Quitting Smoking: Dealing With Weight Gain

There are several reasons why people may gain weight when they quit smoking.

• Nicotine curbs your appetite. It also perks you up when your energy is low because of hunger. When you quit smoking, you may feel hungry more often and eat more as a result.
• Nicotine dulls your taste buds. So when you quit smoking, food tastes better and you may want to eat more.
• Without cigarettes, you may turn to food as a replacement. You may need something to do with your hands and mouth at certain times of the day when you used to smoke.
• Nicotine makes your body burn calories faster. So when you quit, your body isn't burning calories as fast as it used to.

Studies show that the more cigarettes you smoke, the more likely you are to gain weight when you quit.¹

Continue to Why?

First of all, not everyone gains weight. Some people are able to keep their weight down when they quit smoking.

And if you do gain a little weight, it's still better than smoking:

• A few extra pounds can be lost later. Continuing to smoke increases your risk for many serious health problems.
• As soon as you quit smoking, you lower your chances of having a heart attack or a stroke.
• After 10 years of not smoking, your chances of getting lung cancer are much lower.
• By quitting, you lower your chances of getting cancers of the voice box, mouth, throat, esophagus, intestine, bladder, kidney, and pancreas.
• When you quit, you get rid of the secondhand smoke that may be putting the health of your family in danger.
• When you quit, you stop smelling like a smoker. You'll have fresher-smelling clothes and fresh breath.
• With the money you save by quitting, you can buy other things that you want.

Continue to How?

Be aware

Knowledge is a powerful thing. Now that you know that quitting smoking can make you want to eat more, or eat more often, you can be ready for it.

• Remember that the secret to weight control—whether you smoke or not—is eating healthy food and becoming more active.
• Don't try to diet when you quit smoking. Most people who try to lose weight at the same time they are trying to stop smoking have an even harder time of stopping smoking. Instead, eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain foods. And learn more about healthy fats.
• Find ways to get more active. Take the stairs. Park farther away. Take walks. Start a program at the gym, or take up a new sport.

Have a plan

Keeping control of your weight will be easier if you have a plan. Before your quit day:

• Know what activities will tempt you to smoke or eat, and avoid them. It may help to keep a journal of the times when you're most tempted.
• Think about how you will fill the time when you usually smoke. For example, if you love that after-meal cigarette, don't replace that cigarette with more food. Get up and brush your teeth, go for a walk, or wash the dishes.
• Make a list of healthy foods that you especially like. Try some new low-calorie snacks and drinks. Stock up on the ones you like.
• Think about how you can work more exercise into your life. Besides helping you stay away from cigarettes, exercise burns calories. Plan to take short walks or do some stretches at times when you would ordinarily smoke.

Tips for avoiding weight gain

Think positive, and keep temptation away:

• Don't quit smoking during holiday periods. You're more likely to eat more then.
• Stay away from alcohol. Alcohol drinks have a lot of calories, so avoiding them will help you control your weight. And drinking can weaken your willpower, especially if you usually smoke when you drink.
• Eat at least 3 healthy meals a day so you don't get hungry. For some people, eating smaller healthy meals more than 3 times a day works better. And eat more whole-grain foods. They stay with you longer and help keep you from getting hungry.
• Consider getting professional help. Nutritionists, fitness instructors, and therapists can all help you control your weight when you quit smoking.
• Make regular activity part of your life. Walking is a great exercise that most people enjoy and can do. It may help to walk or exercise with a partner or group.
• Weigh yourself at least once a week. Keep a pencil and paper near the scales, and write your weight down. That way the extra pounds won't "sneak up" on you.
• Remind yourself every day of how much healthier you are for having quit smoking.

Remember, looking good is much more important than how much you weigh. Smelling clean and smoke-free, having fresh breath, having fingers and teeth free of yellow tobacco stains, and feeling healthier all make you more attractive.

Food and cigarettes

A big reason people gain weight is that they reach for food instead of a cigarette after they quit.

• When you have a craving for a cigarette or food, remember that cravings usually last only a few minutes. Do something else to occupy your time for those few minutes.
• Rather than eating candy or other food to replace the cigarettes, try chewing on a drinking straw, toothpick, or coffee stirrer.
• If you must have something sweet in your mouth, eat fruit or try sugar-free gum or candy.
• Come up with something else to keep your hands busy so you don't use them to eat. For example, take up knitting, beading, doing crossword puzzles, or just doodling.
• People often turn to food at times of tension or stress. Find other ways to deal with those times. Go for a walk. Vacuum the floor.

Continue to Where?

Talk with your doctor

If you have questions about this information, make an appointment with your doctor and take the information with you. Your doctor may have more ideas on how to help you quit smoking and control your weight.

Now that you have read this information, you are ready to control your weight as you quit smoking.

If you would like more information on quitting smoking, the following resources are available:

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