Quitting Smoking VS. Weight Gain

If you were to poll smokers and ask them what scares them the most about quitting, Most would answer, weight gain. Most people who smoke are more afraid of the short term effects of weight gain rather than the long term effects of Cancer and Heart disease. It sounds ludicrous but year after year smokers put off quitting for this reason. Some invest much time and efforts for ways to quit smoking without the possibility of gaining weight.

While it is possible to quite smoking, without piling on the pounds, the truth is that most who do quite do gain some weight. Some even gain weight when they are on exercise and healthy eating programs. This may sound discouraging but the news isn’t all bad.

Yes it is true that most who quit smoking do gain weight; however, the average weight gain is only about 10 pounds. Men tend to gain even less than that.  The weight gain is also a temporary measure.

When one makes the decision to quite smoking, this should be the ultimate goal. Staying off of the cigarettes and keeping yourself healthy should come first. Once this is established then they weight issue can be attacked. The truth of the matter is it is far mare dangerous to continue smoking than it is to be carrying 10-15 extra pounds. You are also more likely to stay off cigarettes if you concentrate on health rather than stress about your weight as well.

People gain weight when they give up smoking for a few reasons. One of the main reasons is that the majority of people do increase their food intake. People become nervous and irritable when they give up cigarettes. One of they ways to combat this is by eating, or snacking. Most people reach for junk food because it is readily available which piles on the pounds quite quickly.

There are some steps that can be taken to reduce the effects of weight gain. Instead of junk food, have a ready supply of fruits and vegetables on hand. Sliced carrots, cucumbers and pickles are the best. You still get the crunch sensation that your body craves and you’re putting in your body something healthy with almost no calories or fat. You will you get the same feeling of fulfillment from eating these kinds of healthy choices than junk food. Also, in preparing these snacks, you’ll be engaged in something that will take your mind off of smoking.

Exercise is also a very good habit to get into. You don’t have to splash out on a fancy gym membership; in fact you should start off small. Walking is a great way to start exercising. All you need are comfortable shoes and clothing. By walking for 30 minutes a day 4-5 times a weeks, you’re giving your body a healthy dose of exercise. This helps to burn off the calories and keep you fit. It also keeps your mind off of smoking which will add to your chances of success.

Yes it is possible to give up cigarettes without piling on the pounds. However, the truth of the matter is that a slight weight gain is likely. Being prepared for this rather than stressing over it could mean the difference between staying off the cigarettes or retiring to smoking.