FEED THE CRAVINGS
Hi Everyone. I wish everyone success with their quits. It can be a rough endeavor as it is without worrying about your weight too. One day at a day, one step at a time. The quit is most important, you can always lose the weight later. Since most of us here are wanting to improve our health, why not use researching as a distraction?
A well balanced diet of just eating good food choices will sate you if not shed pounds. The Mediterranean diet is not a diet but a way of eating. Right now a lot of these foods are recommended for your body to release dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and Oxycontin. Your body manufactures these and you can boost production by eating certain foods, or doings certain things. These in turn contribute to our good mood, confidence, contentment etc.
Banana and Dark Chocolate are among good foods. For a low calorie treat while quitting i would mash a banana with about 5 Tbs Cocoa powder. The result is like 80% dark chocolate with fewer calories. Freeze them and release some dopamine. That is what nicotine did. There are lots of foods to include in your meals for a healthy body and happy mind. , Do the research..
Rewarding yourself as we were told to do also releases these. Exercise, Hugs, reflecting on what is good in your life now and past.These are just a few easy ones that come to mind while researching. Keeps the mind and hands busy too!
Lots of foods are low in calories, good for helping to curb appetite or increase metabolism. Ginger curbs appetite as well as cravings, , add some to your tea or coffee or chicken broth to sip on (i add my turmeric too, and rice if as an appetizer or lunch) Cinnamon increases metabolism, but read up on it, too much will affect your liver. Everything in moderation. Sprinkle a little on your oatmeal or sliced apple. Good on Sweet potato and swash as well. Good spices with good food
Lavender and Vanilla are also good aromatherapy for relaxing our minds , calm and soothing sounds are good too whether it be soft music, a disc with falling rain , nature, or waves.
Take deep breaths, relax, treat yourself and your body right for a change.
Hi. You have the right idea about quitting first and then tackling weight gain second. With the return of the olfactory sense it is only fair that the enjoyment of food is realised. Taste and smell become a reality with the cessation of smoking. Besides, if you can stop the habit, you can no doubt eliminate some foods from your diet. I speak from experience. It took 2 1/2 years to pile on 18 kgs. It took another 10 months to lose it. Now after nearly 3 1/2 years I am still smoke free and a good weight.
Hi Lia.
So glad you were able to get the weight off. I just want to let others know you can eat better while maintaining weight, and that there are foods you can eat to reduce cravings, release dopamine to feel better. Putting on weight would not make one feel better about quitting smoking, although quitting smoking is the greater priority and most risk to your health. I am just encouraging better health while quitting. This site probably won't let me post links so you will need to research the clues i have given you. I will try to find the articles and post for all, no guarantees though.
Here is a link :
https://www.google.ca/search?q=happy+chemical+brain&rlz=1C1PRFC_enCA781CA781&oq=happy+chem&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0l5.6602j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
This is a better link;
https://medium.com/thrive-global/the-brain-chemicals-that-make-you-happy-and-how-to-trigger-them-caa5268eb2c
This is a link to curb cravings and detoxify your body. Worked great for me. Going to make more just for the health benefits alone.
https://doctor.ndtv.com/living-healthy/this-turmeric-drink-recipe-can-detox-your-smoke-filled-lungs-1797681
Those suffering Copd:
Stages and symptoms
https://www.everydayhealth.com/copd/how-does-copd-progress.aspx
Foods to avoid with Copd:
https://www.everydayhealth.com/copd-pictures/foods-that-worsen-copd.aspx#01
Hope these articles help who suffer from Copd to know what may triggers breathing problems.