Quitting smoking is already a challenging enough addiction to beat without having to worry about adverse side effects as a result of quitting, but many habitual smokers who try to quit are also concerned that they’ll gain weight.
But according to prior research done by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), “Not everyone gains weight when they stop smoking. Among people who do, the average weight gain is between 6 and 8 pounds. Roughly 10 percent of people who stop smoking gain a large amount of weight – 30 pounds or more.”
So, the benefits of quitting smoking by following the advice on Open The Door To Quitting or speaking to your doctor, far outweighs any potential weight gain that may occur.
On average, people who manage to quit smoking gain less then 10 pounds, with heavy smokers the most likely to gain weight once they quit smoking, generally within the first 6 months.
What Are The Causes Of Weight Gain When Quitting Smoking
Weight gain when a smokers kicks the bait occurs for a number of reasons, and these include:
Feeling hungry. Smokers who quit may feel hungrier and eat more than they usually would. Smoking suppresses your appetite and once you quit your sense of smell and taste of food is heightened. Things will taste better, so naturally foods become very attractive. But this feeling usually subsides after several weeks.
Having more snacks and alcohol. Some people tend to eat more high-sugar snacks and drink more alcohol after they quit smoking.
Smoking increases your metabolic rate. So when you stop smoking, your metabolism decreases. Even though every cigarette makes your body burn calories at a faster rate, among many negative health implications, it is also harmful to your heart.
Can I avoid weight gain?
One of the best ways to quit smoking without weight gain is to adopt a healthy eating plan and to exercise more. This fundamental strategy is no different to avoiding weight gain in general.
Out of habit, it’s natural to want to put something else in your mouth to replace the routine of smoking a cigarette, so grab an apple instead of sweet foods. Also try and avoid replacing one addition with another. It’s great that you quit smoking, but it will all be to no avail if you start drinking more heavily instead. Alcohol tends to lower inhibitions and make people want to smoke more as well.
When you stop smoking cigarettes, you will have an increased lung capacity, you can walk faster, and feel better about yourself, so take advantage of your improved health and fitness and become more physically active. Regular exercise also has helps you burn off the nervous energy that many smokers struggle with when they quit.
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