So you want to quit smoking but you don't want to gain a

bunch of weight in the process. That is probably the

biggest fear among all people who want to quit smoking; that

they'll gain a ton of weight and not be able to lose it.

They figure it is better to be a smoker and thin than to be

a non-smoker and over-weight, so they decide to not quit.

There are simple reasons why people gain weight when they

quit smoking and in the following I will explain some of

those reasons and how to avoid them.

First and foremost, nicotine is an appetite suppressant and

a stimulant. Your metabolism increases slightly when you

smoke. Once you quit, your metabolism decreases and your

hunger increases.

Stress is a key component to why we gain weight when we

quit smoking. Most smokers, when they get stressed out,

will reach for a cigarette to ease the stress, but when you

quit smoking, you substitute the cigarette for food.

To pacify these cravings, food is usually the substitute.

High calorie, high sugar foods such as candy are most often

the replacement as it's quick to get, quick to eat and quick

to give you that little buzz.

The problem is, since you quit smoking and your metabolism

has slowed down, you aren't burning those calories, so they

build up and this is why you gain weight. If you want to

quit smoking and not gain weight you have to figure out the

reasons why you are eating in place of smoking and get

control of that.

If a craving comes on, go for a long walk or listen to

relaxing music. Read a book or start a low stress project

to keep your mind occupied. Whatever you do, keep busy.

When an overactive appetite becomes a problem after you quit

smoking then consider snacking on healthier foods.

Some alternatives to sugar snacks are things like

vegetables, fruit, dried fruit, and low calories types of

food. Cherry tomatoes are a great snack to keep around.

Dried fruit can satisfy your sweet tooth as well, with its

natural sweetness.

Healthier choices for snacks will stop the scale from

reading higher than you want it to. Sometimes weight gain

becomes inevitable for a smoker who recently quit. If you

start an exercise regimen right away, you can avoid gaining

more weight and it can help lose the few pounds that have

crept up since you quit smoking.

Drink lots of water in between meals to help fill you up so

you won't feel too much of an urge to eat tempting foods.

Smoking can be a habit of the past without replacing it with

tons of food. Eating sensibly, keeping busy and exercise

will help you quit smoking and keep those extra pounds off.

A strong mind will produce a strong body.

I lost 40 lbs in 3 months with an extreme weight loss diet that almost destroyed my health. I took spicy food and milk together which led to serious diarrhea everyday. I've been doing a bit of research after my dramatic weight loss experience and found that there's actually a PROGRAM designed to do what I attempted, except its basically more healthier and effective. Check out my #1 picks Weight Loss Programs for men and women to find out what are those diets.