You know quitting won’t be easy, but have you considered all the ways you can use to make it happen? There are many tools, tips and tricks that can work with a plan to quit and see you through to becoming an ex-smoker. (Just say it, “I’m an ex-smoker.” Doesn’t it sound amazing?) Use the following advice to facilitate your quit smoking plan and really kick the habit!
1. Ask for your doctor’s help. He can prepare you for what withdrawing from nicotine is like and prescribe medication that may be the key to your quitting. He can advise you of how to avoid weight gain in the process and of the benefits of detoxing once you quit. Your body is full of disgusting stuff you need to expel; exercise, lemon water, green tea and other things can help clean your body out and keep from packing on pounds. Heed your doctor’s advice and warnings now, so he doesn’t have to give you a prognosis later.
2. Practice weaning yourself. There is a lot of psychology behind your addiction, beyond the physical. Start putting off your smokes by a few minutes each time. You will demonstrate power to yourself that is necessary to control urges and get through withdrawal periods. You will discover what other things you can do instead of lighting up. At the very least, you will lower the number of cigarettes you smoke every day so keep weaning!
3. Use the patch, gum or e-cig to get you through. Although cold-turkey is best for your body, it’s also the hardest quitting route; less than five percent of smokers succeed this way. Have a few “fixes” at your disposal and use them to get you through the worst times. Patches can feed you small doses of nicotine, gum can keep your mouth busy with tiny tastes of nicotine and the electronic cigarette is remarkably similar to the real thing. Use them all as temporary means to permanent quitting.
4. Keep stress from pushing you back to cigarettes. People invariably find excuses to return to smoking and planning ahead can avoid this; know that the simple act of quitting itself is going to put you under a lot of stress all by itself! Therefore, you must eliminate as much stress from your life as possible, at least until you are out of the immediate withdrawal stage. Take a vacation if you can, hire a babysitter, read, watch TV and do whatever you must to keep stress from tempting you.
5. Use what services are available to quitters. Law suits against the tobacco giants have yielded considerable revenue for each state to use for quitting programs and resources; avail yourself to them. Call the toll-free number for your state and find out about 24 hour support and groups that can guide you through the quitting process.
Quitting is hard so you need to use everything available to help you out! Use the above advice and anything else you can get your hands on to make your quitting plan a success and finally make smoking history in your life. Say it again: “I’m an ex-smoker. I’m an ex-smoker. I’m an ex-smoker!” Now make it happen.