Exercise and Smoking
With all the gadgets and aids marketed today promising a quick fix to those looking to stop smoking, the truth can sometimes be hard to discern.
Patches, gum, inhalers and hypnosis have all been used with some success, but none are foolproof, and they certainly don't come cheap.
There is another alternative though.
Studies have shown that regular exercise performed either as a stand-alone method or in combination with nicotine replacement, can significantly curb your craving to smoke, and assist you in coping with the nasty withdrawal symptoms that can interfere with your life.
In a 2005 study in Vienna, 216 people were placed on nicotine replacement therapy for their cigarette addiction, and half of those - 108 - were asked to engage in at least 30 minutes of exercise a day.
At the conclusion of the study, 40% of those receiving nicotine replacement alone had remained smoke free - a fairly good result-but a whopping 80% of those who had included exercise had achieved the same feat.
That's double! And with similar results being reported in studies around the world, many experts are now recognizing the powerful benefits of exercise for those who are trying to give up smoking.
Cessation from smoking is difficult, with many who attempt it complaining of physical withdrawal that is, at times, unbearable.
Regular exercise can help significantly to ease the effects of these symptoms.
One very good reason is that exercise will help take your mind off things.
Who wouldn't be miserable simply sitting back and allowing the cravings to consume them? A jog on the treadmill or a walk in the woods can help take your mind off the uneasiness you feel, and serve as a healthy distraction for dealing with your cravings.
As a smoker, the thought of weight gain as a side effect of quitting can be a frightening deterrent.
The cravings for cigarettes can sometimes resemble hunger pangs and may cause some to overindulge.
With regular exercise, however, this is an easy problem to address.
Take some time at the gym to burn off those extra calories.
Even if you do put on a few extra pounds, the heart healthy benefits of a consistent exercise program will more than make up for it.
Exercise, used as treatment for withdrawal, a method for shedding unwanted pounds or just as part of an overall healthy routine, can help you quit smoking and recover safely from your addiction.
This book will outline the various health benefits for the ex-smoker and suggest exercise programs to both facilitate a smooth cessation from cigarettes and prevent weight gain.
Patches, gum, inhalers and hypnosis have all been used with some success, but none are foolproof, and they certainly don't come cheap.
There is another alternative though.
Studies have shown that regular exercise performed either as a stand-alone method or in combination with nicotine replacement, can significantly curb your craving to smoke, and assist you in coping with the nasty withdrawal symptoms that can interfere with your life.
In a 2005 study in Vienna, 216 people were placed on nicotine replacement therapy for their cigarette addiction, and half of those - 108 - were asked to engage in at least 30 minutes of exercise a day.
At the conclusion of the study, 40% of those receiving nicotine replacement alone had remained smoke free - a fairly good result-but a whopping 80% of those who had included exercise had achieved the same feat.
That's double! And with similar results being reported in studies around the world, many experts are now recognizing the powerful benefits of exercise for those who are trying to give up smoking.
Cessation from smoking is difficult, with many who attempt it complaining of physical withdrawal that is, at times, unbearable.
Regular exercise can help significantly to ease the effects of these symptoms.
One very good reason is that exercise will help take your mind off things.
Who wouldn't be miserable simply sitting back and allowing the cravings to consume them? A jog on the treadmill or a walk in the woods can help take your mind off the uneasiness you feel, and serve as a healthy distraction for dealing with your cravings.
As a smoker, the thought of weight gain as a side effect of quitting can be a frightening deterrent.
The cravings for cigarettes can sometimes resemble hunger pangs and may cause some to overindulge.
With regular exercise, however, this is an easy problem to address.
Take some time at the gym to burn off those extra calories.
Even if you do put on a few extra pounds, the heart healthy benefits of a consistent exercise program will more than make up for it.
Exercise, used as treatment for withdrawal, a method for shedding unwanted pounds or just as part of an overall healthy routine, can help you quit smoking and recover safely from your addiction.
This book will outline the various health benefits for the ex-smoker and suggest exercise programs to both facilitate a smooth cessation from cigarettes and prevent weight gain.
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