Weighty Matters
For a long time, the so-svelte Susan didn’t want to quit smoking for fear of gaining weight.
Now that I have a certain amount (!) of middle-age spread, I know I used weight gain as an excuse not to quit. I learned that you’d have to gain approximately 100 pounds to equal the ill effects of smoking a pack a day.
The fact is, 20 percent of people who quit smoking don’t gain weight. And, on average, people only gain 5 to 10 pounds over a period of several months when they kick the habit. Yeah sure, your metabolism may change a bit when you quit and smoking burns about 200 calories a day if you’re a heavy smoker. Want to eliminate those extra 200 calories?
- Skip two tablespoons of butter, two ounces of cheddar cheese, 20 potato chips or one hot dog on a bun.
- Clean your house or garden for 40 minutes, ride your bike at 13 miles an hour for 20 minutes or tote your own golf clubs for 30 minutes.
We’re not talking about a big sacrifice here!
In fact, studies show that 25 percent of smokers who quit lose weight because they stepped up their exercise and watched their diet. Furthermore, you’ll have more energy and lung capacity when you quit, you’ll feel more like walking the dog or going to the gym.
Smoking cessation experts recommend that you don’t diet actively during the first few weeks after you quit smoking because dieting can interfere with the focus you need to quit.
O.K. I can do this.
