How I Quit Smoking

Everyone knows that smoking is bad for your health and the health of those around you. I was a two pack a day smoker for over twenty years. It was cool when we were younger but as we aged our health deteriorated greatly. Bad morning coughs, out of breath all the time, and low energy levels are just the tip of the iceberg. Attempting to quit is no easy task either. However, you can quit with the right attitude, a few small changes in lifestyle, and without spending a fortune on quitting aids.

The very first thing you must do is get in the correct frame of mind. No program, gum, or even the small changes I will share are going to help if you don't have the correct attitude. Make up your mind that you are going to quit smoking period. Don't have the "I am going to try" mentality. You want to quit for several reasons and make your life better. Get a piece of paper out and list all the reasons why you are giving up smoking. It doesn't have to be long and elaborate, just the real reasons you want to quit. Take that paper and put it somewhere you will see it everyday. This will help in reminding you of why you have made this life changing decision.

Set a day to quit that will serve as your starting point. This is important because what you are doing is psyching yourself, your mind, and your body for that moment. I set my day for a week from the time I decided to quit. Between now and your quit day smoke as you normally would. Also use this time to stock the house with saltine crackers, peanut butter, and granny smith apples. I'll explain why in a just a moment, but just do that. On the day you quit, have an unopened pack of cigarettes available. Give yourself a personal ceremony of enjoying every taste of your last cigarette and on that unopened pack I want you to write the exact day and time you quit. This will give you another reminder plus it's great in celebrating milestones. Now some will say that having an unopened pack in the house is just inviting failure. I say, if you're going to slip it's going to happen whether you have them or not. Part of the purpose of having that right mindset is knowing that just because they are there does not mean they must be smoked.

Get yourself some Clorets breath mints. I cannot explain it, but the Clorets are the only mints that I have found that give your tongue the sensation that it gets when smoking. Every time you want a cigarette pop a mint. They will make your tongue green temporarily, but that is a small price for a quit smoking aid. I went through about fifteen packs of mints my first week. At only sixty cents a pack it still beat putting out between sixty and one hundred dollars on those gums and patches. And a heck of a lot safer too.

I asked you to pick up saltine crackers, peanut butter, and granny smith apples because they actually help in taking the cravings away and you won't be gaining a lot of weight either. Also stay away from orange juice as it stimulates your body's craving for nicotine. Use coffee, tea, and soda in moderation and drink lots of water. Water will help to clean your body of the toxins associated with smoking. Tomato sauces and tomato based ingredients should be avoided or used in moderation during your first few weeks as well.

Quitting smoking is one of the most important decisions of your life. You may slip up a time or two. I had quit smoking thirty two times before I finally gave them up for good. The point is you accept the fact that you slipped and quit again until you are finally not smoking. Never give up your quest to stop smoking. In the end you will have a healthier, livelier life without cigarettes