Quiting Smoking and Weight Gain

There are many reasons why smoking keeps your weight down.

It raises metabolism rate slightly and heavy smokers burn up to 200 calories a day.

Nicotine kills hunger as smoking replaces snacks with cigarettes.

It has been proved that nicotine could interfere with the release of insulin. The hormone control glucose levels in the blood. When nicotine is withdrawn, the body and brain may slow down the hormones and other signals that trigger feelings of hunger.

Most people who quit smoking gain three to five kilos. This can be avoided by simple lifestyle changes.

Try quitting, when you aren’t stressed as stress increases your urge to smoke and if you resist that you will probably take comfort in food. Do not try to quit during festival seasons as you are more tempted to give into high-fat, sugary treats.

When your body is addicted to nicotine, its acid balance is disturbed. But when you give up smoking, it stores water. Drink plenty of water to get rid of excess water build up. Increase your water intake to more than 1 litre of water if you are already overweight.

Avoid alcohol as it contains empty calories and serves as a trigger to smoke.

Exercise five days in a week for at least half an hour in a day. If you are craving for a smoke, get out for a walk as it also helps to reduce stress which triggers smoking.

Change your eating habits gradually, have healthy snacks like fruits, skimmed milk, puffed rice, fat free yogurt, cucumber and carrot stick, bread sticks, sugar free chewing gum.

Avoid caffeine such as tea, coffee and aerated drinks as it will only make nicotine withdrawal worse. If you feel like eating sweets, go for sugar free and fat free ones.