Are You Serious About Kicking the Habit? Or Do You Just Say You Gained Weight?

 Are You Serious About Kicking the Habit? Or Do You Just Say You Gained Weight?

I must confess that I am one of those people that takes great pleasure in complaining about the unpleasant smell and antisocial behavior displayed by smokers, particularly in public areas. I do not smoke and have never smoked.

I was ecstatic when I heard that one of my favorite watering holes had just prohibited smoking. I saw a man who appeared to be prepared to become agitated or even aggressive shortly after the ban went into effect; he had a cigarette in his hand. Luckily, I restrained myself and kept drinking my beer—but I still didn't understand. He was pretending to smoke the cigarette by bringing it close to his mouth, flicking the fake ash, and lighting it, even though it wasn't lit. I finally had to ask him about it, and he told me it was his own unconventional way of keeping his hands busy—or, as he put it, the key to keeping his weight down.

Even though the health risks of smoking are well-known, a surprising number of smokers still refuse to quit, claiming that they are afraid of gaining weight.

The truth is that changing your eating habits could lead to an increase in caloric intake, not quitting smoking itself, which impacts weight.

However, there are several measures you may take to protect yourself from this.

Using common sense is more important than following a specific eating plan when trying to quit smoking. You will most certainly put on weight if you substitute chocolate for cigarettes.

For two weeks leading up to quitting smoking, keep a food journal detailing what and when you eat. Using this, you can easily maintain a consistent eating habit once you stop.

Keep in mind, too, that you may exercise even while smoking. You will be amazed at how much more exercise you can accomplish without difficulty once you quit smoking. In addition to easing the pain of withdrawal, this will motivate you to think about other ways you might improve your fitness level.

Tobacco cravings can be reduced with even moderate exercise. Women who were determined to quit smoking and who also adhered to a strict fitness routine had double the chance of success compared to women who did not. The fact that you're more likely to be around people who don't smoke and that you're exercising makes smoking seem like a bad idea.

There's no getting around the fact that a person who smokes 20 cigarettes a day is effectively putting their hand to their lips 200 times per day. You should do something to occupy your hands when you stop smoking. Think about doing something fun like crocheting, jigsaw puzzles, or peeling fruit for snacks.

When you feel your drive waning, it can help to picture yourself as a healthy, nonsmoker. Hypnotherapy is a permanent solution that can assist you with this. Just like with a lot of behavioral problems, it comes down to retraining our brain. Smoking cessation is challenging, but many people are finding that self-hypnosis is an easy approach to maintain a positive mindset and stay motivated.

If you come up with a strategy similar to the one the guy at the bar used to overcome his smoking challenge—and it works!—then that's fantastic!

Stay healthy!

No way!

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