Weight Gain and Stress – After Effects of Quitting Smoking
July 21, 2009 by Admin
Filed under Stop Smoking General
Many smokers experience stress and weight gain when they quit. These are the after effects of quitting smoking. These circumstances happen as the body deals with the absence of nicotine that it was used to having regularly before quitting took place. Now that the smoker no longer takes cigarette, there’s no more supply of nicotine thus the body reacts to the situation.
Weight gain cannot be prevented when smoking is completely stopped. Even if you don’t eat much nor do some exercise to avoid it, you still end up adding a few pounds. Cases also show that more women gain more weight than men once they cease smoking. This is why some smokers do not continue with quitting because they do not want to get fat. This should not be the case since studies have shown that the amount of weight gain due to quitting is just minimal. Their health is more endangered if they continue to smoke than by gaining a few pounds.
Stress is also one of the leading reasons why smokers go back to smoking. When a smoker stops smoking, he deprives his body of nicotine (the addictive substance found in cigarettes) which helped him deal with stress and unwanted feelings or emotions before he kissed smoking goodbye. In the absence of nicotine he’s left with no choice but to deal with the stress on his own. It is important then that when smokers quit, they should develop new methods of handling stress. Nicotine replacement therapy can help deal with stress in a short-term basis, but for long-term success new strategies are called for.
Doctors suggest that physical activity helps in dealing with the after effects of quitting smoking. Exercise has been proven to be effective against stress and can help you lose weight. If you are not fond of doing exercise, try walking as your daily activity to keep you from smoking. Walking can reduce your stress and help tone your muscles and keeps you from thinking about cigarettes too. There are many instances where you can apply walking. Walking around shopping malls, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking with a friend at lunch breaks, or walking your dog every morning can all be forms of physical activity.
There are no shortcuts when it comes to dealing with weight gain and stress when you decide to stop smoking completely. In dealing with weight gain, try to focus on quitting smoking first before you deal with your weight. On stress, try to get in touch with groups offering stress-management classes and be sure to get enough sleep every day. Always think of what is best for your health while you are quitting. Do not be persuaded to go back to smoking as this will bring nothing good for your body.
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