Quitting Smoking
Quitting Smoking - If you are a smoker, you need not be told that your habit is not healthy. You already know that it is potentially fatal and causes cancer. Chances are, you have probably tried quitting at least once. So, you know from experience that there's more to it than just stopping. But what exactly is that more? Read on to find out.
To keep your hands and mouth busy while trying to quit smoking, keep crunchy vegetables like carrots or celery on hand. These low-calorie snacks will not only keep your hands busy, but they will steady your blood sugar and keep you from reaching for higher-calorie foods that could lead to weight gain.
If you can afford to do so, try the new e-cigarettes. The "e" stands for electronic, and they are basically a nicotine-free cigarette that replicates the exact process of actually taking a smoke break. These "cigarettes" actually emit a mist that you inhale, but without the harmful side effects of nicotine.
Avoiding the triggers that cause you to crave a cigarette is key in quitting totally. A couple of examples are like if you smoke after you eat a meal or while you drive your car. You have to identify these triggers and change how you respond to them so you don't automatically start smoking. Try to use other things to distract your thoughts, if you are thinking about smoking.
As you meet your short-term goals for smoking cessation, reward yourself! As an example, go to a movie once you have stopped smoking for a week. Once you've passed that month long milestone, enjoy a fancy night out at your favorite restaurant. Going forward, increase the significance of the rewards until you are completely smoke-free, and don't even think about it anymore.
To stay motivated to quit cigarettes for good, use the money you save to reward yourself. Figure out how much money you will save by quitting in advance, and put the money you would spend on cigarettes into a special place. Every time you reach a minor goal, use that money to reward yourself with something nice.
Don't allow yourself "just one puff". The mind can sometimes play tricks on you, especially when you're trying to give up a habit that you have had for years. Don't allow yourself to give in to the idea that just one cigarette won't hurt. It will hurt, and it might just keep you from being able to quit at all.
Do not give up. Relapsing is very common. Many smokers have to try several times before they are successful in putting down the cigarettes. Look at what circumstances and emotions lead to the relapse. Once you decide you are ready to try again, set a date to quit in the very near future.
When you are trying to quit smoking, sometimes you have to change other habits which trigger your desire for a puff. Instead of that cup of coffee or that alcoholic drink, have a glass of juice or water. Many people still have an urge to have a smoke after finishing a meal. After a meal, take a walk. Not only will it help take your mind off having a smoke, it will also help keep off the weight that is commonly associated with giving up smoking.
Increasing the amount of exercise you do can help you quit smoking. Exercise not only distracts you from smoking, but it also helps to reverse all the damage you have done to your body over the years by smoking cigarettes. Start slowly if you have to, and gradually increase the amount of exercise you do each day.
If you have a friend or loved one who is having a hard time trying to quit, then you should try sharing with them some of the painful truths about smoking. Try to be sincere and understanding as you relate this information so that they understand that you are trying to help them and that you are not trying to attack them.
Before you quit, identify your triggers and plan ways around them. If you always smoke when you drink, abstain from alcohol for a while. If smoking before, during or after meals is a common practice for you, change up your meal plans or environments to prevent this. Track your smoking times and places to know when and where you light up, and adapt accordingly.
If you want to quit smoking, stop buying cigarettes. It kind of goes without saying that if you don't have cigarettes on you, it will be much more difficult to smoke. Throw away any cigarettes that are currently in your possession and make a pact with yourself not to buy any more.
It was assumed in the introduction that you already know that smoking is not good for your health. It was also assumed that you have at least one quit attempt under your belt. Before you make your next attempt, consider the ideas that were presented in this article. Hopefully, a combination of them will give you success in walking away from smoking forever.
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