Just found this on WebMD. If people are considering quitting, this should be shared right up front!
"Cigarettes activate your metabolism," says Cynthia Purcell, MS, a nutritionist and smoking cessation therapist in the smoking cessationprogram at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. "You burn about 250 calories if you smoke a pack a day. So when you quit and your metabolism slows down, your body has these extra calories it has to deal with, and many people gain weight."
Most people gain about two pounds during the first couple of weeks after quitting.
Not only does your metabolism slow, but your digestive track slows down as well, so add these two things together.
The only thing to stop anyone from this experience is to teach early on before one starts smoking at all!
"People who quit tend to think, 'It's only been two weeks and I've gained two pounds. What's it going to be like in two months?' And they go back to smoking to avoid the weight gain," Purcell tells WebMD.
"If they'd just stick with it, they'd realize it's not going to be a pound or two every week, and their metabolism will even out. On average, most people only gain between 5-7 pounds in total after quitting."
And when you consider the benefits of a smoke-free lifestyle -- both inside and out -- those few extra pounds may not mean as much.
"The lungs, heart, and the arteries will start repairing themselves almost immediately after the last puff," says Purcell.
Not only that, but your skin clears up and starts to look smoother, your fingernails stop looking yellow, your breath improves, and your teeth can be bright again. All these less-obvious benefits of smoking will have you looking great, even if you put on a few, says Purcell.
So you're ready to quit, and you want to minimize the weight gain. Is it cold-turkey time, or is it time to strategize and plan?
Plan ahead as you are reading up on the tools you will need for quitting! It is so worth it to have a plan in place! You want to succeed so make a plan!
Here is a helpful link for newcomers to consider! Boost Your Metabolism When Quitting Smoking | Metabolism.com
