Tips to Help You Quit Smoking

It can be easy to lose sight of the benefits of quitting when a strong craving for a cigarette hits. When your body is asking for a cigarette, your mind may start to play tricks on you! Suddenly, it can be hard to think clearly—all of your good reasons for wanting to quit go up in smoke, and they are replaced by thoughts giving you permission to pick up that cigarette. There is no good reason to smoke. Make a list of all the reasons you want to quit smoking.  Keep this list with you, preferably where you used to carry your cigarettes.  When you find yourself reaching for a cigarette, take out your list and read it. 

If you have tried to quit smoking and failed before, take comfort in the fact that most smokers fail several times before quitting successfully. Your past failures are not a lesson that you are unable to quit. Instead, view them as part of the normal journey toward becoming a nonsmoker. Eighty percent of smokers who quit do so without being in any program – and studies show that 95% of these self-reliant quitters fail, and go right back to smoking within 12 months. It's the same rate of recidivism as with heroin. So you may wish to consider getting some help this time around! 

If joining a small group of other quitters appeals to you, then try a Nicotine Anonymous meeting. It's likely there's one near you where you live. It's a 12-step program based on AA; they're nonprofit and meetings are free. You can find a local meeting near you 

Do your very best to stay away from alcohol, sugar and coffee the first week or longer, as these tend to stimulate the desire for a cigarette. Avoid fatty foods, as your metabolism will slow down a bit without the nicotine, and you may gain weight even if you eat the same amount as before quitting. So discipline about diet is extra important now. No one ever said acquiring new habits would be easy! 

Nibble on low calorie foods like celery, apples and carrots. Chew gum or suck on cinnamon sticks. Stretch out your meals; eat slowly and wait a bit between bites. After dinner, instead of a cigarette, treat yourself to a cup of mint tea or a peppermint candy.

Concentrate on all the money you can save by quitting smoking. Use this handy  smoking calculator to see how much you can save, then treat yourself with something special from your savings, Save for a year and you may be able to take that awesome vacation you have always dreamed about.

Do things and go places where smoking is not allowed. Keep this up until you're sure that you can stay smoke-free.

Stay away from things that you connect with smoking. If you always smoke while driving, try something new: Listen to a new radio station or your favorite music. Take a different route. Or take the train or bus for a while, if you can. 

In one study, about 25% of quitters found that an oral substitute was invaluable. Another 25% didn't like the idea at all -- they wanted a clean break with cigarettes. The rest weren't certain.  The nicotine inhaler (by prescription) is one way to go: it's a shortened plastic cigarette, with a replaceable nicotine capsule inside.

Go to a gym, sit in the steam, exercise. Change your normal routine – take time to walk or even jog around the block or in a local park.

Ask for support from coworkers, friends and family members. Ask for their tolerance. Let them know you're quitting, and that you might be edgy or grumpy for a few days. If you don't ask for support, you certainly won't get any. If you do, you'll be surprised how much it can help. Take a chance -- try it and see!