10 Ways That You Can Stay Smoke Free

By Sarah Freeman


1.Why Should You Stop smoking?

So you have come to the decision to quit but do you have enough reason to actually do it? Without the drive and willpower, you do not have chances of quitting. Put down your reasons in black and white and look at it everyday to stay motivated.

2. Decide on time lines

Make advance preparations including the day you will quit. Share your decision with family and friends. You spend a lot of time at work so inform your colleagues as well. Having the support of those around you makes a big difference. They can for instance make sure they do not smoke around you and when you are tempted, they can talk you through it so that you do not give in.

3.Use NRT - Nicotine-Replacement Therapy

Now that you have declared you are quitting smoking it might be tempting to go cold turkey. However this could be disastrous as almost everyone relapses without a little medical help. Nicotine is highly addictive and your brain has become totally reliant on it. Without it your body will go into withdrawal. NRT can help you cope with these feelings of frustration, depression and restlessness. Using nicotine patches, gum or lozenges could improve you chances of quitting as much as two-fold.

4. Deal with the stress

Quitting is stressful. One reason people smoke is to release tension so trying to quit really heightens stress levels. Make an attempt to avoid stressful situations as much as possible. Take up relaxing leisure activities and take up exercise such as yoga.

5. Keep triggers at bay

Some situations may make you really crave for a cigarette. A common trigger is alcohol as most people smoke when they drink. Avoiding the pub or social situations where people could smoke can help. Drinking coffee during breaks may also trigger the urge to smoke. Have a lot of water to beat this and to help detox the body. Try to stick to other drinks that are free of caffeine as well.

6. Give yourself a gift

One of the things you will notice when you stop smoking on top of all those health benefits is the extra cash you have to hand. In fact why not save all the money you could of spent on cigarettes and place it in a jar. Over time this will be a highly visible reminder of how much your smoking habit cost. Then periodically splash out - you deserve it, buy yourself a special present for your landmark achievement.

7.Keep the pounds off!

Quitting smoking is hard enough but many ex-smokers are saddled with the fear and reality of weight gain. This is due to an increase in appetite when you stop smoking. Make a concerted effort to eat healthily and avoid those foods high in fat and sugar such as fast food. Eat more vegetables and replace that chocolate snack bar with a piece of fruit.

8. No matter how hard it is

Relapsing after trying to quit the first time is fairly common. It may even happen a number of times. Do not give up or despair but go back and think about what keeps you from succeeding. You will be stronger next time when you are facing the hurdles. Set a new date and recommit to quitting.

9. Join the group

You may need that you need to get help further to succeed at quitting. Engage your doctor, your pharmacist or another healthcare provider about helping you to join a self help group for quitters. They are effective in helping people to stop smoking. There are also online forums you can join and you also speak to others who are trying to quit and you can help each other along.

10.And Finally.... Think Positively.

If you believe that you can do it, then you can succeed at quitting and you can stay smoke free forever. Having doubts will bring your resolve down. There are times when the going will be really rough but you need to keep telling yourself you can do it. Fight the temptation and stay positive. Just keep thinking that you really can do it and you will.




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