Avoid Crash Diets
Choose healthy foods that are rich in nutrients and low in calories whenever you can. But experts advise against radical changes in how you eat. Quitting is tough enough without adding the stress of extreme dieting.
Be Realistic in Your Expectations
Many smokers do gain some weight. It’s fine to resolve to do everything you can to keep your weight down. But don’t make weight a make-or-break issue. “It’s important to tell yourself right at the beginning that it’s OK to put on some weight. Don’t be too tough on yourself.
Stay Busy
To distract yourself from the urge to smoke, fill your day with things to do that don’t involve eating. Physical activities — walking, gardening, doing chores — are a great choice. They burn calories, of course. And research shows that they also have a positive effect on mood. But any kind of distraction from the urge to smoke will help. Examples include:
- Watching a movie
- Attending a concert
- Going to the library to read
- Visiting a local museum
- Calling a friend
- Volunteering
Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to find smoke-free places to go these days. That trend has helped to make it easier for smokers to quit.
Talk With Your Doctor
A variety of products and medications are available that have been found to help smokers quit. Several also appear to help quitters keep weight off. In a 2009 review, researchers found that the antismoking drug buproprion and the antidepressant fluoxetine, as well as nicotine replacement therapies and cognitive behavioral therapy, helped limit the amount of weight that smokers gained while quitting.
Keep Your Health in Perspective
If you do gain extra pounds while you kick the habit, don’t let that derail your efforts. By quitting smoking, you can add years to your life — and years of being in good health rather than sick and disabled. Those extra pounds are a small price to pay. Once you’re tobacco-free, you’ll have plenty of time to get into shape and achieve a healthy weight.
Quit Smoking Without Gaining Weight was originally published on blackdoctor.org
