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"   Working out might be the last thing on your mind when you start to think about quitting smoking, but it turns out it could be the secret to your success. Here&amp;#039;s how: 1. Improve breathingDid you know cigarette cravings often last for just five minutes? The next time you feel like stepping out for a fag, step out for a short walk (or run if you&amp;#039;ve got the time!) instead. By the time you&amp;#039;re finished, your craving will most likely have passed, and by gradually building up your exercise levels slowly, you&amp;#039;ll start to improve your lung intake \u00A0\u2013 making exercise feel easier and easier. Set yourself small targets and you&amp;#039;ll be surprised how quickly you&amp;#039;re able to do more, and how much less you&amp;#039;ll want to light up. 2. Reduces stressYour boss has just given you a b*llocking in front of the whole office, what do you do? Have a fag, natch. But even though it feels like smoking helps reduce stress, research shows people&amp;#039;s stress decreases only after they stop smoking. Huh?! It&amp;#039;s because nicotine addiction actually increases stress levels during the &amp;#039;withdrawal&amp;#039; period between cigarettes. Physical activity, on the other hand, does improve oxygen flow in the body, which will help you feel more chilled out. On top of that, there&amp;#039;s a release of &amp;#039;feel good&amp;#039; hormones after every workout, making you feel amazing overall and less likely to want to smoke. 3. Increase energyAfter as little as two weeks of stopping smoking,\u00A0your circulation will improve significantly, which helps you feel more energised, makes exercise feel easier and even makes your skin look brighter. Add some cardio exercise on top \u2013 like a brisk walk or climbing a few flights of stairs \u2013 to get your heart pumping because it helps your blood circulate more easily too). Double whammy! 4. Boost immunitySmoking reduces the strength of your immune system, so you&amp;#039;re less protected from bacterial, viral and fungal infections. Plus, a smoker&amp;#039;s body is also more toxic from all the chemicals in cigarettes, so the liver is more stressed, making it a target for disease. Not only will quitting make it easier for your body to fight off\u00A0colds and flu, regular exercise makes you a germ-fighting powerhouse \u2013 it helps your body better distribute oxygen and release toxins.\u00A0 5. Reduce belly fatThere&amp;#039;s increasing evidence that smoking increases your levels of visceral fat, a dangerous kind that surrounds your intestines and liver and increases your risk of all sorts of diseases. And the more you smoke, the more likely you are to store this kind of fat in your abdomen rather than on your hips and thighs. Up your exercise, cut the cigarettes and watch that belly fat disappear. For more expert advice on nutrition and fitness please visit SportsShoes.com HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR SELF CONTROL QUITTING SMOKING CAN SAVE YOUR SKIN GET YOUR MAN TO QUIT SMOKING TO IMPROVE YOUR SEX LIFE "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/body/fitness-workouts/a25652/how-exercise-helps-you-quit-smoking/>