Break Nicotine Habit And Stay Slim

Studies have shown that nicotine is one of the most addictive substances voluntarily ingested by humans, and the cause of many extremely damaging health conditions. These conditions not only reduce the life expectancy of long-term smokers, but also create on-going health issues that impact on their quality of life. Despite these well known and thoroughly researched facts, many smokers struggle to give up and often are only successful after multiple attempts. One of the most common fears, strong enough in many people to become the chief de-motivator, is that quitting smoking will immediately cause excessive weight gain.

Why does this happen? There are a number of factors at play, and as the struggle with both nicotine addiction and weight gain can be too much, with the help of professional counseling smokers can get advice and tools to achieve both goals i.e. clean lungs and a svelte body. Smoking increases the metabolism, and in a heavy smoker, burns 800 kilojoules a day without effort. At the same time, nicotine suppresses the appetite, so a smoker has less desire to eat.

Most smokers when trying to quit, put on weight because they don't know what else to do with their hands. This being the case they are constantly snacking, mostly on the wrong types of food. If these snacks are high in fat, salt and sugar, weight gain is almost inevitable, so a store of healthy snacks is essential. Celery and carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, other raw vegetables, fresh fruit, fat free yoghurt or popcorn, and unshelled sunflower seeds and peanuts are just some suggestions to keep the munchies in check. Drinking plenty of water and other fat-free beverages such as herbal teas will also convince the stomach it is full.

Alcohol and cigarettes for many people go hand and hand. Alcohol is high in kilojoules, so a change to non-alcoholic, kilojoule-free drinks will help. Exercise also plays a vital part, and a brisk, 30 minute walk around the block every day will not only boost the metabolism, but assist to keep cravings at bay.

Kicking nicotine is one of the biggest self-improvement challenges a smoker will undertake, and by consulting a psychologist smokers' efforts will be supported. Trying to make too many changes at once can be stressful and makes it harder to give up smoking.

Giving up smoking is important to gaining good health. Any weight gain can be dealt with after the nicotine habit has been banished, and the use of any of the well-known weight loss techniques will control it. If you are smoking to stay thin, then you risk getting very sick and could even end up dead.


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Through counseling Brisbane people wanting to quit smoking can get professional
advice. By visiting the Centre for Human Potential http://www.centreforhumanpotential.com.au/
and discussing smoking issues with a psychologist Brisbane smokers can make
informed decisions.