Did you know that some people will gain about five to ten pounds after they quit smoking? For many of these men and women, though, this pesky extra weight tends to drop off after a while, within the first year of abstinence. However, for another group of people, the pounds prefer to sink in those talons and stick to the hips, legs, and any other inconvenient places. If you have already completed withdrawal and have noticed the pounds have begun to stack up, we recommend you follow a more rigorous schedule to maintain that lovely figure.
Set up Some Easy Goals
Of course, the best way to keep a thin waistline is to set up a list of reasonable, easy-to-follow goals and to avoid overblown expectations. Abstaining from cigarette use is hard enough, but maintaining a proper diet and weight loss program during that time can be pure torture. In some ways, though, you could consider weight loss and exercise viable distractions from cigarettes.
Swapping Cigarettes with Potato Chips
So why is weight gain such a problem for recovering smokers? Simply put, people are desperate to keep their hands busy, as they usually used their digits to handle cigarettes. As a result, they will tend to go for “finger foods” or snacks, like chips or french fries. Let’s also not forget that, without the nasty tar coating on your tongue, food tastes 120% better than it did before. Of course, you can enjoy a ton of foods after smoking. Just make sure you do it in moderation.
How to Keep Weight in Check
Here are some tips for how you can keep yourself slim and trim while abstaining from cigarettes:
- Set up portions for your food.
- Read labels to determine portion size and nutrition content (or lack thereof).
- Keep tempting foods out of sight and out of mind.
- Don’t purchase sweet foods and, instead, buy some when you go to a restaurant.
- Keep drinking water.
- Eat 5 to 6 small meals throughout the day rather than consuming tons of food at one time.
- Keep exercising and walking.
- Try some new activities or take on a hobby to distract yourself from food.
- Make some new friends.
Seeking Treatment for Cigarette Use
Remember that addiction can be triggered by one shot of alcohol or a single puff of a cigarette, but the true danger of this sickness is that you cannot fully determine how much you have to consume before your mind forms an attachment. Social smoking is just as dangerous as chronic smoking, on many levels, but you do not have to smoke to have a good time. Remember, drugs cannot determine if you have fun and do not have control over your life.
If you are suffering from a severe case of drug abuse or addiction, or have a friend or loved one who is coping with this illness, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our professional team of counselors and healthcare experts will help you endure the painful process of alcohol withdrawal and detox and guide you along the rocky road of rehabilitation. Soon enough, you will experience a faster and much more efficient recovery.
If you want to find out more about our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs or enroll in one of these programs today, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your leisure and your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how you can overcome your mental illness and take an extra step toward becoming a healthier person.
