Be confident that you are making a healthy choice! Your whole body will thank you!. A. Healthy eating Improving your eating habits gradually can help prevent weight gain, as well as help you feel better as you quit smoking. Beginning to increase your physical activity before you quit smoking may remind you how much smoking slows you down, when you have trouble breathing or start to cough during exercise. Snack on fruit or chewing gum to satisfy any sweet cravings. When you quit smoking, you can breathe and get around more easily, and nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables taste better when you are not smoking. Get support and encouragement; talk to a friend when you get the urge to smoke; talk about something other than smoking. Even if you do gain weight when you quit smoking, the health risks of smoking are far greater…you would have to gain over 150 pounds to make your health risks as high as when you smoked. This can cause extra stress that can lead to extra snacking, especially over the holidays when more food is around, or relapsing back into smoking to cope with the stress. If you are struggling or anxious about trying to quit smoking, talk to your doctor about nicotine replacement such as nicotine gum or a nicotine patch. Managing cravings Once you stop smoking, it is important to learn how to reduce your cravings for both cigarettes and food. Reduce tension by meditating, taking a walk or a bath, or taking deep breaths. If you can distract yourself for 5 minutes, the craving will usually pass.
L. If you can distract yourself for 5 minutes, the craving will usually pass. Get enough sleep; when you are tired, you are more likely to crave cigarettes and food.
If you need more guidance, talk to your doctor or dietitian. Find something that will replace smoking as a way to relax and do it consistently.
Article Source: How to Stop Smoking
