Unless you are truly prepared to stop smoking, you will find it almost impossible to succeed. You must be knowledgeable about the process and what it entails. As with many things in life, the more educated you are about quitting, the more easily you will be able to accomplish it. The tips in this article will assist anyone who really wants to stop smoking.
Find the easiest method to quit smoking. Do not ever try to quit cold turkey. Quitting cold turkey is only effective about 5% of the time. Nicotine is so addictive that a method like therapy, the patch or medication is recommended. These things will reduce the severity of your initial withdrawal symptoms, making it easier for you to quit smoking.
Joining a good support group can help you stop smoking. There is much strength and reassurance in a group of like-minded folks who are all pushing towards the same goal and dealing with the same challenges. You will receive wonderful advice and support from these kinds of people as they have been in your shoes before. You can check your local church, rec center, or even the community college to find these support groups.
There is a certain amount of weight gain that is often the result of stopping smoking, and eating fruits and vegetables instead of sweets is one way to help avoid this. This will assist with keeping weight gain away. Your body will likely crave food as you quit smoking, so allow yourself to snack using healthy treats to keep your mind and body in top shape.
In the event that the urge to smoke melts your resolve, at least attempt to put it off as long as possible. Try telling yourself you can have a smoke after you take a walk, or after you drink a big glass of water. Perhaps the extra few minutes spent occupying your mind with something else can prevent you from smoking. You may decide not to smoke it at all.
To avoid nicotine cravings, try to deal with your stress in other ways. You may find that some effective alternatives include exercising, keeping a journal, or treating yourself to a spa visit whenever your cravings are at their peak. Try to avoid idle time, and instead, find pleasant distractions. Reading, crafting or visiting friends all work well.
Ask your doctor to help you stop smoking. There are medications, such as certain antidepressants, which require a prescription that can help you get through the trials and tribulations of quitting. Your doctor can also steer you to support groups, programs and other resources to help you.
Giving up tobacco will benefit your loved ones, and yourself. Even if your family members choose not to smoke, they could get cancer or other serious illnesses from inhaling secondhand smoke. It will do well for the health of your entire household when you quit smoking. So, both you and your loved ones can live healthier due to your decision to quit smoking.
When you are considering quitting smoking, make an appointment to see your physician. Your doctor could have quitting resources you might not have in your possession. A physician may also choose to prescribe medication, if they feel it is necessary.
Tell everyone you know about your desire to quit smoking. They can then support you in your efforts. Having a system of support is one of the best methods you can use to quit. It will significantly better the chances that you are successful at quitting smoking.
In order to avoid experiencing cravings related to nicotine, look for healthier methods on how to deal with stress. Try going to the gym, taking up a brand new hobby, or getting regular massages when you get cravings. You should do your best to fill any free time with pleasurable and fulfilling activities. You can take this time to catch up on with old friends or reading, too.
Think about quitting as buying more years on this planet rather than giving something up. If you see quitting as an achievement, you will be more motivated to continue your fight. Realize you will have a much better life, and how there are so many more pros to quitting than there are cons. This makes quitting now seem more sensible and feasible.
Consider using a new brand when you begin to think to quit smoking. Switch to a lighter cigarette or a cigarette whose taste you don’t enjoy. Some people find this helpful. You may find this makes cigarettes distasteful and assist you in your efforts to quit.
Talk to your doctor about medications that can be used to help you quit. There are quite a few options out there for you to help you quit. There are many different ways to help eliminate your smoking habit including nicotine replacement therapies and prescribed medications. Ask your doctor for recommendations that will help you quit.
Quit Smoking
Use your reasons for quitting to create an empowering mantra. Anytime you feel a strong craving coming on, repeat this mantra to yourself. This will allow you to take control of your addiction, in an effort to optimize your chance for success.
Let your family and friends know that you plan to quit smoking. They are your support system, and are there to remind you to stay resolute in your attempts to quit smoking. The most effective way to quit is by having people around who support you. Setting up your support system helps you be much more likely to achieve goals related to quitting.
Try to breathe deeply when you want to smoke. This relaxing task can allow you to focus on your feelings and remind yourself of your reasons for quitting. It might also help bring more oxygen into your lungs, which may give you a refreshed feeling. Deep breathing is simple and non-intrusive, making it a simple and portable way to calm down.
Thinking about the impacts that smoking has on your family can serve as a serious motivator to stop smoking. Roughly twenty percent of Americans die from smoking-related causes. Do not become a statistic.
Think about your food choices when you are struggling with cravings. While attempting to quit smoking, do not simultaneously seek weight loss. Instead, make sure you are eating a healthy diet. There have been studies that have shown that eating low-fat dairy products, veggies and fruits will actually leave you with a bad taste if you are a smoker. Eating these types of food will not only boost your health but also help you quit smoking.
Remember, when you want to stop smoking, that first week will most likely be the hardest. During the first 48 hours, your body will be eliminating its buildup of nicotine. After this initial period, your nicotine cravings will, for the most part, be psychological. Psychological cravings can be difficult to resist, but you won’t be suffering from physical withdrawal.
Nicotine replacement therapy can help keep you from feeling agitated as you quit smoking. Using a patch or chewing nicotine gum can help reduce your withdrawal symptoms while still allowing you to break your habit of smoking. After the physical addiction to the process of smoking has been broken, you can begin to rid your system of the nicotine as well.
Get a workout in. Exercise is a great way to help to clear out your lungs, build your air capacity and boost blood flow. Increased exercise will also ensure that you don’t gain any weight after quitting. Furthermore, exercise causes your body to produce endorphins, which can give you a natural high. Although the high won’t be as good as a nicotine high, it will help you to cope with cigarette withdrawal.
Many who quit smoking without cessation methods do so by changing their outlook. To do this, you must understand that, to quit smoking, you must focus on getting through just one more day. Cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective means of changing your lifestyle and severing your emotional ties with smoking.
Think about quitting as buying more years on this planet rather than giving something up. When you view quitting in a positive light, it becomes easier to stay on task and quit sooner. Keep thinking about all the positive effects this will have on your life, and remember that the pros are much greater than the cons. This will keep you motivated and give you true reasons to quit now.
It might surprise you, but writing in a journal can help you quit smoking. This is because when you write stuff down you relax your mind and body, as opposed to smoking, as this is a reason why a lot of people smoke. Writing regularly in a journal gives you a healthier way of working out depression, anxiety and stress. And if you need another incentive, it doesn’t cost you anything!
It can be helpful to get rid of reminders of your smoking life when you are trying to quit. Things you should eliminate includes removing ashtrays and cigarette lighters. Abolish the stench of smoke in your house by cleaning all clothing that contains the smoke odor. This will prevent triggering your cravings for cigarettes that can come from the smell of these items.
Keep a big bag of suckers around. If you are tempted to reach for a cigarette, opt for a lollipop. The stick of this sweet treat will occupy your cigarette-flicking hand. The sucker itself will keep your mouth busy. By keeping your mouth and hand occupied, you’ll start to lose the craving for a cigarette.
Whenever you feel that you’re losing your resolve and are going to give in to the craving to smoke, make a phone call to someone in your support group. This can be a family member or close friend, but you really need to talk with them about your temptations. Not only will this distract you, it’s nice to know someone cares and can help you tackle the issue with someone else’s assistance.
You may experience cravings on and off throughout your life. Don’t let it throw you off if you suddenly feel the urge to smoke long after you’ve quit. It’s important that you do not give in or take a single puff, though. Keep reminding yourself how difficult it was quitting and see if it’s worth doing it again.
Get help from friends and family when you make the decision to kick the smoking habit. Let everybody know that you’re attempting to stop smoking. Their approval and assistance can be the overriding factor that helps you achieve success. Support groups might also be an option for you, check them out.
Schedule visits to non-smoking locations when you start quitting. Enjoy a movie at a theater, visit a museum or visit with friends who do not smoke. Whenever you go out and get coffee, sit inside with the other non-smokers, rather than out on the smoking deck. Staying away from places where people smoke, will help with cravings.
Many ex-smokers say that one of the hardest addictions to overcome when stopping smoking is the oral fixation associated with cigarette smoking. You can carry a lot of gum or candy, which can be used to distract your mouth. Others find electronic cigarettes offer fast relief.
Acupuncture is an alternative method to nicotine patches or other smoking medication. An experienced, knowledgeable acupuncturist can help to soothe your cravings by using a number of fine needles that are strategically placed on different areas of your body. While the whole process may not sound appealing, most of those that have gone through it state the pain isn’t intolerable.
Now that you understand how important it is to learn as much as you can when you plan to quit smoking, I hope this article has assisted you in your quest for knowledge. Having the information to know what techniques work best will make the process much easier. Apply what you’ve learned in the article above, and you should find success at quitting smoking.
Once you stop smoking, help your body to recover faster by taking a daily multivitamin. Take one that includes trace minerals in order to give you the most effective healing effects. Remember that more than your lungs suffer damage from smoking’s effects. Do whatever it takes to bring your body back to optimum health.