I have to say that I was a little skeptical at fist but after reading it sounds like a great idea.

This is a new experiment in New Zealand and it sounds like a great way to encourage people to quit smoking and help then when it starts to be hard.

Auckland University’s Clinical Trials Research Unit found that sending smokers regular, personalised text messages - containing quit-smoking advice, support or distraction - more than doubled their chances of them having stopped smoking when checked six weeks later.

The scheme has been adapted from the Stomp trial - Stop Smoking with Mobile Phones. Further details will be unveiled by the Quit Group tomorrow to coincide with the start of what is understood to be the first national programme of its type in the world.

For the full story please click here.

I’m by now probably a professional at smoke secession. Twice I’ve stopped smoking for 14 months, once for 9 months and many times for short period.

Each time I feel so good that I’ve been able to free myself from the addiction that I decide to help myself to a cigarette from a friend.

It is true that even at the times that I start smoking again I’m not back to the old habits and smoke just a few cigarettes daily but I really like smoking and if doing it in moderation with days off now and than to let the body balance I couldn’t see what the big deal.

I’ve read a post on another blog of someone that has stopped smoking a year ago and can’t see a reason for a possible relapse after a whole year. All I can say is that if you enjoyed smoking you should always be on guard. Relapse can come at any time if it is something you really enjoy doing.

In a discussion of the right emphasizes for the recovery of our health system the argument against the proposed program relates to the fact that smoking causes more sickness and death along with others behavioral reasons then the rest of the problems in the health system combined. here

The authors are not entirely silent on this point. When they discuss population health management as the function of an integrator, they do indicate that the “actual” causes of mortality in the United States lie in behavior that the individual health care system addresses unreliably or not at all, such as smoking, violence, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and unsafe choices. An integrator would increase preventive efforts. An integrator would also encourage and cooperate with governmental policies, agencies, and programs to discourage smoking, combat obesity, provide alternatives to violence and substance abuse, and address community determinants of mental health problems” (p. 764).]

I suppose there could be interesting questions regarding the responsibility of the state to help care for those who knowingly ruin their bodies.

Just thought that maybe a right motivation for people to be responsible and live a balanced life is to make the health insurance payment in a similar way to the car insurance. The safe and responsible drivers would be rewarded by better medical insurance and lower payments.

Of course there are problems that people don’t really choose to be fat especially if they have been fat their entire life and they are usually teenagers when they start smoking and by the time they start thinking about their health insurance the habit is there to stay but maybe the rules can be modified by efforts for example has the person joined a weight watch program etc.

People should be responsible for their choices and if they are the antagonism of others will decreased as well and everyone would be free to live the life that they want.

I found this great picture here in a blog called Dr X’s Free Associations, and my immediate associations to this picture were three.

The first was a transfer to my kids and myself  - and the fact that I am fortunate enough not to have to raise them in such obvious poverty,

The second association was to cough! The body remembers obviously what such a huge pile of cigarettes can do to your ability to breath.

The third association what to be really grateful that for over 5 years (I’ve lost count) I haven’t had a cigarette.

Smokers always have explanations why now is not a good time to stop smoking - “I have a lot of stress at work”

“after the move”, “after the Vacation” and so on and so forth.

In this way the smoker makes sure of never having to deal with quitting…. But I have got to tell you - there is no time like now!

It will not be easier after the move, or the vacation and there will probably never be less stress at work - so really - there is no time like now!

By the way - being able to take a really deep breath and completely fill your lungs with air feels really really wonderful!

Swimming is one of the best forms of physical exercises for people that stopped smoking. It builds your chest muscles that are especially important for smokers and does almost all the other things that are required from a good physical exercise.

If you were smokers for many years you’ll need the help of swimming to expand your lungs and at the same time have an excellent cardio work out.

Any other exercise program at the gym takes much more of your time as you’ll need to work on each goal separetly.