Preparation Is The Key If You Really Want To Quit Smoking

You should realise that if you really want to stop smoking, you're going to have to be prepared. It's not something you just make a snap decision about, you must be concrete with your decision, and you must know what you plan to do to make things easier on yourself. Let me explain the importance of good preparation when you want to quit smoking.

The first thing you should do is visit your doctor. This is the initial step because your doctor knows a lot more than you do about quitting smoking and can advise you personally about your situation. He or she is also the best way to get a hold of prescription medications to help you quit smoking if you want to use them.

Another thing you have to do is to find a way to keep your mouth busy. This may sound funny, but its absolutely essential if you really want to quit smoking. The oral substitute can be anything, such as a toothpick, piece of gum or even some hard candy. Whatever you decide to use, you definitely need something that will keep your mouth busy.

Consider which nicotine replacement products you're going to try in order to help you quit. Would you like to use nicotine gum or perhaps a patch? If so, examine the options related to your individual circumstances and level of smoking. Decide on what to buy, and start working toward getting everything in line and weening yourself off of nicotine.

Another option for you in today's technological world is the electronic cigarette. These have been a huge hit, as you actually simulate the experience of smoking an actual cigarette, right down to breathing out what looks like smoke, but without any of the harmful health effects. The taste is there, the act is there, and the nicotine is there. You choose the level of nicotine, and again you can ween yourself off of cigarettes and quit. E-cigarettes are not just good for quitting but for the cutting back process as well. You can smoke your electronic cigarette instead of a regular one at times while you start cutting back.

You need to make sure you can find the right kind of support. Do you know anyone else who is quitting smoking? Can you join a group in your area or online that has people you can identify with? Do you talk closely with family and friends? You have to find the necessary support, and then things won't seem quite as hard.

Massage therapy, and anything that can help you reduce your stress and chill out, is a good idea. You need to make sure that you are doing these types of activities and thinking and dealing with things in this manner. If you stay stressed and do not work towards solutions in this area, you are going to have a harder time staying away from cigarettes.

Now that you've decided to quit smoking, you want to make sure you follow the advice that you've read. Consider the fact that you need all the help you can get when quitting smoking. One thing that has never been claimed is that it's easy!

Read More

What Is The Best Method To Quit Smoking

When you want to quit smoking, the first thing to realize is that there is no magic wand. It's going to take a lot of confidence and all the willpower you've got! So, if you want to know what the best method to quit smoking is - the answer is simply - have lots of willpower! However that's easier said than done, as they say, so if you are wanting to stop smoking but don't know the best way to do it then the following tips can help you through it.

1. Recognize your own importance and mortality. You are valuable to others and should hold a lot of value in your own existence. This means committing to your health now, no matter what your age. Smoking kills and many people put off quitting until it's too late. Don't let this be you; rise above the habit by showing yourself you're too good for it.

2. Build your confidence. The smoking industry wants you to think that quitting is impossible, and advertisers for quitting aids try to lead you to believe you just can't do it of your own accord. Stop believing the promotions and put faith in your own abilities. Having confidence means you believe you can do it under any circumstances and that's what you have to do to quit.

3. Write about why you need to quit. Come up with a brief list of the reasons you plan on quitting and keep it in view at all times. This will serve as a constant motivational factor for you. Memorize the list and say it to yourself whenever you feel a craving coming on.

4. Tell everyone you want to quit. Others believe in you too and will support you through every step of quitting. Let people who love you know of your intentions so they can offer you words of encouragement and keep you going strong. Have a person to call upon whenever you feel weak and prone to lighting up.

5. Mark the quit date on your calender. Give yourself at least a few weeks to build confidence, practice and psyche yourself up for the big day. Focus on this day with all of your strength and determination! Recognize how important this day will be for you now and the rest of your (hopefully longer and healthier) life.

6. Accept that you will feel weak at one point or another. It's unrealistic to think that you're going to get through this easily and that could set you up for failure. Keep yourself away from other smokers and coffee or alcohol if they are known triggers. You are only human and have to do everything within your power to enable yourself to quit, so be prepared for lapses in judgement and overwhelming cravings.

7. Don't be too hard on yourself as you quit. Taking a more carefree attitude can help you to follow through with quitting, as opposed to kicking yourself over every minor misstep or outburst. You will undoubtedly be moody or even mean at times, but this is completely understandable. Prepare for withdrawals by educating yourself about them and give yourself a break in other areas, like taking a day off from work or buying that CD you've been wanting.

8. Keep your self-belief strong. As you go through the quitting process, you will have probably question your ability to succeed. So long as your will stays strong, you will be able to quit! Keep believing in yourself and talking yourself into feeling stronger. When someone seriously puts their mind to something, there should be nothing that can stop them and when it comes to quitting smoking, that's you!

Re-read this anytime you feel yourself getting weak with cigarettes. There really is no single best method to quit smoking, it actually requires a holistic approach covering lifestyle changes, an increasing self belief and, of course a determination to change your health for the better. But, you know you can do it if you really try!

Read More

Some Great Reasons To Quit Smoking

It's no secret that smoking is harmful to the body. Whether you live a long life as a smoker or whether, like most people, smoking cuts your life short, it is a harmful addiction, period. This article is going to explain some of the many reasons why you should consider quitting smoking, so, keep reading to learn more about smoking along with some excellent reasons to quit.

Many people are familiar with the damage smoking does to the lungs, but did you know that smoking causes heart disease? Smoking-related deaths are high on the list causes of death worldwide and smoking related heart disease accounts for a huge part of this. Make sure you consider the fact that your smoking is affecting your whole body, especially your heart!

Smoking not only causes lung cancer, but it causes other respiratory problems as well. Smokers have problems breathing, and smoking causes COPD as well as many other lung diseases too. While smoking affects everyone differently, there is no doubt that it limits your breathing capacity, no matter what. Smoking definitely causes shortness of breath, and it makes exercise and physical activity more demanding. You might get to the point at which you just don't have the lung capacity for many activities and exercises. Think about the things you won't be able to do if you continue smoking such as running, playing basketball, soccer or even just walking up a few flights of stairs.

Of course you know that skin ages as you get older. The sun is a major cause of skin damage, but did you know how badly smoking affects your skin as well? Smoking causes your skin to stay dry and dehydrated and, whats more, it causes your skin to wrinkle too. Additionally, it can change the color and pigment of your skin and, essentially, it makes your skin look dry and old and dead. This is also affected by  problems with circulation and a lack of oxygen to your skin caused by continued smoking.

Remember that smoking definitely impacts the people who are around you as well. Secondhand smoke is extremely harmful, and it affects the people who breathe your smoke. They can develop the same diseases you do, from just repeatedly breathing in your secondhand smoke. Its a very selfish habit in more than one way!

When you smoke, at least tell your kids not to smoke, for you are telling them to do what you say and not what you do. But, remember that this is an extremely ineffective way to teach and parent your children. It's better to show them the right thing to do and not just tell them. No one is perfect, but just remember the example you're setting.

Smoking wastes so much time, especially if you're a heavy smoker. After a meal, you go to smoke a cigarette, and everyone else is on with their business. On your break at work, you're smoking a cigarette. People argue that it doesn't waste time just switches out activities, but if you're honest with yourself, you have to admit that it wastes time.

Not only does smoking take time off of your life, but it wastes the time you're left with as well. Think about what has been presented to you here today, and consider a plan to stop smoking. Hopefully this article has given you some irresistible reasons to quit smoking today.

Read More

4 Tips That Will Help You Stop Smoking

Most people know that it is not easy to stop smoking. While it might seem like a piece of cake, it is, of course, an addiction (to a very potent drug - nicotine), and that means that it is not that simple. Many people try to quit every day, but only a fraction of them actually succeed. If you want to quit and you need some helpful tips,and, luckily, you have come to the right place.

Here are my top 4 tips to help you quit smoking :

1.Set a realistic day to quit. This is one thing that can actually help you a lot. If you decide today that you want to quit tomorrow, that doesn't give you any time to prepare. You won't have time to figure out what to do in place of smoking or what to do whenever the urge to light up enters your mind. While you may be motivated and ready to stop now, it is best if you set a date that won't set you up to fail.

2. Try quitting a little at a time. This is not to say that some people don't quit cold turkey, but that makes it a lot more difficult for the average person. If you go from 20 cigarettes a day down to zero, there is a huge chance you will end up craving them all the time. So, try cutting down a little at a time. For the first week or two try smoking ten, then 5 and so on until until you are not smoking any at all. Many people use this method for quitting, and it has been successful for a lot of them.

3. Buddy up! Find a pal that smokes and ask them if they would like to go through the process with you. Everything is much easier when you are not trying to do it alone, so, if you know someone else who is trying to quit, then you can call them when you get the urge to smoke. The best thing to do when you call is let them know the reasons why the urge is so strong and talk it out. Most of the time the craving passes by the time you end your call.

4. Join an online support forum. This is a great idea because there is no set time to log on and join in - the internet is on 24/7. If you have the need to talk at any time of day, you should be able to find someone online. Since everyone on the forum most likely won't be from your area, you don't have to worry about disturbing anyone at odd hours. This is also a great idea because the people you speak with will be going through the same thing as you, which means that there will be no one there to judge you on your progress or minor failures.

As I said at the start, it is very difficult to quit smoking. While that is true, it does not mean that you should not try your best to stop. Things like smelly hair and clothing should be more than enough incentive for you to put the cigarettes down, but if that's not enough then consider the money you will save and the improvements you will see in your overall health.

Good luck.

Read More