Six Things to Do Instead of Smoking

If you’re thinking of quitting Smoking, read below for the three steps you should take first. But when you’re ready, the following strategies, recently posted by TIME,3 may help, especially in the early days and hours: Chew carrots: A healthy snack can help you beat nicotine cravings (and the urge to bring something to your mouth). Carrots, celery, radishes, bell pepper slices, and other fresh veggies would all work for this purpose. Distract yourself: Surround yourself with people who are supportive of your choice to quit and who can help take your mind off of cravings. “Snap” your cravings away: Wear a rubber band around your wrist and snap it if you’re considering giving in to a craving. The sting will distract you and give you a moment to remember all of the reasons why you’re quitting. Exercise: Exercise helps fight addictions by releasing natural feel-good endorphins and easing stress and anxiety. Take a shower: This is another calming distraction, plus when you feel clean and fresh, you’ll be less likely to want to light up. Listen to music: Take your mind off of cravings with your favorite relaxing tunes, or put on an upbeat tune and dance to celebrate your new “smoke-free” self. Do These Three Steps Before You Quit Research shows that two-thirds to three-quarters of ex-smokers stop unaided, so if you’re thinking of quitting try going cold turkey. However, the "secret" is to get healthy first, which will make quitting all that much easier. Exercising is part and parcel of this plan, and as research shows people who engage in regular strength training double their success rate at quitting smoking compared to those who don't exercise. Healthy eating is another crucial aspect that can't be ignored. In short, if you want to quit, here are the three basic tips to get you started: Read through a comprehensive free nutrition plan to get started eating right, which will teach you about intermittent fasting and other tools to get you healthy BEFORE you quit, radically increasing your likelihood of successfully quitting. Develop a well-rounded exercise regimen. It is your ally to fighting disease and quitting smoking. Strength training is an important part, but also remember to incorporate high-intensity interval exercises like Peak Fitness, core-strengthening exercises, aerobics, and stretching. Find a healthy emotional outlet. Many people use exercise, meditation, or relaxation techniques for this, and these are all great. Incorporate the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), as this can help clear out emotional blockages from your system (some of which you might not even realize are there), thus restoring your mind and body's balance and helping you break the addiction and avoid cravings. You should also know about astaxanthin, which has been found to help prevent oxidative damage in those who smoke. This might be one way to at least help lessen some of the smoking-related damage for those who are unwilling or unable to quit. Source: DrMercola.com