You have finally made the decision to quit smoking. No longer are you thinking about smoking, now you are ready to take the plunge and become a non-smoker.
You are tired of having nicotine control your life and are tired of the unhealthy side effects and stigma of smoking. You are ready to find the ultimate and most optimal way to begin the process of kicking the habit.
You will have to do several things in order to actually quit smoking. One thing is to pick the date you want to stop smoking. The sooner you can quit is the best, however, it is best to make sure that you are ready to stop by time the start date comes around. If you are not prepared then you are likely to fail.
Pick a day to quit and stick to it. There is no magical day, or right day, or perfect day to quit smoking except for the day you choose. The day you decide to put the pack down will be the first best day of your new non-smoking life.
On that day you should rid your house of anything smoke related. This is required in order for you to prepare your mind that this is the final time you will ever smoke, therefore you have no need for the 2 packs left in the carton, the ashtray on the table, or all of your lighters. Get rid of them to start the process of quitting smoking.
Once you have picked your date you should also think about a reward system for yourself. You could use the money you saved by not smoking to treat yourself to something. Figure out how much money you are saving by not smoking.
You will probably be amazed to find out how much you are actually spending on this unhealthy addiction. The main reward you will obtain by quitting smoking is better health, but, a new purse or game tickets may be the added incentive you need to reach your goal.
While you are changing your life for the better by quitting smoking you may want to go a step further and begin an exercise regimen. This will also get you healthier and give you a distraction from wanting to smoke. Some smokers gain weight when they stop smoking because they begin to indulge in eating instead of smoking.
Knowing that the risk of weight gain is there before you stop smoking will help you to avoid overeating once you start the process of quitting smoking. Your main goal should be to quit smoking, but, shedding some pounds and getting fit might be nice. However, don't try to overdo it.
Remember, the goal is to quit smoking first and foremost. Losing weight is merely an added bonus. You may want to plan on possibly adding on a couple of pounds during the process of quitting smoking, but after you have officially quit and the cravings are gone, you may find it easier to exercise because your lungs are stronger. You can focus on weight loss after you have freed yourself from smoking.
If you are in poor health overall you may need to talk to your doctor before you begin any stop smoking plan. Your doctor is not going to discourage you from stopping smoking but he may be able to give you some advice to help you quit. Your doctor can monitor your health and general well being while you are in the process of kicking the habit and help to increase your chances of succeeding.
Trying to quit smoking without a plan of action will be one long uphill battle that may be destined for failure. But, implementing some basic strategies such as the ones mentioned above, along with support from loved ones, and the advice and monitoring of your doctor will make the transition from smoker to non-smoker a smoother road to travel.
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