An exercise program can help you quit.
Current evidence seems to point to the fact that embarking on an exercise program will help you to quit smoking. This was in fact confirmed by a formal study carried out by Dr Bess Marcus in 1999 in the USA, where it was found that women who exercised vigorously while trying to quit smoking were twice as likely to remain smoke-free and gained about half the weight of the women who did not exercise.
The study, carried out at Brown University in Providence, looked at 281 female smokers aged 18 to 65 who did not normally exercise, and who did not lead a particularly active lifestyle. These women were then divided into two groups - both groups attended the same twelve week smoking cessation program, but crucially one group attended a wellness program three times a week, whereas the other group took part in a supervised vigorous exercise program three times a week, which included sessions of thirty to forty minutes of aerobic activity. The exercise program started at a fairly relaxed rate, but then built up in intensity, until the exercise undertaken was the equivalent of jogging.
These findings seem to tie in with the fact that people who exercise feel better both mentally and physically, tend to report fewer mood swings, and have a greater feeling of empowerment.
So if you are seriously thinking about stopping smoking as your New Year resolution, you may find that enrolling at the gym, and embarking on a serious fitness program will give you no end of help in achieving your goal.
Filed under: Ways to Quit
