1. Drink lots of healthy
beverages. This can help you
avoid the dreaded weight gain
associated with quitting, as well
as start flushing years of toxins
out of your body. Use water,
juice and green tea. Avoid
coffee, soda and alcohol at all
costs!
2. Start a healthy exercise
routine. This too will help work the nicotine out of your
system and keep the pounds off! Regular exercise will
also help you begin to forge new habits and a different
schedule to your life.
Having the healthier mindset of
someone who commits to exercise will reinforce your
decision to become a non-smoker. Start small or use the
advice of your physician to make sure your plan for
working out is not too hard on your body.
3. Skip the junk foods. Although it may be tempting to
use the logic that since you've given up smoking, you
owe yourself a few treats, this will be very counter-
productive.
Such foods will quickly pack the pounds on
and maybe cause you to regret the fact that you ever quit
smoking! Eat carrots or sugar-free mints and try eating
more frequent meals in smaller proportions throughput
the day.
4. Add breathing to your list of exercises! Deep
intentional breathing is healthy for anyone, but as a non-
smoker, you've got some extra internal cleansing to do.
Slowly take air in through your nose, hold it momentarily,
then let it out in a controlled manner through your mouth.
This is cleansing and strengthening and will help your
respiratory system return to that of a normal human
being.
5. Get plenty of high-quality sleep. You need rest going
through withdrawal and a few naps or sleeping in an
extra hour will boost your energy levels as well. Even if
you don't fall asleep, use the resting time to meditate and
visualize yourself as a non-smoker.
6. Mix-up your habits and routines. Avoid driving by that
store where you always buy smokes and find something
else to do during breaks and lunch at work. Don't hang
out with people who smoke, no matter if it's your mom or
sibling, at least until you know you have total control over
the urge to smoke!
7. Handle stress right away. Don't wait until you're pulling
your hair out and ready to explode before addressing the
stress in your life, that could lead to a break down of will
power and lighting up!
Take hot showers, get massages,
try yoga and anything else that will help ease your mind
and melt away stress. Such practices are good zen in life
anyway and you can learn to lean on them whenever you
feel overwhelmed or the urge to do you-know-what
again.
Once you get over the first week or so, it will get easier.
Although you may go the rest of your life wanting a
cigarette, you know you will resist! You know you can
remain committed to staying smoke-free and fight the
power cigarettes once had over you.