Does quitting smoking seem like such a burden because you're gaining weight? Living a smoke-free life while putting off those pounds is not impossible.
I personally quit smoking and gained only 1.
2 pounds using the exact techniques I'm about to share with you.
So why do you gain weight when you quit smoking? 1.
Nicotine keeps the body weight low so when you quit smoking, your body weight increases to when you didn't smoke.
2.
A need for fewer calories.
After you stop smoking, you may use fewer calories than when you were a smoker.
Use these 9 tips to turn the scale in your favor: 1.
First off, the majority of smokers gain very little if any weight after quitting smoking! I don't know about you but I'd rather live a smoke-free life and worry about burning the pounds off later.
2.
Most people (who do gain weight after quitting smoking) gain only an average of 4.
6 lbs.
3.
Smoking speeds up the metabolism, so when you quit, you will have a decrease in your metabolic rate by about 200 calories per day.
If you change neither your diet nor exercise, you may gain weight (there are 3500 calories in one pound of fat) at the rate of about 1/2 lb per week.
4.
To maintain your weight after quitting smoking, decrease your caloric intake by about 200 calories per day to maintain your level.
Doing this will help balance your caloric intake to the same level when you were smoking 5.
One of the best ways to maintain your weight after quitting is increasing physical activity by 200 calories per day.
Another technique is to take all the money you've saved from not buying cigarettes and spend that towards your monthly gym bill.
Not only will you feel more strongly about not smoking, but also you're balancing your caloric intake.
If you don't want to spend the money you're saving on cigarettes then take a two-mile walk after work.
6.
If you really want to put off those pounds then combine both tips 2 & 3.
7.
Get enough sleep.
When you feel tired you're more likely to crave cigarettes and food.
8.
Try not to do things that tempt you to smoke or eat when you are not hungry.
Simply keep a journal of where and when you feel most tempted to smoke and avoid these situations.
Substitute healthy activities for smoking to help you avoid the urge to smoke or eat when you are not hungry.
9.
As always smoking is the greatest threat to your life.
Gaining only a few pounds is nothing compared to emphysema, lung cancer or anything else you get from years of smoking.