Quitting smoking is an impressive achievement of which a person can be extremely proud. It's too bad that the possibility of weight gain could discourage some people from quitting at all.
It's true that cigarettes can act as a sort of appetite suppressant, dulling the taste of food. But it's also true that once you kick the habit, not everyone gains weight due to a renewed and improved appetite. Even if you gain a few pounds after stopping smoking, the impact of this weight on your overall health risks pales in comparison to the risks you face by continuing to smoke.
Improved health - that's what is really at the heart of the decision to quit smoking. If you're worried about gaining weight, make sure that your attitude about your weight is realistic. Are your concerns valid or based on vanity? Check your body mass index (BMI) to find out if you're in a healthy weight range to begin with, and then take steps to maintain it once you've quit smoking. Learn to listen to your body's internal cues about food - do you eat too quickly? Do you feel like you always have
to clean your plate?
Should you choose to monitor your weight or go on a diet once you've stopped smoking, there are 5 simple steps to healthy and sustainable weight loss. Read more in this section to find out what they are. One thing you should do is to definitely avoid fad diets. Most of them work by changing your eating habits drastically and in a way that is difficult to maintain. Fad diets may even be dangerous to your overall health. Know how to tell if a diet is unhealthy, like if it requires you to eliminate whole food groups or to
follow a very strict plan.
The essential elements of a successful diet are that it must result in long-term changes in eating patterns, and it must be individualized to you and your lifestyle. A successful diet must also include adequately nutritious and regular meals. Healthy eating has to be sustainable. Find out the general guidelines for how to eat the right amount to achieve and maintain a healthy weight and overall good health, including getting enough fruits, carbohydrates, and fats and sugars.
Once you've adopted a balanced approach to weight maintenance, keep in mind some strategies to help you keep the pounds off. Be prepared to handle any setbacks and have the strength to discover new motivations - like the health of your new and improved, smoke-free body!