P.A.S - Quit Smoking Once and For All!

How to Deal with Gaining Weight?

Many of the quitters do not gain weight. Moreover, some even lose weight. But there are people who gain weight, usually a small increase in weight- an average of about 2 Kg. These Kilograms can be easily lost 3-4 months after quitting smoking.
However, some smokers gain weight for overeating, due to changes in eating habits. This occurs as a result of some factors:

When the smoker quits smoking, the taste-buds in the mouth, that have lost sensibility during the smoking period, come back to life. This returns the ability to enjoy the delicacies of the kitchen, and increases the appetite.
Some people, especially those for whom the cigarette was "a psychological refuge", are having a strong desire to eat, as a substitute for smoking.
Oral satisfaction: eating for sucking, especially sweets.

What should you do?

you should develop an awareness to your eating habits: do you eat "while…" (watching TV, reading the paper, etc.)? do you eat a lot of snacks between meals? Do you eat instead of smoking: when you're bored, when you feel like having something in your mouth, in order to relax, out of boredom, etc.?
try to avoid eating in these conditions. If you can't, see to it that you eat vegetables, dried fruit, low-calorie candy, sugarless gum, etc.
if you are nervous, stressed - do a relaxation or a breathing exercise (don't eat!!)
in order to use up your excess energy, do physical exercise.
Try to eat only when seated.
Eat slowly, and enjoy the food: chew slowly and feel its taste.
You must drink a lot (instead of snacks): water, soda, natural juices and diet drinks.

Previous Chapter - How to Handle Physical Difficulties? Quit Smoking Once and For All! - Main Page Next Chapter - Stage C: Being a Non-Smoker

	Quit Smoking Once and For All! Stage B: Quitting Smoking
	About P.A.S	Non-Smokers	Smokers	The Dangers of Smoking	Statistics	How to Quit?	The Law	Links	Letters