Having been around hardcore smokers for a good number of years, I’m totally aware of the challenges, temptations and possibility of kicking the habit. There is nothing impossible - if your why is strong enough.


1) Make a Decision and Condition Your Mind
The mind is the strongest thing in the entire Universe, and its probably been around for longer than anything we know.

Anything we visualize with our mind, will manifest into reality in our present lives.

Pick a day, sit down quietly by yourself and think what motivates you to start living healthy. It could be a new life-partner, a baby coming along, desire for better skin etc.

Or like me - you’ve simply had enough of it and decided to resume control of your life!

Once you have your decision, tell yourself that you are going to kick the habit.

This is extremely important because you have to remember your “why” whenever temptations arise. And they are going to be plenty.

2)Write down Your “What” and “Why”
On a piece of paper, write down in bold why you want to live healthy. Don’t even write the words “Quit Smoking” because your mind will register the “smoking” word every time you look at it.

Try “Start Afresh” or “Live Healthy” or “Be Good-looking”, and paste it onto somewhere you can see frequently.

I put mine on a Wish Board directly opposite my bed where I see the first thing upon waking and bedtime.

Take it with you every morning when you hop out of bed, and into your dreams every night!

3) Get Fit
This is essential! Even if it is just a walk, it does your body good to get moving. Our muscles and limbs are created to move, and if we don’t use them, they simply lose their purposes.

If possible, of course, cardio exercises are even better as they get our heart rates up, and we produce feel-good hormones which regulate both health and emotions.

Just go at your own pace, that’s all.

4) Adopt a New Sport or Hobby
When the mind is idle, there is a higher chance of falling prey to temptations. You chose to gave up a useless habit, and now, adopt a new passion in life.

Go sign up for that piano course, archery lessons, diving trip etc which you have been wanting to. It is important to find your passions because they keep you alive!

5) Make New Friends
The fact is, during the initial stages of quitting smoking, you are unlikely to succeed if you keep hanging out with smokers.

There’s no need to give up your friends altogether, but you have to recognize that social environment does play a vital part in lifestyle changes.

When I first stopped smoking, I lived almost like a hermit for almost 6mths. Until I was absolutely sure that I won’t fall back again, which was 9 months later, then I started going out.

Smoking, for most, is more of a psychological rather than biological habit. Besides the familiar action of holding the stick and bringing it to your lips, the “togetherness” of your usual gang puffing together is going to be pretty hard to resist.

6) Hang out At New Places
If you keep on going on back to the same old clubs where you hung out - and they permit smoking, its not going to work out.

In actual fact, you are still taking in second hand smoke. And as long as your body is addicted to nicotine, you will have cravings and suffer withdrawal symptoms.

7)Go Cold Turkey
Yes, there’s no other way. It has been proven that nicotine addiction is one of the fastest to acquire, and most difficult to kick!

The first week is going to be the most unbearable. There will be headaches, irritation, lethargy and even running noses and watery eyes.

My advice to you - just go through it and have faith that you will feel a hundred times better at the end of it.

The best time to do it is over a weekend - where you can lie in bed while your body detoxes the nicotine. Rest is essential, as you free up more energy for the healing.

Drink Up
Water is important for any cleansing and detox regimes. An abused body may not be able to deliver messages (including the need for water) very well. So just make sure you drink a minimum of 8 glasses of clean drinking water everyday.

9) Eat a clean and fresh diet
You want to leave as much energy to your body for the detox as possible. By cutting out processed foods and heavily cooked stuff, you are lessening the digestive burden on your body.

For the first week, opt for fresh fruits and vegetables if possible.

10) Get Support
Humans are social creatures, we need supporting and loving people around to build us up. Get a buddy, or better still, form a quit smoking gang.

This was what I did, I gathered 5 of my smoking friends, and we all agreed to commit to a quitting deadline. In the end, although only 2 of us made it in the long term, it is still an achievement!

In fact, it will be a big achievement because you created a large value by helping another person to kick a bad habit!

If you stay with a smoker, you may need to address some issues with him/her/them to up your chances of quitting smoking successfully.

There are also many ex-smokers who live/hang out in smoking company, so although it is harder, it is definitely possible to quit regardless of circumstances!

Don’t wait for that New Year or Birthday to come before you decide on new resolutions. Do it right away today, and start living a new life!

Love, Abundance and Joy for You Today
(C) Copyright 2008, Linda Loo

Tags: raw food diet, raw food recipes, vegan weight loss, low fat recipes