Here at Bootcamp se16 we love to celebrate the wins of our members, especially when it’s something that will have a huge positive effect on their health and wellbeing.
Meet Eliana, she’s been a dedicated member with us since June 2020. When she joined us she was lacking a routine, missing exercise and having fun whilst exercising. One of her goals was to improve her overall health and enhance her level of fitness.
Eliana recently made the huge decision to stop smoking, here she explains why and how…
“I’ve been a smoker for over 15 years and always joked how I’d quit when I want to have children. With lockdown and working from home I noticed I was smoking even more and I was out of breath when doing Bootcamp.
I decided to quit when one of my closest friends was diagnosed with cancer a couple of weeks ago, it was the best decision I’ve ever made. I’ve been keeping myself occupied so I don’t crave cigarettes and do things around the house when I’d normally have a cigarette break.
18 days in and I even notice it when I go for a run or do a Bootcamp class! Best decision I’ve ever made”
We want to applaud Eliana, we know how hard it can be to stop smoking but also know how detrimental it can be to your health.
Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Smoking also increases risk for tuberculosis, certain eye diseases, and problems of the immune system, including rheumatoid arthritis.
What will you notice when you quit smoking?
Within two weeks of quitting smoking, you may start to notice you’re not only breathing easier but walking easier, this is thanks to improved circulation and oxygenation.
In just one short month, you can experience many health changes related to stopping smoking. One is feeling a sense of heightened overall energy. You may also notice that many smoking-related symptoms have decreased, such as sinus congestion and shortness of breath with exercise.
Here’s our top 5 tips to help you stop smoking:
Make the date – Decide on a date you are going to quit from, write it in your diary, on your calendar, tell friends and family so they can be ready with extra support when you need it.
Make a list – Make a list of all the reasons you want to stop smoking and what benefits stopping will have for you, pin it up somewhere or pop it in a drawer so you can look at it whenever you feel tempted.
Keep busy – Plan activities to keep you entertained at the times you would usually smoke, perhaps take up a new hobby, a fitness based one is ideal so you can track your physical improvement. Or amend your routine so you don’t notice that you aren’t having a cigarette break.
Start saving – put the money aside that you would usually spend on cigarettes and watch it grow! Try to let it build up for as long as possible before spending it, the more you save the bigger the impact it will have on your motivation.
Reward yourself – plan rewards for once you reach day 3, day 5, day 7, 2 weeks or a month to help keep you motivated. You could treat yourself to something with the money you are saving.
Is the time now for you to make this change?
Have you already successful quit smoking, what advise would you share that really helped you?