Keep the Weight off When You Quit Smoking

Related Media: Choosing a Quitting Method

Many people are concerned about gaining weight when they quit smoking. But, with a healthy diet and regular exercise, this weight gain can be prevented. Also, adopting these healthy lifestyle factors will make you feel better. Feeling better overall may help you keep from smoking again.

Diet

All of us should strive for a healthy diet, whatever our specific goals are. But, when you are quitting smoking, it is especially important. A healthy diet can help prevent weight gain while your body recovers from the damage of smoking. Adapting your eating habits also gives you something to focus on other than smoking.

Evidence shows that taking on a weight management program helps keep weight gain from happening over a long period of time. When you quit, you may see an increase in your appetite, so plan the right choices when you feel hungry. Here are some tips that may help you:

Plan ahead and space your meals every 3-4 hours.
Avoid coffee if possible, and drink more water.
Eat a balanced diet withgood carbohydrates and proteins.
Know your smoking triggers. If certain foods make you want to smoke, avoid them and change to something else.
To avoid after meal cravings, eat a small healthy dessert like fruit, angel food cake, or something sugar-free.
Keep healthy snack options like carrots or popcorn, readily available.

When you eat better, you will feel better. This helps reinforce the good thing that you are doing for your body. A healthy diet is not the only good thing you can do. Exercise has its benefits as well.

Exercise

Regular exercise is an important way to keep those pounds from creeping on. If you need to lose weight, exercise is even more essential.. Even a quick bout of physical activity can improve your mood and that can be very helpful in early stages of quitting. Also, by exercising regularly, you may be less likely to start smoking again.

If you do not have a regular physical activity routine, talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program. Here are some things to remember:

Find something you enjoy doing
Go slowly and build yourself up each day
Start with walking
Go for short walks during coffee breaks

The key is to get into a routine of exercising regularly. Start with 3-4 days per week, even if you only do 10-20 minutes of exercise each day. Gradually build your routine to increase the time and intensity of your activity. Remember, the longer you are smoke-free, the easier it will be to breathe when you exercise.

Many Other Benefits

There are so many other benefits of being smoke-free. Try to focus on the positives of quitting rather than the negatives. Some of the changes you will notice right away, some take time. When you quit, you will see improvements in:

Energy
Appearance
Ability to breathe

Quitting will also add years to your life. You can lower the risk of cancer or death the longer you remain smoke-free.

There are many ways to quit smoking. Look into the ones that will work for you. Do not be afraid that you will gain weight if you quit. It can be avoided by if you eat right and exercise.

RESOURCES

American Lung Association http://www.lung.org/

Smoke Free.gov http://www.smokefree.gov/

CANADIAN RESOURCES

Canadian Lung Association http://www.lung.ca/

Health Canada http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/

References

American Cancer Society. Guide to quitting smoking. American Cancer Society website. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED%5F10%5F13X%5FGuide%5Ffor%5FQuitting%5FSmoking.asp?from=fast. Updated November 8, 2012. Accessed November 26, 2012.

A Quit Smoking Guide. Smokefree. gov website. Available at: http://women.smokefree.gov/pubs/508%5Faccessible%5FCLEAR%5FHORIZONS.pdf. Accessed November 26, 2012.

Chiolero A, Faeh D, Paccaud F, Cornuz J. Consequences of smoking for body weight, body fat distribution, and insulin resistance. Am J Clin Nutr . 2008;87(4):801-809.

Choose a Healthier Lifestyle. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website. http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=6442466235&terms=quitting+smoking. Accessed November 26, 2012.

Harms of Smoking and Health Benefits of Quitting. National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health website. Available at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/cessation. Accessed November 26, 2012.

Taylor AH, Ussher MH, Faulkner G. The acute effects of exercise on cigarette cravings, withdrawal symptoms, affect and smoking behaviour: a systematic review. Addiction . 2007;102(4):534-543.

Tobacco Use Disorder. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php. Updated November 19, 2012. Accessed November 26, 2012.

Weight Control Information Network. You can control your weight as you quit smoking. Weight Control Information Network, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/smoking.htm. Updated February 2010. Accessed November 26, 2012..

Revision Information

Reviewer: Brian Randall, MD
Review Date: 11/2012 -
Update Date: 11/26/2012 -

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

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