Looking to finally kick your nicotine habit this year? Making regular exercise part of your smoking cessation plan may be the answer.

In a recent study, published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, researchers from St. George’s University of London found that moderate intensity exercise reduced nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Exercise caused an increased activation of a type of receptor in the brain called α7 nicotinic acetylcholine, which is a target of nicotine, according to the findings.

“Our research has shed light on how the protective effect of exercise against nicotine dependence actually works,” said Dr. Alexis Bailey, senior lecturer in Neuropharmacology, in a statement.

Indeed, exercise has been found to help with both the physical and psychological aspects of nicotine addiction, including:

• Less weight gain
• Fewer thoughts of smoking
• Better mood and boosted energy
• Increased ability to cope with stress

Benefits of Exercise in Addiction Recovery
Integrating exercise into your new sober lifestyle can help your recovery, too. Here’s why:

• You’ll work out stress, anger, frustration.
• You’ll boost your self-confidence in your ability to recover.
• You’ll experience fewer drug and/or alcohol cravings.
• You’ll fill your time in a healthy way.
• You’ll improve your sleep cycles.

Staying Motivated to Move
Here are a few hints to make exercise part of your routine:

• Set aside a regular time for exercise — find a time slot that fits your schedule.
• Make exercise a priority, and put it on your schedule.
• Start slowly, and build up to more frequent or more intense exercise.
• Find an exercise buddy or sign up for a class to keep you accountable.

Finding Fitness at Seabrook
At Seabrook we help our clients make regular exercise part of their overall addiction recovery. Our fitness center’s equipment includes recumbent bikes, elliptical trainers, treadmills, free weights, and the Precor Universal Machine. To learn more, call today: (888) 223-0298.