82.9 Kilos
Weight is under control
Last night Carmen in the Arena. Today I go to the doctor for a check up.
I got a note from a good friend in Moscow:
"How did you manage to give up smoking?! I've tried but failed. Could you share your methods? I'm willing to try again. Our new office is non smoking and in winter smoking out of doors here is no fun at all."
I wrote her back:
Dear xxxx,
Most people need to try a few times before they kick the habit. Its great to hear you are deciding to go for it again.
The big thing in quitting smoking was you deciding it is time for you to quit. I know you can do it because when you decide that something must be done it always gets done!
Smoking outside in the cold in wintertime is one of many reasons I bet you can list for wanting to quit.
make a list of all the reasons you want to quit.
also make a list of all the things that trigger your desire to smoke. some may be: first coffee or tea in the morning, aperitif before dinner. After dinner tea or coffee. Playing cards with friends, Gardening, Listening to the news or TV programs.
There are many smoke cessation programs but most of them all center around 3 phases:
1. preparation and setting a quit date (Mondays tend to be good quit days, how about going for Monday 31 August? It is a good date, and It will be easy to remember your anniversaries as a non smoker as well!
2. coping with nicotine withdrawal during the first 5 days - healthy diet, drinking lots of water and exercise helps
3. learning to break the psychological dependance and cope with things that trigger a desire to smoke. - Know what triggers your cravings and try to change environments and habits to avoid triggers.
I had nicotine substitutes (gum and patches at hand but I used them only the first 2 days) I did not like the side effects and decided to continue cold turkey.
Some people take anti depression medication when they quit you can find out more about this on about.com
There is also ago-puncture and hypnosis. I did some self hypnosis I found on the internet.
I think it is very important to have a support network and friends you can talk to as you take off on the journey to quit. Ex smokers are the best because they understand what you are going through.
Many people swear by the Allan Carr method
They have smoke cessation centers around the world
You might want to read his best selling book this week as you prepare for your next quit.
As you know from experience, It will be tough for the first days but it gets easier as each day passes.
I got lots of good quitting information on the internet.
I suggest you visit
and go to smoke cessation section
You can visit my blog where I have lots of links and I have made a day by day diary of my quitting smoking journey.
scroll down to the beginning of the Blog in July and then read it forward.
here is another link on how to prepare to quit by fireman Joe
Let me know how your quitting goes. Feel free to write me or ring me when you need support.
You can do it!
A big hug
Daniel
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