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OVERVIEW
Gaining weight while quitting smoking is a major concern of most smokers, particularly women. In fact, many women cite weight gain as the single most important factor in their decision to return to cigarettes after attempting to quit. While it is true that quitting smoking is often associated with a minor increase in weight, the benefits of quitting smoking far outweigh the risks of minimal weight gain.
Understanding the relationship between quitting smoking and weight gain is essential for smokers who wish to kick the nicotine habit without putting on weight. Several factors contribute to weight gain while quitting; together they make it difficult, though not impossible, to maintain a smoking weight as a non-smoker.
Nicotine is a powerful drug that affects the body in many ways, one of which is to actually speed up the body's resting metabolic rate. A faster metabolism burns more calories throughout the day. When nicotine is no longer absorbed into the bloodstream, the metabolism returns to its standard rate and burns less calories. Even though the former smoker may not actually ingest any more calories than in their pre-quit days, the body no longer burns calories at the same nicotine-enhanced rate.
Compounding this effect is the oral gratification fix no longer sated by cigarettes. Smokers grow accustomed to constantly putting something in their mouths and many report that this is one of the more pleasurable aspects of smoking. No longer able to rely on cigarettes to appease this need, former smokers often find eating a satisfying substitution.
Additionally, former smokers find that food actually tastes better. Temporarily numbed taste buds grow more sensitive and food is enjoyed with a newfound relish. Suddenly foods that were once bland and dull are alive with flavor. A heightened sense of smell, another benefit of quitting cigarettes, also increases the pleasures of eating. Not that this is all bad.
Taken together, these factors are responsible for the eight pounds the average quitter gains. While these are discouraging words to weight-conscious individuals, many smokers do successfully kick the cigarette habit without putting on any weight at all. The key to keeping weight off is simple and straight forward: start and stick with an exercise program, decrease the overall calorie consumption in your diet, watch your fat intake, and find something other than food to satisfy your oral fixation.
Is the thought of gaining weight keeping you from quitting? Click here and learn how to kick the habit without gaining any weight at all.
For graphic lung pictures of smokers and non-smokers, visit this website:
Quit Smoking Pictures by www.cigarette.com
Animated skull graphic above obtained from www.cigarette.com.
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