Soon nobody believes a smoker when they say they are quitting. But, this article will give you the tools you need to fight back and motivation to keep working at giving up tobacco for good. Learn more.
The negative effects of smoking have been consistently demonstrated.
As a bodybuilder, cravings are something you know how to manage.
There are numerous support systems to help with you quitting goal.
Anyone who knows a smoker well will recognize this scenario: they give up smoking for a number of weeks or months, then a stressful life event occurs and they pick up those little cancer sticks again and start puffing away.
Soon nobody believes a smoker when they say they are quitting. But, this article will give you the tools you need to fight back and motivation to keep working at giving up tobacco for good.
Click To Enlarge. It's Hard To Believe A Smoker When They Say They Are Quitting.
How Bad Is Smoking And Why Is Quitting Smoking So Tough?
Okay, raise your hand if you sat through a health class in middle school that showed pictures of oral cancers from smoking. For those who didn't raise their hands, here's the bottom line: smoking hampers many aspects of good health and hygiene.
According to the National Institutes of Health, smoking harms nearly every organ in the body, causes 87% of lung cancer deaths and contributes to lung disease, heart and blood vessel disease, stroke, cataracts and other types of cancer. And, it doesn't bode well for your social status or relationships.
Effects Of Smoking On Bodybuilders!
Smoking has various effects on the body, causing individuals to want to quit. I'll explain some of the effects of continuing those habits and suggestions to stop.
Why is quitting so tough? Nicotine is addictive. It makes you feel calm and relaxed yet alert and focused at the same time. Like caffeine, the more nicotine you smoke (dip, chew etc.) the more you need to get that same feeling. And, it's more than just a feeling, its also a habit.
Holding a cigarette to your lips, blowing out the smoke, returning it to your lips - this sequence is a major habit that fills time when you are stressed, bored, lonely or angry. Many people have this habit engrained into certain parts of their life. The after-meal smoke, at-a-bar smoke, while-driving smoke, etc.
Both the nicotine addiction and habit aspect of smoking make it hard to quit. And, it typically takes more than one attempt at quitting to succeed.
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Do You Or Have You Ever Smoked?
How Bodybuilding Can Help You Quit Smoking
The overall lifestyle that bodybuilding creates can help fuel your desire to quit smoking and also increase your chances of success.
Bodybuilding helps you manage cravings. When you are quitting smoking, you'll need to manage your craving for a cigarette and the desire to hold that cigarette in your hand (the act of smoking itself).
As a bodybuilder, you know how to manage your cravings. You've been in many situations where people are eating pure junk and you've abstained. You can use the same techniques that help you managing cravings for a burger and fries to manage that craving for a smoke.
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Bodybuilding will help you manage your withdrawal symptoms. When you quit smoking, you will inevitably feel the symptoms of withdrawal including depression, not being able to sleep; feeling cranky, frustrated, anxious, nervous, restless; lack of focus; hunger or desire to eat (for that hand to mouth action).
Bodybuilding makes you feel good. It increases your body's production of feel good endorphins. Plus you feel better about your overall appearance when you are a regular bodybuilder. Can't sleep? Working out regularly will help that. Feeling frustrated, anxious, nervous or anything else? A hard workout will certainly relax you. Bodybuilding can help you manage those withdrawal symptoms.
Click To Enlarge. Can't Sleep? Working Out Regularly Will Help That.
Bodybuilding gives you perseverance. There is nothing like a challenging sport to build up your burning desire to succeed. Sure you may not hit your goal today but a few days from now you'll try again. That ability to persevere, even in the face of setbacks, is what you need to continually try to quit smoking.
Inevitably, smokers will pick up a cigarette on the road to quitting. As a bodybuilder, you are much more likely to hop right back on track after a slipup.
Additional Tips To Help You Quit Smoking
In addition to bodybuilding, try these tips to help you quit:
Start
Set a quit date
Tell family, friends and coworkers that you plan to quit
Anticipate and plan for the challenges you will face
Remove cigarettes and other tobacco products from your home, car and workplace
Talk to your doctor or other healthcare professionals about getting help
Click To Enlarge. The Biggest Part Of Quitting Is To Have A Starting Point.
Consider medicine, inhalers, nicotine gum or the nicotine patch. These medicines may increase your chances of success.
Get support:
National Quit Line at 1-800-quit-now (1-800-784-8669)
Check if your workplace offers quit-smoking clinics and support
As small children, my brother and I frequently took our mom's cigarette stash (she smoked on occasion with her brothers and sisters), carefully broke each one in half and then buried them deep in the trash can. If you aren't lucky enough to have such a wonderful support system, build it.
How Long After I Quit Smoking Til My Body Stops Expelling Mucus?
It's been a little over 24 hours since my last cig and before that it was another 15 or so hours.
Find people who have quit smoking and ask them for encouragement. Surround yourself with nonsmokers so you don't have the desire to pick up a cigarette. And, keep bodybuilding. The lifestyle you are creating as a bodybuilder will help you remain steadfast in your pursuit of a tobacco-free life.
About The Author:
Marie Spano is a leading authority on translating the latest nutrition and exercise science research into real life applications. Ms. Spano has also helped Olympic athletes, NFL-bound athletes and Fortune 500 executives enhance their health and performance through sound nutrition practices. For more information see: www.mariespano.com
I quit smoking about 2 weeks into lifting. Just being able to do sets where i don't have to stop because i'm so winded. I feel 100 times better and workouts feel way more productive.
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