Heather75

I noticed we have several posters who are approaching their quit dates. By no means am I an expert BUT I did want to share what I've learned...things that have worked for me etc....

Keep your hands busy. Now would be a great time to knit, do crossword puzzles or anything else that will keep your hands moving.

Keep coffee stirrers on hand. I bought some just to chew on. They are great for the oral fixation PLUS you can hold them like a cigarette and inhale and exhale as though they are a cigarette. These things kinda trick your mind into believing it is getting some kind of relief.

Buy lots of sugar-free gum. The cinnamon flavors work best for me. Everyone is different though so see what flavor is best for you.

Buy Star-light mints OR since it is almost Christmas time, buy Candy Canes. The peppermint flavor has a real soothing affect. I keep some in my purse or in my pocket at ALL times.

Drink a lot of water. You need to flush the toxins out of your body as quickly as possible. The best way to do that is with water. Keep a water bottle at your side. Plus, you can drown the NicoDemon...yes, that's what I call nicotine. Drown him with lotsa water. It will make him and his cravings die sooner.

Stock up on low fat or fat free foods such as pretzel sticks, raw veggies etc...Our metabolism naturally slows down once we stop smoking so we don't really want to add on a bunch of unhealthy calories. I chose finger foods because they keep both your hands and mouth busy.

Practice inhaling and exhaling deeply. This helps when a craving hits you hard. Just inhale, exhale and wait for it to pass.

Keep a journal of all of your milestones whether they are big or small. Count the minutes you have been smoke free. You'll be surprised how quickly they turn into minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years!

Reward yourself. This is a tough job and you are doing it. Don't be ashamed to tell others that you want to be alone, take a hot bath and just relax. You are the one doing all the work, right?

Don't be ashamed to ask for help. Find a quit site (like this one)and stick to them like glue. Post when you are feeling blue, having a tough time OR when you wanna brag! We are all doing this together and we want to see each other succeed. If times are tough someone might have a solution or an idea to help you through it.

Brush your teeth. Who wants to smoke when they have minty-fresh breath?

Go for a walk. You can breathe better now. You are living healthier. Why not walk away the cravings?

Talk to the NicoDemon. Yep, I do it. I want him to know that he can NOT and will NOT win. I don't care if I look or sound crazy. At least I am not smoking!!!

Remember, a craving only lasts about three minutes. The urge to smoke will pass whether you smoke or not. don't give in and your cravings will get fewer and farther in between.

Give yourself a break. For the first few days you probably won't feel like doing much of anything. That is okay. Housework can wait. It will be there later...

Use all quit tools that you have. Whether it is the patch, gum, websites, books etc..USE THEM!!!! No, I am not saying to go on the patch or gum or anything else. I am saying there are so many different things out there to help you GET and stay QUIT that we should all be taking advantage of them. There are thousands of websites designed to help you through the process. There is no reason to go it alone. There is strength in numbers. we can do this.

Above and beyond all...write BEFORE you light!!!!

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***Heather***

Smoke Free Since October 16th 2007