Five Keys for Quitting Smoking And Improve Your Look

Get ready to quit smoking

When we say get ready we do not mean talking about it. We mean prepare yourself mentally. If you are not ready to quit you have very little chance of success. When you are “ready” to quit follow these steps.

Set a quit date.
Change your environment.
Get rid of ALL cigarettes and ashtrays in your home, car, and place of work. Don’t let people smoke in your home.
Review your past attempts to quit. Think about what worked and what did not.
Once you quit, don’t smoke — NOT EVEN A PUFF!

Get support and encouragement to quit

Studies have shown that you have a better chance of success if you have help. Surround yourself with the right people and make sure they d are not smokers. You can get support in the following ways.

Tell your family, friends, and co-workers that you are going to quit and want their support. Ask them not to smoke around you or leave cigarettes out.
Talk to your healthcare provider (for example, doctor, dentist, nurse, pharmacist, psychologist, or smoking counselor).
Get an individual, group, or telephone counseling. The more counseling you have, the better your chances are of quitting. Programs are given at local hospitals and health centers. Call your local health department for information about programs in your area.

Learn new skills and behaviors

They call smoking a habit for a reason. So this means changing your habits so smoking is not part of the equation anymore. For instance, if you smoke when you drive or after meals, get gum or lozenges so you break the habit.

Try to distract yourself from urges to smoke. Talk to someone, go for a walk or get busy with a task.
When you first try to quit, change your routine. Use a different route to work. Drink tea instead of coffee. Eat breakfast in a different place.
Do something to reduce your stress. Take a hot bath, exercise, or read a book.
Plan something enjoyable to do every day.
Drink a lot of water and other fluids.

Be prepared for relapse or difficult situations.

Most relapses occur within the first 3 months after quitting. Don’t be discouraged if you start smoking again. Remember, most people try several times before they finally quit. Here are some difficult situations to watch for.

Alcohol. Avoid drinking alcohol. Drinking lowers your chances of success.
Other smokers. Being around smokers can make you want to smoke.
Weight gain. Many smokers will gain weight when they quit, usually less than 10 pounds. Eat a healthy diet and stay active. Don’t let weight gain distract you from your main goal — quitting smoking. Some quit-smoking medications may help delay weight gain.
Bad mood or depression. There are a lot of ways to improve your mood other than smoking. If you are having problems with any of these situations, talk to your doctor or another healthcare provider.

Get medication and use it correctly.

Medications can help you stop smoking and lessen the urge
to smoke.

Finally

To succeed in quitting smoking you must focus and put yourself on a mission. Once you have completed the mission, you can start to enjoy the benefits a non-smoker enjoys. You will look cleaner and smell better to say nothing of a much better-looking smile. You can travel in comfort without the withdrawal that smokers go through in long trips on planes, etc. Your food will taste better and you will wake up feeling a lot better without having to suffer overnight withdrawals. And last but not least you will live a longer and healthier life. So if you smoke, get “ready” today, follow the steps we have set out and live a long life.

By Julie Ann Lozada

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Julie Ann Lozada

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