DON'T "DO YOURSELF IN".  BE PREPARED
SHORT   SUMMARY   REMINDER   TO   CARRY   WITH   YOU THROUGH   THE   EARLY  STAGES   OF   BEING   A   NONSMOKER
  Write down twelve reasons for staying off cigarettes.  Review the reasons at least once a day.  Constant reviewing of your reasons for quitting is one of the vital parts of quitting.
 
  Write down two people or events that have caused you to want to quit smoking.
 
  Write down three embarrassing things that have happened to you that were directly related to smoking.
Find something to put in your hand and/or mouth.  I found the cinnamon sticks found in the spice section of any grocery store to be my lifesaver, but yours may be something different.
 
DO NOT FORGET THAT ONE CIGARETTE CAN UNDO ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE! 
That holds true today, tomorrow, and always.
You need to learn how to cope with the tension you can experience when you stop smoking by learning deep breathing exercises, muscle-group exercises and meditation.
 
Smoking kills more people every day than AIDS, Heroine, Crack, Cocaine, Alcohol, Car Accidents, Fire and Murder combined!!
Smoking is the #1 cause of preventable death in the United States.  More than 430,070 Americans die each year as a result of their smoking habit.  Quitting today is the healthiest choice you can make!  The American Lung Association offers the following tips for quitting smoking:
 
1)   Prepare yourself.  Decide positively that you want to quit and set a quit day.  List all the reasons you want to quit and recite them daily.

2)   Know what to expect.  Be realistic, quitting isn't easy but withdraw symptoms are temporary.

3)   Involve someone else.  Ask your spouse or friend to quit with you.  Tell your family and co-workers so that they can offer support.

4)   Start cutting down.  Smoke only half of each cigarette.  Postpone your first daily cigarette for an hour.  Keep cigarettes in an inconvenient place.

5)   Just before quitting clean your clothes, house and care to rid of smell of cigarette smoke.

6)  On quit day throw away all of your cigarettes and matches.  Get rid of ashtrays and lighters.  Visit your dentist to have your teeth cleaned.

7)  Deal with urges.  Take a deep breath, drink water or diet soda, take a walk and keep your hands busy.  Chew on low fat snacks such as carrot sticks or hard candy.

8)  Avoid temptations.  Associate with non-smokers.  Skip the smoke break.  Stay away from alcohol and caffeinated beverages.

9)  Establish new habits.  Exercise regularly.  Get a new hobby like needlework or wood working.

10)   Be good to yourself.  Set goals with appropriate awards for day one, day two, the first week, the second week, the first month.

*  All of us are different and have varied ways of dealing and coping.  The Am. Lung Assoc. has found the above suggestions to be the best for the majority.
 
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME
WITH ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE SOME ONLINE SUPPORT.
(Believe me---if I can do it---anyone can!!)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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