GIVING UP SMOKING » Ways to Quit Smoking

How to Quit Smoking Naturally

StopSmokingCoach — Tue, 11 May 2010 17:46:21 +0000

With so many choices of quit smoking aid products out there, smokers have many ways to tackle their addiction effectively. But the use of these products can lead to a new addiction, a dependency to the quit smoking aids themselves if they happen to fall in the nicotine replacement therapy category. Other types of quit smoking aids also come with possible side effects and although the risks may be small, there is no better way to rid of your nicotine addiction than to quit smoking naturally.

The first thing you have to understand is that preparation is a must if you want to quit smoking successfully. The effects of smoking cessation may vary on the individual, but the word “easy” isn’t something that is commonly associated with quitting smoking. Do not be discouraged though, anyone can quit smoking with the right preparation.

Before you burn through that last cigarette, you are going to write down the reasons why you must quit smoking. In the coming days, your patience and your fortitude will be tested to their limit and you are going to need all the motivations that can help you pull through. Health seems like an obvious reason to quit smoking, family can be a wonderful motivator and especially if you have children, and your love life can be taxed heavily as well if your partner is not a smoker. Write down the reasons why you must quit smoking and remind yourself of them every time you are tempted to light one up.

There’s also the matter of getting rid of all your smoking accessories such as lighters, matches, ashtrays, and anything in particular that might make you want to smoke. Throw away all your emergency cigarettes, the ones you safe keep in case you are caught without cigarettes at late nights and don’t expect to fall on them when the going gets tough. You can’t possibly quit smoking successfully if you are also preparing for the failure. Get rid of everything and anything that has to do with smoking cigarettes, period.

The next step is optional, but it isn’t a bad idea to experience the effects of smoking cessation for few hours before you jump in to the real thing. Pick a day and try to go without smoking a single cigarette for few hours or maybe even a day if you are not a heavy smoker to begin with. The first time you force it upon you, it can be a bit of a shocker and often time people give up quitting on that initial shock. Knowing how it feels can actually prepare you for the real thing, but this is more in the line of shaping your mindset, so do this only if you think it may help you.

The final advice is for the actual act of stopping smoking for good. On the day you choose to quit smoking, make sure you start the day clean without a single puff of smoke. If you jump start the day with a fresh dose of nicotine in your system, you will find that it’s very difficult to initiate the actual quitting. Have your last cigarette the night before and you will give yourself a much better chance to quit smoking for good.

The few days after quitting smoking will truly test you, but as the days become weeks the cravings will fast become very tolerable. Soon after you’ll start to feel better, breathe easier, and smell much nicer too. In the end, it will be all worth it because the successful quitting of cigarettes will have positive effects in your life in more ways than you can imagine now. Quit smoking naturally today, it’s safe, it’s clean, it’s free, and most of all, anyone can do it with the right preparation and motivation.

If you feel that you need additional help, but you still want to quit smoking naturally, click here for a preview of a quit smoking system that can help you rid of nicotine addiction. The information you find on this site (givingup-smoking.com) are all free of course, but this course I am recommending is not. It’s a system that has been around for many years and the longevity of the system is what I like the most. Weak systems come and go fast, but the great ones stand the test of time. It’s got a 60 day money back guarantee, so you can always return it if it doesn’t work out for you.

Give Up Smoking with Hypnotherapy

StopSmokingCoach — Sat, 08 May 2010 23:36:20 +0000

Giving up smoking with hypnotherapy is not something I had much fate in the past, but my recent experience of actually seeing it work on a friend changed my mind about the procedure. This is not to say that it will work on everyone, but it is a useful aid for those who are either struggling to quit or those who have failed to quit multiple times. Let me explain how this works.

There are many different give up smoking hypnotherapy programs out there and so they all vary a bit in their approach. But the main goal of these hypnotherapy programs is to introduce, instill, and reinforce the idea that you want quit smoking. Our subconscious mind is capable of some amazing things and it can influence us in more ways than you can ever imagine.

Many former smokers struggle to fight their cravings even several years after they had their last cigarette. This is no longer a physical addiction that they are fighting. Your body requires only about a month to purge enough nicotine out of your system, so that you will no longer be physically addicted. Someone like this can definitely make a great use of give up smoking hypnotherapy because it will help them stop think about cigarettes.

You may have the will to quit smoking and I know you can probably quit without any outside help. You may be as strong willed to fight your craving for the rest of your life. But what if you don’t have fight the craving? What if you can quit smoking and never have to think about another cigarette? Having the freedom to drink a beer or hold a conversation without reminiscing of a deep inhalation of smoke. Now that’s truly being free from cigarettes and that’s when you finally quit for good.

If you want to give up smoking using a hypnotherapy program, click here and download your copy right away. It’s not free, but good information rarely is. However, with its 60 day money back guarantee, you don’t have to risk a dime to try out the product. Good luck and go smoke free today.

5 Effective Giving Up Smoking Tips

StopSmokingCoach — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:19:23 +0000

Giving up smoking will surely test you as an individual and it’s important that you don’t jump in unprepared. Knowing what to do and avoiding the pitfalls many cigarette quitting hopefuls fall in, can mean the difference between success and failure. Here are some helpful tips that could help you give up smoking for good this time.

1. Consider seeing a doctor – Your doctor can help you determine whether you’ll need prescription drug to help you cope with the withdrawal symptoms. It really depends on your smoking habit, but generally withdrawal symptoms are intense and the use of quit smoking product or prescription drug may give you the best chance to stop smoking for good.

2. Throw away all the cigarette related products – If you have a box of cigarette available for “just in case”, then trust me you are just setting yourself up to fail. Get rid of the ashtrays, lighters, matches, and anything else that may remind you of cigarettes. If you want to finish that last box that you have saved up, then just finish it and leave no cigarettes that you can fall back to.

3. Set a date to quit and stick to it – If you don’t set a quit day and push yourself to quit smoking, you will continually keep pushing it for the next day and the next week until you no longer even try. This is a fight between your will to stop smoking and your addiction pushing you to take another puff. Push yourself for that ultimate goal to give up smoking for good.

4. Announce it to the world – Tell all your friends and your family that you are quitting cigarettes. Make it difficult for you to fail by letting it be known to everyone you know that you will successfully quit. This will surely give you an extra incentive to kick the habit in one shot. Don’t become that guy that talks the talk, but never walks the walk.

5. Something to chew on – Keep your mouth busy with anything but cigarettes. You will get urges to smoke or to just stick something in your mouth, help relieve these urges by chewing on carrots, chewing gums, straws, or even toothpicks will do. Avoid chewing anything for an extended period of time though, it could cause gum disease or damage your teeth.

Follow the tips above to help you in giving up smoking and don’t give up even if you fail on your first try. What’s important is your willingness to quit and that will ultimately lead to a successful quit smoking experience.

E-Cigarettes – Are E-Cigarettes safer than smoking?

StopSmokingCoach — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:35:50 +0000

E-Cigarette or “Electronic Cigarette” is an alternative nicotine delivery system to smoked tobacco products such as, cigars, pipes, and of course cigarettes. It looks and feels just like a cigarette but it’s actually a battery-powered device. E-Cigarettes utilize atomizers to vaporize nicotine and propylene glycol (a substance commonly found in fog machines) which deliver nicotine and flavoring to the user without the deadly carcinogens found in cigarette smoke.

Lately, there have been floods of news on E-Cigarettes and the trend doesn’t seem like slowing down anytime soon. Many E-Cigarette users have either cut down on their daily smoking or have completely made the shift to E-Cigarettes. So are E-Cigarettes safer than smoking? The attached video will help determine that on your own, but the general consensus among E-Cigarette users is that “it’s a no-brainer”. Simply put, nicotine on its own is not a harmful substance. What make cigarettes deadly are the additives and the byproduct of the smoke. You remove the smoke and the deadly additives out of cigarettes, and you quite literally get E-Cigarettes.

Lastly, the best alternative to cigarette is to quit smoking for good. But if you are one the people unable to quit but not for lack of trying, then perhaps is time to try something different. As always, good luck.

Quit Smoking with Nicotine Patch

StopSmokingCoach — Wed, 27 May 2009 22:44:02 +0000

Nicotine patch is another form of Nicotine Replacement Therapy. It is a transdermal patch, which is basically a patch that adheres to the skin to deliver nicotine through the skin and into the bloodstream.

If this is your first try at quitting smoking, I would generally suggest you try quitting cold turkey. Nicotine patches and other stop smoking products I feel comfortable recommending to people who’ve tried and failed in their previous attempt or attempts in quitting smoking. The only exceptions on first time quitters would be those who are long-term smokers, heavy smokers, or people who are self-aware that they are not particularly patient people.

Nicotine patches much like nicotine gums deliver controlled amount of nicotine to your system to help you deal with the withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation. The release of nicotine in a less intense and slower pace than cigarette allows the user to gradually wean nicotine dependency until the patches are completely inessential. Most patches are worn up to 24 hours, making everyday use very convenient.

It comes in three strengths, the 21mg, the 14mg, and the 7mg. The 21mg is recommended for those who smoke more than 10 cigarettes per day and the 14mg is recommended for those who smoke fewer than 10 cigarettes per day. The 7mg is the dosage that will finish the quit smoking program. The quit smoking program should last 8-10 weeks and you may lower the dosage depending on the strength you choose.

Generally the financial cost of nicotine patches should compare favorably to the cost of most cigarettes. It could be a different story for the light smokers, but you have to understand once you quit smoking you no longer need to purchase additional nicotine patches. The alternative is to keep smoking your life away.

There are few things you should know before using nicotine patches. On some occasions users may experience irregular heartbeats or palpitations, if so discontinue the use. Speak to a doctor if you experience skin redness for more than four days or if your skin swells. Nausea, vomiting, dizziness and weakness may also show as side effects. With that said, the side effects of nicotine patches are mild unlike Chantix which is reported to cause suicidal thoughts. I’m going off topic here a little, but I would never recommend Chantix to anyone. Nicotine patches are studied as a way of treating schizophrenia and it’s also found to be efficient in reducing post-surgical pain. They are used in other good ways and not just for quitting smoking.

Some 3 percent of nicotine patch users become dependent on the patch. By stopping smoking you no longer subject yourself to cigarette smokes that contain carcinogens known to cause cancer. But the effects on the long term use nicotine patches aren’t clear. It is generally recommended to end the therapy in 4 to 6 months at the least.

As with any stop smoking advice we at Giving Up Smoking provide for our readers, we cannot stress enough of the fact that you are the key to giving up smoking. All the stop smoking aid products are meant to help you through your cigarette free journey. They are useless unless you are onboard with the program. With that said, use all the tools available to your advantage and kick the habit for good. All our staffs at www.givingup-smoking.com wish you the best of luck. Continue with “How To Stay Thin After Quitting Cigarettes”.

How to Quit Smoking

Derek Kim — Tue, 26 May 2009 23:18:50 +0000

Although every former smoker has their own unique story on how they quit smoking, there are some tried and true how to quit smoking methods that have worked well over the years. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, you can always try out different methods and work your way onto telling your own how to quit smoking story.

*Try smoking fewer cigarettes than usual. For many smokers, holding out few hours without smoking can prove very difficult. Familiarize yourself with the sensation and understand how difficult it can be. I know what you are saying, “Why the practice run for the suffering”. Some smokers get very panicky when they first experience a serious withdrawal symptom. It’s much like dipping your toe in the pool before jumping in. You do not want to be discouraged to a point where you can’t even imagine yourself ever quitting smoking.

*Skip the entire morning smoking session. Experience what happens when you don’t jump start your day with your nicotine fix. This is different from just holding out few hours without smoking. You’ll try to spend an entire morning without smoking a single cigarette. With enough patience on your part, by noon when you are about to finally light one up, you will notice a few things. First it’s the ups and downs of the craving. The withdrawal symptom is not constant and there will be long periods, a whole chunk of minutes that go by when you don’t really feel much craving. This was true for many former smokers I’ve interviewed and it was true for me as well. You have to try this in the morning because otherwise it’s no different from the method above. I encourage you to try this because many former smokers will attest to the fact that on your quit day, you have to make sure you start the day clean without a smoke. By the way, when you give up smoking for good, you will inevitably experience these mornings.

*For some, postponing smoking half an hour to an hour every time craving hits works wonders. Again it’s a similar method to the two above but it’s very different in its approach. This method is used to strategically cut down on the number of cigarettes you smoke in a day but in a very gradual manner. Reducing the number of cigarettes smoked per day will undoubtedly be helpful in quitting smoking. The general rule of thumb is the less you smoke per day, the less severe withdrawal symptoms you will have. Remember, if you know you are not a particularly patient person. You do not want to try this method.

*Stop smoking aid products do work, you just have to work with them. There isn’t a stop smoking product that’s suitable for every smoker in the world. While a particular product may work better for Joe no.1, Joe no.2 might just do better with a different product. The recurring cost of using stop smoking products should be less than the cost of maintaining most smokers’ addiction. That’s not even counting the fact that once you quit smoking you no longer need to buy additional stop smoking products, but you will keep smoking as long as you are still an addict. You have to understand that stop smoking products are meant to aid you in combating nicotine addiction. They are not automatic fix it all products and they don’t claim to be it. It’s useless unless used as intended. So you might be wondering, “Since I do all the work, why would I even bother with these products”. The answer to that it’s simple. You can run miles without sneakers, but that doesn’t mean you do it. You can run faster and safer if you just put on a sneaker, so we choose to run with our sneakers on. Stop smoking aids can make smoking cessation experience anywhere from easy to tolerable for many smokers. As withdrawal symptoms can last days to even weeks, you can make the quality of your life substantially better than going cold turkey.

*Convince a buddy to quit smoking with you, anyone in your life who smoke can participate. Having a quit partner can trigger either camaraderie or competitiveness and either one can be beneficial in quitting smoking. If you don’t know anyone who smokes, make a wager with a friend on that you can quit. Tell everyone you know you are quitting, their support and the responsibility that comes with your announcement will help you keep your word and stay cigarette free.

*Don’t set a quit day, rather quit on the day that cigarette taste particularly nasty. Every smoker undoubtedly has these days when cigarette taste awful. Of course following this advice alone most likely won’t make you quit, but you could combine different strategies together. For example, you start by cutting down on the cigarettes you smoke. Tell everyone you know you are quitting and go grab a nicotine gum at your local pharmacy. Wait until “the day” comes, it should be easy enough. As former smoker I know smokers live through nasty cigarette tasting days at least a couple of times a month. Just use it as another arsenal to combat your nicotine dependency, it’s as simple as that.

*Stop buying cigarettes by the carton or keep extra packs at home. Force yourself to buy a new pack every time you run out of cigarettes making smoking very inconvenient for yourself. Smokers tend to smoke more than usual when they know they have stocked extra cigarettes through the roof.

*Ask your smoker friends to avoid smoking around you. If your friends object to the idea, try to stay away from them for about a month. It is imperative that you do not linger near cigarette smokes because for most people quitting smoking is hard enough as is.

*Avoid drinking at all cost. Many smokers can’t resist to light one up with a cold one. You do not need to quit drinking forever, but try to avoid alcoholic beverages for two weeks. If you insist on drinking wine, beer, or whatever you are into, don’t drink them at bars and drink less than you normally would.

*Throw away all your smoking gears. From lighters to ashtrays, also those matches you have in stock in case your lighter decides to give. Get rid of everything that has anything to do with aiding your smoking habit.

I will make periodic addendum to the list on how to quit smoking. Please check back for updated and new information. Continue with “Your First Step In Giving Up Smoking” and “Run to help quit smoking”.

Quit Smoking With Nicotine Gum

StopSmokingCoach — Sun, 24 May 2009 00:12:51 +0000

The Nicotine Gum is a type of chewing gum that works in the form of Nicotine Replacement Therapy. Nicotine gum provides nicotine to your system at a controlled and slower pace than cigarettes.

Nicotine gums are conveniently available at pharmacies over the counter and they are not sold to people underage.

Nicotine gums use the bloodstream as a delivery system, making access via the tissue in the mouth. Nicotine gums are safe because while they provide nicotine to fight the craving, it does it without the dangerous carcinogens found in cigarette smokes.

The less intense pace of nicotine distribution allows for a gradual withdrawal from nicotine dependency. Eventually you’ll need fewer and fewer pieces of nicotine gum until you no longer need it. Nicotine gum also gives the user the control to use it whenever the intense craving kicks in.

You can choose from two strengths of nicotine gums, the 4mg and the 2mg. The 4mg is intended for the use of heavier smokers and the 2mg for the lighter smokers. Instruction may vary by brand, please seek professional help for further instruction.

Side effects include hiccups and irritation of throat muscles by accidental swallowing of large amounts of nicotine. Prolonged used of nicotine gum was suspected of causing gum disease but recent studies found no connection between the use of nicotine gum and oral health. Always be sure to read the instruction carefully and seek professional help for additional information.

The taste of these gums are not particularly refreshing. You are chewing a nicotine gum after all. But you’ll be glad to hear that many brands offer different flavors making it a more pleasant experience.

You should stop smoking completely before you start using nicotine gums. Generally you can use 1 gum per hour, some brands may allow an extra gum when intense craving kicks in. It’s normal to feel slight tingling feeling in the mouth, just stop chewing when you feel it or when you notice a peppery taste. Park the nicotine gum until the peppery taste or tingling is almost gone and chew again. The gum should last you up to half an hour. For best result, please complete the program as intended by the manufacture of your choice. You will not stop smoking with nicotine gums alone, you have to do your part as well. But it is a very powerful tool to fight off nicotine craving in an effective manner to help you through the withdrawal symptoms. Continue with “Quit Smoking With Nicotine Patch”.

Continue with Quit Smoking with Nicotine Patch.

Quit Smoking Methods Quick List

StopSmokingCoach — Sat, 23 May 2009 18:18:29 +0000

Here are some of the popular Quit Smoking Methods;

*Cold Turkey

*Nicotine replacement therapy (e.g. Pills, Nicotine Gum, Nicotine Patch, Nicotine Inhaler, Nasal Spray)

*Non-Nicotine Medication (Helps reduce craving but does not contain nicotine, Zyban, Chantix)

*Stop smoking injections (e.g. Blocks nicotine receptors in your brain)

*Stop smoking hypnosis (Subconsciously build negativity towards smoking)

*Stop smoking laser (intended to take care of the physical aspects of the addiction)

*Stop smoking acupuncture (intended to reduce craving and withdrawal symptoms)

*Stop smoking books, CDs, MP3s (Self hypnosis, Encouragement)

Quitting smoking Cold Turkey

StopSmokingCoach — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:05:21 +0000

Can I quit cold Turkey?
The answer to it can only be a “Yes” or a “No”. It’s quite obvious that you’ll hear the “Yes” from former smokers who’ve had success quitting smoking cold turkey and you’ll hear the “no” from the ones that did not. The only way to find out what that answer is for you is by giving it a try yourself.

Here’s the great news if decide to quit cold turkey. It doesn’t cost you anything and you can start it any day. In the event that you fail, you still come out gaining something. Place emphasis on experiencing smoking cessation because it can be far more stressful if you are unfamiliar with how it affects your body and mind. Like everything else, reading about it won’t give you the complete picture. Experience it first hand and the information is literally inside you.

Many former smokers will attest to that quitting smoking cold turkey is the easiest way to quit smoking. The moment you administer less nicotine than your dependency requires, you will start feeling the withdrawal symptoms.
Which is why those who quit cold turkey don’t believe in cutting down on your daily cigarette requirement. Quitting cold turkey will guarantee you will rid of nicotine out of your system faster than any other means. Cutting down on cigarette will only lengthen the period you may experience withdrawal symptoms.

Keep in mind the opinions of others are only for reference. What worked for them, may not work for you. The smoking cessation experience is as individual as any. But many other means of smoking cessation are often associated with high costs and other pre-requisite. If you have decided you want to quit smoking, there’s no better way than to start by quitting smoking Cold Turkey. Continue with “How To Quit Smoking”.