Quit Smoking?

Tips to Help You Quit


Q: I realize smoking is considered unhealthy under any circumstances, but how does it affect metabolism? Any tips for quitting without going on a major eating binge?

A: Many people are afraid to quit smoking because they think they'll instantly gain weight. I have a news flash for you: Smoking is not helping you stay skinny. It's making you fat.

Smoking affects many of the endocrine glands that produce metabolic hormones. It helps cause insulin resistance and diabetes and drives up cortisol levels, which contributes to belly fat. Smoking is also a risk factor for underactive thyroid, a metabolic condition that can lead to weight gain, and if you already have underactive thyroid, smoking can cut your thyroid hormone secretion further.

The reason people gain weight when they stop smoking is that smoking serves as an oral fixation. When it's taken away, people tend to replace it with another oral fixation — they eat more, and they therefore gain weight. To combat this tendency, I recommend that you make exercise your new addiction. Exercise releases endorphins and serotonin, which cause you to feel good and will help you fight the urge to overeat.

To those attempting to quit smoking: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do. I have lost loved ones to this disgusting habit, and I am so bitter I can barely stand it. Death from smoking is totally preventable; it is a horrible way to die.

I have turned many people on to a book by Alan Carr — The Easy Way to Stop Smoking, and these people swear by it. Check it out, and please do whatever you can to quit. Ask yourself this question: Do I want 20 extra years to see my grandchildren grow up, or a cigarette? If that's not a no-brainer, I don't know what is.

Picking Up Clean Habits

One of the reasons people find it tough to quit smoking is that the habit becomes a comforting ritual — an excuse to take a break from the hectic day. Just because you're quitting doesn't mean you have to stop taking time out for yourself. At work, get away from your desk a few times a day, even if it's just for a walk around the block. At home, use the time you would spend smoking to do something you enjoy, like reading a few pages of a book or chatting on the phone with a friend. You might be surprised when you realize how much time those smoke breaks were sucking out of your day — and how many better things there are to do!