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Quit Smoking and Stay Slim
Quit Smoking and Stay Slim
If you are currently in the process of kicking the smoking habit, you may be dreading the idea of gaining a few extra pounds. Estimates indicate that most smokers will gain somewhere between five and fifteen pounds after successfully kicking the habit. Why the weight gain, you wonder? There are several reasons most ex-smokers end up a bit heavier after their battle to kick the habit.
First, nicotine is a natural appetite suppressant that boosts your metabolism. Many heavy smokers can burn up to 200 hundred calories a day. And secondly, many people tend to overeat or reward themselves with indulgent foods while kicking the habit, either as a reward or as a substitute. It's no real surprise, then, that so many people gain weight after kicking the smoking habit.
A small gain in weight is possibly a small price to pay for the numerous health benefits that come with quitting smoking. And it's certainly possible to lose those few extra pounds. In fact, losing a few pounds of extra weight may seem like a cinch after the hard work of successfully kicking your smoking habit.
But if you are just setting out on quitting smoking, there are several measures you can take in order to become healthy and stay smoke free.
1) Stock your fridge and pantry with healthy food and snacks. Your decision to kick the smoking habit is a positive change in your life and becoming more healthy and vibrant should be part of this positive change. So get rid of the junk food and stock up on healthy foods. Many smokers use food as a reward for not smoking, or as a substitute for smoking. Rewarding yourself is perfectly OK, but avoid rewarding yourself with food. Surrounding yourself with healthy foods will help you avoid gaining weight, in the event that you start relying on food as you strive to stop smoking.
2) Go for a walk or jog whenever a craving strikes. Some form of daily exercise is important. Exercise helps counter the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal that smokers experience upon quitting. Endorphins - a natural "feel good" substance are released into the body when you become engaged in an exercise activity. Exercise will not only help you feel better and keep you distracted from smoking, but it will also assist in keeping you slim.
3) Perhaps you don't have time to incorporate a daily exercise regime into your schedule? But you really should try to find hobbies that keep you outside and off the couch. Perhaps you can rediscover the freedom and fun of riding a bicycle. Perhaps you enjoy gardening. Take a dance class, or purchase a videotape you can practice with at home.
4) Avoid drinking alcohol. Not only is alcohol loaded with calories, but also for many people it is often associated with smoking. Drinking alcohol can be difficult without getting the urge to reach for your cigarette case.
5) Practice deep breathing and other relaxation techniques. Whenever you feel the urge to smoke, find a quiet place and sit down for a few moments of deep breathing and visualization. Instead of reaching for the cigarettes, chocolate, chips, or cookies, strive to spend a few moments alone practising deep breathingand relaxation. This will help you overcome the urge both to smoke and to eat.
6) Treat yourself to non-food rewards. Many quitting smokers treat themselves with decadent dark chocolate, slices of cake, or other rich food items. What a mistake! Instead of food, give yourself a long, luxurious bubble bath, a new item of clothing, or just the gift of a quiet, stress-free evening watching your favorite TV show or movie.
7) Use smoking cessation products such as nicotine gum or the nicotine patch. These products can not only help you conquer your smoking habit, they can also keep you from overeating. Whenever you feel the urge to substitute your cigarette with a piece of food, pop a piece of nicotine gum instead. This is recommended only as a very short term measure, however. The idea is to replace both nicotine and food, not to substitue nicotine gum for the food that you feel like substituting for the cigarette!
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