Do it for Your Family

Living a Healthy lifestyle can help you look ( and feel ) years younger! Life is too short - why not enjoy it as much as possible! Fitness and healthy habits are vital to leading a happier, more balanced life!

Other than the inevitable big setbacks we all are bound to encounter (like a death in the family), nothing ages your body quite like smoking. Quitting smoking is the single best thing you can do for your health. Do it for yourself - and your family!

One reason people smoke is that cigarettes helps them relax. Once you quit, you’ll need another avenue to help you cope with stress. Try walking for 45 minutes every day! Or listening to relaxing music, or take up yoga. If possible, avoid stressful situations during the first few weeks after you stop smoking.

Certain activities may boost your urge to smoke. Alcohol is one of the most common triggers, so try to drink less when you first quit. If coffee is a trigger, switch to tea for a few weeks. And if you usually smoke after meals, find something else to do instead, like brushing your teeth or chewing gum. Keep some celery sticks on hand - celery is great for you and has almost no calories!

Many ex smokers have found that when nicotine, a chemical in cigarette smoke, leaves your body, you may experience:

Short-term weight gain. The nicotine kept your body weight low, and when you quit smoking, your body returns to the weight it would have been had you never smoked.

You might gain 3 to 5 pounds due to water retention during the first week after quitting.

A need for fewer calories. After you stop smoking, you may use fewer calories than when you were smoking.

Not everyone gains weight when they stop smoking. On average, people who quit smoking gain only about 10 pounds. You are more likely to gain weight when you stop smoking if you have smoked for 10 to 20 years or smoked one or more packs of cigarettes a day. You can control your weight while you quit smoking by making healthy eating and physical activity a part of your life.

Becoming physically active is a healthy way to control your weight and take your mind off smoking. In one study, women who stopped smoking and added 45 minutes of walking a day gained less than 3 pounds. In addition to helping control your weight, exercise increases your energy, promotes self-confidence, improves your health, and may help relieve the stress and depression caused by the lack of nicotine in your body.

Once you’ve smoked your last cigarette, toss all of your ashtrays and lighters. Wash all your clothes that may still smell like smoke. Give your whole house the once over and clean your carpets, draperies, and upholstery. Use air fresheners to help rid your home of that familiar scent. Eliminate anything that reminds you of smoking.

Congratulate yourself. Celebrate! You are taking an important step to improve your life. The best reason to quit smoking is to live longer. It's a gift you can give yourself and your family! Read on for more on how to quit smoking!