It's true that many smokers gain weight after quitting, even if they don't actually eat any more than before. But the weight gain is usually mild, nine to 11 pounds on average. Weight gain is most noticeable in the first year after you quit. Typically, weight gain slowly tapers off during the next several years after you quit smoking.

A lot of people are concerned about putting on those extra pounds. In a 1996 survey, about 75 percent of women and 35 percent of men said they would be unwilling to gain more than five pounds if they quit smoking. Anyone who avoids quitting because of worry about weight gain is making a bad health decision. Although weight gain is problematic, continued smoking is much more harmful to your body than is this amount of added weight.

Three important points to keep you focused:

• You shouldn't let weight gain be an excuse not to quit or to relapse once you have quit.
• You can take the weight off, but experts recommend holding off on your dieting until after you have safely conquered smoking.
• You can keep the post-cessation poundage to a minimum with brisk walking, a great form of exercise that takes no special equipment.