Everyone knows that smoking is not healthy, not only does smoking increase your risks of many diseases including heart disease, heart attacks, and cancer but it also is going to interfere with your efforts in the gym.  Smoking before you exercise cuts back on the amount of fat you burn while you exercise, meaning that a smoker has to workout a lot longer and harder than a non-smoker to see the same results.  But quitting can be tough, it is an addiction after all, here are 3 tips to help you to butt out for good.

1. Workout:  Stick it out at the gym, even when you are trying to quit smoking, people are 3 times for likely to use weight gain as a reason to smoke.  A regular exercise routine will ensure you don’t gain weight while you quit, and all that exercise is bound to stave off cravings as well.

2. Choose a good quit date:  And stick to it! Choosing New Years Eve at midnight might not be your best date as you may be out and in a social situation it may be hard to be smoking at 11:59 and not at midnight.  Choose a date where you have a few days to yourself, and no holidays within the next month.  We suggest the first Saturday after the new year if you are looking for a resolution type quit date.  Once the date passes stick to your plan and don’t give in!

3. Use a smoking cessation product: Talk with your doctor about smoking cessation products, some like the gum some like the patch but whatever you choose the nicotine boosts will help you to stave of cravings.  As you need the products less and less use them less and less.

However you choose to quit know that you will not feel like yourself for a while, but the mood swings are definitely worth it in the long run.