I’m not making excuses for the fact that I’m struggling to quit smoking but I’m sick to death of people treating my like I’ve got a disgusting contagious disease because I do smoke. You cannot compare quitting smoking to climbing a mountain and I don’t care how you try to format it, it is not the same. I’ve had people tearing me down until I know what it feels like to be fag ash; disgusting and in need of discarding. I will quit smoking in my own time and I will do it my own way. For the people who are endlessly nagging me to quit, I will have a picture of me at the summit with a cigarette hanging out of my mouth just for you.
From the book “Kilimanjaro: The Trekking Guide to Africa’s Highest Mountain” by Henry Stedman.
Smoking and other preparations
While the above exercised certainly provide many benefits (this came after a couple of excerpts on leg strengthening and aerobic exercises to help with training for the climb), we still maintain that nothing is better preparation than going for a long walk! A walk provides excellent aerobic exercise, is great for strengthening leg muscles and if the walk is long enough and involves plenty of uphills, can be great for improving stamina too. Find walks in your area, or take a walking weekend or holiday. You never know, you may even enjoy it too.
Finally, you can always take up smoking. I’d long heard the rumour that smokers have a better chance of reaching the summit, apparently due to the fact that their bodies are used to less oxygen due to the reduced functioning of their lungs- and certainly my experiences of taking smokers up the mountain bear this idea out. While those of my clients who’ve led a blameless, tabacco-free life frequently struggle with the altitude, long-term smokers tend to saunter up. Breathless, certainly, and often wheezing - but headache-free and happy. Of course, we’re not seriously suggesting you take up smoking - but interesting, isn’t it?
And who says you can’t smoke on the mountain AND make it to the summit? This is a blog worth reading. http://www.neilandpalma.co.uk/
From the book “Kilimanjaro: The Trekking Guide to Africa’s Highest Mountain” by Henry Stedman.
Smoking and other preparations
While the above exercised certainly provide many benefits (this came after a couple of excerpts on leg strengthening and aerobic exercises to help with training for the climb), we still maintain that nothing is better preparation than going for a long walk! A walk provides excellent aerobic exercise, is great for strengthening leg muscles and if the walk is long enough and involves plenty of uphills, can be great for improving stamina too. Find walks in your area, or take a walking weekend or holiday. You never know, you may even enjoy it too.
Finally, you can always take up smoking. I’d long heard the rumour that smokers have a better chance of reaching the summit, apparently due to the fact that their bodies are used to less oxygen due to the reduced functioning of their lungs- and certainly my experiences of taking smokers up the mountain bear this idea out. While those of my clients who’ve led a blameless, tabacco-free life frequently struggle with the altitude, long-term smokers tend to saunter up. Breathless, certainly, and often wheezing - but headache-free and happy. Of course, we’re not seriously suggesting you take up smoking - but interesting, isn’t it?
And who says you can’t smoke on the mountain AND make it to the summit? This is a blog worth reading. http://www.neilandpalma.co.uk/
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