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About
Gaining Weight
- Many people who are
considering quitting are very concerned about gaining weight.
If you are concerned about weight gain, keep these points in
mind:
- Quitting doesn't mean
you'll automatically gain weight. When people gain it's because
they often eat more once they quit.
- The benefits of giving
up cigarettes far outweigh the drawbacks of adding a few pounds.
You'd have to gain a very large amount of weight to offset the
many substantial health benefits that a normal smoker gains
by quitting. Watch what you eat, and if you are concerned about
gaining weight, consider the tips that follow.
Tips
to Help You Avoid Weight Gain
- Make sure you
have a well balanced diet, with the proper amounts of protein,
carbohydrates and fat.
- Don't set a target
date for a holiday, when the temptation of high calorie food
and drinks may be too hard to resist.
- Drink a glass of water
before your meals.
- Weigh yourself weekly.
- Chew sugarless gum
when you want sweet foods.
- Plan menus carefully,
and count calories. Don't try to lose weight; just try to maintain
your prequitting weight.
- Have low calorie foods
on hand for nibbling. Use the Snack Calorie Chart to choose
foods that are both nutritious and low in calories. Some good
choices are fresh fruits and vegetables, fruit and vegetable
juices, low-fat cottage cheese, and air-popped popcorn without
butter.
- Take time for daily
exercise, or join an organized exercise group.
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