Smoking at the gym door

Ok, I try not rant on here, but I have to vent!
One of my biggest pet peeves, beyond even people parking in cycle lanes, is people who light up a cigarette at the door of the gym before going in to train.
This absolutely bugs the hell out of me for a couple of reasons.

1. It stinks, and lingers in the area by the door. If the door is open, everyone in the gym can smell your stinking cigarette. Also, it makes you stink of cigarettes. No one wants to be inhaling your stink. If you must smoke, wait until you're home from your training.
2. Why would anyone purposely and permanently kill lung cells before going training?

Every breath of cigarette smoke inhaled causes carbon monoxide to bind permanently to the alveoli (air sacks) in the lungs, preventing them working. They have only 1 function, to transfer oxygen into the blood and carbon dioxide out of it. But when tied up with monoxide they can't do this. It takes days or weeks before these cells are broken down and replaced, during which time your ability to exercise is reduced.
To put it another way, you wouldn't smash your toes with a hammer before going for a run, would you? Didn't think so. Don't fill your lungs with tar at the start of your session!
Have a look at my previous posts on smoking for help in breaking the habit, even if you're not currently trying to quit.

Quit smoking: dealing with cravings

Here are some ideas to help you cope with cravings. Some of these have worked for me, some come from members in the gym I work in. 

But first try this exercise..

Take a deep breath. Relax your shoulders.

Disgusting full ashtray.

Now imagine the scene where you smoke most frequently. Imagine all the sights and sounds that are usually present when you are in the situation where you smoke. Are you sitting or standing in the scene? Feel the ground or chair beneath you. Make the scene as real as possible in your mind, with all the sights, feelings, sounds, smells and even tastes you associate with smoking. 
Next imagine an overflowing ashtray full of wet ash and fag butts. 

Remember the way it stinks... how horrible it smells. You can probably taste it… think of

how it makes you gag. Disgusting isn’t it? Cigarettes are disgusting.

Next, close your eyes and do this exercise again, this time creating the scene in even more detail.

Try doing this whenever you get a craving, or every morning and evening. It might not make the craving go away, but it certainly helped me strengthen my resolve, and made me more determined to stay off the little white death-sticks for 1 more day at least. 

Some quick fixes:

* chew some gum

* eat something eg carrot sticks or lollipops

* brush your teeth

* sip a non-alcoholic drink you don't link with smoking

* take a shower

* run up some stairs

* do a crossword

* call a friend

* occupy your hands, eg by doodling, doing sudoku, juggling, knitting or completing a pocket puzzle.

Did you find my exercise effective? Have you got a tip that's worked for you?  Share it in the comments.

Quit smoking : Foods that help

Orange foods: carrot, sweet potato and mango are rich in beta-carotene, which is

important for healthy lung walls.

Broccoli is rich in isothiocyanate that helps protect against lung disease. Try other

brassica veg like cabbage, kale and sprouts.

Vitamin C: cigarettes rob the body of vitamin C. Eat berries, cherries, grapefruit and

kiwis.

Antioxidants: ex-smokers need more, so aim for seven or more portions of fruit and veg a

day and eat a rainbow of colours.

Water will help flush toxins and ease food cravings. Fill a two-litre bottle every morning

and aim to drink it all by the end of the day.