Quit to Fit Week 6: Making new connections

*In partnership with NiQuitin.

Firstly, well done on getting this far.

You’ve passed the halfway point and you’re still going. Bet you didn't think you could make it to week six and remain smoke-free? It’s an impressive achievement but you’re not necessarily out of the woods yet.

What to expect?

Our life coach Raul Aparici warns that you need to avoid slipping back into old habits or routines. “It’s hard to do the things you used to do when you smoked without falling into old habits,” he adds. “You’re still not able to meet mates in the pub. It’s still too early. So it’s a good time to make some new connections.” Not that we're saying your existing friends are all reprobates but a bit of distance can help at this time!

The challenge

So this week’s challenge is to expand your existing social connections by trying a yoga class. That may sound like a stretch (we’ll get our coats) but it’s a great way to get out, do something healthy and meet some new people. “As a fledgeling non-smoker, you need to avoid triggers and get on the path to recovery,” Raul explains. “You need to be aware of who you are hanging around with so yoga is a good way to make new social connections with non-smokers." You may think you have enough friends but there’s a good reason to expand your circle of social connections at this time. It’s all about steering clear of temptation. So our five JOE teams will give yoga a go this week and show us their progress on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #QuitToFit. Get involved and post your own updates using the hashtag. You could expand your circle of friends, get a welcome distraction from any thoughts of cigarettes and you might find that you really enjoy it! Good luck! Just remember to hold off on stuff like this until the second class at least... NiQuitin is an unbeatable* way of quitting smoking. Try the NiQuitin 14mg patch for 24-hour craving control and the new NiQuitin Fresh Mint 2mg gum to hit sudden cravings hard with great flavour! NiQuitin 14mg Clear Patches and NiQuitin Fresh Mint 2mg gum are "stop smoking" aids that contain nicotine but you still require willpower. Always read the label. *provides significant improvements in quit rates compared to the patch alone. *No purchase or use of NiQuitin is required. T&Cs apply. *In partnership with NiQuitin.