Easy Way To Quit Smoking: Does Such A Method Exist?

Easy Way To Quit Smoking: Does Such A Method Exist?
By Jonty Smith

The question on every smoker’s yellowing lip will always be “Is there an easy way to quit smoking?” The instant answer to that would be yes, as there is a mountain of anecdotal evidence to suggest it is possible. There are millions of smokers who can testify that they packed in a long-term habit overnight, and never desired another cigarette again. The real question then, is how did they do it?

The answer is simple: if you wish to quit smoking easily, then you need to change your mindset. After years of smoking, your brain will be configured to believe that smoking is an integral part of you. As a former smoker myself, I know full well just how emotionally connected the smoker is to the cigarette, and this is something non-smokers often overlook. It’s not just a question of willpower - it’s about being able to sever the emotional links we have with the habit.

The fact is that nicotine is one of the least physically addictive drug substances out there. We can sleep for eight hours every night without our body waking us up in a cold sweat to smoke. Although this sounds like a big claim to make, the amount of anecdotal evidence mentioned earlier should be testament to this. The smoking habit is not the nicotine habit - it is the psychologically addictive habit.

The easy way to quit smoking is to shake up the beliefs you associate with smoking. It’s not enough to simply say it’s bad for your health, because that is a rational fact. Smoking breeds irrational, emotional attachments, and it is those attachments which you have to perceive in a different way. No smoker is going to argue that smoking is good for their health, but many will claim that a cigarette helps them relax. Do you see the difference? Smokers have more irrational beliefs than they would think.

This calls upon a great deal of introspection. Head to the pub with a notepad and pen and start writing about how you feel about smoking. Compare smoking to a girlfriend or boyfriend, if you will, because that’s the level of emotional attachment most smokers will feel towards the habit. Start assessing how you feel about smoking and make a list of all the positives you feel smoking brings to your life. Then try to detach yourself and question these “positives”.

Ultimately, if you want an easy way to stop smoking, then you need to realise that all that is really required is the re-wiring of your brain. You do not need gum, patches or any other gimmick. Such gimmicks only maintain your emotional attachment to the habit without the actual physical side-effect, but that is not enough. You need to beat both the physical attachment and, particularly, the emotional attachment. If I can do it, then so can you.

Jonty Smith is a former smoker based in the U.K.

After 10 years of smoking two packs a day, Jonty finally managed to quit in 2006. His story of how he managed to beat the habit is available for free reading at http://www.how-i-stopped-smoking.com

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The Best Way to Quit Smoking: Fasting to Quit

The Best Way to Quit Smoking: Fasting to Quit
By Sallie Stone

Most quit smoking books, maybe all of them won’t tell you what I’m about to tell you next. Fasting is one of the best methods to quit smoking, if not the best. It will give you what you need to quit smoking. A lot of us feel we can’t quit smoking but we can. We fast so God will give us what we need to finally quit for good.

You should fast for three days to quit smoking. Fast on brown rice and water or carrot juice three days in a row. If you can’t fast for three straight days fast one day a week for three weeks or as close together as possible. This method can be used cold turkey or with the method discussed in the last chapter of my book; although I recommend cold turkey with this method. This method will work for you, all you have to do is try.

There are other ways to quit smoking. For instance you could pray or meditate until the desire passes. The desire to smoke will pass.

Another tip I share to readers in my book Quit Smoking the Easy Way: A New and Revolutionary Way to Quit Smoking is to chew cinnamon gum.There is something about cinnamon that fights cravings for nicotine. We’ve all heard about the healing power of Aroma therapy. Well now you know cinnamon can be used to fight cravings!

I think one of the most important ways to prepare yourself for quitting smoking is the ritual of forgiveness. Smokers smoke when they are mad. This tends to bring the anger to the subconscious. Here’s an excerpt from my book on the chapter entitled The Ritual of Forgiveness: “This ritual frees your heart. First think about everyone who has ever wronged you. Make a list in your mind. Ask God or a saint in heaven to help you forgive each person and why you need to forgive them. Perform this ritual nightly until you have forgiven each individual.

You will find that your heart will become unburdened and you will forgive more easily. You will find that you are not only better off not smoking but that you are better off not holding resentment in your heart. Getting rid of any anger will help you to be a calmer person who is ready to quit smoking.”

Sallie Stone is the author of Quit Smoking the Easy Way: A New and Revolutionary Way to Quit Smoking. She can be contacted at sallie_stone@msn.com

Sallie Stone is the author of Quit Smoking the Easy Way: A New and Revolutionary Way to Quit Smoking. She studied Art History and Museum Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. She holds a B.A. in Art History from that school. Her website is http://www.lulu.com/sallie_stone

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7 Tips To Help You Quit Smoking For Good

7 Tips To Help You Quit Smoking For Good
By Gill Reese

Quitting smoking is not a easy thing to do. In fact, it can be very difficult. The psychological and physical addiction to nicotine makes it very difficult to just quit. But this can be done, and it was dome by millions of people who regained their health as a result.

There are no easy solutions to quitting the smoking habit. The withdrawal symptoms as well as the psychological need will be there and make it hard for you to quit. But there are quite a few ways to make it easier to go through those first few weeks of being smoke free. If you make if past the first month, your chances of quitting for good are much higher.

Let's take a look at a few of the most valuable tips we can offer:

Go cold turkey - Don't reduce the amount of cigarettes you smoke each day. Just stop totally. This seems counter-intuitive, but it's much better to quit all at once that to reduce the amount. Reducing the amount of cigarettes will not help you quit, it will only make it harder, and claim a heavier price from your health.

Replace your smoking with another habit - this is a useful way of coping with the habit itself. You can replace smoking with eating carrots, for example. Another way is to replace it with physical activity, or drinking water. The important thing is to create new and useful habits instead of the smoking habit.

Quit with a friend - If you have a friend that wants to quit smoking, you can quit together. This will force you to watch each other's backs, and make sure none of you gets back to smoking. Work out a support system that includes meetings once a day, phone calls etc. so that you keep supporting and encouraging each other.

Use nicotine replacement - There are plenty of products out there that make quitting smoking much easier, as they replace the nicotine fix smokers are used to getting. Taking a nicotine chewing gum, pills or patches makes it easier to deal with the withdrawal symptoms. When the physical side of the quitting process is handled, it's easier to cope with the psychological side of the addiction.

Use breathing exercises - Learning to breath correctly and to the full capacity of the lungs makes it easier to cope with the withdrawal symptoms and the dizziness and nausea you might feel. Yoga breathing techniques will do fine for that purpose and you can learn that from every book that deals with the subject.

Quitting smoking is not easy, but the price you might pay with your health is a lot more difficult to handle. Start planning your smoking quitting today, and set a date to do it. In 10 years time, you will greet yourself for doing so.

Gill Reese is the owner of stop-smoking-101.info. You may visit the site and learn all about how to stop smoking, how to quit smoking, smoking cessation and more.

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How to Quit Smoking...Without Gaining Weight

How to Quit Smoking...Without Gaining Weight
By Jessica Setnick

Not everyone gains weight when they stop smoking, but the average weight gain is about 10 pounds.  Weight gain is more likely when someone has smoked for 10 to 20 years or smokes a pack or more a day.  Water retention may cause a deceptive weight gain of up to 5 pounds in the week after quitting smoking, but this is not a real weight gain, and your body will go back to normal.

Even if you do gain weight when you quit smoking, the health risks of smoking are far greater…you would have to gain over 150 pounds to make your health risks as high as when you smoked.

The most important components of preventing weight gain when you quit smoking are:

1. Physical activity

• To prevent weight gain at this time, you need to become more physically active.  Beginning to increase your physical activity before you quit smoking may remind you how much smoking slows you down, when you have trouble breathing or start to cough during exercise.
  
• Becoming physically active will not only help you control your weight, but will also give you more energy, improve your health, take your mind off smoking, and help relieve the stress and moodiness that may occur as a result of withdrawal from nicotine.
  
• Try to do at least 30 minutes of physical activities on most days, even if it is in a few shorter increments.  Physical activity does not have to be planned exercise; it may include taking the stairs, mowing the lawn, or playing with children.

2. Healthy eating

• Improving your eating habits gradually can help prevent weight gain, as well as help you feel better as you quit smoking.  But changing too much too quickly can increase the stress you feel as you try to quit smoking.  Eating a variety of foods each day is a good start, and eating regularly so you never get too hungry.
  
• To prevent extra snacking as a result of quitting smoking, do not try to quit smoking during a stressful period.  This can cause extra stress that can lead to extra snacking, especially over the holidays when more food is around, or relapsing back into smoking to cope with the stress.

3. Managing cravings

• Once you stop smoking, it is important to learn how to reduce your cravings for both cigarettes and food.  A craving only lasts about 5 minutes.  If you can distract yourself for 5 minutes, the craving will usually pass.
  
• Replace smoking with other activities that occupy your hands and your mouth.  Snack on fruit or chewing gum to satisfy any sweet cravings.  Keep your hands busy with doodling, crossword puzzles, knitting, or twirling a straw, pen, or pencil.
  
• Drink less caffeine; although you may think it will make you feel better, caffeine can worsen the jittery nervous feeling that may accompany nicotine withdrawal.
  
• Get enough sleep; when you are tired, you are more likely to crave cigarettes and food.
  
• Remember H.A.L.T.– never let yourself get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired. 
  
• Reduce tension by meditating, taking a walk or a bath, or taking deep breaths.  Find something that will replace smoking as a way to relax and do it consistently.
  
• Get support and encouragement; talk to a friend when you get the urge to smoke; talk about something other than smoking. 
  
• Make a list of when and where you are most tempted to smoke, and list healthy activities you can substitute when you have the urge.  Try not to do things that tempt you to smoke, such as drinking or socializing in a bar, or tempt you to eat when you’re not hungry, such as bringing a bag of chips in front of the television. 
  
• If you are struggling or anxious about trying to quit smoking, talk to your doctor about nicotine replacement such as nicotine gum or a nicotine patch.  These can help prevent a relapse, and nicotine gum has been shown to reduce weight gain.

4. Positive attitude

• As you focus on quitting smoking and healing your body, your exercise and eating goals will become easier.  When you quit smoking, you can breathe and get around more easily, and nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables taste better when you are not smoking.
  
• Try to stay positive, and try not to panic about modest weight gain; if you do gain weight, your healthy habits will help you lose the weight once your body gets back to normal.  If you need more guidance, talk to your doctor or dietitian.
  
• Be confident that you are making a healthy choice!  Your whole body will thank you!
  

Jessica Setnick is a registered dietitian in Dallas, Texas who travels the world spreading nutrition wisdom. As an accomplished speaker and writer, Jessica’s passion is promoting a positive relationship with food and eating as a key component of a healthy and happy life. Find out more or contact Jessica to speak at your event by visiting her website at www.understandingnutrition.com.

© 2004 Permission is granted to reprint this article in print or on your web site so long as the paragraph above is included and contact information is provided to www.understandingnutrition.com.

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Reasons Why You Should Quit Smoking

Reasons Why You Should Quit Smoking
By Charlene Nuble

Smoking can hook you because cigarettes contain nicotine which is highly addictive. But being hooked is not an excuse why you cannot quit smoking. Smoking has been proven by several researches to be great threat to one's health, that is why there is no reason why one who is already hooked to it should not quit smoking.

It is tough to quit smoking. People try at least 2 to 3 times before they can finally quit smoking. It takes hard work and lots of effort but if you're really determined then you can quit smoking for good.

Why quit smoking?

There are at least five reasons why you should quit smoking.

* First, if you quit smoking, you will definitely live longer and better.

* Second, each time you smoke, you take about 5 to 20 minutes off your life. Your chance of getting lung cancer, stroke or heart attack increases if you don't quit smoking.

* Third, the people you live with, especially the children, will be healthier only if you stop smoking. In fact, second hand smoke is more dangerous than the actual smoke users get from smoking.

* Fourth, if you quit smoking, you will have extra money to spend on other things than cigarettes.

* And lastly, if you’re pregnant, chances of having a healthier baby is more likely if you quit smoking.

So the next and most crucial question is "how do I quit smoking?"

Here are five ways that can help you quit smoking:

1. Get ready and prepare yourself to undetake your quit somking program? Set a quit smoking date. Change your environment by getting rid of all cigarettes in places you frequent and not allowing people to smoke near you or at your home.

2. Get support and encouragement. Studies have shown that you'll have better chances in quitting smoking if you can get support from families, friends, and co-workers.

3. Learn new skills and behavior. Always remember that your goal is to quit smoking, so distract yourself from urges of smoking. Change your routine in your first try of quit smoking program. Do something to reduce your stress such as taking a hot bath, exercise, or reading. Plan something to do enjoyable every day.

4. Get medication and use it correctly. Medications can help you lessen the urge to smoke. Five approved medications that can help you to quit smoking are: Bupropion SR, nicotine gum, nicotine inhaler, nicotine nasal spray, and nicotine patch.

5. Be prepared for a relapse. If you quit smoking, chances of a relapse is high. Most relapses occur after 3 months of quitting, so watch out for situations that may trigger you get back to smoking such as alcohol, other smokers, weight gain and depression.

Everyone can quit smoking so don’t hesitate to at least try to quit smoking also.

Quit smoking now and I guarantee you a healthier, better and longer life.

Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the resource box at the bottom of the article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.

Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For updated links and information about quit smoking, please go to: http://quit-smoking.besthealthlink.net/ or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net/

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Are You Ready to Quit Smoking?

Are You Ready to Quit Smoking?
By Susan Lutfallah

Stop Smoking Laser Therapy

Millions of people are afflicted with a seemingly relentless addiction to nicotine. Have you tried to become one of the many who quit smoking for good? Have you tried unsuccessfully to enjoy the freedom of being smoke free? Low Power Laser Therapy is a very effective yet relatively new technique that will help control cravings and minimize withdrawal symptoms.

Forget the patch, the gum, and the vitamins that claim to cure the cravings. Smoking is a chemically dependant addiction as well as a psychological addiction. Laser therapy can help rid the body of both the physical and mental barriers to becoming smoke free.

Mood swings, intense cravings, and other physical symptoms are common road blocks on the path to becoming a non smoker, often derailing even the best efforts to stop smoking. Low power lasers are used on specific areas of the body in order to stimulate the body to produce its own natural opiates. This reduces the physical cravings as well as well as the withdrawal symptoms commonly experienced when quitting smoking.

Behavior therapy is used in conjunction with the low power laser therapy to reduce the psychological dependency. With the guidance of a certified therapist, behaviors are modified to reduce the triggers that feed the addictive behavior.

In addition, nutritional therapy is incorporated in order to detoxify the body and repair damage. This multi-phasic program helps rid the body of toxins which further increase the effects of the stop smoking laser therapy and behavioral therapy.

To gain more valuable information on Low Level Laser Therapy visit Alpha Life Style Laser Therapy Clinic

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Stop Smoking: It Killed My Parents

Stop Smoking: It Killed My Parents
By Eric Hartwell

I am not a smoker. I never have been and never will be.

Both my parents were smokers though. My father used to smoke upwards of 40 cigarettes per day and my mother was not that far behind him.

That was a few years ago and now, sadly, they are both dead. My father had a myocardial infarction (heart attack) at the age of 67 and died instantly. My mother had a stroke when she was 69 and spent 4 months in a nursing home until she finally died.

The smoking killed them both. Sure, we all have to die, but they died early through their smoking.

Which death was the best? Who knows. My father died instantly and in great pain with none of his loved ones near him. My mother was totally helpless for 4 months - she couldn't speak, walk or move. She was helpless in all respects. Nurses had to do everything for her, including the unmentionable.

I miss them both and curse the fact that they did not relent in their defence of smoking.

We all know of people that lived till 90 having smoked all their lives. The stark reality, though, is that many more die before they reach that age. Some in the agony of real pain. Others in the agony of loss of dignity. Lord knows what they feel when they enter that phase of deterioration and death.

How many, if they had their time again, would choose the life of abstinence? How many would elect to be healthy and happy - content in their world without tobacco and habit?

I know that smoking killed both of my parents prematurely. I will never support anyone in their smoking habit or advocate the habit in any way at all.

Do you want to quit smoking? Visit Smokefree England for further information.

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