Weight Control Tips On Quitting

Tips on weight control

• Use the money you save on cigarettes to buy good quality food- less cheap stuff and more yummy (healthier) food

• Often when you stop smoking, your sense of taste improves. Get to know the fresh and subtle tastes that you missed out on before- fresh fish, delicious fruit, and local veg. Make it a food adventure.

• Don't starve yourself. It has the opposite effect to what you want. Eat several times through the day

• Don't eat too close to bedtime

• Check food labels. Replace high fat items with low fat versions

• Experiment with grilling instead of frying

• Drink plenty of water and fruit juice

• Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables

• Don't shop when you are hungry- you will grab all the wrong things!

• Reduce the amount of butter or margarine you spread. Cut down on red meat, sausages and bacon.

• Cut down on sugar, use sweeteners if you need to

• Try low calorie versions of soft drinks

• Make sweets and chocolates a specific planned treat rather than having them "on tap" all the time. A Mars bar has about 294 calories- a 10 stone person would need to run about 3 miles to work it off!

• If you need a snack try and find a low calories, or sugar free item – muesli bars, sugar free gum/sweets, low calories drinks or yoghurts

• Remember alcohol contains a lot of calories

• Increase your exercise, walk more. Buy a pedometer and aim to increase the steps you take a day

• Try a new physical activity, go swimming, walking, cycling

• Exercise at home (or with a friend)- borrow an exercise DVD from the library if you're not sure about spending on one