Smoking and Exercise: Why It’s Time to Quit

National No Smoking Day is the perfect opportunity to take a step toward a healthier lifestyle. If you’re a smoker who also enjoys working out, or if you’re looking to improve your fitness, quitting smoking could be the single best decision you make for your body. Let’s explore the science behind how smoking affects exercise and why quitting can supercharge your fitness journey.

How Smoking Affects Your Fitness

1. Reduced Lung Capacity: Smoking damages the lungs by introducing harmful chemicals that cause inflammation and reduce their ability to take in oxygen. This means that your body struggles to supply muscles with the oxygen they need during exercise, leading to breathlessness and early fatigue.
2. Decreased Endurance: Oxygen is vital for endurance activities like running, swimming, and cycling. Smoking increases carbon monoxide levels in the blood, which binds to red blood cells more easily than oxygen. This reduces the amount of oxygen reaching your muscles, making workouts feel harder and reducing your stamina.
3. Slower Recovery Time: Regular exercise causes small muscle tears that the body repairs, making you stronger over time. However, smoking slows down circulation and impairs the delivery of essential nutrients to these muscles, delaying recovery and making it harder to build strength and endurance.
4. Increased Risk of Injury: Smoking weakens bones, tendons, and ligaments, increasing the risk of fractures, strains, and joint issues. This can make high impact exercises, such as running or weightlifting, more dangerous over time.

The Benefits of Quitting for Your Workout Routine

When you quit smoking, your body begins to repair itself almost immediately. Here’s what happens:

• Within 24 hours: Carbon monoxide levels drop, allowing more oxygen to reach your muscles and organs.
• Within a few weeks: Lung function improves, making cardio exercises easier and more enjoyable.
• Within a few months: Blood circulation improves, helping muscles recover faster after workouts.
• Long term: You’ll experience better stamina, stronger bones, and reduced risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and lung cancer.

How We Can Support

At Horizon, we’re committed to supporting our members in their health and wellness journeys. Here’s how we can help:

• Alternative Activities: Replace smoking habits with fitness classes, swimming, or yoga to relieve stress.
• Personal Training: Get tailored workouts to help build lung strength and endurance.
• Community Support: Join our community and you will meet like minded people who may be going through the same smoke free journey as you. Coming to classes and the gym is a great way to meet people and make new friends.

Reach out for support and guidance from services like Smokefree Hampshire or the NHS who have a free Quit Smoking App. There’s no better day to start your smoke free journey than National No Smoking Day!