Quit Smoking and Keep off the Weight

So you want to quit smoking but you don't want to gain a bunch of weight in the process. That is probably the biggest fear among all people who want to quit smoking; that they'll gain a ton of weight and not be able to lose it.
They figure it is better to be a smoker and thin than to be a non-smoker and over-weight, so they decide to not quit. There are simple reasons why people gain weight when they quit smoking and in the following I will explain some of those reasons and how to avoid them.
First and foremost, nicotine is an appetite suppressant and a stimulant. Your metabolism increases slightly when you smoke. Once you quit, your metabolism decreases and your hunger increases.
Stress is a key component to why we gain weight when we quit smoking. Most smokers, when they get stressed out, will reach for a cigarette to ease the stress, but when you quit smoking, you substitute the cigarette for food.
To pacify these cravings, food is usually the substitute. High calorie, high sugar foods such as candy are most often the replacement as it's quick to get, quick to eat and quick to give you that little buzz.
The problem is, since you quit smoking and your metabolism has slowed down, you aren't burning those calories, so they build up and this is why you gain weight. If you want to quit smoking and not gain weight you have to figure out the reasons why you are eating in place of smoking and get control of that.
If a craving comes on, go for a long walk or listen to relaxing music. Read a book or start a low stress project to keep your mind occupied. Whatever you do, keep busy. When an overactive appetite becomes a problem after you quit smoking then consider snacking on healthier foods.
Some alternatives to sugar snacks are things like vegetables, fruit, dried fruit, and low calories types of food. Cherry tomatoes are a great snack to keep around. Dried fruit can satisfy your sweet tooth as well, with its natural sweetness.
Healthier choices for snacks will stop the scale from reading higher than you want it to. Sometimes weight gain becomes inevitable for a smoker who recently quit. If you start an exercise regimen right away, you can avoid gaining more weight and it can help lose the few pounds that have crept up since you quit smoking.
Drink lots of water in between meals to help fill you up so you won't feel too much of an urge to eat tempting foods. Smoking can be a habit of the past without replacing it with tons of food. Eating sensibly, keeping busy and exercise will help you quit smoking and keep those extra pounds off. A strong mind will produce a strong body. I lost 40 lbs in 3 months with an extreme weight loss diet that almost destroyed my health. I took spicy food and milk together which led to serious diarrhea everyday. I've been doing a bit of research after my dramatic weight loss experience and found that there's actually a PROGRAM designed to do what I attempted, except its basically more healthier and effective. Check out my #1 picks Weight Loss Programs for men and women to find out what are those diets.

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