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Stop Flapping Your Wings And Quit Cold Turkey |
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It's very natural that as long as nicotine exists in a
smoker’s system, his body will continuously crave for its full
complement of the drug. So, its better if you try to practice complete
nicotine cessation programs. This will be a shorter program (roughly two
weeks) and your cravings would become less intense. If you don't smoke
for 3 days continuously, within these 72 hours of complete nicotine
cessation, all nicotine and carbon dioxide will be gone from your
system, and you will be well on your way to improve your health and
fitness.
However, the first few weeks of
nicotine withdrawal will require a smoker to be determined and outwit
her addiction. Below is some advice from successful quitters on how to
stop making excuses and get started on quitting, cold turkey.
Make
a list of reasons and keep it handy. When you first decide to quit, make
a list of reasons why you are motivated to quit smoking—it could be
health concerns, overall fitness, appearance, or anything that you
personally consider a good reason to quit. Keep your list handy for
consultation whenever you get the urge to light up another cigarette.
Both your mind and body will be craving nicotine, and you need to
prepare your defenses.
Be aware of your triggers. Smoking is not
only a physical addiction to nicotine—it also has an element of mental
addiction. As you’re preparing to quit, pay attention to any events or
feelings that may trigger you’re craving for a smoke. When you feel
stressed out at work or depressed, do you reach for the cigarettes?
Consider the situations in which you smoke most often, and brainstorm
ways to combat those habits once you’ve quit.
Some ways
that many successful quitters have worked through nicotine cravings
include:
1) Avoiding smoky environments like bars or clubs.
2) Starting new habits like exercise, hobbies, or classes to distract
yourself from smoking.
3) Having healthy snacks such as celery and
carrots on hand to keep your hands busy.
Change your mindset.
Because of the difficulty of quitting smoking, many smokers feel
defeated before they even start. To quit successfully, you need to make
a conscious effort to change your mindset to guarantee a positive
outcome. Instead of dwelling on the obstacles, remind yourself of the
reasons why you quit, and how your life will improve after you have
stopped smoking. Engage in meditation or behavioral therapy to reinforce
new, healthier habits and kick the unhealthy nicotine addiction.
Quitting
smoking is one of the most difficult challenges that many people will
face in their lives. Within one year after quitting, smokers have only a
5-10% success rate. By quitting cold turkey, you decrease your
withdrawal time and increase your chances of success. With support and
planning—and plenty of time and patience—your smoking days will become a
thing of the past.
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