We all know that smoking is extremely dangerous to health and life itself. It claims more lives world over that any other addiction or ailment and is also one of the topmost disease-causing factors. More and more people are trying to kick the habit for good with techniques like nicotine replacement therapy, gradual reduction, quitting cold turkey and some others. They may have some short term side-effects before the body gets used to the absence of nicotine in the system.
Quit smoking and lose weight
There are some symptoms of quitting smoking that are experienced for a few days after quitting. These are called withdrawal symptoms. One of the symptoms that worries many and makes them hesitant to quit is the weight gain. This is because for many, losing weight is extremely difficult. But there is a way out of this problem.
The main reason most people gain weight is because as soon as the body is deprived of nicotine, it takes about three days for it to start using glucose effectively. Due to this, even when one has a full meal, the brain takes a while to send signals that enough has been consumed. As the absorption of glucose is a bit low, many also tend to indulge a lot in sweets and chocolates, leading to intake of a lot of calories.
Some very simple ways to avoid this unwanted weight gain on quitting are given below, that are effective in controlling weight even after you quit.
Exercise: It is important that you have an exercise regimen planned before you quit. It could be something simple like a regular morning walk or jog that could go a long way in maintaining weight and avoiding weight gain as well as improving overall health and fitness.
Diet: Along with exercise, it is important that you plan out a diet for yourself before you quit that is balanced, healthy and nutritious. This will help you keep a check on calories and the amount of food that you are consuming daily. This will help you avoid the unnecessary weight gain along with making you look and feel healthier, helping you enjoy your smoke-free life even more.
Some other common withdrawal symptoms are:
- Irritability and mood swings
- Cravings
- Headaches
- Low concentrating abilities
These can also be effectively taken care of by the above mentioned techniques and a positive approach to quitting. The most important thing is to not get discouraged due to these symptoms as they last for a very short time and the benefits of quitting are worth much more that the few days of discomfort.
