Weight Gain and Quit Smoking

Many people who have quit smoking experience weight gain. It is often used as an excuse to not quit smoking, however, with a little planning before you quit smoking, you can avoid gaining weight.

Understanding why you gain weight when you quit smoking is the first step to avoiding weight gain when you stop smoking. There are four reasons why a smoker may gain weight when he or she quits smoking.

1. nicotine is an appetite suppressant
2. smoking increases metabolic rate
3. smoking dulls the sense of taste
4. oral fixation

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1. Nicotine is an Appetite Suppressant

The nicotine you inhale when you smoke acts as an appetite suppressant. When you stop smoking, you may notice an increase in hunger.

2. Smoking Increases Metabolism

Smoking artificially increases your metabolism. This means that the food you eat is more quickly converted to energy and less likely to be stored as fat. When you stop smoking, your body has to readjust to a lower metabolic rate. The food you consume is used as energy at a slower rate, and is more likely to be stored as fat.

3. Smoking Dulls the Sense of Taste

One of the effects of smoking is the dulling of the sense of smell and taste. The sense of taste and smell returns when a person quits smoking. A new non smoker may eat more because food tastes better.

4. Oral Fixation

Some people who quit smoking find that they miss having something in their mouth. They may fill the void by eating to replace smoking.

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Here are some simple tips to avoid weight gain when quitting.

If you have a sweet tooth, try sugar free chewing gum or hard boiled candy, air popped popcorn, fruit or raw vegetables (carrot and celery). Try taking a chromium supplement, chromium may curb your sweet tooth as it stabilizes blood sugar levels.

Watch what you eat when snaking. When you're coping with nicotine cravings and decide to make yourself a snack, make sure it's light and healthy. Avoid chocolate bars and fast food when distracting yourself from nicotine cravings.

Start doing some exercise. Try walking, jogging, swimming or cycling. Start slowly and gradually build up the amount of exercise you do. Regular exercise of 30 minutes daily is enough to keep the extra pounds away. Don't forget to add variety to your exercise, try different types exercises to avoid boredom.

Exercising when trying to stop smoking also has other benefits such as

• reducing stress
• reducing depression
• improving fitness