Santa Claus Made me smoke - Ian Clark helped me quitWritten by Ian Clark
I am going to start with a number of preconceptions about smoking and start you to think in a different way about some of most common reasons you will give for smoking. I will open this out further in subsequent chaptersThe Belief Smoking is Fun What is nature of this psychological pleasure? It can be traced to universal desire for self-expression. None of us ever completely outgrows his childhood. We are constantly hunting for carefree enjoyment we knew as children. As we grew older, we had to subordinate our pleasures to work and to necessity for unceasing effort. Smoking, for many of us, then, became a substitute for our early habit of following whims of moment; it becomes a legitimate excuse for interrupting work and snatching a moment of pleasure. "You sometimes get tired of working intensely and if you sit back for length of a cigarette, you feel much fresher afterwards. It's a peculiar thing, but I wouldn't think of just sitting back without a cigarette. I guess a cigarette somehow gives me a good excuse." The Reality What started out as fun and excitement quickly moves to a new form of necessity and binding. Fun is spontaneous, it is a feeling that comes from doing something without fear of consequence. Lets face it smoking is no longer fun. It is something that has to be done to feel normal. Yet that is distorted as real normal should be times when you are not smoking. What you have done is attach moments and events to cigarettes, It is not actual cigarette that gives you that freedom, you always had it. You just do not think it will be same. Try it, you will be surprised how much better those times are, Remember non-smokers are no less relaxed because they do not smoke. You were not born with need to have nicotine put in your body every hour. Smoking is a Reward Most of us are hungry for rewards. We want to be patted on back. A cigarette is a reward that we can give ourselves as often as we wish. When we have done anything well, for instance, we can congratulate ourselves with a cigarette, which certifies, in effect, that we have been "good boys." We can promise ourselves: "When I have finished this piece of work, when I have written last page of my report, I'll deserve a little fun. I'll have a cigarette." The first and last cigarette in day are especially significant rewards. The first one, smoked right after breakfast, is a sort of anticipated recompense. The smoker has work to do, and he eases himself into day's activities as pleasantly as possible. He gives himself a little consolation prize in advance, and at same time manages to postpone evil hour when he must begin his hard day's work. The last cigarette of day is like "closing a door." It is something quite definite. One smoker explained: "I nearly always smoke a cigarette before going to bed. That finishes day. I usually turn light out after I have smoked last cigarette, and then turn over to sleep." Smoking is often merely a conditioned reflex. Certain situations, such as coming out of subway, beginning and ending work, voluntary and involuntary interruptions of work, feelings of hunger, and many others regulate timetable of smoking. Often a smoker may not even want a cigarette particularly, but he will see someone else take one and then he feels that he must have one, too. While to many people smoking is fun, and a reward in itself, it more often accompanies other pleasures. At meals, a cigarette is somewhat like another course. In general, smoking introduces a holiday spirit into everyday living. It rounds out other forms of enjoyment and makes them one hundred per cent satisfactory.
| | Fitness Related Benefits of MassageWritten by Jon Gestl
Ask someone their reason for getting a massage and you're likely to hear "because it feels good". We all know that a massage can relieve stress, help to make sore muscles feel better and even reduce anxiety, but can it help us achieve our fitness goals? Research shows that massage you get to relieve stress can also have a positive effect on your muscle-building capabilities and fitness level.1. Massage improves circulation and general nutrition of muscles. This appears to be most valuable fitness-related benefit. Massage is accompanied or followed by an increase interchange of substances between blood tissue cells, which increases tissue metabolism. After a muscle is exercised, vital nutrients must be supplied in order for it to increase in size. Massage maximizes supply of nutrients and oxygen though increased blood flow, which helps body rebuild itself. 2. Massage improves range of motion and muscle flexibility. This results in increased power and performance, which helps you work efficiently and with proper intensity to facilitate body's muscle-building response. 3. Massage helps to shorten recovery time between workouts. Waste products such as lactic and carbonic acid build up in muscles after exercise. Increased circulation to these muscles help to eliminate toxic debris and shorten recovery time. 4. Massage can help prevent over-training. Massage has a relaxing effect on muscles, as well as a sedative effect on nervous system. This can prevent over-training syndrome which has limiting effect on muscle building.
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