Posts Tagged ‘fitness’
Stopping Smoking Benefits
June 7th, 2009
It is a good idea to know how quitting smoking will benefit you. This can help keep you encouraged by knowing what you will gain from breaking your smoking habit. It also serves as a reminder as to why you decided to quit smoking in the first place. Knowing your benefits will serve as a huge advantage to improving your lifestyle.
The greatest benefit of breaking your smoking habit is your health. The risks of lung cancer, heart disease, heart attacks, stroke, and high blood pressure will eventually decrease over time. Being able to breath better and be in overall better health will be very encouraging to continue to not smoke.
Money is a great benefit to quitting smoking. Did you know that the average smoker spends over $1800 a year on cigarettes? By not spending the money for smoking, you have inceased your budget. Maybe you would like to spend the money on a sports car, new furniture, or pay off old debts. Investing the money in mutual funds or in a savings account will maximize your benefits.
Other benefits can include being able to keep your house, car and clothes smelling better. Everyone knows that cigarettes have a bad smell, and those who do not smoke can really pick up the smell. As your desire to smoke goes away, your desire to smell good will increase. This can lead to a complete top to bottom cleaning that will put you in a great mood. If you quit in the spring you could just consider it your yearly spring cleaning spurt. You will definitely love the increased sense of smell though, after all those gorgeous flowers in the yard will now have a reason to exist beyond just looking pretty.
When you quit smoking, you increase your expected life span by as much as 10 years. If this isn’t a benefit, I don’t know what is. The fountain of youth is often found by former smokers since life spans increase and the aging process decreases. A longer, healthier life is sure to be the greatest benefit of all.
Most who discover just how much they can add to their life are absolutely shocked, but taking care of yourself and breaking the smoking habit for good is a great benefit that you will certainly appreciate when you are older and enjoying those added years. Do not be afraid to live your life to the fullest, after you stop smoking you will have plenty of energy for a lot of great new activities that you can enjoy for years.
Popularity: 22% [?]
The First 72 Hours After You Stop Smoking
June 7th, 2009
Feelings of fatigue, irritability and an extremely persistent headache are all side effects of nicotine withdrawal and are all perfectly normal. Why? Simply because it is in the first 72 hours which nicotine purges itself from your system – regardless of the stop smoking method you have chosen to use.
Preparation is the key. By knowing what you are in for, you can make plans to deal with the feelings and symptoms and not have to hide away where you won’t bother anyone. However it is also a good idea to inform your family and friends (but only if they are supportive) of your goals. This also gives them the opportunity to stay clear if they think you might be a little bit cranky!
Also keep in mind that you will be going through these trying times and have plans to work through them, should they arise. It can really nip withdrawal symptoms in the bud. It is helpful to have made a list of what you feel you may experience for symptoms of withdrawal. Some of the things that you may want to include on your list are:
Feeling angry or agitated: I will take deep breaths and take a walk outside. I will leave the room or go take a shower.
Feeling overly emotional or sensitive: Seek out somewhere you can be alone until the feelings subside.
Feeling tired: I will allow myself to be able to rest and heal from my addiction.
Feeling nauseated: I will go outside and get some fresh air.
After eating, I will: Read to keep my mind occupied so I don’t crave the ‘after-dinner’ smoke.
By drinking lots of fluids, and most especially water, your body’s stores of nicotine will be rapidly metabolized and flushed from your system. The downside is that you will have to go to the bathroom more often, but the upside is that the nicotine will clear itself from your system that much quicker and alleviate the physical withdrawal symptoms.
A few things can make the withdrawal symptoms stronger rather than weaker. Caffeine may be one of those. But not for all people. Every situation is unique. Best to judge for yourself. If you are finding that caffeinated drinks are causing you cravings, you should cut down drastically or quit altogether.
Sometimes giving up too many things at once can also open up another can of worms, so maybe just try cutting back on the caffeine. Water, fruit juices, and even ice cream shakes, can help clear out your system and get those withdrawal symptoms done with faster.
Sleep, or the lack of it, is another common side effect of stopping smoking. It doesn’t seem to matter how tired you are during the day, a good sound sleep can be elusive as your mind doesn’t seem to want to shut down, nor can you find a comfortable position in which to rest.
To help alleviate this, I recommend a hot shower before heading off to bed to help you relax. Usually the sleep deprivation only lasts for a night or two. However if it persists, I would suggest a visit to the pharmacy to pick up a sleeping aid until the restlessness passes. It won’t last forever.
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Popularity: 27% [?]
Simple Ways to Quit Smoking
June 6th, 2009
But, as they often try in vain to explain to non-smokers, quitting smoking is not nearly as simple for most people as it seems it should be to non-smokers. For one thing, the act of smoking is like a ritual, a ritual that actually replaces breathing and is very sensual. Take away her regular dose of the narcotic and in only several hours she could be climbing the walls and going crazy. But they are addicted to the good effects and the ritual of smoking.
Quitting smoking is not easy. I know because it took me over 10 years to quit myself. If you have tried to quit smoking but have not been successful, it could simply be because you have not tried the right technique. Just because your friend quit using one method does not mean it is the right one for you. Gradually cutting down can help you decrease your dependence while minimizing your withdrawal symptoms. Quitting cold turkey can be agony at first, but helps you get it over with fast.
Methods for quitting smoking are some of the most frequently question asked by those who really want to quit smoking. They become sick because of smoking. Firstly, cigarette contains a very addictive ingredient which is nicotine. This is why a person who tries to smoke for the first time will become a long term smoker. Secondly, promotion and advertising of cigarette. Tobacco companies know very well why people want to smoke. Thirdly, stress and relaxation. The reality is not like that. When you are smoking, nicotine fulfilling the addiction of your body to that poison.
If you are like me, and most smokers are, you have come to the decision that you want to quit. But, it seems like every time you stop, the cravings become unbearable. Your addiction to nicotine and the other chemicals in cigarettes is just too strong for you to use will power against, and you end up smoking just one more cigarette. Then, I had enough and was blessed to come across self hypnosis. Thoughts like, “I am a smoker” – “Smoking calms my nerves” – “Smoking keeps me thin”. You get the idea. Eventually, the cravings began to get less intense. I began to decrease my smoking each day, not on purpose really, but because the desire was no longer there.
What most smokers don’t know: Pills and patches can’t help you quit totally. And you don’t need to use pills, patches, medicines, gums or even nicotine replacement products. When you smoke, it’s something you have thought about before you actually did it. If you don’t break your mental ties with it, your chances of totally quitting are very slim. Because your mind has already been used to having a cigar or whatever it is based on certain events during the day, you don’t smoke on a schedule.
Popularity: 23% [?]
Posted in Quit Smoking Effects | 
Tags: D, disease, fitness, h, health, Health & Fitness, i, illness, l, q, quit smoking, Quit Smoking Effects, s, self help, self improvement, stop smoking, u | 
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