How to avoid gaining weight after you quit smoking
By Sherali S. Bharwani
It's a very common observation that people gain weight
after giving up smoking. Generally speaking, that happens
due to 2 major reasons:
-
Your body burns about 10% more calories per day when
you smoke. So when you give up smoking, you burn 10%
less calories per day.
-
Food usually tastes better when you stop smoking, so
you eat a little more.
So what do you do? Don't quite smoking? Let me tell you
why your body burns more calories when you smoke.
Smoking adds significant STRESS to your system. In response,
your body burns about 10% more calories per day resisting
the toxic effect of smoking. A similar toxic response is
seen when ingesting large amounts of caffeine, high-protein
diets, and other drugs and supplements.
Interestingly (and sadly), a recent survey showed that
40% of young women listed 'weight control' as primary or
secondary reason for taking up smoking!
Come on! There are hundreds of ways you can burn more calories
per day apart from putting your body (and life) under stress,
wasting your energy and sacrificing your health.
Tell me.. If I told you that you're 20 pounds overweight
and you can get rid of that excess weight by cutting off
your left hand. Would you go for it? If you are shocked
to hear the question, excuse me. But very frankly, in my
opinion, taking up smoking to lose weight is just as absurd!
Now let me tell you how to avoid gaining extra pounds after
giving up smoking. It's pretty simple. You just have to
readjust your calorie intake to match the 10% reduction
in your calorie output.
Additionally, as I said, food usually tastes better when
you stop smoking which is a good thing NOT a bad thing.
But be sure to be sensible and make intelligent food selections
and satisfy your hunger with nutritional food, not empty
calorie food. Otherwise, what's the use substituting one
unhealthy habit (smoking) with another (regularly eating
junk food)?
Visit Sherali's site 1-Step
Weight Loss Secrets for more of her practical advice on weight
loss -- and check out her diet plan, Magically
Slim!
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