Worried about your weight whilst trying to quit smoking?

This is one of the main worries we see people face when they start to quit smoking, we recommend facing one thing at a time.

As you begin to stop smoking, your craving for a cigarette may transfer over to eating. This is a natural habit as you are looking to fill that space with something else.

When you first stop smoking, think about the times you would normally go for a cigarette. Is this the time you would normally have a cup of coffee, or even a glass of wine? Look at swapping out this habit for something else. Swap your coffee for a tea or your wine for a gin, as you stop smoking you will start to associate certain tasks or activities with smoking.
Swapping out these habits early on will help you with the cravings for a cigarette.

As the cravings for something kick in, it will be handy to have healthier treats to snack on rather than having a chocolate bar or a packet of crisps. This in turn could help with worrying about weight gain.

It is natural to gain some weight whilst stopping smoking as whilst you have been smoking, the nicotine has been curbing your appetite, meaning now you no longer have this comfort-seeking activity, you will turn to food.

The key things to keep in mind whilst quitting smoking, is that you are doing this for your health. If you find yourself reaching for a pack of cigarettes, look at why. Is this part of your routine? Does your routine need a shake up?

With eating being your main comfort-seeking activity, make sure you are stocked up with different snacks. Look at making healthy snacks, including: protein balls, sugar snap peas, popcorn, nachos, mixed nuts, greek yoghurt and mixed berries. With so many different recipes out there, there is plenty to choose from to keep your snacks healthy and to help curb the need for a cigarette.

If you need further support in losing weight, Public Health England have recently launched a new campaign called Better Health.
With this app you can set weight loss goals, use the BMI calculator to customise your plan, plan your meals, make healthier food choices, get more active and burn more calories as well as record your activity and progress.

Quit smoking with Yorkshire Smokefree and take the first step to begin your full-stop journey.

There are many ways we can help:
Quit online - https://yorkshiresmokefree.nhs.uk/pages/quit-online
Our online quit tool will allow you to create your own personal profile and will support you on a daily basis through your quit journey.
Telephone support - our advisors are on hand to answer any questions or provide additional support as you need it. You can call 0800 612 0011 (free from landlines) or 0330 660 1166.
Visit our frequently asked questions section to find out more: https://yorkshiresmokefree.nhs.uk/frequently-asked-questions