Blog & Newsletter Archives

No Butts About It

Today is the Great American Smokeout, where smokers are encouraged to quit for at least one day (and hopefully more). It is estimated that 47 million Americans smoke and 69% want to quit – yet less than one-tenth succeed in quitting. It's not easy. One of the greatest fears of quitting smoking is gaining weight. People who have quit smoking tend to pack on pounds because their metabolisms slow down, they start craving more sweets, or they use food as a substitute for cigarettes. Your best defense? You guessed it – exercise. In addition to the metabolic boost, studies show that people who exercise while quitting are less likely to gain weight and twice as likely to put those stubs out for good. When you feel the need to nibble, reach for something low-cal and crunchy such as cucumber slices, celery, or a 100-calorie serving of microwave popcorn.