When that craving for a cigarette starts, some researchers suggest you should take a walk or run instead. If you’re a smoker, how is that remedy sounding to you? It may not be as impossible as you’re thinking.
University of Western Ontario researchers have been working to convince smokers that exercise is one way to quit smoking. They recommend a supervised exercise program paired with a treatment like nicotine replacement therapy.
With his team, Dr. Harry Prapavessis, Director of Western’s new Exercise and Health Psychology Laboratory, have proven that supervised exercise plus pharmacological agents like nicotine replacement therapy work for smoking cessation, as well as improved physical fitness and delays weight gain in female smokers.
Stopping is good, but remaining a non-smoker seems to be an even bigger challenge. According to the study, 70% of women stopped smoking at the end of the 12-week program, but only 27% remained abstinent after one year.
“This [smoking relapse rate] suggests that exercise needs to be maintained for individuals to continue to kick the habit,” said Prapavessis.
I agree that maintaining an exercise routine can be difficult if you’re not used to it, so here are some tips on developing a regular exercise habit:
- Limit the time you spend watching TV, playing video games and enjoying Facebook or Twitter. If lack of time is your excuse for avoiding exercise, you may find you have more time than you thought if you cut out other activities.
- Find an exercise program that works for you. If the experience isn’t positive, you’re likely not going to continue exercising.
- Motivate yourself and gain extra support to exercise by signing up for group classes or by finding an exercise partner.
- Put exercise on your schedule just like it’s a dentist appointment or work meeting.
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Post from: Blisstree