People who have stopped smoking have usually faced the problem of gaining weight, especially they hear people experience it when they gave up smoking. Fortunately, there are some tips that you can observe in order to help you quit smoking without the after effect of gaining weight.
In order to avoid gaining extra pounds once you quit smoking, our first pointer is that you should take extra care of your diet. Plenty of fruits and vegetables, cutting down on foods with high level of salt or sugar, and filling up on healthy fats like olive oils and avocados, are examples of how you can enhance your diet.
People who have quit smoking normally have the urge to find another habit like snacking, therefore, it is better that you get your supply of healthy snacks to appease your cravings. Keeping a supply of healthy snacks to take the place of smoking would include foods like fruits, vegetables, granola, nuts, sugar free candies and so on.
Another advice that we can offer is to eat more frequent like 5-6 meals a day instead of the usual 3 large meals. This is because you can reduce your cravings with this new way of food intake.
Another advice we can give is in tuned to what our parents would tell us to eat always our breakfast because it is the most important meal of the day. If you skip breakfast you take the higher risk of craving and eating unhealthy foods, and so be reminded that eating breakfast will give you the energy to last the day.
Another guideline to control weight when you stop smoking is to stay hydrated. Note that drinking plenty of water will make us full thus we avoid feeling hungry all the time, so you can aim for 6-8 glasses of water daily.
Another pointer that will distract your craving to smoke is to chew gum and make this your new habit for the moment instead of getting that cigarette. Some may be struggling with nicotine withdrawal symptoms and so you can get a nicotine gum to solve your concern.
Diet is just one way of controlling your weight as you go through the process of eliminating your smoking habit, but this is not enough, meaning, you have to couple it with exercise. Note that a regular workout routine will help you in your situation, plus an exercise is good for your mind, will relieve your stress, anxiety and irritability while you cut off your smoking habit.
Getting the support from your friends and families is another best way to be successful in cutting off your smoking habit, and you can do this by letting them go with you to the gym, or accompany you when you go grocery and choose those healthy foods.