How to stop smoking

I once was a heavy smoker for many, many years ever since I was a teenager. I quit smoking successfully in the year 2000 at age 35. I'm going to share with you how I finally kicked this addiction after more than 20 years of smoking. First of all, I had a love hate relationship with smoking cigarettes. And believe me it's very hard to stop an addiction especially when you love parts of it. I remember how I loved smoking that first cigarette first thing in the morning. And oh how I loved a cigarette right after eating a filling meal. But I hated how tired it made me feel afterwards. Sometimes I'd have to lay down after smoking. And I hated the smell on my clothing and in my hair. I hated having to always keep up with them and having to make sure I had enough for in the morning. Not to mention their cost. They were so expensive. But I was so addicted, that even If I was broke and couldn't afford a loaf of bread, I would find some way to get my hands on some cigarettes.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• 4mg nicotine gum
• Drinking Straws cut in half
• Patience

1. First you have to make the decision to quit smoking for good. You've probably tried many times in the past. I know it's a scary thought. Your so used to smoking it's like losing a good friend. But smoking is not your friend. It's bad for you and can cause serious illness to you and the people around you. True good friends wouldn't do harm to you like smoking does. So don't give it that much credit.
2. Buy yourself some 4mg Nicotine gum and drinking straws that you cut in half. I tried lots of different ways to stop smoking and nothing worked like the gum did. I didn't like it at first, it tasted terrible and it hurt my jaw to chew. Back then it wasn't flavored and it was real hard. Now you have several different flavors and I've heard that it's softer. I followed the directions at first and then adjusted the amount of gum I chewed and how often to fit my needs. I used the cut straws to keep in my mouth and to handle with my fingers like a cigarette. They helped me a lot.
3. Remind yourself to relax and breath. One thing that helps along with the gum is relaxation and breathing techniques. Keep your limbs relaxed. Take a deep breath in through your nose and blow out your mouth. This will give you the same sensation as smoking.
   For a short time you may want to avoid things that made you want to smoke in the past, like drinking alcohol, talking on the phone, going to night clubs, Eating a large filling meal, etc.
   Here's how I quit chewing the gum....I loved the gum after a while. But had to quit it too. So when I fealt that I had quit smoking completely, I graduated from 4mg to 2mg to chewing 1mg nicotine gum by buying the 2mg gum and cutting it in half. Then after a while of chewing 1mg Nicotine gum I quit by chewing just regular gum and then eventually to nothing. Voila! I am now a successful non smoker!!! Good luck and remember you can be one too.

Tips & Warnings

• Get rid of your ashtrays.
• Avoid things that made you want to smoke.
• Give yourself pep talks.
• Remember this is work in progress. It's going to be difficult. You'll have to work at it.
• Pamper yourself. Relax.
• Remember to breath in through your nose and blow out through you mouth like your blowing out smoke. It gives you the same sensation as smoking.
• After chewing the 4mg gum for a period of time. You can cut the 4mg gum pieces in half to create 2mg pieces. They'll last longer than buying the 2mg package.
• Take your time and relax. You'll be so surprised at how wonderful it is when you've quit smoking. You get your sense of taste and smell back. And you'll have so much more energy once you quit.
• Remember it's not impossible to become a non-smoker. YOU CAN DO IT!