Most people who quit smoking worry about gaining weight. It seems to go with the territory. While a small gain is normal, excessive weight gain when you quit smoking can create new health problems and erode your determination to stay off cigarettes. There are a number of choices you can make to minimize weight gain.
1. Exercise. As mentioned above, exercise releases dopamine, and is a great way to stave off cravings to smoke. It can also help you keep your weight stable. Shoot for at least a half hour of exercise, 5 days a week. It doesn't have to be a high intensity aerobic workout - a brisk 30 minute walk around your neighborhood will work wonders for your body, mind and soul.
2. Healthy snacks. Put snacks together ahead of time so that when the munchies hit, you've got good food choices within easy reach: vegetable sticks - celery, carrot; lean meat and a small amount of cheese; seeds and nuts - choose those that you have to remove the shell.
3. Avoid alcohol. Not only is alcohol high in calories, it is often an intense trigger to smoke. Additionally, alcohol tends to relax our inhibitions, and for an ex-smoker, that can spell trouble. Avoid the empty calories in alcohol, but more importantly, don't put yourself at risk of relapse by drinking early in your quit program.
4. One challenge at a time. People who quit smoking often decide it's time to clean their lives up in other areas as well. That's great, but be careful. If you try to do too many self-improvement projects at once, you run the risk of failing at all of them.
Success Story from Jose Garcia