How to Quit Smoking without Gaining Weight
Don't let a fear of packing on the pounds keep you from giving up cigarettes. There are several steps you can take to prevent weight gain while you kick the habit.
Up next in How to Stop Smoking (5 videos)
Put out that cigarette once and for all with the tips in these Howcast videos.
You Will Need
- Dietary tweaks
- Exercise
- Nicotine gum
- Fruit
- Hot tea
- Hypnotherapy
- Bupropion
- Daily walk (optional)
Steps
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Step 1
Eat less or move more
Eat less or exercise more. Nicotine helps smokers stay slim by raising their metabolism; that's part of the reason the average smoker puts on between 4 and 10 pounds after giving up cigarettes. If you're a moderate smoker -- less than a pack a day -- you can counteract this by cutting out or burning off about 200 calories per day.
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Walking an extra 30 to 45 minutes usually burns enough calories to make up for the metabolism slow-down.
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Step 2
Chew nicotine gum
Chew nicotine gum. It will suppress your urge for a cigarette and keep your mouth occupied.
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Step 3
Keep fruit on hand
Keep fresh fruit on hand. Many people who quit smoking experience strong cravings for sweets; fruit can satisfy that yen in a healthy way.
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Step 4
Drink hot tea
Drink hot tea between meals. It can kill the urge to munch.
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Avoid coffee if you're used to enjoying a cigarette with your cup of joe, or it may reawaken that craving.
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Step 5
Consider hypnotherapy
Consider hypnotherapy. It helps some people give up their cigarettes without piling on the pounds.
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Step 6
Take medication
Ask your doctor about taking the antidepressant bupropion; it sometimes helps curb weight gain in ex-smokers because it's works as an appetite suppressant in some people.
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Smokers who quit at age 35 gain an average of eight years of life expectancy; those who quit at age 55 gain about five years; and quitting at 65 gives you three years.
