Posted on Aug 27, 2011
So you have decided to stop smoking, first of all, well done! it is without a doubt one of the most important things you will ever do for yourself, your loved ones and your bank balance. And I sincerely hope you stick to it and get past the first three months, which is usually long enough to have outrun the cravings and be pretty much free and clear of the stinking things.
But its the cravings and dealing with the cravings that I want to address in this article, because once you know how to deal with them you will know how to stop smoking and it will no longer be such a monumental Goliath of a task, in fact hopefully you won’t see it as a task any more but as a gradual release back to full health, which is really what stopping smoking is, although it doesn’t always feel like that in the first week or so!
And it is in this first two weeks or so that the cravings are the most terrible, I won’t swear because my article won’t get published but I remember these first cravings being forking awful! I guess it’s because your body and mind has become so used to getting this nicotine fix that when it is suddenly removed every fibre of your being screams out for it, usually over and over! ha, if only we had listened to all those older people when they told us “it’s far easier to start than it is to stop” but we were young and it seemed at the time like we had a thousand healthy years in front of us, so who cares about a few cigarettes or whatever that old guy was talking about?
So back to dealing with those first phase, really annoying cravings. The first and best way to deal with them is stubbornness! Good old block headed, stubborn as a mule stubbornness, and it’s one of those characteristics that you usually hear discussed in a negative way, “he’s so stubborn, he never does as he’s told” that sort of thing. But when it comes to beating your cravings its is your diamond in the dirt, your light in dark places, your hefty boot heading straight towards the groin of cigarettes! And anyone can be stubborn, that’s the beauty of it, you don’t have to be talk to Stephen Hawkins about quasars intelligent. You just have to dig your mental heals in and proclaim to yourself “No! I’m not doing that”
And if you are slightly, just fractionally more stubborn than your cravings are annoying then you will beat them.
Now the second really good way to get rid of your cravings is exercise, now I know this is not everyone’s idea of a good time but by exercise I don’t mean press ups until you puke or anything extreme if you don’t want to. It could be just walking the dog a little further or going for a lazy swim, even a float!
Its basically any activity that gets your body moving for an hour or so and uses up some of the twitchy extra energy you will be getting. For some reason when your system is full of nicotine it makes all your muscles work fifty percent harder, so when you start to release yourself from this you get quite a boost of extra energy.
This is where some people fall down and go back to smoking because the extra twitchy energy with no outlet, combined with the irritation of the cravings makes them start again. Adding even a little more physical activity to your week will be a huge step towards quitting for good, it will relax you, get rid of the extra energy and to tell you the truth you will probably enjoy it, unlike before because your lungs were like shrivelled carrier bags!
Posted on Aug 13, 2011
Trying to quit smoking is never easy. So assisting people to become non smokers is an enjoyable role which provides rewards I never thought possible. To finally have a solution to the controlling and ever frustrating habit of smoking is so amazing. I will always be grateful I came across this information in my ever continuing search to seek out the best health solutions for people from all walks of life – the healthy as well as the not so healthy. I meet interesting people and see them on their life’s journey more inspired and confident now that they are non smokers.
Sadly though, I am not always in time to help them. Only last week a client phoned to say they wouldn’t be able to come to the session as they had been diagnosed with lung cancer and had to go for chemo. The following week another client was unable to come as they were in hospital with acute asthma and the family had been called to her bedside.
The most amazing thing is that cigarettes seem to have such a control over the smoker and many people say they really hate it but still cannot quit. These are the ones I really love to help as I recognize the struggle they are having especially having been a smoker myself. Most of these people are really strong in every other way except the control smoking has over them. I often hear non smokers make comments such as, they should just be able to stop and that they are weak. The reality is that they are not weak – they just have a habit they find so hard to break.
One of the important factors required for the absolute success of these sessions is for people to really want to quit smoking. I usually speak to the client prior to their session to qualify them as people need to be aware of this important piece of information. My goal is to ensure people are successful and while this is not always possible, it is important to aim high.
How can a person quit smoking in 60 Minutes?
Hypnosis and Neuro Linguistic Programming or NLP are used in combination to effect a quick change from a smoker to a non smoker. In the relaxed state of hypnosis the message can be given to the person to stop smoking. The unconscious, non conscious, subconscious brain has held onto this habit ever since it was first commenced, usually in the teens due to peer pressure or a sense of wanting to belong. It believes it is protecting you mentally or emotionally by holding onto this habit because that is its function of protecting you both physically and mentally.
It is important to address the reason and benefits of quitting plus the triggers. This information is used during the hypnosis session.
Prior to the Hypnosis session, time is spent looking at various information relating to smoking, so the person is well informed, reducing the possibility of weight gain, stress and other complications. Time is also spent planning for the future as a non smoker, with subtle changes to their lifestyle to ensure a long term, non smoker status.
What are the results?
This is a proven system with an astonishing success rate of 95.6%. So as a rule people are non smokers at the end of their session. I have had several people return for a second session and even a third session, although this is rare. Why do they need to come back? Many people have said they just wanted to test it by having just one cigarette. Well the reality is that “just one cigarette” is one too many. This really does work however the minute a cigarette or even one puff is taken of a cigarette then they reawaken the habit. Most people thankfully are really serious about wanting to quit cigarettes and don’t need to come back. While it is best not to smoke again the door is always open for people who do “slip off the wagon” and need to come back. That is the beauty of this service, as the goal is to be a non smoker at the end of the session and know that you have a lifetime guarantee.
Posted on Aug 4, 2011
Congratulations! You kicked the habit. Here is what to expect over the next two weeks and beyond:
* Day 1: You’re on the your way! You may feel a bit strange, but that’s quite normal. Remember: it’s a new feeling for you not to smoke all the time.
* Day 2: Most people experience the second day as being very restless, thinking often of smoking. You’re probably not much fun to be around either.
* Day 3: You will notice you can taste things you put in your mouth. Your sense of smell starts to improve. Physically, however, this is when things become difficult: your mind will try to trick you into thinking this was a bad idea, and you body will crave nicotine. Take a walk or a run; you’re already in better condition and it would be good to get your pulse raised a bit.
* Day 4: Your body now really begins to react to the lack of nicotine. Many experience constipation or the opposite; it becomes hard to find peace. Your throat and lungs become cleaner and you might start coughing slightly during the next hours.
* Day 5: From now on, there is a longer period of time between thinking you need a cigarette. It becomes easier for you to stick to your decision. You will also notice that you’re breathing a lot easier, and your senses of taste and smell are just about back to normal, almost as good as a non-smoker.
* Day 6 and 7: You are experiencing less symptoms every day and your cravings is easier to handle. You’ve gotten through a whole week and the worst is over.
* Days 8 through 10: You begin to notice how terrible other smokers around you smell. Your breath will be fresh and your voice will sound clean and clear.
* Day 11 and 12: You’re teeth should look brighter and more beautiful.
* Day 13 and 14: Congratulations! You’ve made it for 2 weeks. You can proudly say you are an ex-smoker. You don’t have any physical reason to start up again.
* Weeks and months later: You shouldn’t have any trouble being an ex-smoker. But be careful, you might still feel some withdrawal symptoms for up to 6 months.
A good way to keep from slipping is to change the habits you associate with smoking, such as drinking coffee or alcohol, driving, answering the phone. Yes, I know you can’t give most of these up, but try to change your routine somewhat to disassociate the activity smoking.
