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11. Quit smoking "cold turkey". Many smokers find
that the only way they can truly quit once and for all is to
just quit abruptly without trying to slowly taper off. Find
the method that works best for you: gradually quitting or cold
turkey. If one way doesn't work do the other.
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12. Find another smoker who is trying to quit, and help each
other with positive words and by lending an ear when quitting
becomes difficult. Visit this Bulletin Board and this Chat
Room to find a "quit buddy."
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13. Have your teeth cleaned. Enjoy the way your teeth look and
feel and plan to keep them that way.
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14. After you quit, plan to
celebrate the milestones in your journey to becoming a
non-smoker. After two weeks of being smoke-free, see a movie.
After a month, go to a fancy restaurant (be sure to sit in the
non-smoking section). After three months, go for a long
weekend to a favorite get-away. After six months, buy yourself
something frivolous. After a year, have a party for yourself.
Invite your family and friends to your "birthday" party and celebrate your
new chance at a long, healthy life.
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15. Drink lots of water. Water is good for you anyway, and
most people don't get enough. It will help flush the nicotine
and other chemicals out of your body, plus it can help reduce
cravings by fulfilling the "oral desires" that you
may have.
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16. Learn what triggers your desire for a cigarette, such as
stress, the end of a meal, arrival at work, entering a bar,
etc. Avoid these triggers or if that's impossible, plan
alternative ways to deal with the triggers.
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17. Find something to hold in your hand and mouth, to replace
cigarettes. Consider drinking straws or you might try an
artificial cigarette called E-Z Quit found here:http://www.quitsmoking.com/ezquit.htm
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18. Write yourself an inspirational song or poem about
quitting, cigarettes, and what it means to you to quit. Read
it daily.
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19. Keep a picture of your family or someone very important to
you with you at all times. On a piece of paper, write the
words"I'm quitting for myself and for you (or
"them")". Tape your written message to the
picture. Whenever you have the urge to smoke, look at the
picture and read the message.
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10. Cut back on cigarettes
gradually (if you cut back gradually, be sure to set a quit
date on which you WILL quit). Ways to cut back gradually
include: plan how many cigarettes you will smoke each day
until your quit date, making the number you smoke smaller each
day; buy only one pack at a time; change brands so you don't
enjoy smoking as much; give your cigarettes to someone else,
so that you have to ask for them each time you want to smoke.
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20. Whenever you have a craving for a cigarette, instead of
lighting up, write down your feelings or whatever is on your
mind. Keep this "journal" with you at all times.
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Good luck in your efforts to quit smoking. It's worth it!
**
Article © Copyright Fred Kelley of QuitSmoking.com. Visit the
web site at http://www.quitsmoking.com
for great information and products designed to help you quit
smoking.
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