Wisdom and Curiosity

Congratulation, you made two most important steps: You decided to stop smoking, and you are looking for help. This means you already know that smoking causes all kinds of health problems, but did you know that smoking also makes you ugly?

	Smoking diminishes your sense of taste
	It causes hair loss and deep wrinkles
	Nicotine kills estrogen, which affects your sexual performance (even in men).

As any other addiction, smoking is difficult to overcome, even more so because it is a socially accepted addiction. It takes work and commitment to overcome it. The most important step to succeed is conviction. Once you decide to do it, everything else is easier, and it is just a question of finding a way that is right for you. Most people smoke 30 % from dependency on nicotine and 70 % from habit. You may be surprised to learn that fighting your habit may be more difficult than fighting your dependency. This is the reason you must change the way you live in order to succeed.

Change your daily routine.

	Think of your day and number of times you light a cigarette. First, morning coffee, second, after breakfast. Third, small break at work, and so on. You have to change your schedule to avoid these situations. No coffee in the morning, instead have an orange juice. After your meal, immediately get up and do something engaging. Do not go to places most people smoke, take a break at work with people that don’t smoke, or just take a brisk walk. Quick and often walks will help because they can be done at any time or place. Even walking from one end of the office, school or home to the other and heaving a glass of water will work.
	Don’t allow yourself to be bored; this is your biggest enemy.
	Get your hands busy at all times.
	Take a lot of showers. It will clear your head as well as clean you body.

Change your diet.

There are foods that make you want to smoke, and there are foods that diminish this need.

	All heavy foods with a lot of salt and spices will make you want to smoke. Stay away from all sweets, coffee, and alcohol.
	Eat salads, vegetables and fruit. Meat and fish need to be very lightly seasoned.
	Snack on fresh fruit or unsalted nuts (no peanuts)
	Drink a lot of water, no pop or juice.
	Exercise on regular bases.
	Exercise will make you to busy and to tired to smoke.

Give yourself a gift

First day you stop smoking get a big glass jar. Every morning take the money that you would buy cigarettes for and put it in the jar. Every day watch the money grow. Calculate how much money will be in the jar after 1 month, after 6 months and after a year. Make a plan to get yourself a gift for that money. Perhaps a nice vacation after 1 year. Although you will be counting your money and planning a vacations, try to live and think in today. Don’t think about all the days and months you will have to go through without cigarettes. Every morning you will declare:” I will not smoke today”, and that is all you need to do.

Don’t smoke today.

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