weight.. If you have a history of weight gain you may find you put on a few extra pounds. On average weight gain is between 7 - 14lbs but a lot depends on you.

People sometimes put weight on because:

• Nicotine suppresses your natural appetite and makes your body burn calories faster. So appetite increases when you stop smoking
• Smoking affects your sense of taste and smell, so food seems nicer when you stop smoking.
• They replace cigarettes with high calorie snacks or their normal diet changes.

To avoid putting weight on:

• Keep an eye on what you eat, avoid snacking
• Avoid high calorie foods and sugary drinks
• Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day
• Increase activity. Even a walk around the block will help
• Try picturing your self as you would like to look
• Get support

It makes sense to start eating healthy before you stop smoking that way you’ll avoid developing bad habits of snacking.

 

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