| After stopping smoking many times I decided to look | | | | >> My grandparents smoked and they lived until they |
| back at the excuses I and those around me gave for | | | | were in their 90s |
| not stopping smoking, or starting again after quitting. | | | | Your grandparents aren't you and statistically they |
| When I say excuses they are usually given as | | | | were darned lucky to live so long as smokers. Truth |
| reasons when really they are excuses, what do you | | | | be told I used to say the same about one of my |
| think? | | | | grandmas, conveniently forgetting that this shriveled up |
| >> Stopping smoking makes me put on weight | | | | relative of mine who always seemed to have a |
| Absolute BS. Nobody has ever put on weight simply | | | | Capstain full strength dangling from her lips could rarely |
| because they have stopped smoking. How do I know | | | | get a sentence out without coughing. In fact that image |
| that? Because I've been there. Sometimes I have put | | | | of her in my head is my only memory of her and that's |
| weight on, sometimes I haven't but each time has been | | | | sad. |
| different. | | | | >> I'm going to stop smoking on Monday not today |
| What happens is that you automatically try to | | | | Monday comes and goes and you have either |
| substitute the craving for nicotine with something tasty | | | | forgotten your promise or you decide that you will wait |
| like chocolate or boiled sweets and that is what puts | | | | until the following Monday. Or you might even manage |
| weight on you. | | | | an hour or two without a cig before you change your |
| If you need substitutes try low fat, low calorie | | | | mind. It might be better to start without delay and then |
| substitutes like grapes, oranges, Tic Tacs or carrots. If | | | | you will have the same mindset as you had when you |
| you really can't manage without chocolate or boiled | | | | made your decision. |
| sweets use the money that you are saving on | | | | >> I can stop anytime |
| cigarettes to pay for membership at a gym and work | | | | Thats what some smokers say but when challenged |
| the calories off. Or get yourself a Wii Fit like I have! | | | | they will say that they don't want to yet, or that they |
| Whatever you do exercise will help to keep the weight | | | | will stop after Christmas, the new year, their holiday, |
| off and to make you healthier. | | | | sometime never. Truth is the desire to quit needs to be |
| The bottom line is that tobacco products are more | | | | stronger than your addiction and that is when you will |
| likely to kill you than a few pounds weight gain so | | | | stop. |
| forget vanity right now. | | | | >> I'm waiting until after the summer because |
| >> My husband/wife/partner smokes | | | | everybody is getting duty frees for me and I'm saving |
| OK it's a tough one when somebody that you live with | | | | money |
| continues to smoke when you are trying to quit. It's far | | | | You would save even more if you quit altogether! |
| easier if they don't smoke or if they decide to stop | | | | >> I smoke roll ups/ a pipe and they are not as bad for |
| with you, but if they care about you they should be | | | | you |
| happy to help you. | | | | They are still killers no matter how you smoke |
| One way that they can help is to go outside to smoke | | | | tobacco. |
| and keep your home smoke free. Apart from keeping | | | | >> I get too stressed and that's bad for me |
| temptation out of your way, if you have children they | | | | That isn't stress it's the nicotine addiction and craving. |
| shouldn't be smoking in the home anyway for the sake | | | | There are lots of products on the market today to |
| of the children's health. | | | | help reduce the craving and withdrawal symptoms: |
| Smoking outside also keeps your home cleaner, less | | | | nicotine gum, nicotine patches, inhalators, books, |
| smelly, doesn't need decorating as often and your | | | | hypnotism, subconcious learning cds, tablets, fake |
| partner will find that he or she smokes less and saves | | | | cigarettes and even a Wii game to help you to stop |
| some money too because they haven't got the | | | | smoking. |
| convenience of just being able to light up where ever | | | | I'm sure there are many more excuses for not |
| they are. | | | | stopping smoking, but there are far more good |
| In fact banning smoking from the home, or just having | | | | reasons for giving up smoking and the main one is |
| one room where you can smoke can help you to cut | | | | your health and the health of everybody around you. |
| back on smoking and lead up to stopping. | | | | |