Reasons for gaining weight after quitting smoking

Smoking is harmful to health, which is a slogan that everyone sees on cigarette boxes. Whether it is frequent smokers or people who inhale secondhand smoke, it will cause certain damage to the body, especially the liver, so more and more men choose to quit smoking. However, many men report that they are more likely to gain weight after quitting smoking. So what is going on? Let’s take a look with the editor below.

Effects of quitting smoking

Tobacco contains a certain amount of nicotine, which can stimulate nerves and promote the secretion of adrenaline. Adrenaline can increase the intensity of metabolism and increase energy consumption. Therefore, after quitting smoking, the effect of nicotine disappears, the body's metabolism slows down, and it is easy to lead to weight gain.

Effects of smoking cessation methods

Most people choose appetite replacement method when quitting smoking. Every time they have the idea of ​​smoking, they will divert their attention by eating something, such as sugar, betel nuts, squid shreds, beef cubes and other foods, which increases food intake and leads to weight gain.

What to do if you gain weight after quitting smoking

Understand the causes of obesity

It is normal to gain 5 to 10 kilograms after quitting smoking. Don't worry that there is something wrong with your body. If you think that weight gain is not good for your health after quitting smoking, just take some measures to lose weight. Don't mind gaining weight too much.

Positive psychological suggestion

If you gain weight after quitting smoking, you will subconsciously attribute the weight gain to quitting smoking. Therefore, you need to give yourself a positive psychological hint: believe that quitting smoking is good for your body, and that weight gain is only temporary and can be reduced. In order to avoid resistance to quitting smoking and lead to relapse.

Controlling calorie intake

Food is often used to divert attention during the process of quitting smoking, so many people often develop the habit of eating snacks after quitting smoking, which can easily lead to excessive calorie intake. Therefore, you should reduce the intake of snacks, high-sugar, high-oil, and high-salt foods, and eat more fruits and vegetables, and low-fat meat to control calorie intake.

Increase energy consumption

To lose weight after quitting smoking, you need to not only increase the amount of exercise, but also increase the calorie consumption of daily activities. For example, if you can ride a bike, don’t drive; if you can walk, don’t ride a bike; if you can stand, don’t sit. This will increase energy consumption and help lose weight. Note: You can lose weight after quitting smoking, but don’t be too resistant to weight gain during the process, as this can easily cause resistance to quitting smoking and lead to failure in quitting smoking.

How to quit smoking without gaining weight

Develop a scientific smoking cessation plan

Quitting smoking on your own will not allow you to have a good grasp of the problems that may arise in the process of quitting smoking. You need to make a scientific smoking cessation plan in advance to avoid overeating.

Control your food intake

When using food substitution to quit smoking, you need to control your food intake. While using food to divert your attention, you should also reduce the amount of staple food you eat to avoid excessive calorie intake.

Increase exercise

Increasing exercise can increase basal metabolism and calorie consumption, thereby controlling weight. Exercise can also divert attention from the urge to smoke and develop good living habits, which is beneficial for quitting smoking.

Control your diet

During the period of quitting smoking, you should pay attention to eating low-calorie, low-oil, and low-sugar foods. You should increase the intake of fruits, vegetables, and meat with low fat content, and reduce the intake of high-fat meat, fried foods, and foods with high sugar and salt content, so as not to increase too much calories.