Resolution #2: “I’m Going to Quit Smoking!”

The new year is a great time to make some resolutions. If you’re a smoker, quitting smoking might be on your to-do list. To help you stick to your New Year’s resolutions, the FizzUp trainer has rolled up his sleeves to help you kick this habit, because overcoming addiction is closer than you think.

“I’M GOING TO QUIT SMOKING!”: HOW CIGARETTES AFFECT YOUR HEALTH

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In order to stay healthy and in great shape, you need the right lifestyle. To live a healthier life, quitting smoking is a critical decision. Tobacco is one of the leading causes of cancer. According to statistics, tobacco consumption causes about 30% of cancers and 50% of bladder cancers. This affects the digestive organs, lungs, bladder, tongue and throat the most. Smokers put those around them at risk. Numbers show that more than 85% of lung cancer cases occur because of active smoking addiction, and 5% are linked to passive smoking, also known as secondhand smoke. The longer you smoke, the more serious the risks become.

Tobacco is also the cause of a large number of cardiovascular diseases, including high blood pressure, decreased artery caliber and myocardial infarction. It can cause strokes, dental decay and skin deterioration, which is followed by premature aging.

Tobacco can also impact on your athletic abilities. It causes a significant shortness of breath and impaired muscular function, which occurs due to a reduced amount of oxygen in the blood. COPD is a chronic disease that gradually gets worse over time and affects the bronchial tubes, then the lungs, followed by reduced breathing capacity. It’s also one the consequences of tobacco addiction. It manifests as a shortness of breath during exercise. That’s how you can suffer from respiratory failure. Having trouble breathing during exercise should be a warning sign for smokers.
Overcoming a tobacco addiction isn’t easy, but given the many effects of tobacco on your health, it’s not hard to find the motivation to make a change. But there are many tricks to help you do this effectively. So this time, it’s settled: “I’m going to quit smoking!”.

“I’M GOING TO QUIT SMOKING!”: KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

Before getting started, it’s important to realize that tobacco serves no purpose in your daily life or for your health. Smoking doesn’t help you feel better; it only enters you into a vicious circle. You start to become addicted to a product that you don’t need. Sometimes you might think that it makes you feel better or look cool. Once you know what’s hiding behind this illusion, you’ll want to quit smoking. You then stay stuck in this spiral, convinced that you can’t get out, becoming a prisoner. But you ARE able to set yourself free, because being a prisoner is above all, a choice!

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Many beliefs can keep you from quitting smoking, such as believing that it relaxes or energizes you, or immediately improves your mood. Do you really think that a single product can both calm you down and stimulate you? Whatever stopped you from quitting smoking is an internal conflict that came from a dilemma between your actual desire to stop and your desire to continue, for fear of losing the so-called benefits of cigarettes. Now you know it’s an addictive product that you absolutely do not need and can remove from your life once you understand more about it. Don’t be afraid to stop or that you’ll miss it! Learn to let go of guilt, because you can make it happen.

  • Medical assistance

Nicotine patches is a medication that’s applied to the skin. They release nicotine more slowly through the skin. Doctors can prescribe them to smokers that want to overcome their addiction. The problem is that they don’t solve the problem over the long term. Only your determination to quit will.

  • Your motivation

To reach your goal, first of all, you need to stay motivated and determined. Your mindset plays a key role in whether or not you succeed in your efforts. When you’re overcome by the urge to smoke, have no fear. This is a normal reaction that happens when you quit your addiction. Notice how you feel and try to better understand it so that you can cope with it and not turn it into a big deal. This will help you reduce your urge to smoke. Stay determined to quit and believe in yourself. Try body scan meditation to help you raise awareness about what’s going on inside your body and put things into perspective when you’re suffering from withdrawals.

  • Preparation

Share your resolution with those around you, because you need all the support you can get. Get rid of any cigarettes you have left. Throw away your ashtray and lighter. Stay away from smoking areas, too, because you might experience a strong temptation to smoke, which will cause you to fall back into your bad habit. You can ask your friends and family to stop smoking around you. The most important thing is to reduce the risk of relapse.

  • New habits

To make the transition easier for you, get into healthy habits. Instead of spending your time with people who smoke, do some activities you enjoy with people who don’t. A cigarette break at the office can turn into a more pleasant one when you sip on some tea or coffee. Regular physical activity gets you used to going beyond your urges and unwillingness. It pushes you to exert yourself and reach your goals. You’ll strengthen your willpower and significantly improve your health.

  • Accept your withdrawals

Accept your withdrawals when they arise and don’t let them discourage you. Play down the situation to help you go the distance. Watch out for the temptation to replace cigarettes with other addictions, such as food. You shouldn’t counterbalance your withdrawals with food. Learn how to accept, live with and resist them: soon you’ll watch your urge to smoke disappear and gradually stop thinking about smoking.

“I’m going to quit smoking!”: you CAN nix cigarettes this year thanks to these tips from the FizzUp trainer. Stop feeling guilty and forget all your preconceived notions about cigarettes. You’re stronger than your addiction!

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