One of the most common excuses smokers use to avoid quitting is the fear of gaining weight. This is a valid fear, because it does seem like many people who quit smoking put on a few pounds (and some put on a lot more than a few!). Why is that? And does it have to happen to everyone who quits smoking?
First, understand that nicotine is a stimulant, and as such it does increase your metabolism a wee bit. Naturally, when you quit smoking and no longer ingest nicotine on a regular basis, your metabolism will slow down slightly. However, when I say "slightly," I really mean SLIGHTLY. Not enough to make you balloon up to the size of a blimp.
Even better, the effect is temporary and there are simple steps you can take to help keep your weight in balance.
- Drink plenty of water.
Smokers are often dehydrated as it is, which makes your body hold tighter to the water it does have. One good way to get your body to release excess water is to drink plenty of water! As contradictory as it may sound, your body will easily let go of retained water when you keep yourself well-hydrated. The general recommendation is 64 ounces per day, and more if you are overweight already.
- Clean up your diet.
The temptation to snack on sweet and salty foods when you quit smoking may be strong, but try to avoid doing so. Instead lean more toward plenty of fruit and vegetables, lean protein and healthy fats. Instead of chips, try snacking on small amounts of nuts and seeds (because they are so packed with protein and fat, you don't need more than an ounce or two at a time - way less than the entire bag of chips you would have gobbled). Rather than candy, try some fresh or dried fruit. Also avoid caffeine, alcohol and sugary soda pops.
- Start an exercise regimen.
Check with your doctor first to be sure you can safely withstand physical activity, and then get moving! You'll probably want to keep it moderate to begin with, like brisk walking or swimming. Don't be surprised if your lung capacity has greatly diminished if you've been smoking for a long time - but it will usually come back the longer you remain a non-smoker and continue to exercise regularly. As you get stronger, gravitate toward more strenuous forms of exercise, like weight training, dancing, or running. The better you feel physically, the less tempted you'll be to abuse your body with junk food or cigarettes.
- Don't replace one addiction with another.
Sometimes when people quit smoking they pick up another bad habit to replace it, like eating pounds of chocolate or gulping down those mega-double-whipped-chocolate-caramel-1000-calorie lattes. Your primary objective in quitting smoking is to look and feel better while adopting more healthful habits. Replace cigarettes with carrot or celery sticks, salads, fresh water, and deep breathing. You'll feel much better than you would by giving in to the temporary buzz lattes and chocolate provide.
- Don't sweat a few pounds.
If you DO see the scale go up a few notches, don't let it get you down! Remember that it's temporary. The more you focus on getting your body healthy and strong, the more quickly those pounds are going to drop back off again. Better yet, don't even step on the scale while you're working through the withdrawal from quitting smoking. Who needs the pressure? Instead, keep affirming that you are doing something wonderful for yourself, and you'll be in much better health in the long run.

Hide

Affirmations can be helpful for a variety of purposes, but they are especially effective in helping ease the discomfort of quitting smoking (or eliminating any bad habit). Why? Because your thoughts usually determine how you feel, and your feelings about something usually trigger corresponding actions.
One of the reasons why smoking is seductive and pleasurable for many people is because they keep telling themselves that they enjoy it! Think about that for a moment. They tell themselves constantly that they love smoking, they need to smoke, they want to smoke. So they smoke.
This same concept can be used in reverse - to get yourself thinking and feeling that you DON'T want to smoke. However, you don't want to insert references to smoking in your affirmations, simply because you already have a belief that smoking is pleasurable. Once that connection has been made in your subconscious mind, any thought of smoking is going to trigger a strong desire to smoke.
Instead, you can use affirmations to emphasize the benefits of not smoking - without mentioning smoking at all.
Here are some examples:
I love being able to breathe freely.
I love taking good care of my body.
I nourish my body with healthy habits.
I deserve a clean, healthy body.
My teeth are white, my skin is glowing and I feel great!
I can change my habits by changing my mind.
I honor and respect myself always.
I am strong enough to overcome any challenge.
I feel so free.
I take one step at a time to where I want to be.
I trust my inner guidance to lead me to a state of perfect well-being.
I believe in my ability to do anything I desire.
How to Use Affirmations
Affirmations work best when they are recited repeatedly and while giving your full focus to them. Not only should you say the words, but you should also do your best to call up the corresponding FEELING associated with the words. For example, if you say, "I feel so strong and empowered" you should actually make an effort to feel that way. This does take practice if you are not used to controlling your emotional state, but it gets easier the more you do it.
Constant repetition many times a day is important also, because you are attempting to override existing beliefs in your subconscious mind. A belief is nothing more than a thought you have thought many, many times before, until eventually it becomes your "truth".
For example, the belief that smoking calms you down. Physiologically, smoking does not have relaxation benefits but many smokers have convinced themselves that it does. Because they believe this, they seem to feel more relaxed after smoking. To override this belief, you need to replace it with an opposing belief - like affirming that you feel calm and relaxed already, so there is no need to smoke in order to relax.
The example affirmations above will help get you started, but feel free to write your own too! Think about the aspects of smoking you enjoy, and come up with a phrase that affirms you already feel that way (again, not mentioning smoking!). Likewise, think about how you feel as a non-smoker and emphasize those positive qualities too.
Affirmations do take time to fully sink in to your subconscious mind, but just like your old beliefs were formed, consistent repetition and reinforcement will help them become permanent.

Hide

Beyond meditation, breathing exercises and emotional balancing, there are more physical activities that can help reduce your discomfort when you quit smoking.
Here are a few more ideas:
- Exercise
Since most people don't smoke while they exercise, getting active is a great way to distract yourself from your desire to smoke.
How to do it: First speak to your doctor to be sure physical activity is safe for you. Once you've gotten the green light, consider the types of exercise that would be most appealing to you. For the first few weeks of being a non-smoker, you may want to avoid very intense exercise unless you are already in great shape, because overdoing it will only make you more miserable. Instead, consider lighter forms of exercise that will get you moving but not tax your body too much, like walking, swimming, golfing, or dancing.
Exercise helps in several ways. First, it helps you burn off feelings of irritability and tension through physical movement, plus induces feelings of peacefulness and well-being when those endorphins start to flow. Plus it helps you expand your lung capacity again, which is likely diminished if you have been smoking for a long time.
- Rest
Quitting smoking is draining to say the least, on physical, emotional and mental levels. One of the best ways to help yourself get through it is to allow plenty of time to rest. Avoid quitting smoking during an extremely hectic or stressful time in your life. If you can, set your quit date for a time when you'll be on vacation, or at least have a lighter schedule than normal.
Don't be surprised if during the first several days of your quit, you feel very tired and have trouble concentrating. Nicotine is a stimulant that your body has become dependent upon and when you stop ingesting it, you'll probably feel like someone has "pulled the plug" and most of your energy has drained away. If this happens, simply allow yourself to rest as much as possible. Treat your fatigue just like you would the flu or a bad cold. Drink plenty of fluids and take it easy until it passes.
- Distraction
Another helpful technique is to keep your mind focused on other things while you're in the early stages of quitting. It's best to choose activities that would make it difficult to smoke while you do them, like spending time in public places that do not allow smoking, or cleaning out and organizing your attic. It may also help if you keep something similar in size or shape to a cigarette in your hands during idle moments, like a pen or straw.
More than any other coping method, however, your own attitude and determination will have a lot to do with your success or failure in becoming a non-smoker. If you want it badly enough, you'll be willing to deal with unpleasant side effects as they come up. Just keep reminding yourself that the symptoms are temporary. In as little as a few weeks, you'll be feeling much stronger physically, mentally and emotionally.

Hide

There's no doubt that quitting smoking can be one of the most daunting challenges you'll ever face, but you may be surprised to know that it doesn't exactly have to be torturous, either. There are plenty of aids that can help you quit smoking with less discomfort, like nicotine replacement products, hypnosis and more.
But one of the most powerful techniques is already in your possession, whether you know it or not! This technique is one that you already use every single day of your life. You use it when you're sick, when you're feeling great, and when you're working through challenges. It can make all the difference between success and failure, no matter what you're doing at the time.
What is this technique? Self-talk.
Don't dismiss it - when you really think about it, self-talk is truly powerful.
Have you ever accidentally talked yourself into being sick? Perhaps you woke up with a slight headache, then spent the morning telling everyone that you didn't feel good and by the end of the day you were not only suffering from a much worse headache but also body aches and other symptoms? On the other hand, perhaps you can remember experiences where you talked yourself into being well too.
Using self-talk to help yourself through the stages of quitting smoking is not only simple, it works! Your thoughts have immense power to shape your perception of everything that happens to you.
What do you think would happen if you quit smoking and then complained mentally about it the whole time? "This sucks. I want to smoke, but I can't. It's not fair that other people can smoke but I can't. I'm so sick of these cravings already, how am I going to make it through a few more weeks like this? I can't do this. Maybe I should wait until I'm less stressed..." On and on it goes - and before you know it, you've talked yourself into smoking again!
On the other hand, you can use this same type of self-talk to HELP yourself through your quit.
Here's how to do it:
When you wake up on your first day as a non-smoker, you're likely to experience some feelings of anxiety. You might have thoughts like, "Oh, that's right, I've quit smoking. Man, I really want to smoke. Maybe I should quit tomorrow instead..." As soon as you become aware that you are thinking thoughts like this, immediately turn it around. Say with confidence, "Today is going to be a GREAT day! I have officially quit smoking and I feel better already. (take a deep breath) It's so good to be able to breathe again, and it's going to get even better as I go along!"
Throughout the day, periodically say things like this to yourself: "I'm doing really GOOD at this! Not smoking is actually easier than I thought it was going to be. I've had a few cravings, but nothing that I can't handle. I can handle anything if I really set my mind to it. I'm so proud of myself."

When you do experience cravings, simply talk yourself through them. "Okay, I'm having a craving. It's just a feeling and it will pass. Having a craving doesn't mean I have to do anything about it. If I just ignore it, it will go away on its own. I'm okay. This is manageable, I can handle it."
These are just examples of some positive self-talk that you can use, but feel free to improvise. You could also be a little more aggressive, like this: "I refuse to give in to your call, nicotine! You will not beat me. I'm stronger than you are, and I'm proving it every time I refuse to smoke."
The important thing is to avoid using negative self-talk because it will simply push you back toward the desire to smoke again. If you catch yourself thinking or speaking negatively, turn it right around and affirm how great you feel, how strong you are, and so on. In no time at all, you'll really start to believe it.
As the old saying goes, "You are what you think."

Hide

Nicotine withdrawal is one of the most difficult challenges smokers face when they quit. Symptoms may include feelings of irritability, dizziness, mild chest pains, fatigue and difficulty concentrating; as well as nausea and abdominal upset, headaches, insomnia, anxiety, and more.
Some of these symptoms are due to the emotional and psychological separation from smoking, but more often than not the body's dependence on nicotine sets the newly reformed smoker up for serious discomfort that can last for weeks.
The good news is that there are several ways to minimize withdrawal symptoms so they become more bearable.
This two-part article is going to share many helpful tips for making your quit easier.
- Deep breathing
Smokers tend to breathe very shallowly, so expanding your lungs each day can help you feel better and reduce stress and anxiety - not to mention the benefits of fully oxygenating your body.
How to do it: Whenever you feel a craving coming on (or you're ready to scream because of the emotional tension), simply close your eyes for a few moments and begin inhaling slowly through your nose. Allow your abdomen to expand first, then as your lungs fill, your chest will expand also. When your lungs are full, pause for a second or two, then exhale slowly through your mouth. Repeat a few times slowly so you don't hyperventilate.
- Meditation
Meditation is most often considered to be a spiritual pursuit, but it has amazing benefits for anyone - especially people who are dealing with the stress of quitting smoking!
How to do it: Meditating can be as simple as closing your eyes and quieting your thoughts for a few minutes a day. Sit or lie in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and consciously release all stressful thoughts from your mind. Focus on the darkness behind your eyelids, or call up a mental scene of something calming, like the last time you were at the beach or a fun camping trip with your family.
Try to hold your attention steady for as long as possible. When random thoughts try to intrude into your mind, gently push them aside and take control of your focus again. Meditation does take practice to master, but you'll probably find that the benefits far outweigh the effort you have to put into it.
- Purging angry or tense feelings
If you used to use smoking as a way to avoid dealing with uncomfortable feelings like anger or stress, you may suddenly find yourself feeling overwhelmed when you try to quit smoking. Suddenly you've got all these feelings coming up - and no idea how to handle them! One simple method is to begin working through your feelings as they arise. This may not always be easy to do (especially if you are used to avoiding them), but over time it will prove to be a much more effective coping technique than smoking.
How to do it: There are many ways to purge your feelings, including writing them down in a journal, blogging about them online (you may want to make it a private blog or be sure your name isn't on it!), or even shouting them aloud into a pillow. There really is no magic system with this method; you simply get into the habit of expressing your emotions in a safe and productive way. You'll probably be surprised to find that expressing your emotions immediately makes you feel better - no need to cover them up with smoking anymore!
There are also more active things you can do to help minimize your nicotine withdrawal symptoms; read Part II of this article for more helpful tips.

Hide

You may have heard that smoking is one of the most difficult addictions to overcome, and the majority of people who have successfully done it would probably agree. In fact, it has been said that quitting smoking is even more difficult than overcoming addictions to illegal drugs like heroin and cocaine. Why is that?
One of the reasons may be that smoking is for the most part a socially acceptable habit (though this is acceptance level is declining steadily), but there are also other reasons why smoking is such a powerfully addictive habit.
1) Physical addiction.
Nicotine is a powerful drug that acts directly upon receptors in your brain. These receptors are stimulated by nicotine, resulting in several different physiological responses such as elevated heart rate, blood pressure and respiration, and increased mental alertness, among others. The longer you ingest nicotine, the more of these receptors you develop. Over time, these receptors become less sensitive to nicotine and begin to require increased doses to achieve the same level of stimulation. When you try to stop smoking, feelings of intense discomfort (known as withdrawal) will occur.
People have described nicotine withdrawal symptoms as "demons" or "torture" because they are so strong. Most people report feelings of intense restlessness, irritability, fatigue, dizziness, and even flu-like symptoms or chest pain.
Physical withdrawal symptoms can often be eased with the use of nicotine replacement products like gum, patches and lozenges, but many people feel that these products only delay the inevitable by keeping the ex-smoker hooked on nicotine. Still other people claim that using nicotine replacement products helped them conquer one aspect of quitting at a time - for example, the psychological or emotional repercussions, before tackling the physical addiction.
2) Emotional addiction.
The emotional connection to smoking can easily be as strong as physical dependence upon nicotine. There are a variety of reasons why people smoke, but one of the most common reasons that develops over time is an emotional "crutch" or "cover".
Many smokers report using smoking as a coping mechanism for feelings like anger, frustration, boredom, stress and sadness that they don't know how to deal with otherwise. Rather than processing their emotions, they reach for a cigarette (or cigar, pipe, etc.) and distract themselves from it.
Of course, this doesn't really help them deal with unpleasant feelings, but they believe it does. When the smoker tries to quit smoking, they suddenly find themselves overwhelmed with difficult emotions and no way to handle them.

One of the most effective ways to handle these errant emotions is to find alternative ways to process them when they come up. Journaling, venting to a friend, exercise, meditation and affirmations are often helpful. The important thing is not to bottle up your emotions and avoid them, because they just keep coming back until they are fully processed and released.
3) Psychological addiction.
Still another powerful connection to smoking results from the physical act itself: psychological dependence. Since most smokers smoke many times in a day for years at a time, they get very comfortable with the act of smoking, always having a cigarette, cigar or pipe in their hand and mouth. Even if a person is successful in reducing physical cravings and dealing with their emotions, they still may struggle with a sense of loss or aimlessness. The activity that used to occupy so much of their time and attention every day is now gone and they don't quite know what to do with themselves.
One good way to conquer this type of dependence is to change your smoking routine in the weeks leading up to your quit date. For example, if you tend to smoke while driving, talking on the phone or watching television, gradually reduce your smoking habit during those activities. Smoke in locations where you normally wouldn't, like standing outside. When you finally do quit for good, you'll have an easier time engaging in your normal activities without missing the act of smoking so much.

Hide

There are endless good reasons to quit smoking, including reducing your risk of cancer, heart disease and early death. Despite these well-known risk factors, however, many smokers find themselves needing a more personal reason to want to kick the habit; possibly because the threat of "maybe" contracting a deadly disease just doesn't seem likely (the old, "it will never happen to me" syndrome).
This article is going to share some easy steps to help you come up with your own powerful, compelling reason(s) to quit smoking once and for all.
1) First, take a few moments to jot down on a sheet of paper the negative aspects of how smoking makes you feel. You can include actual physical problems like shortness of breath and fatigue; as well as feelings like embarrassment that your clothing and hair may stink; feeling like an outcast stepping outside to smoke while everyone else stays inside socializing and having a good time; or even your fears, like dying young and leaving your children before your time.
Write down as many reasons as you can, and try to make them reasons that really matter to YOU - not just what other people have said to you or you've heard others say before.
2) When you're done with your list, look it over carefully. Read each item on the list, and really think about how it feels to experience that situation in your daily life. Now choose the top three reasons that are most repulsive to you and circle them.
Take another sheet of paper and write a longer description of each of those three items. For example, if one of your top reasons was "to not die young and abandon my children", write a paragraph or two about why that is important to you. How would it affect your children if you died before your time? How will your smoking impact them, now and in the future? Will your smoking addiction encourage them to smoke later in life? Continue writing until you feel you have identified your core reason for wanting to quit smoking. This may seem like a morbid exercise, but it can be incredibly powerful. Being a smoker for a long time desensitizes you to the true long-term effects of smoking. This exercise jars you out of the haze of denial.
Now go through this same process for the other two important reasons on your list.
3) When you've got your three descriptions written, read them over again. Now take a final sheet of paper and write a description of the opposite outcome. When you do quit smoking, what will happen instead of those other experiences? For example, you might write that you will be around to love your children and grandchildren for many years to come, your kids will be really proud of you for quitting, they'll be blessed with a healthy, strong parent that has the energy and stamina to play with them, and so on.
Do this for all three reasons you described earlier.
Carry these lists with you and read them slowly each day, really paying attention to how they make you feel. With enough repetition, you will actually begin training your brain to view smoking as an unpleasant, dangerous activity - which will make quitting easier when you decide it's time.
While this may not remove the discomfort that comes along with nicotine withdrawal, it will certainly help you to stop seeing smoking as a harmless activity and instead see it for what it is: a true threat to your health, happiness and longevity.
If that isn't enough reason to quit, what is?

Hide