Some people put on weight when they quit smoking. Don’t be hard on yourself if this happens – focus on staying quit and then tackle the weight gain. Remember to:

Eat healthy food

• Boil, bake or steam food without adding fats
• Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and avoid sugar or high fat food
• Buy lean meat and/or remove fat before cooking
• Have takeaways as treats and not as every day eating
• Drink more water or natural fruit juice
• Freshly chopped fruit and vegetables are ideal snacks.

Stay active

• This can be as simple as getting off the bus one stop early or walking up the stairs instead of taking the lift
• Go for a brisk walk
• Do some gardening
• Play with your children
• Go swimming.

If you are still worried about gaining weight, talk to your doctor or a dietitian about making a sensible eating plan. Download/View Quit smoking Infosheet Quitting Smoking and Weight Gain.