When you quit smoking you will experience physiological and psychological nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Many people use food to battle those symptoms but that is not the answer.

Why you gain weight when quitting smoking

Nicotine speeds up your metabolism and when you quit smoking and take that nicotine out of your system, you tend to gain weight because your metabolism is no longer artificially boosted. Even if you don’t over eat once you quit smoking, you can still gain weight.

Another reason people gain weight is the obvious reason – they fill the time and energy they used to spend smoking with eating. In order to avoid this, you can do two things: One, start an exercise regimen, and two, eat healthier foods during snacks and meals.

How to quit smoking and not gain weight

Here are some simple lifestyle changes for how to stop smoking and not gain weight.

Exercise

Exercise not only helps with controlling your weight but it also gives you something to do and gets your mind off of cigarettes and food. Exercise also helps with reducing stress, improves your mood, gives you confidence and, obviously, enhances your physical and mental condition – just think you don’t have to huff and puff while climbing the stairs! Once you start you may be surprised at your poor physical condition. This should add to your motivation.

Change your diet

Changing your diet can also help. Drink as much water as you can handle. Avoid all fast-food restaurants and sugar-filled foods. Start adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Try bringing dried fruits and nuts to work and have them for a snack instead of what’s available in the vending machines.

Quit Smoking Without Gaining Weight

Once you get into a flow and get used to your new lifestyle you will feel healthier and better about yourself. Just think you can be smoke free and in top physical condition within a few months. Yes it is hard work but with dedication and determination you can change the way you look and feel.

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Here are some tips for quitting smoking:

Using the Patch, Gum or Nicotine Nasal Spray

Nicotine replacement treatments are one on of the most recognizable of the quit smoking programs. The treatments include: nicotine gum, the transdermal patch, nicotine nasal spray and an inhaler. While each has been shown to improve a smoker’s chance of quitting smoking, they have failed many smokers too.

To increase your chances of quitting with NRTs, wean yourself off of nicotine as much as you can on your own and then use the lowest dosage NRT possible. While using the NRT, replace your bad habits with good ones; you can take up walking in the evening and drinking herbal tea before bedtime. For help with this, come up with a plan (see below) so that you can combat the urge for nicotine when you’re finished with the NRTs.

Using Herbs to Quit Smoking

Herbal smoking cessation products offer an all natural alternative to the quit smoking programs. The herbs create a similar effect on the brain as nicotine but they are non-addictive and safe for your body. They also ease nicotine withdrawal symptoms from nicotine addiction.

Natural smoking cessation products use a variety of herbs to help combat your addiction to nicotine. Lobelia herb, also known as Indian tobacco, is one such herb. It produces effects similar to nicotine on the central nervous system and acts as an overall relaxant.

Begin an Exercise Regimen

As you withdraw from the nicotine exercise can help ease the tension you will begin to feel. Walking also sets free the “feel good” hormone, endorphins, which help capture that cigarette high that you experienced when smoking. Walking is of course the easiest way to start exercising. To move on from there, challenge yourself by joining a gym, taking up swimming, biking or yoga.

Believe it or not quitting smoking cigarettes is tiring business. You should plan to get more rest so you will have the strength to combat your addiction. You will recover your energy and start to feel much better in as little as a week’s time. Also, try drinking more water. Many people already carry a water bottle with them when they exercise or keep one nearby their desk at work. Do that and keep one in the car in case you begin to experience cravings.

Try these tips for quitting smoking and remember everyone is different. What worked for one person may not work for you, so keep trying. Check out our top recommended stop smoking product.

Related posts:

1. Top Five Tips to Quit Smoking
2. How to Quit Smoking Without Gaining Weight
3. How to Make Quitting Smoking Easy