2. Introduction
• When Patrick Meninga quit smoking few
years back, he substituted his smoking
habit with running (a form of exercise) and
he has not looked back since then.
• Just like Patrick used exercise to replace
his love for nicotine, you can also benefit
from exercise while trying to quit.
3. Study on the Benefit of Exercise to
Smoking Cessation
• In a study at the University of Exeter, smokers who had
not smoked for the past 15 hours were told to cycle for
10 minutes, and then showed smoking-related images.
After their exercise session, smokers were less
responsive to the smoking-related visuals and reported
decreased cravings for cigarettes. Withdrawal symptoms
and cigarette cravings decrease during exercise and for
as long as 50 minutes afterwards.
• The study, led by Kate Janse Van Rensburg, a PhD
student at the University of Exeter, concluded that
exercise can help people give up smoking.
4. Study on the Benefit of Exercise to
Smoking Cessation(2)
• It went on to say that moderate exercise could
be a practicable option to many of the
pharmaceutical products, such as nicotine
patches, for people who want to stop smoking.
While stating that a 15-minute walk, cycle or jog
could help when tough and strong cravings set
in, the study concludes that there are many
other benefits from a physically active lifestyle
including higher fitness levels, improved energy
and mood and weight loss.
5. Exercise Is Good for Smokers
• Suffice to say, smoking cessation is easier on
the body when you eat right, get rest, and
exercise consistently. Physical workouts are
very useful as smokers who exercise are more
likely to bid their smoking habit a permanent
good-bye.
• This explains why I wrote about the
benefits of exercise to smoking cessation a while
back. This follow-up article answers the
question: why is it good to start exercise before
quit smoking?
6. Why Is It Good to Start Exercise
Before Quit Smoking?
• So, tell me, just why is it good to start
exercise before quit smoking? It’s good
because some people get overwhelmed if
they make too many drastic lifestyle
changes all at once. While some people
thrive on making several lifestyle changes
at the same time, others don’t. So, it’s
good to start exercising before you quit to
establish your exercise routine.
7. Why Is It Good to Start Exercise
Before Quit Smoking?(2)
• If you wait till you quit smoking to start exercise, I bet you
never would. This is because, at that period, you would
be grappling with so many things at the same time;
cigarette carvings, headache, anxiety, insomnia, et
cetera and adding an exercise routine just won’t be
possible but if you had started before you quit, it would
have become a habit.
• Aside from becoming a habit, it would help you get
through the nicotine cravings easily. This is because
exercise helps you to relax. It can also distract you from
those cravings when they spring up.
8. Smoking and Exercise Are
Incompatible
• If you screw up everything in your stop smoking
journey, let it not be this suggestion to exercise.
Heed to it, work on your exercise regimen.
Investing an hour daily in a physical workout will
pay off handsomely as you will not only be fit,
breathlessness will go away, weight gain will be
a thing of the past and you will have an
improved mood. You will also feel energetic
(don’t forget that cigarettes drain energy but
exercise restores it).
9. Smoking and Exercise Are
Incompatible(2)
• This explains why exercise helps quit smoking. Smoking
and exercise are two incompatible habits. If you want to
do away with one, just embrace the other. I believe this
makes common sense.
• Before you start exercising, please consult your doctor.
Once you have your physician’s clearance, start with
small exercise routines, like walking briskly around the
house. You can start exercising for 30 minutes initially,
you can then move it up as your body adjusts to your
routine. Please note that you must break a sweat from
any exercise you do as that is the only way to get
optimal benefits from the exercise.
10. Exercise Every Day
• So, right before you quit, start walking every
single day, without any exceptions. Commit to
walking for an hour every day. If you initially
can’t walk very fast, that is okay. Just stay true
to your every-day-walking-plan and choose a
date to quit smoking cold turkey within a few
weeks. While looking forward to your quit date,
keep walking every day and make it brisk so you
can break a sweat. This is vital. You are going to
need the boost in endorphins every day after
you quit smoking.
11. Give No Room for Laziness
• By nature, human beings are lazy, just don’t get
into this laziness trap as it will put paid to your
desire to stop smoking. Force yourself to get up
and do any exercise that will assist your stop
smoking journey. Initially, it’s going to be tough
but stay there, your body will soon get
accustomed to it. Don’t also give me the ‘I-walk-
to-work-everyday’ excuse for not exercising as
walking is not a substitute for exercise. Vigorous
exercise is essential as it will make you sweat
out the toxins and also feel good.
12. Cardiovascular Activities Are
Beneficial
• Aside walking, other cardiovascular
activities such as running, cycling and
dancing can be of immense benefit as
they would boost your breathing rate,
increase your blood circulation and make
your heart beat faster. But like I earlier
said, start your exercise regimen with little
steps and push your body to go higher. It’s
rewarding and fulfilling. What’s more,
you’ll be nicotine-free, at the end of the
day.
13. Tips on Exercising
• If you still smoke as you read this, start exercising from
today and plan towards quitting in a few weeks. Commit
to your every day exercise and quit cold turkey. After
quitting, drink lots of water and juice to cleanse your
system of the toxins and nicotine that have accumulated
as a result of many years of smoking.
• If you feel you can’t exercise consistently alone, join a
gym or pair up with a friend. Just do anything that
requires to be done to become nicotine-free. Also, do
exercises that excite you. Engaging in boring exercises
can make you hate exercise times, so, choose carefully
and choose, based on what you love and can commit to.
14. Conclusion
• Even though, it’s often overlooked, exercise is a very
simple secret weapon that can assist you to quit
smoking. It’s a healthy alternative to smoking, it can take
your mind off your cravings, it can help your mood and
energy level, and it can help keep off extra weight. If you
are new to exercising, start slowly. You will take it up a
notch, from there. By all means, let exercise or physical
work outs be in your stop smoking arsenal. As soldiers
never go to war without a gun, never embark on your
smoking cessation journey without it. A word to the wise,
they say, is enough!
15. Thanks for Reading!!!
• For more incisive articles, please visit
• http://2stopsmokingtips.com