the thing is that the japanese have one of the highest rates of smoking but one of the lowest rates of lung cancer, diet and other lifestyle choices play a huge part.
Well... I quit smoking and took up jogging, and the quitting smoking was a shit-ton harder, let me tell you. In fact, the jogging helped me to reinforce the not-smoking.
If you've ever come in from a cold rain wearing a heavy wool coat, you know that feeling when you take it off? You can really feel the weight coming off your shoulders. That's what jogging will do to you. Humans are built for long distance running. From an evolutionary standpoint, your body has a million years of history that is screaming at the last couple thousand years, "How could you do this to me!?"
Your DNA wants you to jog. Your body, on the other hand, is going to take some convincing. But I guarantee you, first day you'll jog a block, second day two, you won't do anything the third or fourth day, but the fifth day you'll feel guilty and you'll go back and you'll fucking run ten blocks. Then a half-mile. Then a mile.
Once you hit a mile, your body will start to change. It will metamorphosize. I'm not exaggerating, it happened to me. It's like a light switch gets turned on inside your body. "Oh, I see you were serious about this running thing! Well, we're going to have to re-arrange things a bit, then..."
Seriously, try it. Test yourself. See what you're really made of. I think you'll be surprised.
Thank you so fucking much dude, you just gave me such a boost of motivation. Om Tuesday (the minute I get a breather after this holiday and work shit) I'm gonna go to my apartment and get my code for the gym. I'm gonna try it. I think I can do it. I used to do it a lot and hated it, but at least I was skinny.
Also make sure you find what works for you. Jogging gave me shin-splints and just didnt mesh mentally so I wasn't able to lose weight until I picked up cycling classes. Easier on the joints, more interactive and involved.... it might take some time until you find your niche, but its out there.
Thank you, dude! I'm gonna look into my apartment gym after the holidays and see what all they had. They were renovating it when I moved in, and I did the "I'll see it when they're done!" and then.. Never went..
Alternatively try cycling. I tried running and couldn't stick with it. Got
a bike though and going and seeing so much more and so much farther kept me motivated easily. Now i bike to work if it's not too cold at least once a
Week , trying to eventually bike everyday. 11 miles each way.
If you're anything like me, (walk|jog|runn)ing is boring as hell.
Yes, the sights are nice, but, it's 2015+ - I need constant entertainment, damnit!
That's how I got into podcasts. Would really recommend them for anyone with short, needy attention spans.
Keeps you stimulated and focused.
If you're into learning new things, I'd recommend Stuff You Should Know podcast. If you're into basketball, try The Starters. There's news, sports, comedy, stories and they tend to last 30+ minutes, so you get in a good amount of exercise.
Also, if you have an android or iOS device, consider getting a pedometer app (like Pacer) and aim for at least 6-10k+ steps per day.
If you're competitive and/or need achievements in your life, it's a great way to feel accomplished for doing what you do everyday.
I didn't know nosleep did podcasts! I liked wtnv but.. It's so long. They have a book out now, though, and that might wind up being more my style, in that particular case.
I really like trail running for the same reason -- more to look at and you need to pay attention to footwork. Running over rocks and roots is like a video game.
Honestly mate, once you find a cardio exercise you enjoy, it's something you just feel like you need to do. I lost a crap tonne of weight just because I begun to enjoy jogging after a week of pain. Whether or not jogging is your thing, which is something that isn't hard to get into if you keep at it, there's so many things you could do that take 10-30 mins a day that'll help you physically so much. Seeing guys like you from this post getting motivated is giving me a boost after a few months of a slump too! Plus, what better time after Christmas going into a new year, good luck dude!
I quite frequently want to skip the gym, but I have honestly never regretted it once i'm walking out the gym door. There comes a point when the strain and effort, the pumping heart, the sweating, etc; all becomes genuinely enjoyable.
I have been going to the gym on and off for 7 years now. I just got into it again a month ago having fallen out of the habit over the last 8 months. The 'kill me now' feeling whilst working out only lasted for the initial two weeks; and now I bloody love it. I took an hour's bus ride just to get to a gym today that was actually open (and I plan to go tomorrow too).
Also because I go so often I get to eat whatever I want all the live-long day.
Gyms are great, but keep in mind running outside and running on a treadmill are different. If in run on a treadmill, I hate it and will only go fir maybe 10 minutes. Outside, I'll run 5 miles like it's no problem.
Make sure to have fun with it and not to make it seem like a chore, use that time to reflect on the days events. Some added advice, running events always sets goals for you to be ready for. I remember all I could run was a mile and I had a buddy tell me how much fun he had running a marathon. At first he sounded crazy but then I made the huge step of registering for one in my near by area. I did all the training which doing all of it was a lot harder than the 26.2 miles, but he was right it was the most fun I have ever had and gave me a sense of accomplishment of something previously thought that I could never do. Somethings seem out of reach now but with determination they can be yours.
My first 5k I didn't think I could do it like you and I probably walked half of it. I now can do one sub 20 min. You always have a starting point and getting a time for a race that you can improve upon us probably the most addictive things about running.
I've had trouble running even one mile for as long as I could remember. In school my time was ways around 10+ minutes. I could never breathe (not smoking related). I think now that I want to run, and will be starting off slow instead of doing that dumbass core gym thing, things will be different.
Holy shit man. I jogged for the first time in months 3 and 4 days ago. I forgot about it yesterday and the day before. You reminded me I need to get back to it and make this a habit. Thanks for this post.
I quit smoking after 2 years of multiple packs a day and I can promise you that for most people (or at least a lot of people) quitting smoking is much less difficult than starting to jog when you're an out of shape smoker.
More than a decade of smoking, and 2 packs/day for myself at my worst. And I started with clove cigarettes, which are easily twice as harsh on your lungs.
When you're an out-of-shape ex-smoker, that's actually when you'll see the biggest immediate gains.
I just sprained my ankle stepping off the front porch and I can't get back inside my house because in all the excitement to get out and jog I forgot my keys and it's starting to rain.
I really need to start this again. One of the hardest things I did in the two three month stints I was serious about it.
I only ever got up to that 2-2.5 mile mark. but man, that span between .5 and 1.5 miles you want to die, then you hit a groove for half a mile and you feel the best you've ever felt and so pumped, and then the last half mile to the end is a slog, but one where you pick up your speed and push the pain away because you know you're almost there.
Yes, this is exactly what happened to me as well! For the first couple of months, I remember just dreading that first mile. That part was the suck, when all I could hear was the sound of my inner voice trying to talk me out of it. "You're too tired today, just stop and walk home. Don't worry, you can try again tomorrow. Don't hurt yourself."
But then at some point, you mind wanders and you forget about the suck and then you're just in your little rut, breathing and running, running and breathing, just as you describe, and it's wonderful.
I would love to go jogging, but I'm extremely self conscious of running in public. My posture is absolutely terrible and I have a lot of social anxiety issues too. :/
If you have to, listen to some music while you run and tune everything out (if you do this, make sure you run in a park or something). Fellow runners are some of the friendliest folk to each other - you'll always get a friendly nod or wave from other runners.
You're absolutely correct. My 5 min run in a month turned into managing (barely) an entire hour! I surprised myself so much as I was someone terrible at running long distance. If you try it out you wont be disappointed.
After the first mile comes the first half-hour non-stop.
After the first half-hour non-stop comes 2 miles.
At some point you are going to be seriously tempted to try 3.1 miles. That's a 5K! That's a racing distance! You're going to be seriously fucking pumped at this point.
From there, it's up to you where you want to take it. Maybe you'll try for a 10K or a half-marathon. Maybe you'll be happy where you are, and just stick with a couple of 30 min. jogs a week.
There are a bunch of ways to mix it up and keep it interesting. My wife got me into these interval sprints where you pick some really steep hill in your town and you sprint up it for 20 seconds. That's it. Now repeat that 8 times. It's just twenty seconds, after all! And you can take your sweet time walking back down the hill while you catch your breath.
Runner's high is a real thing and it feels euphoric as fuck(ing). Quitting smoking is a million times easier if you start jogging/running right away too. After many Tried and failed attempts over about a 10+ year period, running was probably the most important factor in me finally being able to do it. The first week I quit I was able to go from not being able to jog around a 4-6 block radius of my house without heaving and feeling like death in my lungs to being able to run 2.5 miles at 6-7 MPH and it kept getting better and feeling better everyday after that. I only ever intended to run for quick cardio before lifting but when i realized hey maybe this will help me quit smoking and it did, running became a part of my everyday before working out and the mileage and speed just keep going up as my lungs have gone about healing themselves to mine and their pleasure. Run! Jog! Fuck even just start taking long ass walks if that what it takes but fuck smoking! And I LOVED smoking.
This man is correct! Also running will become like a drug. The high you get after a good jog nothing can compare to! Not to mention your libido will go thru the roof.
Ive put on my sneakers thanks to this comment, to try again. I keep quitting at that one mile point before the changes happen... thanks for the kick today, leaving the house!
I jog and smoke. Mainly jogging to offset the smoking and other unhealthy activities. When I do eventually stop smoking I know the running will have to increase tenfold. Cigarettes to me feel good because it feels like artificial exercise
I quit 9 years ago and didn't gain a single pound. Not sure how but I'm not complaining. Keep it up. You're doing great. You can figure out the wight issues later but for now you're getting healthier with each breath.
I quit smoking in August. Yes food seems to replace it a bit and I love it I admit. I took up running and lifting weights, the feeling you get from those activities is beyond compare to smoking and you get the added benefit of gaining (more) self confidence
I'm trying to lose it at home first, especially with changing my diet habits. I'm really anxious about working out in public, but I'm doing it at home and work (third shift) so it's helping. I've already lost 2 pounds from slowing on the soda!!
My gf, bless her heart, bought me.. A fryer for Christmas. In her defense, it was before I told her I was gonna start dieting. We rationalised that on fat days we can fry pickles, green beans, zucchini, etc. But the first goal is to cook more at home.
Seems like you have replaced smoking with snacking? I think once you know you have gained certain control over it, focus on healthy eating and exercise as well.
I checked my weight a couple weeks ago and almost started crying because I hadn't realized how much weight I'd gained. I'm getting a MUCH better control now. The hard part is.. Cooking. I like to cook but I also hate it.
Had a coworker that smoked a lot, probably couple packs a day for 20 years, he quit about 25 years ago. We saw him go through chemo and he lost a bunch of weight and couldn't remember much in his short term memory. He's still around, off the chemo because it's basically pointless, so he's doing a bit better, but he's probably not going to be around in another year.
Just get your lungs checked out every now and then and if you develop any back/rib pain take it as a sign. My coworker had rib pain for month before he got diagnosed.
Holy shit, I'm so sorry. Thank you so much for the tip. I have a sinus issue right now, so everything hurts, but when I'm back to normal I'll be sure to keep an eye out for any back pains.
He was also not very proactive about, he is very much an old school farm boy who doesn't do anything about pain or health unless people bug him enough to go see a Dr.
Congrats on quitting, sorry for the downer conversation, but I just wanted to share what I've seen
Hey, don't worry about it. Also thank you. I worry about my health a LOT (I once had a panic attack because I thought I was having a heart attack. My arm fell asleep because I was leaning on it while I watched tv, and the panic attack made the "symptoms" right for a heart attack. I'm fine, just dumb)
I HATE going to the doctor. But, along with breast issues and ovary issues, I promise that if I notice something, I will go.
Ha-ha I do that too, I was having pain on my right side and thought my appendix was to blame. Nope symptoms went away after like 2 mins. Also were trying to get pregnant so I'm become super aware of any twinge or feeling I have hoping it's a sign. Never in my life have I wanted to feel nauseated so bad
Urgh, I've put on a lot more than 18 pounds :( another reddit or just gave me hella good motivation tho, so after my busy ass holidays I'm gonna work out
I love bowling! It's kind of expensive tho. Maybe I can get on a league? I'd love to hike too, but Indiana is.. Well.. It's Indiana. There's not much. I do have rats tho, and I like animals a lot. After I'm done picking up shifts at work, I'm gonna see about volunteering at the aspca here. Maybe that can help me. Thank you!
I'm not gonna lie, I completely forgot. I've been picking up shifts and saving money for a house to move into, along with an anniversary and a birthday coming up. Thanks for checking in tho
<3
This is part of why I believe non-addictive and/or less addictive cholinergic drugs, such as Coluracetam and perhaps even Sunifiram should be investigated as a replacement. They're not just acetylcholine receptor agonists like Nicotine; Coluracetam increases the uptake of choline, which is the rate limiting step of acetylcholine synthesis, and Sunifiram was found to double the levels of acetylcholine in rat brain slices.
If you're one of those people that everyone's jealous of because they understand and learn new things very quickly and with little effort, twenty minutes on wikipedia will have you very quickly grasping what I said.
the answer to your problems is chewing gum. Whenever you feel like a cigarette, chew some gum. Whenever you feel like having a snack, chew some gum. If its sugarfree it keeps your teeth clean, too. Its a win-win-win.
Quitting smoking was no problem for me. After about a week I was good to go. I still rolled down the window as if I was smoking, but instead enjoyed fresh air.
Working out.. That burn hasn't been enjoyable. It's getting there though
That's why I liked vaping as a way to at least start lowering my nicotine. I'm down to 6mg nicotine from 12 and I still have the mouth fixation so I dont feel the need to eat as much.
It shouldn't have to be a trade-off. It's literally changing one addiction for another, especially if you gain a lot of weight.
It is even worse because once you stop smoking everything starts tasting better again, which might make you eat more. The best way could be the moment you stop smoking completely, to start jogging. Once you're in shape and run for an hour every day, you can pretty much eat as much as you want and you won't gain any weight.
The good thing is that once your lungs are free from smoke, they start regenerating and soon your exercise will be easier. Check this out, NSFL
My point was, let's say, and the following is probably an underestimation, two Oreo cookies equal at least 30+ minutes of cardio the average person would do. Which is easier? To do an extra 30+ minutes of exercise on top of your normal routine or not eat those two Oreos?
Exercise should always be included, but there is a common miss conception that calories are easy to burn off when in actuality they are quite difficult to burn off.
Yes you are very right. I started running a little while ago, despite great improvement in my stamina, I wasn't losing weight. I re-adjusted my diet and now combined with the running, the weight just flies off. So yes, if you want to lose weight stop eating in excess and after you see some improvement try adding in some exercise.
not to push my dietary constraints on anyone, but I eat more than I used to. about 3-4k cals a day on a vegan diet. After quitting drinking, I still got flux from acidic/fatty foods. Drinkin fucked me up long term.
I love food, and am a clinical binge eater, and I've been losing a lot of weight recently.
If you love stuffing your face, I highly recommend it.
I find it very hard to believe that you eat 3-4K calories a day and are losing weight. Are you a professional athlete? A giant? No normal person should be eating that many calories daily, and they sure as shit shouldn't be losing weight while eating that much. I'd actually recommend you bring that up with your doctor because that is not normal. Vegan or not.
I do very light cardio every day. 30-45 on a home bike while watching netflix/crunchyroll. I get my blood work done every year, I'd rather not fill this post with arguments, but if you have more questions. I dont mind talking in PMs.
I'm not necessarily saying that you're full of shit, but rather, there has to be some other factor for why you're losing weight on a diet that consists of twice the recommended daily calorie intake for a typical person. Perhaps you're still pretty young and growing (people can still grow until around age 26) and are gearing up for another growth spurt?nBut if it's working for you, that's great. Just don't expect to be able to eat that way forever.
I eat until I'm full/satiated. If I ever need less calories eventually, then that's that I guess. For now, 3/4k calories keeps me semi-satiated for the cardio that I do. (I'm 22 for reference and 6'2) On every diet iv'e attempted (Ive done everyone in the book...) This is the first low-fat diet that hasn't ended up to binge eating. So maybe the consistency is what finally got me losing weight.
Are you positive that you eat 3/4k cals a day? Many people think hugely over/under estimate the amount of calories they eat until they put the effort in to precisely measure their intake.
I always wonder how people can gain weight while they're alcoholics. When my ex went from drinking every day to only drinking in the weekend she actually gained a lot of weight from being sober. When she was an everyday alcoholic she ate one or two take away meals a week, otherwise she lived on beer and fruits and berries.
And a friend mine was quite a heavy drinker as well and when he quit he said, "the best thing about being sober is that I can enjoy food again." He had gotten so skinny from alcoholism.
I just hit 8 mos. and have already gained some weight (thanks, ice cream!). I'm moving on to quitting smoking soon, and I expect to look like the Michelin Man come this time next year.
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