Trick the habit

It often takes regular smokers several tries to quit. If that sounds like you, trade in your “quit smoking” goal for an exercise goal. Run a marathon, a local 5k or enter an adventure race. You might fi nd that as you train and the event gets closer, smoking is holding you back. Sometimes, it’s easier to achieve something when it’s not your main focus.

Crush your cigarette cravings with exercise

Exercise is hard enough without 50 different toxins in your lungs. It’s no wonder

you don’t fi nd many smokers running marathons. But, the truth is, exercise is a

great way to help you quit smoking. According to the American Lung Association,

exercise works because it helps manage energy levels, moods and weight gain.1

Ten minutes is a start

Researchers from the University of Exeter in the UK found that just ten minutes of

exercise reduced cravings for regular smokers. The study also showed that

exercise made cigarettes appear less attractive to smokers.2

Don’t be surprised if your fi rst jog leaves you calling a taxi. Smoking harms your

lungs’ natural cleaning and repair system. Dirt and pollution stays in your lungs,

along with chemicals from cigarette smoke.3 This can make a fl ight of stairs feel

like a mountain. Just remember, your lungs will be 30% better after just a few

weeks without cigarettes.4

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Some smokers are afraid of feeling sick without nicotine. But exercise can help

here, too. Studies show exercise can reduce the worst symptoms of smoking

withdrawal, such as:5

Irritability

Depression

Restlessness

Diffi culty concentrating

Stress

Gain more than a few extra deep breaths

Exercise can also lead to better overall health and well-being. People who use

exercise to quit smoking say they feel more confi dent and better about themselves.

They feel inspired by leading healthier lifestyles and being better role models. It

also helps them get rid of stress and unwanted weight.

1 American Lung Association website: American Lung Association Offers Tips to Make Quit-Smoking New Year’s Resolutions Stick (December 2012): lung.org. 2 University of Exeter website: First brain study reveals benef ts of exercise on quitting smoking (February 2009): exeter.ac.uk. i3 American Lung Association website: Lungs 101: How Does Smoking Hurt Your Lungs? (June 2008): lung.org. 4 Smokefree.gov Twitter account: Lung capacity increases by 30% after a few weeks without cigs! (July 2013): twitter.com/SmokefreeGov. 5 National Center for Biology Information website: The effect of exercise in reducing desire to smoke and cigarette withdrawal symptoms is not caused by distraction (August 2006): ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, Inc., is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

If feeling more conf dent and less stressed sounds good to you, check out ouri health and wellness resources at bcbsga.com. You’ll f nd useful information andi real health stories from everyday people that just may inspire you to quit smoking – for the win!