Smoking & Your Eating Habits

Once you stop smoking, you might notice significant changes in your food habits. Most smokers experience weight gain as soon as they quit smoking (there are people who have gained nearly 15 pounds once they have stopped smoking). But there is no reason to worry. This is just a very temporary phase, and you will soon get over it. It is, however, important that you develop a proper diet routine and watch what you eat.

Work on your diet as well. If you have erratic eating habits, it is going to affect everything you do. There are many of us who skip breakfast. The effects of skipping breakfast may not be felt immediately, but some time during the day they certainly will. Our body needs the energy from the food we have at breakfast. And we can either start our day with a good breakfast, or we can smoke a couple of cigarettes and gulp down a cup of coffee, and work away towards a highly stressful day.

So what does a proper breakfast mean? A cup of coffee is not breakfast. It is true that coffee perks you up, but it also takes away your hunger. Couple that with nicotine from cigarettes, and you are done for. You will have succeeded in fooling your brain that it is fully equipped to meet the challenges of the day.

So it is advisable to go easy on coffee, especially in the morning. Drink tea instead. Tea can prove to be just as stimulating once you get used to it. If you are a diehard coffee fan, you could try reducing your intake of coffee in the morning. A breakfast drink is fine, but there is nothing that beats a tall glass of fresh fruit juice in the morning, along with two pieces of toast, an egg or cereal. Then you are all set for the day.

Other meals are important as well. Our bodies need nourishment at regular time intervals, and at those times you need something to eat. Midday is meant for lunch, so have lunch then. There are many people who find it difficult to have lunch between 12 and 2. For such unfortunate souls, the best thing to do is gulp down yet another glass of fruit juice, or probably eat a snack. But again, coffee is not a substitute for lunch. And neither are cigarettes.

In the evening, it is best to eat something that is not too filling, such as a light sandwich - perhaps with a glass of milk.

It is those coffee breaks that you have to be extremely wary off. Those are the times when you will have to exercise the maximum mind control, and there is nothing better than meditation or breathing exercises.

Many people go for a smoke after meals, and this is something that must be tackled carefully. You are going to find it increasingly difficult if the people you have just dined with make a beeline for the balcony to smoke.

It would be best if you could stop dining with such people; but if you do dine with them, muster up all your will power and do not accompany them to the balcony. Use one of those gums or spices after meals to control the urge.

Drink lots of water if you can - even 12 to 15 glasses a day.

A Few More Pointers on What to Eat...

• Choose a variety of foods from all food groups every day.
• Steer clear of food supplements (or "nutraceuticals" as they are sometimes called). If you are eating properly, you do not need any supplements.
• It is best to go for natural foods rather than processed or packed foods.
• Eat fresh fruit whenever you can. Fresh fruit has a lot more fibre, which your body needs.
• Eat lots of vegetables and salads.
• The next time you are thirsty, try drinking water instead of soft drinks. Your body prefers water in its purest form.
• Increase your intake of fluids. Try and drink at least 12 glasses of water every day; it helps to flush out all those toxins.
• Wash your vegetables and fruits well before consumption, and search for packets that say 'free from pesticides.'

Practise these eating habits, and before you know it, you will have a whole new body, which you certainly won't want to pollute with cigarette smoke.

The next section is: Smoking & Sleep