How to Stay Smart After Quitting Cigarettes

Thin has been in for a while now and most people who quit smoking worry about gaining weight. Unfortunately cigarette does help with weight management to some degree and adding 5 to 10 pounds of weight is normal when you quit smoking. The good news is that there are ways to prevent the weight gain associated with smoking cessation. You can have the best of both worlds. Live a cigarette free healthy life.

Let's look at the three major factors that contribute to weight gain as result of smoking cessation:

• Metabolism - Smoking causes increase in metabolism and it causes the body to burn calories at slightly accelerated rate. Generally we are talking about extra 100 to 200 calories burnt as a smoker and that much more to burn through if you've quit. You can easily burn 200 calories with 20 minute power walk or if you prefer to walk at a lighter pace you may walk 30 minutes instead. Walking will not only keep your weight in check but it will also keep you healthy.

• Appetite - You will have a better appetite after you've quit smoking. This is because nicotine suppresses appetite. When you quit smoking, you are actually going back to your natural appetite level instead of the artificially suppressed appetite state that nicotine induces. In an age where we are surrounded by junk foods everywhere, self control has a lot more to do with weight management than a light increase in appetite. Personally I've met one too many people who blame quitting cigarette for weight gain instead of trying to eat healthier. Bottom line, you can eat more to satisfy your increased appetite. You just have to eat healthy and it's as simple as that. Vegetable, fruit, low-fat chips, fat free snacks, and water just to name a few things you can satisfy your appetite with.

• Stress Eating - Many of us eat to release stress out of our system and food can also be emotionally comforting. Quitting smoking can be quite stressful for many and when you tie stress eating with it, substantial weight gain is possible. Even if stress involved is minimal, you'll inevitably feel the void left by your smoking habit. You can minimize these effects by exercising. Exercise exerts its effects on the brain through several mechanisms, including mood enhancement, endorphin release, neurogenesis, and it's even been touted from treat depression to improve memory. It may sound too good to be true, but you really can prevent or minimize the negative effects that come with quitting smoking by exercising.

Staying thin by continuing to smoke is not the answer. You can live a healthy life, cigarette free by improving self control and exercising 20 to 30 minutes a day, 4 to 6 days a week. Give yourself a chance at a better life, today.