Here at Matthews Internal Medicine, we know that quitting smoking can be one of the most important decisions that you can make for your health. Smoking is linked to a wide variety of deadly diseases, which means that by ditching cigarettes you can begin to improve your health almost immediately. One thing worries smokers that are trying to quit though. Many ask us “Won’t I gain weight?”
This is a common concern. Smoking can suppress your appetite and some people worry that they’ll pick up a snacking habit to make up for the smoking habit they just dropped. In our experience, quitting smoking can actually help you lose weight. This is especially true when you have our weight management and smoking cessation experts by your side. Here’s a look at how getting rid of your cigarettes once and for all can help you live a healthier lifestyle.
You Can Exercise More
If you’ve been smoking for a while, you know that it affects your breathing and your endurance. Smokers have less cardiovascular, respiratory, and muscular endurance than non-smokers. That means that even if you’re trying to lose weight through an exercise program, the health issues caused by your smoking habit could be holding you back.
Once you quit, your body will begin to recover. You’ll be able to build up more endurance and exercise more than you were before. If you couldn’t handle a tough workout before, you might just be able to tackle it after you start a smoking cessation program.
You Can Start Up a Healthier Habit
Many smokers wonder how they’re going to fill the time that smoking took up. After you quit, it’s the perfect time to pick up a healthier habit. Instead of going out for a smoke, stave off that craving and do something that’s good for you. We already mentioned exercise, so why not go for a run or walk the dog? You could do a core workout or pushups to take your mind off of your craving. You could also replace your smoke break by taking time out to have a healthy snack. Being active and eating healthier foods can help you in your weight management efforts, whereas smoking will just hold you back.
You’ll Reduce Fatty Tissue Build Up
People think that quitting smoking can lead to weight gain, but smoking actually helps cause a buildup of toxic fatty tissue around the intestines. This is a major health issue. Instead of accumulating fat on the thighs and other areas, many smokers tend to have a concentrated buildup of fat around the abdomen. When you quit, you’ll start reducing the amount of fat stored there, even if you don’t notice any major movement on the scale just yet. Instead of experience weight gain, you’ll end up losing belly fat in the long run.
You’ll Have More Energy
We mentioned that your endurance will improve, but quitting smoking can also boost your energy. That helps you get out of the house and begin exercising in the first place. Within two to twelve weeks, your circulation begins to improve and you’ll be well on your way to living a healthier lifestyle.