Smoking, weight gain and quitting better for Holiday Lovers – Even the Second hand smoking is dangerous

We have known for a long time that being overweight is not healthy in many ways. If this condition is to be added to smoking which is in itself life threatening, you can just wonder how life would be with these two conditions affecting an individual. Several studies have established that weight gain is a serious concern for many smokers with up to 80% of smokers gaining some weight when they finally quit. The general average weight gain is about five kilograms in the first year after stopping smoking and about six to seven kilograms overall. However individuals who quit can have very different experiences with weight variations, ranging from those who lose weight to a minority of people who gain over ten kilograms. Nonetheless studies have shown that in the long run, the average body weight of ex-smokers is similar to people who have never smoked.

Smoking appears to change the distribution of fat in women to a less healthy male ‘apple’ pattern. Women who smoke tend to put on more fat around their waist compared to women who do not smoke. Fat in this area is associated with risks such as stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and a general increased death rate. When women quit smoking, any weight gain that occurs is in the normal and safer female pattern, with a preference to the hips rather than the waist. The best approach is to focus on strategies to keep healthy rather than on weight control. These may include:

• Making realistic goals for healthy eating
• Getting regular exercise and
• Getting enough sleep

These strategies can also help reduce weight gain. However, it is also possible that you may have some little increase in weight. If you’re affected by these tow conditions, managing the both of them at the same time will definitely be difficult. Nonetheless in both cases something still needs to be done. The good news is that doctor Dalal Akoury who is also the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center is an expert in both drug addiction and healthy weight loss. This is the right professional for this kind of assignment for you to get real solutions to both conditions. It is therefore necessary that if this article is describing your situation then you need to schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury today for professional guidance and treatment.

While appreciating that it may be problematic to quit cigarettes and manage weight at the same time, because both activities require effort and commitment. Doctor Akoury will evaluate each case individually and may recommend that the patient to concentrate first on quitting smoking and address the issue of weight latter. This would be a good professional advice because ideally weight gain is normally about one kilo per month during the first three months, with the process slowing down progressively provided you have a sensible diet.

Smoking, weight gain and quitting better for Holiday Lovers –Causes of weight gain when quitting smoking

The two main causes of weight gain when quitting smoking are thought to be:

• Eating more food – many smokers find their eating habits change when they quit cigarettes. Some people experience increased hunger as a withdrawal symptom, but research suggests their eating patterns eventually return to normal.
• The effect of nicotine on the body – nicotine is the addictive substance in tobacco that causes smokers to continue their habit. Although nicotine isn’t thought to cause cancer, it does speed up the body’s food processing system, the metabolism. After many years of smoking, smokers tend to weigh slightly less than non-smokers.

Researchers suggest that one of the reasons why smokers tend to put on some weight after quitting is because their metabolism slows down, and they burn fewer kilojoules than when they were smoking. This would explain why some ex-smokers put on weight even if they do not eat any more than usual.

Smoking, weight gain and quitting better for Holiday Lovers – Eating instead of smoking

These three components (smoking, weight gain and quitting) are very interesting when considering the life of most ex-smokers. For instance ex-smokers would eat more, mostly in the first few weeks after quitting. This behavior may be alluded to the following:

• The sudden withdrawal of nicotine from their system may cause the feeling of emptiness and by extension mimic the feeling of hunger pangs. This may actually convince the smoker into thinking that they are hungry when they are not.
• Missing the oral satisfaction of putting a cigarette into their mouths prompts some ex-smokers to substitute food for cigarettes. Instead of lighting up, they eat something.
• Food can be comforting. If an ex-smoker is having a hard time during the withdrawal period, they may reward themselves with treats and snacks in an attempt to feel better.
• Some smokers regularly skip meals for example; breakfast may be a cup of coffee and a couple of cigarettes. Once you stop smoking, you may find that you don’t feel like skipping meals anymore.
• Many ex-smokers find that food tastes better, and this may lead to more helpings.

Smoking, weight gain and quitting better for Holiday Lovers –Tips on healthy eating and exercise

Suggestions include:

• Exercise more often – being inactive is a risk factor for weight gain. Aim for around half an hour of moderate activity every day, for example, brisk walking, gardening, swimming or cycling.
• Muscle tissue burns more kilojoules than fat. You can boost your metabolic rate by including one or two weight training sessions into your weekly exercise program to build up muscle.
• Don’t crash diet. If you eat too few kilojoules, the body will respond by lowering the metabolism and burning muscle tissue for fuel.
• It can be tricky telling the difference between hunger pangs and withdrawal cravings. Get into the habit of ‘listening’ to your body before you decide to eat something.
• It takes about 15 minutes for your stomach to signal your brain that it’s full, so wait before having second helpings. You might find you don’t want it after all.
• Find ways other than eating to cope with withdrawal cravings. Some people drink water.
• Put safe, non-edible items in your mouth if oral cravings bother you. For example, you could use cinnamon sticks, or chew on sugarless gum.
• If you need to snack, keep raw vegetable sticks and other low-fat, low-kilojoule foods on hand.
• Eat more fruit, vegetables and wholegrain foods.
• Cut back on high-fat, high-salt and high-sugar products.
• Be kind to yourself if you do put on a few kilos. You are boosting your health by quitting.

Finally this is not a very good situation one should be in, however if you happen to be suffering from the two, then schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury today for in-depth professional assistance.

Smoking, weight gain and quitting better for Holiday Lovers – Even the Second hand smoking is dangerous