I quit smoking about 7.5 months ago and now I’m just gaining weight. In the evening I have a big bloated stomach. I don’t eat more or less than before, but I have to make sure that I grab something to eat every two hours. I think I exercise more than enough: brisk walking for 45 minutes every day, aqua swimming once a week and gym once a week. I also pay close attention to what I eat and drink at least one and a half liters of water every day. Do you know how I can speed up my metabolism?
Willemien
Anita Mulderij, nutritionist
How good of you to have stopped smoking. It is true that your metabolism changes as a result. Without eating differently, you can gain about three to four kilos. Your body has to find a new balance. The following tips can give your body a boost and help burn fat faster:
- Do strength training, for example Crossfit, HIIT or kettlebell training.
- Start the day with a green smoothie (for example with spinach, cucumber, celery, banana, lemon juice, cinnamon and water).
- Avoid carbohydrates (so don’t eat pasta, bread, potatoes, rice and cereals).
- Eat naturally, so do not eat processed products from bags, packages and containers.
- Drink only water, herbal tea and a maximum of two cups of black coffee per day.
Give your body time to get back into balance and focus on your health. Pay attention to how you feel. How much energy do you have? How are your bowel movements? How’s your mood? Those are things you should focus on. If it goes well with that, the pounds will disappear on their own.
Do you also have a question? Then ask one of our experts. Always go to your doctor with urgent questions, the experts are not the right person for that. They don’t diagnose either. You can find the other conditions here.
Anita Mulderij is a nutritionist at jasperalblas.nl. She no longer answers questions for Plusonline.
Liesbeth van Rossum is an internist and endocrinologist and Mariette Boon is an internist in training and researcher into brown fat. Together they wrote the bestseller ‘Fat important‘. This duo knows all about body fat and how you can influence it. Do you want to lose weight? Listen to the podcast below before you start a diet, because then you can avoid common mistakes.
