Four out of five people who have quit smoking have reported weight gain just after a week of quitting. This is a well-document result of the reduction of nicotine in the body. The nicotine in cigarettes has properties that can raise the rate of metabolism.  Once it’s flushed out, the body will experience a slowing down in the process of burning calories.   This should not alarm quitters and would-be quitters unduly because there are ways to quit smoking without gaining weight.  To reduce stress when quitting, it is important to educate yourself to help understand everything related to kicking the habit.

Aside from speeding up the body’s metabolism, nicotine is also known as an appetite suppressant. Once you stop smoking, you feel hungry more often.  Moreover, because the urge to smoke brings with it feelings of unease, quitters often resort to eating to assuage the discomfort and reduce stress.

The weight gain is actually not a huge amount.  Just 2 to 10 pounds at the beginning months. It will eventually even out after a few weeks.   But to some, the pounds gained are very unwelcome and tend to discourage them from their determination to stay off smoking.

To be able to stop smoking without gaining weight, I offer the following suggestions:

1. First, make a list of every side effect that you know you might experience and research ways of overcoming or avoiding them without having to resort to eating.
2. Exercise.  You will obviously have more free time now that you have given up those cigarette breaks you used to have.  Physical activity will not only shed calories but also enable you to reduce stress brought on by the withdrawal symptoms.  Take brisk walks or go to the gym for a more extensive work out.  Your improved physical condition will even give you more confidence and add motivation to quit smoking without gaining weight.
3. Switch to a healthier diet.  By reducing your calorie and sugar intake, you effectively minimize  weight gain.  To lose one pound of body weight, you need negative 500 calories per day.  Plan your diet and give yourself a new goal that will help take your mind off your cravings.
4. Drink lots of water.  This will help flush out the nicotine faster and help your body fix all the damage left by the unhealthy habit.  It will also help you feel fuller and less hungry all the time.

Admittedly, it will not be easy to quit smoking without gaining weight.   But if you concentrate less on the weight gain and more on the quitting, it will considerably reduce stress that can take energy from your body that is best used to fight the addiction.

Tags: quit smoking, stop smoking, stop smoking without gaining weight