How to Avoid Weight Gain After You Quit Smoking

Weight gain is common after you quit smoking. This fact itself keeps many people away from the thought to stop smoking. Though weight gain is inevitable after you quit smoking, you can save yourself from the problem by taking some precautions.

Here are some important facts you need to know to understand the effects of smoking on weight:

• Smoking burns calories, up to 200 a day in case of a heavy smoker.
• It increases energy expenditure, or body metabolism.
• When you quit smoking your body starts working more efficiently, metabolism slows down, and food gets digested more efficiently. All this leads to weight gain.
• Also, insulin levels increase. Due to this your body processes more sugar for energy.

How to Control Weight Gain?

After you quit smoking you will normally gain 5 to 10 pounds. By taking several simple steps given below you can easily ward off those extra pounds:

1. To burn an estimated 200 calories used by smoking, you have to walk briskly for 45 minutes or swim for 30 minutes every day.
2. Eliminate 200 calories of food intake by leaving
   • 2 lite beers (220 calories).
   • 20 regular potato chips (220 calories).
   • 4 chocolate sandwich cookies (213 calories).
   • 2 tablespoon of butter (200 calories)
   • 2 oz. of cheddar cheese (220 calories).
   • 1 small order of McDonalds fries (210 calories).
   • 1 hot dog and roll (250 calories).
   • 2 frozen waffles (240 calories).
   • 1/2 cup macaroni and cheese (205 calories).
3. Avoid the habit of snacking to satisfy the oral fixation of smoking.
4. A daily moderate workout helps distract you from smoking, and reduces tension and stress.
5. Exercise releases endorphins in your brain and helps you feel better.