What would happen if you could just quit smoking tomorrow, forever? You would save money on your life insurance, car insurance, and most importantly, extend your lifespan! Make sure you are around long enough to see your children grow up and spend time with grandchildren, even great-grandchildren! The tips below can help you make good progress towards kicking the smoking habit for good.
When you decide to quit smoking, make sure to add plenty of fresh fruit to your diet. Your body will likely undergo some chemical changes when you stop smoking, often including a lowered blood glucose level. Healthy fruits can help to raise your blood glucose level to normal levels, keeping you healthy while you’re working toward quitting.
Make a list of reasons that you want to quit smoking, and keep them in your wallet. Your reasons may include your family, living to see a special event, or anything you find meaningful. Whenever you have moments of weakness, pull out your list for several reminders of what you are working toward.
When you are first trying to quit smoking, try to avoid places that you associate with smoking. This might mean staying away from your favorite bar or the smoking spot at work. Staying away from these places also means staying away from temptation, which can be a very important thing to do when you are first trying to quit.
If you want to quit smoking, you need to identify factors that will motivate you to stop. Preventing lung cancer, tooth decay, gum disease and emphysema, or protecting your family are strong motivators. Showing respect for your body and for the gift of life is also a powerful motivating force. Whatever reason you choose, it needs to be enough to prevent you from lighting up again in the future.
One of the hardest things to deal with when quitting smoking is the oral fixation. Once you give up cigarettes, consider carrying sugar-free candies, cough drops or coffee stirrers around to keep your mouth busy and keep you mind off of cigarettes. There are also devices made to help you quit smoking that will also help keep you mouth busy.
When you’re ready to quit smoking, and have a plan in place to do so, set a firm date after which you won’t smoke anymore. Prepare for the date, and make a big deal out of it. Think of it as the day when you regain control of your life, and make it a joyous occasion.
To help you quit smoking, some people say that eating low calorie snack foods is very effective. Try purchasing mini carrots, cut up broccoli, cauliflower, dried fruit, low calorie cereal, or sugar-free candy. Consuming any of these items when you have the desire to smoke can help control cravings and keep your mouth busy.
If you are trying to quit with the use of crutches such as patches and medication, then you need to be careful. When you begin taking in these other substances, you are in turn putting yourself at risk of developing a new dangerous addiction. Be careful when you begin your quitting crutches.
When cravings strike, remember that they almost always pass within 10 minutes, so do something to distract yourself. Walk to the water cooler, have a healthy snack, meditate, or call a supportive friend to keep your mind off your craving. You’ll be surprised at how quickly it’s over, and your delaying tactics can keep you from giving in.
You’ll be more successful in your attempt to quit smoking if you ease down on how many cigarettes you smoke per day. You can create a set schedule for when you can smoke, and how many cigarettes per day you’ll smoke, gradually letting yourself smoke fewer and fewer until a set date when you’ll completely stop.
To quit smoking, you may want to think about going through hypnotherapy. During a session, the therapist will put you into a relaxing, dreamlike state and tell you not to smoke. Also, he or she may repeat certain reasons for you to quit so that you have this in your head when you wake up.
Drink plenty of water when you are quitting cigarettes. The water will help flush the excess toxins from your system. As your body is detoxifying, you need to give the toxins a way out of your body. Keep a bottle of water with you when you are on the go and sip throughout the day.
There you have it – some great information that can help you win the war against tobacco. Quitting smoking is tough for almost every smoker, so don’t beat yourself up if you don’t succeed at first. Follow the tips above, exercise some patience and perseverance, and you too will be able to call yourself a non-smoker one day soon.
Follow These Tips To Quit Smoking Today! was originally published on Spring