How to Practice Quitting Smoking

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By Inkling
User-Submitted Article

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(8 Ratings)

Say goodbye to perfectionist thinking and say hello to stopping smoking in your own way, in your own time and according to your own personality.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Know Thyself
Set a Goal

Step 1

Any effort made towards not smoking is worthwhile. One of the easiest to try in the beginning would be making a game out of seeing how long you can go before lighting up.
Step 2

Once the urge hits, note the time and choose a time limit such as 5 or 10 minutes to wait. Much like trying to lose weight, you wait it out as long as you can.
Step 3

Sometimes the urge to smoke will dissipate enough that you choose not to smoke a cigarette. At the very least and by no means least important is the fact that you've learned how to exert control over the smoking instead of it controlling you.
Step 4

Practicing this step will help you realize that it is possible to eventually stop smoking.
If you decide to quit smoking cold turkey, there are other things you can do to help ensure success.
Step 5

Over the counter stop smoking products are available at all drug stores and most department/grocery stores. Only use according to package directions unless you have your doctor's okay to combine treatments or to use them in an alternative fashion.
Step 6

When I quit smoking 9 years ago, I used nicotine gum and I asked my doctor if it would be safe to use it longer than the package directions suggest and he said it would be better than smoking and so gave his okay.
Step 7

I used the nicotine gum for two years. I never smoked another cigarette and I used regular gum when it was time to quit using the nicotine gum.
Step 8

Using the nicotine gum also helped me not gain weight when I first quit. The gum gave me something to do besides smoke or eat. I actually lost 4 pounds in the beginning. An unexpected though nice benefit!

Comments

joanhaines said

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on 12/7/2008 I give a ton of credit to anyone who has quit smoking. Get healthy. Go for it!

RomiH said

on 10/23/2008 absolutely! one step at a time is a great way to get comfortable with the changes. five stars

Inkling said

on 7/11/2008 Thanks for stopping by! And for the congrats! I never could imagine being quit for nine almost ten years but time does pass and it does get easier!