How to quit smoking and not gain weight
by Carrie
(Maryland)
Rumi, when I entered college five years ago I was over 200lbs. I changed my diet and physical activity level and lost 75lbs in under a year.
I have kept the weight off for five years and I feel fantastic! Recently, I've been diagnosed with a medical problem which requires that I quit smoking. I have been smoking two packs of cigarettes a day for years.
Although I have kept up my diet and exercise routine, I am afraid that once I quit smoking, I will gain much of the weight back.
This fear has resulted in me putting off quitting smoking, which my doctor tells me will have serious consequences for my health.
Do you have any advice that would allow me to quit smoking and keep the weight off?
Thank you! Carrie
Answer from Rumi
Carrie, congrats for so big weight loss results and for keeping them for 5 years, wow! I think you know how to keep the weight off diet and exercise.
Diet doesnt mean stop eating, it means healthy eating.
The problem with quitting smoking is not in the smoking but in the increased amount of food people eat. When they quit smoking they replace this habit with eating when they want to smoke they eat which is a big mistake.
You need to do nothing just quit smoking and keep the same diet and exercise level and you will not gain weight. Smoking and gaining weight have no relation. Gaining weight has relation with eating, but you know how to eat because you are healthy for the last 5 years!
Be careful not to eat more than before you quit smoking and everything will be fine.
All the best,
Rumi
