Stop Smoking Now - Tips To Finally Break The Habit!
Smoking is well known for the hold it has on people. There is no denying that trying to quit can be hard. But it is not impossible, and you can do it.
With motivation and support along with helpful techniques and tricks like the ones in this article, you can be on your way to success.
To keep yourself motivated to quit smoking, be clear about why you want to quit. While there are many good reasons to quit smoking, you want to focus on your most powerful, personal reasons. Every time you feel tempted, remind yourself how much you want to improve your health, save money or set a good example for your kids.
Talk to your loved ones, in order to garner their support in quitting smoking. Make it clear that you need support but that it won't help if they are judgmental. Remind them that you may have times of frustration and irritability and ask them to bear with you. Quitting smoking can be very difficult, so it's critical that you have the support of those who are close to you at this time.
Quit smoking to improve your smile. People who smoke often fall victim to yellow teeth, persistent bad breath, and even gum disease. In addition, smoking puts you at risk for mouth cancer. When you quit, your smile will have a chance to become whiter, and you'll feel more like smiling because your body will be healthier.
Improve your chances of successfully quitting by sharing your plan to quit with supportive loved ones and friends. The encouragement you receive can provide extra motivation during rough patches, and telling people about quitting will help you stay more accountable. Have a few people on stand-by whom you can call for distraction whenever you get a craving.
You may have to quit smoking several times before you quit for good. Very few smokers are successful at quitting the first time they try. Just set your goal for one day, and then work on the next day once you get there. If you do experience a setback, set a quit date and get back on track. Just keep at it and try to extend the amount of time you quit, while you learn what triggered you into smoking again each time. In time, you'll go long enough that you don't feel the need to smoke again.
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.
Remember that the hardest part of quitting is usually those first couple of days. Mentally prepare yourself to tough it out for just the first two days, and then just the first week, and you will probably be in good shape after that. Your body will be doing a good amount of detoxifying in those first few days and if you can make it through that stage, you can make it through anything.
Use visualization in order to assist you in quitting your smoking habit. When doing deep breathing exercises, shut your eyes, and imagine yourself being a non-smoker. Imagine yourself not giving in to temptation. Imagine winning a medal for not smoking. These types of programs, referred to as "quit smoking hypnosis," are extremely effective.
Get a workout in. Right after you quit smoking, your lung capacity starts to improve. This makes exercising easier than it used to be. Keeping active also helps you to avoid gaining weight. Although you might still feel nicotine cravings, you won't have as difficult a time with withdrawal symptoms if you exercise. Exercising causes endorphins to surge through your system, giving you a sense of happiness and well-being.
Write out your top five list of reasons for quitting smoking. Anytime you feel a strong craving coming on, repeat this mantra to yourself. This is an easy way to remind yourself why quitting is more important than smoking.
If an oral fixation is a big part of your smoking addiction, then find other ways to keep your mouth busy. Many quitters like to use gum, hard candy, or mints to keep their mouths occupied. Some people have chosen to start using electronic cigarettes.
Drink lots of cranberry juice the first three days. Any consumption of acidic fruit juices will really take the edge off of the nicotine withdrawal as your internal chemistry slowly accepts the change. Just remember to quit after three days, as the physical nicotine withdrawal will end by then and the juices will just fatten you up after that.
Learn some deep breathing techniques and practice them when you feel the craving for a cigarette. When you feel the urge for a smoke, take a few minutes and breathe deeply through your nose, hold it, and exhale through your mouth. Repeat this until the need for a cigarette has gone away.
When you are quitting smoking, you may experience many different emotional changes along your journey. Craving a cigarette is tough and it's easy to succumb to temptation. Keeping a journal documenting your cravings, including the time of your craving, how strong it was, what you were doing and how you were feeling, can help you become more aware of when and what is causing you to want to smoke.
When you quit smoking, avoid skipping meals to prevent powerful cravings. Smoking nicotine released stored fats into your bloodstream, staving off the ill effects of low blood sugar during skipped meals. You will have to nourish your body to prevent troublesome (and perhaps emotional) cravings due to hunger or malnourishment.
It is a fact that smoking can have a very tight hold on smokers. But it is entirely possible to break free and become a successful non-smoker.
Increase your chances of success by creating a plan that includes helpful techniques and tips like the ones in the above article, and break free of smoking for good.
