L. Make a list of when and where you are most tempted to smoke, and list healthy activities you can substitute when you have the urge These can help prevent a relapse, and nicotine gum has been shown to reduce weight gain. Replace smoking with other activities that occupy your hands and your mouth. Try not to do things that tempt you to smoke, such as drinking or socializing in a bar, or tempt you to eat when you're not hungry, such as bringing a bag of chips in front of the television. This can cause extra stress that can lead to extra snacking, especially over the holidays when more food is around, or relapsing back into smoking to cope with the stress. Healthy eating Improving your eating habits gradually can help prevent weight gain, as well as help you feel better as you quit smoking. A. Find something that will replace smoking as a way to relax and do it consistently. The most important components of preventing weight gain when you quit smoking are: Physical activity To prevent weight gain at this time, you need to become more physically active. Managing cravings Once you stop smoking, it is important to learn how to reduce your cravings for both cigarettes and food. Positive attitude As you focus on quitting smoking and healing your body, your exercise and eating goals will become easier. Becoming physically active will not only help you control your weight, but will also give you more energy, improve your health, take your mind off smoking, and help relieve the stress and moodiness that may occur as a result of withdrawal from nicotine. To prevent extra snacking as a result of quitting smoking, do not try to quit smoking during a stressful period. If you need more guidance, talk to your doctor or dietitian. If you are struggling or anxious about trying to quit smoking, talk to your doctor about nicotine replacement such as nicotine gum or a nicotine patch. – never let yourself get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired. Try to stay positive, and try not to panic about modest weight gain; if you do gain weight, your healthy habits will help you lose the weight once your body gets back to normal. Not everyone gains weight when they stop smoking, but the average weight gain is about 10 pounds. Eating a variety of foods each day is a good start, and eating regularly so you never get too hungry. Even if you do gain weight when you quit smoking, the health risks of smoking are far greater…you would have to gain over 150 pounds to make your health risks as high as when you smoked. Get support and encouragement; talk to a friend when you get the urge to smoke; talk about something other than smoking. Find something that will replace smoking as a way to relax and do it consistently.
Get enough sleep; when you are tired, you are more likely to crave cigarettes and food. Water retention may cause a deceptive weight gain of up to 5 pounds in the week after quitting smoking, but this is not a real weight gain, and your body will go back to normal. Weight gain is more likely when someone has smoked for 10 to 20 years or smokes a pack or more a day.
Article Source: How to Stop Smoking