Avoiding Weight Gain When You Quit Smoking

Of the people who quit smoking, one-third will lose weight, one-third will stay at the same weight while the last third gains weight.

Unfortunately for the last third of people who quit smoking, the weight gained may place additional stress during the process of cessation.

The fear of weight gain may lead a smoker to refuse any attempts to quit smoking or may cause some to relapse and resume their habit.

Changes to Metabolism

It is commonly believed that smoking increases one's metabolism whereby calories consumed are burned at a faster rate.

Studies have indeed shown that smoking increases a person's basal metabolic rate (BMR) by approximately 10 percent.

Preventing Weight Gain After You Quit Smoking

With this in mind, you can do one of two things if you are worried about gaining weight after you quit smoking.

The first option is to increase your BMR and consequently the number of calories you burn by exercising 10 percent more.

The second option is to decrease the number of calories you consume by 10 percent.

Educating Yourself

If weight gain is truly a concern when you quit smoking, educate yourself by reading up on how your body consumes calories and how diet and exercise in general can be used to control your weight.

Understand that after you quit smoking, your life expectancy and health will have improved significantly and will give you the self-confidence and energy to take the necessary steps to lose weight if you need to.