Most people gain weight in the first 3 months after quitting smoking. However, by 12 months they may have already lost the weight they gained in that period.
One of the many excuses that smokers use to continue consuming this addictive drug is that by leaving it safe they gain a few extra kilos. But what is true in this? Is it a myth or is it a proven reality? First of all it must be said that quitting smoking is an excellent decision and an investment in the quality of life.
As the professionals in the Tobacco Control Program indicate, tobacco use is the leading cause of disease, disability and death worldwide. Every year more than 5 million people worldwide die from smoking. The most important causes of death related to tobacco use are certain heart diseases, some cancers and respiratory diseases.
Quitting smoking significantly influences well-being. Many ex-smokers say that shortly after quitting, they have noticed how they tend to have fewer colds and, in turn, feel much less intense symptoms. And yet there is doubt and the apparent problem that quitting smoking makes you fat. Next, we develop this idea.
Myth or Reality?
According to recent research, women who quit smoking often gain some weight during the first three months. After a while, when the organism begins to stabilize again (in the end, it is emerging from addiction, with all that that entails), this gain is reduced. Thus, 12 months after leaving the cigarette, they have already lost the weight they could have gained. Therefore, weight gain is considered temporary.
Good lifestyle habits can help prevent excessive weight gain, improve overall health, and provide daily wellness.
But what is the real reason that when we stop smoking we gain weight? The main reason is due to the fact that, as Medline Plus professionals indicate, when a smoker consumes a box of 20 cigarettes a day, the nicotine present in them helps to “burn” more than 250 calories.
Likewise, as it has been verified in some investigations, tobacco also tends to provoke in the person an unreal feeling of satiety that makes him lose his appetite a little. Therefore, when it finally stops, the opposite effect can occur.
And hence, that between 4 and 8 kilos can be gained during the first weeks. Because of this, in certain cases, many people go into a kind of shock when they see how they get fat. In those cases, that cause can be taken as an excuse to return to vice.
However, weight gain (if it occurs, as it is possible to avoid it) does not tend to last more than 6 months. Furthermore, after this period of time, the body begins to get used to not depending on tobacco.
Basic recommendations
To avoid gaining weight when you stop smoking, it is essential to be very careful with your diet and not to stop exercising regularly. In addition, it is always good to ask for professional help, especially in order to avoid falling back into vice before time.
Thus, it is important to avoid caffeinated beverages and drink water instead. By drinking enough liquid throughout the day, not only do we help keep the body well hydrated but we “satiate” a little craving for appetite and appetite.
In any case, it is essential to maintain a balanced diet, following the guidelines of your doctor. It is essential to avoid industrial pastries, soft drinks, sweets and the like since these foods only contribute to weight gain. Instead, take advantage of fiber-rich foods. The oats, for example, is highly recommended.
Exercise regularly. There is no better way to forget about tobacco than by moving the skeleton. Let’s remember that with exercise endorphins are released, the hormones of happiness. Thus, we only have to find an activity that attracts our attention and pleases us to practice it for at least 30-40 minutes a day.
In many cases, it is especially hard to start physical activity at first, as much lung capacity was lost with tobacco. However, over time, little by little the person begins to notice significant improvements, in addition to gaining more and more resistance.
As we mentioned at the beginning, quitting smoking is investing in health.
Note: Whether you are planning to quit smoking or have already done so, it is imperative that you take good care of your health and follow your doctor’s instructions.