Most of us promise ourselves that one day we will stop smoking but often we lull ourselves into complacency and continue until its too late for our good health. Here are 10 helpful ways to help you stop now.
Nicotine Patch
Patches have been proven to be effective. A skin patch will supply your body with the nicotine it craves. Doctors usually prescribe a high dosage for the first three weeks, then lower doses tapering off over the next three weeks. You must not smoke while using the patch. The patch will satisfy your body's craving for nicotine but it will not satisfy your social craving for a cigarette or replace cigarette smoking. Try sucking on hard candy and carrying a pen or pencil to hold in your hand.
Hypnosis
Hypnosis has become a popular way to rid yourself of the smoking habit. This method has proven effective but it is expensive. If you decide to try it be sure to find a reliable hypnotist or get a good book on autohypnosis.
Cold Turkey
This is the most popular and the most effective way to quite smoking, it can be one of the hardest. The first few weeks when the urges are strongest are the worst. If you stick it out, this method will last and it won't cost you a cent. The main thing is to not let yourself talk you into taking that "one" cigarette.
Nicotine Gum
As with patches you can supply your nicotine with gum. It will let you quite gradually in six to eight weeks if chewed as prescribed.
Avoid Caffeine and other Stimulants
Stimulants like coffee increase your craving for nicotine. Do without them. Get energy from fruit drinks or Gatorade. Eating and drinking at a healthy level will keep your energy high and cut your craving for nicotine.
Relaxation and Exercise
Many people smoke to relieve stress. Relieving stress in other ways, such as exercise and meditation can release stress and the need to smoke.
Avoid Temptation
Many people smoke when they are with people who smoke. If you do that, avoid restaurants, bars, and other places where you know people will be smoking.
Behavior Modification
If you smoke at a specific time; after a meal, with coffee, or under pressure, indentify those situations and anticipate or simply avoid them. Maintaining a constant sugar level throughout the day helps to avoid dangerous "crave" times. Eat several small meals a day rather than large ones. Stay away from sweets.
Progressive Quitting
Try cutting down little by little, cut out one cigarette a day, then two and so on over several weeks. Eventually you will dwindle down to zero. You must be vigilant and stick to your schedule.
Eat a Healthy Diet
People complain they eat too much when they quite smoking. Just be aware of the food you eat. Eat plenty of veggies, fruits and whole grain and do eat low fat. Carry raw veggies and fruit as a snack and chew sugar-free gum. This is the perfect time to improve your over-all health.
To all chain smokers out there, read this one. Very useful tips.
#2 by Darlene McFarlane, Oct 10, 2008
Very good advice, Ruby. I quit 10 years ago for 18 months...cold turkey. That same method didn't help the second time. I quit progressively three years ago and I do not intend to take it up again.
Thanks for the encouragement you are giving to others.
Darlene
#3 by CHAN LEE PENG, Oct 10, 2008
Good points, Ruby! Take care!
#4 by valli, Oct 10, 2008
Very helpful tips.
#5 by goodselfme, Oct 10, 2008
I wrote a method "To smoke or not to smoke" in Sept. and it did not get the reads you ideas are getting. Good points. Well done!
#6 by Gerlaine, Oct 10, 2008
Very wonderful article.
#7 by PR Mace, Oct 10, 2008
Excellent advice and tips. My husband and I have never smoked. My father did and so do both our children. My daughter used the patch to quit once and it gave her nightmares. She has started again, I wish both our children would try your advice and give it up again. Thanks for a great post. Always good to read you, my friend. Think I will share this with my children.
#8 by KathySpring, Oct 10, 2008
Great List....smoking is awful
Thanks
#9 by Melody Arcamo Lagrimas, Oct 11, 2008
Hope everyone who smokes can read this. Great tips, Ruby.
#10 by Mark Gordon Brown, Oct 11, 2008
Very good, I didnt know about caffine, for some reason, and I do drink alot of Coke! But cannot quit that! I have tried a pill which seemed to work well but also gave me nightmares and confusing thoughts. So, I am still a smoker, but not as bad as I used to be.
#11 by B Nelson, Oct 11, 2008
As a person who never smoked, I really "dont get it" that it should be any harder than just not buying cigarettes, I know it is, but just think that if you remove the source, you are done.
Good luck to all those who are quitting.
HINT : Start saying you are Quitting rather than "TRYING" to quit!
#12 by BC Doan, Oct 11, 2008
I've known people who are using acupuncture to try to quit smoking too.
Great tips!
#13 by jo oliver, Oct 11, 2008
great tips! so many people really struggle wiht trying to quit. Chantix worked for my dad.
#14 by louie jerome, Oct 11, 2008
Useful tips, Ruby. I stopped over ten years ago using a drug called Zyban. It is available only on prescription from a doctor here in UK and I don't know if you can get it in US and other countries. It doesn't do it all for you, but it takes care of the physical symptoms of stopping.
#15 by Lady Syxess, Oct 12, 2008
I am desperate to give up smoking and have tried various methods you have listed with no success, however, there are still a couple for me to try. Most "quitters" say willpower is the main key so I really have to invest in some of that. Great article. Thanks for sharing
#16 by Anne Lyken-Garner, Oct 12, 2008
I've never been a smoker, and I'm glad too, because England has adopted a no smoking ban at all indoor and working places.
Really helpful article for smokers, Ruby.
#17 by Ruby Hawk, Oct 12, 2008
Thank you my friends for your interest. I wish all of you who smoke good luck in quitting. I quite cold turkey several years ago after smoking since I was 14 years old. I really did quite on my third try. So just keep on trying. It will eventually work. I had to give up coffee also during that time because everytime I had a cup of coffee, it called for a cigarette.I have two sons and a grandson who smoke and I would love for them to quite. It is a miserable dirty habit. My kids used to beg me not to smoke in the car and I didn't realize the smoke was so horrible for them. I know how it is now. It makes me deathly sick to smell tobbaco smoke. A good pay back huh?
#18 by Unofre Pili, Oct 14, 2008
I do not smoke myself..But feel so thankful of this article. Thanks for sharing maam.
#19 by C A Johnson, Oct 15, 2008
Great job! My father has started smoking again so I can definitely pass this one on to him.
#20 by Amos, Oct 23, 2008
A nasty habit but hard to get rid of.
#21 by gabbic1219, Oct 29, 2008
nice article...i have been smoke free for 2 years now and have no urge to go back,i quit w/ all my pregnacies and later went back but than one day i just cold turkey quit and smoked my last pack and never bought another one!i feel much better and my teeth look gorgeous,i am a teeth person n little by little that nicotine will really start to stain them,so after i quit and always had reg. dentist cleanings i notice they got alot whiter!
