Smoking and weight gain

A question that is often asked is "Will I gain weight if I quit smoking?" The honest answer to this is, there is a chance it could happen. The majority of smokers who quit see little or no weight gain, but an unfortunate few have been known to put on 3kg's or more.

It is thought the longer and the amount someone has smoked, the more likely the chances are they will gain weight. There are other factors as well, such as lifestyle and genetics.

There are a few reasons as to why some people gain weight after they quit smoking.

Firstly, years of smoking has a dulling effect on the taste buds. After smoking has ceased, the taste buds can regain full tasting ability. This may lead to overeating as it becomes more pleasurable.

Secondly your body burns up approx 200 calories a day trying to rid your body of the poisons that smoking puts into it. When you quit those extra calories need to be burned, otherwise they may be stored as fat.

Thirdly, people have been known to substitute cigarettes with food. Eating food is a good way of replicating the hand to the mouth habit that has been picked up from smoking. It is a habit that some smokers find hard to break

So what is the best way to ensure that you don’t gain weight after you quit smoking?

When you decide to quit, it needs to be more than just stopping smoking. The main reason people cite for wanting to quit smoking is for their health, well if that’s the case than why not make other healthy lifestyle changes too. These should include,

Eating healthier: Add more fruit and vegetables into your diet. Fill your fridge and cupboards with high protein, low fat, low calorie snacks instead of salty, sugary ones. Don’t avoid bad foods altogether but restrict them to once a week. Eating good, nutritious foods will also help your body repair any damage that had been sustained from smoking.

Exercising more: Just 30 minutes a day of solid aerobic exercise (jogging, biking, sport etc) will burn up those extra 200 calories. Add a regular exercise program into your weekly routine. If you already exercise you may need to step it up a notch. Make healthier choices such as biking, not driving to work, take the stairs not the elevator etc.

When my partner and I stopped smoking we decided we were going to change our whole lifestyle into a much healthier one. We keep this lifestyle today and we will keep it for the rest of our lives. When I think back to my smoking days, I am looking back at a totally different person. I am now smoke free, weigh less, have more energy and feel the healthiest I have ever been.

When you decide to quit smoking, decide to change your lifestyle into a healthier one too. That way there is no chance you will be one of those unfortunate ex-smokers who put on weight.