If you are recovering from addiction, you may be experiencing some weight gain as your appetite picks up after quitting drugs or alcohol. Perhaps your metabolism is going through some changes, or it may be time to address the poor eating habits you’ve developed during your active addiction. No matter what stage in life you may be going through, however, fighting off weight gain—just like recovery—requires strong will and determination.

To help support your stride towards overall health, here are 3 ways you can keep off the extra pounds as you continue on your path.

1. Educated Eating

Along with abstinence from substances, maintaining a healthy diet is imperative in your recovery plan. After all, your body needs to recover from years of alcohol toxins and poor eating habits. To get started, you can consult with an experienced nutritionist or scour the internet for health information, proper nutrition and healthy recipes.

Once you have the information you need, plan your weekly meals at the beginning of the week and stick with your agenda. Prepare your grocery list accordingly and avoid the snack and candy aisles while shopping. Also, try visiting the local farmer’s market to load up on plenty of fruits and vegetables. You should also drink plenty of water each day and avoid soda, energy drinks and junk food.

2. Continuous Movement

Eating healthy doesn’t guarantee that you will not gain weight as your metabolism can also play a huge role, especially as you get older. In order to maintain your weight, you may need to incorporate regular exercise into your routine. For example, if you’re going to the store and it’s within a reasonable distance, consider walking instead of driving. At work, skip the elevator and take the stairs or park at the end of the parking lot. Use the push mower or help out your elderly neighbors with household chores whenever you can.

You can even plan fun day trips with family and friends that include hiking, swimming or any other active activities. Find various ways to squeeze in a few minutes of body movement anywhere you can. You can even practice yoga, ride your bike around town or hit the weight room at your local gym. Remember, exercising doesn’t have to be strenuous to be highly beneficial.

3. Foolproof Your Meals

Don’t avoid social gatherings, holiday celebrations and parties just because they’ll be full of junk food and other appetizing snacks. Instead, decide ahead of time that you will choose reasonably. If possible, eat a healthy meal prior to attending a party so you’ll be full and less tempted to indulge. Feel free to snack on fruits and vegetable trays but avoid calorie-laden dips and sauces. Try using a smaller dinner plate as well and eat only what fits on it without going back for seconds.

Your body may have been put through a lot due to your addiction, but now you can fully take charge of every aspect of your health. It may even help to seek out family or friends who lead healthy lifestyles. In the end, your future self will thank you for taking the time to learn and develop an improved way of living.